Essential Question: What meanings did myths about gods, goddesses, and heroes have for the ancient Greeks? What meanings do the Greek

myths have for us today?

Myths are traditional stories that are passed down by word of mouth and visual arts. They convey common beliefs in a particular society about natural phenomenon, historical events, and proper behavior.

Three types of themes in Greek myths:

Heroes, gods and goddess

“How it came to be”Proper behavior

CourageousIntelligentResourcefulAbility to accept

responsibility for errors

Strong, possess endurance

Accepts helps when offered

Characteristics of a typical Greek hero:

StrongNot necessarily a

good role modelQuick thinkingWilling to do what

others won’tSelf-confident

Characteristics of a typical Greek god or goddess:

Very powerfulHuman like flawsImmortalLike to meddle in

human affairs

Historical EventsFlowers & plantsStars, sun and moonGeographical featuresAnimal characteristicsSeasons and climate

Greek customs of proper behavior:

HospitalityRespect of eldersInterest in familySelf-control

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Zeus:Ruler of the gods.

He is lord of the sky & the rain god. His weapon is a thunderbolt which he hurls at those who displease him.

Hera:Wife & sister of

Zeus. She is the queen of the gods & protector of marriage and takes special care of married women.

Poseidon:Poseidon is the brother

of Zeus and lord of the sea. His weapon is a trident, which can shake the earth, and shatter any object. He is second only to Zeus in power amongst the gods. He has a difficult quarrelsome personality.

Hades:Brother of Zeus &

lord of the underworld, ruling over the dead.

Demeter:Goddess of the

earth, corn and crops.

Persephone:Daughter of

Demeter, wife of Hade, queen of the underworld.

Ares:Ares is the son of

Zeus and Hera. He was disliked by both parents. He is the god of war. He is considered murderous and bloodstained but, also a coward.

Apollo:Apollo is the son of

Zeus and Leto. His twin sister is Artemis. He is the god of music, archery, light, truth, &healing who taught man medicine.

Athena:Goddess of

wisdom, warfare and crafts. Athena is the daughter of Zeus. She sprang full grown in armor from his forehead, thus has no mother.

Hephaestus:Son of Zeus and

Hera He is the only god to be physically ugly & lame He is the god of fire and the forge & is the smith and armorer of the gods using a volcano as his forge.

Hermes:Messenger of the

gods. (He wears winged sandals, a winged hat, and carries a magic wand.) He is the god of travelers, trickery, theft, commerce and science.

Aphrodite:Goddess of love,

desire and beauty.

Eros (Cupid):The god of love.

Dionysus:The god of

liberation, wine, music, theater and fertility.