Kennedy, Nykila, and Kennedy, Nykila, and KarenKaren

What is Greek What is Greek Mythology?Mythology?

Greek mythology is the composition of myths Greek mythology is the composition of myths ands legends. All of their legends and myths ands legends. All of their legends and myths are according to their gods and heroes, their are according to their gods and heroes, their point of view about earth’s nature, and the point of view about earth’s nature, and the birth and impact of their culture and tradition.birth and impact of their culture and tradition.

Greek myths are intended to explain the Greek myths are intended to explain the origins of the world, according to the Greeks. origins of the world, according to the Greeks. It also defines points of the lives and It also defines points of the lives and adventures of a range ofadventures of a range of  gods, goddesses, gods, goddesses, heroes, heroinesheroes, heroines , and , and   mythological creatures. mythological creatures.

MythsMythsA myth is a traditional story about gods, A myth is a traditional story about gods, ancestors, or heroes, told to explain the ancestors, or heroes, told to explain the natural world or the customs and beliefs natural world or the customs and beliefs in society. Myths were the way that the in society. Myths were the way that the Greeks wanted to comprehend the Greeks wanted to comprehend the mysteries of nature and the power of mysteries of nature and the power of human passions. The Greeks developed a human passions. The Greeks developed a rich set of myths. Until today, rich set of myths. Until today, thethe

Greek myths are known primarily Greek myths are known primarily   from Greek from Greek literature. Myths also characterize most of the literature. Myths also characterize most of the Greek culture. There are an abundant number of Greek culture. There are an abundant number of myths, all describing the different powers of the myths, all describing the different powers of the earth’s nature and their gods and heroes. Greek earth’s nature and their gods and heroes. Greek mythology has laid a wide influence on the culture, mythology has laid a wide influence on the culture, the arts, and the literature ofthe arts, and the literature of  Western Western civilizationcivilization  and remains part of Western heritage and remains part of Western heritage and languageand language . .

Zeus--http://www.thanasis.com/zmadmb.jpg

Epics of HomerEpics of Homer______________________________________________________________

Homer is considered to be the greatest storytellerHomer is considered to be the greatest storyteller. . He is very known for composing tHe is very known for composing the oldest known he oldest known Greek literary sources, theGreek literary sources, the  epic epic poemspoems  IliadIliad  andand  OdysseyOdyssey, which form from a , which form from a background of the Trojan War.background of the Trojan War. IliadIliad   is the ten is the ten--year year siege of Ilium by a alliance of Greek states, it tells of siege of Ilium by a alliance of Greek states, it tells of weeks of battles and events of a quarrel between weeks of battles and events of a quarrel between KingKing  AgamemnonAgamemnon  and the warriorand the warrior  Achilles.Achilles.

HeroesHeroes As mentioned, heroes are very As mentioned, heroes are very

important in the making of Greek important in the making of Greek mythology. Numerous heroes have mythology. Numerous heroes have their myths or legends. Some Greek their myths or legends. Some Greek heroes are: Perseus, Theseus, heroes are: Perseus, Theseus, Bellerophon, Atalanta, and Bellerophon, Atalanta, and MeleagerMeleager..

Perseus-http://www.mccarter.org/education/perseus/images/perseus-medusa.jpg

BellerophonBellerophon--

http://www.francois-baranger.com/_images/illustrations/fantasy/bellerophon.jpg

MeleagerMeleager--ขhttp://www.lib art.com/imgp

-ainting/9 /7 /3 3 7 9 mele-ager antico.jpg

The Gods of MythologyThe Gods of Mythology There were 12 major Gods of olympusThere were 12 major Gods of olympusZeus ApolloZeus ApolloPoseidon Aphrodite Poseidon Aphrodite Hades HermesHades HermesHestia Artemis Hestia Artemis Hera HephaestusHera Hephaestus AresAresAthenaAthena

ZeusZeus Zeus was the god of the sky and Zeus was the god of the sky and

ruler of the Olympian gods. ruler of the Olympian gods.

PoseidonPoseidon Poseidon was the god of the sea, Poseidon was the god of the sea,

protector of all waters.protector of all waters.

HadesHades Hades was the god of wealth, due to Hades was the god of wealth, due to

the precious metals mined from the the precious metals mined from the earth. earth.

HestiaHestia Hestia was the goddess of the Hestia was the goddess of the

HearthHearth

HeraHera Hera was the the goddess of youth. Hera was the the goddess of youth.

AresAres Ares was the god of war.Ares was the god of war.

AthenaAthena Athena was the goddess of reason, Athena was the goddess of reason,

intelligent activity, arts and intelligent activity, arts and literature.literature.

ApolloApollo Apollo was the god of music.Apollo was the god of music.

Aphrodite Aphrodite Aphrodite was the goddess of love, Aphrodite was the goddess of love,

desire and beauty.desire and beauty.

Hermes Hermes Hermes was the god of thieves and Hermes was the god of thieves and

god of commerce. god of commerce.

ArtemisArtemis Artemis was the goddess of chastity, Artemis was the goddess of chastity,

virginity, the hunt, the moon, and virginity, the hunt, the moon, and the natural environment.the natural environment.

HephaestusHephaestus Hephaestus was the god of Hephaestus was the god of

craftman. He was also the ugliest craftman. He was also the ugliest out of all the gods and goddess’s.out of all the gods and goddess’s.