Mythology The Major Players & Places. Cronus Cronus was the ruling Titan who came to power by harming his Father Uranus. Cronus was the ruling Titan who.

MythologyMythologyThe Major PlayersThe Major Players

& Places& Places

CronusCronus• Cronus was the ruling Titan who came Cronus was the ruling Titan who came

to power by harming his Father Uranus. to power by harming his Father Uranus. • His wife was Rhea. Their offspring were His wife was Rhea. Their offspring were

the first of the Olympians. the first of the Olympians. • To insure his safety, Cronus ate each of To insure his safety, Cronus ate each of

the children as they were born. the children as they were born. • This worked until Rhea, unhappy at the This worked until Rhea, unhappy at the

loss of her children, tricked Cronus into loss of her children, tricked Cronus into swallowing a rock, instead of Zeus. swallowing a rock, instead of Zeus.

• When he grew up Zeus would revolt When he grew up Zeus would revolt against Cronus and the other Titans, against Cronus and the other Titans, defeat them, and banish them to defeat them, and banish them to Tartarus in the underworld. Tartarus in the underworld.

Zeus Zeus (Jupiter)(Jupiter)• Zeus overthew his Father Cronus. Zeus overthew his Father Cronus. • He then drew lots with his brothers He then drew lots with his brothers

Poseidon and Hades. Zeus won the Poseidon and Hades. Zeus won the draw and became the supreme ruler of draw and became the supreme ruler of the gods. the gods.

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

• He is married to Hera but is famous for He is married to Hera but is famous for his many affairs. He is also known to his many affairs. He is also known to punish those that lie or break oaths. punish those that lie or break oaths.

Poseidon Poseidon (Neptune)(Neptune)• Poseidon is the brother of Zeus.`Poseidon is the brother of Zeus.`

• He became lord of the sea.He became lord of the sea.

• His weapon is a trident, which can His weapon is a trident, which can

shake the earth, and shatter any shake the earth, and shatter any object. object.

• He is second only to Zeus in power He is second only to Zeus in power

amongst the gods. amongst the gods.

• He has a difficult quarrelsome He has a difficult quarrelsome personality. personality.

Hades Hades (Pluto)(Pluto)• Hades is the brother of Zeus. Hades is the brother of Zeus. • He was made lord of the underworld, He was made lord of the underworld,

ruling over the dead. ruling over the dead. • He is a greedy god who is greatly He is a greedy god who is greatly

concerned with increasing his subjects concerned with increasing his subjects and rarely allows any of his subjects and rarely allows any of his subjects leave. leave.

• He is also the god of wealth, due to the He is also the god of wealth, due to the precious metals mined from the earth. precious metals mined from the earth. He has a helmet that makes him He has a helmet that makes him invisible. invisible.

• His wife is Persephone whom he His wife is Persephone whom he abducted. He is the King of the dead but abducted. He is the King of the dead but death itself is another god, Thanatos. death itself is another god, Thanatos.

Hestia Hestia (Vesta)(Vesta)• Hestia is Zeus’s sister. Hestia is Zeus’s sister.

• She is the Goddess of the She is the Goddess of the Hearth, the symbol of the house Hearth, the symbol of the house around which a new born child is around which a new born child is carried before it is received into carried before it is received into the family. the family.

• Each city had a public hearth Each city had a public hearth sacred to Hestia, where the fire sacred to Hestia, where the fire was never allowed to go out. was never allowed to go out.

HeraHera(Juno)(Juno)• Hera is Zeus’s wife and sister.Hera is Zeus’s wife and sister.

• She is the protector of marriage and She is the protector of marriage and takes special care of married women. takes special care of married women.

• Most stories concerning Hera have to Most stories concerning Hera have to do with her jealous revenge for do with her jealous revenge for Zeus's infidelities. Zeus's infidelities.

• Her sacred animals are the cow and Her sacred animals are the cow and the peacock. Her favorite city is the peacock. Her favorite city is Argos. Argos.

Ares Ares (Mars)(Mars)• Ares is the son of Zeus and Hera. Ares is the son of Zeus and Hera.

He was disliked by both parents. He was disliked by both parents.

• He is the god of war. He is He is the god of war. He is considered murderous and considered murderous and bloodstained but also a coward.bloodstained but also a coward.

• His bird is the vulture. His His bird is the vulture. His animal is the dog. animal is the dog.

AthenaAthena(Minerva)(Minerva)• Athena is the daughter of Zeus. Athena is the daughter of Zeus. • She sprang full grown in armor from She sprang full grown in armor from

his forehead, thus has no mother.his forehead, thus has no mother.• She is the goddess of the city, She is the goddess of the city,

handicrafts, and agriculture.handicrafts, and agriculture.• She is the embodiment of wisdom, She is the embodiment of wisdom,

reason, and purity. reason, and purity. • She was Zeus's favorite child and was She was Zeus's favorite child and was

allowed to use his weapons including allowed to use his weapons including his thunderbolt. his thunderbolt.

• Her favorite city is Athens. Her tree is Her favorite city is Athens. Her tree is the olive. The owl is her bird. the olive. The owl is her bird.

ApolloApollo (Apollo)(Apollo)• Apollo is the son of Zeus and Leto. Apollo is the son of Zeus and Leto. • His twin sister is Artemis. His twin sister is Artemis. • He is the god of music, healing, light, He is the god of music, healing, light,

and truth.and truth.• One of Apollo's more important daily One of Apollo's more important daily

tasks is to harness his chariot with tasks is to harness his chariot with four horses and drive the Sun across four horses and drive the Sun across the sky. the sky.

• He is famous for his oracle at Delphi. He is famous for his oracle at Delphi. People traveled to it from all over the People traveled to it from all over the Greek world to divine the future. Greek world to divine the future.

• His tree was the laurel and the dolphin His tree was the laurel and the dolphin was his animal. was his animal.

Artemis Artemis (Diana)(Diana)• Artemis is the daughter of Zeus and Artemis is the daughter of Zeus and

Leto. Her twin brother is Apollo. Leto. Her twin brother is Apollo.

• She is the goddess of the hunt and She is the goddess of the hunt and the protector of the young. the protector of the young.

• She is also the goddess of chastity. She is also the goddess of chastity.

• The cypress is her tree. All wild The cypress is her tree. All wild animals are sacred to her, animals are sacred to her, especially the deer. especially the deer.

AphroditeAphrodite (Venus)(Venus)• Aphrodite is the goddess of love, Aphrodite is the goddess of love,

desire, and beauty. In addition desire, and beauty. In addition to her natural gifts she has a to her natural gifts she has a magical girdle that compels magical girdle that compels anyone she wishes to desire her. anyone she wishes to desire her.

• She is the wife of Hephaestus. She is the wife of Hephaestus.

• The myrtle is her tree. The dove, The myrtle is her tree. The dove, the swan, and the sparrow her the swan, and the sparrow her birds. birds.

Hermes Hermes (Mercury)(Mercury)• Hermes is the son of Zeus and Maia.Hermes is the son of Zeus and Maia.

• He is Zeus’s messenger and is the He is Zeus’s messenger and is the fastest of the gods. fastest of the gods.

• He wears winged sandals, a winged He wears winged sandals, a winged hat, and carries a magic wand. hat, and carries a magic wand.

• He is the god of thieves and god of He is the god of thieves and god of commerce and serves as the guide commerce and serves as the guide for the dead to go to the underworld. for the dead to go to the underworld.

Hephaestus Hephaestus (Vulcan) (Vulcan) • Hephaestus is the son of Zeus and Hephaestus is the son of Zeus and

Hera. Hera. • He is the only god to be physically He is the only god to be physically

ugly, and he is also lame. ugly, and he is also lame. • He is the god of fire and the forge. He is the god of fire and the forge.

He is the smith and armorer of the He is the smith and armorer of the gods.gods.

• He is the patron god of both smiths He is the patron god of both smiths and weavers. and weavers.

• He is kind and peace loving. His wife He is kind and peace loving. His wife is Aphrodite. is Aphrodite.

DemeterDemeter (Ceres)(Ceres)• Demeter is the goddess of corn, grain, Demeter is the goddess of corn, grain,

and the harvest. She is the daughter of and the harvest. She is the daughter of Cronus and Rhea. It is Demeter that Cronus and Rhea. It is Demeter that makes the crops grow each year. makes the crops grow each year.

• Demeter is intimately associated with the Demeter is intimately associated with the seasons. Her daughter, Persephone, is seasons. Her daughter, Persephone, is forced to spend part of the year in Hades, forced to spend part of the year in Hades, and during these months Demeter grieves and during these months Demeter grieves her daughter’s absence and withdraws her daughter’s absence and withdraws her gifts from the world, creating winter. her gifts from the world, creating winter. Spring marks her daughter’s return. Spring marks her daughter’s return.

PersephonePersephone(Proserpina)(Proserpina)• Persephone is the daughter of Persephone is the daughter of

Zeus and Demeter. Zeus and Demeter.

• After her abduction by Hades, she After her abduction by Hades, she became his wife and Queen of the became his wife and Queen of the underworld. underworld. • Her return to Earth is celebrated Her return to Earth is celebrated

with new life, making her the with new life, making her the goddess of Spring. goddess of Spring.

ErosEros (Cupid)(Cupid)• Eros is the son of Aphrodite.Eros is the son of Aphrodite.• He is the god of romantic love.He is the god of romantic love.• He is often represented blindfolded He is often represented blindfolded

because love is often blind. because love is often blind. • His "weapons" are darts or arrows. In His "weapons" are darts or arrows. In

either case the tips have been either case the tips have been magically treated to produce either magically treated to produce either uncontrollable love or uncontrollable love or insurmountable disinterest in the first insurmountable disinterest in the first person seen by Eros's victim after person seen by Eros's victim after wounding. wounding.

Pan Pan (Faunus)(Faunus)• Pan is the son of Hermes and is the god Pan is the son of Hermes and is the god

of goatherds and shepherds. of goatherds and shepherds. • He is mostly human in appearance but He is mostly human in appearance but

has goat horns and goat feet. has goat horns and goat feet. • He is an excellent musician and plays the He is an excellent musician and plays the

pipes. He is merry and playful frequently pipes. He is merry and playful frequently seen dancing with woodland nymphs. seen dancing with woodland nymphs.

• He is always in pursuit of one of the He is always in pursuit of one of the nymphs but is always rejected because nymphs but is always rejected because he is ugly. he is ugly.

• His name is the basis for the word His name is the basis for the word "panic.”"panic.”

DionysusDionysus(Bacchus)(Bacchus)• Dionysus is the god of wine and Dionysus is the god of wine and

inspiration.inspiration.

• He was born a mortal, but Zeus He was born a mortal, but Zeus granted him immortality when he granted him immortality when he invented wine. invented wine.

• His annual festival in Athens was a His annual festival in Athens was a literary contest at which many great literary contest at which many great Greek tragedies and comedies were Greek tragedies and comedies were first performed. first performed.

Monsters and Strange Monsters and Strange CreaturesCreatures•The FuriesThe Furies: three avenging spirits : three avenging spirits

controlled by Hades. They had bat controlled by Hades. They had bat wings, fiery whips, and are often wings, fiery whips, and are often depicted with bleeding eyes, depicted with bleeding eyes, snake hair, and the heads of dogs. snake hair, and the heads of dogs. They were usually sent to punish They were usually sent to punish the living by driving them madthe living by driving them mad

•HarpiesHarpies: wild, unruly bird-winged : wild, unruly bird-winged maidens who carried people to the maidens who carried people to the underworldunderworld

•Cerberus: Cerberus: three-headed dog who three-headed dog who guarded the entrance to the guarded the entrance to the underworld . He would permit spirits underworld . He would permit spirits to enter, but he would not allow any to enter, but he would not allow any to leave.to leave.

•Charon: Charon: the ferryman of the deadthe ferryman of the dead

•Chiron: Chiron: immortal centaur who immortal centaur who trained many heroes, including trained many heroes, including HerculesHercules

•Satyrs:Satyrs: half-man & half goat hybrids half-man & half goat hybrids who were often companions of who were often companions of DionysusDionysus

• Centaurs: Centaurs: half-man & half-horse hybrids half-man & half-horse hybrids who were often wild, barbaric creatureswho were often wild, barbaric creatures

• Medusa: Medusa: One of the three Gorgon sisters, One of the three Gorgon sisters, she was once a beautiful maiden who she was once a beautiful maiden who was punished by Athena for defiling was punished by Athena for defiling Athena’s temple. Her hair consists of live Athena’s temple. Her hair consists of live snakes, and one look in her eyes turns snakes, and one look in her eyes turns men to stone. men to stone.

• Minotaur: Minotaur: half-man & half-bull hybrid half-man & half-bull hybrid that King Minos locked away in the that King Minos locked away in the Labyrinth. Each year, 7 young men and 7 Labyrinth. Each year, 7 young men and 7 young women from Athens were young women from Athens were sacrificed to the Minotaur.sacrificed to the Minotaur.

The Major PlacesThe Major Places• Mount Olympus, which towers up from the Mount Olympus, which towers up from the

center of the earth. Here the major gods live center of the earth. Here the major gods live and hold court. and hold court.

• The Underworld is hidden in the earth. It is the The Underworld is hidden in the earth. It is the kingdom of the dead and ruled over by Hades. kingdom of the dead and ruled over by Hades. – Geographically, the underworld is surrounded Geographically, the underworld is surrounded

by a series of rivers: The Acheron (Woe), The by a series of rivers: The Acheron (Woe), The Cocytus (Lamentation), The Phlegethon (Fire), Cocytus (Lamentation), The Phlegethon (Fire), The Styx (Unbreakable oath), and The Lethe The Styx (Unbreakable oath), and The Lethe (Forgetfulness). Once across the river, a gate, (Forgetfulness). Once across the river, a gate, guarded by Cerberus, a three- headed dog, guarded by Cerberus, a three- headed dog, forms the entrance to the kingdom.forms the entrance to the kingdom.

• Tartarus lies far deeper than Hades. It is used Tartarus lies far deeper than Hades. It is used as the ultimate of prisons, unpleasant and as the ultimate of prisons, unpleasant and inaccessible. inaccessible.