DOWNLOAD PDF GODS AND MYTHS OF THE ROMANS (GODS AND MYTHS)

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1 Chapter 1 : Saturn Roman god blog.quintoapp.com Description Gods in Greek Mythology, i.e. the collection of stories or myths of the ancient Greeks about their gods, heroes and the natural world. Gods in Roman mythology, i.e. the mythological beliefs about gods in the city of Ancient Rome. Time period Iliad distributed years before the Roman. Twelve Olympians The main and most important gods were the Twelve Olympians. The home of these gods is at the top of Mount Olympus. There was some variation as to which deities were included in the Twelve. It includes all those who are commonly named as one of the Twelve in art and poetry. Dionysus was a later addition; in some descriptions, he replaced Hestia. Hades is not usually included among the Olympians, because his home was the underworld. Some writers, however, such as Plato, named him as one of the Twelve. She was married to Hephaestus, but she had many lovers, including Ares, Adonis and Anchises. She was depicted as a beautiful woman and often naked. Her symbols include roses and other flowers, the scallop shell, and myrtle wreath. Her sacred animals are doves and sparrows. The Roman version of Aphrodite was Venus. He is the son of Zeus and Leto, and the twin brother of Artemis. Apollo was associated with the Sun ; while Artemis was the Moon. Both use a bow and arrow. In the earliest myths, Apollo fights with his half-brother Hermes. In sculpture, Apollo was depicted as a handsome young man with long hair and a perfect physique. His attributes include the laurel wreath and lyre. He often appears in the company of the Muses. Animals sacred to Apollo include roe deer, swans, cicadas, hawks, ravens, crows, foxes, mice and snakes. He was the son of Zeus and Hera. He was depicted as a young man, either naked with a helmet and spear or sword, or as an armed warrior. Ares generally represents the chaos of war in contrast to Athena, who represented strategy and skill. The Roman version of Ares is Mars. In later times she became associated with the Moon. She is the daughter of Zeus and Leto, and the twin sister of Apollo. She is depicted as a young virgin woman. In art she is often shown holding a hunting bow and arrows. Her attributes include hunting spears, animal furs, deer and other wild animals. Her sacred animals are deer, bears and wild boars. The Roman version of Artemis is Diana. She was depicted with a helmet, holding a shield and a spear, and wearing the Aegis over a long dress. Poets describe her as having very bright, keen eyes. She was a special patron of heroes such as Odysseus. She was also the patron of the city Athens which is named after her. Born from the head of Zeus her father and her mother is Metis, the first wife of Zeus. Her symbol is the olive tree. She is often shown beside her sacred animal, the owl. The Roman version of Athena is Minerva. Demeter is a daughter of Cronus and Rhea. Her brother is Zeus, with whom she had Persephone. She was one of the main deities of the Eleusinian Mysteries. She was depicted as an older woman, often wearing a crown and holding bunches of wheat. Her symbols are the cornucopia, wheat-ears, the winged snake, and the lotus staff. Her sacred animals are pigs and snakes. The Roman version of Demeter is Ceres. He was depicted in art as either an older man with a beard or a pretty young man with long hair. His attributes include the thyrsus a pinecone-tipped staff, drinking cup, grape vine, and a crown of ivy. He is often shown with his thiasos, a group of followers that includes satyrs, maenads, and his teacher Silenus. The consort of Dionysus was Ariadne. Animals sacred to him include dolphins, snakes and donkeys. Dionysus was a later addition to the Olympians; in some descriptions, he replaced Hestia. His consort is Persephone. His attributes are the cornucopia, key, sceptre, and the three-headed dog Cerberus. The owl was sacred to him. He was one of three sons of Cronus and Rhea, and therefore was ruler of one of the three realms of the universe, the underworld. He is not very often included as one of the Olympians, however. He was the son of Hera by parthenogenesis. He is the smith of the gods and the husband of Aphrodite. He was usually depicted as a bearded man with hammer, tongs and anvil â the tools of a smithâ and sometimes riding a donkey. His sacred animals are the donkey, the guard dog and the crane. One of his many creations was the armour of Achilles. Hephaestus used fire to create things. The Roman version, however, Vulcan, was feared for his destructive power; he was associated with volcanoes. She is the wife of Zeus and daughter of Cronus and Rhea. She was usually depicted Page 1

2 as a regal woman, wearing a crown and veil and holding a lotus -tipped staff. Her sacred animals are the heifer, the peacock and the cuckoo. The Roman version of Hera is Juno. He is the son of Zeus and Maia, Hermes is the messenger of the gods. He also leads the souls of the dead into the afterlife. He was depicted either as a handsome and fit young man, or as an older bearded man. He was often shown wearing sandals with small wings on them. His sacred animals are the tortoise, the ram and the hawk. The Roman version of Hermes was Mercury. She was described as a virgin. She is a daughter of Rhea and Cronus, and sister of Zeus. She could not often be identified in Greek art. She appeared as a veiled woman. Her symbols are the hearth and kettle. In some descriptions, she gave up her seat as one of the Twelve Olympians to Dionysus, and she plays a minor role in Greek myths. The Roman version of Hestia, however, Vesta, was a major goddess in Roman culture. He is a son of Cronus and Rhea, and brother to Zeus and Hades. He rules one of the three realms of the universe as king of the sea and the waters. In classical artwork, he was depicted as an older man with a very large beard, and holding a trident. The horse and the dolphin are sacred to him. His wife is Amphitrite. The Roman version of Poseidon was Neptune. He is the god of the sky, thunder and lightning, law and order, and fate. He is the youngest son of Cronus and Rhea. He overthrew his father and took the throne of heaven for himself. In artwork, he was depicted as a regal, older man with a dark beard. His usual attributes are the royal sceptre and the lightning bolt. His sacred animals are the eagle and the bull. The Roman version of Zeus, Jupiter, was also the main god of the Romans. Coin made under Alexander the Great showing Zeus on his throne holding a sceptre and eagle. Primordial deities[ change change source ] The primordial deities are the first beings that existed. They are what makes up the universe. All other gods descend from them. The first among them is usually said to be Chaos. Page 2

3 Chapter 2 : List of Greek mythological figures - Wikipedia The Romans, as they grew and conquered other lands, adopted those things from other cultures that they liked. They even adopted other peoples' gods. When the Romans met the Greeks and heard all the stories about the Greek gods, they adopted all the Greek gods. They have interlaced them with Greek myths to cover the gaps in Roman mythology. Romans believed in several gods. Their religion was based on these gods. They believed these gods controlled their lives. The warm and sunny weather was interpreted as good mood of the gods and vice versa. They were under the impression that thunder and lightening exhibited the wrath of gods. Roman myths were partially borrowed from the Greek mythology. The pre-historic Romans did not have any myths of their own. It is believed that the Roman poets borrowed heavily from Greek mythology. However, the origins of many myths are still unknown. Hellenistic models influenced the works of the classical poets like Ovid and Vergil. They used the Greek beliefs and myths as fillers. The Romans had a highly developed system of rituals, priests and priestly colleges. However, ancient Roman literature has not mentioned much about the Roman gods of the pre-historic era. She was dedicated to Goddess Diana, the goddess of Hunt, by her father. It is believed, Camilla once ran so swiftly through the cornfields that a blade of grass was burnt to ashes. This gave her a divine power, which enabled her to walk across the seas without wetting her feet. According to the Roman myth, she was later crowned as the Virgin Queen of the Volscians. She died fighting the Trojans. Cupid is the son of Venus. She ordered Cupid to endorse cruel punishment on Psyche. Psyche was not allowed to see the face of Cupid. At that very moment, Cupid and their beautiful surroundings disappeared. The Venus punished Psyche. It is believed that some mysterious power helped Psyche overcome the ordeal and eventually she married Cupid. Charon, the ferryman transported the souls of the dead to this world. Only the dead who received the proper burial ceremony were ferried to Land of Dead. The dead were bathed and a coin was placed under their tongue. This coin was the token to pay Charon to ferry the soul across the River Styx. The soul of the dead would remain on the shores of the River Styx for years, in case coin was not found underneath the tongue. Romans see Charon as the symbol of death, and the painters portray him as an eerie old man. These myths are related to the Roman gods and their ways. These gods played a vital role in the everyday lives of the ancient Romans. Page 3

4 Chapter 3 : Short Myth Stories and Legends *** Gods and Myths of the Romans [Mary Barnett] on blog.quintoapp.com *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. Discusses the development of Roman mythology, and shows how various heroes and gods were depicted in statues and artifacts. Pinstriped suit, neatly trimmed grey beard, stormy eyes and a very large, dangerous lightning bolt. Sometimes he travels the world in disguise, so be nice to everyone! You never know when the next person you meet might be packing the master bolt. In the old days, Zeus ruled over his unruly family of Olympians while they bickered and fought and got jealous of each other. Not much different than today, really. Zeus always had an eye for beautiful women, which often got him in trouble with his wife, Hera. Usually prefers classic Greek dresses and a simple silver crown, though she can blend in as needed. She usually appears as a beautiful older woman, and enjoys turning into birds when she needs to hide or spy. She hangs out where family life is strongest: That strange woman you saw at Laser Quest, serving pizza and singing Happy Birthday? Yes, that was probably her. Hera has no patience with demigods, the children of godly affairs. She was the enemy of Heracles and many others, though she did have a soft spot for mortal heroes, like Jason. If an old woman asks you to carry her piggyback across a river, do it. You might win the favor of a goddess! Hawaiian shirt, shorts, flip flops, and a three-pointed trident. Poseidon walks the beaches of Florida, occasionally stopping to chat with fishermen or take pictures for tourists. Poseidon was always a moody guy. On his good days, he did cool stuff like create horses out of sea foam. On his bad days, he caused minor problems like destroying cities with earthquakes or sinking entire fleets of ships. The goddess prefers simple dresses of green or gold, though you can often find her in gardening clothes. Demeter divides her time between the upper world, where she oversees the growing season and produces commercials encouraging people to eat more cereal products part of a balanced breakfast! Demeter was one of the quieter goddess. As long as the crops were growing and the farmers were happy, Demeter was content. When Hades stole her daughter Persephone, Demeter stopped all plants from growing, and people started starving. Hard to make a cheeseburger with no grain for bread and no grass for the cows. Torch, Corn plant though popcorn works, too Roman name: Biker leathers, Harley Davidson, sunglasses and a stinking attitude. Can be found riding his Harley around the suburbs of LA. One of those gods who could pick a fight in an empty room. Back in the day, this son of Zeus and Hera used to be inseparable from his shield and helmet. Fought on the side of the Trojans during the war of Troy, but, frankly, has been involved in every minor skirmish since Goldilocks told the three bears that their beds were a little uncomfy. A bloody spear, a wild boar the animal with the nastiest attitude Roman name: Athena is always accompanied by at least one owl, her sacred and fortunately housebroken animal. So start working on that revolutionary new bread slicer! Athena was one of the most active goddesses in human affairs. She helped out Odysseus, sponsored the entire city of Athens and made sure the Greeks won the Trojan War. The owl Roman name: Minerva Apollo God of archery, music, poetry, prophecy, medicine, and later on the god of the sun. He typically looks like a movie star with the fashionably shabby clothes, the laid back attitude, the brilliant smile, and the Ray Ban sunglasses. His sun chariot morphs into a fine Maserati. Do NOT ask him to recite his poetry. You can find Apollo cruising down Sunset Avenue looking cool, or hanging out at parties chatting with writers or rock stars. He likes to be the center of attention wherever he goes. Apollo was into everything, from music to medicine, probably because he thought he was better at everything than anyone else. When the old sun god Helios retired, Apollo took over that job too, though he was mostly thought of as the god of poetry and music. Her eyes are silver like the moon, and she tends to dress in white and silver. Artemis can be found roaming the countryside with her handmaidens, the Hunters of Artemis. Imagine an immortal, very deadly Girl Scout troop, on a permanent camp out, hunting monsters. Artemis enjoyed hunting with her handmaidens and basically kept to herself unless she was bothered. Once a male hunter tried to spy on Artemis while she was bathing. The goddess turned him into a deer and her hunters tracked him down and killed him. The moon, the deer Roman name: Ugly face, scraggly beard, massive powerful hands. The god likes to hang out in his Page 4

5 workshop fixing cars and building inventions. You want a robot to do your homework, or a life-sized metal giant to stomp on your enemies. Hephaestus can have one ready in a matter of hours. Hephaestus is a jealous husband, always on the lookout for that scoundrel Ares and anyone else who might want to flirt with his wife which is basically every man with a pulse. The anvil and hammer Roman name: Any of them might be Aphrodite in disguise. She promised Prince Paris the most beautiful mortal woman in the world if he judged Aphrodite the fairest goddess in a contest, and Paris readily agreed. When he got Helen for his wife, it started the Trojan War and thousands died, but hey, at least Aphrodite got what she wanted! Did you have a question about his activities as god of thieves? Hermes got started young as a troublemaker. When he was one day old, he sneaked out of his crib and stole some cattle from his brother Apollo. Apollo liked it so much he forgot all about the cows. The lyre made Apollo very popular with the ladies, which was more than he could say about the cattle. Leopard-skin shirt, walking shorts, purple socks and sandals, the general pasty demeanor of someone who has been up partying much too late. He can usually be found playing pinochle with a group of terrified satyrs on the front porch of the Big House. If you want to join the game, be prepared to bet large. Dionysus invented wine, which so impressed his father Zeus that he promoted Dionysus to god. The guy who invented prune juice, by contrast, got sentenced to the Fields of Punishment. Dionysus mostly spent his time partying it up in Ancient Greece, but once a crew of sailors tried to kill him, thinking the god was too incapacitated to fight back. Dionysus turned them into dolphins and sent them over the side. The moral of this story: Do not mess with a god, even a drunk one. He sits on a throne of bones. Hades rarely leaves his obsidian palace in the Underworld, probably because of traffic congestion on the Fields of Asphodel freeway. He oversees a booming population among the dead and has all sorts of employment trouble with his ghouls and specters. This keeps him in a foul mood most of the time. Hades is best known for the romantic way he won his wife, Persephone. Really, though, how would you like to marry someone who lives in a dark cave filled with zombies all year round? Hypnos appears as a young man with wings sprouting from his brow, probably to keep him from doing a face plant whenever he falls asleep. Sometimes he is seen carrying an upside-down torch. Probably because the flames keep him awake. Hypnos lives in Erebos, deep in the Underworld, but can often be found trying out the mattresses at the Sleep Shop. He is the son of Nyx Night and loves putting people to sleep. He is the brother of Thanatos Death. But unlike his brother, Hypnos might let you wake up eventually. Hypnos could be good or bad in ancient times. He brought rest and dreams, but he could also sneak up on you and cause you to doze off at bad moments. In his Roman form of Somnus, the god liked to make sentries fall asleep on duty which was an automatic death sentence or make ship navigators fall asleep at the wheel. Nike has the wings of an angel and rides a chariot. She usually has a golden laurel wreath handy to give to the winners of major battles, sports competitions, and the state lottery. The goddess does not find it amusing to be confused with footwear. You are likely to meet Nike at the World Series, the Superbowl, and most other major sporting events, where she will be hovering overheard, deciding which team to grant victory. She values bravery and skill, though she also likes a good halftime show. Nike was very popular, since everybody wanted victory. Olympic athletes would sacrifice to her, as would soldiers before a big battle. Page 5

6 Chapter 4 : Greek Myths â Famous Stories, Myths and Legends of Ancient Greece Roman God of War - Mars Religion was an important part of daily life in Rome. It helped Romans make sense of good and bad things that happened. If terrible things like natural disasters or battle losses occurred, Romans believed it was evidence that the Gods were unhappy with the people of Rome. His touch was gentle, likened to that of his twin brother Hypnos Sleep. Thanatos plays a prominent role in two myths. Once when he was sent to fetch Alkestis Alcestis to the underworld, he was driven off by Herakles in a fight. Another time he was captured by the criminal Sisyphos Sisyphus who trapped him in a sack so as to avoid death. In Greek vase painting Thanatos was depicted as a winged, bearded older man, or more rarely as a beardless youth. He often appears in a scene from the Iliad, opposite his brother Hypnos Sleep carrying off the body of Sarpedon. In Roman sculptural reliefs he was portrayed as a youth holding a down-turned torch and wreath or butterfly which symbolised the soul of the dead. In the Homeric poems Death does not appear as a distinct divinity, though he is described as the brother of Sleep, together with whom he carries the body of Sarpedon from the field of battle to the country of the Lycians. In the Alcestis of Euripides, where Death cones upon the stage, he appears as an austere priest of Hades in a dark robe and with the sacrificial sword, with which he cuts off a lock of a dying person, and devotes it to the lower world. On the whole, later poets describe Death as a sad or terrific being Horat. On the chest of Cypselus, Night was represented with two boys, one black and the other white Paus. Both were usually represented as slumbering youths, or as genii with torches turned upside down. There are traces of sacrifices having been offered to Death Serv. With regard to Apollo and Thanatos however, the name may at the same time contain an allusion to paiein, to strike, since both are also regarded as destroyers. Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology. And again the goddess murky Nyx, though she lay with none, bare Momos Blame and painful Oizys Misery, and the Hesperides. Grant Roman mythographer C2nd A. Thanatos], Letum Dissolution [i. Rackham Roman rhetorician C1st B. Thanatos], Tenebrae Darkness [i. Cicero translates Thanatos as Mors and Keres as Tenebrae. Lattimore Greek epic C8th B. Greek Elegiac Greek elegy C6th B. According to the fabulous story told by Pherekydes Frag. Vellacott Greek tragedy C5th B. The stain of death in the house must not be on me. I step therefore from these chambers dearest to my love. And here is Thanatos Death himself, I see him coming, Thanatos who dedicates the dying, who will lead her down to the house of Hades. He has come on time. He has been watching for this day on which her death falls due. He sees Apollon suddenly and shows surprise. You at this house, Phoibos Phoebus? Why do you haunt this place. I have nothing but justice and fair words for you. If you mean fairly, what are you doing with a bow? It is your custom to help this house more than you ought. But he is my friend, and his misfortunes trouble me. You mean to take her body, too, away from me? I never took his body away from you by force. How is it, then, that he is above ground, not below? He gave his wife instead, and you have come for her now. And I shall take her down where the dead are. Take her and go. I am not sure you will listen to me. Tell me to kill whom I must kill. Such are my orders. No, only to put death off. They must die in the end. I understand what you would say and what you want. Is there any way, then, for Alkestis to grow old? I insist on enjoying my rights too. You would not take more than one life in any case. My privilege means more to me when they die young. If she dies old, she will have a lavish burial. What you propose, Phoibos, is to favour the rich. Have you unrecognised talents for debate? Those who could afford to buy a late death would buy it then. Are you determined not to do this for me? I will not do it. And you know my character. You cannot always have your way where you should not. For all your brute ferocity you shall be stopped. Talking will win you nothing. Thanatos enters the house. We would like to know whether the queen [Alkestis] is dead or if she is alive. I could tell you that she is still alive or that she is dead. How could a person both be dead and live and see? It has felled her, and the life is breaking from her now. There is no hope left she will live? This is the day of destiny. It is too strong. Oh yes, he [Admetos] is crying. He holds his wife [Alkestis] close in his arms, imploring her not to forsake him. What he wants is impossible. The sickness fades Page 6

7 her now. She has gone slack, just an inert weight on the arm. He frowns from under dark brows. It is Haides Death. Here Haides is Thanatos. I have no strength to stand. Aides Death is close to me. The darkness creeps over my eyes. I must save this woman who has died so lately, bring Alkestis back to live in this house and pay Admetos all the kindness that I owe. Then, if I can break suddenly from my hiding place, catch him, and hold him in the circle of these arms, there is no way he will be able to break my hold on his bruised ribs, until he gives the woman up to me. Such was the one Thanatos Death has taken from me, and given to Haides. How did you bring her [Alkestis] back, from down there to the light? I fought a certain deity who had charge of her. Where do you say you fought this match with Thanatos Death? Beside the tomb itself. I sprang and caught him in my hands. But why is my wife standing here, and does not speak? You are not allowed to hear her speak to you until her obligations to the gods who live below are washed away. Until the third morning comes. Shewring Greek epic C8th B. And there [near the house of Nyx in the underworld] the children of gloomy Nyx have their houses. These are Hypnos Sleep and Thanatos Death, dread divinities. Never upon them does Helios, the shining sun, cast the light of his eye-beams, neither when he goes up the sky nor comes down from it. One of these [Hypnos], across the earth and the wide sea-ridges, goes his way quietly back and forth, and is kind to mortals, but the heart of the other one [Thanatos] is iron, and brazen feelings without pity are inside his breast. Alas, Thanatos Death is never at a loss for an occasion. Page 7

8 Chapter 5 : Greek mythology Gods, Stories, & History blog.quintoapp.com Then: Janus was one of the most important Roman gods. January, the beginning month of the year, was named after him. It's said that Janus showed Saturn hospitality when he fled to Italy after the Titan war, so Saturn gave Janus the power to see both the past and the future. Origin of the Roman Race written by: In the highest form of flattery, the Romans copied Greek architecture, sculpture, and mythology. Learn the Roman names for Greek gods the tale of the origins of the Roman race in the Aeneas myth. The names and myth locale may differ, but the Romans were enamored by all things Greek and, predictably, changed little else. While the Roman mythology is basically Greek in origin, it is often the Roman names for the gods and goddesses which are more familiar. Likewise, the statue of Aphrodite found in on the island of Melos is commonly known as the Venus de Milo, not Aphrodite of Melos. Familiarize yourself with the Roman names for Greek gods and goddesses by printing out this photo slide 2 of 3 Justification of Power: Roman Figures True to form, Romans would also follow the Greek example of using the gods and heroes to justify power or privilege. Just as Alexander the Great established a lineage with the Greek mythical heroes Herakles and Achilles, Roman emperors would do anything to reinforce the notion they descended from gods and heroes. The first Roman emperor, Octavian, would take the name Augustus which means sacred. Virgil, a Roman poet, composed the Aeneid in which Aeneas, a Trojan hero, is depicted as the father of the Roman race and an ancestor of Augustus. Aeneas was the son of the Roman goddess Venus who, prior to his birth, predicted he would rule the Trojans and come to head a dynasty. When Troy fell, Aeneas fled the city with his son, and carrying his own father on his back. His wife, Creusa, did not make it out and when Aeneas returned to find her, she appeared to him in a vision and told him to abandon his search and leave. Aeneas traveled to Mount Ida where the Trojans regrouped and constructed ships. He and the Trojans moved on to Thrace, Delos, and Crete. The Roman goddess Juno knew Aeneas was destined to begin a race so powerful it would destroy Carthage, a city in northern Africa that she favored. In an attempt to prevent him from reaching Italy she commanded the wind god Aeolus to send the hurricanes. Aeneas and his fellow survivors retreated to Carthage where Venus, in an attempt to bring joy to her son, had Cupid cause Queen Dido to fall in love with him. Juno seized the chance to keep Aeneas in Carthage and created a rainstorm while he and Dido were hunting, forcing them into a cave. The two made love and Aeneas became unsure of continuing his journey. Aeneas told Dido of his intentions. Distraught, Dido asked her sister Anna to help her burn all that reminded her of Aeneas. As the Trojan ships sailed off, Dido cursed her lover and all his descendants to conflict with Carthage. Than, she impaled herself on a sword he had left behind and fell into the bonfire. She warned him of war and conflict ahead. Aeneas asked the Sybil to take him to Hades so he could see his father, Anchises, who had died during their journey. The prophetess escorts him to Hades and they are granted passage over the river Styx. They pass through different areas of the underworld designated for certain types of souls: Finally, they reached the lush home of the blessed and were greeted by Anchises who showed Aeneas a group of unborn souls who would be his descendants. He tells Aeneas they will be the result of his marriage to an Italian princess, Lavinia. Aeneas returns to the world and sails to Latium, a city at the base of the Tiber river. Its king, Latinus, had recently dreamed his daughter Lavinia would marry a stranger and so sent her to Aeneas despite her engagement to Turnus, the king of a Rutulian tribe nearby. She incited a fight between the Trojans and Latins in which two Latins were killed. Enraged, the Latins joined Turnus to expel the Trojans. Aeneas, in turn, allied with the neighboring Arcadians. His mother Venus presented him with a sword crafted by Vulcan, the god of metalwork. Eventually, amongst further interference from Juno, Turnus and Aeneas agreed to a one-on-one fight. Aeneas was victorious, married Lavinia, and founded the Roman race. Page 8

9 Chapter 6 : Greek Gods and Goddesses - Greek Mythology Pantheon - Mythologian Romans see Charon as the symbol of death, and the painters portray him as an eerie old man. These myths are related to the Roman gods and their ways. These gods played a vital role in the everyday lives of the ancient Romans. Immortals[ edit ] The Greeks created images of their deities for many purposes. A temple would house the statue of a god or goddess, or multiple deities, and might be decorated with relief scenes depicting myths. Divine images were common on coins. Drinking cups and other vessels were painted with scenes from Greek myths. She was married to Hephaestus, but bore him no children. She had many lovers, most notably Ares, to whom she bore Harmonia, Phobos, and Deimos. She was also a lover to Adonis and Anchises, to whom she bore Aeneas. She is usually depicted as a naked or semi-nude beautiful woman. Her symbols include myrtle, roses, and the scallop shell. Her sacred animals include doves and sparrows. Her Roman counterpart is Venus. He is the son of Zeus and Leto, and the twin brother of Artemis. Both Apollo and Artemis use a bow and arrow. Apollo is depicted as young, beardless, handsome and athletic. In myth, he can be cruel and destructive, and his love affairs are rarely happy. He is often accompanied by the Muses. His most famous temple is in Delphi, where he established his oracular shrine. His signs and symbols include the laurel wreath, bow and arrow, and lyre. His sacred animals include roe deer, swans, and pythons. Some late Roman and Greek poetry and mythography identifies him as a sun-god, equivalent to Roman Sol and Greek Helios. The son of Zeus and Hera, he was depicted as a beardless youth, either nude with a helmet and spear or sword, or as an armed warrior. Homer portrays him as moody and unreliable, and as being the most unpopular god on earth and Olympus Iliad 5. He generally represents the chaos of war in contrast to Athena, a goddess of military strategy and skill. Ares is known for cuckolding his brother Hephaestus, conducting an affair with his wife Aphrodite. His sacred animals include vultures, venomous snakes, dogs, and boars. His Roman counterpart Mars by contrast was regarded as the dignified ancestor of the Roman people. In later times, Artemis became associated with bows and arrows. She is the daughter of Zeus and Leto, and twin sister of Apollo. In art she is often depicted as a young woman dressed in a short knee-length chiton and equipped with a hunting bow and a quiver of arrows. Her attributes include hunting spears, animal pelts, deer and other wild animals. Her sacred animals include deer, bears, and wild boars. Her Roman counterpart is Diana. She is depicted as being crowned with a crested helm, armed with shield and spear, and wearing the aegis over a long dress. Poets describe her as "grey-eyed" or having especially bright, keen eyes. She is a special patron of heroes such as Odysseus. She is the patron of the city Athens from which she takes her name and is attributed to various inventions in arts and literature. Her symbol is the olive tree. She is commonly shown as being accompanied by her sacred animal, the owl. Her Roman counterpart is Minerva. Demeter, whose Roman counterpart is Ceres, is a daughter of Cronus and Rhea, and was swallowed and then regurgitated by her father. She is a sister of Zeus, by whom she bore Persephone, who is also known as Kore, i. She is depicted as a mature woman, often crowned and holding sheafs of wheat and a torch. Her sacred animals include pigs and snakes. In art he is depicted as either an older bearded god particularly before BC or an effeminate, long-haired youth particularly after BC. His attributes include the thyrsus, a drinking cup, the grape vine, and a crown of ivy. He is often in the company of his thiasos, a group of attendants including satyrs, maenads, and his old tutor Silenus. The consort of Dionysus was Ariadne. It was once held that Dionysius was a later addition to the Greek pantheon, but the discovery of Linear B tablets confirm his status as a deity from an early period. Bacchus was another name for him in Greek, and came into common usage among the Romans. His consort is Persephone. His attributes are the drinking horn or cornucopia, key, sceptre, and the three-headed dog Cerberus. His sacred animals include the screech owl. He was one of three sons of Cronus and Rhea, and thus sovereign over one of the three realms of the universe, the underworld. As a chthonic god, however, his place among the Olympians is ambiguous. In the mystery religions and Athenian literature, Plouton "the Rich one" was his preferred name, because of the idea that all riches came from the earth. The term Hades was used in Page 9

10 this literature to refer to the underworld itself. Either the son of Zeus and Hera or Hera alone, he is the smith of the gods and the husband of the adulterous Aphrodite. He was usually depicted as a bearded, crippled man with hammer, tongs, and anvil, and sometimes riding a donkey. His sacred animals include the donkey, the guard dog, and the crane. Among his creations was the armor of Achilles. Hephaestus used the fire of the forge as a creative force, but his Roman counterpart Vulcan was feared for his destructive potential and associated with the volcanic power of the earth. She is the wife and sister of Zeus, and the daughter of Cronus and Rhea. She was usually depicted as a regal woman in the prime of her life, wearing a diadem and veil and holding a lotus-tipped staff. Her sacred animals include the heifer, the peacock, and the cuckoo. Her Roman counterpart is Juno. Hermes was also responsible for protecting livestock and presided over the spheres associated with fertility, music, luck, and deception. He was depicted either as a handsome and athletic beardless youth, or as an older bearded man. His sacred animals include the tortoise. His Roman counterpart is Mercury. She is a daughter of Rhea and Cronus, and a sister of Zeus. Not often identifiable in Greek art, she appeared as a modestly veiled woman. Her symbols are the hearth and kettle. In some accounts, she gave up her seat as one of the Twelve Olympians in favor of Dionysus, and she plays little role in Greek myths. Her Roman counterpart Vesta, however, was a major deity of the Roman state. He is a son of Cronus and Rhea, and the brother of Zeus and Hades. He rules one of the three realms of the universe, as king of the sea and the waters. In art he is depicted as a mature man of sturdy build, often with a luxuriant beard, and holding a trident. His sacred animals include the horse and the dolphin. His wedding with Amphitrite is often presented as a triumphal procession. In some stories he rapes Medusa, leading to her transformation into a hideous Gorgon and also to the birth of their two children, Pegasus and Chrysaor. His Roman counterpart is Neptune. He is the youngest son of Cronus and Rhea. He overthrew Cronus and gained the sovereignty of heaven for himself. In art he is depicted as a regal, mature man with a sturdy figure and dark beard. His usual attributes are the royal scepter and the lightning bolt. His sacred animals include the eagle and the bull. His Roman counterpart is Jupiter, also known as Jove. Page 10

11 Chapter 7 : Sky Gods & Goddesses Theoi Greek Mythology He was the king of the gods, the ultimate authority, and his word was final. Share in the adventure of Jupiter, Juno, and Little Io. Juno was the sister and wife of Jupiter, and thus, the Queen. These tales have inspired millennia of writers and poets, and even prophets of later religions. They also served to entertain everyone else fortunate enough to read or hear them. Here comes a very concise overview of the main gods and goddesses who populate the ancient myths in Greek mythology â to be updated with time to include minor gods and goddesses. Zeus His name might start with the last letter of the alphabet but Zeus was the foremost of the Greek gods and king amongst them. He was also their god of justice and the law. Zeus was not always ruler of Mount Olympus but the youngest son of the first king of the gods, Cronus, and his wife, Rhea. Zeus overthrew his father and drew lots with his two older brothers to decide which of the three worlds they would each rule. Poseidon and Hades won dominion over the sea and the underworld respectively while Zeus became the god of the sky. The chief Greek god is sometimes depicted with a shield named Aegis, which he uses to manipulate natural phenomena like storms and wind, and to control the level of brightness of the day. His weapon is the thunderbolt, a tool he readily uses against fellow gods who earn his ire and also against dishonest Men. Zeus is called Jove Jupiter in the Roman pantheon. She presided over issues pertaining to females and womanhood like marriage, fertility and childbirth. Dominion over kings, domains and empires was also hers. Zeus and Hera reigned over the gods together but their relationship did not end there â they were also brother and sister, children of Cronus and Rhea. The cow, the peacock and the lion are animals associated with Hera. Her statues are almost invariably of a youthful, crowned woman, and she is sometimes shown holding a pomegranate in her hand. The Romans worshipped her as Juno. Aphrodite The Greek goddess of love is arguably the most well-known goddess of the ancient world, a position perhaps only contested by her Roman equivalent, Venus. Aphrodite represented not just love but also physical attraction and sexual desire. She herself wore a magical girdle that induced passions in those around her. Statues of the goddess of love always present a sensual, young woman either nude or only partially clothed. The scallop shell features often in relation to the story of her birth from the water, and she is also seen with roses and myrtle, sparrows and doves. Ares Known most widely as the Greek god of War, Ares was also the deity who oversaw all manner of bloodletting and violence that accompany battle. He was the son of Zeus and Hera but his father is said to have disliked Ares more than anyone else. He had romantic dalliances with Aphrodite, his sister, and they were the parents of eight children, including Phobos fear, Deimos terror and Eris discord who often accompanied their father into battle. While he was the god of war, Ares was not altogether successful as a combatant in his own right. Greek myths regale us with stories of his many humiliating defeats and he was regarded as universally unpopular among both gods and men. Ares is always depicted as a clean-shaven, armed, youth and is associated with vultures, snakes and wild boar. He evolved into Mars in Roman mythology, a vastly more popular character. Hades His name might be eternally linked to the dead and tormented but Hades was one of the three sons of the first rulers of the gods, Cronus and Rhea; his brothers were Zeus and Poseidon. After Zeus overthrew their father, Hades literally drew the short straw to become the lord of the underworld while his brothers gained dominion over sky and sea. Hades is depicted with a drinking horn, scepter and key. Two animals accompany him â a screech owl and Cerberus, the three-headed hound that guards the entry into the underworld. He also extended his control to smaller water bodies like rivers and controlled droughts and earthquakes. He won his role after drawing lots with his brothers to decide who would preside over which of the three planes of existence â sea, sky and underworld. As lord of the waters, Poseidon is also the protector of all marine animals and is often shown with dolphins. However, he is also credited with creating the first horse, an attempt to create the most beautiful animal in his love pursuit of the goddess, Demeter. After Zeus, Poseidon is the second most powerful of the Greek gods. His personality in myths of his exploits comes across as one driven by avarice and materialism. He is depicted as a Page 11

12 powerfully-built man with a thick, flowing beard wearing a bejeweled crown and holding a large trident. The Romans envisioned Poseidon as Neptune in their pantheon. Apollo Apollo is best known as the patron god of music, poetry and the arts. However, his spectrum of specialties extended to healing, knowledge and archery. In addition, he was charged with the task of pulling the sun across the sky every day, which he did riding his four-horse chariot. Apollo had a twin sister, Artemis. Apollo is always represented as a youthful man at his prime, handsome, powerful and athletic. While he is most often associated with all manner of positive things like light, truth and healing, it is said that arrows he shoots from his bow also have the power to cause disease where they land. Apollo himself has no dominion over the sea but he is often associated with the dolphin, possibly because of the manner of his birth. Artemis The virgin goddess of the hunt is one of the most empowered female characters in Greek mythology. Twin sister of Apollo, she is the daughter of Zeus and Leto, and oversees hunts, hunting grounds, childbirth and young girls. According to Greek myths, she asked Zeus to grant her eternal chastity and virginity and thus never had relationships with any mortal or other gods. There is no shortage of instances, though, where various gods have tried to seduce and even force themselves upon her. However, Artemis emerged with her honor intact each time. Always armed with at least one weapon and possibly more from an armory of hunting spears, knives and bows and arrows, Artemis is often portrayed in the company of animals. She is always young and lithe of form, dressed in a way that reveals her athletic build. Artemis from the Greek myths became Diana to the Romans. He started having terrible headaches and the other gods cleaved his forehead; Athena emerged from within fully grown and fully armored. Zeus admired Athena and she was even permitted her to wield his thunderbolt. However, Athena is most often associated with defense instead of attack. The Greeks credited Athena with a slew of priceless inventions, including the bridle, rake, plow, yoke, pot, flute, chariot and ship. Statues of Athena show a lean, athletic, young woman with a crested helm and often a spear as well. The wise owl and wondrous olive tree are associated with Athena. To the Romans, she was Minerva. Demeter Woman in her classic gentle and nurturing form was represented by the ancient Greeks in the personification of the goddess Demeter. She was the goddess of the earth, agriculture, harvest, grain and nourishment. With Zeus, she bore Persephone, who was abducted by Hades, god of the underworld. It is said that winter is the period when she withdraws her gift of earthly bounty to man and mourns her daughter. This bestows upon her the title of the goddess of the seasons. Pigs and snakes are associated with her. Being the daughter of Cronus and Rhea, and sister of Zeus, this virgin goddess of the home and hearth had excellent blood. However, she abdicated her position at the table of the Twelve Olympians, allowing Dionysus to ascend in her place. In that respect, she was not worshipped publicly in contrast to her Roman counterpart, Vesta and there are no temples dedicated to her. Instead, it is believed that homes usually had a small prayer house or altar to honor the goddess. Hestia took a vow of chastity and she is usually represented as a middle-aged woman wearing a veil. Dionysus The Greeks were known for their wild revelry during festivals and most joyful events, particularly those where wine was consumed, were considered to be blessed by Dionysus. He was the Greek god of that intoxicating substance as well as revelry, merrymaking, drunkenness and earthly pleasures. Zeus stitched the fetal Dionysus to himself and his birth from the king of the gods bestowed immortality upon him. Hera pursued Dionysus even after this, and Zeus left him in the charge of the mountain nymphs. This is why festivals dedicated to the god of wine were held not in temples but in wooded areas. Statues of Dionysus from ancient Greece depict an older man with a thick, curly beard, always brandishing a wine cup and often holding a bunch of grapes. His swiftness and wanderings made him the patron of both athletes and thieves. He is often seen as a guide, leading souls of the dead on their journey to the afterlife. Myths about Hermes paint the picture of a mischievous god, always brimming with ideas for a laugh at his fellow deities. However, his nimble mind is also employed by various gods when in a quandary. Images of Hermes always portray a youthful man, unbearded and with a pleasant countenance. On his feet are his legendary winged sandals, a gift from Zeus in recognition of his speed and agility. The Romans named him Mercury. Page 12

13 Chapter 8 : Greek mythology - Wikipedia Short Myth Stories and Pictures. Short Myth Stories & Legends The Myth Stories & legends of the powerful gods and goddesses, heroes and scary monsters include short tales and fables about Hercules, Theseus, Perseus, the Gorgons, the Minotaur, the Sphinx, the Chimera, the Hydra and Pegasus the winged horse. Few today would accept this literally. In the first book of the Iliad, the son of Zeus and Leto Apollo, line 9 is as instantly identifiable to the Greek reader by his patronymic as are the sons of Atreus Agamemnon and Menelaus, line In both cases, the audience is expected to have knowledge of the myths that preceded their literary rendering. Little is known to suggest that the Greeks treated Homer, or any other source of Greek myths, as mere entertainment, whereas there are prominent Greeks from Pindar to the later Stoa for whom myths, and those from Homer in particular, are so serious as to warrant bowdlerization or allegorization. HomerHomer, copy of a lost bust from the 2nd century from Baiae, Italy. Theogony and Works and Days The fullest and most important source of myths about the origin of the gods is the Theogony of Hesiod c. The elaborate genealogies mentioned above are accompanied by folktales and etiological myths. The orthodox view treats the two poems as quite different in theme and treats the Works and Days as a theodicy a natural theology. It is possible, however, to treat the two poems as a diptych, each part dependent on the other. The Theogony declares the identities and alliances of the gods, while the Works and Days gives advice on the best way to succeed in a dangerous world, and Hesiod urges that the most reliableâ though by no means certainâ way is to be just. Courtesy of the Rheinisches Landesmuseum, Trier, Ger. Other literary works Fragmentary post-homeric epics of varying date and authorship filled the gaps in the accounts of the Trojan War recorded in the Iliad and Odyssey; the so-called Homeric Hymns shorter surviving poems are the source of several important religious myths. Many of the lyric poets preserved various myths, but the odes of Pindar of Thebes flourished 6thâ 5th century bce are particularly rich in myth and legend. The works of the three tragediansâ Aeschylus, Sophocles, and Euripides, all of the 5th century bceâ are remarkable for the variety of the traditions they preserve. Apollonius of Rhodes, another scholar of the 3rd century bce, preserved the fullest account of the Argonauts in search of the Golden Fleece. In the period of the Roman Empire, the Geography of Strabo 1st century bce, the Library of the pseudo-apollodorus attributed to a 2nd-century-ce scholar, the antiquarian writings of the Greek biographer Plutarch, and the works of Pausanias, a 2nd-century-ce historian, as well as the Latin Genealogies of Hyginus, a 2nd-century-ce mythographer, have provided valuable sources in Latin of later Greek mythology. Archaeological discoveries The discovery of the Mycenaean civilization by Heinrich Schliemann, a 19th-century German amateur archaeologist, and the discovery of the Minoan civilization in Crete from which the Mycenaean ultimately derived by Sir Arthur Evans, a 20th-century English archaeologist, are essential to the 21st-century understanding of the development of myth and ritual in the Greek world. Such discoveries illuminated aspects of Minoan culture from about to bce and Mycenaean culture from about to bce; those eras were followed by a Dark Age that lasted until about bce. Unfortunately, the evidence about myth and ritual at Mycenaean and Minoan sites is entirely monumental, because the Linear B script an ancient form of Greek found in both Crete and Greece was mainly used to record inventories. Geometric designs on pottery of the 8th century bce depict scenes from the Trojan cycle, as well as the adventures of Heracles. The extreme formality of the style, however, renders much of the identification difficult, and there is no inscriptional evidence accompanying the designs to assist scholars in identification and interpretation. In the succeeding Archaic c. Heracles fighting with the Amazons, detail from a volute krater attributed to Euphronius, c. Religious myths Greek religious myths are concerned with gods or heroes in their more serious aspects or are connected with ritual. They include cosmogonical tales of the genesis of the gods and the world out of Chaos, the successions of divine rulers, and the internecine struggles that culminated in the supremacy of Zeus, the ruling god of Olympus the mountain that was considered the home of the gods. The gods on Olympus: Athena, Zeus, Dionysus, Hera, Page 13