History of Greek Mythology, Study Guides, Projects, Research of English

Download History of Greek Mythology and more Study Guides, Projects, Research English in PDF only on Docsity! GREEK GODS AND GODESSES APOLLO Apollo was the son of Leto and Zeus. He was born on the island of Delos. He and his twin sister Artemis, also an Olympian, shared an aptitude for archery. The nine Muses were companions of his; they were goddesses known for inspiring art and music. God of the Sun, the Light, the Music and Prophecy Apollo is one of the most complex and important gods, and is the god of many things, including: music, poetry, art, oracles, archery, plague, medicine, sun, light and knowledge. He is the son of ZEUS and the Titan Leto, and was born in the Greek island of Delos, along with his older twin sister ARTEMIS – goddess of the hunt. Apollo is the ideal of the kouros, which means he has a beardless, athletic and youthful appearance. He is also an oracular god as a patron of Delphi and could predict prophecy through the Delphic Oracle Pythia. Both medicine and healing are associated with Apollo and were thought to sometimes be mediated through his son, Asclepius. However, Apollo could also bring ill-health and deadly plague. Apollo also became associated with dominion over colonists, and as the patron defender of herds and flocks. He was the leader of the Muses (also known as Apollon Musegetes) and was director of their choir – functioning as the patron god of music and poetry. The god HERMES create the lyre for Apollo and this instrument became a known attribute for him. When hymns were sung to Apollo they were called paeans At the drinking parties held on Olympus, Apollo accompanied the Muses on his cithara, while the young goddesses led the dance. Both Leto and Zeus were proud of their son, who was radiant with grace and beauty. Apollo was one of the few gods that the ROMANS KEPT THE SAME NAME. In Greek mythology, he was most widely known as the god of light. Within Roman mythology, he wasn’t known as much as the god of light and was focused mainly as the god of healing and prophecy. ARES He was the son of Zeus and Hera, both of whom hated him (according to Homer). Eros (more commonly known as Cupid) was the child of Ares and Aphrodite. Ares was most notably referred to as the God of War; he represented the unpleasant aspects of battle. Ares is the god of war, one of the Twelve OLYMPIAN GODS and the son of ZEUS and HERA. In literature Ares represents the violent and physical untamed aspect of war, which is in contrast to ATHENA who represents military strategy and generalship as the goddess of intelligence. Although Ares embodied the physical aggression necessary for success in war, the Greeks were ambivalent toward him because he was a dangerous, overwhelming force that was insatiable in battle. He is well known as the lover of APHRODITE, who was married toHEPHAESTUS, and though Ares plays a limited role in literature, when he does appear in myths it is typically facing humiliation. For example, one famous story of Ares and Aphrodite exposes them to ridicule by the gods when her husband Hephaestus trapped them both naked in a bed using a clever device he made. The ROMAN COUNTERPART to Ares was MARS, who was known as aFATHER TO THE ROMAN PEOPLE. Because of this, he was a less aggressive and physical form, revealing a more calm and understanding demeanour. He was the son of Zeus and Hera, both of whom hated him  The Amazons, warrior women, were his daughters. Their mother was a peace-loving nymph named Harmony.  Harmonia, Goddess of Harmony, was the daughter of Ares and Aphrodite.  Eros (more commonly known as Cupid) was also the child of Ares and Aphrodite.  Ares had a sister named Eris, who was the Goddess of Discord.  Hebe, another sister of his, was the Goddess of Youth. In art, Ares is generally depicted wearing a spear and a helmet. Hades and his brothers ZEUS and POSEIDON defeated their father and the TITANS to end their reign, claiming rulership over the cosmos. They agreed to split their rule with Zeus becoming god of the skies, Poseidon god of the sea and Hades god of the underworld. He was later known to the Greeks as Plouton, which the ROMANSpluralized to Pluto. The god of the underworld was married toPERSEPHONE, the daughter of DEMETER, whom he obtained through deception after abducting her to the underworld and giving her the forbidden fruit pomegranate, forcing her to remain in the underworld with him for one third of each year.  Hades is best known as the ruler of the underworld. It became his dominion after he and his brothers drew lots for their share of the universe.  Hades was depicted as stern and unyielding, unmoved by prayer and sacrifice.  Hades had a cap or helmet that made its wearer invisible.  His wife was Persephone, Demeter’s only daughter, whom he kidnapped and made his queen.  He was also called the God of Wealth or “the rich one” because he possessed the precious metals of the earth.  Though Hades is the King of the Dead, he should not be confused with Death itself, which is personified by Thanatos.  CRONUS and Rhea were his parents.  Poseidon and Zeus were his brothers.  Hades is described by some sources as the god of the earth’s fertility. HEPHAESTUS Hephaestus was the only ugly god among perfectly beautiful immortals. He was the workman of the immortals: he made their dwellings, furnishings, and weapons. Hephaestus was known as the God of Fire. Hephaestus was the god of fire, metalworking, stone masonry, forges and the art of sculpture. He was the son of ZEUS and HERA and married toAPHRODITE by Zeus to prevent a war of the gods fighting for her hand. He was a smithing god, making all of the weapons for Olympus and acting as a blacksmith for the gods. He had his own palace on Olympus where he made many clever inventions and automatons of metal to work for him. Hephaestus’s ugly appearance was the reason Zeus chose him to marry Aphrodite, but despite this she had many affairs with both gods and men. In one story, Hephaestus builds a tricky invention which catches Aphrodite laying with the ARES, the god of war, trapping them both in the bed to be laughed at and ridiculed by the other gods. He is similar to ATHENA in his giving skill and help to mortals – in his case artists. It was believed that Hephaestus taught men the arts alongside Athena. However, he was also considered far inferior to that of the goddess of wisdom.  In some accounts, he was said to be the son of Zeus and Hera; in others, he was the son of Hera alone, conceived in order to get back at Zeus for bringing forth Athena.  Hephaestus was the only ugly god among perfectly beautiful immortals.  Hephaestus was born deformed and was cast out of heaven by one or both of his parents when they noticed that he was imperfect.  He was the workman of the immortals: he made their dwellings, furnishings, and weapons.  Hephaestus was a patron of the arts.  He was a kind and peace-loving god.  In art, Hephaestus is usually depicted as bending over an anvil or walking with the assistance of a cane. HERMES Hermes was considered a “trickster” due to his cunning and clever personality. He primarily served as the herald or messenger of the gods. Hermes was born in a cave on a mountain in Arcadia; he was conceived and born within the course of one day. Hermes was one of the 12 Olympian Gods and was god of trade, thieves, travelers, sports, athletes, and border crossings, guide to the Underworld. He was the second youngest Olympian god and was the son of ZEUS and Maia, one of the seven Pleiades and daughter of the Titan Atlas. As the god of boundaries and transitions, Hermes was known to be quick and cunning and had the ability to freely move between the mortal and divine worlds. It is this skill that made him a luck-bringing messenger to the gods and intercessor between mortals and the divine. He is also the patron and protector of travelers, herdsmen, thieves, orators and wit, literature and poets, athletics and sports, invention and trade. In some myths Hermes is also depicted as a trickster where he would outwit the gods either for the good of humankind or for his own personal amusement and satisfaction. Both Homer and Hesiod portrayed Hermes as the author of skilled or deceptive acts, and also as a benefactor of mortals.  Hermes was the son of Zeus and Maia, one of the Pleiades.  He primarily served as the herald or messenger of the gods.  Hermes was the god of shepherds, land travel, and literature. More specifically, he was known as a patron of poetry.  Hermes is most often presented as a graceful youth, wearing a winged hat and winged sandals. This is how he appeared to Perseus when he and Athena arrived to help the hero kill Medusa.  Hermes was considered a “trickster” due to his cunning and clever personality.  The tortoise is a symbol of Hermes.  He was a patron of thieves. On the day of his birth, Hermes stole cattle from APOLLO.  He was the only one other than Hades and Persephone who was allowed to leave the underworld without consequence. POSEIDON Poseidon was allotted his dominion after the fall of the Titans. He wielded the trident or three-pronged spear, and this image of him is reflected in art. Poseidon was most notably the God of the sea and the protector of all waters. Poseidon was god of the sea, earthquakes, storms, and horses and is considered one of the most bad-tempered, moody and greedy Olympian gods. He was known to be vengeful when insulted. He is the son of Cronus and Rhea and was swallowed by his father along with HADES, DEMETER, HESTIA and HERA. However, in some folklore stories it is believed that Poseidon, like ZEUS, was not swallowed by Cronus because his mother Rhea who concealed him among a flock of lambs and pretended to have given birth to a colt, which was devoured byCRONUS instead. After the gods defeated the Titans, the world was divided into three and Zeus, Hades and Poseidon drew straws to decide which they would rule. Zeus drew the skies, Hades the Zeus fathered Perseus by impregnating Danaë.  The name Zeus means “bright” or “sky.”  His weapon of choice was the thunderbolt, made for him by theMYTHICAL CREATURES, the Cyclops.  Ares, Hephaestus, Hebe and Eileithyia are the children of Zeus and Hera.  His union with Leto brought forth the twins Apollo and Artemis. GREEK GODESSES APHRODITE Aphrodite was the goddess of fertility, love, and beauty. During the Trojan War, Aphrodite fought on the side of Paris. Aphrodite and her son Eros (Cupid) teamed up to cause Zeus to fall in love with a human named Europa. Aphrodite is the Goddess of Love and Beauty and according to Hesiod’sTHEOGONY, she was born from the foam in the waters of Paphos, on the island of Cyprus. She supposedly arose from the foam when the Titan Cronus slew his father Uranus and threw his genitals into the sea. However, according to Homer, in Iliad, Aphrodite may instead be the daughter of ZEUS and Dione. As with so many Greek deities, there are many stories about the origins of the gods. Many gods believed that her beauty was such that their rivalry over her would spark a war of the gods. Because of this, Zeus married Aphrodite toHEPHAESTUS – he wasn’t seen as a threat because of his ugliness and deformity. Despite this marriage to Hephaestus, Aphrodite had many lovers. Her lovers include both gods and men – including the god ARES and the mortal Anchises. She also played a role in the story of Eros and Psyche in which admirers of Psyche neglected to worship Venus (Aphrodite) and instead worshipped her. For this, Aphrodite enlisted EROS (Cupid) to exact her revenge but the god of love instead falls in love with the girl. Later, Aphrodite was both Adonis’s lover and his surrogate mother. This led to a feud with Persephone in which Zeus decreed ADONIS should spend half of the year with Aphrodite and half of the year with Persephone.  Aphrodite was the goddess of fertility, love, and beauty.  Two different stories explain the birth of Aphrodite. The first is simple: She was the child of Zeus and Dione.  According to the second story, however, Aphrodite rose from the foam of the sea.  Aphrodite was married to Hephaestus, but Aphrodite did not enter into this union of her own volition.  She and Ares conceived Harmonia, who eventually married Herodotus.  She was the mother of Hermaphroditus by HERMES.  Aphrodite, Hera, and ATHENA were the top three contenders for a gold apple marked “For the Fairest.” They asked Zeus to judge the contest, but he refused. Paris, son of the King of Troy, judged the contest instead. Each of the three goddesses promised him something in return; he chose Aphrodite as the winner of the apple. This story of the Judgment of Paris was considered to be the real reason behind the Trojan War.  During the Trojan War, Aphrodite fought on the side of Paris.  Aphrodite had a few mortal lovers. One of the most notable was the Trojan shepherd Anchises. The two of them conceived Aeneas. ARTEMIS Artemis was daughter of Zeus and Leto and twin sister of Apollo. She was primarily a virgin huntress, goddess of wildlife and patroness of hunters. She was an important goddess in the lives of women, especially when it came to marriage and young creatures. Artemis is known as the goddess of the hunt and is one of the most respected of all the ancient Greek deities. It is thought that her name, and even the goddess herself, may even be pre-Greek. She was the daughter of ZEUS, king of the gods, and the Titaness Leto and she has a twin brother, the god APOLLO. Not only was Artemis the goddess of the hunt, she was also known as the goddess of wild animals, wilderness, childbirth and virginity. Also, she was protector of young children and was know to bring and relieve disease in women. In literature and art she was depicted as a huntress carrying a bow and arrow. Artemis was a virgin and drew the attention and interest of many gods and men. However, it was only her hunting companion, Orion, that won her heart. It is believed that Orion was accidentally killed either by Artemis herself or by Gaia, the primordial goddess of the earth. In one version of the stories of Adonis – who was a late addition to Greek mythology during the Hellenistic period – Artemis sent a wild boar to kill Adonis after he continued to boast that he was a far greater hunter than her.  Artemis was daughter of Zeus and Leto and twin sister of Apollo.  She was primarily a virgin huntress, goddess of wildlife and patroness of hunters.  The bear was sacred to her.  She guarded her virginity carefully. Actaeon and Orion tried to dishonor or rape her, but anyone who threatened her purity met with a violent end.  She was an important goddess in the lives of women, especially when it came to marriage and young creatures.  Artemis was worshipped widely in Greece but only as a secondary deity.  A temple built in her honor became one of the “Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.”  Artemis spent most of her time roaming the forests with her nymphs. She was described as both hunting animals and protecting them.  In art, Artemis is often accompanied by a stag or hunting dog.  She is the protector of chastity and a nurturer of the young. ATHENA Athena was the Goddess of War, the female counterpart of Ares. She is one of three virgin goddesses; the other two were Hestia and Artemis. Athena served as a guardian of Athens, where the Parthenon served as her temple. Athena, also referred to as Athene, is a very important goddess of many things. She is goddess of wisdom, courage, inspiration, civilization, law and justice, strategic warfare, mathematics, strength, strategy, the arts, crafts, and skill. She is known most specifically for her strategic skill in warfare and is often portrayed as companion of heroes and is the patron goddess of heroic endeavour. In images and statues, Hera is portrayed as being majestic and solemn, crowned with the polos – a high cylindrical crown worn by many of the Great Goddesses. Even before her marriage with Zeus, she ruled over the heavens and the Earth. This is one reason why she is referred to as ‘The Queen of Heaven’ – ruling over Mount Olympus where all the gods and goddesses live. Even the great Zeus feared his wife Hera. Her never-ending hatred of Heracles, the illegitimate son of Zeus and the mortal Alcmene stemmed from his continuous adultery and, amongst other things, Hera raised a storm at sea in order to drive Heracles out of his course to kill him. Zeus became so angry that he hung her in the clouds by a golden chain, and attached heavy anvils to her feet. Her son Hephaestus tried to release his mother from her humiliating position, for which Zeus threw him out of heaven, and his leg was broken by the fall.  Hera was Queen of the OLYMPIAN GODS.  She was the wife and sister of Zeus.  Hera was a jealous wife, and she fought with Zeus frequently over his extramarital affairs and illegitimate children. For this reason, Hera was known for punishing offending husbands.  She was the protector of women, presiding over marriages and births.  The peacock was sacred to her.  Hera is often described as “cow-faced,” although she was also called the chief among the immortals in beauty.  Though she may have been physically attractive, her vindictive personality makes her less so.  Hera had no concept of justice when angry or jealous; she could not forgive the women with whom Zeus had sexual relations—even if they were innocent of wrongdoing. HESTIA Although Hestia appeared in a few stories, she was not overly significant in Greek mythology. She was a sibling to Demeter, Hades, Poseidon, Hera, and Zeus. Hestia is completely omitted from the works of Homer, author of the Iliad and the Odyssey. Hestia was the goddess of the hearth, home, architecture, domesticity, family, and the state. She was one of only three virgin goddesses, next toATHENA and ARTEMIS. Although both POSEIDON and APOLLO wanted to marry her, Hestia made an oath to ZEUS that she would remain forever pure and undefiled, never entering into a union with a man. She is a goddess of the Olympian generation, daughter of Cronus and Rhea and sister to Zeus, Poseidon, HADES, DEMETER and HERA. When Cronus swallowed his children for fear one would dethrone him, Hestia was the eldest and thus swallowed first. After Zeus forced his father to disgorge his children, Hestia was the last to be yielded up, making her both the oldest and the youngest daughter. As the goddess of the hearth she personified the fire burning in the hearth of every home in Greece. Hestia receiving the first offering at every sacrifice in the household with families pouring sweet wine in her name and dedicating the richest portion of food to her. The hearth fire in the household was not allowed to go out by any family unless it was ritually distinguished. Though Hestia did not have a public cult, she was worshipped at any temple, regardless of the god the temple was dedicated to. Hestia is described as a kind, forgiving and discreet goddess with a passive, non-confrontational nature. Hestia was the eldest daughter of Cronos and Rhea. As with the rest of his children, Cronos ate her but eventually regurgitated her. She was a sibling to Demeter, Hades, Poseidon, Hera, and Zeus. She was primarily known the Goddess of the Hearth. Of all the gods and goddesses, she was considered the gentlest and mildest. Others, critically, have called her colorless because there is little information provided in regard to her character. Although Hestia appeared in a few stories, she was not overly significant in Greek mythology. Hestia is completely omitted from the works of Homer, author of the Iliad and the Odyssey. Poets such as Apollodorous, Hesiod, and Ovid allude to her in their works. Each city had a public hearth that was sacred to Hestia; the fire kindled there was never allowed to go out. New colonies took fire from the hearth in the prytaneion (also known as the town hall) and kept the fires going in those new locations. Every meal began and ended with an offering to Hestia. Like Athena and Artemis, Hestia was referred to as a virgin goddess. Although Apollo and Poseidon proposed marriage to Hestia, she requested of Zeus to remain a maiden forever. Domestic life was her dominion in spite of her desire to remain a virgin. She was one of only twelve Olympian deities. Her name literally means “hearth”; appropriately, her priorities were family and community. Children were accepted into the family by being presented at Hestia’s hearth. This observed first step ensured the goddess’s blessing on the new addition. Vesta was the Roman equivalent to Hestia. Public and private worship of Hestia was widespread. She represented communal security and personal happiness. Because Hestia remained a virgin, it follows that she had no children.