G10 Key Elements of Greek Mythology Flashcards
the study of “Myths” — and myths are stories about supernatural beings in early times, which were handed down orally from one generation to another
Mythology
Myths attempt to explain such things as
Nature(Where did Earth come from?Heavens?Seasons?Geography?
Man(Where did we come from?)
Gods(Where do the gods come from?)
The Greeks and Romans believed in
polytheism
poly
many
theism
God
polytheism
many gods
Why study Greek Mythology?
Interesting and Entertaining
Shows how ancient people viewed the world and gives us an account of their history
It is constantly referenced to in everyday life
It is composed mainly of stories about gods and goddesses, but it is not an account of Greek religion. Instead, these stories were written to serve as a way of explaining how things came to be.
Greek Mythology
teaches about various subjects such as the responsibilities of humans, right and wrong behavior, love and hate, emotions, strengths and weaknesses of humans, family relationships, and rivalry and conflicts, among others
Greek Mythology
form of pure entertainment and were told by ancient Greeks to each other to pass the time
Greek Mythology
Elements of Greek Mythology
Setting Characters Plot Themes Motifs
(element of greek mythology)usually in ancient Greece, sometimes in Mount Olympus or other fictional and mythical places such as the underworld
Setting
(element of greek mythology)gods and goddesses, heroes, or mythical beings
Character
most of these stories have a distinct beginning, middle, and end, although some stories are interrelated
Plot
universal ideas in a literary work (i.e., fate, revenge, reward for goodness and punishment for evil, etc.)
Themes
(element of greek mythology)recurring structures that help develop the theme (i.e., beauty, love, etc.)
Motifs
Themes and Motifs in Greek Mythology
Fate Reward for goodness and punishment for evil Love War Vengeance Beauty
Basis of Classical Greek Mythology
Theogony by Hesiod
Iliad by Homer
Odyssey by Homer
Author of Theogony
Hesiod
Author of Iliad
Homer
Author of Odyssey
Homer
the earliest group of Divinities; led by Cronus
Titans
12 titans(first generation)
Mnemosyne Themis Tethys Oceanus Iapetus -Clymene Crius Phoebe Coeus Hyperion Theia Rhea Cronus
the most powerful group.They are called _ because they lived on Mount Olympus. The _ overthrew the Titans. This group consists of several ranks of divinities, with twelve gods and goddesses making up the top rank.
Olympians
ruler of all divinities in Mount Olympus; the god of the sky and thunder
Zeus
god of the sea and earthquakes; Zeus’s brother
Poseidon
god of the underworld; Zeus’s brother
Hades
god of the sun, music, poetry, and purity; son of Zeus and Leto (daughter of the Titans Coeus and Phoebe)
Apollo
god of war; son of Zeus and Hera
Ares
god of fire; blacksmith for the gods; son of Zeus and Hera
Hephaestus
god of commerce, travelers, and thieves; guide of souls; messenger of the Olympian gods; son of Zeus and Maia (one of the seven daughters of the Titan Atlas)
Hermes
goddess of the hearth; Zeus’s sister
Hestia
goddess of marriage; Zeus’s sister and wife
Hera
goddess of wisdom and war; daughter of Zeus
Athena
goddess of love and beauty; daughter of Zeus with his first wife, the Titan named Dione (in the Iliad); is said to have sprung from sea foam (in later poems
Aphrodite
goddess of the hunt and the moon; Apollo’s twin sister; daughter of Zeus and Leto
Artemis
goddess of agriculture;
mother of Persephone
Demeter
goddess of the Underworld; wife of Hades; daughter of demeter
Persephone
other gods and goddesses aside from the twelve Olympians
Minor divinities
god of love; also known as Cupid in Latin
Eros
god of wine; son of Zeus and Semele (a mortal princess of Thebes)
Dionysus
beautiful maidens who were in charge of guarding various parts of nature
minor nature goddesses, which populated the Earth
Nymphs
freshwater nymphs
Naiads
sea nymphs; daughters of Nereus and Oceanus
Nereids and Oceanids
mountain nymphs
Oreads
tree nymphs
Hamadryads
tree nymphs; especifically
for oak trees
Dryads
three goddesses who controlled the destiny of men
Fates
spun the thread of life
Clotho
assigned each man his destiny
Lachesis
cut the thread of life
Atropos
Megaera
Tisiphone
Alecto
Furies
nine goddesses of different arts and sciences; daughters of Zeus and Mnemosyne
Muses
muse of songs to the gods
Polyhymnia
muse of dance
Terpsichore
muse of love poetry
Erato
muse of tragedy
Melpomene
muse of comedy
Thalia
muse of lyric poetry
Euterpe
muse of history
Clio
muse of epic poetry
Calliope
muse of astronomy
Urania
partly divine, partly mortal beings; one example is Heracles (Hercules in Roman mythology), who symbolized strength and endurance
Demigods
mostly or fully mortal beings, many of whom had gods as ancestors
Heroes
terrifying creatures
Monsters
mortals
Men
