Gods and Godesses Flashcards
1
Q
14 Major Deities
A
Zeus(Jupiter) Poseidon(Neptune) Hades(Pluto) (not an olympian) Hera(juno) Hestia(Vesta) (not an olympian) Hephaestus(Vulcan) Ares(Mars) Apollo Artemis(Diana) Demeter(Ceres) Aphrodite(Venus) Athena(Minerva) Hermes(Mercury) Dionysus(bacchus)
2
Q
Hestia
A
- non-olympian
- important in greek household
- hearth
- chaste
- sacred fire = progression
- family, tribe, city, state
- importance in rome
- often shown veiled and holding a flower branch
3
Q
Zeus
A
- amorous
- god of the sky, justice, and virtue
- moral order of the universe
- “cloud-gatherer”
- thunder and lightning
- beard
- aegis-sheepskin, shield
- eagle
- oak
- sanctuary at olympia
- oracles= olympia and dodona
- zenia
4
Q
Hera
A
- married to zeus
- queen of olympus
- goddess of marriage
- jealous and vengeful
- “ox-eyed” and “white-armed”
- peacock and crown
- torments people who have had affairs with zeus
- temple at argos
5
Q
Hephaestus
A
- ugly/deformed so Hera threw him off Mt. Olympus
- son of zeus and hera
- god of fire and forge
- builds things for the gods
- hammer and tongs
- shown riding a donkey sometimes
- husband of aphrodite
- made an invisible net to catch aphrodite cheating on him with ares and showed it to the gods
6
Q
Ares
A
- no one likes him
- god of war
- “golden helmed”
- peaked warriors helmet
- shield and spear
- affair with aphrodite
7
Q
Poseidon
A
- god of the sea, earthquakes, and horses
- “earth-shaker”
- beard and trident
- chariot drawn by hippocamps (half hippo half fish)
- married to amphitrite (nereid-sea nymph)
8
Q
Athena
A
- daughter of zeus and metis
- “wisdom”
- zeus was afraid she would overthrow him so he swallowed metis before she gave birth
- born from zeus’ head, hephaestus opened it with his axe
- came out fully grown in full battle armour with a war cry
- goddess of wisdom, good counsel, war strategy, heroic endeavors, and weaving
- unapproachable, masculine virginity
- “parthenos” “bright-eyed”
- helmet, spear and shield with medusas head
- nike, goddess of victory, followed her around
- owl and olive tree
9
Q
Aphrodite Urania
A
- pure love, emotional gratification
- severed genitals of Uranus that fell into the ocean
- born from foam (aphros)
- asexual=too asexual for the goddess of love and sex
- celestial goddess of pure love and spiritual gratification
10
Q
Aphrodite Pandemos
A
- sex, sexual gratification
- “of the people”
- daughter of Zeus and Dione
- earthly goddess of profane love and physical satisfaction
11
Q
Aphrodite
A
- similar to a babylonian goddess
- goddess of love, beauty, marriage, and procreation
- universal worship in the ancient world
- “Crytherea” -island she was born near
- “Laughter-loving”
- dove
- apple (won in a contest between the goddesses for most beautiful)
- scallop shell=aphrodite urania
- mirror=vain, loved looking at herself
12
Q
Eros
A
- born from chaos and accompanied aphrodite from the sea
- son of aphrodite and ares
- young and handsome
- idealization of male beauty
- god of love, desire and male homosexuality
- winged and carries a bow and arrow
13
Q
Artemis
A
- daughter of Zeus and Leto
- twin sister to apollo
- first born
- midwife-helped leto give birth to apollo after she had been born
- goddess of the hunt, wild animals, childbirth, and protectress of young women
- bringer of sudden death and disease to women
- often appears as a young woman
- chaste virgin=main quality
- is approachable unlike athena
- “of the golden arrows”
- bow and arrow and quiver
- hunting spears
- deer
- has devout followers who often are chased by zeus
- exclusion of males (misandry)=doesn’t want anything to do with them
- sometimes she gets raped and the person who rapes her is often punished
- moon-goddess
14
Q
Apollo
A
- temple on delos
- god of prophecy, oracles, music, song, poetry, archery, healing, and protector of young men
- bringer of sudden death and disease to young men
- became associated with the sun
- “Phoebus” (bright)
- “far-shooting”
- beardless youth
- quiver with bow and arrows
- lyre
- laurel wreath
- raven-revered bird
- oracle is the oracle of delphi
- unlucky in love
15
Q
Hermes
A
- trickster
- son of zeus and maia
- born in a cave at dawn
- made the lyre when he was born and played it
- stole apollos cattle the same day, walked backwards
- hermes lies to apollo about the cattle
- zeus tells hermes to give apollo his lyre in exchange for the cattle
- god of herds, travelers, hospitality, roads, trade, thievery, cunning, and athletic contests
- messenger of the gods
- guide of the dead
- “Psychopompus” -takes souls to hades in underworld
- “bringer of luck”
- young, handsome, and athletic
- older and bearded
- petasus (brimmed hat)
- winged boots
- herald’s wand
