Names of Greek, Roman Gods, responibilities and iconography + creation story Flashcards
Responsibilities of Zeus?
- controls earth (after defeating Cronos, his father)
- the unquestionable king of Gods
- has power over others
- seen as the keeper of justice
- God of skies, fate of man
What were the responsibilities of Poseidon?
brother of zeus, God of sailors and journeys (sea), features in a lot of greek iconography
What were the responsibilities of Hades?
he is a chthonic diety and ruler of the underworld. Not mentioned a lot in Greek literature
What were the responsibilities of Hera?
wife of Zeus, Queen of Gods, and responsible for marriage and women, childbirth, and family. She was known as strong independent and powerful.
What were the responsibilities of Athena?
Goddess of war, wisdom, military intelligence
What were the responsibilities of Demeter?
Sister of Zeus, Goddess of agriculture and harvest (for survival)
What were the responsibilities of Hestia?
Goddess of the home and hearth (fireplace kept in the home). She was vital to the ancient Greeks as she was a symbol of security in the city, and power for officials
What were the responsibilities of Hephaistos?
God of metalworking, fire, craftsmen, and son of Zeus and Hera. He has a foot injury because Zeus threw him off of Mnt. Olympus
What were the responsibilities of Artemis?
Goddess of hunting, wildlife, and childbirth. She is Appolo’s twin sister, therefore is associated with the moon
What were the responsibilities of Aphrodite?
Goddess of love and beauty. She was born from the sea. Noone can resist her affection apart from Athena, Artemis, Hera
What were the responsibilities of Apollo?
God of Music, the arts, education, archery, prophecies, (wide range of responsibilities). Associated with the sun.
What were the responsibilities of Hermes?
God of travel, trade, trickery, jokes, messenger of the the Gods, only God apart from Dionisys that can travel to the underworld with the consort of Hades
What were the responsibilities of Ares?
God of war, gives men courage to stand their ground and uphold fo their peace, merciless, raw violence and fighting
What were the responsibilities of Dionysus?
God of wine and theatre. Son of Zeus and Theban mortal called Semele. Attracted the wrath of Hera, forcing Zeus to hide him from her. He was an outsider and original Olympian, however popular with Greeks and pillar to celebrations (had his own festival called Dionysia)
Describe the iconography of Zeus.
bearded, wields a lightning bolt, holding an eagle, seated on a throne with a sceptre, bull, oak
Describe the iconography of Poseidon.
bearded man with trident (+sea)
Describe the iconography of Hades.
usually had a cornucopia (a horn shell containing endless food and drink), Persephone, (dolphin, Bident-A two-pronged weapon that resembles a pitchfork , Narcissus: A flower that symbolizes early death and is associated with Hades and Persephone
Pomegranate: The sacred fruit of Hades, and a symbol of his relationship with Persephone, cerberus)
Describe the iconography of Hera.
usually wearing a diadem (crown associated with Gods and kings)
Describe the iconography of Athena.
depicted as an owl, helmet, spear, aegis (breastplate with a gorgon engraved), Nike (God of Victory)
Describe the iconography of Demeter.
wears a diadem and holds a bunch of wheat/grain/flowers
Describe the iconography of Hestia.
rarely depicted in art. veiled head
Describe the iconography of Aphrodite.
Rising from the sea in shell, depicted naked
Describe the iconography of Artemis.
depicted with bow, arrow, wild animals
Describe the iconography of Apollo.
bow, arrow, lyre, depicted in eternal youth
Describe the iconography of Hermes.
traveller’s cap which is broad-rimmed, winged sandals, caduceus (traveller’s staff w a snake wrapped around it)
Describe the iconography of Ares.
wears armor.
Describe the iconography of Dionysus.
depicted with Thyrsus (dionysus’ staff), vines, animal skin, and his companions - maenads (female followers), satyrs (half man, half goat)
what does chthonic mean?
relating to or inhabiting the underworld aka a term used in Greek mythology to describe mythical beings that dwell within the Earth, specifically within the Underworld.
Apollo oracle vs Apollo lyre?
oracle- Apollo is the patron deity of the Delphic Oracle, where he speaks through oracles to offer wisdom and foresight. The oracle at Delphi was a major cultural and religious experience that helped unite the Greek world.
Apollo as the god of music
lyre- Apollo is the patron of music and is often depicted playing the lyre. The lyre is a symbol of Apollo’s connection to the arts and his civilized nature
where are apollo’s cult centres?
IN delos where he was said to have been born and in delphi, the is one of the biggest oracle in the Greek world
what is an oracle?
an utterence, often ambiguous or obscure, given by a priest / priestess, said ot be speaking the owrds of God
what is a lyre?
a small greek harp consisting of a sound box with two curved arms connected by a crossbar from which the strings are attatched
what is a cadecus?
a traveller’s staff mostly associated with the God Hermes (mercury)
what is Thebes?
an ancient city in Greece that is the focus of many mythological stories e.g., Dionysus’ mother Semele ws Theban.
what is an aegis?
the breastplate/shield of Athena that contained an image of an gorgon in the centre
wha tis the acropolis?
the highest point in a greek city, usually reserved for religious buildings
what is the Parthenon?
the temple dedicated to Athena built on the Athenian acropolis
what is a cornucopia?
a horned shell that contained an endless supply of food and drink
what is a diadem?
a crown often associated with gods/kings
what is Thyrsus?
Dionysus’ staff/ staff associated w Dionysus, which is tipped with a pine cone and would be intertwined with ivy
what is a maenad?
a female follower of Dionysus
what is a Satyr?
in myth, half man, half goat attendants of Dionysus, known for their promiscuous nature
what is pantheon?
a term to speak of all the gods collectively
what is the pantheon?
a temple to all the Gods
WHo are Aphrodie’s parents?
Ouranos and Gaia
who was Zeus’ father and mother?
Cronos and Rhea
who are the titans?
They were the children of Uranus (Heaven) and Gaea (Earth) and their descendants.
name all the children of Cronos and Rhea
Zeus, Hera, Poseidon, Hestia, Hades, Demeter
Name all the children of Zeus (main ones)
Athena (mother is Metis), Apollo (mother is Leto), Artemis Dionysus (m is Semele), Hermes, (w hera->) Hephaistos and Ares
how deos Hermes get to the underworld
w his Cadecus
what does cronos mean?
time
what does Rhea mean?
flow
what is Zeus’ Roman name?
Jupiter
what is Poseidon’s Roman name?
Neptune
what is Hades’ Roman name?
Pluto
what is Hera’s Roman name?
Juno
what is Athena’s Roman name?
Minerva
what is Demeter’s Roman name?
Ceres
what is Hestia’s Roman name?
Vesta
what is Haphaistos’ Roman name?
Vulcan
what is Aphrodite’s Roman name?
Venus
what is Artemis’ Roman name?
Diana
what is Apollo’s Roman name?
Apollo (Actium)
what is Hermes’ Roman name?
Mercury
what is Ares’ Roman name?
Mars
what is Dionysus’ Roman name?
Bacchus
what are some distinctively Roman things about Jupiter? What was their Roman iconography?
King of all gods and controller of skies. has a major temple called Jupiter Optimus Maximus.
iconography- bearded, lightening bolts, eagle, on a throne w a sceptre
what are some distinctively Roman things about Neptune? What was their Roman iconography?
god of seas, earthquakes and storms. He’s linked with horses and important for sailors, traders and travellers
iconography- bearded, trident
what are some distinctively Roman things about Pluto? What was their Roman iconography?
god of the underworld
what are some distinctively Roman things about Juno? What was their Roman iconography?
queen of Gods, responsible for marriage, women, child-birth, powerful and wrathful
iconography - wears a diadem and holding a sceptre, peacock
what are some distinctively Roman things about Minerva? What was their Roman iconography?
Goddess of war, wisdom.
iconography- owl, goddess of war, military, inteligence, helmet, spear, aegis
what are some distinctively Roman things about Ceres? What was their Roman iconography?
goddess of harvest, grain - important for Roman plebs as they relied on grain and bread for survival. Had a temple of Aventine hill and festival (Cerealia)
iconography- diadem, holding a bundle of wheat, grain, flowers
what are some distinctively Roman things about Vesta? What was their Roman iconography?
- goddess of hearth, fire, most important goddess of both family and the state
vital for homelife - had her own priesthood, temple
iconography - vieled head
what are some distinctively Roman things about Vulcan? What was their Roman iconography?
God of metal working, fire, craftsmen, and vital for industry and warfare, therefore essential
iconography- hammer
what are some distinctively Roman things about Venus? What was their Roman iconography?
goddess of love, beauty and mother of founder Aeneas
iconography - naked, accompanied by Cupid
what are some distinctively Roman things about Diana? What was their Roman iconography?
goddess of hunting, childbirth, moon. had a temple on aventine hill
goddess of hunting in art
iconography- bow and arrow
what are some distinctively Roman things about Apollo (actium)? What was their Roman iconography?
popular among poets, scholars, and Roman leaders. favoured by Emporer Augustus.
iconography- lyre, eternal youth
what are some distinctively Roman things about Mercury? What was their Roman iconography?
God of travel, messenger of Gods (important for protection for travellers). Popular houshold God due to good trade well.
iconography- traveller’s cap, cadecus, winged sandals
what are some distinctively Roman things about Mars? What was their Roman iconography?
God of war, associated with agriculture. Important as Rome was an expansionist culture with military conquest
- father of Romulus (founder of Rome)
iconography- armour
what are some distinctively Roman things about Bacchus? What was their Roman iconography?
God of wine, theatre, mystery cult kept secret, however, cult members were met with opposition
iconography - Thyrus, vines and animal skin, Maenads, Satyrs
what is chaos
emptiness, nothingness
explain the creation story
- chaos
- Gaia appears in chaos
- Ouranos (the sky) wraps himself around mother earth
- rain starts to fall which causes puddles which turn into rivers, lakes and things start to grow
- from this the cyclopes (skilled blacksmiths), then Titnans (cronos and rhea) appear, and then the Golden race (1st race of humans with only men)
- the cyclopes are imprisoned by ouranos under the earth. Gaia becomes unhappy so she whispers in the ear of Cronos telling him that he could rule instead
- Cronos brings a sicklein the night chops him into pieces - the sky goes red
- where ouranos’ blood falls on earth, the furies are born (monsters of revenge and madness). where blood falls into the water, Aphrodite is born (meanign she’s older thant the rest of the Olympic gods)
- a prophesy appears saying that cronos will die in the same way as ouranos
- Rhea becomes pregnant and gives birth to demeter, hestia, hera, poseidon, hades. Cronos eats them all but rhea secretly gives birth to another child called Zeus
- Zeus is brought up secretly in Crete and he makes a plan. Cronos is having a feast, he drinks somethign (given to him by a waiter which is secretly Zeus) and starts to choke. He vomits up all his children
- Zeus also frees the cyclopes who makes him his thunder bolt
what are the three ‘races’ ‘birthed’ from Ouranos and Gaia
cyclopes, the titans, the golden race
which goddess is born directly form Zeus’ head? who was the mother?
Athena, Metis
