This document provides an overview of topics to be covered related to Greek mythology. It will discuss the mythology of the Greeks, Greek and Roman writers of mythology such as Homer, Hesiod, Ovid, Aeschylus and Sophocles. It will also cover the major Greek gods like Zeus, Hera, Poseidon, Hades, Athena, Apollo, Artemis, Aphrodite, Hermes, Ares, and Hephaestus. Lesser gods and goddesses will also be discussed such as Eros, Hebe, the Graces, the Muses, and gods of water. The document serves as an outline to guide discussion on key aspects and figures within Greek mythology.

1. GREEK
MYTHOLOGY
Prof. Ronuel L. del Rosario

2. Greek mythology
Topics to cover:
A. The Mythology of the Greeks
B. Greek & Roman Writers of Mythology
C. Greek & Roman Gods
D. The Earliest Heroes
E. Love & Adventure Myths
F. Quest of the Golden Fleece

3. Greek mythology
Topics to cover:
G. The Iliad
H. Odyssey
I. Great Families of Greek Mythology
J. The Four Adventures

4. Origin of the Mythology of the
greeks
The myths as we have the, today
are the creation of poets. The first
written record of Greece is the Iliad,
perceived to be written by Homer,
generally believed to be not earlier
than a thousand years before Christ.
The Iliad is considered as the oldest
Greek literature; written in a rich and
subtle and beautiful language, a proof
at that age of civilization in Greece.

5. Origin of the Mythology of the
greeks
The tales of Greek mythology
do not throw any clear light upon
what early mankind was like. They
do throw an abundance of light
upon what early Greeks were like –
a matter of importance to us, who
are their descendants intellectually,
artistically, and politically. Nothing
we learn about them is too alien to

6. Origin of the Mythology of the
greeks
The Greeks made their gods in
their own image, that had not entered
the mind of man before. Until then,
gods had had no semblance of reality.
In Egypt, a god may be a towering
colossus, immobile, is a
representation of human shape
deliberately made unhuman. Or a
woman with a cat’s head, suggesting
inflexible inhuman cruelty.

7. Origin of the Mythology of the
greeks
With the coming
of humane gods as
invented by the
Greeks, a new idea
had come to
mankind. With its
coming, the universe
became rational.

8. Origin of the Mythology of the
greeks
Greek mythology is a humanized world, men
were freed from the paralyzing fear of the
omnipotent Unknown. The events in their stories
were located in actual Greek locations, making it
seemly rational and matter-of-fact.
Hercules is always said to have had his home
in the city of Thebes. The exact spot where
Aphrodite was born of the foam could be visited by
the island of Cythera. The winged steed Pegasus,
rested every night in a comfy stable in Corinth.
A familiar local habitation gave reality to all
these mythical beings. In comparison to, for
instance, the Djinn in Aladdin who after granting

9. Origin of the Mythology of the
greeks
Greek mythology is largely made
up of stories about gods and
goddesses, and to the early people
these were explanations of something
in nature, of how, for instance any and
everything in the universe came into
existence; thunder and lightning were
caused by Zeus, a volcano erupts
when a monster imprisoned in the
mountain struggles to get free, etc.
Myths are early science, a result of
men trying to explain what they saw

10. GREEK AND ROMAN WRITERS OF
MYTHOLOGY
Homer
- Best known for the two epic poems
the Iliad and the Odyssey.
- Even the Greeks themselves
recognized Homer for his influence
and did not consider themselves
educated unless they had read his
works.
- disputed whether Homer actually
is a historic person
- absolutely nothing is known about
him or his life and some scholars
believe that the Iliad and the
Odyssey are the works of multiple

11. GREEK AND ROMAN WRITERS OF
MYTHOLOGY

12. GREEK AND ROMAN WRITERS OF
MYTHOLOGY
Ovid Publius Ovidius Naso
- An incomparable Latin poet who
wrote during the reign of Augustus
- best known for the Metamorphoses, a
15-book continuous mythological
narrative written in the meter of epic,
and for works in elegiac couplets such
as Ars Amatoria ("The Art of Love")
and Fasti

13. GREEK AND ROMAN WRITERS OF
MYTHOLOGY

14. GREEK AND ROMAN WRITERS OF
MYTHOLOGY
Hesiod
- Greek poet generally thought by
scholars to have been active
between 750 and 650 BC, around
the same time as Homer.
- Modern scholars refer to him as a
major source on Greek mythology,
farming techniques, early
economic thought (he is sometimes
considered history's first
economist),[6] archaic Greek
astronomy and ancient time-
keeping.

15. GREEK AND ROMAN WRITERS OF
MYTHOLOGY

16. GREEK AND ROMAN WRITERS OF
MYTHOLOGY
Aeschylus
- Oldest of 3 tragic poets; with
Sophocles & Euripides
- Active participant of dramatic
competitions
- The Persians, Seven against
Thebes, The Suppliants, The
Oresteia trilogy, consisting of the
three tragedies Agamemnon, The
Libation Bearers and The
Eumenides, together with
Prometheus Bound (whose
authorship is disputed)
- Won the first prize in city of

17. GREEK AND ROMAN WRITERS OF
MYTHOLOGY

18. GREEK AND ROMAN WRITERS OF
MYTHOLOGY
Sophocles
- a tragedian who wrote 123 plays
during his life.
- Antigone, Oedipus the King and
Electra. He developed theater by
adding a third actor, reducing the
importance of the chorus, and
introducing scenography.
- abolished the traditional trilogic
form of tragedies and made each
play complete in itself
- added dramatic value to the plays.

19. GREEK AND ROMAN WRITERS OF
MYTHOLOGY

20. GREEK AND ROMAN WRITERS OF
MYTHOLOGY
Sophocles
- most known works are Alcestis,
Medea and The Bacchus.
- His plays were very modern for his
time in that they portrayed the
characters very realistically and
included strong women and wise
slaves – which was very
unconventional at the time. –
- Euripides is the Greek tragedian
who has had the biggest influence
on European tragedy.

21. GREEK AND ROMAN WRITERS OF
MYTHOLOGY

22. GREEK AND ROMAN WRITERS OF
MYTHOLOGY
Appolonius of Rhodes
- author of the Argonautica, an epic
poem about Jason and the
Argonauts and their quest for the
Golden Fleece.
- Once considered a mere imitator of
Homer, and therefore a failure as a
poet, his reputation has been
enhanced by recent studies, with
an emphasis on the special
characteristics of Hellenistic poets
as scholarly heirs of a long literary
tradition writing at a unique time

23. GREEK AND ROMAN WRITERS OF
MYTHOLOGY

24. Any questions so far?

25. Greek gods
The Greeks did not
believe that gods created
the universe. It was the
other way about, the
universe created the gods.
Before there were gods
heaven and earth had
been formed. They were
the first parents.
The titans were the
children, and the gods
were their grandchildren.

26. Greek gods: the titans
The Titans (Elder
Gods) were for many
ages supreme in the
universe. They were of
enormous size and
incredible strength.
There were many of them
but only few appeared n
written mythology.
There is Cronus
(Saturn), who ruled over
the other Titans until his
son Zeus dethroned him
and seized the power for

27. Greek gods: the titans
The Romans believed that
when Jupiter (Zeus) ascended the
throne, Saturn fled to Italy and
brought in the Golden Age, a time
of perfect peace and happiness.

28. Greek gods: the titans
Other Titans include Ocean, a river
said to encircle the earth, his wife,
Tethys; Hyperion, father of the sun, the
moon, and dawn; Mnemosyne, which
means Memory; Themis, translated as
Justice, and Iapetus, father of Atlas
(who bore the world on his shoulders),
and Prometheus, the savior of mankind.
These gods were not banished
when Zeus was hailed as the new

29. GREEK GODS: the
olympians
The 12 great Olympians were
supreme among the gods who
succeeded to the Titans.
Olympians, from the name Mt.
Olympus, which was their home.
This is located in their in Thessaly,
northeast of Greece.
The 12 Olympians made up
a divine family.

30. GREEK GODS: THE
OLYMPIANS

31. GREEK GODS: THE
OLYMPIANS
ZEUS (Jupiter)
* The Supreme Ruler, Lord of the
Sky, Rain-god, the Cloud-
gatherer.
* He wields the awful thunderbolt.
* His breastplate was the ‘aegis’
* His bird is the eagle, his tree is
the oak
• The harpies are considered as
‘hounds’ of Zeus
• Duped by Poseidon as well as
Hera in The Iliad

32. GREEK GODS: THE
OLYMPIANS
HERA (Juno)
• Zeus’ wife and sister.
• Queen of the gods and
goddesses.
• Protector of marriage and
married women.
• Brought up by Titans Ocean &
Thetys
• The cow and the peacock are her
sacred animals.
• Argos is her favorite city.
• Bitter af

33. GREEK GODS: THE
OLYMPIANS
POSEIDON (Neptune)
• Ruler of the sea. Commonly called
“earth-shaker.
• Giver of horses to men.
• As god of horses, Poseidon often
adopted the shape of a steed.
• He is also associated with bulls.
• Very important to Aegean seamen
• Husband of Amphitrite
• Had a palace beneath the sea but
usually hangs out in Olympus
• Drove a ‘golden car’ over waters to
calm the waves

34. GREEK GODS: THE
OLYMPIANS
POSEIDON (Neptune)
"Lord Poseidon, from you
this pride is ours. The strong
horses, the young horses, and
also the rule of the deep."

35. GREEK GODS: THE
OLYMPIANS
HADES (Pluto)
• The God of the
Underworld and the Dead
(but not Death itself, that
is Thanatos)
• Also the God of Wealth
and precious metals
hidden in the earth.
• Abducted Persephone and
made her Queen of the
Lower World
• Referred to also by his

36. GREEK GODS: THE
OLYMPIANS
HADES (Pluto)
• Unpitying, inexorable, but just.
Not necessarily evil. 
• Does not visit Olympus much.
• Had an invisible helmet
• Cerberus is his pet.

37. GREEK GODS: THE
OLYMPIANS
PALLAS ATHENA (Minerva)
• The goddess of wisdom and
protectress of cities/state.
• Sprang full-grown from the
head of Zeus.
• Zeus favorite child, bearer of
his breastplate, the aegis &
thunderbolt
• Ruthless battle-goddess,
defender of state
• Her favorite city is Athens,
bird is the owl, she created

38. GREEK GODS: THE
OLYMPIANS
PALLAS ATHENA (Minerva)
• The goddess of wisdom and
protectress of cities/state.
• Sprang full-grown from the
head of Zeus.
• Zeus favorite child, bearer of
his breastplate, the aegis &
thunderbolt
• Ruthless battle-goddess,
defender of state
• Her favorite city is Athens,
bird is the owl, she created

39. GREEK GODS: THE
OLYMPIANS
PHOEBUS APOLLO
• Apollo is the son of Zeus and Leto.
• God of the sun, arts and poetry and
music.
• God of Truth from whose lips only
the truth is ever uttered.
• An Archer-god possessing the
brazen arrows.
• A symbol of youth.
• Artemis’ twin brother.
• The dolphin and the crow are his
sacred creatures.

40. GREEK GODS: THE
OLYMPIANS
PHOEBUS APOLLO
• Called Pythian after killing the serpent
Python from Parnassus.
• The “Lycian”, or wolf-god, also called Sun god
but that’s actually Helios.
• Bae of Greek Mythology

41. GREEK GODS: THE
OLYMPIANS
ARTEMIS (Diana)
• Goddess of the moon,
wilderness and of wild creatures.
• Protectress of dewy youth.
• Huntsman-in-chief to the gods.
• A virgin goddess.
• The deer is especially sacred to
her, cypress is her tree.
• Associated with Hecate, Goddess
of the Dark of the Moon

42. GREEK GODS: THE
OLYMPIANS
The Three Maiden Goddesses
Athena Aphrodite Artemis

43. GREEK GODS: THE
OLYMPIANS
APHRODITE (Venus)
• The goddess of love and beauty
said to have been raised from sea
foams in the island of Cyprus.
• Daughter of Zeus and Dione
• In most stories, she is the wife of
Hephaestus.
• Eros (Cupid) is her son.
• The myrtle is her tree, the dove her
bird.
• Playgirl of Greek mythology

44. GREEK GODS: THE
OLYMPIANS
Birth of Venus by Sandro Botticelli

45. GREEK GODS: THE
OLYMPIANS
HERMES (Mercury)
• The Messenger of the Gods.
• God of Commerce, Medicine
and also god of the thieves.
• He possess a winged sandals,
winged low-crowned hat and the
magic wand Caduceus.
• The Divine Herald who led souls
down to their last home.
• Inventor of lyre.

46. GREEK GODS: THE
OLYMPIANS
ARES (Mars)
• The (cowardly) God of War.
• Son of Zeus and Hera, who
hated him.
• He is oftenest describe as
ruthless, murderous and
bloodstained.
• The vulture is his bird, the dog is
his animal
• Sister to Eris (Goddess of
Discord)

47. GREEK GODS: THE
OLYMPIANS
HEPHAESTUS (Vulcan &
Mulciber)
• The Blacksmith of the Gods, the
God of Fire.
• The cripple patron of handicrafts.
• He was often dejected by Hera for
his lameness.
• Kindly, peace-loving god
• Hephaestus accomplished
numerous prodigies of
craftsmanship, such as the
marvelous palaces that he built for

48. GREEK GODS: THE
OLYMPIANS
HESTIA (Vesta)
• Goddess of the Hearth. The
symbol of home.
• Zeus’ sister.
• Also a virgin goddess like
Athena and Artemis.
• Not very significant in Greek
mythology

49. Greek gods:
the lesser gods

50. Greek gods: the lesser
gods
EROS (Cupid)
• He was accordingly
Aphrodite’s son.
• He is often depicted by poets
as a mischievous, naughty
boy.
• In attendance upon him was
ANTEROS (avenger of
slighted love), HIMEROS
(longing) and HYMEN (the
god of the wedding feast.
• Often represented with a
blindfold because “love is u-
know-what”

51. Greek gods: the lesser
gods
HEBE (Juventas)
• The goddess of youth.
• The daughter of Zeus
and Hera.
• Sometimes, she
appear as cupbearer to
the gods.
• She was married to

52. Greek gods: the lesser
gods
THE GRACES
* Composed of Aglaia
(Splendor), Euphrosyne (Mirth) and
Thalia (Good Cheer).
* They are the daughters of
Zeus and Eurynome.
* A triple incarnation of
beauty who give life its
bloom.
* Queens of song

53. Greek gods: the lesser
gods
THE MUSES
• The muses are nine in number.
• They are the daughters of Zeus and
Mnemosyne.
• Composed of : Clio(history), Urania(astronomy),
Melpomne(tragedy), Thalia(comedy),
Terpsichore(dance), Calliope(epic poetry), Erato(love
poetry), Polyhymnia(songs to the gods) and
Euterpe(lyric poetry).

54. Greek gods: the lesser
gods
GODS OF WATER
Ocean – a Titan, river encircling Earth
Tethys - The wife of Ocean and the
mother of the Oceanids who are
nymphs of the great river.
Amphitrite - Goddess Queen of the
Sea.
Nereus - the Old Man of the Sea.
Triton - Trumpeter of the sea.

55. Greek gods: the lesser
gods
GODS OF THE UNDERWORLD
Charon - An aged boatman that
ferries the souls of the dead to
Hades.
The Furies - Composed of
Tisiphone, Megaera and Alecto.
They are the pursuers and
punishers of evildoers.

56. Greek gods: the lesser
gods

57. Greek gods: the lesser
gods
GODS OF EARTH
Gaea – The All-mother. She is never separated from the
actual and personified earth.
Demeter - The Goddess of the Corn. Mother of Persephone.
Brings bounty to the Earth.
Dionysius - The god of fertility and wine, later considered a
patron of the arts.
Castor & Pollux - twin brothers, together known as
the Dioscuri. Mother is Leda but fathers are different, Castor
= Tyndareus of Spart; Pollux = Zeus

59. Greek gods: the lesser
gods
GODS & CREATURES OF EARTH
The Sileni - woodland gods or spirits, closely connected
to the satyrs. They were occasionally referred to as being
half-man half-horse, in stead of half-man half-goat.
The Satyrs – companions of Pan and Dionysus. They have
goat-like features.
Aeolus - king of the winds . He gave Odysseus a tightly
closed bag full of the captured winds so he could sail
easily home to Ithaca
Centaurs - . They have the body of a horse but in place of
the horse's head they have the torso, head and arms of a
man.

61. Greek gods: the lesser
gods
GODS & CREATURES OF EARTH
Gorgons - Three sisters who had hair of living,
venomous snakes, and a horrifying visage that
turned those who beheld her to stone.
Medusa – generally described as having the face
of a hideous human female with living venomous
snakes in place of hair. Gazing directly upon her
would turn onlookers to stone.
The Graiae - "Three Gray Sisters”. They lived near
the entrance to the Underworld and were the
guardians of the Gorgons.

63. Greek gods: the lesser
gods
GODS & CREATURES OF EARTH
The Sirens - femme fatales who lured nearby sailors
with their enchanting music and voices to shipwreck on
the rocky coast of their island.
Pegasus - the result of the ill fated mating of Medusa
and Poseidon.
Chimera - A fire-breathing creature that has the body of
a goat, the head of a lion and the tail of a serpent
The Fates - have the power of deciding a man's destiny.
They assign a man to good or evil. Their most obvious
choice is choosing how long a man lives.

65. Questions?

66. HOMEWORK
Write a 500-word essay about
which mythological god/creature you
most relate to. Research on its
mythology, characteristics, story, and
how you see yourself in him/her/it.
Short bond paper. Type in any
proper, readable font.
Submit on Tuesday.