Paste your essay in here…FISK SCHOOL
GREEK MYTHOLOGY
Student: Agnes Sauer
Teacher: Mr. Lucas Klitzke
Toledo, Parana
2018
Introduction
The goal of this project is to prove that I am able to speak and use English in its correct form. Besides that, being able to talk about a subject that I have interest in and have more knowledge about it.
I will talk about the most important Greek gods and goddess of Greek history and one of the most important event that happened, the Trojan War.
The myth
Is the collection of stories that contain heroes, gods and rituals of ancient Greece. Like every other society during that time, they wanted to explain how the world was created and how it functions, to put someone above them. These stories are full of fiction and critical philosophers of that time realized that.
The beginning
Nobody knows about how it all started, but some scholars have an idea. According to a poet of the time, Hesiod, at first, there was four divine beings: the Gap (Chaos), Earth (Gaea), the Abyss (Tartarus), and Love (Eros).Gaea being Earth gave birth to children without a male being involved, that child was Uranus(the sky), after that Uranus fertilized her. With that union the Titans were born, six powerful males: Coeus, Crius, Chronos, Hyperion, Lapetus, Oceanus; and six powerful females: Mnemosyne, Phoebe, Rhea, Theia, Themis, and Tethys.
When Chronos was born, Gaea and Uranus decided to no longer have more Titans. They were followed by Cyclops(one eye) and Hecatonchires(one hundred hands),who were both thrown to Taurus by Uranus, that made Gaea furious, she decided to separate from Uranus .The separation involved Cronus(the youngest of titans and the most terrible) cutting of his father’s genitals. This made Cronus the leader of the Titans with his sister-wife Rhea, and the other Titans became his court.
Because Cronus had confronted his father, he was afraid that his children would do the same with him, so each time that Rhea gave birth he ate the child. Rhea was angry about his actions, so when Zeus was born; she wrapped a rock in a baby’s blanket, which Chronos ate. Zeus grew up in a cave, and when he was fully-grown, he drugged his father’s drink. That made him vomit, vomiting his other sons and the rock, whose were in his stomach since then.
Zeus challenged his father to war, battling Chronos with the help of Cyclopes, who Zeus freed from prison. Zeus and his siblings won the war, and when that happened, Uranus and the Titans were imprisoned.
When Zeus married his first wife, he had the same fear that his father had. His wife Metis was pregnant with Athena and he swallowed her .However Athena being very powerful got out of Zeus’ body via his head.
The twelve Olympians
Twelve of the Greek gods and goddesses were referred as the Olympian gods or the twelve Olympians. They were a powerful group of gods that had meetings at the Mount Olympus to discuss matters. They came to power after Zeus defeated his father, Chronos. They are all related in some way .They were Zeus, Hera, Poseidon, Demeter, Athena, Apollo, Artemis, Ares, Aphrodite, Hephestus, Hermes, and Dionysus.
Although Hades was the most powerful of the first generation of Olympian gods he resided in the underworld .This happened because when Zeus won the battle against Chronus, the three older brother decided to split the world to themselves, Hades got the underworld, Poseidon the seas and Zeus claimed haven. Many of his familiars feared Hades, because of that he never visited the Olympus, and did not have a throne there.
ZEUS
Zeus was the god of lightning and thunders. As he could control lightning, he often used it as a weapon. He could control the weather. He usually gave justice to Gods and Humans, keeping order from his seat on the Olympus.
Zeus was the king of Mount Olympus, the home of the Olympus Gods, there he would impose his desire in humans and Gods. He was the last child of the titans, Chronos and Rhea, and was able to avoid being swallowed by his father when Rhea helped him.
Zeus had many affairs with different woman because he used to fall in love easily, but if someone fell in love with his wife Hera he would severely punish that person.
Facts about Zeus:
• According to Hesiod, Zeus loved to laugh and was wise, fair, prudent and unpredictable.
• Athena was his favorite child, with her he shared the thunderbolt and aegis (shield).
• For him the golden eager was sacred, the eager was by his side all the time. The eager was a symbol of courage, strength and justice, just like Zeus.
• He believed in the importance of keeping word and would punish anyone who didn’t.
HERA
Hera was sister and wife of Zeus, and was seen as the Queen of mount Olympus. Hera was the third wife of Zeus, to seduce her Zeus transformed himself into a cuckoo, a bird.
Hera would act as an adviser to Zeus, guiding him. Although she was less powerful then Zeus, she was able to influence him, but always respecting her boundaries.
Hera was the goddess of marriage and birth, she was known to be jealous and revengeful with lovers and affairs of Zeus
Zeus feared Hera and her anger towards his illegitimate son, Hercules. Hera made a storm at the sea to drive Hercules out of his path and kill him. Zeus became furious, he hung her in clouds with a golden chain and connected her feet to anvils. Hera’s son tried to release her from that humiliation, but Zeus threw him out of heaven.
Facts about Hera:
• Hera was one of the only goddesses that was faithful to her husband.
• She did not used to have justice when angry or jealous.
• She was physically attractive, but personality makes her less so.
• The peacock was sacred to her.
POSEIDON
Poseidon was son of Chronos and Rhea. Zeus, Hades and himself decided that he would rule the sea. Like his siblings, he was swallowed after his birth, but thrown up later.
He was the god of the sea, storms, horses and earthquakes. He is considered to be the grumpiest and to have the worst mood of the Olympian gods. When insulted he was vengeful.
His name is very old and its meaning is lost. Many authors tried to find its meaning and translate it as “husband of the earth” or “lord of the waters”. He was described as a mature and strong man always holding a trident.
Facts about Poseidon:
• He was the protector of water and sailors.
• Poseidon was adored as a fertility god.
• His name is Greek for “husband”.
• Poseidon could knock his trident to the ground to produce an earthquake.
• He had a palace, at the ocean made with coral. He was at Mount Olympus more often than his palace.
ATHENE
Athene or Athena was the Olympian goddess of good advice, wisdom, war, strategy and other crafts.
Being a warrior goddess, she would lead soldiers to battle. Known for being the favorite child of Zeus, and was born fully armed via his forehead. More specifically she was known for her strategic abilities in war.
In Greek mythology, was believed that she had been born via his fathers head, Zeus. On a myth, she won a competition over Poseidon to be the founder of a city by creating the first olive tree.
Along with Aphrodite and Hera, Athena was one of the three whose history resulted in the beginning of the Trojan War. On a competition about who was the fairest.
Facts about Athene:
• Athena was the female of Ares.
• She was the Goddess of the City.
• Zeus trusted her to aegis, his shield and his thunderbolt.
• The owl was her bird and she created the olive trees.
• She is one of three virgin goddesses the other two were Hestia and Artemis.
• Athena invented the flute, but she never played it.
ARES
He is the God of war, son of Zeus and Hera. Necessary for the success of war Ares had a lot of physical aggression. Areas was normally hated because of his savagery, even Zeus called him “the most hateful of all gods”.
In art, he is shown and described wearing a helmet, a shield and a sword, riding a four-horse chariot and followed by dogs or vultures.
With searches, some historians think that Ares name is an ancient word for battle or war. He hardly ever alone on the battlefield, a angry crowd would typically join him.
Aphrodite was married, but Ares used to love her, because of that every time that Areas appeared in literature he was facing an humiliating situation. For example in one famous story, Aphrodite humiliate him in front of the gods when her husband cough them both naked in bed.
Facts about Ares:
• He represented the bad aspects of war.
• Son of Zeus and Hera, but both of hated him.
• His bird was the vulture.
• Ares always took the side of Aphrodite in the Trojan War.
• Eros, more commonly known as Cupid, was the child of Ares and Aphrodite.
DEMETER
Daughter of Cronus and Rhea. Demeter is the goddess of the harvest, sacred law, cycle of life and death and the fertility of the earth.
Was believed the she made the harvest grow so every first loaf of bread was offered for her. Also known for founding the Eleusinian mysteries, an enormous festival that happened every five years and was vey important .
Hades, the god of the underworld, kept Persephone, Zeus and Demeter’s daughter captive. Demeter searched for her, she got so worried that the seasons sickned and living things died. When that happened Zeus had to intervene and send his messenger to the underworld to bring Persephone back and prevent the extinction of all life on Earth. Hades agreed but gave he her a pomegranate as she left. When she ate the pomegranate seeds, she was bound to him for one third of the year.
Facts about Demeter:
• The agriculture was under her protection. The fields of seeds temples at which she could occupy at any moment.
• She was older than Dionysus was. They were the two great gods of the earth.
• Humans called her the “Good Goddess”.
• The snake and the pig were sacred to her.
APOLLO
Son of Zeus and the Titan Leto, born on a Greek island, with his twin sister Artemis, Gods of hunt. Apollo is one of the most important and complex gods, and is the god of many things, including music, poetry, art, oracles, archery, plague, medicine, sun, light and knowledge. He could also predict prophecy.
Apollo is the ideal of the Kouros , a statue representing the perfect male body, which means he has a beardless, athletic and youthful appearance. Apollo could bring health and deadly plague.
The god Hermes create the lyre for Apollo and the instrument became important for him. At the drinking parties at Olympus, Apollo accompanied the muses, while the young goddesses led the dance.
Facts about Apollo:
• Apollo, a masterful magician.
• The nine Muses were companied him, they were goddesses known for inspiring art and music.
• He taught men medicine, so he is sometimes referred as “The Healer.”
• Apollo served as an intermediary between the gods and men.
• The dolphin and swan were the animals sacred to him.
• Apollo accidentally killed his dearest companion, Hyacinthus, in a discus throwing contest.
ARTEMIS
Artemis is the goddess of hunt and is one of the most respected god of the ancient Greece. Daughter of Zeus and the Titan Leto being twin sister of Apollo, she was born a day before, she served as a guardian to him and there came her desire to protect nature.
Also known as the goddess of wild animals, childbirth, virginity, protector of young children. When her wishes were not followed, particularly if someone violate animals that were sacred to her.
Artemis was a virgin and many gods and men had interest on her. However, it was only her hunting companion, Orion that she had interest on. It is not known if Orion was accidentally killed by Artemis herself or by Gaia, the goddess of the earth.
Apollo and Artemis got together to kill the children of Niobe because Niobe used to brag that she had birthed more children than Leto. The twins then hunted her children and killed them with their bows and arrows.
Facts about Artemis:
• She was primarily a virgin hunter, goddess of wildlife.
• The bear was sacred to her.
• She guarded her virginity carefully. Orion tried rape her, but he met with a violent end.
• Two festivals were celebrated in her honor of Artemis.
• Artemis spent most of her time walking at the forests with her nymphs. She was described as both hunting animals and protecting them.
• She is the protector of chastity and a nurturer of the young.
HERMES
Hermes was the second youngest Olympian God, son of Zeus and Maia, one Pleiades and daughter of the Titan Atlas .He is the god of trade, thieves, boundaries, travelers, sports, athletes, and border crossings, guide to the Underworld. He is the author of skilled acts and benefactor of mortals.
Being the god of limits and transition, he was known to be quick and skilled, having the ability to move freely between mortal and divine words. Those skills made him a messenger to gods.
He protects travelers, shepherd, orators, wit, literature and poets, athletics and sports, invention and trade. Sometimes he was described as a cheater and trickster where he would trick the gods for the good of humans or for his own good.
Facts about Hermes:
• Hermes was associated with good fortune.
• Hermes was considered a trickster because of his clever personality.
• Hermaphroditus was an androgynous divinity, decedent of Hermes and Aphrodite.
• The tortoise is a symbol of Hermes.
• On the day of his birth, Hermes stole cattle from Apollo.
• He was one of the three who was allowed to leave the underworld without consequence, the others were Hades and Persephone.
APHRODITES
Aphrodite was the goddess of love, beauty and fertility. She was born from the foam of the waters of Paphos, island of Cyprus. And that happened because her father threw his genitals into the sea.
Aphrodite is the Goddess of fertility, Love and Beauty and according to Hesiod’s Theogony; she was born from the foam in the waters of Paphos, on the island of Cyprus. And that happened because her father, Uranus, threw his genitals into the sea.
Zeus believed that because of her beauty she could cause a war between the gods. To prevent a war Zeus married her to Hephaetus, he was not seen as a threat because of his ugliness and deformity. Outside of the marriage Aphrodite has many lovers including gods and humans.
Facts about Aphrodite:
• Aphrodite did not agreed to marry her husband.
• She was the mother of Hermaphroditus by Hermes.
• Aphrodite and her son Eros, Cupid, teamed up to cause Zeus to fall in love with Europa, a human.
• Prostitutes considered her the Goddess of prostituition.
DIONYSUS
Dionysus was the son of Zeus and the human Semele, making him the only mortal god. He was the god of wine in general, grape harvest, winemaking, ritual madness, religious feelings and theater. Demeter and Him were the supreme divinities of earth. Unlike other immortals, he treated humans well and was benevolent towards them. He was kind and generous, but when necessary he could be cruel.
In earlier images he was described as a mature male, had a beard, holding a thyrus, flannel staff tipped with a pinecone. However, in later images he was describes as a no beard and naked, womanly man.
Facts about Dionysus
• He was known as the God of the Vine.
• During the harvest, he was happy but in the winter, he would fall ill.
• The last god to enter the Olympus was him.
• When he became an adult, he came to earth teaching men the culture of wine.
HEPHAETUS
He was son of Zeus and Hera, married to Aphrodite to prevent a war between the gods because of her beauty. He was ugly and had deformities. He was the god of technology, blacksmiths, artisans, sculptors, metals, metallurgy, fire and volcanos. He was the gods’ blacksmith. When born his parents cast him from haven because he was ugly.
At the Olympus he had his own palace to make his metal pieces. In a story, he builds an invention that catches Aphrodite and Ares lying in bed, trapping both there to be humiliated by the gods.
He is similar to Athena by helping mortals, in his case artists. Athena and him taught arts to men.
Facts about Hephaestus:
• He was kind, peaceful and loving.
• Hephaestus manufactured the aegis, Athene’s shield given by Zeus.
• He made the arrows of Eros, Cupid, as well.
• God of the ceremony when children were admitted to the city organization.
The Trojan War
It was one of the most important events narrated by the Greek mythology .A war that broke the Achaeans (Greek) and the city of Troy in half.
Zeus noticed that the population was getting too high and the decided that it was time to decrease it, getting rid of his affairs and sons. He formed a plan after he heard two prophecies; the first one was that he would have a son stronger then him, just like his father, Chronos, and the second one was that a nymph named Thetis that he had fallen for would give birth to that child, so he decided to make him marry the king Peleus.
Zeus organized a big feast to celebrate their marriage. Every important figure was invited except the goddess Eris, she was stopped at the door by Hermes. Before she left she threw the apple of discord at the feast, which was written “to the fairest” on it. Hera Athene and Aphrodite started a discussion about who should take the apple. They asked Zeus to judge but he did not accept it, so Prince Paris, son of the King of Troy was demanded to do judge the contest.
Paris could not decide even after seeing each goddess naked, so each one decided to give him something if he gave the apple to them. Hera would give him political power to rule Asia, Athena would give him wisdom and great skills in battle and Aphrodite would offer him the most beautiful woman in the world, Helen of Sparta. Paris gave the apple to Aphrodite and returned to Troy.
Peleus and Thetis had a son, Achilles, and with him came two prophecies. The first one is that he would lead either an eventful but long life or a glorious life but die young on the battlefield; the second one is that with him commanding Troy the city would never fall.
Thetis, afraid for her sons life, ran to the river that passed into the underworld and dipped him into the water but what she didn’t noticed was that his heels were not touching the water, that made him mortal and the Achilles tendon being his weakness.
Meanwhile, Helen was getting married to another men, destroying Aphrodite’s plan, because she was getting married, Paris went to the marrige and Aphrodite with Eros, the cupid, shot an arrow at her, causing her to fall in love with Paris, and running away to troy with Paris.
When her husband got home he realized what had happened, he went to Troy to get Aphrodite back, but all diplomatic attempts failed. Therefore, her husband reunited an army to get her back. And Achilles was on the army because of the prophecy. Many years passed with a lot of battles and deaths.
Odysseus a Greek hero decided that it was time for this war to be over, a hollow wooden horse was built, soldiers hid in the interior and the horse was brought at the city gates as a gift from the Greeks. Troyes accepted the gift happily and started celebrating the victory.
During the night, the Greek soldiers went out and started killing drunk Trojan soldiers, and eventually troy fell. Many heroes including Achilles that was murdered by the god Apollo, and Paris was killed later.
The Trojan War marked the end of the heroic age of men and the beginning of the Iron Age. Zeus tried to depopulate Earth but he was not successful.
Conclusion
There are many other Greek gods to talk about, but the list could reach one hundred pages, besides that are many other mythological creatures, but in this project, I just talked about the most important ones.
With this project, I realized that the gods are nothing more than representations of humans serving as role models, sometimes serving as not what to do. Each god has a characteristic that humans have to have to complement their personality or already have.
I learned new things ,on subjects that I had already an interest on, as a god can be born deformed too, not all of them are perfect and the ugly god being deformed by the other gods, and having a high position just for interest of the other gods, very much like society these day.