Greek and Roman Gods: Roles, Symbols, and Cultural Significance

Gods and Goddesses

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Zeus

Roman Version: Jupiter - protector of the state and authority

Zeus/ Jupiter

Role: King of the gods; ruler of the sky, thunder, and justice

Zeus/ Jupiter

Symbol: Lightning bolt, eagle, oak tree, throne

Zeus/ Jupiter

Traits: Powerful, authoritative, unfaithful to Hera

Zeus/ Jupiter

Cultural meaning: represents order, kingship, and divine law

Ares

Roman Version: Mars was honored as a symbol of strength and military success

Ares/Mars

Role: God of war, bloodshed, and violence

Ares/Mars

Symbols: Spear, helmet, vulture, dog

Ares/Mars

Traits: Aggressive, impulsive, feared by other gods

Ares/Mars

Cultural meaning: In Greece, seen as chaotic destruction; in Rome, Mars was honored as a symbol of strength and military success

Artemis/Diana

Role: Goddess of the hunt, moon, wild animals, and childbirth

Artemis/Diana

Symbols: Bow and arrow, deer, crescent moon

Artemis/Diana

Traits: Independent, protector of women and young girls, twin of Apollo

Artemis/Diana

Cultural meaning: Represents purity, nature, and feminine strength

Pallas Athena/Minerva

Role: Goddess of wisdom, war strategy, and crafts

Pallas Athena/Minerva

Symbols: Owl, olive tree, helmet, spear

Pallas Athena/Minerva

Traits: Intelligent, calm, strategic, born from Zeus' head fully grown

Pallas Athena/Minerva

Cultural meaning: Represents reason, justice, and intellect

Hermes/Mercury

Role: Messenger of the gods, god of travelers, thieves, and trade

Hermes/Mercury

Symbols: Winged sandals and helmet, staff

Hermes/Mercury

Traits: Clever, quick, guide for souls to the underworld

Hermes/Mercury

Cultural meaning: Represents communication, adaptability, and intelligence

Aphrodite/Venus

Role: Goddess of love, beauty, and desire

Aphrodite/Venus

Symbols: Dove, seashell, mirror, swan

Aphrodite/Venus

Traits: Charming, seductive, manipulative in myths

Aphrodite/Venus

Cultural meaning: Symbol of love's power, both creative and destructive

Hera/Juno

Role: Queen of the gods, goddess of marriage and family

Hera/Juno

Symbols: Peacock, crown, cow

Hera/Juno

Traits: Jealous, vengeful toward Zeus' lovers, but loyal and proud

Hera/Juno

Cultural meaning: Protects marriage and childbirth; represents female dignity

Thetis

Role: Sea goddess; mother of Achilles

Thetis

Symbols: Ocean, dolphins

Thetis

Traits: Protective mother, wise, connected to fate

Thetis

Cultural meaning: Represents maternal devotion and divine influence in mortal life

Cronus/Saturn

Role: Ruler of Titans; father of Zeus, Poseidon, Hades

Cronus/Saturn

Symbols: Sickle/scythe

Cronus/Saturn

Traits: Fearful, devours his children to prevent overthrow

Cronus/Saturn

Cultural meaning: Passage of time, downfall of tyrants

Pandora

Role: First woman created by the gods

Pandora

Symbols: Pandora's box

Pandora

Story: Opens jar out of curiosity, releasing evil into the world, leaving only hope inside

Pandora

Theme: Curiosity, temptation, and origin of human suffering

Atlas

Role: Titan condemned to hold up the sky

Atlas

Symbols: Globe or sphere

Atlas

Cultural meaning: Endurance, punishment, eternal burden

Persephone

Role: Queen of underworld, goddess of spring

Persephone

Symbols: Pomegranate, flowers

Persephone

Theme: Duality of life and death, seasons

Persephone

Cultural meaning: Explains the cycle of nature and rebirth

Poseidon/Neptune

Role: God of the sea, earthquakes, horses

Poseidon/Neptune

Symbols: Trident, horse, dolphin

Poseidon/Neptune

Traits: Emotional, powerful, creative

Poseidon/Neptune

Cultural meaning: Represents nature's power and unpredictability

Heracles/Hercules

Role: Hero known for his 12 labors

Heracles/Hercules

Symbols: Lion skin, club

Heracles/Hercules

Traits: Strong, brave, but flawed

Heracles/Hercules

Cultural meaning: Represents endurance and reputation through struggle

Uranus

Role: Sky god, father of the Titans

Uranus

Symbol: The heavens, stars

Uranus

Theme: Generational conflict; overthrown by his song Cronus

Uranus

Cultural meaning: Origin of cosmic order

Hephaestus/Vulcan and Mulciber

Role: God of fire, blacksmiths, and craftsmanship

Hephaestus/Vulcan and Mulciber

Symbols: Hammer, anvil, forge

Hephaestus/Vulcan and Mulciber

Traits: Lame but creative, maker of weapons for gods

Hephaestus/Vulcan and Mulciber

Cultural meaning: Symbol of hard work and creativity

Flood Myths

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Gilgamesh Plot

Plot: reason for traveling, visit with Utnapushtim, flood, test, gods, how long?

Gilgamesh seeks immortality after his friend Enkidu's death. He travels to find Utnapishtim, survivor of a divine flood. Utnapishtim says how the gods sent a flood to destroy humans for their sins; he built a boat, survived, and was granted immortality. Gilgamesh fails the test of staying awake for six days and seven nights

Gilgamesh Theme

Theme- message, objective of the author

Search for immortality; acceptance of human limits; friendship and wisdom

Symbols

The flood (cleansing), sleep (death), plant of youth (hope)

Connection to other flood myths

Similar to Noah's story - divine punishment, chosen survivor, renewal

Gilgamesh Culture

Culture- origin?

Mesopotamian; emphasizes humility before gods

Noah and the Flood Plot

Plot: flood, events leading to flood, Noah's actions, how long?

God sees human wickedness and sends a flood to cleanse Earth. Noah, a righteous man, builds an ark to save his family and animals. Rain lasts 40 days and nights. A dove's return with an olive branch shows the flood's end

Noah and the Flood Theme

Theme: what does Noah's call to action show?

Faith, obedience, covenant with God

Symbols

Ark (salvation), rainbow (promise), dove (peace)

Noah and the Flood Culture

Culture

Hebrew; monotheistic message about morality and divine justice

Deluge (Greek Myth) Plot

Plot

Zeus besides to destroy humanity for wickedness; Deucalion and Pyrrha survive in a chest. They repopulate Earth by throwing stones behind them that turn into people

Deluge (Greek Myth) Theme

Theme: protection, devotion

Protectection and devotion - living religious life

Symbols

Stones (renewal), water (purification)

Deluge (Greek Myth) Culture

Culture

Greek; gods act emotionally but reward virtue

The Great Flood (Maya/Native American Myth) Plot

Plot

The gods flood the world to destroy imperfect humans; only a few survive to rebuild

The Great Flood (Maya/Native American Myth) Theme

Theme 

Cleansing, creation through destruction

Symbols

Water (rebirth), survivors (hope)

The Great Flood (Maya/Native American Myth) Culture

Culture

Mayan - reflects agricultural societies' respect for nature's power

Creation Myths

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"In the Beginning" from Genesis Plot

Plot: creation, Adam and Eve, the Garden of Eden, Tree of Knowledge, consequences, treatment of Eve 

God creates the world in 6 days, rests on the 7th. Adam and Eve live in Eden but disobey by eating from the Tree of Knowledge; they're punished and exiled

"In the Beginning" from Genesis Theme

Theme

Obedience, temptation, skin, free will

Symbols

Tree (knowledge and disobedience), serpent (evil), fruit (temptation)

"In the Beginning" from Genesis Culture

Culture

Hebrew; shows moral order and divine authority

Metamorphoses Plot

Plot- the ages

Tells of creation and the Four Ages: Gold (peace), Silver (decline), Bronze (violence), Iron (evil)

Metamorphoses Theme

Theme Change, decline of humanity, transformation

Symbols

Ages represent moral decay; metamorphosis as punishment or reward

Metamorphoses Author

Author: background Ovid: Roman poet known for irony/intelligence; lived during Augustus' reign

The Wooden People Plot

Plot Gods create humans from wood, but they lack souls and gratitude. Gods destroy them with a flood and let animals replace them

The Wooden People Theme

Theme Imperfection of creation, divine justice

Symbols

Wood (fragility), food (cleansing)

The Wooden People Culture

Culture Mayan; values respect toward gods and nature

Psalms 8, 23, 121, 137

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Psalm 8 Summary

Summary: general knowledge of what the psalm is about (refer to group slideshow) Praises God for creating the world and caring about people. Shows that even though God is powerful, He still gives humans an important place in His creation

Psalm 8 Theme

Theme Divine Order: Everything in creation has purpose and harmony under God's control