Mythology unit 2

Olympians

The primary gods in Greek mythology who reside on Mount Olympus. They represent major aspects of the world and human experience.

Zeus

King of the gods, ruler of the sky, thunder, and lightning. Known for his many relationships and offspring.

Hera

Queen of the gods, goddess of marriage and family. Known for her jealousy and vengeful nature toward Zeus’s lovers and offspring.

Poseidon

God of the sea, earthquakes, and horses. Often depicted with his trident

Athena

Goddess of wisdom, warfare, and craft. Born from the head of Zeus after he swallowed her mother, Metis.

Apollo

God of the sun, music, poetry, and prophecy. Known for his beauty and being the ideal of Greek youth

Artemis

Goddess of the hunt, wilderness, and childbirth. Apollo’s twin sister, often portrayed as a protector of women and children

Ares

God of war. Known for his chaotic and violent nature, often in contrast with Athena’s strategic warfare

Aphrodite

Goddess of love, beauty, and desire. Born from the sea foam and known for her powerful influence on both gods and mortals

Hermes

God of commerce, thieves, travelers, and messenger of the gods. Known for his trickery and ability to move freely between worlds

Demeter

Goddess of agriculture and the harvest. Mother of Persephone, whose abduction by Hades leads to the changing of the seasons

Hestia

Goddess of the hearth, home, and family. Often considered the least involved in mythological tales but essential to domestic life

Hephaestus

God of fire, metalworking, and craftsmanship. Often depicted as lame but highly skilled in creating powerful and beautiful artifacts

Dionysus

God of wine, revelry, and ecstasy. Associated with transformation and breaking down of social norms

Jupiter

The Roman counterpart of Zeus. King of the gods, associated with the sky and thunder

Juno

The Roman counterpart of Hera. Queen of the gods, goddess of marriage and childbirth

Neptune

The Roman counterpart of Poseidon. God of the sea.

Minerva

The Roman counterpart of Athena. Goddess of wisdom and strategic warfare

Apollo

The same name in both Greek and Roman mythology, god of the sun and prophecy

Diana

The Roman counterpart of Artemis. Goddess of the hunt and the moon

Mars

The Roman counterpart of Ares. God of war, but more revered than his Greek counterpart

Venus

The Roman counterpart of Aphrodite. Goddess of love and beauty

Mercury

The Roman counterpart of Hermes. Messenger of the gods and god of commerce

Ceres

The Roman counterpart of Demeter. Goddess of agriculture and grain

Vesta

The Roman counterpart of Hestia. Goddess of the hearth and home

Vulcan

The Roman counterpart of Hephaestus. God of fire and craftsmanship

Bacchus

The Roman counterpart of Dionysus. God of wine, revelry, and festivities

Primary Source

An original text or artifact, such as Hesiod’s Theogony or Homer’s Iliad, used for direct study of historical or mythological content

Epic Poetry

A long, narrative poem detailing heroic deeds, often involving gods and divine interventions. Key examples include The Iliad and The Odyssey

Divine Intervention

 The involvement of gods in mortal affairs, often leading to fate-altering consequences

Gods and Mortals

The relationship between the gods and humans is complex, with gods either aiding or hindering mortals, influencing their destinies

Trickster Archetype

 A recurring figure (like Hermes) who uses cleverness and wit to outmaneuver others, often blurring the lines between right and wrong

Hero’s Journey

The common narrative structure of many mythological stories, where a hero embarks on a transformative quest, often aided or hindered by divine forces

Social Order

The structure and hierarchy of gods and mortals. The gods are seen as maintaining order in the cosmos, while their actions can reflect human societal values

Anthropomorphism

The attribution of human traits, emotions, or intentions to gods or other non-human entities.

Divine Hierarchy

The ranking or ordering of gods based on power, authority, and influence