Greek Religion Gods

1. Greek Religion Gods Amy Smerkar Ελληνικοί Θεοί θρησκείας

2. Religious Practices Θρησκευτικές πρακτικές • Based on time- honored observances • Most rooted in Bronze age (3000-1050 B.C.) • No single guiding work of scripture • Ex. Bible, Torah, Qu’ran • Did not have strict priestly caste • Iliad and Odyssey of Homer- most powerful • Relationships between deities and human built on concept of exchange • Gods and goddesses expected to give gifts • Votive offerings, humans physical expression of thanks • Worshipped in sanctuaries within city boundaries or country side • According to nature of deity • Well-defined sacred spaces • Sacred precinct containd temple with cult image of deity • Natural surroundings in accordance to nature of deity • Outdoor altar, statues, votive offerings, sacred trees or springs

3. Religious Practices Θρησκευτικές πρακτικές • Central ritual act was animal sacrifice, took place within sanctuary • Took place within sanctuary • Oxen, gods, sheep • Assembled participants • Consumed entrails and meat at altar • Liquid offerings were made • Festivals filled entire year • Four main festivals • Each had own procession, athletic competitions, and sacrifices • Held every four years on a rotation • Olympia, Delphi, Nemea, Isthmia • Entire Greek speaking world attended • Mystery cults • Eleusis near Athens • Only initiates could participate

4. Twelve Principal Deities Δώδεκα θεότητες αρχής *Ancient greeks believed that the many gods each had their distinct personality and domain • Zeus • Hades • Poseidon • Hera • Athena • Apollo • Artemis • Hermes • Aphrodite • Dionysos • Ares • Hephaistos *Mount olympus, the highest mountain in greece, was believed to be the home of the gods.

5. Zeus • Represented as older, vigorous, beard -or- powerful, young man • Born in cave, Mt. Ida, island of Crete • Mother; Rhea • Father; Kronos (ate children) • Wife; Hera • Father or many children; Hercules • “Tomb” on Mt. Juchtas, outside of Heraklion • Symbol or Attribute; Thunderbolt • Strengths; powerful, strong, charming, pervasive • Weaknesses; trouble over love affairs, moody

6. Hades King of Dead, Lord of Underworld • Represented as vigorous, bearded man • Born to Rhea and Kronos (Father Time) • Born on island of Crete • Brother of Zeus and Poseidon • Spouse; Persephone • Sometimes called “Zeus of the Departd” • Originally meant “invisible or unseen” • Had dark and underworld aspects of Zeus • Major temple sites; Nekromanteion, on River Styx, West Coast (spooky) • Symbol or Attribute; sceptor or horn of plenty • Strengths; rich with wealth of earth, precious metals, persistent and determined • Weaknesses; passionate over Persephone, daughter of Demeter • Pets; 3 headed dog, black horses, various hounds • MYTH: Springs out of earth and captures Persephone (to be queen of underworld), Persephone’s mother searches for her and stops all production of food. In the end she must stay with Hades 1/3 of year, her mother 1/3 of year, and be a handmaiden to Zeus the other 1/3.

7. Poseidon God of the Sea • Represented as bearded, older man with seashells and sealife • Parents; Rhea and Athena • Spouse; Amphitrite • Affairs with Medusa (son Pegasus), Demeter (sister) • Children; ½ fish son Trident • Major temple at Cape Sounion • Overlooking sea • Compared with Roman god Neptune • Created horses and zebras • Symbol; 3 pronged trident, associated with horses, force behind earthquakes • Strengths; creative, designed all sea creatures • Weaknesses; warlike, moody and unpredictable • He and Athena fought for love of people. The person who created the most useful object had city named after them. He created horses, Athena, olive. Capital is named Athens, not Pseidonia.

8. Hera Goddess of Marriage • Young beautiful woman, most beautiful of goddesses • Birthplace; island of Samos or at Argos • Parents; Rhea and Kronos • Spouse; Zeus • Siblings; Zeus, Hestia, Demeter, Hades, Poseidon • Ares (Zeus) • Hebe, goddess of health • Eileithyia, Cretan goddess of Childbirth • Typhon, serpent of Delphi • Symbol; peacock • Strengths; determined defender of sanctity of marriage and monogamy • Weaknesses; determined defender of sanctity of marriage and monogamy, but married Zeus • Temple site; Samos (300 year honeymoon) • Relationship oriented • “Diva” • Restored Virginity each year by bathing in Kanathos

9. Apollo & Artemis God of the Sun Goddess of Wild Things • Young man, curly blonde hair • Born at Delos • Twin sister Artemis • Symbol; son, lyre, the bow, chariot • Strengths; creative, handsome, supportive of all arts • Weaknesses; too happy to enjoy charms of nymphs • Child, Orepheus with Callipe • Temple at Dephi, patron god of the oracle • Eternally young woman, beautiful, wearing short costume with leaves • Symbol; bow (lunar crescent) and hounds • Strengths; physically strong, able to defend herself, defender of women in childbirth and wildlife • Weaknesses; dislikes men (bathing), opposes marriage • Parents; Zeus and Leto • Brauron Temple • Freedom-loving young woman who roams in forests with maidens • Goddess of contradictions

10. Athena & Hermes Goddess of Wisdom God of Travelers & Troubleshooting • Young woman wearing helmet and shield • Symbol; owl (watchfulness and wisdom), Aegis (small shield) • Strengths; rational, intelligent, powerful, defendent in war, potent peacemaker • Weaknesses; reason rules her • Parthenon Temple • Sometimes called “Grey-eyed” • Her gift was the olive tree • Young man with winged hat, sandals, golden staff twined with serpents • Symbol; staff • Strengths; clever, bold, determined, athletic, powerful magician; charm monsters with flute • Weaknesses; can’t stay still for long • Parents; Zeus and Maia • Born in cave on Mt. Cylene, Arcadia • Affairs with Aphrodite and Dryope • Children; Pan, lusty god of wine, Hermaphrodities, Abderus • Generally had no temples; statue placed everywhere

11. Aphrodite & Dionysos Goddess of love God of wine, Vegetation, Pleasure & Festivity • Gorgeous, perfect, eternally young woman • Symbol; girdle, magical powers to compel love • Strengths; potent sexual attractiveness, dazzling beauty • Weaknesses; stuck on herself • Parents; Zeus and Dione • Born from sea foam near islands of Cyprus or Kythira • Spouse; Hephaestus • Children; Eros, cupid like • Temple; Kythira; Cyprus • Enchanted anyone who saw her • Dark haired, young man • Symbol; grapes, wine cups, wine skins; pine cone tipped staff • Strengths; Creator of wine • Weaknesses; god of intoxication and drunkenness • Parents; Zeus and Semele • Spouse; Ariadne, Cretan princess/ priestess • Accompanied by troop of Satyres and Mainades

12. Ares & Hephaistos God of WAr God of forge, Crafts, and Fire • Good-looking man in prime of life • Symbol; spear, vultures and dogs • Strengths; decisive, determined, fearless • Weaknesses; impulsive, bloodthirsty • Affairs; Aphrodite • Children; Diomedes, Cycnus, Oenomaus • Temples were rare, enjoyed Northern Greece • LOVED WAR • Dark haired man, deformed feet • Symbol; forge and fire • Strengths; creative, cunning, able metal worker • Weaknesses; can’t handle liquor, crafty, vindictive • Parents; Zeus and Hera • Spouse; Aphrodite • Children; Pandora • Temple Hephaestaion near Acroplis, Athens

13. Works Cited Εργασίες που αναφέρονται • Regula, deTraci. "The Tweleve Olympian Gods and Godesses of Greek Mythology." About.com: Greece Travel. 2010. The New York Times Company, Web. 27 Feb 2010. <http://gogreece.about.com/cs/mythology/a/olympiangods.htm>. • Atsma, Aaron J. "Dionysos." TheoiPoject. 2002-2008. Web. 1 Mar 2010. <htt://www.theoi.com/Olympious/Dionysos.html>. • Hillyer, Virgil M. A Child's History of the World. Hunt Valley, Maryland, USA: Calvert Education Services, 1997. 64-72; 141-148. Print. • Hemingway, Colette, and Sean Hemingway. "Greek Gods and RElifious Practices." The Metropolitan Museum of Art. 2000-2010. The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Web. 27 Feb 2010. <http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/grlg/hd_grlg.htm>. • "Zeus." Greek Mythology. Web. 27 Feb 2010. <http:// www.fanpop.com/sports/greek-mythology>. • "Greek Goddess Artemis." Hubpages. Web. 28 Feb 2010. <http://hubpages.com/hub/Greek-Goddess-Artemis>. • "Poseidon/ Neptune." Web. 1 Mar 2010. <http://www.nlahanas.de/Greeks/Mythology/Poseidon.html>. • "Temple of Hera I at Paestum." Greek Art. Web. 1 Mar 2010. <http://sasgreekart.pbworks.com/Temple-of-Hera-I-at-Paestum>. Pictures Thanks for the book Faith!!

14. THANK YOU & GOODNIGHT!