Introduction to
Greek Mythology
Module 4
Prepared by Ms Flor Angela M. Manalo, LPT
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The legacy of Greece and
Rome are so intertwined
that people refer it as
“Greco-Roman.”
Thus the phrase “The
glory that was Greece, the
grandeur that was Rome”.
Facts about Greece
Greece, which is officially named the Hellenic Republic,
is a country in the Mediterranean.
It
is surrounded with water such as Aegean,
Mediterranean and Ionian Seas.
Surrounding Greece is 1,400 islands, 169 of which are
inhabited.
The largest islands in Greece are Crete and Evia.
Facts about Greece
The capital city is Athens.
The main language is obviously Greek,
probably the oldest language in Europe,
but most people also speak English.
98% of the people are Greek Orthodox but
the rest are split Roman Catholic, Jewish
and Muslim faiths.
Facts about Greece
One interesting holiday that Greeks celebrate is
the Gynaikratia which is on the 8th of January.
On this day, men and women switch roles
wherein men stay at home and do houseworks
such as cooking, cleaning and looking after the
children while women spend the day drinking
coffee and meeting up with friends.
Facts about Greece
Greek art is very well-known around the
world.
There are four major forms of Greek art:
architecture
painting
sculpture
poetry
Facts about Greece
There is no sculpture comparable to
the Greeks.
There are no buildings more beautiful
and admirable than those they built.
there are no literary pieces superior to
theirs.
Why does one speak
of Greeks culture in
superlatives?
Greek Literature
Is divided into three periods:
Pre Homeric Age- includes the earliest
poetry of Greece and the works of Homer
Athenian Period to the Golde Age of Pericles
Period of Decline- from the death of
Alexander the Great until the enslavement of
the Greeks by the Romans
Qualities of Greek Literature
1. Permanence and
Universality
2. Essentially Full of Artistry
3. Originality
4. Diversity of Talent
5. Intellectual Quality
Four Cardinal Virtues (which
represents 4 aspects of being)
1. Courage= physical
2. Temperance = aesthetic
3. Justice = moral
4. Wisdom = intellectual
Greeks depict their gods in
human form; not like
primitives who worshipped
animals, reptiles and fowls
gods never suffer from old
age or death
gods have undecaying
strength or beauty
Greek
Mythology
What is a myth?
It is a story about gods and
goddesses which sets out to
explain why life is as it is.
CRONUS and RHEA
The TITANS
12 Olympian gods
and goddesses
Zeus (Jupiter)
Lordof the sky, rain god,
cloud gatherer
Power greater than any
other divinities; not
omnipotent nor omniscient
Themany lovers of Zeus
both gods and mortals
make up mythology
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Hera (Juno)
Zeus’ wife and sister
Protector of marriage
Always jealous that most
of the time she would
persecute Zeus’ lover
and children
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Poseidon (Neptune)
Ruler of the sea
Second in power
Called the Earthshaker
Carries a three-pronged
spear called trident
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Hades (Pluto)
Third in rank
Ruler of the underworld
and the dead
Name means “the unseen”
God of wealth
Just terrible but not evil
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Pallas Athena
(Minerva)
Daughter of Zeus
alone
Favorite daughter;
sprang from his head
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Phoebus Apollo
Son of Zeus and Leto
Greediest of all the gods
Master musician; Archer
god; God of light and
truth
Artemis (Diana)
Apollo’stwin sister
Lady of wild things
and huntsman
Connected with the
moon
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Aphrodite (Venus)
Goddess of love and
beauty
Name means foam-
risen
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Hermes (Mercury)
Son of Maia, daughter of
Atlas
Wears a winged sandal;
holds a magic wand
(caduceus)
Master Thief
God of Commerce and
Trade
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Ares (Mars)
God of War
Son of Zeus and Hera;
both detested him
Always walks with his
army
His sister ERIS means
discord and STRIFE, Eris’
son
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Hephaestus (Vulcan
or Mulciber)
God of Fire
Son of Zeus and Hera;
sometimes of Hera alone
(in retaliation of Zeus’
having brought forth
Athena)
Ugly and Lame
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Hestia (Vesta)
Zeus’s sister
Virgin goddess
Goddess of the
hearth
This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND
Lesser
gods
Eros (Cupid) –
god of love
This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-SA-NC
Iris- goddess of
the rainbow
This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-ND
The Graces
Aglaia- Splendor and Beauty
Euphrosyne- Mirth and
Gentleness
Thalia- Good cheer and
Friendship
The Muses (daughters of Zeus)
Clio(history) Terpsichore
(Dance)
Urania (Astronomy) Calliope (Epic Poetry)
Melpomene (Tragedy) Erato (Love Poetry)
Thalia(Comedy) Polyhymnia
(Songs)
Euterpe (Lyric Poetry)
Circe –
dread
goddess
Medusa–
snake
headed
goddess
This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-SA
Pan– Goat
God
This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND
Scylla- six-
headed beast
Centaur- half
man, half
horse
This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND
Cerberus- three-headed dog;
protector of the gates of the
underworld
Why is there a need
to study mythology?
References:
[Link]
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Lapid, Milagros and Josephine Serrano. English Communication Arts and Skills 10.
Phoenix Publishing House, 2023
