Objectives
·
Gain
significant knowledge with regard to the god and goddesses of Greek mythology.
·
Determine
the characteristics and its power.
·
Understand
their beliefs and tradition.
·
Appreciate
the example stories of the Greek mythology.
The
Greek did not believe that the gods created the universe. It was the other way
about; the universe created the gods.
Twelve Olympians of Greek
Mythology
Greek Name: Zeus
Greek Name: Hera
Roman Name: Juno
Queen of the gods and the goddess of marriage and family. Symbols include the peacock, pomegranate, crown, cuckoo, lion and cow. Youngest daughter of Cronus and Rhea. Wife and sister of Zeus. Being the goddess of marriage, she frequently tried to get revenge on Zeus' lovers and their children.
Roman Name: Jupiter
King
of the gods and ruler of Mount Olympus; god of the sky and thunder.
Youngest child of the Titans Cronus and Rhea. Symbols include the thunderbolt,
eagle, oak tree, scepter and scales. Brother and husband of Hera, although he
had many lovers.
Greek Name: Hera
Roman Name: Juno
Queen of the gods and the goddess of marriage and family. Symbols include the peacock, pomegranate, crown, cuckoo, lion and cow. Youngest daughter of Cronus and Rhea. Wife and sister of Zeus. Being the goddess of marriage, she frequently tried to get revenge on Zeus' lovers and their children.
Greek Name: Poseidon
Roman Name: Neptune
Lord of the seas, earthquakes and horses. Symbols include the horse, bull, dolphin and trident. Middle son of Cronus and Rhea. Brother of Zeus and Hades. Married to the Nereid Amphitrite, although, like most male Greek Gods, he had many lovers.
Lord of the seas, earthquakes and horses. Symbols include the horse, bull, dolphin and trident. Middle son of Cronus and Rhea. Brother of Zeus and Hades. Married to the Nereid Amphitrite, although, like most male Greek Gods, he had many lovers.
Greek Name: Hades
Roman Name: Pluto
God of the underworld, dead and the riches under the Earth( Pluto translate to the "Rich One"), he was born into the first Olympian generation, but as he lives in the Underworld, he is typically not included amongst the twelve Olympians.
Greek Name: Hestia
Roman Name: Vesta
Goddesses of the Hearth and of the right ordering of the domesticity and the family; she was born into the first Olympian generation and was one of the original twelve Olympians, but stories suggest that when Dionysus arrived on Mount Olympus she gave him her place in the twelve to prevent discord.
God of the underworld, dead and the riches under the Earth( Pluto translate to the "Rich One"), he was born into the first Olympian generation, but as he lives in the Underworld, he is typically not included amongst the twelve Olympians.
Greek Name: Hestia
Goddesses of the Hearth and of the right ordering of the domesticity and the family; she was born into the first Olympian generation and was one of the original twelve Olympians, but stories suggest that when Dionysus arrived on Mount Olympus she gave him her place in the twelve to prevent discord.
Greek Name: Artemis
Roman Name: Diana
Virgin goddess of the hunt, virginity, childbirth, archery and all animals. Symbols include the moon, deer, hound, she-bear, snake, cypress tree and bow and arrow. Daughter of Zeus and Leto and twin sister of Apollo.
Greek Name: Hermes
Messenger of the gods; god
of commerce and thieves. Symbols include the caduceus (staff entwined with two
snakes), winged sandals and cap, stork and tortoise (whose shell he used to
invent the lyre). Son of Zeus and the nymph Maia. The second-youngest Olympian,
just older than Dionysus. He married Dryope, the daughter of Dryops, and their son Pan became the god of nature, lord of
the satyrs, inventor of the panpipes and comrade of Dionysus.
Greek Name:Athena
Virgin goddess of wisdom, handicrafts, defense and strategic warfare. Symbols include the owl and the olive tree. Daughter of Zeus and the Oceanid Metis, she rose from her father's head fully grown and in full battle armor after he swallowed her mother.
Greek Name:Ares
Roman Name: Mars
God of war, violence and bloodshed. Symbols include the boar, serpent, dog,
vulture, spear and shield. Son of Zeus and Hera, all the other gods (except
Aphrodite) despised him. His Latin name, Mars, gave us the word "martial."
Greek Name:Aphrodite
Roman Name: Venus
Goddess of love,
beauty, and desire. Symbols include the dove, bird, apple, bee, swan, myrtle
and rose. Daughter of Zeus and the Oceanid Dione, or perhaps born from the sea
foam after Uranus'
blood dripped onto the earth and into the sea after being defeated by his
youngest son Cronus. Married to Hephaestus, although she
had many adulterous affairs, most notably with Ares. Her name gave us the word
"aphrodisiac", while her Latin name
gave us the word "venereal".
Greek Name:Hephaestus
Roman Name: Vulcan
Master blacksmith and craftsman of the
gods; god of fire and the forge. Symbols include fire, anvil, ax, donkey,
hammer, tongs and quail. Son of Hera, either by Zeus or alone. Married to
Aphrodite, though unlike most divine husbands, he was rarely ever licentious.
His Latin name, Vulcan, gave us the word "volcano."
Greek Name:Apollo
Roman Name: Apollo
God of light,knowledge, music, poetry, prophecy and archery. symbols include the sun, lyre, bow and arrow, raven, dolphin, wolf, swan and mouse. twin brother of Artemis. youngest child of Zeus and Leto.
God of light,knowledge, music, poetry, prophecy and archery. symbols include the sun, lyre, bow and arrow, raven, dolphin, wolf, swan and mouse. twin brother of Artemis. youngest child of Zeus and Leto.
Stories
Pyramus and Thisbe
In Babylon during the reign of
Queen Semiramis, Pyramus and Thisbe live in separate houses sharing the same
roof. Of all the young men in the region, Pyramus has no equal in the
magnificence of his looks, and Thisbe is fairer than the fairest nymph.
When they grew up, their acquaintance turned into friendship—and friendship into burning love. But their parents now stand between them, forbidding them to see each other or even to speak of their love. However, "The fire of love the more it is supprest.
the more it glows and rages in the breast." When the wall dividing their homes was built, shrinkage in the cement left a crack in the wall that went unnoticed except by the two lovers. Through it, they whisper their sorrows and joys. Desperate with love, they attempt to kiss, but the crack is too small. Even so, they often remain at the wall through the night.
In time, they decide to run away and meet at the tomb of Ninus, next to a tree bearing white berries. During the hours before their planned nighttime escape, they are “impatient for the friendly dusk” to appear and “chide the slowness of departing day.” After the sun sinks in the western sea, Thisbe steals away, her face veiled, and quickly arrives at the tomb. And then "a lioness rush’d o’er the plain,
Grimly besmear'd with blood of oxen slain."
The frightening sight quickens her thirst, and she runs to a nearby brook to drink, losing her veil along the way. Afterward, in a nearby cave, she calms down as she awaits the arrival of Pyramus. Meanwhile, the lion roams back across the plain, discovers the veil, “and mouthing it all o’er, / With bloody jaws the lifeless prey she tore.” .Pyramus, who had to delay his departure until he could sneak past the watchful eyes in his home, arrives late. In the moonlight, he sees the paw prints of the lioness and, to his horror, finds the torn and bloody veil near the tomb. He upbraids himself
When they grew up, their acquaintance turned into friendship—and friendship into burning love. But their parents now stand between them, forbidding them to see each other or even to speak of their love. However, "The fire of love the more it is supprest.
the more it glows and rages in the breast." When the wall dividing their homes was built, shrinkage in the cement left a crack in the wall that went unnoticed except by the two lovers. Through it, they whisper their sorrows and joys. Desperate with love, they attempt to kiss, but the crack is too small. Even so, they often remain at the wall through the night.
In time, they decide to run away and meet at the tomb of Ninus, next to a tree bearing white berries. During the hours before their planned nighttime escape, they are “impatient for the friendly dusk” to appear and “chide the slowness of departing day.” After the sun sinks in the western sea, Thisbe steals away, her face veiled, and quickly arrives at the tomb. And then "a lioness rush’d o’er the plain,
Grimly besmear'd with blood of oxen slain."
The frightening sight quickens her thirst, and she runs to a nearby brook to drink, losing her veil along the way. Afterward, in a nearby cave, she calms down as she awaits the arrival of Pyramus. Meanwhile, the lion roams back across the plain, discovers the veil, “and mouthing it all o’er, / With bloody jaws the lifeless prey she tore.” .Pyramus, who had to delay his departure until he could sneak past the watchful eyes in his home, arrives late. In the moonlight, he sees the paw prints of the lioness and, to his horror, finds the torn and bloody veil near the tomb. He upbraids himself
'Tis I am guilty, I have thee
betray'd,
Who came not early, as my charming maid.
Whatever slew thee, I the cause remain,
I nam'd, and fix'd the place where thou wast slain.
Who came not early, as my charming maid.
Whatever slew thee, I the cause remain,
I nam'd, and fix'd the place where thou wast slain.
He kisses the veil and cries over
it, then withdraws his sword and plunges it into his chest. When he falls back
onto the ground, blood spurts so high that it stains the white berries on the
tree. They turn deep red, and the roots of the tree alter themselves so that
they will produce only purple berries henceforth. After Thisbe leaves the
cave to search for Pyramus, she hears him sighing near the tomb. When she
arrives there, she recognizes the tomb and the tree. But the color of the
berries bewilders her. And then she finds the body of Pyramus, quivering. “She
shriek'd, she tore her hair, she beat her breast."She takes Pyramus in her
arms, bathes him in her tears, and kisses him, asking “Whence sprung thy cruel
fate?” He opens his eyes for a moment, then closes them and dies. When Thisbe
sees the bloody veil and the sword, she realizes what happened. She then says
she hopes that the cruel parents of her and Pyramus will witness the results of
a prayer she recites: "Oh! see our ashes in one urn confin'd, / Whom love
at first, and fate at last has join'd."
She then asks that the tree display the blood of not only Pyramus but also her own. And then in her bosom [she] plung'd the sword, All warm and reeking from its slaughter'd lord.
The prayer, which dying Thisbe had preferr'd,
Both Gods, and parents, with compassion heard.
The whiteness of the mulberry soon fled,
And rip'ning, sadden'd in a dusky red:
While both their parents their lost children mourn,
And mix their ashes in one golden urn.
She then asks that the tree display the blood of not only Pyramus but also her own. And then in her bosom [she] plung'd the sword, All warm and reeking from its slaughter'd lord.
The prayer, which dying Thisbe had preferr'd,
Both Gods, and parents, with compassion heard.
The whiteness of the mulberry soon fled,
And rip'ning, sadden'd in a dusky red:
While both their parents their lost children mourn,
And mix their ashes in one golden urn.
Ceyx and Alcyone
Ceyx (Κήυξ) was the son of Eosphorus (Lucifer in the Roman myth, meaning
"Morning Star"). Ceyx was also the brother of Daedalion. Ceyx told the hero Peleus of the
fates of his brother and Chione, the daughter of Daedalion. Ceyx was
the king of Trachis, a region in southern Thessaly.
Ceyx was known for his wisdom and hospitality. Heracles had
stayed in Trachis as his guest, as well as Peleus, the son of King Aeacus of
Aegina.
Heracles left Calydon with a new wife, Deïaneira, and lived with Ceyx,
in friendship. Heracles had aided Ceyx in the war against the Dryopes and the
Lapiths. However, Ceyx could not protect the children of Heracles (Heraclids)
against Eurystheus, the powerful king of Mycenae and Tiryns. Ceyx advised
Iolaus and the Heraclids to seek refuge at Athens.
Peleus was exiled from Aegina, for murdering his half brother, Phocus.
Phocus was the son of Aeacus and the Nereid Psamathe, sister of Thetis. Ceyx was attending his brother's
funeral when Peleus arrived in his court as suppliant.
While as a guest of Ceyx, Peleus' cattle were attack by a giant wolf,
sent by Psamathe. Ceyx would have hunted the wolf with Peleus, but Ceyx's wife,
Alcyone, pleaded with her husband not to go.
It was his prayer to Thetis (Peleus' future wife) that she persuaded her
sister Psamathe to pardon Peleus for the murder. Psamathe transformed the wolf
into stone.
Ceyx was married to Alcyone (Ἀλκυόνη), the daughter
of Aeolus and
Enarete. (In the story told by Ovid's Metamorphoses,
her father, Aeolus of Thessaly was mistakenly for Aeolus, the keeper of winds).
Ceyx wanted to find out how his brother had died, from the oracle at
Delphi. Rather then journey by land where he will encounter enemies, he decided
to go by sea.
Alcyone felt foreboding over her husband's journey, so she tried to
dissuade him from travelling to Delphi by ship. Ceyx refused to let his wife go
with him on the voyage, and promised to return within two months. Alcyone was
miserable and depressed, weeping over her husband's absence.
Ovid gives a long account of how the storm wrecked Ceyx's ship. The ship
sank because of the violent sea. Throughout Ceyx's ordeal, Ceyx's thought was
fixed on his wife. Ceyx could not swim to safety, before one last wave pounded
and drowned him.
Every day and night, Alcyone prayed to Hera for her husband's safe
return. Her prayers were muttered in vain. Before the end of the second month,
Hera sent Morpheus to Alcyone.
Morpheus arrived in Alcyone' dream, in the form of her dead husband.
Morpheus told Alcyone how her real husband drowned. When she woke, Alcyone was
inconsolable. The gods taking pity on Alcyone, so they transformed her and her
husband into kingfishers or halcyons.
A less romantic version of the fate of Ceyx and Alcyone is found in
Apollodorus' work. The gods had transformed Ceyx into a sea swallow and Alcyone
into a kingfisher or halcyon, as the sign of wrath and punishment, not out of
pity. Ceyx and Alcyone had dared to call themselves, Zeus and Hera.
http://www.google.com.ph/imgres?q=hera+images&hl=tl&biw=1366&bih=641&tbm=isch&tbnid=bL0ERCcWnszQIM:&imgrefurl=http://wikiality.wikia.com/Hera&docid=647Ncceet39XHM&imgurl=http://images.wikia.com/wikiality/images/0/07/Hera.jpg&w=550&h=764&ei=SoRoT52-IYejiQeyxICmCg&zoom=1&iact=rc&dur=380&sig=104597294178898647145&page=1&tbnh=1
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Twelve_Olympians
http://www.cummingsstudyguides.net/Guides3/pyramus.html#Top
http://www.timelessmyths.com/classical/lovers.html#Ceyx
