Greek Mythology Intro

​The Ancient Greeks had a lasting impact on later civilizations & cultures

​These include:

• ​gov't & law

• ​history

• ​philosophy

• ​technology

• ​architecture

• ​literature

​Greek myths, fables, epics and dramas are still part of our world today

• ​"Tortoise & the Hare"

• ​Comedies

• ​Dramas

• ​Tragedies

Religion of the ​Ancient Greeks was polytheistic

• believed in & worshiped many gods & goddesses

The Greeks made and shared the stories about their gods

• We call these stories myths​

​The Greeks believed that the home of the gods & goddesses was @ top of Mt Olympus

​some of the gods & goddesses included:

• ​Zeus = king of the gods

• ​Hera = queen of the gods

• ​Poseidon = god of the sea

• ​Hades = god of the underworld

• ​Aphrodite = goddess of love

​Greeks believed gods to be very much like human in emotion and their actions

​Stories (myths) tell of gods fighting each other, being jealous of each other or playing tricks on each other

​The gods would interact w/ humans, helping or punishing

​The gods very much involved in everyday life

​Each city-state chose one god or goddess to protect it

• ​performed rituals, prayed, made offerings to please

• ​Athens named after . . . . . . ?

Myths involving gods helped explain & make sense of events of everyday life for the ancient Greeks.

• ​Thunder & lightning = Zeus being angry

​Very little to no understanding of how the world worked

​Western culture heavily influenced by Greek Myths

• ​found in plays, literature, movies, everyday life

  • ​Pandora's Box

  • ​Clash of the Titans

  • ​Percy Jackson

  • ​Superheros