Mythology

Scramblin' thru... Greek Mythology

We. Are. Family. Sing along now! We. Are. Family. No. Seriously. We're like ALL related... [Click picture for a larger version.]

The Real Housewives of Greece...

Greek Mythology is a set of tales told by the Ancient Greeks about the exploits of gods and heroes with mortals. The Greeks worshiped many gods, but, unlike other belief systems, they didn't produce a sacred, written text like The Bible. Mythology gave the Greeks an outlet in which to express their perceptions about life and the world.

The Greeks considered their gods human-like in form and emotions. The gods did not love all humans. They protected those that gave them sacrifices and festivals. Angry gods caused earthquakes, epidemics, or defeat in battle and war. Twelve gods emerged as the most important. They meet and hang out atop Mount Olympus.

Other Greek characters:

Achilles was the best Greek warrior who died when a poisoned arrow struck
his heel.

Heracles was the strong half-god who performed 12 "impossible tasks".

Odysseus was the Greek hero just trying to get home after the Trojan War.

Medusa was the snake-haired monster who turned people to stone with one
look (before being beheaded by Perseus).

Pandora unleashed plagues and sorrows on humankind after she opened a
forbidden box.

Theseus killed the Minotaur (man's body and bull's head) in the Labyrinth.

Hi, Mr. Hercules? Um, yea. We're gunna need a urine sample, please...

School picture day had to suck for Medusa...

The Greek gods & goddesses

Zeus

King of the gods
(a.k.a. Jupiter in Rome)

King of the gods and ruler of Mount Olympus; god of the sky and thunder. Youngest child of the Titans Cronus and Rhea. Brother and husband of Hera. Although married to Hera, he is known for his epic "hook ups" with both mortals... and nymphs. [Click picture for a larger version.]

Hera

Queen of the gods
(a.k.a. Juno in Rome)

Queen of the gods and the goddess of marriage and family. 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. [Click picture for a larger version.]

Who wins? Zeus vs. Ben Franklin. Commence the debate!!! [Click picture for a larger version.]

Hades

God of the Underworld
(a.k.a. Pluto in Rome)

God of the Underworld, the dead, and the riches under the Earth. He was born into the first Olympian generation, but as he lives in the Underworld rather than on Mount Olympus, he is typically not included with the 12 Olympians. Married to Persephone, queen of the dead. [Click picture for a larger version.]

Poseidon

God of the Sea
(a.k.a. Neptune in Rome)

God of the seas, earthquakes, and horses (odd combo, yes?). Brother of Zeus and Hades. Married to the Nereid Amphitrite, although, like his brother Zeus, had many lovers. [Click picture for a larger version.]

Ares

God of War
(a.k.a. Mars in Rome)

God of war, violence, and bloodshed. Son of Zeus and Hera, all the other gods (excluding Aphrodite) hated him. He had an affair with Aphrodite, the wife of his brother Hephaestus. [Click picture for a larger version.]

Athena

Goddess of Wisdom & War
(a.k.a. Minerva in Rome)

Virgin goddess of wisdom, defense, and strategic warfare. Daughter of Zeus... she jumped out of his head in full battle gear. She is the patron goddess of Athens. [Click picture for a larger version.]

Apollo

God of Light
(a.k.a. Phoebus in Rome)

God of light, the arts, music, poetry, prophecy, and archery. He was the patron of the Delphic Oracle, a shrine where a priestess would tell the future to those who asked. Apollo is also known for his affairs with mortals and nymphs. The god also has a darker side; those who died of plague or other disease were often imagined as shot by the arrows of Apollo. Twin brother of Artemis. Youngest child of Zeus and a nymph called Leto. [Click picture for a larger version.]

Hephaestus

God of Fire
(a.k.a. Vulcan in Rome)

God of fire and master blacksmith/craftsman of the gods. Son of Hera, either by Zeus or alone (yea, you read that right) and brother of Ares. After he was born, his parents threw him off Mount Olympus. Married to Aphrodite, though unlike most divine husbands, he rarely ever cheated. [Click picture for a larger version.]

Artemis

Goddess of the Hunt
(a.k.a. Diana in Rome)

Goddess of the hunt, virginity, archery, and animals. Artemis guards her virginity fiercely, and like her brother twin Apollo, she can be cruel and ruthless. She is the oldest child of Zeus and Leto. [Click picture for a larger version.]

Hestia

Goddess of Hearth & Home
(a.k.a. Vesta in Rome)

The Goddess of the Hearth and Home, she was born into the first Olympian generation and was one of the original 12 Olympians. However, stories suggest that when Dionysus arrived on Mount Olympus, she gave him her place in the 12 to prevent discord. The hearth was very important as it was a source of light and warmth and where food was prepared. There are not many stories about her in mythology. [Click picture for a larger version.]

Hermes

Messenger of the gods
(a.k.a. Mercury in Rome)

Messenger of the gods and god of messengers, trade, travellers, and thieves. Son of Zeus and the nymph Maia. The second-youngest Olympian, he married Dryope, and their son, Pan, became the god of nature and inventor of the panpipes. [Click picture for a larger version.]

Aphrodite

Goddess of Love
(a.k.a. Venus in Rome)

Goddess of love, beauty, and desire. Daughter of Zeus and the Oceanid Dione... or, according to some versions... she was born when Uranus ("Heaven" - and Zeus' grandfather) was castrated by his son Cronus (who used a harpē to carry out the deed). Cronus (Zeus' father) then threw the severed genitals into the ocean, which began to turn into a frothy foam. POOF... out of the sea foam (called "aphros") appeared Aphrodite. (And you thought the story of how your parents met was embarrassing...) Of course, if Aphrodite is the cast-offspring of Uranus, she is of the same generation as Zeus' parents. If she is the daughter of the Titans, she is Zeus' cousin. (Got that?) Married to Hephaestus, although she had many affairs, most notably with his brother Ares. [Click picture for a larger version.]