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The World According to the Ancient Greeks

The ancient Greeks believed the world was flat and that Greece was at its

center.

Their world was divided by the

Mediterranean, which means “Middle of the

Lands” in Latin.

The river Ocean flowed around the

world in a clockwise motion.

In the north lived the Hyperboreans – an

extremely happy people for whom life was sweet.

In the south lived the Ethiopians.

To the west were the Elysian Fields, the ancient Greeks’ version of heaven.

Chaos

Gaia (Earth)

Uranus (Heavens)

Tartarus (Underworld) Nyx (Night) Erebos

(Darkness) Eros (Love)

{The Olympians

The Ancient Greek Pantheon

In Greek mythology, the Twelve Olympians are the principal gods of the Greek pantheon, residing atop Mount Olympus.Note: The composition of the

Twelve changes depending on the reference.

They gained their supremacy in the world of gods after Zeus led his siblings to victory in war against the Titans.

{Children of Cronus and Rhea

1st Generation

King of the Gods and ruler of Mount Olympus; god of the sky, and thunder

Youngest son of the Titans Cronus and Rhea

Symbols are the lightning bolt and the eagle

Zeus [Jupiter]

Queen of the Gods, and the goddess of marriage and motherhood

Daughter of Cronus and Rhea; wife and sister of Zeus

Symbols are the peacock and the cow

Hera [Juno]

Lord of the Sea; god of the seas, earthquakes and horses

Son of Cronus and Rhea; brother of Zeus and Hades

Symbols include the hippocamp and the trident

Poseidon [Neptune]

Goddess of fertility, agriculture, nature, and the seasons

Daughter of Cronus and Rhea; sister of Zeus; mother of Persephone

Symbols include the poppy

Demeter [Ceres]

Lord of the Dead, god of the underworld and earthly wealth

Son of the Titans Cronus and Rhea; brother of Zeus and Poseidon

Symbols include the Helm of Darkness, a bident, and a skull

Hades [Pluto]

Virgin goddess of home and the hearth

Daughter of Cronus and Rhea, and sister of Zeus.

Hestia [Vesta]

{Children of the 1st Generation Olympians

2nd Generation

Goddess of love, beauty and sexuality

Daughter of Zeus and Dione [in other traditions, of Uranus]

Symbols include the dove and the swan.

Aphrodite [Venus]*

God of light, healing, music, poetry, prophecy, archery, and the arts

Son of Zeus and Leto; Twin brother of Artemis

Symbols include the bow and the lyre

Apollo [Apollo]

God of war and bloodshed

Son of Zeus and HeraSymbols include the boar and the spear

Ares [Mars]

Virgin goddess of the hunt and the moon

Daughter of Zeus and Leto; twin sister of Apollo

Symbols include the deer and the bow

Artemis [Diana]

Virgin goddess of wisdom, crafts, and battle strategy

Daughter of Zeus [according to some traditions, by Metis]

Symbols are the olive tree and the owl

Athena [Minerva]

God of wine, festivities and ecstacy

Son of Zeus and the mortal Semele

His symbol is the grapevine

Dionysus [Bacchus]

Blacksmith to the Gods; god of fire and the forge

Son of Zeus and Hera [according to some traditions, of Hera alone]

Symbols include the quail

Hephaestus [Vulcan]

Messenger of the Gods; god of commerce and thieves

Son of Zeus and the nymph Maia

Symbols include the caduceus

Hermes [Mercury]

If you could have dinner with one of the Olympians, who would it be and why? Explain your choice using no more than five to seven sentences. Write your answer on a Size 4.

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