Gods & Myths

Oracles & Offerings

By : Ploy, Kul, Pat, and Belle
 Greeks
Gods
&
Goddesses
 The St o r y
Reminder: Polytheism =
Believe in many gods

The great gods and goddesses are

called the Olympians due to they
live on the top peak of the
Olympus Mountain
Greeks gods are not kind. Some are selfish,
seeks revenge, and make a lot of mistakes.

For example : Gods have child

with humans and when the
children was born they were
called demigods.
Helen of Troy
daughter of Zeus and
Leda
most beautiful woman
in the world
Example of Greek Gods & Goddess

Zeus : The king of all gods;

God of sky, thunder, law,
order, and justice
Symbol : Thunderbolt, eagle,
bull and oak
Hades : Zeuss older
brother; God of underworld,
the death, and riches
Symbol : Cerberus,
cornucopia, sceptre,
cypress, narcissus, key
Athena : Daughter of Zeus;
godess of wisdom and
knowledge
Symbol : Owls, olive trees,
snakes, Aegis, armour,
helmets, spears, Gorgoneion
 Athena

Myths
Thor
Hestia
 About Greek MYTH

Some myths are short and simple,

but some are long and epic

Myths are told in public from parents to

children, from priests to followers. They are
spoken being passed down by memory
(until the eighth to seventh centuries BCE).
 How can Greek MYTHS teach Greece people to
understand their world????????

1. Nature
The myths explained many events on Earth about how did it happened
such as the cycle of each season etc.
 How can Greek MYTHS teach Greece people to
understand their world????????

2. Morality

The myths tell the greek the concept of morality; in the other word,
right or wrong.
 How can Greek MYTHS teach Greece people to
understand their world????????

3. History
The myths gave some idea to the Greek about their origin and what
happened in the past (History) with stories based on true story.

Some other myths explained the founding of cities or the origin of

traditions.
How can Greek MYTHS help US to understand the
Greeks????????

1. Help us know that they made up stories

Just like every culture else, Greeks made up stories and entertainment. The
difference of them is they told it in person from mouth to mouth.
How can Greek MYTHS help US to understand the
Greeks????????

2. Help know that how Sophisticated they were

Since the story of Greek are usually not simple and the gods or the character
are complicated; they are realistic having both good and bad side, Greek
morality make us understand the moral of Greek people.

Further than that, Greek mythology become central to a famous question of a

philosopher Socrates known as Euthyphro Dilemma.
 Euthyphro Dilemma

popular example

Is something good because the gods

command it? Or do the gods command it
because it is good?
 How can Greek MYTHS help US to understand the
Greeks????????

3. Help us know the Greeks outlook on life

They used the concept Hubris which means: to be too proud, thinking they
are the same level as god. In myth, a person who is hubristic are punished by
Nemesis; the goddess of retribution.
This taught the Greek that even if they are the best in a way, that doesnt mean
that the world would revolve around you.
Myth also inspired many things too...
 ORACLE
Alone in the Mount Olympus,
the Greeks adopted a way to
connect the the gods, it is by
using oracles. Unlike China
that used bone oracles, the
Greek used people oracle. They
would usually use women .
-ORACLE-
The point of greek oracle : To let the gods know the
wishes
People from all over the place would gather to ask the oracles
about their wishes
The Greeks consider this process very seriously
In Dodona, which is one of the oldest oracle place, the people
would have to write their wishes on a lead tablet
The oracle would say either yes or no about the answer on
the tablet
Even Helen, Achilles, and Odysseus went there
 The most important oracle place is in Delphi
Many Many people came here
Only if the person give donation, then one would get a chance to
ask a question that they desired to know
When one asks, the oracle would go into the inner chamber
room and sit on the tripod that has cracks[wind and vapor] on
it, then the oracle would do the movements with hand and the
priest would have to explain the meaning of that to the person

But the word or phrase that translated could be very tricky to

understand, like the pause in each word
EX :
GO. GO.
RETURN. RETURN NOT.
NOT DIE IN WAR. DIE IN WAR
Delphi - the most important oracle place

Zooming in where the oracle was located

Offerings
To favour the god
How Greeks Gain the Favour of the God?
 Eusebia (Piety)
Doing your duty publically

- Is a part of a good character.

- Devoted to the god and polis even if your role is very little.

- If the god thinks a person have good character, him/her will reward the
whole polis.
Ways to display Eusebia :

1. sacrifices
Ways to display Eusebia :

2. festival
 Ethos (Character)
Praticing good costums and habits

- With good characteristic, in a crisis, you would be trusted to make big

decision.

Ways to display Ethos :

1. generosity
2. contribution to the polis
 Arete (Exellence)
Praticing good costums and habits

Arete can be display

- physically
- intellectually

Ways to display Arete :

1. competitions
- music
- theatre & poetry
- games*
 OLYMPIC GAME (WORSHIP ZUES)

DIFFERENT KIND OF GAMES

QUESTIONS For the Gods and Myths topic

1) What is polytheism?

2) How were Greek gods different from how we think of gods today?

3) What is Hubris?
Answers For the Gods and Myths topic

1) What is polytheism?

>>>> Belive in many gods

2) How were Greek gods different from how we think of gods today?

>>>> Greek Gods are realistic; made mistakes, some are selfish while nowaday gods are perfect

3) What is Hubris?

>>>> To be too proud and thought that he/she is the same level as god
QUESTIONS For the Oracles and Offering topic

1) What was the most important oracle in Hella?

2) Did oracle give clear advice?

3) How did the Greek display Eusebia?

Answers For the Oracles and Offering topic

1) What was the most important oracle in Hella?

>>>> DELPHI

2) Did oracle give clear advice?

>>>> No, it does not. Especially the pauses, they are very unclear, and sometimes could mean in
many different ways.

3) How did the Greek display Eusebia?

>>>> The Greek display Eusebia by sacrificing animals and holding festivals.