Greek Mythology: Gods and Places

one tooth.

Medusa

Medusa was the mortal in many myths who had snakes on her head. Anyone who looked

at her was instantly turned to stone. She was slain by Perseus, who looked at her only

through a reflective shield.

Centaurs

Centaurs were animals who were part human and part horse. The centaurs were children

of Centaurus, son of the music god Apollo. Most centaurs had a reckless personality, and

small amounts of alcohol made them go wild.

 In a myth, Heracles was being entertained

by Pholus, a centaur, and he suggested he drink some wine. Pholus’ brothers smelled the

wine and attacked Heracles. Heracles eventually got them to retreat with flaming arrows.

Chiron was a famous centaur, his father was Cronus. Chiron was known for his wisdom

and excellence as a mentor. He mentored hHeracles, Jason, taught music, medicine and

hunting.

Satyrs

Woodland spirits who looked like men but had various animal features. These features included, a horses tail, goats legs. Dionysus, the wine god, travelled with Silenuswho was a satyr. They together, spread the sophistication and cultivation of grapes.

Cerberos

Cerberos was Hades’ guard dog, a relative of Chimera and the Hydra. Herecles carried Cerberus up from Hades. Herecles did this after a battle with Cerberos; he was mauled by the hound and menaced by snakes growing from his back and tail.

Cyclops

Cyops was a one eyed giant of the race that built Olympus for the gods. A Cyclops almost destroyed Odysseus and his shipmates on their return from the Trojan war. This Cyclops name was Polyphemus.

The Fates

The fates have a powerful and subtle power: deciding a mans destiny. The fates choosee if a man is good or evil. They also decide how long a man lives.

-          Clotho, the spinner (spins the thread of life)

-          Lachesis, the measurer (chooses the lot in life one will have and how long it is to be_

-          Atropos, at death, cuts off the tread of life with her shears.

The Muses

Zeus and Mnemosyne created the muses. They are recognized for their music, as anyone who hears their songs become joyful.

-          Clio (History)

-          Urania (Astronomy)

-          Melpomene (Tradgedy)

-          Thalia (Comedy)

-          Terpsichore (Dance)

-          Calliope (Epic Poetry)

-          Erato (Love Poetry)

-          Polyhymnia (Songs to the Gods)

-          Euterpe (Lyric Poetry)

Mythological Places

Mt Olympus

Mt Olympus comes up from the centre of the earth. The major gods live there and hold court. It is an unknown fact weather it is an actual mountain of some sort of province in the heavens.

Tartaros

Tartaros lies beneath the “disk of the world”. It is even deeper than Hades kingdom of the underworld. It is remote, unreachable and unpleasant. Tartaros is sometimes used as the ultimate prison.

Elysian Fields

The Elysian Fields are a section of the underworld. It is ruled by Rhadamanthys. In ancient mysteries, virtuous dead and initiates were sent to dwell.