Mythology Vocabulary

List 1
We will cover two terms per class meeting. Come
prepared to use the terms in class.
After 5 class meetings, we will have a quiz.

1. Chaos - the primeval state of existence

2. Titans - According to Greek mythology, the
Titans were a race of primordial, powerful
deities that ruled during the legendary Golden
Age. The Titans were created by Gaea, the
goddess of the Earth and Uranus, the god of
the Heaven who embraced Gaea strongly with
his starry coat. Gaea and Uranus became the
first divine couple of the World.
The Titans were the first dwelling in Mount
Olympus in Ancient Greece, but were
overthrown and expelled to the lower
basement of Hades, the Tartarus, after their
defeat in a huge battle with the Olympian
Gods, known as Titanomachy.

3. Zeus- Last child of the Titans. Zeus had his

golden throne on the highest summit of Mount
Olympus and was respected and awed by all Gods
and mortals. All the kings boasted that they
descended from Zeus.
Zeus was the "Lord of Justice", punishing anyone
who lied or broke an oath, but was fair and always
striving to keep a balance of all things. Brothers:
Hades and Poseidon.
4. Poseidon - Poseidon was the Greek god
responsible for natural and supernatural events,
mainly the ones associated to the sea world and
was the savior of ships. He possessed a trident
which was so powerful that it could shake the
earth. Poseidon was able to cause tempests and
earthquakes, drown lands, shatter rocks and had
the ability to finally bring back peacefulness.

5. Hades- Hades was the Greek god of the

Dead and, according to Plato, [1] he should be
considered as one of the Olympian gods.
Hades was the supreme ruler of the
Underworld. Almost never did he leave his
gloomy kingdom but was residing there
instead, surrounded by darkness and silence...
6. Aphrodite - Husband and Relationships:
Aphrodite was married to the lame smith
Hephaestus, the Olympian God of the Iron,
but her heart was devoted to Ares, the God of
War, with whom Aphrodite was having a
passionate, but secret love affair.

7. Apollo- Son of Zeus. Apollo was the Greek god

of the Music. He invented the lute(a plucked string
instrument with a body shaped like a pear), but he
was more popular for playing the lyre, which was
invented by Hermes, the messenger of the gods.
Apollo excelled in important music contests,
competing against Greek god Hermes and the
Satyr Pan as well as other deities.
8. Hera- Zeuss wife. Child of the Titans. Although
Hera was one of the fairest goddesses in Mount
Olympus, Zeus was giving Hera plenty of reason to
be suspicious and jealous; Hera therefore used to
stay in high places in order to keep an eye on her
husband's doings. There were times she would
also interfering, causing harm to Zeus' mistresses,
since Zeus himself was invincible.

9. Dionysus- A god known for his lightheartedness and

always offered his help to anyone in need. He was
therefore very popular among gods and mortals and
many festivals were being held every year in his honor.
Nevertheless, Dionysus was many times
misunderstood. Dionysus was one of the Olympian gods
who actually did not live in Mount Olympus but was
constantly travelling around the world together with
Satyrs and Maenads in order to discover the secrets of
winemaking.
10. Athena- Daughter of Zeus. Athena was the goddess
who taught mankind various skills such as weaving and
sewing to the women and agriculture and metallurgy to
men. She was always giving precious advice and stood
by on any danger. Athena protected the heroes as they
went out to war and saved them on their coming back.