...Daughter of Zeus, Athena was born fully grown from her father's forehead. This Greek goddess has no mother, but there are tales that say Zeus may have been with Metis around the time Athena arrived. Athena is the goddess of wisdom and warfare. She is known for her strategic skill in warfare and is known as “companion of heroes” and is the patron goddess of heroic strive (“Athena”). The Athenians considered her their “protector” and in honor of this, they named their city after her; Athens (“Myths”). She is commonly symbolized with an olive tree. Her sacred animals are the snake and owl. Athena is usually described as a rosy cheeked girl with a muscular body (“Athena”). She was one of the three Greek goddesses that remained a virgin (Littleton 171). Athena is one of the only goddesses that shows heroic skill and wisdom and she is one of the most important Greek and Roman goddesses known during this ancient time period....
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...were about God, Goddess and Heroes. Women, in ancient Greek and Roman societies, did not have high status and they were considered as properties of men. During that time, woman was just being a wife and being a mother and stayed at home to take care of the house for her man. Women did not have any role in politics therefore they could not vote and they did not have any right for themselves. The roles of women could be learned by reviewing how female figures were created through the ancient Greek and Roman art works. Most of the female figures, in any art work during this period, were either goddess; such as statue of Athena goddess of wisdom,warfare and women's craft, or monsters; such as Sphixn in Greek mythology. Therefore, during the ancient...
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...Ἀθηνᾶ Goddess magazine presents an exclusive interview with the ever-elusive Athena, goddess of wisdom, war and invention. She has been revered and worshipped for over three thousand years, is the daughter of the mightiest god, Zeus, and is the patron deity of Athens. She has counselled warriors and heroes as well as punished many mortals. Her power and beauty was renowned as was her purity and wisdom. She speaks today about her fantastical birth, her decision to remain chaste and her semi-feud with Aphrodite. T he first thing I noticed about the infamous goddess of wisdom was her undeniable beauty. Her very essence had fascinated me for years. The fact that she remained faithful to herself and her beliefs as well as the fact that she wielded her power with such grace and elegance made her my favourite deity by far. Goddess: Let’s start out first with your incredible birth. Unlike any other mortal or immortal, you were born from your father’s head. Do you think that gave you a closer relationship with him? Athena: [Nods] Certainly. I never knew my mother. He was everything to me. I believe the fact that I was born from his head allowed my father to feel a closer connection to me than any of my many other siblings. That being said, my father did initially swallow my mother, Metis, to prevent my birth. [Laughs] “I never knew my mother. He was everything to me. I believe the fact that I was born from his head allowed my father to feel a closer connection to me than any...
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...solved. However, Zeus never knew that Metis was pregnant with Athena. She birthed Athena inside of Zeus and made her a helmet, shield, and spear. Soon, Zeus was afflicted with deadly headaches and he ran to Hephaestus, the Greek god of blacksmiths, sculptors, metallurgy, fire, and volcanoes, and begged him to open his head. Hephaestus did as he was told, and out came Athena, dressed in her armor and prepared to fight a battle. Like all the Olympians, Athena was an immortal goddess and could not die. She was the most intelligent, resourceful, and wise of all the Greek gods. She was also...
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...The Greek gods impacted ancient Greek civilization because the people thought they were the reason for nature and helped guide their lives. The Greeks also thought that the gods were just as imperfect as humans but wielded great power and control. Here are some of the most well-known gods and what people believed they do. ⚡ Zeus. (n.d.). Retrieved March 04, 2018, from https://www.greekmythology.com/Olympians/Zeus/zeus.html Zeus, the ruler of the Olympian gods, is the god of the sky. The Greeks thought that he was the god who He dethroned his father and drew a lot with his siblings, Poseidon and Hades, to figure out who would win and sit on the honourable throne, as a mighty, powerful ruler. Zeus was the son who became the ruler of the gods,...
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...2012 University of Phoenix Introduction: Greek and Gothic Architecture Greek architecture flourished during the Hellenic era of Greek history. Temples were popular amongst the Greeks. They are most revered buildings in Greek architecture. Temples built in ancient Greece where used for the purpose of holding deity statues dedicated to Greek Gods and Goddess. Temples such as the Parthenon was used for holding Greek treasures. Italian writer and architect Giorgio Vasari use the term Gothic to describe culture that was “rude and barbaric.” Gothic Architecture thrived during the high and late middle ages (medieval period) in 16th century France. This form of architecture would spread throughout northern Europe. Gothic Architecture was common in many of Europe’s important structures, particularly religious churches and cathedrals. Cathedrals such as the Salisbury represented the power of the Catholic Church in Europe during this time period. Both Greek and Gothic architectural styles were often utilized in designing places of worship. Gothic architecture was most commonly found in cathedrals of England and Western Europe, while Greek architecture was common in temple design ("Compare Gothic to Greek Architecture", 2012). This paper will examine the Greek Parthenon Temple and the Gothic Salisbury Cathedral. There were similarities and differences, in design and importance. This examination will compare and contrast the Greek and Gothic architectural styles and give insight...
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...using sculptural and ceramic illustrations provided by Soltes, explain the evolution from Geometric Greek art into Classical Greek art, culminating with the construction and decoration of the Parthenon (The Temple of Athena). It will discuss what social, cultural/historic events accompanied and promoted this evolution. Greek art and sculpture has had a profound effect throughout the ages. Many of the styles have been reproduced and copied by some of what the modern day audiences would class as some of the finest artists to have ever lived. The Greeks used many different types of materials in their sculptures including stone, marble and limestone as these were abundant in Greece. Other materials such as clay were also used but due to their brittle nature very few have survived. Greek sculptures are very important as the vast majority of them tell us a story about Gods, Heroes, Events, Mythical Creatures and Greek culture in general. Many of the statues that have survived are actually of Roman origin. Like many people today the Romans had a deep respect for Greek sculptures and many were copied. If the Romans had not made these copies, many of the Greek Legends and stories that we know today would have been lost to antiquity. Geometric Art was a dramatic transformation that led to the establishment of primary Greek institutions such as the Greek city and the Greek alphabet. Although primarily visual, transformation is a concept which moves it way through history...
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...Hestia Hestia is the oldest goddess/god. She is known as the Goddess of the Hearth, Home, and Family, and is also called Guardian of Elpis and The Last Olympian. Poseidon and Apollo both wanted to marry Hestia, but she refused and vowed never to marry. Demeter Demeter is the Greek goddess of the harvest and agriculture, who presided over grains, the fertility of the earth, the seasons, and the harvest. Zeus, being the terrible husband he was, tricked Demeter into having Persephone. Later, Hades would kidnap Persephone and marry her, but that’s another story. Hera Hera is Zeus’ first wife. She is known as the Goddess of Marriage, Home, and Family, the Patron of Women, and the Queen of Olympus. Hera has plotted against Zeus to create a better...
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...List of Greek gods and goddesses This is a list of the gods and goddesses of Greek mythology. Roman Mythology uses different names, calling Zeus by the name of Jupiter, and Aphrodite by the name of Venus, for example. The Roman names are often better known to English-speaking people than the Greek names. Greek name | Description | Chaos | Primeval Goddess of air, Chaos is believed to be one of the first beings to exist in the universe. Chaos is not really depicted as having a personality or physical form.[1] Chaos is the lower atmosphere which surrounded the earth. Her name Khaos means the gap, or the space between heaven and Earth.[2] Mother or Grandmother of Nyx (night), Erebus (Darkness), Aither (Light), and Hemera (day). | Erebus | God of darkness. Son of Chaos. Husband of Nyx. | Gaia | Goddess of the Earth (Mother Earth), mother of Kronos, grandmother of Zeus, Hades, Poseidon, Hera, Dementer and Hestia | Nyx | Goddess of night Daughter of Chaos. Wife of Erebus and mother of Hemera (day). Goddess of Hellhounds. | Tartarus | The darkest pit in the world at the edge of the world. | Ouranos | (Father Sky) and father of the Titans. Roman name Uranus. | Thesis | Primordial God/Goddess of Creation. Thesis is sometimes thought to be a child of Chaos. Thesis is thought to have emerged with Hydros before Gaia. | Phanes | Primeval God of procreation and is referred as the primal generator of life. Phanes is Nyx's father and was the ruler of the universe before her. | The Anemois...
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...Greek Mythology Intro Greek mythology is the myths and legends the ancient Greeks centered their lives around. The ancient Greeks used these myths to explain the events and components of the world around them. Their religion included gods and heroes, creation stories, and the origins of their civilizations and rituals. It is topic that had been studied and examined in great depth for thousands of years. This fascinating religion's messages and influences are reflected in today’s modern society, and many similarities can be found between Greek mythology and modern religions, such as Christianity. The twelve Olympian Gods and their Myths To begin with, many of the beliefs that the Ancient Greeks believed in were based on the Olympians. The Olympians were a group of twelve gods who ruled after they overthrew the Titans. All of the Olympians are related in some way and they were named after their dwelling, Mount Olympus. The three major gods are Zeus, Poseidon, and Hades. Their father, Kronos, was the leader of the Titans, he was cruel and was so determined not to lose his throne that he ate his children alive. But one child, Zeus was spared because his mother, Rhea, fed Krono’s a rock disguised as a baby instead of Zeus himself. Zeus defeated his father by chopping him up into little pieces and scattering his remains across the world. Then Zeus released all of Krono’s children that his father had eaten. These gods were Poseidon, Hades, Hestia, Demeter, and...
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...Metis the Goddess of Prudence which also one out of seven Zeus’s wives. Athena's birth "is a desperate theological expedient to rid her of matriarchal conditions" says J. E. Harrison. However, no matter what the legend is, she never has a ‘real’ mother as Metis, her mom, was cursed by her dad Zeus and turned Metis onto a fly and swallowed her when she was pregnant. Although Athena’s nascency sound unreal for todays society, the legend stated that after Zeus swallowed his own wife, he was extremely plagued by a painful headache and run to Hephaestus (Smith God) and begged him to open his head. Hephaestus did as he was told and out popped Athena, full grown, ready for battle. Athena’s extravagant ability in battling was presumed came from her parent’s myth that ‘if Zeus had a son by Metis this child would be mightier than him’....
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...born to Echidne. In Greek mythology terrible female monsters were referred to as Gorgon. She was at time referred to as the “Serpent Goddess” (Martha Leonard, 2008). Another of the stories refer Medusa to have been born to humans Phorcys and Ceto. But all the stories agree to a fact that Medusa was a gorgon-a female monster. Medusa was not always ugly she was so once so beautiful that even gods got attracted towards her. The stories reveal that Medusa was one of the prettiest girl and was later made ugly and her hairs were turned into snakes. There are different stories depicting how she was made and her hairs turning into serpents. One of the stories goes like this, Medusa was considered the most beautiful girl in the whole of Athens and this fact made Medusa proud. She became proud of her beauty and spoke less just because of her pride and arrogance. Whenever she used to talk to someone it was just about her beauty. She talked about her beauty compared to the natural beauties around the earth and considered them even superior to these natural beauties. Another habit she acquired because of her pride in her sheer beauty was of seeing and admiring her own beauty in the walls, darkened window and in the mirror. Her praises of her own beauty went on and on. One day she the largest to the Goddess Athena there, everyone visiting the temple praised Goddess Athena for inspiring them but Medusa was in some else world. When she saw the sculptures of Goddess Athena she commented that the...
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...as goddess-oriented and matrifocal (women-centered). Human societies evolved from primitive beginnings to a superior culture system of patriarchy (Leonard & McClure, 2004, p. 104). Although myths may differ from culture to culture, common elements and roles exist in each myth. In today’s society, myths and legends are fantasy-filled tales from ancient societies long gone. Therefore, Team A will describe the elements and functions of goddess myths, and compare two myths of the female divine from different cultures. Second, the team will describe the elements and functions of god myths, and compare two myths of the male divine from different cultures. Last, the team will summarize the elements and functions shared by both divines. According to the euhemerist Gimbutus, goddesses have three basic roles life, death, and regeneration (Leonard & McClure, 2004, p. 114). The goddesses of life are Mother Earth, nature, sea, and universe. These goddesses are nurturers and overseers of security and contentment, prosperity and growth, and creativity and artistry. The mother earth goddesses are creators of earth and universe, such as Gaia of the ancient Greeks, and Tellus of the Romans. These two Earth goddesses gave birth to the sky, mountains, sea, moon, and stars. Some goddesses of life protect the institutions of family and marriage, such as Greek Hera (marriage) and Hestia (hearth), whereas other goddesses of life exemplify law and order to human civilization, such as Greek Horae-...
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...Pantheon was built in Rome to celebrate all the Roman gods, the Parthenon was built in Ancient Greece for the goddess Athena. The Parthenon pre-dates the Pantheon by about six centuries; it was built around 447-438 BCE, while the Pantheon was built in 126 CE. The Pantheon was originally built by Marcus Agrippa in 27 BC, during this time he was part of the senate for the third time. The entire Pantheon was destroyed except for the facade, then Emperor Hadrian rebuilt it on the same site in 126 AD. The Parthenon was built during the Classical period between 447 and 438 BC by Iktinos and Kallikrates as a temple to Athens to honor the patron goddess, Athena. Romans were particularly skilled at concrete construction, and the Pantheon is the first temple to combine this technique with Greek classical orders. The 142-foot-diameter rotunda is the focal point of the building and reigned for nearly 2 millennia (until 1960) as the largest dome ever built. Today's Pantheon ("Temple of All the Gods") is not the original. Marcus Agrippa's Pantheon burned down in 80 AD, was rebuilt by Domitian, and again burned down in 110 AD. Emperor Hadrian completely restored the building in 126 AD. The Pantheon is the first temple to combine concrete construction, a technique in which the Romans were especially innovative with the more conservative, if not decorative use of Greek classical orders. Originally, the visitor approached the temple through a courtyard precinct, where the main...
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...Polytheism Ancient Greek theology was based on polytheism, the beliefs in many Gods and Goddesses. Breaking the word down, “poly” comes from the Greek word for “many,” and “theism” from the Greek word for “God.” These divine entities tend to distinguish particular functions, and often took on human characteristics. The gods acted like humans, and had human voices. They would interact with humans, sometimes even spawning children with them. Even though the Gods were immortal, nor some of them are not all powerful. Fate is what they had to obey, which overrode all. The number of the deities would expand as the culture’s belief system developed. The Greek Gods/Goddesses directly took on human activities. The divine entities would also take on human form and personality. Man learned to accept or fear the powers of nature, such as the deities. Humans tended to see the divine entities as storms, seasons, the sun, and the moon as personal beings. However the earliest humans believed the main deities were An, Enlil, Enki, and Ninhursaga. In ancient Greece there were twelve deities that sat on top of Mount Olympus: Hermes, Poseidon, Apollo, Artemis, Hephaestus, Ares, Athena, Demeter, Aphrodite, Hestia, Hera, and Zeus, king of the gods. Under them sat Zeus' brother Hades, king of the underworld. Since its miraculous beginning in mainland Greece around 1800-1500 BCE, when Poseidon was the chief God and not Zeus, the deities were worshiped wherever Greeks lived or had a concept...
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