Western Civ Blog 23

Today in class we learned about the Gods and Goddesses from Ancient Greece. What is unique about the Greeks’ relationship with their gods is the interaction with humans. Poseidon was the god of the sea, he interfered with Odysseus trying to return home. Aphrodite was goddess of love. She had lovers of both gods and men. Dionysus was the god of wine, he was son of Zeus who was a god, and of Semele, a human princess. Zeus was the ruler of heaven and earth. He was the father of Athena, god of the sky, weather, thunder, lightning, law, order, and justice. He had a temper and was known to hurl thunderbolts. Athena was Goddess of wisdom, skill, warfare, peace, intelligence, battle strategy, and handicrafts. She was born from Zeus' head fully formed and armored. She was the patron of Athens, the city was named after her. Apollo was the god of music, arts, knowledge, and healing. Zeus was his father. Artemis was his twin sister who was associated with the moon. Apollo is associated with the sun. Poseidon is god of the sea, rivers, floods, and earthquakes. He is the brother of Zeus, king of the sea and waters. Aphrodite is the goddess of love, beauty, desire, sexuality. Her lovers included Ares, god of war, Adonis, demi-god of desire, and Anchises, a mortal who fathered a baby. Demeter was the goddess of grain, harvest, agriculture, she was Zeus’s sister.