Group+2+-+Gods+and+Goddesses+B

Aphrodite, Hephaestus, Athena, and Apollo


 * APHRODITE**

media type="youtube" key="cSWgvvampnw" height="390" width="640" - Goddess of love and beauty - Daughter of Zeus and Dione - Zeus made her marry Hephaestus because he thought too many people would want her hand in marriage. Zeus made a very unwise decision when he made her wear a girdle made of gold, because when she wore it no one could resist her. -She had an affair with Ares, god of war. - The rose in //Beauty and the Beast// is a modern example of Aphrodite, it is a flower of love like Aphrodite. Other modern day allusions also include spas, perfumes and Valentine's Day gifts.


 * HEPHAESTUS**

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-God of fire, volcanoes, and craftsmen -He was born weak and crippled, he was known as a lame god - He was the son of Zeus and Hera, who was displeased with him at birth, so she threw him down from Mount Olympus. He fell for nine days and eight nights until he landed on the island of Lemnnos, where her developed his forges under Mount Aetna (a volcano). - Later in life he went back to Mount Olympus and entrapped his mother, Hera, on her own throne. Everyone begged for him to let her go, but he didn't. - When he married his wife, Aphrodite, he released his mother. - The Romans named him Vulcan, which is the home planet of the Vulcans from Startrek. The planet in Startrek is covered in volcanoes. There are also rehabilitation centers named after his Greek or Roman name for people with physical disabilities.


 * ATHENA**

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· Goddess of wisdom, war, the arts, industry, justice, & skill · The favorite child of Zeus. · Mother: Metis, goddess of wisdom & Zeus’s 1st wife. · In fear that Metis would bear a son mightier than himself. Zeus swallowed her and she began to make a robe and helmet for her daughter. · The hammering of the helmet caused Zeus great pain in the form of headaches and he cried out in agony. Skilled Hephaestus ran to his father and split his skull open and from it emerged Athena, fully grown and wearing her mother's robe and helmet. · Athena & Poseidon were both very fond of a city in Greece. · Both of them claimed the city and it was decided that the one that could give the finest gift should have it. Leading a procession of citizens, the two gods mounted the Acropolis. Poseidon struck the side of the cliff with his trident and a spring welled up. The people marveled, but the water was as salty as Poseidon's sea and it was not very useful. Athena's gift was an olive tree, which was better because it gave the people food, oil and wood. Athena named her city Athens. · Symbol: owl · Modern connection: Athens, Greece - Nike Shoe Company - Nike means "victory" in Greek, and Athena was worshipped as a goddess of victory.

APOLLO

media type="youtube" key="QPIg8JcXvH0" height="390" width="640" · Modern Connection: NASA Apollo program – to the moon · Apollo Theater in NYC – music · Every 4 years in Delphi, Greece, the Pythian Games are held in his honor. · Son of Zeus & Lito; twin brother of Artemis · God of music, prophecy, medicine, archery, poetry, dance, intellectual inquiry, & carer of herds & flocks · Also god of light, also known as “Phoebus.” · Identified with god of the sun, Helios. · God of plague, destroyer of rats & locust. · Often associated with a swan, wolf, or dolphin. His attributes are the bow and arrows, the laurel crown, & the lyre.