Greek Creator Myth
The Greeks believed the world was once in chaos, But Gaea came from it and gave birth to Ouranus. Ouranus and Gaea gave birth to the cyclopes, briares titanesses, and titans. Ouranus was disgusted with the briares, so the cyclopes locked them up in Tartarus. Gaea, furiated with how Ouranus treated the briares, told her sons, the titans, to overthrow him. Only Cronos, the youngest titan wanted the job. When Ouranus was brought down, 4 drops of blood fell creating the 3 dreaded furies and the beautiful goddess of love, Aphrodite. After Cronos became king, an oracle told him that his youngest son would overthrow him just like he overthrew Ouranus. Cronos didn't want that to happen so he ate all his children whole. After 5 babies were swallowed, his wife Rhea hid her last baby, Zeus. She and Gaea hid him at a remote island. When he grew up, he tricked Cronos into drinking a horrid potion. Cronos regurgitated Poseidon, Hades, Hera, Demeter, and Hestia. Being gods, they were fully grown. After fighting a ten-year war, Zeus became the greatest and last king of Olympus. The universe was then split into 3. Zeus got the sky, Poseidon got the seas, and Hades was stuck with the underworld. The other major gods joined Zeus and Poseidon as the 12 Olympians.
The 12 Olympians!
1. Zeus, king of gods and lightning
2. Poseidon, god of sea
3. Hera, goddess of marriage and childbirth
4. Demeter, goddess of the grain
5. Dionysus, god of wine
6. Hephaestus, god of fire and blacksmiths
7. Aphrodite, goddess of love
8. Ares, god of war
9. Hermes, god of thieves and messages
10. Athena, goddess of wisdom and war
11. Artemis, goddess of the hunt, the moon, and archery
12. Apollo, god of music, prophecy, the sun, and archery
2. Poseidon, god of sea
3. Hera, goddess of marriage and childbirth
4. Demeter, goddess of the grain
5. Dionysus, god of wine
6. Hephaestus, god of fire and blacksmiths
7. Aphrodite, goddess of love
8. Ares, god of war
9. Hermes, god of thieves and messages
10. Athena, goddess of wisdom and war
11. Artemis, goddess of the hunt, the moon, and archery
12. Apollo, god of music, prophecy, the sun, and archery
Sacrifices
Gods had human emotions, so to please them, mortals held religous festivals in which sacrifice's were made to keep them happy. They had sacrifice's of all kinds. Greeks often honored them with fruit, vegetables, and even live oxes! Sheep and even goats were also used in ceremonies like these. Temples were used as homes for the gods and goddesses.