Greek and Roman Mythology

GREEK AND ROMAN
MYTHOLOGY
The Creation of Titans and Gods
Characters:
Chaos – the origin of everything. The one
who gave birth to Gaea,
Tartarus, and Eros.
Gaea – the Mother Earth; mother of Uranus,

the cyclops, and the Hecatoncheries
Characters:
Tartarus – hell-pit of the underworld;
A primordial deity
Eros – the shining God

of love and attraction
Characters:
Uranus – husband of Gaea; Father Sky
Cronus – King of Titans and father of the

first generations of Olympians Gods
Characters:
Rhea – one of the Titans; sister-wife of
Cronus and the mother of gods.
Characters:
Hestia Demeter Hera Hades Poseidon

Goddess of Heart Goddess of Wife of Zeus, God of God of
and Agriculture, Queen of Olympians, and Death the Sea, Earthquakes
Domestic Life Fertility, Harvest Olympian Goddess of and and
and Marriage King of Horses
Sacred Law. the Underworld
Characters:
Zeus – the sixth son of Gaea and Cronus;
God of the Sky and the ruler of Olympian Gods
Aphrodite – rose from the foam of the sea

Conflict:
Uranus and Gaea prophecies is that Cronus will be dethroned by one
of his sons. With the fear that the prophecies might happen, Cronus
swallow all her five children. Rhea make a way to saved her sixth
child, which is Zeus.
Zeus grew up and disguised as cupbearer and give a poison drink to
his father, Cronus. After that, Cronus vomited all of his Children.
Zeus win over Cronus and bound him in Tartarus.
PLOT
Exposition::
In the beginning, there was Chaos, out of Chaos emerged three Gods.
Gaea one of the three Gods, gave birth to Uranus. Then Gaea and
Uranus had six children, the cyclops and the hundred handed Giants.
PLOT
Rising action:
Uranus was afraid of them and locked them up in Tartarus, the
underworld. Uranus then gave birth to the thirteen Titans, but Cronus,
the youngest, crippled Uranus for locking up his brothers in the
underworld.
PLOT
Climax:
Cronus became the ruler but never released the cyclops and giants.
He married his sister, Rhea, and had kids, the Olympians. Cronus was
afraid to lose his throne, so he swallowed his children after they were
born. Rhea had enough and tricked Cronus by switching the sixth
baby with a rock. When Zeus is old enough, he gave his father a drink
that made him puke out his brothers and sisters.
PLOT
Falling Action:
Zeus dethroned his father and became the ruler of the Olympians.
After seven years nobody could win the war, so Zeus grandmother,
Gaea, told him to allied with his uncle, the giants and the cyclops.
PLOT
Resolution:
With this advantage, Zeus gained the upper hand and finally defeated
the Titans. Zeus received the throne and rule fairly.
Anagnorisis:
When Cronus believed in the prophecy of Uranus and Gaea that one
of his sons will dethrone him. In order for that not to happen, he
swallow his five children.
Tragic Flaw:
Rhea had enough with his husband and saved his sixth son, Zeus.
When Zeus was old enough, he disguised himself as a cupbearer and
gave a drink to his father, which resulted in vomiting of his sisters
and brothers. Zeus took over the throne and ruled over the
Olympians.
Theme:
Power and Dominance
Point of View:
Third person point of view
Literary Device: Hyperbole
• Uranus pushed them back into Gaea's womb
and kept them there.
• Cronus swallowed Hestia, Demeter, Hera,
Hades, and Poseidon shortly after each was born
• The Giants, who had sprouted from Uranus'
blood
• He condemned the rebel Atlas to stand forever
at the edge of the world and bear the heavens on
his shoulders.
Literary Device: Alliteration
• The Hecatoncheires hated him, and he hated
them in return
://www.cliffsnotes.com/literature/m/mythology/summary-and-analysis-greek-m
thology/the-beginnings-8212-creation
Eight brief tales of lovers
Characters:
Pyramus – a young beautiful man
Thisbe – the lovely maiden

Conflict:
The parents of Pyramus and Thisbe are against with their love.
However, they cannot control their feelings for each other and
they are communicating using a hole that divides their houses.
PLOT
Exposition:
In Babylon, there once lived a beautiful young man named Pyramus
and a lovely maiden named Thisbe. They live close to each other; in
fact, a wall was the only thing that divided their houses. As neighbors,
they grew up together, played together until they fell in love together.
PLOT
Rising Action:
Their parents are against there union; however, unbeknownst to their
parents, the lovers talk to each other using a hole from the wall that
the two households shared.
PLOT
Climax:
One day, they agreed to see each other under a snow-white mulberry
tree on the outskirts of town. Thisbe got there first, but suddenly she
saw a lion, so she ran away. However, the lion was able to get the
coat she wore that fell on the ground then tore it to pieces. Pyramus
saw the cloak with blood that the lion tore, so he thought that Thisbe
is dead then he killed himself under the mulberry tree.
PLOT
Falling Action:
Thisbe then went back to the tree to wait for Pyramus, but what she
saw was Pyramus covered in blood. Like Pyramus, she taught that she
was the reason her lover died, so she killed herself.
PLOT
Resolution:
The gods out of pity and a symbol of the love of the two mortals
turned the white mulberry to red.
Anagnorisis:
When their parents are against their relationship, but the couple
makes a way to see each other. They planned to meet at the mulberry
tree.
Tragic Flaw:
Pyramus thought that a lion killed Thisbe because he saw the cloak of
Thisbe with blood and tore apart, which is resulted in killing himself.
Thisbe went back to the three, and she saw his lover, she thought that
she was the reason why Pyramus died, so she also killed herself.
Point of View:
Literary devices: Hyperbole
Every morning when the dawn put out the stars
Literary devices: Alliteration
• Sun sank into the sea
• She started back shuddering
Characters:
Orpheus – a demigod who has a gift in music
and plays a lyre, he is he son of Calliope, a
muse, and Oeagrus, the king of Thrace
Eurydice – wife of Orpheus

Conflict:
On their wedding day, Eurydice was bitten by a snake and died.
Struck with grief, Orpheus went to the Underworld to use his
music to persuade the gods to bring her back. The gods took
pity on him and allowed Eurydice to follow Orpheus back into
the land of the living. The only condition was that he could not
look back at his bride until they were out of the Underworld. He
looked back too soon, and she was whisked back to the
Underworld.
PLOT
Exposition:
Being a demigod and part of the Argonauts who sailed to find the
golden fleece, Orpheus is famous for his gift in music, and he is the
son of a muse named Calliope and a Thracian king, Oeagrus.
PLOT
Rising Action:
After their wedding, Eurydice was walking in the meadow when a
viper beat her then died. Her husband, Orpheus, who was devastated
by her death, sought Eurydice in the underworld, Hades, the king of
the dead pitied Orpheus, and called the soul of Eurydice. Hades
allowed Orpheus to bring Eurydice, but Orpheus must not look back
at Eurydice until they both set into the mortal world.
PLOT
Climax:
As the couple ascends back to the mortal world Orpheus being the
first one to set foot outside the cave looked back immediately to his
wife who at that time is still in the shadows of the cave, so when he
was about to reach her hand, Eurydice vanishes into the air the last
thing he heard was ‘Farewell.’
PLOT
Falling Action:
He tried to go after her and go back to the underworld, however a
living mortal may not enter the world of the dead twice. He lived a
lifeless life until a band of Maenads slews him. His body was
chopped to pieces and was thrown to the river Hebrus.
PLOT
Resolution:
The muses found his head and buried to the island while his limbs
were put in a tomb at the foot of Mt. Olympus.
Anagnorisis:
When Orpheus cannot accept the fact that his wife, Eurydice, is
already dead, he went to the underworld to beg for the King of the
death, Hades, to bring his wife back to life. Hades pitied Orpheus and
gave what he wants but in one condition never looked back to his
wife until they are in the mortal world.
Tragic Flaw:
Orpheus was the first one who steps in the mortal world, but he
looked back to his wife to see if she was still there. He never follows
the condition of Hades, which results in disappearing his wife in his
sight.
He moved the rocks on the hillside and turned the

course into rivers.
Point of View:

Characters:
Ceyx – King of Thessaky and son of Lucifer,
the light bearer
Alcyone – daughter of Aeolus,

God of the winds
Conflict:
The night Ceyx left on his ship, there was a very fierce storm
brewing. The winds were hurricane-like, the rain fell in sheets,
and the waves were as tall as mountains. Though his crew was
quivering and terrified, all Ceyx could think about was his
loving wife. He thought about her the entire time his boat was
taken over by the waves, and he sank.
PLOT
Exposition:
Ceyx, the son of Lucifer – the light bearer – and the king of Thessaly,
loves her wife Alcyone, the daughter of Aeolus, king of the winds.
PLOT
Rising Action:
The two can’t be separated until Ceyx planned to voyage the sea, so
when Alcyone, his wife, heard of it, she immediately dissuades him,
for she knows the danger of the winds in the sea.
PLOT
Climax:
But Ceyx stood by his decision. As he and his men cross the sea,
there came a storm that wrecked the ship and drowned all the men on
it, including Ceyx. Before he died, Ceyx's last word was the name of
his wife.
PLOT
Falling Action:
Alcyone waited for his husband for days. She prayed to the gods but
mostly to Juno for her husband’s safety. Out of pity, the goddess sent
Iris, the messenger of the gods to the house of Somnus, the god of
Sleep, to tell Alcyone that Ceyx is dead.
PLOT
Resolution:
When morning came, Alcyone rush to the shore where she watched
her husband sail, there she saw his body slowly drifting towards her,
Alcyone then rushed to the dead body, but instead of sinking from the
waves, Alcyone grew wings and turned into a bird.The gods
sympathized with the couple and turned Ceyx to a bird as well. Every
year, for seven days, the sea is calm without strong winds, these days
are called Halcyon Days.
Anagnorisis:
When Alcyone waited patiently for his husband, but the gods thought
it was only fair to tell her what happened to him. Juno summoned all
the messenger gods to tell Alcyone what happened to her husband.
Tragic Flaw:
As soon as she found out, she set out to the shore and found his body
washed up. She didn't want to live knowing her husband was dead,
but the gods were kind and gave her wings to fly over the sea instead
of sink.
Point of View:
The winds all met in a mad hurricane, and the

waves rose up mountain-high.
No breath of wind stirs the waters.
Characters:
Pygmalion – a young sculptor
Galatea – wife of Pygmalion;

she was once a statue
Conflict:
Pygmalion wishes that Galatea, his sculpture will be a human.
PLOT
Exposition:
In Cyprus, there once lived a gifted sculptor named Pygmalion.
He promised himself never to marry. He was a woman-hater
after all and said his art would be enough for him.
PLOT
Rising Action:
Ironically though the sculpture that he put so much effort on is that of
a woman, day after day and night after night, he worked to make it
more beautiful until such day that he fell in love with it.
PLOT
Climax:
Pygmalion was so in love with it that for a while, he would kiss,
embrace, caress its hands and face, dress it in clothes, bring it gifts,
buy it flowers, and even tuck it to bed like a child playing house with
its dolls. Pygmalion prayed to the goddess for him to find a woman
like his statue, but the goddess knows that it was not his heart’s desire
nevertheless to show him that she heard his prayer the fire in the alter
blazed up three times.
PLOT
Resolution:
Pygmalion immediately went home, and there he found his beloved
statue entrancingly beautiful. The statue he made and loved is now a
real woman, and he immediately thought that it was because of Venus
and indescribable gratitude to the goddess he felt. The statue-turned-
human was named Galatea and married Pygmalion.
Anagnorisis:
Pygmalion wants his sculpture to be a human, and it makes him sad,
knowing it is impossible. However, Venus turned the sculpture into a
breathing woman. Pygmalion kissed the sculpture and could feel her
kiss back. He grabbed her wrists and could feel the blood in her veins.
This made Pygmalion the happiest man alive. Pygmalion named his
love Galatea.
Point of View:
Literary Device: Simile
He put her to bed at night, and tucked her in all
soft and warm as little girls do their dolls.
Characters:
Baucis – the wife of Philemon, who helped
Jupiterand Mercury
Philemon – the husband of Baucis, who help
Jupiter and Mercury.
Jupiter – the king of the gods and god of thunder
and sky
Mercury – the god of messenger commerce,
travelers, thieves and tricksters
Conflict:
When Jupiter became bored of hearing Apollo play the lyre, he and
Mercury would often go down to earth disguised as poor peasants,
and they would beg for food and a place to stay. Most of the people
wouldn't enjoy their company. They would be bad hosts by not
feeding them or giving them a place to sleep. Some of them just
closed the door in their faces
PLOT
Exposition:
Whenever Jupiter is bored in Olympus, he would come down to
the mortal world in disguise to look for adventure. For these
trips, his favorite companion was Mercury, the most
entertaining, clever, and resourceful god. Once, the two gods
ventured in Phrygia to test how hospitable the people of the
country are, and they were disguised as poor wayfarers.
PLOT
Rising Action:
When they reached the place, they went from house to house.
Unfortunately, no one accepted them until they reached a very small
hut where a poor, old couple lived. The gods entered the humble and
clean home of the Baucis, the wife, and her husband, Philemon. The
couple served the gods a bowl of food and a glass of wine each.
PLOT
Climax:
Baucis and Philemon were very happy to serve their guests and to
refill their food and drinks, which is why they did not immediately
notice that the food and the wine never cease to empty. In terror, the
husband and wife prayed silently and said they have a goose that they
will offer to the gods. Baucis and Philemon ran around to catch the
goose, then when they are finally tired, took a rest. The gods rewarded
the couple.
PLOT
Falling action:
Jupiter said to them, “Ask whatever you want, and you shall have
your wish.” After some whispering between the couple, Philemon
asked for them to be the priests who will guard the temple and for
them to never part and die together. Jupiter granted their wish. For
years, the couple grew older, but they still guarded and lived in the
temple.
PLOT
Resolution:
One day, Baucis and Philemon sat and looked back to the years that
had passed when suddenly a bark started to grew on them by the time
they had realized what was happening the only thing they could utter
was “Farewell, my dear companion.” Baucis and Philemon turned
into an oak and a linden that share the same trunk. And ’till death,
they never part.
Point of View:
Cheerful fire
Characters:
Endymion – young, beautiful shepherd
Selene – the goddess of the moon

Conflict:
Selene, the moon, fell in love with Endymion. When she kissed him,
she put him into a deep sleep. She would visit him every night, but
she was in so much pain because when she tried to show her love, he
could never respond to her.
PLOT
Exposition:
No one was really sure what Endymion does for a living, whether
he's a king, a hunter, or a shepherd although, most people tell he is
the last but, one thing is for sure and that he is a very beautiful lad.
PLOT
Rising Action:
One day, when he was guarding his flock, the moon, Selene saw him
and fell in love with him.
PLOT
Climax:
The goddess of the moon then went down in an open space in the
forest of Latmus, and there she kissed him then lay beside him.
PLOT
Falling Action:
From then on, Endymion never woke up from his slumber, immortally
young and beautiful but never waking up.
PLOT
Exposition:
Night after night, Selene would kiss him, which caused Endymion to
sleep. Ironically though, some said that her passionate love for
Endymion only brought her sorrows.
Anagnorisis:
Endymion , a youth of surpassing beauty, sleeps forever. The Moon

visits him and covers him with her kisses.
Tragic flaw:
The goddess of the moon really love Endymion, but she was sad
because Endymion will never wake up anymore.
Point of View:
Sleeps forever
Characters:
Daphne – a naiad turned huntress and daughter of
Peneus, a river god
Apollo – god of prophecy, sun,

music and healing
Conflict
Daphne was a wood nymph who didn't like the thought of marriage
or falling in love. She was a huntress who took the heart of Apollo.
Suddenly, Apollo catches sight of her and notices how beautiful she
looks. Daphne begins to run away from him, but he soon catches up.
She ran away because he told her he loved her.
PLOT
Exposition:
Daphne was a naiad, daughter of the river-god named Peneus. She is
very independent and resolved, never to marry. The naiad refused all
the lads who wooed her, which made her father frustrated.
PLOT
Rising Action:
Peneus tried and tried to convince his daughter, but Daphne keeps on
refusing. Being a father, he cannot refuse his daughter. Daphne then
told her father she wanted to be like Diana, the goddess of the hunt,
and he let her be.
PLOT
Climax:
Daphne wears a sleeveless, knee-length dress for her hunting, and
that was what she was wearing when Apollo saw her and fell in love
with her. Apollo tried to catch Daphne, but the maiden runs fast. He
tried to stop and reason with her saying that he is the Lord of Delphi,
and he loves her, which made Daphne more scared.
PLOT
Falling Action:
When Apollo finally was catching up to her, Daphne saw her
father’s river, and so she cried for Peneus’ help. Then, suddenly she
felt numbness take over her body until she turned into a Laurel tree.
PLOT
Resolution:
Dismayed and grieving, Apollo saw how his beloved turned into a
tree. Looking at the tree, Apollo thought to make it his tree and to
crown his victors with its leaves.
Anagnorisis:
Daphne doesn’t want to be married and chooses to be a huntress. She
wears a knee-length sleeveless dress, and from that, she saw Apollo,
which makes her run away.
Tragic Flaw:
With the fear that Apollo might catch him, Diana asked help to his
father. And upon stepping on his father’s river, she feels numb and
suddenly turns into a tree.
Point of View:

“Father, dearest, let me be like Diana”

Her feet seemed rooted in the earth
Characters:
Alpheus – the river-god
Arethusa – a young huntress

and follower of Artemis
Conflict
Arethusa was shocked seeing the river-god,
Alpheus on the river. He hurriedly ran and asked
for a help to Artemis.
PLOT
Exposition:
One day, when Arethusa was tired and hot from a chase came
upon a crystal-clear river. The river was under the shade of
silvery willow trees. There the huntress decided to rest and take
a dip.
PLOT
Rising Action:
She was enjoying herself when she felt something stir beneath
her, so she jumps to the bank in fright. Then, she heard a voice
asking her why she was in haste.
PLOT
Climax:
Without thinking twice, Arethusa ran as fast as she could. Alpheus
tried to stop her and told her he is the river-god and that he loves
her. But the huntress did not stop and continued to run.
PLOT
Falling Action:
When she was out of breath, she called for Artemis for help.
The goddess of the hunt turned Arethusa into a spring.
PLOT
Resolution:
Arethusa plunged down and emerged in Ortygia, where the
place in which her spring bubbles up is holy ground, sacred to
Artemis.
Anagnorisis:
When Alpheus saw Arethusa, she was shocked and ran as fast as
she could. Alpheus, however, following her only because he
loved her. But she wanted none of him.
Tragic Flaw:
It was a long run, and Arethusa called to her goddess. Artemis
changed her into a spring of water.
Point of View:
She like hunting like her mistress

Cool delicious water
Themes
• Love
• Tragedy
• Death

Greek and Roman Mythology

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Greek and Roman Mythology

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GREEK AND ROMAN

Gaea – the Mother Earth; mother of Uranus,

Eros – the shining God

Cronus – King of Titans and father of the

Hestia Demeter Hera Hades Poseidon

Aphrodite – rose from the foam of the sea

Thisbe – the lovely maiden

Eurydice – wife of Orpheus

He moved the rocks on the hillside and turned the

Third person point of view

Alcyone – daughter of Aeolus,

The winds all met in a mad hurricane, and the

Galatea – wife of Pygmalion;

Selene – the goddess of the moon

Endymion , a youth of surpassing beauty, sleeps forever. The Moon

Apollo – god of prophecy, sun,

Third person point of view

Literary Device: Hyperbole

Arethusa – a young huntress

Literary Device: Hyperbole

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