, Classical Civilisations Revision Guide- Myth and Religion
Contents
Topic 1- The Gods
Topic 6- Journeys to the Underworld
3- The First Olympians
25- The Underworld
4- The Children of Zeus
26- Topic 6 Practice Questions
5- Further Children of Zeus
Topic 7- Myths and Symbols of Power
6- Topic 1 Practice Questions
27- Greek Myths and Symbols of Power
Topic 2- Herakles/Hercules
28- Augustus at Prima Porta
7- The Greek Herakles
29- The Ara Pacis
8- Analysing Metopes
30- Topic 7 Practice Questions
9- The Roman Hercules
Topic 8- Death and Burial
10- Topic 2 Practice Questions
31- Greek and Roman Burial Customs
Topic 3- Religion and the City
32- Festivals of the Dead
11- Greek and Roman Temples
33- Topic 8 Practice Questions
12- Greek and Roman Priests
34- The Writers of Literary Sources
13- Sacrifice and Prayer
14- The Parthenon and Temple of Zeus at Olympia
15- The Pantheon and Temple of Portunus
16- Topic 3 Practice Questions
Topic 4- Festivals
17- The Panathenaia
18- The City Dionysia
19- The Lupercalia and Saturnalia
20- Topic 4 Practice Questions
Topic 5- Foundation Stories
21- Theseus Labours and the Foundation of Athens
22- Further Stories of Theseus
23- Aeneas and Romulus and Remus
24- Topic 5 Practice Questions
, Myth and Religion Topic 1- The Gods
The First Olympians
The 6 first Olympians were born from Titans, Kronos, and Rhea. After Kronos ate his children, they
were rescued by Zeus who fought a war known as the Titanomachy against his father. The Olympians
won and became the new generation of Gods.
1. Zeus/Jupiter is the supreme father of Gods and men, King of the Gods. He was hidden in a cave by
his mother Rhea and Kronos was given a stone to eat. Thinking he had eaten all his children Kronos
was complacent. Zeus returned and defeated him, rescuing his brothers and sisters.
Responsibilities: God of Justice, Skies, Fate of Men and Sexual Potency
Symbols: Thunderbolt, seated on a throne, eagle, bearded
2. Hera/Juno is the sister-wife of Zeus. Zeus disguised as a bird to get Hera to pity him, and she was
then raped. Out of shame at being tricked Hera married her brother.
Responsibilities: Queen of Gods, goddess of childbirth, marriage, and women
Symbols: sceptre, diadem, peacock,
3. Poseidon/Neptune is god of the sea and brother to Zeus. He is the father of Pegasus and also many
other brutal and wild offspring such as the Cyclopes.
Responsibilities: Represents elemental forces, God of the sea, water, and horses.
Symbols: Trident, bearded, on horseback, fish, dolphins
4. Demeter/Ceres is the goddess of seasons and crops. This became important when her daughter
Persephone was abducted by Hades and her grief made the crops fail forcing Zeus to act and try to
make a compromise with Hades. Eventually Persephone could spend half a year in the underworld and
half a year with Demeter explaining the seasons.
Responsibilities: Goddess of seasons and crops, associated with the Poppy representing sleep, Goddess
of the cycle of life and death
Symbols: Diadem, wheat, poppies, torches, cornucopia
6. Hestia/Vesta is goddess of hearth and home as well as a virgin. Most cities, even Rome itself had a
scared flame dedicated to her, it was legend that the city would be destroyed if it went out. All home
sacrifices begun with one to Hestia yet despite this she is rarely depicted in Greek and Roman art.
Responsibilities: Goddess of hearth, house and home, purity and stability, unity, and permanence
Symbols: Young, flowered branch or kettle, veiled, flame
6. Hades/Pluto is god of the underworld, a Chthonic deity. He kidnapped Persephone and tricked her
to become his queen and stay for 6 months each year in the land of the dead.
Responsibilities: God of Underworld, punisher of wrong doers
Symbols: Seated, sceptre, Cerberus (three headed dog)
, Myth and Religion Topic 1- The Gods
The Children of Zeus
1. Artemis/Diana was born to Zeus and Leto. Hera hated her due to Zeus’ love her Leto so Artemis and
her twin Apollo with their mother had to flee to the island of Delos. Once when Artemis was bathing in
the woodland a young prince called Achteon decided to watch her. Seeing him Artemis turned him into
a stag and he was torn apart and eaten by his hunting dogs.
Responsibilities: Goddess of Hunting, the Moon, birth, and fertility (she is a virgin goddess)
Symbols: Bow and arrows, stag or dogs, animal skins, long dress (earlier depictions) short dress (later
depictions)
2. Apollo was born to Zeus and Leto. When Hera sent Python to kill Leto, he slew the beast on Mount
Parnassus and became god of music. As punishment Zeus asked Apollo to create the Pythian games
held every 4 years. He also promised a mortal Cassandra the art of prophecy in exchange for sexual
favours. She got the powers of prophecy but refused the favours she promised. Apollo made her speak
the truth, yet no other person would ever believe.
Responsibilities: God of plague, music, medicine, archery, prophecy, male beauty
Symbols: Lyre, young, Naked or Robed, bow
3. Athene/Minerva was born as Zeus ate his tutor Metis and got a terrible headache. Hephaistos
opened his skull fully armoured. As she was in the head of King of the gods and born from a wise tutor,
she was granted the gift of wisdom. Athene also won patronage over Poseidon for the city of Athens.
The Romans divided Athene into two versions, Pallas Athene (goddess of battle tactics) and Minerva
(goddess of wisdom.) She, like Artemis, is a virgin.
Responsibilities: Goddess of wisdom, war tactics and victory
Symbols: Fully armed, helmet, shield, spear, owl, long robe
4. Hermes/Mercury can travel to the underworld (a psychopomp) and is the daughter of Zeus and
Maia. When Hera asked Argus to guard Zeus’ love Io, Hermes bored the many eyed giant to sleep then
killed him and rescued Io. His sons are the gods Pan and Eros. In Rome he served as the protector of
travellers.
Responsibilities: Messanger God and God of Thieves, inventor of the lyre
Symbols: Traveller’s hat, Caduceus (staff putting humans to sleep), winged heels, bearded
4. Dionysus/Bacchus is the son of Zeus and Semele. When Semele asked to see Zeus in his true form
prompted by Hera, she was killed. Zeus rescued the baby Dionysus and sewed him into her thigh. He
replaces Hestia in the Pantheon of Gods. The followers of Dionysus were Maenads, they enjoyed
drunkenness and erotic behaviour.
Responsibilities: God of wine, epiphany, theatre, euphoria
Symbols: Grapes, vines, wreath, drinking horn
Contents
Topic 1- The Gods
Topic 6- Journeys to the Underworld
3- The First Olympians
25- The Underworld
4- The Children of Zeus
26- Topic 6 Practice Questions
5- Further Children of Zeus
Topic 7- Myths and Symbols of Power
6- Topic 1 Practice Questions
27- Greek Myths and Symbols of Power
Topic 2- Herakles/Hercules
28- Augustus at Prima Porta
7- The Greek Herakles
29- The Ara Pacis
8- Analysing Metopes
30- Topic 7 Practice Questions
9- The Roman Hercules
Topic 8- Death and Burial
10- Topic 2 Practice Questions
31- Greek and Roman Burial Customs
Topic 3- Religion and the City
32- Festivals of the Dead
11- Greek and Roman Temples
33- Topic 8 Practice Questions
12- Greek and Roman Priests
34- The Writers of Literary Sources
13- Sacrifice and Prayer
14- The Parthenon and Temple of Zeus at Olympia
15- The Pantheon and Temple of Portunus
16- Topic 3 Practice Questions
Topic 4- Festivals
17- The Panathenaia
18- The City Dionysia
19- The Lupercalia and Saturnalia
20- Topic 4 Practice Questions
Topic 5- Foundation Stories
21- Theseus Labours and the Foundation of Athens
22- Further Stories of Theseus
23- Aeneas and Romulus and Remus
24- Topic 5 Practice Questions
, Myth and Religion Topic 1- The Gods
The First Olympians
The 6 first Olympians were born from Titans, Kronos, and Rhea. After Kronos ate his children, they
were rescued by Zeus who fought a war known as the Titanomachy against his father. The Olympians
won and became the new generation of Gods.
1. Zeus/Jupiter is the supreme father of Gods and men, King of the Gods. He was hidden in a cave by
his mother Rhea and Kronos was given a stone to eat. Thinking he had eaten all his children Kronos
was complacent. Zeus returned and defeated him, rescuing his brothers and sisters.
Responsibilities: God of Justice, Skies, Fate of Men and Sexual Potency
Symbols: Thunderbolt, seated on a throne, eagle, bearded
2. Hera/Juno is the sister-wife of Zeus. Zeus disguised as a bird to get Hera to pity him, and she was
then raped. Out of shame at being tricked Hera married her brother.
Responsibilities: Queen of Gods, goddess of childbirth, marriage, and women
Symbols: sceptre, diadem, peacock,
3. Poseidon/Neptune is god of the sea and brother to Zeus. He is the father of Pegasus and also many
other brutal and wild offspring such as the Cyclopes.
Responsibilities: Represents elemental forces, God of the sea, water, and horses.
Symbols: Trident, bearded, on horseback, fish, dolphins
4. Demeter/Ceres is the goddess of seasons and crops. This became important when her daughter
Persephone was abducted by Hades and her grief made the crops fail forcing Zeus to act and try to
make a compromise with Hades. Eventually Persephone could spend half a year in the underworld and
half a year with Demeter explaining the seasons.
Responsibilities: Goddess of seasons and crops, associated with the Poppy representing sleep, Goddess
of the cycle of life and death
Symbols: Diadem, wheat, poppies, torches, cornucopia
6. Hestia/Vesta is goddess of hearth and home as well as a virgin. Most cities, even Rome itself had a
scared flame dedicated to her, it was legend that the city would be destroyed if it went out. All home
sacrifices begun with one to Hestia yet despite this she is rarely depicted in Greek and Roman art.
Responsibilities: Goddess of hearth, house and home, purity and stability, unity, and permanence
Symbols: Young, flowered branch or kettle, veiled, flame
6. Hades/Pluto is god of the underworld, a Chthonic deity. He kidnapped Persephone and tricked her
to become his queen and stay for 6 months each year in the land of the dead.
Responsibilities: God of Underworld, punisher of wrong doers
Symbols: Seated, sceptre, Cerberus (three headed dog)
, Myth and Religion Topic 1- The Gods
The Children of Zeus
1. Artemis/Diana was born to Zeus and Leto. Hera hated her due to Zeus’ love her Leto so Artemis and
her twin Apollo with their mother had to flee to the island of Delos. Once when Artemis was bathing in
the woodland a young prince called Achteon decided to watch her. Seeing him Artemis turned him into
a stag and he was torn apart and eaten by his hunting dogs.
Responsibilities: Goddess of Hunting, the Moon, birth, and fertility (she is a virgin goddess)
Symbols: Bow and arrows, stag or dogs, animal skins, long dress (earlier depictions) short dress (later
depictions)
2. Apollo was born to Zeus and Leto. When Hera sent Python to kill Leto, he slew the beast on Mount
Parnassus and became god of music. As punishment Zeus asked Apollo to create the Pythian games
held every 4 years. He also promised a mortal Cassandra the art of prophecy in exchange for sexual
favours. She got the powers of prophecy but refused the favours she promised. Apollo made her speak
the truth, yet no other person would ever believe.
Responsibilities: God of plague, music, medicine, archery, prophecy, male beauty
Symbols: Lyre, young, Naked or Robed, bow
3. Athene/Minerva was born as Zeus ate his tutor Metis and got a terrible headache. Hephaistos
opened his skull fully armoured. As she was in the head of King of the gods and born from a wise tutor,
she was granted the gift of wisdom. Athene also won patronage over Poseidon for the city of Athens.
The Romans divided Athene into two versions, Pallas Athene (goddess of battle tactics) and Minerva
(goddess of wisdom.) She, like Artemis, is a virgin.
Responsibilities: Goddess of wisdom, war tactics and victory
Symbols: Fully armed, helmet, shield, spear, owl, long robe
4. Hermes/Mercury can travel to the underworld (a psychopomp) and is the daughter of Zeus and
Maia. When Hera asked Argus to guard Zeus’ love Io, Hermes bored the many eyed giant to sleep then
killed him and rescued Io. His sons are the gods Pan and Eros. In Rome he served as the protector of
travellers.
Responsibilities: Messanger God and God of Thieves, inventor of the lyre
Symbols: Traveller’s hat, Caduceus (staff putting humans to sleep), winged heels, bearded
4. Dionysus/Bacchus is the son of Zeus and Semele. When Semele asked to see Zeus in his true form
prompted by Hera, she was killed. Zeus rescued the baby Dionysus and sewed him into her thigh. He
replaces Hestia in the Pantheon of Gods. The followers of Dionysus were Maenads, they enjoyed
drunkenness and erotic behaviour.
Responsibilities: God of wine, epiphany, theatre, euphoria
Symbols: Grapes, vines, wreath, drinking horn
