Лекция курсы lecture 1 The Problems of the Lecture

Life in Olympus

Zeus reigned on the high bright Olympys surrounded by the gods. There was his wife Hera, Apollo with his sister Artemis, and Aphrodite and the powerful daughter of Zeus - Athena and many other gods. Three beautiful Oreads guarded the entrance to the high Olympus Neither rain nor snow fell in the Kingdom of Zeus, but blue and bottomless sky. It was only bright and joyful summer. There, on the land autumn and winter took turn to spring and summer, gladness and merriment are taken turn by unhappyness and misfortune. The gods also knew grief, but they were soon left but there was gladness again on Olympus.

The king Zeus sat on the high golden throne. The god of rece Airana and his close friend the god of Victory Nika were at his throne. His beautiful and powerful wife Hera came into the hall. Zeus honered his wife. All gods of Olympus surrounded her, the goddess of marriage, with respect. When she entered the hall gods stood and bent to Zeu’s wife. She went with pride to the golden throne, sat next to the powerful god of people and all the gods - Zeus. Her messenger, the god of rainbow Irida was next to Hera.
During these feasts the gods settled all the matters and determined a life of the people on the world.
Zeus sent his gifts from the Olympus and confirmed laws and orders on the Earth. The fates of people are in his hands: happyness and unhappyness, kindness and evil, life and death - all in his hands.
Tasks
Think and Answer

1. What is “myth”, what is “mythology”?

2. What Greek myths about descend of earth and world do you know?
3. Name ancient Greek and Roman gods. What roles did the gods play in ancient Greece.
4. Speak about the fight in the mountain Olympus. Why were there happened the changes of gods?
5. Retell the myth about Prometheus. What is the idea of the myth? What human ideal is in the myth?
6. What did the phrase “Achilles’s heel” mean? Who is Achilles?