Ancient Greek Mythology

Main thing

Ancient Greek mythology was a vast collection of stories, myths, and legends about the gods, goddesses, heroes, and the origins of the world. The Greek pantheon consisted of 12 major deities, known as the Olympians, who resided on Mount Olympus, along with numerous minor gods, goddesses, and other mythological creatures such as nymphs, satyrs, and centaurs.

The core principle of Greek mythology was the idea that gods and goddesses were anthropomorphic, possessing human qualities and flaws, and interacted with humans in various ways, both benevolent and malevolent. The Greeks used myths to explain the world around them, describing the lives, adventures, and conflicts of gods, goddesses, and heroes. Oracles, priests or priestesses through whom the gods were believed to speak, were consulted for prophecies and advice.

Terms

• Pantheon - the collection of gods and goddesses worshipped by a particular culture. The Greek pantheon included 12 major deities who lived on Mount Olympus, such as Zeus, Hera, Poseidon, and Athena. There were also many minor gods and goddesses.

• Zeus - the king of the gods and ruler of the sky. He was known for his power, wisdom, and numerous love affairs with both goddesses and mortal women.

• Hera - Zeus' wife and goddess of marriage, women, and childbirth. She was often jealous of Zeus' infidelities and punished his lovers and their children.

• Poseidon - god of the sea, earthquakes, and horses. He was known for his temper and was often in conflict with other gods and heroes.

• Athena - goddess of wisdom, war, and crafts. She was born fully grown and armed from Zeus' forehead and was known for her strategic thinking and skill in battle.

• Apollo - god of music, poetry, prophecy, and healing. He was associated with the sun and was the patron of the famous Oracle at Delphi.

• Artemis - goddess of the hunt, wild animals, and childbirth. She was a skilled archer and often depicted with a bow and arrow.

• Aphrodite - goddess of love, beauty, and desire. She was born from the foam of the sea and was known for her many romantic affairs with both gods and mortals.

• Cult - a system of religious worship directed towards a particular figure or object. The ancient Greeks had cults dedicated to specific gods and goddesses, with rituals carried out at sacred sites called sanctuaries.

• Oracle - a priest or priestess through whom a god was believed to speak or prophesize. The oracle at Delphi, dedicated to Apollo, was the most famous in ancient Greece. People would come from all over to ask the oracle questions about the future.

• Hero - a mortal who was admired for their great achievements, strength, or courage. Heroes in Greek mythology, such as Hercules, Achilles, and Odysseus, were often demigods (half-god, half-human) and went on epic adventures or quests.

An analogy

Greek mythology is like a large, extended family. The gods and goddesses are related to each other, just like parents, children, siblings, and cousins. They interact with each other and with humans, falling in love, having children, fighting, and competing for power and honor. Just like a family, the stories of their relationships and adventures teach lessons and explain the workings of the world.

A main misconception

A common misconception about Greek mythology is that the ancient Greeks believed their myths literally. While some people certainly took the stories as fact, many understood that the myths were symbolic and allegorical. The myths were not a literal explanation for how the world worked, but a way of understanding the human condition, the forces of nature, and the relationship between gods and mortals.

For example, the ancient Greeks knew that the sun was not literally a chariot driven across the sky by the god Helios. Rather, this was a symbolic way of describing the daily path of the sun and the nature of the sun god.

The history

1. Bronze Age (c. 3000-1100 BCE) - Many Greek myths have their roots in this early period, with gods and goddesses who represented forces of nature. The myths were passed down orally.

2. Archaic Period (c. 800-500 BCE) - Greek mythology became more standardized, with the works of Homer and Hesiod written down. Myths were depicted in art, such as pottery and sculptures.

3. Classical Period (c. 500-323 BCE) - Playwrights in Athens, such as Aeschylus, Sophocles, and Euripides, wrote works based on mythological themes. Philosophers began to question the validity of the myths.

4. Hellenistic and Roman Periods (323 BCE - 500 CE) - Greek mythology remained popular and influential, spreading throughout the Hellenistic world after the conquests of Alexander the Great. It later influenced Roman mythology, with the Romans adopting many of the Greek gods and myths into their own religious system.

The Greek historian Herodotus (c. 484-425 BCE) was famous for his works recording Greek history and mythology. He is known as the "Father of History" for his systematic investigation and explanation of historical events, even though his works also contain many mythological stories.

Three cases how to use it right now

1. Read and discuss Greek myths with others. Many of the stories, such as the adventures of Odysseus, Theseus, and Hercules, are exciting, entertaining, and thought-provoking. Discussing the themes, symbols, and life lessons in the myths can lead to interesting conversations and new insights.

2. Look for references to Greek mythology in art, literature, and popular culture. From ancient statues and pottery to modern books and movies, the influence of Greek mythology is widespread. See how many references you can find and think about why the myths continue to be relevant and meaningful to people today.

3. Use the analogy of gods, heroes, and their relationships to analyze the modern world, business situations, and personal relationships. For example, you could compare a powerful CEO to Zeus, the king of the gods, or a wise mentor to Athena, the goddess of wisdom. You could also analyze a rivalry between two companies as a conflict between gods or see a personal journey of growth as a hero's quest. By drawing parallels between mythological archetypes and real-life situations, you can gain new perspectives and insights.

Interesting facts

• The Greeks believed that the gate to Hades, the underworld, was located at Cape Tenaron on the southern tip of Greece.

• The Twelve Labors of Hercules, a series of tasks assigned to the hero as penance, included capturing the Erymanthian Boar, cleaning the Augean Stables in a single day, and fetching Cerberus, the three-headed guard dog of the underworld.

• The Trojan War described in Homer's Iliad was said to have been started because of a golden apple. Eris, the goddess of discord, tossed an apple inscribed "to the fairest" into a feast, leading to a dispute between Hera, Athena, and Aphrodite.

• The famous Greek philosopher Plato (c. 428-348 BCE) used the myth of Atlantis, an advanced civilization drowned by the gods, as an allegory for the hubris of nations.

• Many constellations are named after figures from Greek mythology, including Orion the hunter, Cassiopeia the queen, and Pegasus the winged horse.