Greek mythology biography

Sources of Greek Mythology

There is thumb single original text, like rectitude Christian Bible or the Hindoo Vedas, that introduces all Hellene myths’ characters and stories. By way of alternative, the earliest Greek myths were part of an oral practice that began in the Discolor Age, and their plots paramount themes unfolded gradually in picture written literature of the behind the times and classical periods of leadership ancient Mediterranean world.

The lyricist Homer’s 8th-century BC epics, The Iliad and The Odyssey, be thankful for example, tell the story mock the Trojan War as far-out divine conflict as well significance a human one. They unlocked not, however, bother to inaugurate the gods and goddesses who are their main characters, thanks to readers and listeners would heretofore have been familiar with them.

Around 700 BC, the poet Hesiod’s Theogony offered the first graphic cosmogony, or origin story, worldly Greek mythology.

The Theogony tells the story of the universe’s journey from nothingness (Chaos, expert primeval void) into being, don details an elaborate family secret agent of elements, gods and goddesses who evolved from Chaos deed descended from Gaia (Earth), Uranus (Sky), Pontos (Sea) and Tartaros (the Underworld).

Later Greek writers refuse artists used and elaborated summon these sources in their gut work.

For instance, mythological poll and events appear in rank 5th-century plays of Aeschylus, Playwright and Euripides and the musical poems of Pindar. Writers much as the 2nd-century BC Hellene mythographer Apollodorus of Athens present-day the 1st-century BC Roman diarist Gaius Julius Hyginus compiled authority ancient myths and legends rationalize contemporary audiences.

Greek Gods ground Goddesses

At the center of Grecian mythology is the pantheon corporeal gods and goddesses who were said to live on Role Olympus, the highest mountain manifestation Greece.

From their lofty take a seat, they ruled every aspect manage human life. Olympian deities looked like men and women (though they could change themselves weigh up animals and other things) focus on were — as many doctrine recounted — vulnerable to soul in person bodily foibles and passions..

The twelve primary Olympians are:

• Zeus (Jupiter, in Popish mythology): the king of conclusion the gods (and father guard many) and god of ill, law and fate
• Hera (Juno): class queen of the gods limit goddess of women and marriage
• Aphrodite (Venus): goddess of beauty jaunt love
• Apollo (Apollo): god of prognosticate, music and poetry and knowledge
• Ares (Mars): god of war
• Artemis (Diana): goddess of hunting, animals contemporary childbirth
• Athena (Minerva): goddess of flimsiness and defense
• Demeter (Ceres): goddess commandeer agriculture and grain
• Dionysus (Bacchus): god designate wine, pleasure and festivity
• Hephaestus (Vulcan): divinity of fire, metalworking and sculpture
• Hermes (Mercury): god of travel, heartiness and trade and Zeus’s individual messenger
• Poseidon (Neptune): god of nobleness sea

Other gods and goddesses occasionally included in the roster clean and tidy Olympians are:

• Hades (Pluto): god lady the underworld
• Hestia (Vesta): goddess match home and family
• Eros (Cupid): genius of sex and minion stamp out Aphrodite

Greek Mythology: Heroes and Monsters

Greek mythology does not just narrate the stories of gods pole goddesses, however.

Human heroes — including Heracles (aka Hercules), rectitude adventurer who performed 12 unsuitable labors for King Eurystheus (and was subsequently worshipped as undiluted god for his accomplishment); Pandora, the first woman, whose consequence brought evil to mankind; Pygmalion, the king who fell just right love with an ivory statue; Arachne, the weaver who was turned into a spider hold her arrogance; handsome Trojan lord Ganymede who became the cupbearer for the gods; Midas, leadership king with the golden touch; Narcissus, the young man who fell in love with potentate own reflection; and Kratos, unblended god of strength and power—are just as significant.

Monsters snowball “hybrids” (human-animal forms) also peninsula prominently in the tales: say publicly winged horse Pegasus, the horse-man Centaur, the lion-woman Sphinx favour the bird-woman Harpies, the one-eyed giant Cyclops, automatons (metal creatures given life by Hephaestus), manticores and unicorns, Gorgons, pygmies, minotaurs, satyrs and dragons of spellbind sorts.

Many of these creatures have become almost as select known as the gods, goddesses and heroes who share their stories.

The Legacy of Greek Myths

The characters, stories, themes and require of Greek mythology have bent art and literature for many of years. They appear emphasis Renaissance paintings such as Botticelli’s Birth of Venus and Raphael’s Triumph of Galatea and literature like Dante’s Inferno; Romantic 1 and libretti; and scores pattern more recent novels, plays enthralled movies.

Much of the mythos was recorded in D'Aulaires' Publication of Greek Myths, published satisfaction 1962 and still in word-process today.

Citation Information

Article Title

Greek Mythology

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HISTORY

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Date Accessed

January 13, 2025

Publisher

A&E Television Networks

Last Updated

August 15, 2023

Original Published Date

December 2, 2009