short essay on greek mythology

Tragic Tales and Epic Adventures: Essay Topics in Greek Mythology

Table of contents

• 1 Tips on Writing an Informative Essay on a Greek Mythical Character
• 2.1 Titles for Hero Essays 
• 2.2 Ancient Greece Research Topics
• 2.3 Common Myth Ideas for Essays
• 2.4 Topics about Greek Gods
• 2.5 Love Topics in the Essay about Greek Mythology

With its rich pantheon of gods, heroes, and timeless tales, Greek mythology has been a source of inspiration and fascination for centuries. From the mighty exploits of Hercules to the cunning of Odysseus, these myths offer a window into ancient Greek culture, values, and understanding of the world. This exploration delves into various aspects of Greek mythology topics, providing a wealth of ideas for a captivating essay. How do myths impact today’s society? Whether you’re drawn to the legendary heroes, the powerful gods, or the intricate relationships within these stories, there’s a trove of ideas to explore in Greek mythology research topics.

Tips on Writing an Informative Essay on a Greek Mythical Character

Crafting an informative essay on a Greek mythical character requires a blend of passionate storytelling, rigorous research, and insightful analysis. Yet, there are some tips you can follow to reach the best result. Read this student essay written about the Greek mythology guide.

• Select a Fascinating Character. Choose a Greek mythical character that genuinely interests you. Your passion for the character will enhance your writing and engage your readers.
• Conduct Thorough Research. Dive into the character’s background, roles in various myths, and their significance in Greek mythology. Use reliable sources such as academic papers, respected mythology books, and scholarly articles to gather comprehensive and accurate information.
• Analyze Characteristics and Symbolism. Explore the deeper meanings behind your character’s actions and traits. Discuss what they symbolize in Greek culture and mythology.
• Use a Clear Structure. Organize your essay logically. Ensure each paragraph flows smoothly to the next, maintaining a coherent and compelling narrative.
• Incorporate Quotes and References. Use quotes from primary sources and reference key scholars to support your points. This adds credibility and depth to your essay.
• Edit and Revise. Finally, thoroughly revise your essay for clarity, coherence, and grammatical accuracy. A well-edited essay ensures your ideas are conveyed effectively.

By following these tips, you can create a compelling essay that recounts famous myths and explores the rich symbolic and cultural significance of these timeless tales.

Greek Mythology Topics for an Essay

Explore the rich tapestry of Greek mythology ideas with these intriguing essay topics, encompassing legendary heroes, ancient gods, and the timeless themes that have captivated humanity for millennia. Dive into the stories of Hercules, the wisdom of Athena, the complexities of Olympian deities, and the profound lessons embedded in these ancient tales. Each topic offers a unique window into the world of Greek myths, inviting a deep exploration of its cultural and historical significance.

Titles for Hero Essays  

• Hercules: Heroism and Humanity 
• Achilles: The Warrior’s Tragedy
• Odysseus: Cunning over Strength
• Theseus and the Minotaur: Symbolism and Society
• Perseus and Medusa: A Tale of Courage
• Jason and the Argonauts: The Quest for the Golden Fleece
• Atalanta: Challenging Gender Roles
• Ajax: The Unsung Hero of the Trojan War
• Bellerophon and Pegasus: Conquest of the Skies
• Hector: The Trojan Hero
• Diomedes: The Underrated Warrior of the Iliad
• Heracles and the Twelve Labors: A Journey of Redemption
• Orpheus: The Power of Music and Love
• Castor and Pollux: The Gemini Twins
• Philoctetes: The Isolated Warrior

Ancient Greece Research Topics

• The Trojan War: Myth and History. Examining the blending of mythological and historical elements in the story of the Trojan War.
• The Role of Oracles in Ancient Greek Society. Exploring how oracles influenced decision-making and everyday life in Ancient Greece.
• Greek Mythology in Classical Art and Literature. Analyzing the representation and influence of Greek myths in classical art forms and literary works.
• The Historical Impact of Greek Gods on Ancient Civilizations. Investigating how the worship of Greek gods shaped the societal, cultural, and political landscapes of ancient civilizations.
• Mythology’s Influence on Ancient Greek Architecture. Studying the impact of mythological themes and figures on the architectural designs of Ancient Greece.
• Athenian Democracy and Mythology. Exploring the connections between the development of democracy in Athens and the city’s rich mythological traditions.
• Minoan Civilization and Greek Mythology. Delving into the influence of Greek mythology on the Minoan civilization, particularly in their art and religious practices.
• The Mycenaean Origins of Greek Myths. Tracing the roots of Greek mythology back to the Mycenaean civilization and its culture.
• Greek Mythology and the Development of Theater. Discuss how mythological stories and characters heavily influenced ancient Greek plays.
• Olympic Games and Mythological Foundations. Examining the mythological origins of the ancient Olympic Games and their cultural significance.
• Maritime Myths and Ancient Greek Navigation. Investigating how Greek myths reflected and influenced ancient Greek seafaring and exploration.
• The Impact of Hellenistic Culture on Mythology. Analyzing how Greek mythology evolved and spread during the Hellenistic period.
• Alexander the Great and Mythological Imagery. Studying the use of mythological symbolism and imagery in portraying Alexander the Great.
• Greek Gods in Roman Culture. Exploring how Greek mythology was adopted and adapted by the Romans.
• Spartan Society and Mythological Ideals. Examining Greek myths’ role in shaping ancient Sparta’s values and lifestyle.

Common Myth Ideas for Essays

• The Concept of Fate and Free Will in Greek Myths. Exploring how Greek mythology addresses the tension between destiny and personal choice.
• Mythological Creatures and Their Meanings. Analyzing the symbolism and cultural significance of creatures like the Minotaur, Centaurs, and the Hydra.
• The Underworld in Greek Mythology: A Journey Beyond. Delving into the Greek concept of the afterlife and the role of Hades.
• The Role of Women in Greek Myths. Examining the portrayal of female characters, goddesses, and heroines in Greek mythology.
• The Transformation Myths in Greek Lore. Investigating stories of metamorphosis and their symbolic meanings, such as Daphne and Narcissus.
• The Power of Prophecies in Greek Myths. Discussing the role and impact of prophetic declarations in Greek mythological narratives.
• Heroism and Hubris in Greek Mythology. Analyzing how pride and arrogance are depicted and punished in various myths.
• The Influence of Greek Gods in Human Affairs. Exploring stories where gods intervene in the lives of mortals, shaping their destinies.
• Nature and the Gods: Depictions of the Natural World. Examining how natural elements and phenomena are personified through gods and myths.
• The Significance of Sacrifice in Greek Myths. Investigating the theme of voluntary and forced sacrifice in mythological tales.
• Greek Mythology as a Reflection of Ancient Society. Analyzing how Greek myths mirror ancient Greek society’s social, political, and moral values.
• Mythical Quests and Adventures. Exploring the journeys and challenges heroes like Jason, Perseus, and Theseus face.
• The Origins of the Gods in Greek Mythology. Tracing the creation stories and familial relationships among the Olympian gods.
• Lessons in Morality from Greek Myths. Discussing the moral lessons and ethical dilemmas presented in Greek mythology.
• The Influence of Greek Myths on Modern Culture. Examining how elements of Greek mythology continue to influence contemporary literature, film, and art.

Topics about Greek Gods

• Zeus: King of Gods. Exploring Zeus’s leadership in Olympus, his divine relationships, and mortal interactions.
• Athena: Goddess of Wisdom and War. Analyzing Athena’s embodiment of intellect and battle strategy in myths.
• Apollo vs. Dionysus: Contrast of Sun and Ecstasy. Comparing Apollo’s rationality with Dionysus’s chaotic joy.
• Hera: Marriage and Jealousy. Examining Hera’s multifaceted nature, focusing on her matrimonial role and jealous tendencies.
• Poseidon: Ruler of Seas and Quakes. Investigating Poseidon’s dominion over the oceans and seismic events.
• Hades: Lord of the Underworld. Delving into Hades’s reign in the afterlife and associated myths.
• Aphrodite: Essence of Love and Charm. Exploring Aphrodite’s origins, romantic tales, and divine allure.
• Artemis: Protector of Wilderness. Discussing Artemis’s guardianship over nature and young maidens.
• Hephaestus: Craftsmanship and Fire. Analyzing Hephaestus’s skills in metallurgy and his divine role.
• Demeter: Goddess of Harvest and Seasons. Investigating Demeter’s influence on agriculture and seasonal cycles.
• Ares: Embodiment of Warfare. Delving into Ares’s aggressive aspects and divine relations.
• Hermes: Divine Messenger and Trickster. Exploring Hermes’s multifaceted roles in Olympian affairs.
• Dionysus: Deity of Revelry and Wine. Analyzing Dionysus’s cultural impact and festive nature.
• Persephone: Underworld’s Queen. Discussing Persephone’s underworld journey and dual existence.
• Hercules: From Hero to God. Examining Hercules’s legendary labors and deification.

Love Topics in the Essay about Greek Mythology

• Orpheus and Eurydice’s Tragedy. Analyzing their poignant tale of love, loss, and music.
• Aphrodite’s Influence. Exploring her role as the embodiment of love and beauty.
• Zeus’s Love Affairs. Investigating Zeus’s romantic escapades and their effects.
• Eros and Psyche’s Journey. Delving into their story of trust, betrayal, and love’s victory.
• Love and Desire in Myths. Discussing the portrayal and impact of love in Greek myths.
• Hades and Persephone’s Love. Analyzing their complex underworld relationship.
• Paris and Helen’s Romance. Examining their affair’s role in sparking the Trojan War.
• Pygmalion and Galatea’s Tale. Exploring the theme of transcendent artistic love.
• Alcestis and Admetus’s Sacrifice. Investigating the implications of Alcestis’s self-sacrifice.
• Apollo’s Unrequited Love for Daphne. Discussing unreciprocated love and transformation.
• Hercules and Deianira’s Tragic Love. Exploring their love story and its tragic conclusion.
• Jason and Medea’s Turmoil. Analyzing their intense, betrayal-marred relationship.
• Cupid and Psyche’s Resilience. Delving into the strength of their love.
• Baucis and Philemon’s Reward. Exploring their love’s reward by the gods.
• Achilles and Patroclus’s Bond. Discussing their deep connection and its wartime impact.

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Greek Mythology

By: History.com Editors

Updated: August 15, 2023 | Original: December 2, 2009

Ancient Greek mythology is a vast group of legends about gods and goddesses, heroes and monsters, warriors and fools, that were an important part of everyday life in the ancient world. Greek myths explained everything from religious rituals to the weather, and gave meaning to the world that people saw around them. While many of these myths are fanciful tales, such as the legends of greedy King Midas or heroic Hercules, other stories like the Trojan War epic have a basis in historical fact.

Sources of Greek Mythology

There is no single original text, like the Christian Bible or the Hindu Vedas, that introduces all Greek myths’ characters and stories. Instead, the earliest Greek myths were part of an oral tradition that began in the Bronze Age , and their plots and themes unfolded gradually in the written literature of the archaic and classical periods of the ancient Mediterranean world.

The poet Homer ’s 8th-century BC epics, The Iliad and The Odyssey , for example, tell the story of the Trojan War as a divine conflict as well as a human one. They do not, however, bother to introduce the gods and goddesses who are their main characters, since readers and listeners would already have been familiar with them.

Around 700 BC, the poet Hesiod’s Theogony offered the first written cosmogony, or origin story, of Greek mythology. The Theogony tells the story of the universe’s journey from nothingness (Chaos, a primeval void) into being, and details an elaborate family tree of elements, gods and goddesses who evolved from Chaos and descended from Gaia (Earth), Ouranos (Sky), Pontos (Sea) and Tartaros (the Underworld).

Later Greek writers and artists used and elaborated upon these sources in their own work. For instance, mythological figures and events appear in the 5th-century plays of Aeschylus, Sophocles and Euripides and the lyric poems of Pindar. Writers such as the 2nd-century BC Greek mythographer Apollodorus of Athens and the 1st-century BC Roman historian Gaius Julius Hyginus compiled the ancient myths and legends for contemporary audiences.

Did you know? Many consumer products get their names from Greek mythology. Nike sneakers are the namesake of the goddess of victory, for example, and the website Amazon.com is named after the race of mythical female warriors. Many high school, college and professional sports teams (Titans, Spartans and Trojans, for instance) also get their names from mythological sources.

Greek Gods and Goddesses

At the center of Greek mythology is the pantheon of gods and goddesses who were said to live on Mount Olympus, the highest mountain in Greece. From their lofty perch, they ruled every aspect of human life. Olympian deities looked like men and women (though they could change themselves into animals and other things) and were — as many myths recounted — vulnerable to human foibles and passions..

The twelve main Olympians are:

• Zeus (Jupiter, in Roman mythology): the king of all the gods (and father to many) and god of weather, law and fate
• Hera (Juno): the queen of the gods and goddess of women and marriage
• Aphrodite (Venus): goddess of beauty and love
• Apollo (Apollo): god of prophesy, music and poetry and knowledge
• Ares (Mars): god of war
• Artemis (Diana): goddess of hunting, animals and childbirth
• Athena (Minerva): goddess of wisdom and defense
• Demeter (Ceres): goddess of agriculture and grain
• Dionysus (Bacchus): god of wine, pleasure and festivity
• Hephaestus (Vulcan): god of fire, metalworking and sculpture
• Hermes (Mercury): god of travel, hospitality and trade and Zeus’s personal messenger
• Poseidon (Neptune): god of the sea

Other gods and goddesses sometimes included in the roster of Olympians are:

• Hades (Pluto): god of the underworld
• Hestia (Vesta): goddess of home and family
• Eros (Cupid): god of sex and minion to Aphrodite

6 Mythical Monsters

From birds of prey with fearsome strength to rooster‑snake hybrids capable of killing with their eyes, find out more about six legendary beasts from history.

How the Ancient Greeks Designed the Parthenon to Impress—And Last

This icon of classical architecture perched atop the Acropolis has dominated the Athens skyline for 2,500 years.

The story of the Trojan War—the Bronze Age conflict between the kingdoms of Troy and Mycenaean Greece–straddles the history and mythology of ancient Greece.

Greek Mythology: Heroes and Monsters

Greek mythology does not just tell the stories of gods and goddesses, however. Human heroes — including Heracles (aka Hercules), the adventurer who performed 12 impossible labors for King Eurystheus (and was subsequently worshipped as a god for his accomplishment); Pandora, the first woman, whose curiosity brought evil to mankind; Pygmalion, the king who fell in love with an ivory statue; Arachne, the weaver who was turned into a spider for her arrogance; handsome Trojan prince Ganymede who became the cupbearer for the gods; Midas, the king with the golden touch; Narcissus, the young man who fell in love with his own reflection; and Kratos, a god of strength and power—are just as significant.

Monsters and “hybrids” (human-animal forms) also feature prominently in the tales: the winged horse Pegasus, the horse-man Centaur, the lion-woman Sphinx and 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 all sorts. Many of these creatures have become almost as well known as the gods, goddesses and heroes who share their stories.

The Legacy of Greek Myths

The characters, stories, themes and lessons of Greek mythology have shaped art and literature for thousands of years. They appear in Renaissance paintings such as Botticelli ’s Birth of Venus and Raphael ’s Triumph of Galatea and writings like Dante ’s Inferno ; Romantic poetry and libretti; and scores of more recent novels, plays and movies. Much of the mythology was recorded in D'Aulaires' Book of Greek Myths , published in 1962 and still in print today.

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How to Write a Greek Mythology Essay

Introduction

Greek mythology has fascinated scholars and enthusiasts for centuries. The epic tales of gods, heroes, and mythical creatures have captivated the imagination of people across the globe. Writing a Greek mythology essay provides the perfect opportunity to delve into this engrossing subject and showcase your knowledge and analytical skills. In this comprehensive guide, we'll explore the key components of a successful Greek mythology essay and provide valuable tips and insights to help you craft an outstanding piece of academic writing.

Understanding Greek Mythology

Before embarking on your essay, it's important to have a solid understanding of Greek mythology's rich tapestry. Greek mythology encompasses a vast array of gods, goddesses, heroes, and mythical creatures, each with their own unique attributes and stories. Familiarize yourself with the major gods and goddesses, such as Zeus, Athena, and Apollo, as well as renowned heroes like Hercules and Perseus. Additionally, acquaint yourself with prominent myths, such as the Trojan War and the adventures of Odysseus in the Odyssey . This foundation will provide you with a wealth of material to analyze and discuss in your essay.

Choosing a Topic

When selecting a topic for your Greek mythology essay, consider your personal interests and the specific requirements of your assignment. You could focus on a particular god or goddess and explore their significance in Greek mythology, examining their roles and associated myths. Alternatively, you may opt to discuss a specific heroic figure and analyze their portrayal in various myths.

Another approach is to explore the overarching themes present in Greek mythology, such as the concept of fate, the power dynamics between gods and mortals, or the representation of women in ancient Greek society. By narrowing down your topic and selecting a specific angle, you can delve deeper into the subject matter and present a more focused and compelling essay.

Research and Gathering Sources

A successful Greek mythology essay relies on thorough research and a solid understanding of the primary sources. Dig deep into the works of renowned Greek writers, such as Homer, Hesiod, and Ovid, who have provided invaluable insights into the mythology of ancient Greece. Explore their epics and poems, such as the Iliad and the Metamorphoses , to gain a comprehensive understanding of the myths and characters.

In addition to classical sources, consult modern academic books, articles, and scholarly journals to gain different perspectives and interpretations. This will enable you to present a well-rounded analysis of your chosen topic and demonstrate your ability to engage with reputable sources.

Structuring Your Essay

A well-structured essay is crucial for conveying your ideas coherently and logically. Begin with an engaging introduction that provides background information on Greek mythology and presents your thesis statement. Your thesis statement should clearly state your argument or the main point you'll be discussing in your essay.

Subsequently, organize your essay into distinct paragraphs that focus on specific aspects or themes. Each paragraph should have a clear topic sentence that introduces the main idea and supports your thesis. Use evidence from your research to support your claims and ensure a well-supported argument.

Remember to include appropriate citations and references whenever you include information from external sources. This demonstrates your academic integrity and strengthens your arguments.

Analyzing and Interpreting the Myths

Throughout your essay, aim to provide thoughtful analysis and interpretation of the myths you're discussing. Consider the cultural, historical, and societal contexts in which these myths were created, and explore their relevance and enduring impact on literature and popular culture.

Examine the themes, symbolism, and character motivations present in the myths. Compare and contrast different versions of the same myth to gain a deeper understanding of the variations and underlying messages. Engage with scholarly debates and offer your own well-reasoned interpretations.

In your conclusion, summarize your main arguments and restate your thesis in a concise manner. Reflect on the broader significance of Greek mythology and its enduring legacy. Conclude with a thought-provoking statement that leaves the reader with a lasting impression.

Final Thoughts

Writing a Greek mythology essay provides a captivating journey into the world of ancient gods and heroes. By following the steps outlined in this guide, you'll be well-equipped to craft an exceptional essay that showcases your knowledge and analytical prowess.

Remember to dedicate ample time to research, planning, and revision. Engage with primary and secondary sources, formulate a strong thesis, and present your arguments coherently. With these tools at your disposal, you'll be able to write an essay that stands out from the rest and demonstrates your expertise in the captivating realm of Greek mythology.

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Home — Essay Samples — Religion — God — Greek Mythology: Athena

Greek Mythology: Athena

• Categories: God

About this sample

Words: 454 |

Published: Mar 1, 2019

Words: 454 | Page: 1 | 3 min read

Hook Examples for Greek Mythology Essay

• Mythical Intrigue: Step into the enchanting world of Greek mythology, where gods and goddesses reign supreme. Among them, the formidable Athena, goddess of wisdom and war, stands out as a symbol of intelligence, strategy, and courage. Join me as we embark on a journey through her captivating tale.
• Mysterious Origins: The birth of Athena, emerging fully grown and armored from the head of her father, Zeus, is a mythological marvel. Explore the enigmatic circumstances surrounding Athena’s creation and her divine lineage that sets her apart among the Greek deities.
• The Goddess’s Arsenal: Athena’s prowess in war is legendary, and her sacred image reflects her martial might. Delve into the weapons, animals, and symbols associated with Athena, and discover how she wielded her intelligence and valor on the battlefield.
• Inventive Genius: Beyond her warrior persona, Athena reveals her creative side as an inventor of tools, instruments, and farming implements. Uncover the contributions she made to human civilization and the lasting impact of her innovations.
• A Complex Character: Athena’s multifaceted personality includes wisdom, kindness, and ruthlessness. Explore the duality of this goddess and the myths that illustrate both her benevolent and uncompromising sides.

Works Cited

• Burkert, W. (1985). Greek religion: Archaic and classical. Blackwell Publishing.
• Carpenter, T. H. (1991). Art and myth in ancient Greece: A handbook. Thames & Hudson.
• Hamilton, E. (2011). Mythology: Timeless tales of gods and heroes. Grand Central Publishing.
• Harrison, J. E. (1968). Prolegomena to the study of Greek religion. Princeton University Press.
• Morford, M. P., & Lenardon, R. J. (2011). Classical mythology (10th ed.). Oxford University Press.
• Ogden, D. (2009). Athena. Routledge.
• Pomeroy, S. B., Burstein, S. M., Donlan, W., & Roberts, J. T. (2018). A brief history of ancient Greece: Politics, society, and culture (4th ed.). Oxford University Press.
• Price, S. R. F. (1999). Religions of the ancient Greeks. Cambridge University Press.
• Rose, H. J. (2009). Handbook of Greek mythology. Routledge.
• Tripp, E. J. (1970). The Meridian handbook of classical mythology. Meridian.

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The Creation

In the beginning, there was only Chaos , the gaping emptiness. Then, either all by themselves or out of the formless void, sprang forth three more primordial deities: Gaea (Earth), Tartarus (the Underworld), and Eros (Love). Once Love was there, Gaea and Chaos – two female deities – were able to procreate and shape everything known and unknown in the universe.

The Children of Chaos and Gaea

Erebus and nyx.

Chaos gave birth to Erebus (Darkness) and Nyx (Night). Erebus slept with his sister Nyx , and out of this union Aether , the bright upper air, and Hemera , the Day, emerged. Afterward, feared by everyone but her brother, Night fashioned a family of haunting forces all by herself. Among others, her children included the hateful Moros (Fate), the black Ker (Doom), Thanatos (Death), Hypnos (Sleep), Oneiroi (Dreams), Geras (Old Age), Oizus (Pain), Nemesis (Revenge), Eris (Strife), Apate (Deceit), Philotes (Sexual Pleasure), Momos (Blame), and the Hesperides (the Daughters of the Evening).

Gaea and Uranus

Meanwhile, Gaea gave birth to Uranus , the Starry Sky. Uranus became Gaea's husband, surrounding her from all sides. Together, they produced three sets of children: the three one-eyed Cyclopes , the three Hundred-Handed Hecatoncheires , and the twelve Titans .

• Who were Zeus’ Lovers?
• How was the World created?
• What is the Trojan Horse?

The Castration of Uranus

However, Uranus was a cruel husband and an even crueler father. He hated his children and didn’t want to allow them to see the light of day. So, he imprisoned them into the hidden places of the earth, Gaea's womb. This angered Gaea, and she plotted with her sons against Uranus. She made a harpe , a great adamant sickle, and tried to incite her children to attack Uranus. All were too afraid, except the youngest Titan, Cronus .

Cronus Revenge

Gaea and Cronus set up an ambush for Uranus. As he was preparing to lay with Gaea, Cronus castrated him with the sickle, throwing his severed genitals into the ocean. It is unclear as to what happened to Uranus afterward; he either died, withdrew from the earth, or exiled himself to Italy. From the blood that was spilled on the earth due to his castration, emerged the Giants , the Meliae (the Ash Tree Nymphs ), and the Erinyes (the Furies ). From the sea foam that was produced when his genitals fell into the ocean, arose Aphrodite , the Goddess of Beauty.

Cronus Devouring His Children

A new ruler.

Cronus became the next ruler. He imprisoned the Cyclopes and the Hecatoncheires in Tartarus and set the dragoness Campe to guard them. He married his sister, the Titaness Rhea , who bore him five children. However, Gaea and Uranus had both prophesied that Cronus would eventually be overthrown by one of his sons. So much like his father, Cronus maltreated his children, devouring each of them at the time of birth. Rhea was distressed by Cronus’ treatment of her children and, just like Gaea before him, plotted against her husband. On the advice of her mother, when it was time to give birth to her sixth child, Rhea hid herself on Crete , leaving the new-born child to be raised by the nymphs of the island. To conceal her act, she wrapped a stone in swaddling clothes and passed it off as the supposed baby to Cronus, who, unaware of her intentions, swallowed it yet again.

The Return of Zeus

The child was Zeus . Raised by the nymphs Adrasteia and Ida, and the she-goat Amalthea , he quickly grew into a handsome youth in a cave on the Cretan Mount Ida. When the time came, he left Crete to ask his future wife, the Titaness Metis (Wisdom), for an advice on how to defeat Cronus. She answered by preparing a drink indistinguishable from Cronus’ favorite wine but designed to make him vomit for ages. Zeus disguised himself as the gods’ cupbearer and, after a while, successfully slipped Metis ’ drink to Cronus. The plan worked perfectly: Cronus started vomiting and spilled out all of Zeus’ five siblings, but only after throwing up the stone. Called Omphalos, or the Navel, the stone was later set up at Delphi by two eagles Zeus sent to meet at the center of the world. Overwhelmed with gratitude, Rhea’s children – Hestia , Demeter , Hera , Hades , and Poseidon – recognized Zeus as their leader.

The Titanomachy

Gods vs titans.

However, Cronus was still in command – and yet to be defeated. He was too old to protect himself from the attacks of his progeny, but he enlisted the help of the faithful Titans , who also feared the new generation of gods. This led to a decade-long war between the Titans and the Olympians , remembered by generations hence as the Titanomachy . Atlas became the Titans’ leader and led his armies to many victories. At one point, it even seemed that Zeus would be defeated. However, at the advice of Gaea, he went to Tartarus and released the Cyclopes and the Hecatoncheires. In gratitude, the Cyclopes provided Zeus with his signature thunderbolt; they also made a trident for Poseidon and a helmet of invisibility for Hades . The tables had turned.

The Winning Trick

However, as so many times before, the final victory would not be the result of brute force, but it would happen due to a cunning little trick, possibly devised by Prometheus , who deserted from the Titans’ army beforehand. Armed with boulders, Hecatoncheires set an ambush for the Titans. At the right time, Zeus retreated his forces, drawing the Titans into the Hecatoncheires’ trap. The Hundred-Handed ones started raining down hundreds of boulders, with such a fury that the Titans thought the mountains were falling down upon them. They ran away, and Zeus could finally consider himself the King of the Universe.

Tartarus and Atlas

Zeus exiled the Titans who had fought against him into Tartarus. He made an exception with Atlas , though: being the leader of the opposing force, he was punished to hold the universe on his shoulders.

The Final Challenge

Zeus and typhon.

Zeus’ power would be challenged on few occasions afterward. Just after the Titanomachy , his grandmother Gaea, outraged by the imprisonment of her children, issued forth one last child of her, the monstrous Typhon . He was so fearsome that most of the gods fled the second they saw him; however, Zeus didn’t hesitate. He faced the monster and using the power of his lightning bolts, he was able to defeat it. Typhon was subsequently buried under Mount Etna in Sicily.

They say that you can still hear him growling under the volcano. And that someday in the distant future, he will return to challenge Zeus once again.

The Creation Sources

There’s no better place to read about the Creation than Hesiod’s “Theogony,” a book whose title can be literally translated as “The Birth of the Gods.”

See Also: Chaos, Creation II , Uranus, Cronus, Zeus, Titanomachy, Typhon

The Creation Associations

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Greek mythology summary

Greek mythology , Oral and literary traditions of the ancient Greeks concerning their gods and heroes and the nature and history of the cosmos. The Greek myths and legends are known today primarily from Greek literature, including such classic works as Homer ’s Iliad and Odyssey , Hesiod ’s Works and Days and Theogony , Ovid ’s Metamorphoses , and the dramas of Aeschylus , Sophocles , and Euripides . The myths deal with the creation of the gods and the world, the struggle among the gods for supremacy and the triumph of Zeus, the love affairs and quarrels of the gods, and the effects of their adventures and powers on the mortal world, including their link with natural phenomena such as thunderstorms or the seasons and their connection with cultic sites or rituals. Among the great stories of Greek mythology and legend are those of the Trojan War, the voyage of Odysseus , Jason’s search for the Golden Fleece, the exploits of Heracles, the adventures of Theseus, and the tragedy of Oedipus. See also Greek religion .

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How to Write a Greek Mythology Essay

By: Max Malak

Let's take a look at Greek Mythology essay sample and see how you can  write your essay .

Greek Mythology: Origins

Greek gods and humans, the age of heroes, the most human of tales, frontloaded information, clear timeline, proper structure, greek mythology essay sample.

Greek Mythology begins in darkness. Nobody truly knows who or what comes first. Some say it was Gaia who birthed Uranus, or Uranos, the Sky Father. Other sources claim that it was Nyx, the shadowy Goddess of the Night, who breathed into being the sky. What we do know, however, is that it was the union of Uranos and Gaia, the coming together of the Sky Father and Earth Mother, that helped bring life to the world.

The Titans, led by Cronos, overthrew the Sky Father, Uranos, and cast him aside, becoming the rulers of the new world. Cronos then married his older sister Rhea, and together, they bore six children - Zeus, Poseidon, Hades, Hera, Demeter, and Hestia. These six were the first generation of Olympians, the Greek gods as we know them. They are so named because they ruled from Mount Olympus after Zeus killed his father Cronos, ending the rule of the Titans once and for all.

Ancient Greek gods were very unlike the God of Abrahamic religions. Most of the time, they did not behave like gods. In fact, it was their humanity, their propensity for making mistakes, that truly defined them. The Olympian gods, in particular, are rather notorious for ravaging the world with their petty jealousies and rivalries. 

Before we go any further, it is best to refer to who exactly we mean when we refer to Olympian gods:

• Zeus, god of the Sky
• Poseidon, god of the Sea
• Hera, goddess of women and family
• Demeter, goddess of agriculture
• Athena, goddess of wisdom
• Aphrodite, goddess of love
• Apollo, the Sun
• Artemis, the Moon
• Ares, god of war
• Hephaestus, god of the smiths
• Hermes, the messenger of the gods
• Dionysus, god of revelry
• Hestia, goddess of the hearth

It should be interesting to know that Hades, despite being an offspring of Cronus and Rhea, is not counted among the Olympian gods because his realm, the Underworld, is separate from Mount Olympus. He resides there with his wife, Persephone, and his dog, Cerberus.

Where Greek mythology really takes a life of its own is when it tells the stories of these great gods and their interaction with human beings. Ancient Greece was not safe for humans or even those who helped humans in the beginning. Take Prometheus, for example. Though not himself a human, he stole fire and gave it to the fledgling humans to give them a fighting chance. For his efforts, Zeus sentenced him to torture without respite for the rest of time.

Everyday life in ancient Greece, according to the myths, was fraught with dangers. Not only was there war and wildlife to contend with, but the gods' notice was in itself a threat. Zeus fathered lots of demigods on a whole host of women - many times unwilling. Poseidon, perhaps, is the most famous example of this. Forcing himself on a woman inside the temple of Athena led to the furious goddess cursing the woman and turning her into the dreaded Medusa - at least, according to Ovid, the Roman poet of Metamorphoses fame.

Of course, as a direct result of the Greek gods taking such an intimate interest in the lives of human beings, we get the greatest stories ever told. Demigods, children sired by the gods themselves on humans, are champions of humankind as told by the Greek myths. Such greats as Hercules, Perseus, Theseus, and Achilles, famous for their epic feats of bravery and heroism, were all demigods.

However, the lives of these heroes were always shrouded in tragedy. For like their divine parents, they courted the impossible and improbable at every turn, and sometimes, they had no net to fall back on.

Hercules goes mad and commits heinous crimes - murdering his own family. Theseus abandons Ariadne, without whose help he could not have navigated the labyrinth and sailed the Minotaur, is thrown off a cliff and falls to the sea to his death, welcomed back by his father Poseidon. Achilles, famous for his martial prowess and unbridled rage, met his end at the battlefields of Troy. Heroes, without a doubt, but all marked by tragedy - the Greek myths make no play at favoritism. Everyone pays the price for grandiosity.

Everyone, save, for one.

The tale that began with Homer's Iliad ends in the Odyssey. In many respects, it is a story of great heroism and adventure, of a crew of sailors navigating monsters and sidestepping the temptations of nymphs. But at its core lies a very simple story. That of Odysseus the man, a veteran of the Trojan War, going back home to Ithaca to be with his wife.

The Age of Heroes has passed, and Odysseus is just a man. Not a demigod by any means. Those great champions have fallen one by one in the Trojan War. In the decade after its end, while Odysseus was lost at sea, the house of Atreus has fallen. The divines, while they grace their children, don't seem to be doing so much now. It is in men now that the fate of the world stands. And Odysseus is proof of that.

With nothing but his intellect, he led to the fall of Troy. Armed with nothing but his wits, he escaped cyclopes, Circe's island, and survived the death of all his crew to make it safely back. Courage, determination, and grit - the hallmarks of human greatness, are all shown prominently in him, the most mundane of his peers.

It is with Odysseus that the Greek myths cement their legacy. Though the gods can continually slay one other and given the world some truly amazing champions, it is man, at the end, who must persevere and bring forth a new day.  

Analysis Of the Essay

So, in the sample essay above, there are a few things going right .

The very first rule of journalism is to put all the relevant and important data at the very so that the readers can get what they want out of the piece by just reading the beginning. The essay starts with giving the origins of Greek mythology, telling you exactly what you need to know and providing a good starting point. The information you seek is easily accessible. This is something you need to always do.

When it comes to pantheons, the timeline is very important. The Olympians weren't always the dominant gods. What came before them? What happened after they rose to power? Without knowing that, we cannot contextualize later stories like the slaying of the Minotaur or even the Iliad and the Odyssey. A clear timeline is needed, and the essay breaks this down into clear segments.

With that being said, there are also a few things that can be improved upon in the essay. These are:

The essay above tries to follow the basic format for an informative essay: beginning, middle, and ending. While the conclusion is missing entirely, the body of the essay meanders through the timeline for a long time. Some trimming of the body is in order to make it flow more naturally.

Proper Conclusion

The essay lacks a proper ending. All the points covered need to be tied up properly and efficiently, giving the readers a sense of closure and summarising the facts. Remember, the thing that says the longest in a reader's mind is what they read last, so you need to focus and do something like this:

Athens still stands. Troy has been discovered. King Minos might actually have reigned over Crete. There is always a kernel of truth behind every tale, and Greek Mythology seems to be rooted into the very soil of the land that birthed it. Countless people across the ages have been fascinated by the tapestry of tales so woven by the master bards of a bygone era. So much so that every generation requires a contemporary retelling of them.

Why? Because these tales are beautiful. Because they have a human quality that is so often not attributed to supreme beings. Because the Greek gods, at their very core, are alarmingly human. It is what makes them relatable and what makes them interesting.

We hope you got what you needed out of this essay. Studybay helps you create  the best essays you will ever submit. Use our  essay writing service  now to get the best grades you can imagine. Think of it as a gift from the gods themselves!

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Greek Mythology Influence Analytical Essay

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• As a source of information (ensure proper referencing)
• As a template for you assignment

Introduction

Reference list.

The impact of Greek mythology on the modern society cannot go unnoticed. Many spheres of the modern society have borrowed heavily on Greek mythology. Areas like modern language, arts and traditions among others all exhibit the influence of Greek tradition in the modern society.

A good example of this is where people with no or little understanding of Greek legends still know that Hercules was a strongman and that Venus is the god responsible for love. This goes ahead to show how the Greek mythologies have taken root in our modern society. In fact, majority of the traditions that people in the modern society carry out have their origin in Greece.

One Greek mythology that has influenced the whole world is the celebration of the Olympic Games. According to historians, the Olympic Games are a traditional Greek sport that was established in 776 B.C. The Greeks used these athletic contests to award vegetal crowns to people who excelled in different areas.

According to historians, the foundation of the Olympic Games is credited to Herakles. According to the myth, Zeus set up the games to celebrate his legendary success over his father Kronos. This event was celebrated once every four years and involved all Greece citizens.

As time went by, the rest of the world adopted the use of Olympic Games as a unifying event. Today, the Olympic Games are regarded as the most popular sporting event in history. In fact, the modern day sport has minimal differences compared to the original games. This goes a long way in exhibiting just how Greek culture has influenced the world systems. (Barringer, 2010)

In the modern society, very few people can speak Greek fluently. However, the English language has been greatly shaped by Greek mythologies. An example of this is a term like “Herculean task”, which refers to doing something that requires a big effort. According to historians, the term comes from the Greek legend that refers to the labors assigned to Hercules. Another common name in the English language that has its roots from the Greeks is the sleep inducing drug known as morphine.

According to English experts, this name has its origins from Morpheus, the Greek god responsible for bringing sleep. The Greek god of love Zeus otherwise known as aphrodisiac has also been incorporated in the English language. Today, the modern language uses the term aphrodisiac to refer to any stuff or condition that stimulates sexual need.

Besides their use in languages, Greek mythology also has a great impact on science. Today, most heavenly bodies have been given the names of Greek characters. On top of this, nearly all the planets and most of the stars in the solar system have been given Roman translations of Greek characters.

There is no doubt that the modern world has borrowed much from Greek mythology. Reference to Greek mythology proliferate every sphere of our society. The Olympic Games one of the most celebrated athletic sport has its origins from the Greek culture.

The sport has undergone the test of time and today it is considered as an event that unifies the world. In fact, some things that we take for granted as maps have their origin from Greek myths. The Europe continent that houses many communities is named after Europa, the virgin carried off by Zeus, who tricked her by masquerading as a bull.

Barringer, J. (2010) Art, Myth, and Ritual in Classical Greece . Retrieved from http://www.cambridge.org/catalogue/catalogue.asp?isbn=9780521646475&ss=exc

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12 of the Best Stories from Greek Myth

By Dr Oliver Tearle (Loughborough University)

Ancient Greek mythology is full of classic stories which have become part of Western literature and culture; these stories have even given us some well-known words and phrases commonly used in English, and in other languages.

Below, we introduce 12 of the greatest and best-known tales from the world of Greek mythology, from curious women to brave men, people who overreached themselves and people whose greed got the better of them.

1. Pandora’s Box

Everyone knows about the myth of Pandora’s box – except it wasn’t a box at all, but a jar, as we reveal in our discussion of this classic story (linked above).

Pandora was the first woman in Greek mythology, and Hesiod tells us that her curiosity led her to take the lid off the jar (not box) containing all of the world’s ills, unleashing them upon the world in the process.

2. Prometheus

Another important ‘origin-story’ from Greek myth, the tale of Prometheus – whose name literally means ‘forethought’ in some interpretations – is well-known because it explains how mankind came into possession of fire, thus enabling man to form civilisation as we know it.

Prometheus, a Titan or god, stole fire from his fellow gods and gave it to humanity, and for this act he was punished by Zeus: chained to a rock and then subjected to the agonising ordeal of having his liver pecked out by an eagle. His liver would grow back every night, so Prometheus would have to endure the same fate every day for eternity. Ouch.

3. Persephone and Hades

As well as explaining where man came from and how we came to create civilisation, the Greeks also used their myths to explain the origins of natural phenomena, such as the seasons. Why do we have summer and winter?

For the ancient Greeks, it was thanks to Persephone, the daughter of Zeus and Demeter. Persephone was abducted by Hades, god of the Underworld, and taken away with him; because she was connected to vegetation, Persephone’s absence from the land led to the failure of crops, and everyone began to starve.

Hades was told by Zeus to return Persephone to Demeter above-ground, but (thanks to Hades’ trick which involved, effectively, drugging Persephone with some pomegranate seeds), eventually a compromise was reached, whereby Persephone would spend the winter months in Hades and the rest of the year with Demeter. And this explains the origins of the seasons.

4. Theseus and the Minotaur

In the vast Labyrinth on the island of Crete, built by the cunning Daedalus for King Minos, there dwelt the Minotaur: a man with the head and tail of a bull.

Minos demanded seven Athenian men and seven Athenian maidens be given to the Minotaur to be devoured on a regular basis (some accounts say every seven years, while others state this was an annual treat for the Minotaur). This mythic story, by the way, inspired Suzanne Collins’s idea of ‘tributes’ in The Hunger Games .

Anyway, Theseus was a brave Athenian man who, with the help of Ariadne (who gave him a ball of thread so he could find his way back out of the Labyrinth), went into the Cretan maze and slew the Minotaur. Unfortunately, after Ariadne had helped him to accomplish his task, his abandoned her … but that’s another story.

5. Daedalus and Icarus

The story of Icarus is one of the most famous tales from Greek myth. Icarus was the son of Daedalus, the craftsman who built the Labyrinth from the Minotaur story recounted above. Ever the inventor, Daedalus fashioned some wings out of feathers and wax, for him and his son to use to fly their way off the island of Crete.

However, Icarus got carried away and flew too close to the sun, which melted the wax in his wings. He fell to his death, drowning in the Aegean. Now, Icarus’ name is a byword for one of the Greeks’ most favourite themes: hubris, or overreaching oneself.

6. Perseus and the Gorgon Medusa

Perseus’ defeat of Medusa, one of the Gorgons, is well-known. Famously, to look upon snake-haired Medusa (the snakes were her punishment for being vain and proud of her hair) was enough to turn the viewer to stone, so Perseus cunningly used a mirrored shield to approach Medusa in her cave so that he could cut her head off without looking directly at her.

7. Orpheus and Eurydice

One of the great tragic love stories from Greek mythology, the tale of the musician Orpheus and his lover Eurydice features the Underworld. But as with the tale of Echo and Narcissus (see below), this is a doomed love story made more famous through Roman writers (Ovid, Virgil) than Greek originals.

The lyrist Orpheus fell in love with the beautiful Eurydice, only for her to die shortly after; Orpheus made the journey into Hades, the Underworld, to try to bring his beloved back.

His wish was granted – but on the condition that he mustn’t look back at Eurydice as she followed him out of Hades, until they were both safely back in the land of the living. Orpheus couldn’t resist one quick glance … and Eurydice was lost to him forever.

8. The 12 Labours of Heracles

Better-known as Hercules (the Latin version of his Greek name), Heracles was the all-round action hero of Greek mythology. He was ordered to carry out his famous ‘Twelve Labours’ as penance for the murder of his own wife and children, while he was in the service of the king Eurystheus.

A few of them are quite famous – Heracles killing the Nemean lion, or stealing the golden apples of the Hesperides – but others, such as slaying the Stymphalian birds, are more obscure.

9. Echo and Narcissus

Narcissus was a beautiful youth – so beautiful, in fact, that he fell in love with his own reflection, which he saw while gazing down at the surface of the water while drinking one day. Echo loved Narcissus, but he shunned her because he only had eyes for himself, and Echo pined away until only her voice remained.

Echo found it hard to tell Narcissus how she felt for him, in any case, because she had already been cursed so that she could only repeat what others said, rather than speak for herself.

Although we feature this classic mythological tale on this list of best Greek stories, the introduction of Echo into the tale of Narcissus appears to have been the invention of a Roman poet, Ovid, in his Metamorphoses . But the figures are so closely associated with Greek myth that we felt they should be included here.

10. Sisyphus

The poster-boy of existentialism, Sisyphus has become associated with laborious and pointless tasks, because he was condemned to roll a boulder up a hill, only for the boulder to roll back down to the bottom just as he was about to complete the task. He was thus doomed to repeat this action forever.

11. King Midas and the Golden Touch

Midas is known for two things: being given the ears of an ass, and turning everything he touched into gold. The latter of these was his reward from Dionysus, although he soon discovered that his gift was a bane rather than a blessing, and that he couldn’t even do simple things like take a drink without the water turning into gold.

Curiously, like many other classic myths, this one may have arisen as an origin story to explain the rich gold deposits in the river Pactolus.

12. Scylla and Charybdis

To be ‘between Scylla and Charybdis’ is, if you will, to be caught between a rock and a hard place – in other words, between two equally unappealing dangers or prospects. The phrase derives from two dangerous entities found in the Mediterranean sea, which Homer tells us about in his Odyssey .

They were supposedly found on opposite sides of the Strait of Messina between Sicily and Calabria, with Scylla being a monster with six heads and Charybdis being a deadly whirlpool. Ships had to navigate between these two dangerous forces when travelling through this part of the Mediterranean sea.

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2 thoughts on “12 of the Best Stories from Greek Myth”

I thought this meant Homer, or something like that, lol

I love Greek myths!

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5 terrifying tales from Greek mythology

Meet the mythical monsters from ancient greece.

Check out these ghastly Greek myths from the time of the Ancient Greeks !  Read on, if you dare…

Greek ‘myths’ (short for mythology) are a series of stories about the Gods and magical beings of Greece. We’ll bet you’ve heard of some of the famous – and infamous! – characters already, such as Heracles , (the strongest man on Earth) Zeus , (the God of the sky and king of the gods) Pegasus (a flying horse) and Hades (the god of the underworld).

Find out more about the grand Greek myths, below!

Greek mythology

Created thousands of years ago, Greek myths  were epic stories about  Greek gods , passed down over generations. They often feature heroic battles and terrible creatures, and taught the importance of bravery, intelligence, and right and wrong. They showed that even the gods, like mortal men, could be punished or rewarded for their actions. Details of the ancient tales have been found on everything from pottery to temples to stone statues!

Greek myths were a huge part of the  religion in Ancient Greece, and offer a glimpse into the lives of the ancient people who told them. Check out five of these fascinating Greek myths below, and meet the people-eating, fire-breathing beasts and the heroes who battled them!

Scylla and Charybdis

The Monster: Scylla and Charybdis The Hero: Odysseus The Battle:  On both sides of a narrow stretch of sea, monsters lie in wait. On one side,  Scylla thrashes around her six snakelike heads , ready to crunch on passing sailors. On the other, Charybdis creates a deadly whirlpool . No person has ever faced these beasts and escaped unharmed. Now the king, Odysseus , and his crew must pass them to get home. They edge around Charybdis’ spiralling sea, saving the ship from being swallowed whole. But Scylla swoops down and gobbles up six men. “Row!” Odysseus shouts, leading the rest of the crew past Scylla and out of the deadly channel. Having survived the dreaded beasts, Odysseus and his men continue their journey.

Did you know we have a FREE downloadable Greek Mythology primary resource ? Great for teachers, homeschoolers and parents alike!

Theseus and the Minotaur

The Monster : The Minotaur The Hero : Theseus The Battle : Half-man, half-bull, the Minotaur lurks in an underground maze waiting for his next meal – children sent to him as a sacrifice. Lost in the labyrinth, the kids surely will be devoured. But brave king  Theseus  has had enough of his land living in fear of the Minotaur. He accompanies the group and is prepared to fight. Hearing the Minotaur breathing nearby, he springs toward it. Dodging the monster’s deadly horns, he thrusts his sword into the beast. The Minotaur is dead, but will the group find its way out? Luckily, Theseus unspooled a piece of string as he walked through the maze, and leads the children out to safety.

The Labours of Heracles

The Monster : The Hydra The Hero : Heracles The Battle : In a swamp creeps a deadly nine-headed serpent called the Hydra . Killing it is one of 12 tasks Heracles – the son of Greek god, Zeus –  must complete to become immortal. After throwing flaming spears at the beast, the Hydra attacks so Heracles hits its heads with a club, but more grow in their place! Heracles’ friend, Iolus , then leaps to his aid with a flaming torch. After an epic battle, the men finally destroy the Hydra!

Perseus and Medusa

The Monster : Medusa The Hero : Perseus The Battle : The hideous Medusa has snakes for hair, terrifying tusks and a face that turns anyone that looks at it into stone! To please his king, warrior Perseus agrees to slay the beast. Wearing a helmet of invisibility, he sneaks up on Medusa. She’s asleep, but one gaze at her face and Perseus would be a statue! So he looks at her harmless reflection in his shiny shield and beheads her. Victorious, Perseus flies off on winged sandals.

Bellerophon and Pegasus

The Monster : The Chimera The Hero : Bellerophon The Battle : The fire-breathing Chimera is a terrifying beast with a serpent for a tail, a goat’s body and a lion’s head! A king has commanded warrior, Bellerophon , to destroy her. Soaring above the monster on a winged horse, Pegasus, he shoots arrows at her. Bellerophon then attaches lead to his spear and thrusts it into the vicious beast. The hero’s actions kills the fiery Chimera.

Read more about amazing ancient adventures in National Geographic Treasury of Greek Mythology .

Did you know we have a FREE downloadable primary resource about the Lost City of Atlantis ? Perfect for teachers, homeschoolers and parents alike, the resource investigates the legendary Ancient Greek island swallowed by the sea!

Illustrations: Ben Shannon

What do you make of our greek myths let us know by leaving a comment, below, leave a comment.

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WELL DONE, YOUR COMMENT HAS BEEN ADDED!

It is not scary for kids 4 and above as my sister is 4 and she is NOT afraid. And more stories can be added. But overall it is great

Interesting

The coolest myths EVER!!!!!!!

coooooooooooooool

I love Greek myths

That was awesome

this was sooo terrifying( i'm being sarcastic)

You should leave the author and date it was published on the bottom of the page

amazing info, thanks so much

IT was not even scary i bet a baby would not even be scared of the myths. Ha HA ha

Maybe it isnt the worst site, you just DEFINITELY knew it all. I LOVE this site thanks for the facts.

i love this

Greek myth are amazing

I never gonna believe this you did the best job ever

This was really interesting

Pretty interesting

This isn't that accurate but useful nonetheless

amazing content and a very good learning website

eh ok... :/

omg i love this

cooool epic awesome mythic

This is awesome. really helps me learn my stuff. My favourite is medusa and thesus

AAAARRRRRRRRRRRRGGGHHHHHHH!! Those myths are so scary.

i realllllly want more

it was brilliant

This is Fantastic

my favorite story was probably the half bull half human one. very creepy:)

This website is very useful

I love Ancient Greece.

i have a weird username. this is not like my username

VIDEO GAME!!!!!

thes storys are cool

the chimira was the best in my opinyon

Everything Is Awesome

i love the chimera and the minotaur better

yah totally radical uuuuddeeee wessssssllyyyy

This is so helpful school is had some times and this web site help a lot.

OMG! This totes saved my school work and my lesson so thx

This website is awsome

I am doing a project on ancient Greece and your website has been very helpful

worst site i did not learn any thing

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Now I know some facts for my project thanks

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i didnt know that madusa had tusks

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love my team

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the Scylla was the coolest monster ever!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

real cool I love myths and me reading this soooooooo cool

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i believe myths are true

Ben Shannon

great for learning and very educational!

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You are super bro llooooooooooool I told you Darren Torres

This was very well thought out and done right! I recommend reading the book Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightning Theif

there is no information i need where is stuff about GREEK THEATER!?!?!?

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How cool !!!

realy helped me on my english

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Even though I put awesome above it is totally not Awesome. AND I MEAN IT Grade this: How much did you like this 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Any more info?????

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Nice myth stuff it helps a lot!

I wish you would read the stories out loud

myths are so cooooool

Great website for my schoolwork

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Pretty cool k

Credit to Ben Shannon, that is an tremendous illustrations. Come on, even I doing art as my favourite subject for GCSE could not draw that.(And editor edit this bit in bracket out, however tell him he is an epic drawer. And give him credit. THX!)

It is very dong like!

It is very helpful for home work!

Hello My Name is Ben_Friend

rly guys no effort at all

THE MINOTAUR HELPED ME DO A GOOD REPORT IN SCHOOL!!!!!!!

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I dont like myths but I like this one

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nothing about Athena,Posiedon,or Gaia

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Im proboly gonna get top marks at my school !!!!!!!!!!

have contests

you should have contests where you can win animals and consels good myths thanks

This helped me a lot thank you you should have some compentions where you could win animals or game consles

I know a million more and the stuff here isnt all right.

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dude this is awesome make more people like this

my grandma is more fun then u

this is terrible

this is not great information for my research

Im doing a social studies project on ancient Greece. These myths are awesome!

a lot inacurate

a lot is inacurate

National Geographic kids is buff

AMAZING!!!!!!!

this is good research

cool and informative :D

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SUPER AWSOME

give me an l give me an a give me an m give an e what does that spell lame

These are really great myths!

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cant wait for more

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awesome!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

FAKE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

pretty cool

i loved what you did with the article being in third grade and focusing on writing i love it.

Did you know Odysseus was from Greece Ithaca Greece

Interesting info. Another Greek monster is a Siren that is kind of like a mermaid.Its songs lure sailors to misguide their ship so then it sinks.

This was pretty cool. hoping for a link with greek gods though.

i wanted to know facts not the actual myths

I like the Hydra and Medusa looks ugly

IT IS COOL SITE TO FIND GREEK MYTIS

This really didnt help I was trying to find a Greek myth to read for my homework. You need to put some proper Greek myths on here

It did not tell me about aprohdiite.

this website is ok

great myths I love the medusa one

favorite Minotaur ;] ;]

nice i cant wait for more lol

Sorry but this wasnt that helpful I couldnt find anything about ares god of war

that was awsome

Cool!This helped me with my homework.Thanks a lot

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my avatar is awesome

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OMG!!!! I love the minotaur and the hydra

this is an amazing avatar you have to agre.

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such a good website

lol this website is cool

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This stuff is k but on the other hand is kind of cool that we can learn about the greek

that is awesome

wow! my favourite is the hydra. I love hercules

omg! THE HYDRA IS AMAZING

NICE My fav is the Minotaur story its so dramatic

i find these interesting and enjoyable these are really fun to read

WOW! I am learning. Thank you for making this incredible website

i love this website because its fast and you learn more i would recommend this to my friends

that was cool

thx for the info

That was amazing

Out of this world!!!!

this website is cool

really helped out thnx

l love this

Lol good myths

medusa has sisters you know. That myth quite scary.

WOW! THIS WEBSITE GIVES ALL GREEK INFORMATION. GREAT!

Wow! those facts are so cool.

wow amazing! where did you learn all these myths from? national geographic is the best!5 star!

cool!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

cool love myths and legends

I thought that was AMAZING! I thought it was so clever for people to think like that, my dad tells me lots of Greeces myths

awesome for days!!

Thank you, you might have just saved my bacon.

love Greek myths !

Its awesome bro!!!!!!!

that was very helpful thank you

Cool website

it is so good and I love the pics!

wow awosme greek myths are super

It is helpfull for homework♦??

great for my research paper

I love Greek legend

that is really cool I like learning about Greek Gods

ITS WAS A GOOD BOOK

l like it l am going to read more about this

i like but i dont like mudusa though she will turn you to stone

i hope that barbie is on this because this is so cute an hope you like it

this is cool i am going to read some more i hope the people how are reading this like what i had to say

That is just what I wanted!!

Super good! And keep it up

sooooooo!!!!!!! coool

I love it it was helpful for my gt project.But wish that there was more creatures

Nice job! You might wanna include The Gifts to Athens where Posidon and Athena battle with gift to name the town something. By the way the town is Athens and Athena won! Thanks! Bill,

It is so cool good work

Wow ,sooooooo awesome ,okay enough of the sos

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I like your story

I love the art!

good classwork

great class work

love it sooo awsomeee

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That was so cool!!! Just add more stuff maybe?

This is great I love it

The Minotaur it so cool

it was cool

this was weird why no Percy Jackson?

i think this is a good project

this is awesome

My friend Will has the first book

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wow. I loved it

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thanks this helped me a lot

love the storys must read this is really helping me with my school project

Love the Medusa story.

What about nymphs?

hi people.i love god of water

this is awsome like omg dudes

Isnt Kratos a God? I thought he was the God of war?

these are very interesting stories, my only suggestion is to make them a tiny bit longer? That would be really cool!

im american

hi every buddy

my friend is jimmie dean

I dont like this

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hi thus was ok

no perse jackson

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like this website it is the best

anybody found anything about Cronos

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I AM FINISHING UP MY GREEK MYTHS UNIT IN SCHOOL !

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greek gods are super powerfull

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Phew, my 3 month will be easy thanks to this page! :)

thx helpful for homework

I cant believe that I was named after a greek monster that can turn people into stone, just by looking at them in the eye.

JONAS! These are the greek monsters, not the percy Jackson ones.

PLEASE PUT SOME PERCY JACKSON STUFF ON HERE !

L.o.l guess what my teacher is going to be so happy with this part of my homework

Wow these mythical monsters are awesome I wish I was back when they were told this is so awesome bbooii

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Greek mythology is amazing fantastic

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liveing life

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So much informati )

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Im doing a project on myths and this is very useful for part of it.

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WOW!! so cool miths.ancent greas is my favrot subject

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Awesome website !!!!! Soo many facts to learn and interesting storys on my fav myths :)

I love greek myths!!!!My fav

so cool i like it

LOVE THE ANCIENT GREEKS MY FAVE TOPIC EVER. STUDYING THEM NOW. DID YOU KNOW MILETUS WAS A GREEK CITY EVEN THOUGH IT WAS ON THE COAST OF ASIA MINOR?

Medusa is so scary.

hydra is a beast

My favorite myth is the Minotaur.

this is very intersting

This story was really thrilling with lots of suspense

i love the chimera

this is very cool it seems like they made these storyes to scare their kids

its very good but it will be more good if you include some stories

This is cool

It is interesting

BEST GEOGRAPHY!!!!!!!!!

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Love this drawing

it is so cool dude :0

Wow lots of facts Lol

I know the hydra every time you cut of one of its head is grows two more so far thats is my favorite

this is the best time ever

those stories are awsome i liked the one called the hydra

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This is awsome

AWESOME. but it would have been even better if there was a bigger explanation of the story

sick and epic explanation about greek myths well done

National Geographic for kids I has a lot of info about things.That is why I am on here a lot!

my favourite is minotaur

I really loved learning about Greek Mythology. Thanks!

i love this story! It will help my project

Thanks my English project is on Greek myths and legends.

Thank you!!!!!

You helped me so much.

interesting stories !!

Thank you so much

very imformative

Helped with my school assignment

beautiful! wow!

if i kind find this web site i cant do my home work

helped with me hw

I really like the drawings and the story of mercury and madousa.

This really helped me with my homework Thanks!!! ;)

wooo cooooooool!!

I liked it but I dont know how to say their names

I thought they were really fun

I really like mythology so I think you should put more like Norse mythology and Egyptian

cool banana

its super interesting

Its good not really scary but good

awsome and coooooooooool

I like the stories that are on here.

i love the percy jackson books have anyone read them so i knew most of these heros but i learnt a bit so cool

thank i learnt loads do u know anything about greek fire

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These stories were awsome and I know all of them but it does not hurt to read again.

my favourite was the minotaur and medusa because I already knew about those. I just finished the greeks in school the romans is next I like greek history. its not my favourite but its my second favourite my little brothers favourite is the ancient egyptians but ive already done ancient egyptians before the ancient greeks.

i know all these heros! you guys should try and read the percy jackson series.

I WANT MOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOORE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I LIKE IT , ITS NOT SCARY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

CUSTOMIZE YOUR AVATAR

More like greece.

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10 facts about Ancient Greece

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The Gods and Goddesses of Ancient Greece!

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Greek Mythology essay

Greek Mythology is a set of diverse traditional tales told by the ancient Greeks about the exploits of gods and heroes and their relations with ordinary mortals. The ancient Greeks worshipped many gods within a culture that tolerated diversity. Cosmogony is the study of the universe. Creation mythologies explain the actual formation of the world by a variety of processes. These processes include the sacrifice of a primal being (for example, a giant or serpent); a struggle between supernatural powers; the blending or coalescing of elements, particularly water and earth; the incubation of a cosmic egg; and the uttering of a divine word.

In myths that credit primary creation to gods, such as the Greek deities Uranus (sky god) and Gaea (earth goddess), these deities often become hazy, remote figures in later mythology, and stories often recount their overthrow by their own offspring. For example, in the Greek tradition, Zeus succeeded his father Cronus and grandfather Uranus to become ruler of the gods Unlike other belief systems, Greek culture recognized no singe truth or code and produced no sacred, written text like the Bible and Qur’an.

Stories about the origins and actions of Greek divinities varied widely, depending, for example, on whether the tale appeared in a comedy, tragedy, or epic poem. Greek mythology was like a complex and rich language, in which the Greeks could express a vast range of perceptions about the world. Greek mythology has several distinguishing characteristics, in addition to multiple versions. The Greek gods resembled human beings in their form and in their emotions, and they lived in a society that resembled the human society in its levels of authority and power.

However, a crucial difference existed between gods and human beings: Humans died and gods were immortal. Heroes also played an important role in Greek mythology, and stories about them conveyed serious themes. The Greeks considered human heroes from the past closer to themselves than were the immortal gods. Most creation stories assume the eternity of matter or even of the world itself. However, these myths hold that the world in its precreation state was uninhabitable and must be organized either by the action of cosmic forces or by creator deities.

Related essays:

• Homer’s Iliad essay
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• Relationship between religion and reality essay
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Certain images of the primal, or precreation, state of the universe are common to a number of mythological traditions. Some myths represent the primal state as a void. Others depict it as a chaos of indistinct elements. Still others present it as a primeval sea, or as a cosmic egg containing all things in embryonic form. Some creation myths reflect the environmental circumstances of a particular culture. For example, in Mesopotamia, located between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, a dependence on irrigation systems, and the perpetual threat of flooding were a pervasive feature of life.

Accordingly, the action and control of the waters played a major role in the mythology of Sumer, an early Mesopotamian civilization. In Sumerian mythology, the primeval sea, personified by the goddess Nammu, is the source of the gods and of the cosmos. When the gods decide to destroy their human creations, they do so by sending a flood (Ancient Middle Eastern Religions; Deluge) Many mythological accounts ascribe creation to impersonal agents rather than to individual deities.

In some African traditions, a cosmic egg hatched to release spirits called Nommo, who then set about the creation of humankind. In Egyptian mythology, both personal and impersonal creative forces came into play: four divine couples who fused to form the cosmic egg, from which the sun god was born, personified Elemental energies. In later Egyptian mythology, the sun god became identified with the figure of Ra, a deity who gave rise to a pantheon of high gods (known as the Nine Gods of Heliopolis) through self-fertilization (Egyptian Mythology).

Many mythologies include similar stories of self-fertilization by a creator deity, whose offspring then give birth to other gods, creating a pantheon based on incestuous family relationships. The most famous such line of descent occurs in Greek mythology, in which Zeus begets offspring by many goddesses and mortals. The Greek mythologies served several purposes. First, Greek myths explained the world. Second, they acted as a means of exploration. Third, they provided authority and legitimacy. Finally, they provided entertainment.

Greek myths lent structure and order to the world and explained how the current state of things had originated. Hesiod’s Theogony narrated the development of the present order of the universe by relating it to chaos, the origin of all things. A complex process of violence, struggle, and sexual attraction eventually took the regime led by Zeus taken over (Hamilton 1942, 1998: 246-298). Another poem by Hesiod, Works and Days, explained why the world is full of trouble. According to the poem the first woman, Pandora, opened a jar whose lid she had been forbidden to lift.

As a result of her disobedience all the diseases and miseries previously confined in the jar escaped into the world. Such a myth also makes a statement about the relationship between the sexes in Hesiod’s own world. Scholars assume that he composed the poem for a largely male audience that was receptive to a tale that put women at the root of all evil. One of the commonest types of explanation given in myths relates to ritual. Myths helped worshippers make sense of a religious practice by telling how the practice originated.

A prime example is sacrifice, a ritual that involved killing a domesticated animal as an offering to the gods. The ceremony culminated in the butchering, cooking, and sharing of the meat of the victim. Hesiod recounts the myth associated with this rite. According to this myth, the tricky Titan Prometheus tried to outwit Zeus by offering him a cunningly devised choice of meals. Zeus could have either an apparently unappetizing dish—an ox paunch, which had tasty meat concealed within—or a seemingly delicious one, gleaming fat on the outside, which had nothing but bones hidden beneath.

Zeus chose the second dish, and ever since human beings have kept the tastiest part of every sacrifice for themselves, leaving the gods nothing but the savor of the rising smoke. Myths also had the function of legitimation. A claim, an action, or a relationship acquired extra authority if it had a precedent in myth. Aristocratic Greek families liked to trace their ancestry back to the heroes or gods of mythology. Many songs have been written in praise of current victors in the Olympian Games by linking them with the deeds of their mythical ancestors.

Scholars can demonstrate influence on Greek mythology from the Middle East much more reliably than influence from Crete. Greek mythology owed much to cultures in Mesopotamia and Anatolia, especially in the realm of cosmogony (origin of the universe) and theogony (origin of the gods). To take one example, a clear parallel exists in an early Middle Eastern myth about the castration of Uranus by his son Cronus and the subsequent overthrow of Cronus by his son Zeus. The Middle Eastern myth tells of the god Anu who was castrated by Kumarbi, father of the gods.

The weather and storm god Teshub, in turn, displaced Anu. Scholars continue to bring to light more and more similarities between Greek and Middle Eastern mythologies . Mythology formed a central reference point in Greek society because it was interwoven with ritual and other aspects of social existence (Avery 1970: 201-203). Yet the question of how far people believed the myths is a difficult and probably unanswerable one. Some intellectuals, such as Greek writer Palaephatus, tried to interpret the myths as having figurative (nonliteral) meanings.

Writing in the 4th century BC, Palaephatus interpreted the stories of Diomedes, a king devoured by his own mares, and of Actaeon, a hunter torn apart by his own hounds, as concealing perfectly credible accounts of young men who had spent too much money on their animals and so been figuratively eaten alive by debt. Other thinkers, such as the 4th-century-BC philosopher Plato, objected to some myths on moral grounds, particularly to myths that told of crimes committed by the gods. Yet such skepticism seems hardly to have altered the imaginative power and persistence of Greek myths.

As late as the 2nd century AD, the Greek traveler and historian Pausanias described the myths and cults in the places he visited as if they constituted a still-living complex of religious discourse and behavior. Cosmogonic myths generally culminate in the creation of humankind (Rees 2001: 34-47), after which the mythic cosmos comes to resemble the world of human experience. In mythic history, the earliest era of the world is usually the closest to perfection—a Golden Age or Garden of Eden—with later phases showing the progressive degeneration of the world as it grows more distant from the original creative impulse.

The earliest humans are often thought to have been of extraordinary stature and longevity and to have been much closer to the gods than are the humans of the present day. In many traditions, the story cycles associated with demigods and heroes are an even richer source of myth than those involving the gods themselves. Such myths enable the listener to recall the time of creation when the world was in its infancy.

In summary, the patterns in Greek and Mesopotamian mythology are both cultural and universal as stated above, since all the myths of different cultures in the world have similarities.

REFERENCES:

Avery, C. 1970. ‘The New Century Handbook of Greek Mythology and Legend’. 201-203 Hamilton, E. 1942, 1998. ‘Mythology’. 246-298 Malam, J. 2000. ‘Ancient Greece: Gods and Goddesses’. 49-72 Gribbin, R. 2001. ‘Hyperspace: The Universe and its Mysteries’. 03-41 Rees, M. 2001. ‘Our Comic Habit’. 34-47 Kallen, S. 1997. ‘Exploring the Origins of the Universe’. 107-118 .

by Edith Hamilton

Mythology essay questions.

What role does pride play in Greek mythology?

Answer: Specific characters illustrate the difference between confidence and egotism. A hero is confident in his strength, but pride goes too far when a human challenges the gods. Pride cometh before a fall.

How do the myths differentiate between human and divine power?

Answer: Many of the myths point out these distinctions. The gods intervene when humans need help or when the gods want to accomplish goals on earth, but humans are often unable to solve their own problems and cannot really intervene among the gods; mortals even have limited abilities in the Underworld. When a human asserts divine power, the gods often put the person back in his or her place.

What do the Greek myths suggest about tragedy?

Answer: Tragedy serves both as a narrative device and as a reminder of everyday human reality. In tale after tale, tragedy unfolds. Even some stories that begin happily have unexpected, sad endings for their characters. Human failings, prophecies, and unexpected coincidences all can lead to tragedy.

How is the value of family loyalty portrayed by the myths?

Answer: Many of the Greek myths center around the importance of family relationships. Although some family members kill one another, the famly members who show loyalty tend to be set up for admiration. Antigone, for instance, challenges the law of Creon in order to bury her brother, facing death rather than be disloyal to her brother. Yet, loyalty is not so uncomplicated; her two brothers had fought on opposite sides in the conflict. Loyalty to one's family is complicated by conflicts even within one's family.

How does the conflict between free will and the predestination of fate play out in Greek mythology?

Answer: Free will appears to be circumscribed by fate. Despite our best efforts, fate controls our destiny. On the level of individual decisions, however, humans make their own choices and face the consequences. Human nature is implicated here: it seems that we all are fated to die, yet we have much we may choose to do while we are alive.

What have the myths to tell us about love?

Answer: Many different human relationships can be characterized by love: family love, the love of friends, and romantic love all lead people to do things with and for their beloveds that they would not otherwise do--to the point of great feats of skill and strength, on the one hand, or murder on the other hand. The gods sometimes love one another in similar ways. When gods and humans love one another, complications often ensue. When love is one-sided, moreover, other complications ensue. Cupid can make people fall in love, or people can fall instantly in love with one another.

How do myths account for natural events?

Answer: To account for something in nature that people do not yet understand, they tell a story about a being whose actions or life has resulted in what can be observed. Sometimes the story seems to have nothing in common with the reality that scientists later construct as explanation, but sometimes elements of the story are good metaphors for details of the natural event.

What is Greek virtue in the Greek myths?

Answer: We most often see virtue displayed by the Greek heroes, although we need not see all of their choices and actions as virtuous. Male virtue and female virtue seem to be different, but all virtue seems to have in common something about greatness, whether it is about wisdom, mental cunning, physical strength or speed, loyalty, or love. The characters who are honored by the gods appear to be the ones with virtue or who made virtuous choices, such as those who engaged in hospitality, while those who are punished by the gods appear to have either abused their virtue or contaminated it with pride. But the gods also test those whom they admire for their virtue, or even punish sometimes out of jealousy.

How do the Greek myths fit together?

Answer: Sometimes they do, and often they do not. Sometimes a myth picks up where another left off. Sometimes a myth expands upon a neglected but interesting part of another myth. The myths are told and retold with different emphases at different points in history and from the perspectives of different tellers. But they all tell a story of a hierarchy of gods, humans, and nature in which problems arise and choices must be made.

Why do so many beings transform in the myths?

Answer: In the myths about nature, we see something human in nature when we imagine that a transformation has taken place, such as when a hyacinth can be traced to Hyacinthus. Indeed, in a world where scientific explanations are difficult, it is not uncommon to imagine that one being simply turns into another. In a world before science and evolution, transformations occur quickly, and the boundaries between stone, plants, animals, people, and gods seem easy to cross with the power of the gods. From a narrative point of view, the plot can move faster if one being simply becomes another being able to accomplish what is needed for the tale. An interesting question to consider in each transformation is how much of the original nature, if any, is preserved after the change.

Mythology Questions and Answers

The Question and Answer section for Mythology is a great resource to ask questions, find answers, and discuss the novel.

How does Perseus respond to people and events in the story? How does this response move the story forward?

Which specific myth are you referring to? Title, please?

What drink is given to Polyphemus ? What is the Effect?

The give Polyphemus wine. He falls asleep.

3 gods of goddness

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Study Guide for Mythology

The Mythology study guide contains a biography of Edith Hamilton, literature essays, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis of the major Greek myths and Western mythology.

• About Mythology
• Mythology Summary
• Character List

Lesson Plan for Mythology

• About the Author
• Study Objectives
• Common Core Standards
• Introduction to Mythology
• Relationship to Other Books
• Bringing in Technology
• Notes to the Teacher
• Related Links
• Mythology Bibliography

Wikipedia Entries for Mythology

• Introduction

Essay on Mythology

Students are often asked to write an essay on Mythology in their schools and colleges. And if you’re also looking for the same, we have created 100-word, 250-word, and 500-word essays on the topic.

Let’s take a look…

100 Words Essay on Mythology

What is mythology.

Mythology is a collection of myths, or old stories, that were told by people long ago. These stories were about gods, goddesses, and heroes. They were used to explain things that people did not understand, like how the world was made, why the seasons change, and why bad things happen.

Types of Mythology

There are many different kinds of mythology from all around the world. For example, Greek mythology talks about Zeus and his family of gods. Norse mythology includes Thor and Odin, and Egyptian mythology has gods like Ra and Anubis.

Importance of Myths

Myths were important because they helped people make sense of the world. They also taught lessons and values. Today, we still enjoy these stories and learn from them. They show us how people from the past tried to understand life and the world around them.

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250 Words Essay on Mythology

Mythology is a collection of myths or stories that a group of people believe in. These myths are often about gods, heroes, and the natural world. They were created long ago to explain how things came to be. Every culture has its own set of myths that are passed down through generations.

Types of Myths

There are many kinds of myths. Some tell the stories of how the world started, which are called creation myths. Others explain why we have different seasons or why certain animals look the way they do. There are also myths about gods and their adventures, and heroes who go on quests and fight monsters.

Gods and Goddesses

In mythology, gods and goddesses are powerful beings who control different parts of the world and human life. For example, Zeus is the king of the gods in Greek mythology, and he controls the sky and thunder. There are gods for almost everything, like love, war, the sea, and the harvest.

Lessons from Myths

Myths are not just stories; they also teach us lessons. They show us how to be brave, smart, and kind. They teach us right from wrong and help us understand our feelings. Myths can also warn us about the dangers of being too proud or greedy.

Mythology Today

Even today, myths are all around us. They are in books, movies, and art. Names of planets and stars come from myths, and we still tell these ancient stories. Mythology helps us remember the past and understand different cultures better. It shows us how people from long ago tried to make sense of the world.

500 Words Essay on Mythology

Mythology is a collection of myths or stories that a group of people believe. These stories are often about gods, goddesses, heroes, and monsters. They were used in the past to explain things that people did not understand, like why the sun rises and sets or why seasons change. Each culture has its own set of myths that are passed down from generation to generation.

The Purpose of Myths

Myths were not just stories for fun. They had many purposes. They were used to teach lessons and morals. For example, the story of Icarus, who flew too close to the sun, teaches us about the dangers of overconfidence. Myths also helped to explain the rules of society and why it’s important to follow them. They were a way to pass on important information and values from one generation to the next.

Mythology and Religion

In many cultures, mythology and religion are closely linked. The gods and goddesses in myths were often worshipped in real life. People built temples for them, made statues in their honor, and told their stories as part of their religious practices. For example, in ancient Greece, there were many festivals and ceremonies to honor the gods and goddesses from their myths.

Mythology in Modern Times

Learning from mythology.

Mythology is not just about gods and magic. It is also about human nature and experiences. By reading myths, we can learn about bravery, love, jealousy, and all the other feelings that people have always felt. Myths show us that even though the world has changed a lot, people’s feelings and behaviors have stayed pretty much the same.

In conclusion, mythology is a window into the past and a mirror reflecting our own lives. It is full of exciting stories that help us understand the world and ourselves better. Whether it’s the adventures of ancient heroes or the powers of mighty gods, these tales continue to fascinate and teach us, just as they have for thousands of years.

If you’re looking for more, here are essays on other interesting topics:

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An Introduction to Greek Mythology

Greek mythology is not only interesting, but it is also the foundation of allusion and character genesis in literature. In this lesson plan, students will gain an understanding of Greek mythology and the Olympian gods and goddesses.

Learning Objectives After completing the lessons in this unit, students will be able to:

• Understand the Greek view of creation.
• Understand the terms Chaos, Gaia, Uranus, Cronus, Zeus, Rhea, Hyperboreans, Ethiopia, Mediterranean, and Elysian Fields.
• Describe the Greek view of the world’s geography.
• Identify the names and key features of the Olympian gods/goddesses.
• Create their own god/goddess.
• Create their own myth explaining a natural phenomenon.
• D’Aulaires’ Book of Greek Myths by Ingri and Edgar Parin D’Aulaire
• The Gods and Goddesses of Olympus by Aliki
• The Mighty 12: Superheroes of Greek Myths by Charles Smith
• Greek Myths and Legends by Cheryl Evans
• Mythology by Edith Hamilton (which served as a source for this lesson plan)
• A paper plate for each student
• Internet access to look up relevant sites

Note: Do not give student(s) the filled-in copy of the Gods/Goddesses chart. That is your answer key.

Lesson 1: Greek Creation Mythology

Although when we think of mythology we think of a collection of stories, there is a beginning to them. Understanding the beginning of the story, the creation of the world, gives us a framework to build upon as we learn about the different myths.

The short answer to how the Greeks viewed the creation of the world is this: Scary old gods came first; they got stomped down by their kids, who were better looking, younger gods. These gods created humans. Humans and gods fought for supremacy, and the humans won a few rounds but eventually got trounced and became more and more miserable.

Now, the longer answer: In the beginning, the universe was without form. It was not nothing; there was matter, but it was unorganized, shapeless, mixed up and dark. This was called Chaos.

After Chaos, more divinities, or gods, came into being.

Gaia, the Earth, held up Uranus, the sky. Gaia and Uranus had a bunch of kids. First they had a bunch of monsters including the Cyclops, and then they created the Titans as the second generation. Uranus hated all the Titans and was actually quite ugly about it — but there are only a couple of Titans that you need to remember: first, Oceanus, the god of the sea, and then Cronus, the strongest and best one of all. Gaia was pretty ticked at Uranus for being a jerk, so she helped Cronus overthrow him.

So, let’s keep this straight. Cronus is Uranus’s son. Cronus became the king (bye-bye Uranus), and married his sister, Rhea — another Titan. It’s like a soap opera. This was called the Golden Age because men, who had been made by a Titan named Prometheus, were living in harmony. Everything was hunky dory.

It didn’t last, though, because Cronus heard a prophecy that one of his sons would dethrone him, so every time his wife, Rhea, had a baby, he swallowed it. Rhea got a little sick of seeing all of her children swallowed alive, so she tricked Cronus when her sixth child, Zeus, was born; she wrapped up a rock to look like a baby and had Cronus swallow that instead. Zeus rescued his previously swallowed siblings, and all was right with the world.

The Greek view of the world was a little different than ours. The Greeks believed that the world was flat, but circular, like a paper plate. At the center of the Universe was Greece.

Their world was divided by the Mediterranean, which means "Middle of the Lands" in Latin. The river Ocean flowed around the world in a clockwise motion.

In the north lived the Hyperboreans — an extremely happy people for whom life was sweet. When the old people became tired of living, they threw themselves into the sea. This was a land of constant vacation where people were said to live for 1,000 years. In the south lived the Ethiopians. In Greek drama, mention is often made of various gods being in Ethiopia, meaning really far away. So, if I say I parked in Ethiopia this morning, would that mean I’m close to my office or far away? The Ethiopians were said to be on good terms with the gods and liked to entertain them. To the west were the Elysian Fields. This was the closest the Greeks got to the idea of heaven; only the best and brightest of the dead people got to go there.

• Read The Gods and Goddesses of Olympus by Aliki.
• Draw your own representation of the Greek view of the world on the paper plate using colored pencils and the map on the previous page as a guideline. Be sure to include the Ethiopians, the Hyperboreans and the Elysian Fields on your map.
• Directions for Paragraph: Begin with a topic sentence. Here is an example: The Greek view of the world both resembles and differs from the contemporary view.
• Next, list two ways the views are similar. Here are examples: The Greek view resembles the contemporary view in that: Additionally, the views are similar because:
• Next, list two ways the views are different. Here are examples: However, the Greek view is not the same as the contemporary view because the Greeks believed The Greeks also thought
• Last, you will state a conclusion. Here’s an example: Therefore, even though the views have similarities, they differ in important ways.

Lesson 2: The Olympian gods

Use the information in this lesson to begin to fill in the gods and goddesses chart at the end of this lesson; you will also need to do your own research to complete it. Now that you understand the way that the Greeks viewed the beginning of the world, you are ready to learn about the Olympian gods.

First, we have to explore exactly what we mean by "Olympian gods." Mount Olympus is a real mountain in the north of Greece. Gradually, it became associated less and less with an actual mountain and more with an imaginary place high above the earth. According to the ancient Greeks, the gate to Olympus was made of clouds and it was guarded by four goddesses, the Seasons. Each god had his or her own dwelling place, but Olympus was home base.

There were up to 14 gods considered Olympian gods. Seven of them were Zeus and his siblings, and seven others were children of Zeus. Sometimes only 12 will be listed. The Greeks and Romans shared mythology, so you will find two names for most gods.

Zeus was the king of the hill. He was dominating, powerful and had a soft spot for pretty women. He could be terrifying when angry. His symbols were the thunderbolts, or lightning bolts made for him by the Cyclopes (his uncles); the eagle; and the scepter, or rod. Please copy this information onto your chart.

Hades, or Pluto, was the god of the underworld and of the dead. He was called the same names by the Romans, but they also sometimes called him Dis or Dis Pater. He was Zeus’s brother and married Persephone after kidnapping her against her will. He was gloomy and frightening.

Next, we have Poseidon, or Neptune, as the Romans called him. He was Zeus’s brother, and he was the god of the sea and also earthquakes. He often is shown with a three-pronged spear called a trident that was made for him by his nephew, Hephaestus, and/or a fish.

Our first goddess is Hera. She sits on the right side of Zeus and is his wife. Of course, she’s his sister, too, but that’s the way it was on Olympus. Hera’s Roman name is Juno, and she is the queen of the gods. She is the guardian of marriage and was well-loved by the Greeks; it’s kind of sad that she’s the goddess of marriage but her own marriage was so bad. She was often jealous of her husband’s girlfriends and did mean things to them, even the ones who didn’t want anything to do with him, but she could be tender and loving as well. The peacock was her symbol. In fact, the circles in a peacock’s tail are said to be the eyes of her 100-eyed servant, Argus.

Next is Athena, or Minerva, the daughter who sprang fully formed from the head of Zeus after a major headache. She is the goddess of wisdom and war and also the protector and namesake of the city of Athens. She preferred reason to violence unless she was pushed. She turned Arachne into a spider for bragging that she could spin better than Athena. She was very competitive and is often pictured with her helmet and a spear. She carried Zeus’s shield, called the aegis. The owl was her bird. Can you see it in her hand?

Apollo was a twin. His Roman name was the same as his Greek name. He was the god of the sun or light, poetry, music and medicine and was famous for his oracles (wise women to whom he gave his power to predict and interpret the future). He was very proud and also protective of his mother and sister. His symbols were the gold bow and arrows, and he often appears golden and shining. He wears a laurel wreath in memory of Daphne, who didn’t want to be his lover and prayed to Mother Earth for help escaping him; she was turned into a laurel tree.

Artemis was Apollo’s twin. Her Roman name was Diana, and she was the goddess of hunting, chastity and the moon. She protects women and small children, is fiercely independent and particularly dislikes men. In pictures, she is seen accompanied by three hunting hounds, a bow and a fawn.

Ares or, as he is known by his Roman name, Mars, was the god of war. He would fight on both sides, if possible. He was young, strong and handsome, and liked to dress in battle clothes even when he wasn’t fighting.

Hephaestus, or Vulcan, was born lame and was further crippled when he was thrown from Olympus by his mother, Hera, in a rage. He was the only Olympian with a disability. He was unhappily married to Aphrodite and worked as a blacksmith in the gods’ forge.

Hephaestus’s wife, Aphrodite, whose Roman name was Venus, was the goddess of love and beauty. She was born out of sea foam when the blood of Uranus dropped into the ocean. She was the mother of Eros and was irresistibly charming, fickle, vain and competitive. Her symbol was a cestus, or magic belt, that made everyone fall in love with the wearer; sometimes she would lend it to humans. This is a famous painting of the birth of Venus, or Aphrodite, by Botticelli.

Dionysus was the partier of the mountain retreat. He was Zeus’s son by another woman, who was driven crazy by Hera and her jealousy. Dionysus went all around teaching people how to make wine and having a good time. Eventually, Hestia gave up her throne for him, and he lived on Olympus. He was the god of wine, of course, and also vegetation.

Hermes, or Mercury, was the god of science and invention, but he is best known as the messenger of the gods. He is often pictured with a winged helmet and sandals. He is said to have invented the alphabet, boxing and gymnastics! In this painting by Goltzius, you can see his helmet with wings; he’s not wearing his famous sandals, though.

Demeter was the goddess of the crops and the harvest. She is also known as Ceres (Roman) and sometimes Deo. Her symbols include a torch, a crown, a scepter and stalks of grain. She is often portrayed with her daughter, Persephone, who was kidnapped by Hades and taken to the underworld. By the time she was rescued, she’d eaten six pomegranate seeds, so she couldn’t escape the underworld entirely. Her mother was so frantic that winter draped the land and no crops would grow. A deal was struck, and Persephone was allowed to return to her mother for half of the year. So each year, when she returns to the underworld, fall comes, then winter — but when she returns to her mother, spring and summer come again.

Hestia was Zeus’s sister and the goddess and protectress of hearth and home. She is also known by her Roman name, Vesta. She was gentle and kind and was very popular with the Greeks. She didn’t have a lot of adventures, so she’s rarely pictured in art.

Now, use at least two sources in addition to what you read here to fill in your chart (next page) completely. Write down the sources you used on the back of the chart.

Book suggestions

• (If your library doesn’t have these, check around Dewey Decimal No. 398.2. That’s where Greek mythology is.)

Web references

• Some Great Greek Myths
• Mythography
• Encyclopedia Mythica

Lesson 3: Mythology biographical poem

A biographical poem, or biopoem, uses a simple but specific structure to describe the most important facts about someone. Your assignment is to write a biopoem about one of the gods or goddesses you have studied. You may choose any god or goddess (except Aphrodite, because she’s the example below). The blanks bewlow are for your rough draft. When you’re done, copy your final version onto a separate sheet of paper and, if you would like, decorate it.

Follow this format exactly, please:

Example (you may not use this goddess):

Aphrodite, Goddess of Love, Desire, Beauty and Fertility. A daughter of Zeus and Dione; wife of Hephaestus. Lover of sons Aeneas and Cupid and brother Ares. Who protects sailors. Who needs a chariot. Who fears War, Athena and Hera. Who gives Helen to Paris, a magic belt to Hera, and Medea to Jason. Resident of Mt. Olympus. Venus.

Lesson 4: Olympians quiz

Time to test yourself — and beware, answers may be used more than once!

• If you could have dinner with one god or goddess, who would it be and why?
• Which god or goddess do you think would make the best president and why?
• Imagine that Zeus has come to you and said that Olympus is lacking a god or goddess, and he needs you to help. Invent a new Olympian and describe him or her below.

Lesson 5: Putting it all together

Myths are a way of understanding the world. This lesson has been about Greek mythology, but every culture has myths. Myths define social customs and beliefs, explain natural and psychological phenomena, and provide a way for people to discuss things that cause anxiety.

Mythology is all around us. Here are just a few examples of places we find myths today:

• Days of the week — Wednesday (Woden or Odin — Norse god); Thursday (Thor — Norse god); Friday (Freya — Norse goddess); Saturday (Saturn — Roman god who ruled before Jove)
• Cars — Toyota Avalon and Cressida, Cadillac El Dorado, Honda Odyssey, Mercury
• Shoes — Nike
• Tires — Midas
• Astronomy — Constellations like Orion, the Argo, all of the planets and the Pleiades. The Milky Way itself was supposedly the road over which the stars traveled to Jupiter’s palace.
• NASA — The first part of U.S. space program was Project Mercury, named after the messenger of the gods because the project’s purpose was to send a message to the Soviets that America was in the space race. The Gemini Project was next; Gemini is Latin for "twins," and the project was called this because the capsule held two astronauts. Apollo astronauts rode on Saturn rockets.

Myths also make great stories. They come up in literature all over the place, from really serious stuff like Dante to comic strips. Myths inspire music; actually the word music comes from the mythological muses who inspired art of all kinds. Painters such as Michelangelo and Botticelli were inspired by myths. Even children’s movies are a good place to look for myths; you will find them everywhere, including Snow White, Star Wars and The Lord of the Rings. Can you find at least three examples of mythology connections in the world?

Lesson 6: Create your own myth

Hopefully myths inspire you, too, because you are about to create your own myth! As you know, myths were often used to explain natural phenomena. Your challenge is to create your own myth to explain some natural phenomenon or land formation. It could be anything from the origin of hurricanes to how the Grand Canyon or a mountain range was created. You will tell this myth in a story format.

Here are the guidelines:

• Your story must involve at least two Olympian gods or goddesses. It may contain other gods or goddesses as well.
• Your story must explain some natural phenomenon (such as a weather event) or some geological feature (a mountain range, a large valley, a sea, an ocean, a polar ice cap, etc.).
• Your story should be at least 350 words.
• Your story must have a clear beginning, middle and end.
• Your story should clearly show that you know something about Greek mythology. You will do this by including details about the Olympian gods and goddesses that show you know their powers, symbols and personalities.

Here are some ideas to get you thinking:

• Where did the Rocky Mountains come from?
• Where did the Mississippi River come from?
• What made the North and/or South Pole(s)?
• Why is Earth the third planet from the sun?
• Why is it dark at night?
• What is in the middle of the earth?

This series of lessons was designed to meet the needs of gifted children for extension beyond the standard curriculum with the greatest ease of use for the educator. The lessons may be given to the students for individual self-guided work, or they may be taught in a classroom or a home-school setting. Assessment strategies and rubrics are included at the end of each section. The rubrics often include a column for "scholar points," which are invitations for students to extend their efforts beyond that which is required, incorporating creativity or higher level technical skills.

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