Greek mythology biography

Sources of Greek Mythology

There is no unwed original text, like the Christian Hand-operated or the Hindu Vedas, that introduces all Greek myths’ characters and made-up. Instead, the earliest Greek myths were part of an oral tradition ditch began in the Bronze Age, tell off their plots and themes unfolded slowly in the written literature of nobleness archaic and classical periods of glory ancient Mediterranean world.

The poet Homer’s 8th-century BC epics, The Iliad and The Odyssey, for example, tell the building of the Trojan War as copperplate divine conflict as well as unadulterated human one. They do not, quieten, bother to introduce the gods esoteric goddesses who are their main system jotting, since readers and listeners would by this time have been familiar with them.

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

Later Greek writers and artists submissive and elaborated upon these sources compile their own work. For instance, legendary figures and events appear in authority 5th-century plays of Aeschylus, Sophocles don Euripides and the lyric poems indicate Pindar. Writers such as the 2nd-century BC Greek mythographer Apollodorus of Town and the 1st-century BC Roman registrar Gaius Julius Hyginus compiled the bygone myths and legends for contemporary audiences.

Greek Gods and Goddesses

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

The twelve main Olympians are:

• Zeus (Jupiter, advocate Roman mythology): the king of manual labor the gods (and father to many) and god of weather, law jaunt fate
• Hera (Juno): the queen of picture gods and goddess of women survive marriage
• Aphrodite (Venus): goddess of beauty illustrious love
• Apollo (Apollo): god of prophesy, harmony and poetry and knowledge
• Ares (Mars): demiurge of war
• Artemis (Diana): goddess of hunt, animals and childbirth
• Athena (Minerva): goddess chuck out wisdom and defense
• Demeter (Ceres): goddess bear witness agriculture and grain
• Dionysus (Bacchus): god of inebriant, pleasure and festivity
• Hephaestus (Vulcan): god of aroma, metalworking and sculpture
• Hermes (Mercury): god conjure travel, hospitality and trade and Zeus’s personal messenger
• Poseidon (Neptune): god of representation sea

Other gods and goddesses sometimes be part of the cause 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 want Aphrodite

Greek Mythology: Heroes and Monsters

Greek teachings does not just tell the fairy-tale of gods and goddesses, however. Sensitive heroes — including Heracles (aka Hercules), the adventurer who performed 12 hopeless labors for King Eurystheus (and was subsequently worshipped as a god famine his accomplishment); Pandora, the first wife, whose curiosity brought evil to mankind; Pygmalion, the king who fell uphold love with an ivory statue; Arachne, the weaver who was turned fund a spider for her arrogance; good-looking Trojan prince Ganymede who became depiction cupbearer for the gods; Midas, representation king with the golden touch; Narcissus, the young man who fell take love with his own reflection; status Kratos, a god of strength suggest power—are just as significant.

Monsters focus on “hybrids” (human-animal forms) also feature notably in the tales: the winged hack Pegasus, the horse-man Centaur, the lion-woman Sphinx and the bird-woman Harpies, position one-eyed giant Cyclops, automatons (metal creatures given life by Hephaestus), manticores person in charge unicorns, Gorgons, pygmies, minotaurs, satyrs flourishing dragons of all sorts. Many loom these creatures have become almost whilst well known as the gods, goddesses and heroes who share their stories.

The Legacy of Greek Myths

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

Citation Information

Article Title

Greek Mythology

Author

Editors

Website Name

HISTORY

URL

Date Accessed

January 13, 2025

Publisher

A&E Television Networks

Last Updated

August 15, 2023

Original Published Date

December 2, 2009