...Since early childhood I was very much interested in mythology, particularly in Greek mythology. The images of ancient Greek Gods and Goddesses were not only simply aesthetically pleasant but contained mysterious and exciting myths behind them. When I first began studying Armenian history and visited National Museum of History, I discovered for myself amazing analogies with ancient Greece as well as realized one important matter, that on a large scale, my life today is in many ways determined by ancient Greek culture. In this essay I will try to explain the impact certain historical facts had on my belonging to Armenian culture. First of all, the importance of language in development of any culture cannot be overestimated, because the majority...
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...Greek Mythology Intro Greek mythology is the myths and legends the ancient Greeks centered their lives around. The ancient Greeks used these myths to explain the events and components of the world around them. Their religion included gods and heroes, creation stories, and the origins of their civilizations and rituals. It is topic that had been studied and examined in great depth for thousands of years. This fascinating religion's messages and influences are reflected in today’s modern society, and many similarities can be found between Greek mythology and modern religions, such as Christianity. The twelve Olympian Gods and their Myths To begin with, many of the beliefs that the Ancient Greeks believed in were based on the Olympians. The Olympians were a group of twelve gods who ruled after they overthrew the Titans. All of the Olympians are related in some way and they were named after their dwelling, Mount Olympus. The three major gods are Zeus, Poseidon, and Hades. Their father, Kronos, was the leader of the Titans, he was cruel and was so determined not to lose his throne that he ate his children alive. But one child, Zeus was spared because his mother, Rhea, fed Krono’s a rock disguised as a baby instead of Zeus himself. Zeus defeated his father by chopping him up into little pieces and scattering his remains across the world. Then Zeus released all of Krono’s children that his father had eaten. These gods were Poseidon, Hades, Hestia, Demeter, and...
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...ancient Greek myths because they influenced the ancient Greeks’ daily life and developed a sense of community within each city state. The people of ancient Greece believed that the diverse range of deities within Greek mythology influenced and controlled life on Earth, which made all aspects of life dependent on the attitudes of the gods. Each deity possessed specific desirable traits making them admired by the ancient Greeks. However, the gods also showed moral weakness to represent how it is natural to be influenced by temptation. It is interesting that the most powerful individuals in the universe were given flaws, which made each god and goddess more relatable. Mythology was intertwined...
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...Thomas April 22, 2013 Professor Vredenburg Myths of the Greek World #3 Assignment In our society the roles and equality of men and women are treated as equal. The norms of men and women have changed through history in the U.S. and in countries around the world. Particularly in the eyes of Greek culture, there are many differences in how they portray men and women. They express their views through their stories of Greek mythology. This is best expressed in the Greek plays and stories such as Sophocles’ Antigone and Oedipus the King. In the story of Antigone and Oedipus theKing, male are predominantly superior to women, yet some of the women in the stories transgressed their roles in society to their own. The roles of women in Greek society were very similar to the roles of women all around the world. Their role in society was to be the care takers and was known as nothing more than a child bearer and object of sex. They were portrayed as weaker and obedient to men. In Sophocles play of Antigone, Antigone’s sister says, "We who are women should not contend with men; we who are weak are ruled by the stronger. . . Pardon me if I obey our rulers since I must" (Sophocles, Antigone 61-66). This shows us how typical women act and believe in Greek society. In Oedipus the King, the inferiority of women is shown through the portrayal of Jocasta, being shown as the weaker sex. As we have learned from history, in these Greek plays, the women were played by men, showing that they did...
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...Hercules an Epic Tale... Hercules an Epic Tale... Tarik Lee January 14, 2011 Period 4, Ms. Burke In Greek mythology there are many heroes. Heroes came in the form of gods and men. Greek mythology tells a story of a man named Hercules that was an epic hero. Hercules is one of the epic heroes in Greek mythology for several reasons. Hercules has super strength, he attracts women, and he saves people. First off lets go to the beginning of this “epic” tale. Zeus is having a party for his new born son Hercules. All the gods are in attendance and having a good time. All except the biter god of the under-world, Hades. He’s already unhappy that Zeus has appointed him the god of the under-world, but also Zeus’ son is going to be better than Hades. Hades designs a plan that is going to make Zeus very angry. His plan is to kidnap Hercules so that it would be easier to defeat Zeus and takeover Mount Olympus. One night Hades does kidnaps baby Hercules. He gives him a potion he created to turn him mortal. Little Hercules drinks it willingly and he is now a mortal human, no longer a god. The only thing is that he still retains his super human strength because he didn’t drink the very last drop of the potion. Hercules grows up in an adopted home where his parents finally tell him about how they found him and he bared the charm of the gods. Now Hercules has to set out and become a true hero so he can be accepted back into Mount Olympus as a god. He goes through a series of task that...
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...Greek Hero’s, True Tragedy English 103 Greek Mythology December 12, 2010 The Greeks looked at their gods with attributes they only wished they could attain. They developed stories of extraordinary people that were the offspring of immortals such as Nymphs or gods like Hermes or Zeus. Most of these stories consisted of labors, quests, or bloody wars, where the heroes were at the epicenter of the tale. What made these heroes so great was not just the fact they had godly attributes or completed monumental tasks, but endured more tragedy or more bliss than any common Greek would undergo. One tale commonly told was that of a demigod named Achilles. His mother Thetis was a Sea Nymph, and his father was Peleus, was the king of the Myrmidons. Most stories of Achilles revolved around war, where either his gift was at his greatest or worst. Every Greek sought him for battle so his skills would tip the balance to their favor. No myth exemplified this more than that of the ten-year Trojan War. An excerpt from a translation written by Apollodorus that accounts this time state, “He also took Lesbos and Phocaea, then Colophon, and Smyrna, and Clazomenae, and Cyme; and afterwards Aegialus and Tenos, the so-called Hundred Cities; then, in order, Adramytium and Side; then Endium, and Linaeum, and Colone. He took also Hypoplacian Thebes and Lyrnessus, and further Antandrus, and many other cities.” (Frazer) By many accounts, you could argue that...
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...The mythological figure of Zeus/Jupiter has been given many different character traits, based mostly on the idealized views of certain human qualities. In Aeschylus’ Prometheus Bound and Plautus’ Amphitryon the god assumes two very different roles. In both works he also shows the various way that he exercises his power, and treats those whom he views as inferior to himself. In tragedy Zeus is typically shown in a more harsh and serious manner, while in comedy he seems to be a less tyrannical leader and more of a foolish and self absorbed one. Not to say that Zeus is fundamentally different in these separate types of work, but he most certainly takes a different stance upon his throne. In Prometheus Bound, Zeus is “betrayed” by Prometheus and as a result of his actions Prometheus is punished. In this tragic work Zeus is shown to be a very harsh leader. For example when Hephaestus tells Prometheus, “You'll cry out often, in sorrow, pain, regret it will do you no good. Zeus is not to be won over. He is harsh, as all those new to power are harsh” (Aesch. Prom. 36-38). Here Hephaestus is trying to explain to Prometheus that the punishment that he is to endure will be terrible and no matter how much he suffers and begs he will not convince Zeus to free him. This whole exchange shows that Zeus is not interested in the welfare of his fellow gods, but he cares more about the fact that he be view as a ruler with an iron fist. This most certainly shows Zeus in a tyrannical and abusive...
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...Heracles - Son of Zeus + Mortal (Zeus disguised himself to appear like her husband) - Hera is mad sends 2 snakes to kill him - He kills the snakes - Divine strength - Hera mad makes him crazy -> traumatic mania, kills his wife and children. Redemption: Eurystheus 10 tasks + 2 bc did not recognize 2 = 12 tasks – if completes them redemption + immortal 12 tasks 1. Kill Neman Lion 2. Kill Hydra 3. Catch the Hind 4. Boar 5. Stables 6. Bird 7. Bull 8. Horses 9. Belt 10. Cattle 11. Golden Apple 12. Cerberus -> Heracles= defender of evil, brings victory //Samson killed lion Theseus - Kills serial killers like they kill people (major theme) 1st – Kills him with a club PERIPHETES 2nd – Ties his feet to a tree and lets it go – tears apart people’s legs SINIS 3rd – Killed the Crommyonian Sow 4th – Pushed him off a cliff to the sea SCIRON 5th – Wrestling CERCYON 6th – Ties him to a moving bed, if too big, chops off body parts to make it fit PROCRUSTES Minotaur - King Minos asked Poseidon for a snow white bull + kill it to show respect to Poseidon - Minos wanted to keep it because of its beauty and to sacrifice another bull - Poseidon enraged - Made King Minos’ wife fall in love with the bull - Wife asks famous craftsman to make a wooden hollow cow - Offspring = Minotaur - King Minos asked craftsman to build a labyrinth for the Minotaur = man-eating creature - King Minos’ son winning Panathena games in honour of Athena -> jealousy -> kill him ...
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...Greek mythology with the possible exception of the Vedic-Hindu religion of India, religion or religion in connection with the mythology of the ancient Greeks produced the most complex and sophisticated in the world. Greek myth usually read as individual stories. Greek mythology has exercised a profound and unparalleled influence upon western culture. Dramatists, artists, and philosophers from Roman times, through the great revival of interest in antiquity the Renaissance, up to the present day have been inspired by the thrilling legacy of ancient Greece. The origins of these myths are impossible to determine and there is no one true version of any myth. Greek mythology is the foundation of allusion and character genesis in literature. The imaginative...
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...Polytheistic Greek myths explain religion and ritual worship. Polytheistic myths allowed the Greeks to explain the origins of the universe and allow for elaboration by introducing new gods, to stress the importance of ritual and sacrifice, and to give moral standards by showing that even gods can make the same mistakes as humans. Myth first and foremost explains the origins of the universe, the gods, and humankind. Polytheistic gods were necessary because they allowed for new gods to be introduced in order to answer questions that could not be answered. Chaos produced Gaea, Tartarus, and Eros, as well as darkness/night and radiance/day (Lecture 4). From these gods, there are still many others needed to explain why the earth is the way it is. Thus the mountains, the sky, the sea, and love, among many others, are introduced to show how the earth became the way it is. Because of polytheism, these new gods are able to be accepted into the origin story. Polytheism also taught the Greeks the importance of ritual and sacrifice. Since Prometheus stole fire from the gods and brought it to humankind, he had to sacrifice an ox to appease Zeus (Morford 2014, 93). This story tells both how the humans received fire and how the practice of animal sacrifice came to be. This practice of proper sacrifice became arguably the most important ritual in Greek life. Humans believed that sacrifice would encourage the gods to bring them good fortune and help them avoid reprisal. If this ritual...
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...The film “300” depicts a variety of contemporary themes such as brotherhood, betrayal, honor, integrity, and the like. Above all, “300” follows the cultural truth-value of fulfilling one’s own destiny along with illuminating the ideology of a modern day “kleos” myth. King Leonidas, along with the 300 Spartans illustrate these cultural truth-values through their altercation with King Xerxes I and his Persian Empire. We view similar concepts in “The Odyssey”, as well as other classical mythology works. There are many examples in “300” where the Spartans express a common theme of fulfilling their fate no matter the cost. A case in point is during the first half of the film when Leonidas blatantly slaughters Xerxes’s messenger. Thus, starting a war and...
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...GREEK MYTHOLOGY Background to Homer’s Odyssey As you read each story, ask yourself: What is most enjoyable, predictable, or bizarre about this story? How would I have responded in this situation? What mysteries or features of the world might this story try to explain? What bit of moral or religious instructions (i.e. don’t disobey the gods) might be contained in this story? How does this story compare with Christian beliefs, or with the values of our culture today? Are there any other stories or fables I’ve heard that follow the same pattern as this story? The Creation Myths Part 1 Before there was anything, there was Chaos, a formless void. This void, this pure nothingness, gave birth to Gaea (the Earth itself), Tartarus (the underworld), Eros (love), Erebus (underground darkness) and Nyx (the darkness of night). The two kinds of darkness joined together and gave birth two kinds of light: the Light of the heavens and the Light of day. Nyx (night) also gave birth to the three Fates, who control the course of the universe and determine the length of each person’s life on their wheel of fortune. Of the fates, Clotho spins the threads of each person’s life, Lachesis measures the length of the thread, and Atropos cuts the thread. The Fates – Francisco Goya (one of the best painters ever!) 1823 – Note the scissors in the hand of Atropos and Lachesis measuring with a magnifying glass. Who’s...
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...People love listening to stories. One of the most fascinating are the Greek myths. These stories are based on gods and goddesses and their heroic tales. It was a part of the Ancient Greece religion, but not many people know how they originated. The earliest Greek myths were a part of an oral tradition that began in the Bronze Age. In 700 B.C. a poet named Hesiod wrote the Theogony, which was the first written origin story of greek mythology. This story was about the creation of the universe and the family tree for the gods and goddesses. After that, other writers expanded on this story. One of the most commonly known things about Greek mythology is the gods and goddesses who live on Mount Olympus which is the highest mountain in Greece. The gods and goddesses ruled every aspect of human life from there. Some of the main ones are Zeus, king of all gods, Hera, queen of all gods, Aphrodite, Apollo, Ares, Artemis, Athena, Demeter, Dionysus, Hephaestus, Hermes, and Poseidon. Some of these stories teach life lessons and heroic attributes of some of the characters. The birth of these gods was quite the story. At the beginning of the story the god of earth, Gaia, and her son, Uranus, mated and had a child named Cronus. When Cronus got powerful, he overthrew his father's...
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...the land and sea by the wings that were attached to his ankles. Hermes had a hand in many of the most interesting myths and even though he is not the most well-known god, he played a crucial rule in the stories. He is credited to have invented objects such as different instruments, measures and weights. As well as other things like the alphabet, astronomy and sacrifice. He was the god of not just travelers and merchants but also unexpected riches and fertility and has powers unparalleled to any other god for example he can travel between the underworld and Mount Olympus and he can send people either refreshing sleep or not refreshing sleep. Hermes may not be the most famous of the gods but he is one of the most interesting gods. Like Greek myths and in history it is important to look at who is actually doing the work and getting things done versus who is the leader or the most famous to know what really happened. ...
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...Ages ago in ancient Greece, there lived a hero named Hercules. He was the son of Zeus and lived on Earth with a mortal family. This is how his life started in many variations of the legend of Hercules. The three legends that will be discussed are Edith Hamilton's book Mythology, the History Channel's 2009 "Hercules" from the series Clash of the Gods, the 2014 movie Hercules directed by Brett Ratner and starring Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, and the 1997 animated movie Hercules directed by John Musker and Ron Clements. Throughout every version there are similarities and differences. One way the legend of Hercules is explored is in the book Mythology by Edith Hamilton. It begins with Alcmene giving birth to Hercules and his brother Iphicles. It...
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