...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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... Polytheism Ancient Greek theology was based on polytheism, the beliefs in many Gods and Goddesses. Breaking the word down, “poly” comes from the Greek word for “many,” and “theism” from the Greek word for “God.” These divine entities tend to distinguish particular functions, and often took on human characteristics. The gods acted like humans, and had human voices. They would interact with humans, sometimes even spawning children with them. Even though the Gods were immortal, nor some of them are not all powerful. Fate is what they had to obey, which overrode all. The number of the deities would expand as the culture’s belief system developed. The Greek Gods/Goddesses directly took on human activities. The divine entities would also take on human form and personality. Man learned to accept or fear the powers of nature, such as the deities. Humans tended to see the divine entities as storms, seasons, the sun, and the moon as personal beings. However the earliest humans believed the main deities were An, Enlil, Enki, and Ninhursaga. In ancient Greece there were twelve deities that sat on top of Mount Olympus: Hermes, Poseidon, Apollo, Artemis, Hephaestus, Ares, Athena, Demeter, Aphrodite, Hestia, Hera, and Zeus, king of the gods. Under them sat Zeus' brother Hades, king of the underworld. Since its miraculous beginning in mainland Greece around 1800-1500 BCE, when Poseidon was the chief God and not Zeus, the deities were worshiped wherever Greeks lived or had a concept...
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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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...The beliefs of the ancient Greeks were full of the violent storms, volcanoes and earthquakes that were a part of their experience. Greek mythology is based on legends passed down through generations by word of mouth, so there are many versions of Greek mythology and not all of the stories agree with one another. advertisement Myths explained nature, taught moral lessons, and provided entertainment. Greek poets created epic stories based on ancient legends. An epic is a long poem about great heroes and their deeds. Like most ancient cultures, the ancient Greeks were polytheistic, but many of their gods looked and acted like human beings. The ancient Greeks believed their gods had unlimited powers, yet Greek gods married, had children, played...
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...1. Introduction: Greek mythology is the body of myths and legends belonging to the ancient Greeks, concerning their gods and heroes, the nature of the world, and the origins and significance of their own cult and ritual practices. They were a part of religion in ancient Greece and are part of religion in modern Greece and around the world as Hellenisms. Greek mythology is known and learned everywhere around the world. A lot of people refer to everything that is happening in the world such as fire, light, water to the Greek mythology. The Greek mythology not only includes myths, but it also includes a lot of details of the lives and adventures of a wide variety of gods, goddesses, heroes, heroines, demigods, monsters and other mythological creatures. Greek mythology has exerted an extensive influence on the culture, the arts, and the literature of more than one civilization. Poets and artists from ancient times to the present have derived inspiration from Greek mythology and have discovered contemporary significance and relevance in these mythological themes. Also, beside gods and myths there are the two world-known epic poems The Iliad and Odyssey, that focus on events surrounding the Trojan War. Before entering upon the many strange beliefs of the ancient Greeks and the extraordinary number of gods they worshipped, first I would like to show what kind of beings these divinities were. Then I will tell the stories of some of the most famous gods that have left a mark...
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.... Comparing Gods and Goddesses HUM/105 June 15, 2011 Comparing Gods and Goddesses Myths are narrative stories that describe the creation of the world and how the first humans came into existence. According to Leonard and McClure (2004), human societies began as goddess-oriented and matrifocal (women-centered). Human societies evolved from primitive beginnings to a superior culture system of patriarchy (Leonard & McClure, 2004, p. 104). Although myths may differ from culture to culture, common elements and roles exist in each myth. In today’s society, myths and legends are fantasy-filled tales from ancient societies long gone. Therefore, Team A will describe the elements and functions of goddess myths, and compare two myths of the female divine from different cultures. Second, the team will describe the elements and functions of god myths, and compare two myths of the male divine from different cultures. Last, the team will summarize the elements and functions shared by both divines. According to the euhemerist Gimbutus, goddesses have three basic roles life, death, and regeneration (Leonard & McClure, 2004, p. 114). The goddesses of life are Mother Earth, nature, sea, and universe. These goddesses are nurturers and overseers of security and contentment, prosperity and growth, and creativity and artistry. The mother earth goddesses are creators of earth and universe, such as Gaia of the ancient Greeks, and Tellus of the Romans. These two Earth goddesses gave...
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... the free encyclopedia In the ancient Greek religion and Greek mythology, the Twelve Olympians are the major deities of the Greek pantheon, commonly considered to be Zeus, Hera, Poseidon, Demeter, Athena, Apollo, Artemis, Ares, Aphrodite, Hephaestus, Hermes, and either Hestia or Dionysus.[1] Hades and Persephone were sometimes included as part of the twelve Olympians (primarily due to the influence of the Eleusinian Mysteries), although in general Hades was excluded, because he resided permanently in the underworld and never visited Olympus. Contents 1 Concept 2 Membership 3 List 3.1 The major Olympians 3.2 Other Olympians 3.3 Minor residents of Mount Olympus 4 Genealogy 5 See also 6 Notes 7 References Concept The Twelve Olympians, also known as the Dodekatheon (Greek: Δωδεκάθεον from δώδεκα,[3][4] dōdeka, "twelve" and θεοί, theoi, "gods"), were the principal deities of the Greek pantheon, said to reside atop Mount Olympus. The Olympians gained their supremacy in a war of gods in which Zeus led his siblings to victory over the Titans. Fragment of a Hellenistic relief (1st century BC – 1st century AD) The concept of the "Twelve Gods" is older than depicting the Twelve Olympians carrying their attributes in any extant Greek or Roman sources.[5] The procession; from left to right, Hestia (scepter), Hermes (winged cap gods meet in council in the Homeric epics, but and staff), Aphrodite (veiled), Ares (helmet and spear), Demeter the first ancient reference to religious ...
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...worshiped a god. There is evidence as early as 100,000 B.C.E; people had some sort of religion. Some historians have suggested that those early humans worshipped the skulls of cave bears, which they regarded as rivals for the spaces in which they lived. By 50,000 B.C.E, Neanderthal people buried their dead with ceremony and care, behavior suggesting a belief in the hereafter. Such conjecture has no proof, but the evidence suggests that religion emerged among the earliest examples of human capacity to think in the abstract. Ancient Sumerians believed that religion and government shared a close relationship. Religion permeated the social, political, and economic, as well as the spiritual and ethical of society. By 2250 B.C.E, Sumerians had a long list of gods they worshipped. Temples were erected throughout Sumer for the sacrifices thought necessary to ensure good harvest. Sumerian religion had important political ramifications as well. It ascribed ownership of all lands to the gods. The king was a king-priest, responsible to the gods alone. Below him, an elaborate class of priests enjoyed worldly power, privilege, and comfort, and to this class fell the responsibility for education and the writing of texts. It is writings that undoubtedly represent the Sumerians’ greatest contribution to the advancement of general civilization. Another example of how religion in ancient times related to government is how the Egyptian civilization identified the king with a god. The pharaoh...
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...Greek gods and goddesses had elaborate and untamed personalities. They had imperfections and shortcomings along with merit and virtue just like humans. Besides their respected powers the Greeks added other things to the gods’ personalities such as: Zeus was known as a philanderer, his wife Hera a nagger, their daughter Aphrodite a loose woman, their son Ares a bully. While the Greeks honored and revered the gods to their faces at the same time making them the butts of countless stories. Many stories depicted them as spoiled, quarrelsome, stingy, jealous, and lacking concern for the human race (Farnell 47). This is pretty much the story for humans in general. If there was one God in Greek mythology it would be Zeus. He is considered the father of the gods and mortals by the Greeks. His roots and overall guidance have been traced back to ancient Indo-Vedic traditions. Zeus and the Vedic sky god, Dyaus, share many similar powers and stories (Smith 189). Zeus is loosely translated to “housemaster” and that is how the Greeks viewed him. The Greek creation stories of Zeus vary widely, but there is one that is generally accepted. Zeus was the youngest son of the Titans Cronus and Rhea and the brother of the deities Poseidon, Hades, Hestia, Demeter, and Hera (Cook v2 17). According to one of the ancient myths of the birth of Zeus, Cronus, fearing that he might be deposed by one of his children, swallowed them as they were born. When Zeus’ birth came to fruition, Rhea wrapped...
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...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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...Greek Culture In ancient Greece, the polytheistic religion practiced in the form of cult practices. Different cities worshipped different gods for example: Athens had Athena; Sparta had Artemis; Corinth worshipped Aphrodite; Delphi and Delos had Apollo; Olympia had Zeus. Zeus de-throned his father Cronus and Zeus banished Cronus with the Titans that fought with Cronus. Titans were also known as the elder gods. They ruled the earth before the Olympians overthrew them. The 12 Olympians were: Zeus, Poseidon, Hades, Hestia, Hera, Ares, Athena, Apollo, Aphrodite, Hermes, Artemis, and Hephaestus. The other gods were: Asclepius, Demeter, Persephone, Dionysus, Eros, Hebe, Eris, Helius, Thanatos, Pan, Nemesis, The Graces, The Muses, The Erinyes, and The Fates. The Greek religion spans a period from Minoan and Mycenean periods to the days of Hellenistic Greece and its ultimate conquest by the Roman Empire. The religious ideas developed and evolved over the course of history. By the time of the earliest major monument of Greek literature, the lliad attributed to Homer, a consensus had developed with respect to the major Olympian gods. The lliad seems to have been unaware of Dionysus, a god whose worship spread after it was written and who later became important enough to be named one of the 12 chief Olympian gods. The Olympian gods, also known as Heroes, were demigods. They were deified humans who were part of local legendary history; they also had local hero-cults, and often served...
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...Even though the ancient Greek culture is polytheistic, and the new Christian faith, now the official religion of Rome, is monotheistic, this is not the main religious difference of the two cultures. Odysseus lives in a time, when gods are like people; Augustine lives in a time, when the Christian god is different; and He is expects people to be more like Him. Homer reflects the religious beliefs of the ancient world, while writing about “the heroic lives of the protagonists, not the rightness of the god’s plans for them” (DeVaney-Lovinguth). The Odyssey focuses on one man who survives war, personal tragedy, and human, as well as supernatural enemies. The story is, in the words of Athena, about “godlike Odysseus” (Book I, Line 71). But, Augustine...
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...like we have today, the Ancient Greeks created their own answers about the world and what their place was in it. Over 2000 years ago the Greeks created the names and ideas of a myth and mythology. What they created were tales that are now known as myths. “A myth is a story based on tradition” (“Myths and Heroes” PBS.). Merriam Webster’s dictionary defines myth as, “a usually traditional l story of ostensibly historical events that serves to unfold part of the world view of a people or explain a practice, belief, or natural phenomenon.” (Def.1a). These myths described the values and feelings that bounded members of society. The stories explained,...
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...the term "mythology" one needs to define the meaning of the word "myth". The word itself comes from the Greek "mythos" which originally meant "speech" or "discourse" but which later came to mean "fable" or "legend". So the word "myth" is defined as a story of forgotten or vague origin, basically religious or supernatural in nature, which seeks to explain or rationalize one or more aspects of the world or a society. Furthermore, all myths are, at some stage, actually believed to be true by the peoples of the societies that used or originated the myth. The definition is thus clearly distinguished from the use of the word myth in everyday speech which basically refers to any unreal or imaginary story. A myth is also distinctly different from an allegory or parable which is a story deliberately made up to illustrate some moral point but which has never been assumed to be true by anyone. Some myths describe some actual historical event, but have been embellished and refashioned by various story tellers over time so that it is impossible to tell what really happened. In this last aspect myths have a legendary and historical nature. Definitions of Mythology The word mythology has two related meanings. Firstly it refers to a collection of myths that together form a mythological system. Thus one can speak of "Egyptian Mythology", "Indian Mythology", "Maori Mythology" or "Greek Mythology". In this sense one is describing a system of myths which were used by a particular society at...
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