Greek Mythology: A Guide to Greek History, Gods, and Goddesses

By Jordan Parr

GREEK MYTHOLOGY

For centuries, humankind has looked to legends and myths to make sense of the world. While some turned inward, focusing on the interior workings of the psyche, others were more content to seek out understanding in stories.

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• Language: English
• Publisher: Ingram Publishing
• Release date: Mar 8, 2022
• ISBN: 9781761038198

Book preview

Introduction

For centuries, humankind has looked to legends and myths to make sense of the world. While some turned inward, focusing on the interior workings of the psyche, others were more content to seek out understanding in stories. In desperate attempts to grasp abstract ideas like life, death, and love, ancient storytellers crafted sweeping tales of battles with monsters, gods and goddesses who manipulate the weather, and heroes with incredible strength. Arguably one of the most robust and rounded casts of mythos, Greek mythology is the cornerstone of both ancient and modern narratives. From Shakespeare to primetime TV, Greek mythology is woven into the very fabric of how humanity understands the world.

Humankind’s desire to make the world more comprehensible generates a multitude of characters rife with strengths and weaknesses. As a result of the environment throughout time, society sought out Greek legend for entertainment, answers, faith, and comfort. Consequently, the figures began to take on new life. Many of the gods and goddesses became figureheads for precisely what a community needed at the time. For comfort, many turned to Hera; for fertility, Aphrodite; and for success in battle, Ares. Therefore, as the times changed, so did the pantheon, and this new life came with more adoration for the gods, heroes, and monsters of Greek tradition.

In particular, the Trojan War may be the most prolific tale from the Greek myths. Homer’s The Iliad and Odyssey, Shakespeare’s Troilus and Cressida, and Madeline Miller’s The Song of Achilles are among the most well-known retellings to be hatched from the lore. Television and film are also heavily inspired by Greek mythology. The 2004 film Troy is one of many dramatizations of the events. Fiction and narrative aside, the gods and goddesses in Greek lore are household names, referenced in poetry collections, such as Nikita Gill’s Great Goddesses, and essays alike. For monsters like Cerberus, places like Olympus and Tartarus, and heroes like Heracles, the recognition is palpable. Disney’s 1997 classic, Hercules, takes on the tale of the demigod Heracles, spotlighting the gods Hades, Zeus, and Hera, as well as the mythological creature, the centaur. Though there are countless examples to draw from, one tie binds them all together, and that is the ever evolving and loved Greek fables.

Much of Greek mythology is passed down verbally, an oral tradition that only took to the written form much later. Homer’s The Iliad and Odyssey are lauded for being some of the most complete depictions of the Trojan War and the pantheon of Greek gods and goddesses. Complete with portrayals of sacrifices and worship, as well as gruesome battles and acute grief, the Greek fantasies come together in a cauldron of emotion and community—for mortal, monster, and god.

Molded with the oral tales, these epics give birth to the pantheon’s new form. The gods begin to give more depth and meaning to the experiences of mortal life. Lessons learned from reading about Zeus’ quarrels with his brothers, or Heracles fighting monsters of legend begin to inspire entire generations of creatives desperate for more meaning in the mundane.

With a near hierarchical look at the mythos, this book examines the most prominent stories in the Greek lore, explores the plentiful pantheon, and seeks to delve into antiquity with fervor and the utmost respect for a time long past.

Chapter One:  Gods & Goddesses

Before the Olympians, there were many gods and forces of nature in the world. According to Greek myth, everything was born out of a force called Chaos. From Chaos came many other magical forces, including Gaea, Tartarus, Eros, and Erebus. From Gaea came the Titans, who were said to rule for eons until Zeus came along as one of the three sons of Cronos and Rhea.

While there are too many gods and goddesses in Greek myth to name, there are a handful of Olympians—those who are modernly seen as the face of the Greek gods. Though there is some debate as to which gods comprise the pantheon at Mount Olympus, there is a common agreement that Zeus, Hera, Poseidon, Apollo, Artemis, Aphrodite, Athena, and Ares reside on Mount Olympus. Stories differ with Hephaestus, Dionysus, Hermes, Hestia, and Demeter, though they are known to make appearances from time to time. Persephone also resides on Mount Olympus, but only for half the year; the other half, she is bound to the underworld with her husband, Hades.

Hades is considered an Olympian but resides in