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An Introduction To Greek Mythology

Greek mythology began as ancient Greek people told stories to explain natural phenomena and the relationships between humans and gods. Myths were told orally by traveling storytellers called bards and evolved over many generations as different versions developed. The myths featured gods and goddesses with superhuman powers who lived in the world with humans and influenced events. Myths helped ancient Greeks understand the world and find meaning in their lives.

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387 views1 page

An Introduction To Greek Mythology

Greek mythology began as ancient Greek people told stories to explain natural phenomena and the relationships between humans and gods. Myths were told orally by traveling storytellers called bards and evolved over many generations as different versions developed. The myths featured gods and goddesses with superhuman powers who lived in the world with humans and influenced events. Myths helped ancient Greeks understand the world and find meaning in their lives.

Uploaded by

diona macasaquit
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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An Introduction to Greek Mythology

Greek Mythology > An Introduction to…


The Greek word “mythos” means story and Greek mythology is a group of fictional stories that were
created thousands of years ago by the ancient Greek people. Even though these Greek myths were created
so long ago, they are still entertaining to audiences today. Greek myths were created to explain what
couldn’t be understood thousands of years ago, specifically the mysteries of nature. The ancient Greek
people didn’t have science class that told them that the sky is bright during the day and dark at night
because of the rotation of the Earth or that electrical fields in the clouds caused lightening. In order to be
less afraid of all of these things that didn’t make sense, the ancient Greek people relied on myths to help
create order in their world. Myths explained things that didn’t (at the time) have an explanation. What
separates Greek mythology from other types of stories, like legends (that are based on history) or folktales
(a form of entertainment) is that myths try to explain human relationships with the divine. Greek myths
are stories about gods, goddesses, and other supernatural entities and the relationships that humans have
with them. Because the myths are about humans and the gods, they are also about religion. The Greeks
believed that they shared their world with gods and goddesses who had superhuman powers. These gods
and goddesses were all around the humans, living in the oceans, the air, the forests, and under the
ground. They were a part of everything. Like humans, these gods and goddesses had individual
personalities that made them unique. Gods and goddesses could be friendly or they could be evil. They
could be helpful or play tricks on humans and on one another.
Storytelling was a primary form of entertainment in ancient Greece. After all, there weren’t TV shows or
movies or other entertaining ways to pass the time. Greek myths were told by word of mouth, which is
how Greek mythology evolved over the years. Greek myths were told by bards, or traveling storytellers.
These bards told myths to audiences of people through song or poetry. Of course, each bard put his own
spin on the myths based on their own personal preference. Depending on their mood, they could make
the story scarier, sadder, more romantic, etc. Bards told these stories for generations through the spoken
word and through art and with every telling the myth changed a bit. Because the myths were always being
revised throughout history, there are many versions of the myths that can be found. Since these stories
began as fictional stories there is no way to say which myth is the “correct” one.
How did Greek mythology start? When did Greek mythology start? It is difficult to know when Greek
mythology started, as it is believed to have stemmed from centuries of oral tradition. It is likely that Greek
myths evolved from stories told in the Minoan civilization of Crete, which flourished from about 3000 to
1100 BCE.
What is the story of the Greek gods? The gods were children of the Titans such as Kronos and Rhea. Greek
mythology has thirteen main gods known as the Twelve Olympians plus Hades, the brother of Zeus. They
were Zeus, Poseidon, Hera, Hephaestus, Dionysus, Athena, Artemis, Apollo, Ares, Demeter, Aphrodite and
Hermes.
Who created the Greek gods? The most complete version of the Greek creation myths that survives is a
poem called the Theogony (“Birth of the Gods”) by a poet named Hesiod, who lived in the late eighth or
early seventh century B.C. (that is, the low-numbered 700s or high-numbered 600s BC).
Why is Greek mythology important? Greeks regarded mythology as a part of their history. They used myth
to explain natural phenomena, cultural variations, traditional enmities and friendships. It was a source of
pride to be able to trace the descent of one's leaders from a mythological hero or a god
What is the purpose of mythology? In a religious context, however, myths are storied vehicles of supreme
truth, the most basic and important truths of all. By them people regulate and interpret their lives and find
worth and purpose in their existence. Myths put one in touch with sacred realities, the fundamental
sources of being, power, and truth.
What is the purpose of mythology? Who are all the gods in Greek mythology?
In ancient Greek religion and mythology, the twelve Olympians are the major deities of the Greek
pantheon, commonly considered to be Zeus, Hera, Poseidon, Demeter, Athena, Apollo, Artemis, Ares,
Hephaestus, Aphrodite, Hermes, and either Hestia or Dionysus.

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