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ssherie_

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I really want to learn and understand about the Greek mythological stories and gods and goddesses... but I just realized that I have been missing the point somewhat. I think of this as literature. It wasn't to them. It was part of their every day lives and was their "religion".

I want to understand this mindset a little more because I think it will help me as I go through and lear about the stories, gods and goddesses, monsters, etc.

This, at the moment, feels overwhelming. Do you guys have any advice as to how I can approach it?
 
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I really want to learn and understand about the Greek mythological stories and gods and goddesses... but I just realized that I have been missing the point somewhat. I think of this as literature. It wasn't to them. It was part of their every day lives and was their "religion".

I want to understand this mindset a little more because I think it will help me as I go through and lear about the stories, gods and goddesses, monsters, etc.

This, at the moment, feels overwhelming. Do you guys have any advice as to how I can approach it?
The big and eternal question for everybody to begin with; WHAT IS RELIGION? An old view: ti's a man's active relationship to a supernatural power which, I add, was personified. etc. Some such powers are destructvive, harmful. Response: seeking to propitiate it; begging to be spared, etc. Other powers are beneficial, thanked, etc., .... just as one is before a magnanimous king. // All in all, the operating gods come first; religion afterwards. Like myths, religions are elaborated and thus have their own history.
 
The big and eternal question for everybody to begin with; WHAT IS RELIGION? An old view: ti's a man's active relationship to a supernatural power which, I add, was personified. etc. Some such powers are destructvive, harmful. Response: seeking to propitiate it; begging to be spared, etc. Other powers are beneficial, thanked, etc., .... just as one is before a magnanimous king. // All in all, the operating gods come first; religion afterwards. Like myths, religions are elaborated and thus have their own history.
One necessary addition: after the personification of superhumanly powerful things and events [hence the gods], the ancients saw them as immortal, whereas humans are mortal. Typically the ancient Greeks, had the feeling of this tragic disparity and sought immortality. Hence the rise of various mystery [mysticism] religions, including the Eleusinian [...Kora and Dionysus... BREAD and WINE] Rites, which persist in the Orthodox and Catholic religions in the form of the Eucharist/Mass.
 
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It's a good point that learning about Greek Mythology is more than just learning the stories or learning about the gods and goddesses as a separate entity. It really helps to understand the mindset of the Ancient Greeks and what they sought from their religious practice. One thing that it took me a long time to understand is that these weren't just stories to them, they were part of their lives and their ways of seeing the world. It's been really hard for me to understand their mindset but I've been trying.
 
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It's a good point that learning about Greek Mythology is more than just learning the stories or learning about the gods and goddesses as a separate entity. It really helps to understand the mindset of the Ancient Greeks and what they sought from their religious practice. One thing that it took me a long time to understand is that these weren't just stories to them, they were part of their lives and their ways of seeing the world. It's been really hard for me to understand their mindset but I've been trying.
I like the phrase, "... and their ways of seeing the world". Lately I have been
considering the phrasing of the nature of their gods according to their mindset/perspective/frame-of-mind, in comparison to other mindsets. Result: A Greek myth-maker typically looked at a relationship between a presumed god and a human person, whereas, e.g., a Hebrew looked at a God-tribe relationship. [As God is by nature all-good, adversities among humans are due to their faults. Hence the myth of the JUST God, whereas the Persians posited a good god, Ahura Mazda, and an evil god, Ariman. The Greek PERSONALISM , and hence personal responsibility, will be evident in the Orphics and in Socrates' inquiries, to say the least.
 
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I am still coping with the concept of MINDSET or mentality. Though going hand in hand, THEISM and RELIGION must be distinguished.//
Why so many gods and other supernaturals? Because of the great variety of EVENTS that affect us -- storms, forest fires, floodings...... They are like human deeds, by Mighty persons. The process of personification allows for the invention of myths/fables as well as human intercessions, shrines, etc. // A change of [Greek] mentality around the 6th cent. BC.: events are AUTONOMOUS. Thus the rise of philosophies rather than theistic myths. {John of Ephesus, the Evangelist, was the last Greek mythographer -- on the footsteps of philosopher Heraclitus of Ephesus!}
 
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Aphrodite - Greek Goddess of Love

Ahead of Valentine's Day, I thought I'd share some things that I thought were interesting about Aphrodite, the Greek Goddess of love:

1. Aphrodite Was Born from Sea Foam.
In Greek mythology, it's said that Aphrodite was born from the sea foam that formed when Cronus cut off Uranus's genitals and threw them into the ocean. As the spirit of desire and physical attraction, Aphrodite's birth story reflects the power of nature and the irresistible force of passion.

2. She Was Married to Hephaestus.
Despite her reputation as the goddess of love and beauty, Aphrodite had a less-than-romantic marriage with Hephaestus, the god of blacksmiths and volcanoes. Hephaestus was unattractive and had a limp, and Aphrodite had several affairs with other gods and mortals. To me, this seem like an unlikely match.

3. She Possessed a Magic Girdle.
To make herself even more desirable and seductive, Aphrodite had a magic girdle that could make anyone fall in love with her. It's said that she used this girdle to win the hearts of both gods and mortals and cause conflicts and jealousy among them.

4. She Had Children with Several Gods and Mortals.
Aphrodite was famous for her many love affairs, and she had children with several gods and mortals. Her most famous son was Eros, the god of love and passion, who was sometimes depicted as her lover as well.

5. She Was Worshiped throughout Ancient Greece.
As the goddess of love and beauty, Aphrodite was a popular deity throughout ancient Greece and was worshiped in many cities and temples. She was also associated with fertility, sexuality, and even war, as seen in her role as a protector of soldiers and sailor.

6. Her Symbols Included Doves, Roses, and Mirrors.
Like most deities, Aphrodite had several symbols that represented her qualities and powers. Her most common symbols were doves, roses, and mirrors, which reflected her beauty, love, and vanity.

Sad and Interesting Story of Prometheus

I find the story of Prometheseus to be sad and interesting and I wanted to share. Yes, I like to study Greek mythology - I find it so fascinating!

Prometheus, a Titan in Greek mythology, occupies a unique space in the pantheon of myths due to his intelligence and his profound impact on human civilization. His tale is one marked by valor, insubordination, and enduring punishment, a narrative that has fascinated scholars and enthusiasts for ages.

Prometheus, whose name aptly means "forethought", was known for his wisdom and for being a champion of mankind. Unwilling to see humans suffer, he committed a daring act of defiance against Zeus, the king of the gods, which would forever alter the course of human history.

The most famous aspect of Prometheus’ story involves him stealing fire from the gods and gifting it to humanity. Fire, in Greek mythology, represents more than just a means to warm food or fend off the darkness; it symbolizes knowledge, technology, and enlightenment—tools that would empower humanity to shape their world, for better or worse.

Zeus, infuriated by Prometheus' transgression, sentenced him to a severe and enduring punishment. Prometheus was bound to a rock, where each day an eagle, the emblem of Zeus, was sent to eat his liver, which would then regrow overnight, only for the torment to repeat ad infinitum. It was an eternal punishment for a being who, in many accounts, acted out of compassion and foresight.

I find it sad that he did something so beneficial to humanity but then got punished for it.

Favorite Stories of Greek Mythology

I am studying up on some Greek Mythology. I am making a list of key stories to look into and get to know. Can you think of anything I may have missed:

- Prometheus gives mankind fire
- Anything related to the Minotaur
- I plan to read the Iliad and the Odyssey
- How medusa turned into a monster
- Zeus's various "Exploits"
- Anything related to Hercules
- Information about the Olympian gods and goddesses
- The war with the Titans

Was the Trojan War real?

I have been wondering, was the Trojan War real? I decided to explore the topic. I still don't know. What do you guys think?

Let's start with the basics. According to ancient Greek mythology, the Trojan War was fought between the Greeks and the Trojans over Helen of Troy. Helen, the wife of King Menelaus, was said to be the most beautiful woman in the world. When she was kidnapped by Paris of Troy, her husband called upon the Greek army to help him get her back. The war lasted ten years, according to the myth, and ended with the Greeks claiming victory when they used a wooden horse to get inside the walls of Troy.

It's easy to dismiss this story as nothing more than a legend, but there is some archaeological evidence that suggests that there may be some truth to the tale. In the 1870s, a German businessman named Heinrich Schliemann claimed to have found the site of ancient Troy in modern-day Turkey. He found evidence of a walled city with multiple layers of ruins, which might have been the result of multiple attacks over time. Whether or not this was the site of the Trojan War is still up for debate, but it's clear that Schliemann believed that he had discovered the home of king Priam and the legendary Trojan horse.

That said, not everyone agrees with Schliemann's findings. In fact, some scholars argue that the city he found wasn't actually Troy at all, but another nearby city with a similar name. Others point out that the ruins he found don't quite match up with the descriptions of the city in the Iliad. Additionally, there is evidence that suggests that the Trojan War didn't happen exactly as it was told in the myth. For example, it's possible that the conflict arose over economic disputes rather than the kidnapping of Helen.

Despite the disagreements among scholars, one thing is for sure: The Trojan War has had a lasting impact on culture and has become one of the most well-known stories from Greek mythology. It has been retold in countless books, movies, and TV shows over the years, and the characters from the story continue to inspire us today. The Trojan hero Hector, for example, has become synonymous with bravery, while Odysseus's journey home has been the inspiration for many other epic tales.

Janus - God of Beginnings

I learned recently of Janus, the Roman God of Beginnings. The month January, I believe, is named after this God.

Many of the Roman Gods and Goddesses have Greek counterparts. Does Janus?

If so, I think that would be an interesting god to learn about. I have to be honest - I am not sure there is a counterpart. I have been searching but there either isn't enough information online, or there really is no equivalent.

Do you guys have any idea?
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