Greek Mythology Community
How were Greek myths recorded and preserved through history
- Thread starter seleanor
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k_tsoukalas
Administrator
On some level, they were handed down through the generations through oral storytelling. Other than that, we have a few surviving works written by the ancients, such as the works of Homer, who write the Iliad and the Odyssey.
Raymond Gorgone
New member
In order to truly understand how ancient myth was transmitted through the ages, I believe we need to first understand the true origins of myth. I've dedicated many years researching a novel approach to developing such an understanding. Check out my three-part video presentation at geographicalimagesofthegods.org and let me know if it helps answer your questions.
seleanor
Active member
Great research, thanks for sharing!
You have a valid question; however, there is a fact that must be considered about the ancient Greek myths. My view: Most of them are not the historically original myths. After a myth was created and became known to others, some other Greeks -- in different places and/or times -- modified them or elaborated them or combined some with other myths: they were not statically maintained or transmitted. A pristine/original myth involved the PERSONIFICATION of some natural or historical event, wherefore all myths are anthropomorphic rather than accounts and explanations of natural events [which we call scientific accounts]. Ouranos was the visible sky as well as the sky-god, with superhuman knowledge, will, etc. All myths are imaginative/invented accounts. They reach the height of Hesiod's Theogony (the Geneology of the gods). // The Hebrew Bible is basically a Geneology of Man, an *Anthropogony, which starts with two different myths of the creation of humans: the Elohim [=the Gods, the two supreme Gods, one male and the other female] in Genesis-1 and Yahweh in Genesis-2 -- both euphemistically translated into Greek as "Theos", which eventually made all Christians monotheists and enemies of mythological traditions. [........]
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Summary of the Nine Muses of Greek Mythology
- d_kakavouli
- Greek Mythology Forum
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I've been studying about Greek Mythology and I bumped into some information about the 9 muses. I thought I would give a summary of who they are and what they represented. I feel like the Muses are often forgotten!
In Greek mythology, the Muses were goddesses who presided over the arts and sciences, inspiring creativity and knowledge in humans. There were originally nine Muses, each with her own domain of expertise. Here's a summary of who they were:
In Greek mythology, the Muses were goddesses who presided over the arts and sciences, inspiring creativity and knowledge in humans. There were originally nine Muses, each with her own domain of expertise. Here's a summary of who they were:
- Calliope: The Muse of epic poetry and eloquence. She was often depicted with a writing tablet or a scroll.
- Clio: The Muse of history. She was often depicted holding a scroll or a set of tablets, symbolizing the recording of historical events.
- Euterpe: The Muse of music, song, and lyric poetry. She was often depicted holding a flute or a double flute.
- Thalia: The Muse of comedy and bucolic poetry. She was often depicted with a comic mask, a shepherd's crook, or a wreath of ivy.
- Melpomene: The Muse of tragedy. She was often depicted holding a tragic mask and a sword or club.
- Terpsichore: The Muse of dance and choral poetry. She was often depicted holding a lyre and dancing.
- Erato: The Muse of love poetry and lyric poetry. She was often depicted holding a lyre and a wreath of roses.
- Polyhymnia: The Muse of sacred poetry, hymns, and eloquence. She was often depicted in a pensive or meditative pose, sometimes holding a finger to her lips.
- Urania: The Muse of astronomy and astrology. She was often depicted holding a globe and a compass, symbolizing the study of celestial bodies and their movements.
