No doubt the tales concerning the ancient Greeks are the most well known of all myths. Do you have a favourite tale from the Greeks? What do you think of the nature of their deities in comparison to other deities from around the world? Why do you think people still have such a fascination with the ancient Greeks and their stories after all of these years? Tell us below!
My favourite has to be the myth of Pandora or the myth of the Trojan war! But I think people are so fascinated by Greek mythology because of how different it is to any religion still around today - the very idea of 12 gods must be the height of heresy to a strict follower of a monotheistic religion! Also the fact that there's a god for literally e v e r y t h i n g contributes to the appeal, as well as the fact that none of the Greek gods are very 'holy' in the sense that they do not act as we would expect, for example, the Christian or Muslim god to act - e.g: Zeus eating his own children; Aphrodite and her many affairs and Dionysus and his love of a good old party!
The flaws are definitely a part of the appeal. (Not to nitpick or anything but I think it was actually Kronos who ate his children, who were Zeus' siblings).
@SarahBaggins, it was Cronus. Reia had to supposedly let it happen because of some prophecy; which came true because she gave Cronus a rock instead if Zeuz. The son rose up to defeat the Titans from guidance from Gaea. After Cronus's Zeus's siblings were ummm vomited out pretty much as adults.
@mandideman, Zeus ate his wife. (Not children) But then in the brain Athena was born and Hephaestus knocked Zeus's head open. Maybe my favorite Greek myth! :)
A personal favourite of mine would have to be the myth about Athene and the weaving contest between the goddess and a girl named Arachne. The myth explains why spiders make such beautiful webs which I thought was an interesting idea.
I hated spiders and reading this myth growing up creeped me out more. lol I think my mom told me once I tried convincing my little sister that all spiders were women at one time.
It's not really a tale, but I have always loved Ares because he was a coward. When I read the Iliad I couldn't help but feel for him when Athena would always better him, despite him being the God of War. I don't think Zeus liked his son very much because he would always lose to Athena.
Yeah, he's a bit of an underdog that way. It doesn't help that he was caught with Aphrodite even though she was married to Hephaestos. Hephaestos certainly made a fool of Ares.
I've always been interested in Hades and Adonis. The story behind these two it's so intriguing. I always find myself looking out for more information about them. Maybe it's my attraction to the Underworld, but I find Hades as a very peculiar character and I'd do my graduation paper about him. And Adonis, I think I learned about this myth too much in Romanian literature.
I've also been very interested in Hera and Faun, lately. I just think they resemble people from this time so much. Under different shells but their traits are everywhere! the jealousy Hera felt for Zeus' lovers and offspring and the heights she would go to destroy them.
I think Hades is fascinating too, but I hate how he gets such a bad rep these days purely because other religions have superimposed their ideologies onto the myths. It seems that they equate the Underworld with Hell and therefore Hades with the devil/Lucifer. Except from kidnapping Persephone, I thought he was a pretty good guy!
@SarahBaggins, I know right?! I think there are other gods that deserved the bad guy image! Even Zeus! He wasn't this amazing, sincere god that people see him as these days.
My favorite tale would probably have to be the Hyacinth one. I suppose I just found WAY too much entertainment in imagining Apollo and Zephyrus fighting over poor Hyacinth. Especially since it's not a female they're fighting over, it's a dude. They're all dudes! xD Maybe it's just me, but I found it hilarious.
I absolutely believe that people find such interest in Greek mythology is merely because of the teenage series that are booming all over the market. Authors are making Greek Mythology quite popular. However, I have never very much read any of these books, I discovered mythology when I was a child, since my parents were very traditional and such, they taught me Celtic mythology.
I think they're interesting because of the fact that all of them are different, and have brilliant personalities that stick to peoples hearts. :3
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I've also been very interested in Hera and Faun, lately. I just think they resemble people from this time so much. Under different shells but their traits are everywhere! the jealousy Hera felt for Zeus' lovers and offspring and the heights she would go to destroy them.
I absolutely believe that people find such interest in Greek mythology is merely because of the teenage series that are booming all over the market. Authors are making Greek Mythology quite popular. However, I have never very much read any of these books, I discovered mythology when I was a child, since my parents were very traditional and such, they taught me Celtic mythology.
I think they're interesting because of the fact that all of them are different, and have brilliant personalities that stick to peoples hearts. :3