conclusion greek mythology essay

After all my research, I am ready to answer my initial question: Why was mythology so important to the Greeks, and how has it affected us today?

*For a more detailed explanation, go to The Importance of Mythology.

Greek mythology has also contributed a lot to our daily life, even though we might not know it. The Olympics, movies, books, games, astrology, company names, architectural design and city names have all been influenced by Greek mythology in some way. Without Greek mythology, a lot of these things would either not exist, or have very different names or appearances.

*For a more detailed explanation go to Greek Mythology Today.

In conclusion, mythology was and is very important, to us and the Greeks. In my opinion it is important for children to continue learning it in school for the sole reason that is has had a big impact on our life. I don’t even want to think about what our world would be like if Greek mythology never existed.

Greek Mythology essay

Greek Mythology is a set of diverse traditional tales told by the ancient Greeks about the exploits of gods and heroes and their relations with ordinary mortals. The ancient Greeks worshipped many gods within a culture that tolerated diversity. Cosmogony is the study of the universe. Creation mythologies explain the actual formation of the world by a variety of processes. These processes include the sacrifice of a primal being (for example, a giant or serpent); a struggle between supernatural powers; the blending or coalescing of elements, particularly water and earth; the incubation of a cosmic egg; and the uttering of a divine word.

In myths that credit primary creation to gods, such as the Greek deities Uranus (sky god) and Gaea (earth goddess), these deities often become hazy, remote figures in later mythology, and stories often recount their overthrow by their own offspring. For example, in the Greek tradition, Zeus succeeded his father Cronus and grandfather Uranus to become ruler of the gods Unlike other belief systems, Greek culture recognized no singe truth or code and produced no sacred, written text like the Bible and Qur’an.

Stories about the origins and actions of Greek divinities varied widely, depending, for example, on whether the tale appeared in a comedy, tragedy, or epic poem. Greek mythology was like a complex and rich language, in which the Greeks could express a vast range of perceptions about the world. Greek mythology has several distinguishing characteristics, in addition to multiple versions. The Greek gods resembled human beings in their form and in their emotions, and they lived in a society that resembled the human society in its levels of authority and power.

However, a crucial difference existed between gods and human beings: Humans died and gods were immortal. Heroes also played an important role in Greek mythology, and stories about them conveyed serious themes. The Greeks considered human heroes from the past closer to themselves than were the immortal gods. Most creation stories assume the eternity of matter or even of the world itself. However, these myths hold that the world in its precreation state was uninhabitable and must be organized either by the action of cosmic forces or by creator deities.

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Certain images of the primal, or precreation, state of the universe are common to a number of mythological traditions. Some myths represent the primal state as a void. Others depict it as a chaos of indistinct elements. Still others present it as a primeval sea, or as a cosmic egg containing all things in embryonic form. Some creation myths reflect the environmental circumstances of a particular culture. For example, in Mesopotamia, located between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, a dependence on irrigation systems, and the perpetual threat of flooding were a pervasive feature of life.

Accordingly, the action and control of the waters played a major role in the mythology of Sumer, an early Mesopotamian civilization. In Sumerian mythology, the primeval sea, personified by the goddess Nammu, is the source of the gods and of the cosmos. When the gods decide to destroy their human creations, they do so by sending a flood (Ancient Middle Eastern Religions; Deluge) Many mythological accounts ascribe creation to impersonal agents rather than to individual deities.

In some African traditions, a cosmic egg hatched to release spirits called Nommo, who then set about the creation of humankind. In Egyptian mythology, both personal and impersonal creative forces came into play: four divine couples who fused to form the cosmic egg, from which the sun god was born, personified Elemental energies. In later Egyptian mythology, the sun god became identified with the figure of Ra, a deity who gave rise to a pantheon of high gods (known as the Nine Gods of Heliopolis) through self-fertilization (Egyptian Mythology).

Many mythologies include similar stories of self-fertilization by a creator deity, whose offspring then give birth to other gods, creating a pantheon based on incestuous family relationships. The most famous such line of descent occurs in Greek mythology, in which Zeus begets offspring by many goddesses and mortals. The Greek mythologies served several purposes. First, Greek myths explained the world. Second, they acted as a means of exploration. Third, they provided authority and legitimacy. Finally, they provided entertainment.

Greek myths lent structure and order to the world and explained how the current state of things had originated. Hesiod’s Theogony narrated the development of the present order of the universe by relating it to chaos, the origin of all things. A complex process of violence, struggle, and sexual attraction eventually took the regime led by Zeus taken over (Hamilton 1942, 1998: 246-298). Another poem by Hesiod, Works and Days, explained why the world is full of trouble. According to the poem the first woman, Pandora, opened a jar whose lid she had been forbidden to lift.

As a result of her disobedience all the diseases and miseries previously confined in the jar escaped into the world. Such a myth also makes a statement about the relationship between the sexes in Hesiod’s own world. Scholars assume that he composed the poem for a largely male audience that was receptive to a tale that put women at the root of all evil. One of the commonest types of explanation given in myths relates to ritual. Myths helped worshippers make sense of a religious practice by telling how the practice originated.

A prime example is sacrifice, a ritual that involved killing a domesticated animal as an offering to the gods. The ceremony culminated in the butchering, cooking, and sharing of the meat of the victim. Hesiod recounts the myth associated with this rite. According to this myth, the tricky Titan Prometheus tried to outwit Zeus by offering him a cunningly devised choice of meals. Zeus could have either an apparently unappetizing dish—an ox paunch, which had tasty meat concealed within—or a seemingly delicious one, gleaming fat on the outside, which had nothing but bones hidden beneath.

Zeus chose the second dish, and ever since human beings have kept the tastiest part of every sacrifice for themselves, leaving the gods nothing but the savor of the rising smoke. Myths also had the function of legitimation. A claim, an action, or a relationship acquired extra authority if it had a precedent in myth. Aristocratic Greek families liked to trace their ancestry back to the heroes or gods of mythology. Many songs have been written in praise of current victors in the Olympian Games by linking them with the deeds of their mythical ancestors.

Scholars can demonstrate influence on Greek mythology from the Middle East much more reliably than influence from Crete. Greek mythology owed much to cultures in Mesopotamia and Anatolia, especially in the realm of cosmogony (origin of the universe) and theogony (origin of the gods). To take one example, a clear parallel exists in an early Middle Eastern myth about the castration of Uranus by his son Cronus and the subsequent overthrow of Cronus by his son Zeus. The Middle Eastern myth tells of the god Anu who was castrated by Kumarbi, father of the gods.

The weather and storm god Teshub, in turn, displaced Anu. Scholars continue to bring to light more and more similarities between Greek and Middle Eastern mythologies . Mythology formed a central reference point in Greek society because it was interwoven with ritual and other aspects of social existence (Avery 1970: 201-203). Yet the question of how far people believed the myths is a difficult and probably unanswerable one. Some intellectuals, such as Greek writer Palaephatus, tried to interpret the myths as having figurative (nonliteral) meanings.

Writing in the 4th century BC, Palaephatus interpreted the stories of Diomedes, a king devoured by his own mares, and of Actaeon, a hunter torn apart by his own hounds, as concealing perfectly credible accounts of young men who had spent too much money on their animals and so been figuratively eaten alive by debt. Other thinkers, such as the 4th-century-BC philosopher Plato, objected to some myths on moral grounds, particularly to myths that told of crimes committed by the gods. Yet such skepticism seems hardly to have altered the imaginative power and persistence of Greek myths.

As late as the 2nd century AD, the Greek traveler and historian Pausanias described the myths and cults in the places he visited as if they constituted a still-living complex of religious discourse and behavior. Cosmogonic myths generally culminate in the creation of humankind (Rees 2001: 34-47), after which the mythic cosmos comes to resemble the world of human experience. In mythic history, the earliest era of the world is usually the closest to perfection—a Golden Age or Garden of Eden—with later phases showing the progressive degeneration of the world as it grows more distant from the original creative impulse.

The earliest humans are often thought to have been of extraordinary stature and longevity and to have been much closer to the gods than are the humans of the present day. In many traditions, the story cycles associated with demigods and heroes are an even richer source of myth than those involving the gods themselves. Such myths enable the listener to recall the time of creation when the world was in its infancy.

In summary, the patterns in Greek and Mesopotamian mythology are both cultural and universal as stated above, since all the myths of different cultures in the world have similarities.

REFERENCES:

Avery, C. 1970. ‘The New Century Handbook of Greek Mythology and Legend’. 201-203 Hamilton, E. 1942, 1998. ‘Mythology’. 246-298 Malam, J. 2000. ‘Ancient Greece: Gods and Goddesses’. 49-72 Gribbin, R. 2001. ‘Hyperspace: The Universe and its Mysteries’. 03-41 Rees, M. 2001. ‘Our Comic Habit’. 34-47 Kallen, S. 1997. ‘Exploring the Origins of the Universe’. 107-118 .

Greek Mythology Influence Analytical Essay

Introduction, reference list.

The impact of Greek mythology on the modern society cannot go unnoticed. Many spheres of the modern society have borrowed heavily on Greek mythology. Areas like modern language, arts and traditions among others all exhibit the influence of Greek tradition in the modern society.

A good example of this is where people with no or little understanding of Greek legends still know that Hercules was a strongman and that Venus is the god responsible for love. This goes ahead to show how the Greek mythologies have taken root in our modern society. In fact, majority of the traditions that people in the modern society carry out have their origin in Greece.

One Greek mythology that has influenced the whole world is the celebration of the Olympic Games. According to historians, the Olympic Games are a traditional Greek sport that was established in 776 B.C. The Greeks used these athletic contests to award vegetal crowns to people who excelled in different areas.

According to historians, the foundation of the Olympic Games is credited to Herakles. According to the myth, Zeus set up the games to celebrate his legendary success over his father Kronos. This event was celebrated once every four years and involved all Greece citizens.

As time went by, the rest of the world adopted the use of Olympic Games as a unifying event. Today, the Olympic Games are regarded as the most popular sporting event in history. In fact, the modern day sport has minimal differences compared to the original games. This goes a long way in exhibiting just how Greek culture has influenced the world systems. (Barringer, 2010)

In the modern society, very few people can speak Greek fluently. However, the English language has been greatly shaped by Greek mythologies. An example of this is a term like “Herculean task”, which refers to doing something that requires a big effort. According to historians, the term comes from the Greek legend that refers to the labors assigned to Hercules. Another common name in the English language that has its roots from the Greeks is the sleep inducing drug known as morphine.

According to English experts, this name has its origins from Morpheus, the Greek god responsible for bringing sleep. The Greek god of love Zeus otherwise known as aphrodisiac has also been incorporated in the English language. Today, the modern language uses the term aphrodisiac to refer to any stuff or condition that stimulates sexual need.

Besides their use in languages, Greek mythology also has a great impact on science. Today, most heavenly bodies have been given the names of Greek characters. On top of this, nearly all the planets and most of the stars in the solar system have been given Roman translations of Greek characters.

There is no doubt that the modern world has borrowed much from Greek mythology. Reference to Greek mythology proliferate every sphere of our society. The Olympic Games one of the most celebrated athletic sport has its origins from the Greek culture.

The sport has undergone the test of time and today it is considered as an event that unifies the world. In fact, some things that we take for granted as maps have their origin from Greek myths. The Europe continent that houses many communities is named after Europa, the virgin carried off by Zeus, who tricked her by masquerading as a bull.

Barringer, J. (2010) Art, Myth, and Ritual in Classical Greece . Retrieved from http://www.cambridge.org/catalogue/catalogue.asp?isbn=9780521646475&ss=exc

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Roman Mythology Vs Greek Mythology

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Nyx’s Role in Greek Mythology

This essay about Nyx in Greek mythology explores the character and significance of the ancient goddess of the night. Nyx, a primeval deity born from Chaos, is depicted as an autonomous and powerful figure who predates the Olympian gods. Her influence is subtle yet pervasive, overseeing fundamental human experiences such as sleep and death through her numerous offspring, including Hypnos (Sleep) and Thanatos (Death). Unlike the more interventionist Olympian gods, Nyx maintains a dignified distance from both divine and mortal affairs. The essay highlights her independence and the respect she commands from other gods, including Zeus, showcasing her unique position in Greek mythology. Nyx’s portrayal as a figure who embodies the transition between cosmic forces and daily life adds depth to our understanding of the Greek mythological tradition and its interpretation of night and darkness.

How it works

In the rich pantheon of Greek mythology, which is populated by gods, goddesses, and mythical beings of great power and influence, Nyx stands out as a figure of profound depth and mystery. Nyx, the goddess of the night, is a primeval deity who figures among the first generation of the cosmos. Her domain is the night, a fundamental element of the human and divine experience, embodying not just the literal darkness but also the metaphorical unknown.

Nyx’s origins are described in Hesiod’s “Theogony,” where she is listed as a daughter of Chaos, the void from which everything originated.

This lineage alone places Nyx in a category of ancient deities who predate the Olympians and other later gods and goddesses of Greek mythology. Unlike many other mythological figures who often rely on the interplay with other gods to define their roles and stories, Nyx maintains a degree of autonomy and omnipresence that is rare and indicative of her inherent power.

Nyx’s influence and presence were felt in several ways across mythology. She is often depicted as an exceptionally beautiful figure, draped in dark robes, cruising the sky in a chariot, trailing stars behind her, and bringing the night across the world. Despite her pivotal role in the daily cycle of life, Nyx rarely interferes in the affairs of mortals or other deities, which is a unique trait compared to the often meddlesome gods of Olympus.

The goddess’s offspring, as recounted in various myths, also underscores her vital role in the cosmic narrative. Nyx is said to have birthed numerous entities, either alone or with Erebus, the personification of darkness. Among her children are Hypnos (Sleep), Thanatos (Death), the Fates, the Keres, Nemesis, and many others who play crucial roles in human life and destiny. This progeny reflects her intrinsic connection to the elemental aspects of human existence—sleep, death, fate, and retribution—all fundamental forces that move beyond the control of humans and gods alike.

Nyx’s independence is particularly notable. She had such a formidable presence that even Zeus, often considered the supreme god of the Greek pantheon, seldom wished to cross her. One myth highlights her power, where she intervenes to protect her son Hypnos after he angers Zeus. This story not only illustrates her protective nature as a mother but also her authority and influence, which even Zeus respects.

This portrayal of Nyx as a primordial deity with significant influence yet choosing to remain largely out of the more theatrical Olympian dramas speaks volumes about her character. It positions her not just as a creator and a bearer of night but as a boundary between the cosmic forces and the daily lives of the gods and mortals. Her presence is inevitable and pervasive, yet she is not a deity who seeks to control or manipulate overtly.

In conclusion, Nyx represents a powerful and enigmatic force within Greek mythology. Her narrative offers a glimpse into the complexities of the ancient Greek cosmic order and the human condition, touching on themes of inevitability, independence, and the fundamental processes of life and death. As a figure shrouded in the cloak of night, Nyx brings depth and nuance to the mythological explorations of darkness and the unknown, making her a fascinating subject of study for both historians and enthusiasts of mythology.

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