Myths were extremely important to the culture of Anicient Greece. Throughout the rise and fall of the Ancient Greek empire, tens of thousands of poems, stories, and songs dedicated to heroes, monsters, gods, demigods and other assorted creatures were created. There were many recurring myths and characters, the most famous being or having to do with the gods and their children. The Oracle at Delphi was one of, if not the most famous Greek characters that was not a god, or related to a god. The Oracle is in almost as many myths as the gods, as she was able to accurately foresee the future, and nearly every myth that involved a quest usually involved a consultation to the Oracle. The Oracle at Delphi is arguably the most important and influential …show more content…
Apollo did not want any old oracle to speak for him. He wanted a real one. However at the time, there weren't any legitimate ones. The oracles he had met were always vague and inaccurate. For example, if you asked an oracle if you should plant your garden tomorrow, they might say "the frost will be gone if the gods will it." Not really helpful. Apollo had the power to magically make someone truly see the future, just as he could. He decided that he was going to create the one, true, great oracle. After many weeks he chose a priestess to be called Pythia. He would use his magic to allow her to truly see the future. He built a special temple for her home. Apollo's rules stated that she had to tell the truth, but she could not be too specific. This was very typical of Apollo and the rest of the Gods. It could not be so easy as her simply seeing the future and relaying that to whomever asked, she had to be vague and riddlesome so as to allow for misinterpretation. For example myth has it that one day, a weary king came to the Oracles temple at Delphi. He asked the oracle if he would win his upcoming battle. She smiled and told him a great king would win the battle, which was exactly what he had wanted to hear. He went away joyful, leaving many gifts for the oracle behind him. When he led his men into battle however, they were quickly defeated, and the king was killed. Word spread, but people still flocked to Apollo's oracle. They knew she had told the truth. She had to tell the truth. There is no proof that such a character existed in real life, but there are numerous accounts of historical events that record involvement from the Oracle at
The Odyssey was also very popular in it’s time. It was set in ancient Greece where in its culture; mythology was the heart of everyday life. The Greek Culture turned to mythology to explain different phenomena for which they had no scientific explanation and this was prominent in the epic the Odyssey.
The Greeks believed in many gods and oracles. The oracle in Oedipus the King is the oracle of Apollo, the Greek god of the sun. Oedipus the King represents Antiquity best because it encompasses the polytheistic beliefs of the time. It is important to understand the beliefs of the time in order to understand what gave the people hope and motivation to perform all deeds.
We’re all interested in understanding our place in the world around us; the roots of our existence, and how we fit into the world around us. In ancient Greece, the ideology was the same. While looking for answers, mythology, or more specifically myth, was born. Ancient Greek lives were then affected by Hesiod’s Theogony, as it depicted their relations to the gods and to the universe itself.
of Apollo: "A prophet? Listen to me and learn some peace of mind: no skill in
Greek gods have and continue to spark the interest in many people. There are endless amounts of stories/myths available to read about them. Greek gods display a variety of different characteristics based on their personality. In particular, Aphrodite is known for being the most beautiful goddess, her ability to make men fall in love with her, her unfaithfulness, and how she caused the Trojan War. She may be a goddess, but that does not make her flawless.
Greek mythology was used in ancient times to explain how and why the world works and how it was created. People used Greek Mythology to tell myths about why the world has characteristics such as water ,plants, life, and animals. Myths tell stories about Gods, Goddesses, monsters and mythical creatures, although there are many myths about the sea, trees, and life, but one the most important myth is the myth of Gaea she was known to be the creator of earth.
Apollo is often known as the god of music, but he is also the god of the sun, medicine/healing, prophecy, oracles, plague, light, truth, and knowledge. He is famous for playing a lyre (a “u-shaped, harp-like instrument) and was the leader of the Muses. Muses were gods who specialized in arts and sciences. Apollo also participated in many music competitions against other gods and goddesses. Apollo, when he was an infant, was given by Zeus the gift of prophecy. Apollo was also the guardian of the Greek city Delphi. The first oracle of Greece was located in Delphi. Apollo was also considered to be a god of the sun, as he had the important task of moving the sun across the sky everyday with his chariot.
The God's impact and personality had a direct influence on daily life in Greek society. The Gods can give things "A cruel turn, this. Never had I thought to see this land, but Zeus let me see it." (Book 5, Line 426-427 The Odyssey unabridged), however, they can also take things away and curse their people "Take yourself out of this island, creeping thing...Your voyage here was cursed by heaven" (Book 10, Line 82-85 The Odyssey unabridged). Greek citizens had to always be considering what the Gods were thinking of them. The Greeks knew that whatever the Gods gave them, they will just as easily take everything away. By knowing the nicknames of the Gods, readers are able to determine their personalities. Throughout The Odyssey, Athena, Roman name Minerva, is often referred to as the "Grey-eyed goddess". This explanation can account for her cleverness and her bright, scheming eye. Athena is constantly changing shapes and disguises, but the cunning eye, stays constant. Another example of one of the God's personalities, is in the myth of Athena's birth. The personality of Zeus shines. It displays Zeus' constant lust after female mortals. There are many other displays of Zeus' lust. Many half mortals are the offspring of Zeus, due to his flirtatious attitude.
Apollo had many powers but he was most well known as the god of archery, he could control sunlight, tell the future, and was known as the bringer of plagues and illnesses. He also represented strength and intelligence to the Greeks. Apollo could control sunlight and make pretty much anything out of it, he often made arrows but could also make swords, tables and even chairs! When Apollo saw the future he could only make out bits and pieces of a person's fate. Even though seeing the future may seem like an incredible gift it can also be a curse because foretelling the future could change it in unknown ways. Apollo and his twin sister Artemis were both amazing archers, they could shoot enemies by just letting an arrow fly from their bow and having it seek out its victim.
When we look at Greek Mythology we often run into the gods of that era. Sometimes they are merely backdrops to the human element of the story but in stories such as The Odyssey the gods play a prominent if not vital role to the central themes of the story.
The Greeks developed myths because they didn’t have explanations for things like thunder, earthquakes, and volcanoes like we do today, so they believed that their gods caused these events to happen and the myths explained the gods actions.
Myths give us role models. Ever wonder why superhero movies are so popular? Children pattern themselves after heroes and connect with many archetypal characters like Superman and Wonderwoman. As adults we can find strength in stories about deities and mythical figures, and their heroic journeys as well.
The Greeks used myths to explain natural occurrences, unanswered questions, and the world’s phenomenon. The Greeks had numerous myths and legends; each one had it’s one purpose. Many myths were created by people to explain why certain things happened the way they did.
Greek Mythology is a group of stories relevant to the culture, religion, and society of the Greeks. The purpose was an attempt to explain the origins of life, the reasons and causes for the human condition, as well as the cultural norms and practices of the society they lived in. Greek Mythology formed the foundation of religious beliefs and practices of ancient Greece and contain strong factual and historical roots. From these traditions, we discover that the Greeks believed in the collection of immortals living on Mount Olympus in Greece. Furthermore, Greek myths reveal morals, philosophies, and warnings. The study of myths assists in gaining an understanding of the religious and political institutions of Ancient Greece and its civilization.
The god and goddess is important because they play an important role in the Iliad. Gods and goddesses are significant in the Iliad because they were a part of the culture and daily lives of the Greek people. Many of the characters in the Iliad are gods, goddesses, and the children of gods. Many are the children of gods and humans. The Greek cultures worship these gods and daily lives are built around the code of morality they dictate. The gods were worshiped and also sacrificed too. They have a higher power than majority of anyone especially the goddess they have a lot of power. Many Greeks thought their life was for the gods and goddess. They constantly prayed to them and honored them, in fear of something