Free Essays on Greek Mythology

that even humans today should take to heart. The Greeks believed in manlike deities as well, whom were capable of spite, favoritism, and jealousy. The only difference being their ability to perform supernatural powers and immortality. The creation of the world according to the Greeks goes as follows: In the beginning there was only chaos. Out of this void appeared Erebus, the unknowable place where death dwells, and Night (Nyx). All else was empty, silent, endless, darkness. Upon the birth of Love(Eros) brought a start of order. From Love came Light and Day. Once there was Light and Day, Gaea appeared. Gaea was the Earth goddess. Erebus then slept with Night, producing Aether and Day. Aether was the heavenly light and Day was the light of the Earth. Night solely produced Death, Doom, Dreams, Fate, Nemesis, Sleep, among others that come to man out of the darkness. Meanwhile Gaea gave birth to Uranus. Uranus was the sky god and first ruler who later became married to his creator, Gaea. Together they proceeded to have the three Cyclopes, the three Hecatoncheires, and twelve Titans. However, Uranus was a bad father and husband. He disliked the Hecatoncheires and expressed his hatred by imprisoning them into the hidden places of the earth, Gaea's womb. This angered Gaea and she plotted against Uranus. She tried to get her... Free Essays on Greek Mythology Free Essays on Greek Mythology The ancient Greeks used stories containing God's to explain the way life was. Often times there were lessons to be learned that described human behavior. To the Greeks the myths were looked at as examples of good and bad behavior and its effects. they worshipped the Gods and tried not to offend them in any way. The story of creation is a prime example of how the Greeks viewed the heavens and the earth. Zeus was the king of the sky, earth, and men. Zeus' son Apollo urged all Greeks to follow these words: â€Å"Nothing in excess† and â€Å"Know your limitations.† These are words that even humans today should take to heart. The Greeks believed in manlike deities as well, whom were capable of spite, favoritism, and jealousy. The only difference being their ability to perform supernatural powers and immortality. The creation of the world according to the Greeks goes as follows: In the beginning there was only chaos. Out of this void appeared Erebus, the unknowable place where death dwells, and Night (Nyx). All else was empty, silent, endless, darkness. Upon the birth of Love(Eros) brought a start of order. From Love came Light and Day. Once there was Light and Day, Gaea appeared. Gaea was the Earth goddess. Erebus then slept with Night, producing Aether and Day. Aether was the heavenly light and Day was the light of the Earth. Night solely produced Death, Doom, Dreams, Fate, Nemesis, Sleep, among others that come to man out of the darkness. Meanwhile Gaea gave birth to Uranus. Uranus was the sky god and first ruler who later became married to his creator, Gaea. Together they proceeded to have the three Cyclopes, the three Hecatoncheires, and twelve Titans. However, Uranus was a bad father and husband. He disliked the Hecatoncheires and expressed his hatred by imprisoning them into the hidden places of the earth, Gaea's womb. This angered Gaea and she plotted against Uranus. She tried to get her... Free Essays on Greek Mythology Greek Mythology Greek Mythology, beliefs and ritual observances of the ancient Greeks, who became the first Western civilization about 2000 BC. It consists mainly of a body of diverse stories and legends about a variety of gods. Greek mythology had become fully developed by about the 700s BC. Three classic collections of myths-Theogony by the poet Hesiod and the Iliad and the Odyssey by the poet Homer-appeared at about that time. Greek mythology has several distinguishing characteristics. The Greek gods resembled humans in form and showed human feelings. Unlike ancient religions such as Hinduism or Judaism, Greek mythology did not involve special revelations or spiritual teachings. It also varied widely in practice and belief, with no formal structure, such as a church government, and no written code, such as a sacred book. Principal Gods The Greeks believed that the gods chose Mount Olympus, in a region of Greece called Thessaly, as their home. On Olympus, the gods formed a socie ty that ranked them in terms of authority and powers. However, the gods could roam freely, and individual gods became associated with three main domains-the sky or heaven, the sea, and earth. The 12 chief gods, usually called the Olympians, were Zeus, Hera, Hephaestus, Athena, Apollo, Artemis, Ares, Aphrodite, Hestia, Hermes, Demeter, and Poseidon. Zeus was the head of the gods, and the spiritual father of gods and people. His wife, Hera, was the queen of heaven and the guardian of marriage. Other gods associated with heaven were Hephaestus, god of fire and metalworkers; Athena, goddess of wisdom and war; and Apollo, god of light, poetry, and music. Artemis, goddess of wildlife and the moon; Ares, god of war; and Aphrodite, goddess of love, were other gods of heaven. They were joined by Hestia, goddess of the hearth; and Hermes, messenger of the gods and ruler of science and invention. Poseidon was the ruler of the sea who, with his wife ...