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Greek Mythology
The Greek Myths
THE CREATION OF THE WORLD
Perhaps the most confusing aspect of this myth is the extensive use of names
that seem difficult to non native Greek speakers to pronounce. This sometimes
causes frustration and loss of track when trying to establish the continuing
relationship between these characters in the birth of the world. So you have to
be patient and try to associate these names with the characters and events that
took place...
It all started when Chaos, Gaia (Earth) and Eros started to mix with each other
leading to the Gods. So In Greek mythology, the creation of the world starts
with the creation of the different classes of Gods. in this case, Gods refers to
the characters that ruled the Earth (without necessarily possessing any divine
attributes) until the "real" Gods, the Olympians came. So after this
brief introduction, the next step to examine in the creation of the world is the
creation of the Gods (which really is the same thing, it's just that when you
are interested in the creation of the world, you look at the very beginning of
the creation of the Gods, while, to examine the creation of the Gods, you have
to look a little deeper).
Hesiod's Theogony is one of the best introductions we have on the creation of
the world. According to Hesiod, three major elements took part in the beginning
of creation. Chaos, Gaia, and Eros. It is said that Chaos gave birth to Erebos
and Night while Ouranos and Okeanos sprang from Gaia. Each child had a specific
role, and Ouranos's duty was to protect Gaia. Later on, the two became a couple
and
were the first Gods to rule the world. They had twelve children who where known
as the Titans. Three others known as the Cyclopes, and the three hundred handed
Giants.
The situation from here on however wasn't too good. Ouranos wasn't too pleased
with his offsprings because he saw them as a threat to his throne. After all,
there would come a time when they would grow up, and perhaps challenge his
command. Ouranos eventually decided that his children belonged deep inside Gaia,
hidden from himself and his kingdom. Gaia who wasn't too pleased with this
arrangement agreed at first, but, later on chose to give her solidarity to her
children. She devised a plan to rid her children from their tyrant father, and
supplied her youngest child Kronos with a sickle. She then arranged a meeting
for the two in which Kronos cut off his father's genitals. The seed of Ouranos
which fell into the sea gave birth to Aphrodite, while from his blood were
created the Fates, the Giants, and the Meliai nymphs.
Kronos succeeded his father in taking over the throne and married his sister
Rhea. He also freed his siblings and shared his kingdom with them.Okeanos was
given the responsibility to rule over the sea and rivers, while Hyperion guided
the Sun and the stars. And time went by... Sooner than later Kronos had his own
children, and the very same fears that haunted his father came back to torment
him as well.
Kronos eventually decided that the best way to deal with this problem was to
swallow all his children.
However, what goes around comes around, and once again the mother decided it was
time to free her children. Rhea, Kronos's wife, managed to save her youngest
child, Zeus by tricking Kronos into swallowing a stone wrapped in clothes
instead of Zeus himself.
The great Zeus was then brought up by the Nymphs in Mount Dikte in the island of
Crete. In order to cover the sound of his crying, the Kouretes danced and
clashed their shields. As Zeus entered manhood, he had the strength few dare
dream of. He dethroned his father, and freed his siblings from his father's
entrails. It was now Zeus's turn to rule the world...
THE HUMAN RACE
According to the myths, the immortal Gods thought that it would be interesting
to create beings like them, but that were mortal. They would allow these beings
to inhabit the earth. As soon as the mortals were created, Zeus, the leader of
the Gods, ordered the two sons of the Titan Iapetus, Prometheus and Epimetheus,
to give these beings various gifts in the hope that the mortals would evolve
into interesting beings, able to amuse the Gods.
So the two brothers started to divide the gifts among themselves in order to
give them to the earth's inhabitants. Epimetheus asked his brother to give out
the gifts first, and was granted his wish. He gave the gift of beauty to some
animals, agility on other animals, strength in others, and agility and speed to
some. However, he left the human race defenseless, with no natural weapons in
this new kingdom. Prometheus, who liked the human race, upon realizing what had
happened, promptly distributed his own gifts to mankind. He stole reason from
Athena, and thus gave reason to man. He then stole fire from the gates of
Hephaestus, and gave mankind this new gift, which would keep them warm.
Prometheus then became the protector of the human race, and shared with it all
the knowledge he had.
This new situation angered Zeus, for fire until know had been a gift only
reserved for the Gods.Zeus did not want the human race to resemble the Gods.
Zeus's next step was to punish Prometheus. And a heavy punishment it was. Zeus
chained Prometheus to a peak in the caucasus which was believed to be at the end
of the world. He had an eagle eat his liver every single day for thirty years.
At the end of each day, Prometheus' liver would grow back again, so he would
have to suffer all over again. After thirty years, Heracles (Hercules) released
Prometheus from his nightmare.
THE OLYMPIANS
The Olympians refers to the twelve Gods of mount Olympus which is located in the
northern central part of Greece. This mountain was believed to be sacred
throughout ancient times, and, it was believed to be the highest point on earth.
These Gods that ruled mount Olympus, also ruled the lives of all mankind. Each
and every single God (or Goddess) had their own character and domain. Gods in
mythology were very human like. They had the strengths and weaknesses of mortals
(as we know them today). they were truly made to represent each and every side
of human nature. They supported justice, as seen by their own point of view.
Gods even had children with mortals, which resulted in semi-gods like Hercules.
The most amazing observation is how the Gods expresses human nature in its
complete form. Strength, fear, unfaithfulness, love, admiration, beauty,
hunting, farming, education, there was a God for every human activity and
expression. These Gods weren't just ideal figures. they were beings with their
own limitations. They expressed anger, jealousy and joy, just like us. Each God
rules his own realm. they only true omnipotent God was Zeus, who ruled all.