Greek Mythology Chapter 1 Analysis

The Ancient Greeks believed in many gods and heroes during their time. Each one had a sole purpose in a mortal’s lifetime. Greek mythology had a huge impact on religion in Ancient Greece. The Greeks performed rituals in order to honor their gods. Mythology affected the Ancient Greeks in many ways. The origins of mythology, the influences of mythology through a human’s lifetime and lessons taught in the ancient myths will be examined.

Once Zeus was fully grown he returned to his father’s realm and with the help of his mother, hoodwinked Cronus to drink an emetic that made him disgorge his children (Leadbetter). It was these children: Hades, Poseidon, Hestia, Hera and Demeter who helped Zeus wage the Titan war against Cronus. The women titans refused to help Cronus defeat the Olympians and even a few male titans helped aid the Olympians. After ten years of battles, the Olympians were able to banish the Titans into the Underworld (Titanomachy). It was after this war that Zeus seized the throne and divided the sky, the underworld, and the sea amongst him and his brothers. (Hades: the underworld, Poseidon: the sea, and Zeus: the sky.)

Homer referenced other Greek myths. Odyssseus went to converse with the spirits in the Underworld and many of them were from other Greek myths. I have always enjoyed mythology, Greecian in particular, and reading references to characters like Hercules, Oedipus, Epicaste, Minos, Theseus and Cassandra made the book easier to connect to. Since I recognized quite a few of the characters from that scene it also was easier to follow.

Book 19 of the epic poem The Odyssey is written by the great poet Homer. Homer’s specific use of language and epic conventions help develop the plot, specifically Odysseus’ disguise and whether or not it will work on the people in the house. It also helps to establish Eurycleia, the nurse, and the suitors as well as Penelope. In the passage, Odysseus has entered his home for the first time since his return when he left almost twenty years ago. Disguised as a beggar, Odysseus tells his own story through the beggar’s words to his wife, Penelope, but never reveals his true identity. After Penelope is deeply moved by the knowledge that her husband is still alive, she offers the stranger a place to sleep and new clothing. Odysseus kindly declines

The start of a healed and good relationship will have to begin with oneself also known as you. We need have all the courage to tell and to use the truth to be honest with our selfs. Be honest as possible maybe not with everyone or everything but be real to yourself. Our own reactions will be what determines our dreams and how we are going to guide the dream we have for our life. Our reactions can make us happy or unhappy. If we are able to control or reactions then that will make our life more wonderful. A person is totally responsible for her or his feelings and even what one is thinking because whatever the consequences there is just one to blame which is yourself. The choices we make as individual and the way we make and choose the choices will determine our dream and it will go

Greek Mythology, used to explain the unknown. The Greeks never had the technology to discover why things happened the way they did. For that reason, they would believe in stories about Gods and Goddesses that determined their everyday lives. They would worship and sacrifice living beings to show their respect for the Gods. Over time, they developed the story of how the world was created, their main Gods and Goddesses, and traditions and rituals.

Salt comes from the sea. Tears are lying in the sand. We said we'd be together.

The Greeks believed that the Earth was here before the gods; the gods did not create the universe, instead the universe made the gods. So the heaven and earth were the first parents, after them came the titans, and following them came the gods and goddesses. The titans were known to be big and of great strength. The one titan who over-ruled the rest was Cornus, also known as Saturn. He reigned until Zeus- his son dethroned him. Zeus was amongst the twelve Olympians, the other eleven included his two brothers: Poseidon, and Hades, their sister: Hestia, Hera, Ares, Athena, Apollo, Aphrodite, Hermes, Artemis, And Hephaestus. Much of the myths that include these characters have been set up in the

Atlas and Prometheus were the sons of Iapetus. Atlas held the world upon his shoulders and Prometheus “was the savior of mankind” (18).

Stated simply, the word myth, derived from the Greek word mythos, means story (Morford et al., p.3). However, this is an immense understatement; myth is a rich and interpretive source of information. Its value lies in the interpretation of its relationship with humanity and how it influenced, or was influenced by ancient society and culture. Myth has persisted to fascinate people by exploring the meeting place between human desires and morals. Myth uses symbolic characters and fantastic stories to portray the truths and complexities of what it means to be human.

Some of the similarities between Apollo and Dionysus in Greek mythology ironically are that both of these gods had conflict. Apollo and Dionysus are similar in their own rites within the conflict between emotion and reason. Apollo came to be associated with the sun. He was always a god of light, and, like Dionysus, he inspired poetry and music. Both Apollo and Dionysus had the same father, Zeus. Both Apollo and Dionysus were distinct gods in early greek mythology. Lastly, both Apollo and Dionysus inspire human emotions in one form or another. They also inspire music and poetry regardless in what manner it inspires humans.

It is universally known that almost everyone has a dream; however, only a low proportion can come true their dream. Why? As far as I’m concerned, the reason why that happens is that it is easier to dream than to act. Indeed, a variety of people is used to planning his or her glorious future, but they seldom put it into practice. This is why a few people eventually realize their dreams.

In Greece, what we call a “Greek salad” is typically made with tomatoes, sliced cucumbers, onion, feta cheese and olives, but no lettuce. In Greece this salad is called a “country salad” and in Greek is:

"A myth is a collective term denoting a symbolic narrative in religion, as distinguished from symbolic behavior (cult, ritual) and symbolic places or objects (temples, icons)". (The New Encyclopedia Britannica. Vol. 24)Mythology is a collection of myths meant to explain the universe. Mythological stories were told in many different cultures and civilizations. The existence of myths is known in every society. Many different myths were conceived to explain occurrences that happened in nature.

The characters in Greek Mythology can have several different interpretations. Among these characters are the dangerous, yet gorgeous Sirens, bird-women who sit on a cliff singing bewitching songs to captivate the minds of innocent travelers and bring them to their deaths. In Homer’s The Odyssey and Margaret Atwood’s “Siren Song,” both poets give different portrayals of the Sirens. Homer believes the Sirens to be irresistible in order to establish men as heroes whereas Atwood depicts them as unsightly and pathetic so she can prove men are foolish and arrogant using imagery, diction, and point of view.