THE ENDURING FASCINATION OF GREEK GODS AND GODDESSES

The religion of ancient Greece and its origins (800-30 BC) fascinates us to this day. The many gods and goddesses “intervened in the lives of mortals and, in doing so, inspired some of the world’s most poetic mythology. The strength of Hercules, the unrivalled beauty of Helen of Troy, the wrath of Zeus, the wiliness of Odysseus, the bravery of Achilles, the speed of Hermes, the loves of Aphrodite—all these have become part of the Western inheritance.”

The ancient Greeks were some of the first to recognize unique human individuality, thus the creation of gods and goddesses that were very human in character (they were controlled by emotions, such as love and envy). Focusing on life in the present more so than an afterlife, the Greeks took extraordinary joy in the natural elements, especially in the splendor of the human body (which is evident in great works of art). “Men and women hadn’t separated themselves from the worship of nature” at the beginning of ancient Greek religion; the span of beliefs ranged from magical worship of birds, beasts, and flowers to gods and goddesses in human form.

Greek Gods and Goddesses, Some of Our Favorite Myths

• Pallas Athena (drawing shown by Marcantonio Raimondi, housed at the Metropolitan Museum of Art) is the Greek goddess of wisdom (with the city of Athens as her namesake).
• Achilles, the avenger, is known for his one weakness (his heel) and for being a central character in Homer’s epic poem, “The Iliad.”
• Echo was a mountain nymph torn apart by the mischievous god of music, Pan. Echo couldn’t tell Narcissus of her love because Hera took her voice. Because Echo distracted Hera from Zeus with idle chatter, she sought revenge and left Echo with no speech, only a reverberation of sound.

• Leda and the Swan is one of the greatest myths (and was depicted beautifully by Leonardo Da Vinci) that tells the story of Leda, a goddess who was seduced by Zeus in the guise of a swan. Leda produced two eggs and gave birth to two sets of twins: Castor and Pollux and Helen and Clytemnestra.
• The Earth Mother Goddess (represented by Ishtar, Astarte, Cybele, Hera, and Aphrodite) is a universal symbol revered in all cultures; she is the original source of all creation.
• Persephone is the goddess of spring because she was doomed to live six months of the year in the underworld (Hades). She returns to the upper world in spring when the land comes to life with newborn fauna and an abundance of flora.

(Painting above by Peter-Paul Rubens)

• Dionysus was the thirteenth Greek god and known to represent the wilds of the mind and human personality. It is through this deity we are reminded of moderation. Although his paternity is not certain, it is believed that he is the son of Zeus, who struck Titans with a thunderbolt and, from their ashes, created a deity with both divine qualities and base aggressions. Dionysus took his place at the High Table of Olympus thanks to Hestia (goddess of the hearth).
• Orpheus was a seer, poet, and musician who searched for the Golden Fleece and was wed to Eurydice.
• Demeter was responsible for bringing Dionysus back to life. She was also the god of agriculture and in charge of protecting the fruits of the earth, thus making her a mother goddess symbol.
• Hercules is most associated with and known for his enormous strength. One of his major “twelve labors” includes the capture of the Cretan bull.

The Twelve Gods of Olympus include Demeter (god of the harvest), Apollo (god of music, prophecy and healing), Artemis (goddess of the chase and wild animals—much like Diana the huntress), Hera (goddess of the hearth), Poseidon (god of the sea), Zeus (god of thunder), Ares (the god of war and courage), Aphrodite (goddess of love), Hermes (protector and god of travelers), Athena (goddess of wisdom and warfare), Hephaestus (god of artisans) and Hestia (goddess of domesticity and the home).

The Best Greek Myths for Leisure and Academic Reading

Even though these ancient poems and plays are almost unfathomably old, they are still relevant and widely read by modern audiences. Give these classics a go if you’re ready to delve into Greek mythology and tragedy.

• The Odyssey by Homer (8^th Century BC)
• The Iliad by Homer (8^th Century BC)
• Antigone by Sophocles (441 BC)
• The Bacchae by Euripides (First performed live in 405 BC)
• Oedipus Rex by Sophocles (and check out Seneca’s version, too)
• Medea by Euripides (first performed around 429 BC)
• The Birds by Aristophanes (414 BC)

(To learn more about the information mentioned above)

Citations (and further reading); Texts used for the purpose of research and to write this blog include:

“Reader’s Digest History of Man: The Last Two Million Years” published by The Reader’s Digest Association Limited, 1973 (first copyright).

“Man, Myth and Magic: An Illustrated Encyclopedia of the Supernatural,” Edited by Richard Cavendish, 1970 (BPC Publishing Limited).