The Impact of Greek Mythology on Western Culture - 5592 Words

I. Background Information of Greek Mythology Greek mythology is the body of myths and legends belonging to the ancient Greeks, concerning their gods and heroes, the nature of the world, and the origins and significance of their own cult and ritual practices. They were a part of religion in ancient Greece. Modern scholars refer to, and study, the myths, in an attempt to throw light on the religious and political institutions of Ancient Greece, its civilization, and to gain understanding of the nature of myth-making itself. And Greek mythology is embodied in a large collection of narratives, and implicitly in Greek representational arts, such as vase-paintings and votive gifts. Greek myth attempts to explain the origins of the†¦show more content†¦The heroes are like other human beings but have either done something which makes them excel over others or have a gift that others do not possess. On the other hand the mythological creatures are mainly like animals and monsters. Many have characteristics like an animal or a monster along with a few human features. Few of them possess supernatural powers too. In myths we come across many names of gods and goddesses and strange creatures. All of them have many stories related to them. Different gods represent different aspects of life and the Earth is under their control. Now I will illustrate some of the gods and creatures in Greek Mythology. Zeus, he was the king of the gods and the supreme ruler of people. He originally was a god of the sky. In time, the Greeks regarded him as the only god who concerned him-self with the whole universe. They also associated Zeus with justice and believed that he punished the wicked and rewarded the good. He belonged to the race of Titans, and was the son of Cronus and Rhea. After overthrowing Cronus, Zeus took his fathers place and ruled from Mount Olympus. He headed a family of twelve major gods, called the Olympians. Apollo, he was an important god in Greek and Roman mythology. In Greek myths he was the son of Zeus - the king of all gods. Apollo was the god of light, purity, and the sun. The Greeks andShow MoreRelatedThe Influence of Ancient Greek Mythology on Modern Society Essay1055 Words   |  5 PagesAncient Greek society fell over 2000 years ago but despite this, its mythology still continues to influence our western society. References to Greek mythology can be found all through time and in our western culture. The influence of Greek mythology can be found in our science, arts and literature and our language. When Ancient Greece fell to the Roman Empire, Rome adapted its mythologies which still influence us today as they have through history. That is not to say that Greek mythology wasn’t influencedRead MoreAnalysis Of Disney s The Lion King1055 Words   |  5 Pagesmodern era s most famous books and movies trace back to the Greek myths. Medicines are named after the character s of famous myths. 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