Greek mythology is something that I have always had awe for. I think that my interest here is due to the massive number of things you can learn within its walls; it seems to be endless. You may think you know all that there is to know within the matter, but your content still will only scratch the surface. It is metaphorically impossible for your brain to acquire everything that is mythology.
Beginning in the Bronze Age, Greek myths were oral tradition. Soon enough, the plots and themes unraveled into written literature of the archaic and classical periods. Within Homer's epics, the story of the Trojan War was written for readers. Although the gods and goddesses were the main characters, they were left not introduced solely because readers and listeners would already be familiar with them. There would lie no direct point in doing so. In the 5th century plays of Aeschylus, Sophocles, and Euripides, mythological figures and events appeared. On the highest mountain in Greece, Mount Olympus, lived the pantheon of deities, Olympian gods and goddesses looked like men and women, but in all reality, were gods and could change into whatever form would please them. Hera, Aphrodite, Apollo, Ares, Artemis, Athena, Demeter, Dionysos, Hephaistos, Hermes, Poseidon, Hades, Hestia, and Eros are of the Olympian gods and goddesses. The heroes within Greek mythology are Heracles, Pandora, Pygmalion, Arachne, Ganymede, Midas, and Narcissus. As there is good, naturally, there must be evil as well. I wouldn't consider the "monsters" to be evil in Greek mythology though, many of them accomplished many good things. This next set of names is considered the monsters and hybrids, Pegasus, Centaur, Sphinx, Harpies, Cyclops, automatons, manticores and unicorns, Gorgons, pygmies, and many types of dragons. In the myths, these creatures were featured in many of the stories with the gods and goddesses.
In conclusion, I find Greek mythology extremely interesting and maybe after you read this, you will spark an interest for it too. This was just a brief overview and as previously mentioned, barely scratching the surface of the myths. It is so neat to me that the stories and themes have helped make art and literature into what it is today.
Beginning in the Bronze Age, Greek myths were oral tradition. Soon enough, the plots and themes unraveled into written literature of the archaic and classical periods. Within Homer's epics, the story of the Trojan War was written for readers. Although the gods and goddesses were the main characters, they were left not introduced solely because readers and listeners would already be familiar with them. There would lie no direct point in doing so. In the 5th century plays of Aeschylus, Sophocles, and Euripides, mythological figures and events appeared. On the highest mountain in Greece, Mount Olympus, lived the pantheon of deities, Olympian gods and goddesses looked like men and women, but in all reality, were gods and could change into whatever form would please them. Hera, Aphrodite, Apollo, Ares, Artemis, Athena, Demeter, Dionysos, Hephaistos, Hermes, Poseidon, Hades, Hestia, and Eros are of the Olympian gods and goddesses. The heroes within Greek mythology are Heracles, Pandora, Pygmalion, Arachne, Ganymede, Midas, and Narcissus. As there is good, naturally, there must be evil as well. I wouldn't consider the "monsters" to be evil in Greek mythology though, many of them accomplished many good things. This next set of names is considered the monsters and hybrids, Pegasus, Centaur, Sphinx, Harpies, Cyclops, automatons, manticores and unicorns, Gorgons, pygmies, and many types of dragons. In the myths, these creatures were featured in many of the stories with the gods and goddesses.
In conclusion, I find Greek mythology extremely interesting and maybe after you read this, you will spark an interest for it too. This was just a brief overview and as previously mentioned, barely scratching the surface of the myths. It is so neat to me that the stories and themes have helped make art and literature into what it is today.