Ancient Greek mythology has always fascinated me. Ever since I was a teenager I have been drawn to the stories and lore associated with Greek mythology. In my eyes, there's no other history, culture, or back-story that is as complete and classical as that found within Greek mythology.
For those who have not yet had the pleasure of experiencing Greek mythology first-hand, let me qualify it first and say that there is so much more than what is found in modern cinema and video games. What you see in the theatres is the watered down, "en masse" version of Greek mythology. It does little to showcase the sex, family drama, arts, and the religious spider-web that brings Greek mythology to life. Allow me to digress.
Sex in Ancient Greek Mythology
Greek myths are rife with sexual encounters, incest, and affairs between ordinary man and the gods. Aphrodite, the goddess of love and beauty, was married to the god Hephaestus. Hephaestus was known for being both homely and, in Aphrodite's eyes, boring. Aphrodite, being the enchanting and beautiful female goddess, was known for having affairs with both immortals and immortals alike.
Achilles, son of the king of the Myrmidons (Pelus) and his immortal sea-nymph wife (Thetis), was described as being the most handsome warrior to do battle during the Trojan war. His long list of accomplishments including capturing 23 Trojan villages and hundreds of sexual encounters between both men and women.
Throughout Greek mythology there are dozens of stories of infidelity, god/human love, and other sexual deviances. For those of sexual intrigue, this mythology may be of particular interest.
Family Drama in Ancient Greece
Contrary to what may be believed today, family drama didn't take it's root from the Young and the Restless. Did you know that Zeus, son of the Titan Cronus, forced his father to release his captive brothers and sisters and then usurped him from the throne, banishing him to the underworld of Tartarus. In fact, Zeus ended the age of the Titans and brought in the age of the Olympians.
Demeter, the goddess of agriculture, is the daughter of Persephone, who was abducted by Hades and forced to live in the underworld as his bride. Wouldn't you feel great knowing that your mother was, for all intents and purposes, a prisoner when she had you?
In fact, the founding members of the mythological family, the Titans, usurped their parents (Uranus and Gaia) for control. They were led by Cronus, the youngest to be born from Uranus and Gaia. It's kind of ironic that the Titans overthrew their parents, only to be overthrown by their children, isn't it?
The Art of Ancient Greek Mythology
The ruins of the ancient Greek civilization are perhaps some of the most famous on Earth. Left over from their prime are temples, theatres, architectural wonders (most notably being the Colesseum, which bears significant Greek influence, and the Parthenon), and entire underground sections of major cities.
Greek pottery is anointed with imagery of the Olympics, combat, luxury, and wealth. Much like modern art, which often projects wealth and dominance, Greek art projected the values of the time: athletic ability, military dominance, and intellectual reign.
The Religion of the Ancient Greeks
Called the founder of all modern religion, Greek mythology is filled with gods, demi-gods, Titans, heroes, demons, creatures, and other immortal beings that both terrified and excited mankind. The Greeks had gods for just about everything, from food to feelings, and their stories have them all interconnected in intricate ways.
For more information on ancient Greek mythology, check out the resources at MythologyMadness.com!
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