Ancient Greek Mythology
A Ancient Greek Mythology is a ancient cultural mythology that embodies the religious beliefs and cultural narratives of ancient Greece (developed from the 18th century BC through the Roman period).
- AKA: Greek Myths, Hellenic Mythology, Classical Greek Mythology.
- Context:
- It can establish Divine Hierarchy through mythological narratives.
- It can explain Natural Phenomenon through divine interpretations.
- It can preserve Cultural Values through mythological tales.
- It can transmit Historical Memory through oral traditions.
- It can define Religious Practices through ritual explanations.
- ...
- It can often influence Literary Works through mythological references.
- It can often inspire Artistic Expression through mythological themes.
- It can often guide Cultural Practices through mythological teachings.
- It can often shape Political Institutions through divine legitimacy.
- ...
- It can range from being a Simple Folk Tale to being a Complex Theological System, depending on its interpretation depth.
- It can range from being a Historical Account to being a Metaphysical Philosophy, depending on its usage context.
- It can range from being a Local Legend to being a Pan-Hellenic Narrative, depending on its geographical scope.
- ...
- It can integrate with Ancient Greek Art for visual representation.
- It can connect to Ancient Greek Literature for narrative preservation.
- It can support Ancient Greek Religion for theological framework.
- ...
- Examples:
- Bronze Age Greek Mythologys, such as:
- Minoan Mythology (c. 3000-1100 BC), such as:
- Mycenaean Mythology (c. 1750-1050 BC), such as:
- Archaic Period Mythologys (c. 800-480 BC), such as:
- Ionian Mythology, such as:
- Dorian Mythology, such as:
- Classical Period Mythologys (c. 480-323 BC), such as:
- Athenian Mythology, such as:
- Theban Mythology, such as:
- Hellenistic Period Mythologys (c. 323-30 BC), such as:
- Alexandrian Synthesis, such as:
- Greco-Oriental Traditions, such as:
- ...
- Bronze Age Greek Mythologys, such as:
- Counter-Examples:
- Egyptian Mythology, which emphasizes cosmic order and afterlife journeys rather than heroic narratives.
- Norse Mythology, which focuses on fatalistic worldviews and warrior ethics rather than philosophical inquiry.
- Mesopotamian Mythology, which centers on city-state patrons and divine kingship rather than pan-regional pantheons.
- Celtic Mythology, which prioritizes natural spirits and tribal traditions rather than anthropomorphic deitys.
- Persian Mythology, which structures around dualistic cosmology rather than polytheistic hierarchy.
- Vedic Mythology, which emphasizes spiritual liberation and cosmic cycles rather than mortal-divine interactions.
- Ancient Greek Chronicles, which focus on factual events rather than mythological interpretations.
- See: Myth, Ancient Greece, Genre, Ancient Greek Folklore, Roman Mythology, Classical Mythology, Ancient Greek Religion, Cosmogony.
References
2024
- (Wikipedia, 2024) ⇒ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greek_mythology Retrieved:2024-12-11.
- Greek mythology is the body of myths originally told by the ancient Greeks, and a genre of ancient Greek folklore, today absorbed alongside Roman mythology into the broader designation of classical mythology. These stories concern the ancient Greek religion's view of the origin and nature of the world; the lives and activities of deities, heroes, and mythological creatures; and the origins and significance of the ancient Greeks' cult and ritual practices. Modern scholars study the myths to shed light on the religious and political institutions of ancient Greece, and to better understand the nature of mythmaking itself.[1]
The Greek myths were initially propagated in an oral-poetic tradition most likely by Minoan and Mycenaean singers starting in the 18th century BC; eventually the myths of the heroes of the Trojan War and its aftermath became part of the oral tradition of Homer's epic poems, the Iliad and the Odyssey. Two poems by Homer's near contemporary Hesiod, the Theogony and the Works and Days, contain accounts of the genesis of the world, the succession of divine rulers, the succession of human ages, the origin of human woes, and the origin of sacrificial practices. Myths are also preserved in the Homeric Hymns, in fragments of epic poems of the Epic Cycle, in lyric poems, in the works of the tragedians and comedians of the fifth century BC, in writings of scholars and poets of the Hellenistic Age, and in texts from the time of the Roman Empire by writers such as Plutarch and Pausanias. Aside from this narrative deposit in ancient Greek literature, pictorial representations of gods, heroes, and mythic episodes featured prominently in ancient vase paintings and the decoration of votive gifts and many other artifacts. Geometric designs on pottery of the eighth century BC depict scenes from the Epic Cycle as well as the adventures of Heracles. In the succeeding Archaic, Classical, and Hellenistic periods, Homeric and various other mythological scenes appear, supplementing the existing literary evidence.[2] Greek mythology has had an extensive influence on the culture, arts, and literature of Western civilization and remains part of Western heritage and language. Poets and artists from ancient times to the present have derived inspiration from Greek mythology and have discovered contemporary significance and relevance in the themes. [3]
- Greek mythology is the body of myths originally told by the ancient Greeks, and a genre of ancient Greek folklore, today absorbed alongside Roman mythology into the broader designation of classical mythology. These stories concern the ancient Greek religion's view of the origin and nature of the world; the lives and activities of deities, heroes, and mythological creatures; and the origins and significance of the ancient Greeks' cult and ritual practices. Modern scholars study the myths to shed light on the religious and political institutions of ancient Greece, and to better understand the nature of mythmaking itself.[1]
- ↑ Cite error: Invalid
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- ↑ Foley, John Miles (1999). "Homeric and South Slavic Epic". Homer's Traditional Art. Penn State Press. .