Greek mythology has been an inexhaustible source of inspiration for writers, essayists, sculptors, painters, architects, etc. The profusion of works of art with the subject of mythology has filled museums around the world.. And thousands of years later, mythology continues to attract the attention of many generations.
For this reason many of its myths are well known. Greek myths contain stories of all kinds: love, betrayal, violence, redemption, punishment, or death.. Perhaps its varied theme (and the lessons that emerge) is encouraging for us to get to know many of these myths, since they are still fascinating stories. And you, do you know some of the most famous?
Greek mythology
Greek mythology is made up of all the stories, myths and legends that are related to Ancient Greece.their beliefs and their culture. Between myth and reality there is a small step. Because these stories and stories are wonderful and escape concrete understanding. However, draw a cultural and artistic panorama and an extraordinary understanding of the world of civilization, and which is known as the cradle of the Western world.
These tales are full of fantasy, great adventures, and superhuman feats. They are led by gods, demigods and magnificent creatures that show values and situations that not only stimulate the imagination of those who know them, but also show alternate realities that serve as learning and knowledge if we are able to adapt them to the world of experience.
The myths were transmitted orally, although these have been beautifully embodied in immortal works that enrich the artistic and cultural apparatus of our culture. There are many Greek myths, and some are shared by Roman mythology.. Below we name some of the most famous Greek myths.
most famous greek myths
Apollo and Daphne
Apollo, the Olympic god, was struck by an arrow from Cupid that made him fall madly in love with the nymph Daphne. He chased her uneasily through the forest because she, on the contrary, had received an arrow that had the opposite effect on her and the presence of Apollo was unbearable for her. The character of the nymph was also indomitable and she never intended to marry. That's why, when she saw herself very close to the arms of Apollo, she asked her parents, the god Ladon and the goddess Gaia, to transform her into a tree. In this way, Daphne desperately formulated the desire to cease to exist as a nymph, managing to escape from Apollo and being part of the natural habitat that she loved. His transformation consisted of a laurel tree that symbolizes the leaves that crown the victors in the Olympic Games..
The kidnapping of Europe
Europa was a Phoenician princess who was in a pool of water with other maidens enjoying the day. While everything was going smoothly, Europa was sighted by Zeus who felt terribly attracted to the girl. She decided to transform into a bull, a stocky, muscular one with white fur and apparently meek and positioned himself next to the young woman. At first she was a little afraid of the size of the animal, but she immediately began to caress it and she ended up climbing on her back. Zeus, without missing an opportunity, took flight from her, taking her to the island of Crete. Together they will procreate Sarpedon, Minos and Radamantis.
the fall of icarus
Daedalus was imprisoned with his son Icarus on the island of Crete. King Minos controlled the land and the sea, so to escape Daedalus had the idea of building some wings that he joined with wax. His plan was to flee by air with his son. He warned Icarus that he could not fly so high because he ran the risk of the sun melting the wax. They then took flight, however, Icarus ignored his father's warning and the sun melted the structure of his wings, so he lost his life when he fell into the sea.
Sisyphus
Sisyphus was a scornful king who was punished by the gods. The arduous task that was imposed on him was that of push a huge rock down the side of a mountain. When the boulder reached the top, it fell down the slope again, without Sisyphus being able to do anything to prevent it. The same thing happened over and over again and Sisyphus's punishment consisted of always taking that rock to the top.
Prometheus
The myth of Prometheus is somewhat reminiscent of Sisyphus: the cycle that never ends, as an inevitable and eternal condemnation. In this case, Prometheus was a Titan (primordial god) who in many versions is considered the person in charge and creator of men with clay. With cunning he outwitted Zeus, who, very angry, determined to hide the fire from men. Prometheus returned it and Zeus punished Prometheus' audacity by chaining him so that an eagle could peck his liver. In addition to enduring such suffering, Prometheus underwent constant liver regeneration so that animals could devour him forever..
The twelve labors of Hercules
Hercules was a demigod son of Zeus, fruit of a relationship with a mortal. Hera, wife and sister of Zeus, wanted to quench her rage entrusting this bastard son of her husband with twelve dangerous tasks or tests, known as work. These are: killing the Nemean lion, executing the Lernaean hydra (water monster), seizing the Cerinean doe, banishing the Stymphalian birds, training the Cretan bull, washing the Augean stables, stealing the mares of Diomedes, stealing Hippolyta's belt, stealing Geryon's cattle, stealing the golden apples from the garden of the Hesperides and kidnapping Cerberus (the dog of Hades).
Arachne and Athena
This myth has as its center a new metamorphosis (like that of Europe or that of Daphne and Apollo). It tells of the audacity that Arachne, an excellent weaver, had when comparing herself to Athena, goddess of wisdom and manual labor, among others. Athena wanted to meet the young woman, who, far from being modest, challenged the goddess herself. The two made beautiful tapestries and Athena admitted so, although she felt offended because Arachne had portrayed the gods as victims of the degeneration of men. So that, Athena turned her into a spider, condemning her to spin forever..
The birth of Aphrodite
Aphrodite is the goddess of love. One of her great myths tells of her birth that would have occurred with the contact of Uranus's testicles (mutilated by her son Crono) in the sea. Thus Aphrodite was born in the body of a woman endowed with recognized beauty.. On her part, the Zephyrs were in charge of blowing on the shell in which Aphrodite was found until they made it reach the ground. The truth is that Aphrodite was born as an adult, which is why the feminine forms of women are indicated, from the beginning, being she also the deity of sensuality and beauty.
Chrono and the birth of the Olympic gods
Crono (a titan considered one of the original gods) was the son of Urano (god of Heaven), whom he killed and mutilated. He did it because his father was a tyrant, but he became one too. Crono fathered several children with his sister Rhea from him: Hera, Hades, Hestia, Demeter and Poseidon. Nevertheless, Since he was convinced that they would dethrone him in the same way that he did with his father, he decided to devour them. as they were born.
Their next son, Zeus, was saved by his mother, Rhea, who hid him for years. In his place, Crono ate a stone, believing that he was eating his own son. past time, Zeus caused Cronus to vomit to recover the rest of his brothers and put an end to his despotism. However, there are several versions of this. Goya's painting represents Saturn (Crono in Roman mythology) swallowing one of his children.
judgment of paris
It is the myth that constitutes the legendary origin of the Trojan War. It all started with the wedding of Peleus (father of Achilles) with the goddess Thetis. The goddess Eris was not invited to the event, so she showed up very upset at the ceremony with an apple that read: "for the most beautiful". This is what is called the apple of discord, because the goddesses Hera, Athena and Aphrodite were there, fighting over the fruit.. To resolve the conflict, they decided that it would be Paris, prince of Troy, who would choose the most beautiful to give him the apple.
They all tried to buy his favor in relation to the gifts they possessed: Hera offered him treasures, Athena expertise in knowledge and war, and Aphrodite promised him the woman he loved. Paris opted for the offer of the goddess Aphrodite and took Helen from Troy, who in the mythological tradition was taken as the daughter of Zeus and had had many lovers and suitors because of her beauty. However, she was married to Menelaus, king of Sparta, who upon discovering that Paris had taken her to Troy, flew into a rage and marched on the city to start a war.