“Being a hero doesn’t mean you’re invincible. It just means that you’re brave enough to stand up and do what’s needed.”- Rick Riordan, The Mark of Athena. Growing up I was always fascinated by Greek mythology since the very first time I saw the Disney movie Hercules. Apart from movies I also read books based off of Greek mythology like the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series by Rick Riordan and that only made my love for Greek mythology stronger that I started researching about them from a very young age. It came to the point that I started believing that Greek gods were real being that they were once a religion before Christianity took over and turned the Greek gods into a myth. Greek mythology consists on the belief of many gods, beings …show more content…
If our history books show that these Greek heroes existed then why can’t we accept that also the gods were real? The most popular story ever told about a Greek hero was the story of Heracles or Hercules as the Romans pronounced it.” It was told that he was the son of Zeus and his mother Alcmene a mortal woman Zeus fell in love with. Heracles was gifted with amazing strength since childbirth but being a child of Zeus and a mortal woman Hera was furious that it was told that she sent snakes to kill him as a child, however little Heracles strangled the snakes before they can strike. Her fury didn’t end there, Heracles grew up to be a great warrior even married and had children of his own. That is when Hera sent a fit of madness to Heracles and caused him to murder his own wife and children something he could never undo. Seeing what he had done he asked Apollo to cure him from his sins but in order for that to happen he would have to do trails no other human could do which came to be known as the twelve labors of Heracles. After he completed his labors Heracles married a second time and as a welcome home present Deianira (his second wife) made him cloak. She wove the cloak herself and she smeared a balm that was supposed to make Heracles love her forever but instead she was tricked and it was …show more content…
So not only were the Greeks the only race that believed in the Gods but also the Romans believed and worshipped them, which is two major empires that lasted several centuries. Eventually Christianity came to be and although Romans were known to crucify any who opposed their religion, the number of Christians became too great that it took over and what was once a religion became a simple myth. From paintings to sculptures around the world you will see that the Gods are still very much alive, although we may not pray to them or worship them like we did before we cannot ignore the fact that people once believed in them. Which brings me to my original question, why is Greek mythology considered a myth? Is it the fault of Christianity or is it because over the years those once believers lost their faith in them? I choose to believe that there is such a thing as the Greek Gods and though at heart I myself am a Christian sometimes I can’t help to pray to some of these Gods (for example, I pray to Athena as I write this
The reason so many people believe in mythical beings is because most people quite simply want to believe, and most just can't help it. And then there's
Greek mythology has changed and evolved over the years to accommodate different beliefs and ideas. These characters in Greek mythology have shaped stories over the years. It has integrated into several different cultures including the Romans. The gods and beasts of Greek Mythology were always fighting and warring with each other and destroying one another. Greek Gods Greek gods and goddesses were mortals that would fight from time to time.
People ignore that and believe they can be their own gods. This is not right because Jesus says in John 14:6 “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the father except through me.” Meaning that the only way to not end up in Hell is to except Jesus Christ into your heart. “It is to be ascribed to nothing else, that you did not go to
The qualities that make an epic hero are strength, courage a strong mentality, and the aspiration to achieve heroic acts. Many heroes are considered role models as they make brave decisions attempting to do something extraordinary. Heroes often fight against the causes of evil as they try to make the environment a better place. Hercules (son of Zeus) is one of the many known Gods to Greek mythology. He is supernatural and immortal.
Over the course of human history people have always believed in a supreme, divine being, or a god. Today’s society is no exception, there are countless of religions from Christianity to Hinduism. The archetypal theme of “respect for the gods” in both Homer’s Odyssey and the Coen brothers film O Brother Where Art Thou? shows similarities and differences between society's belief in a god in the present and during the time of the Ancient Greeks.
Instead of being perfect omnipotent, omniscient, and omnipresent gods, they have limited power and influence, and are often driven by humanistic emotions and desires. While the gods do show concern over some mortals, they don’t make decisions solely concerning the wellbeing or interests of the humans, but instead, like the humans themselves, usually act with their own interests at heart. Athena and Poseidon both acts in accordance to their desires and emotions, and have a biased view on particular humans. Unlike the perfect deities we have in mind when we think of the divine, Greek gods are just immortal beings who are just as fallible and imperfect as the humans they preside
Greek Mythology and its Influences on Modern Society By Jenna Marie A. Macalawa, Lyceum of the Philippines University – Cavite Campus 2014 Myths are not dissimilar to fairy tales, legends, and sagas, but its period is distinctly different from usual existential time. It is considered as an expression of childhood experiences, and it also explains the origin and meaning of the world. According to Long (1994), “The term mythology may describe a certain body of myths, for example, Greek, African, or Scandinavian, or it may refer to the study of myths” (p.694). These collections of narratives are superior when it comes to influencing different areas of knowledge. There are numerous types of mythology, but Ancient Greece is the one that has given an immense influence on modern society.
As Armstrong explains, “mythology was therefore designed to help us to cope with the problematic human predicament. It helped people to find their place in the world and their true orientation” (6). The idea of myths was created to teach humans proper behavior that fit with their ideal society, as well as help people live in peace with one another. They also taught valuable lessons on how not to live since people didn 't know where they come from and where they belong. We invented stories by using gods, humans and magical creatures to explain something that happens in nature.
The idea that Jesus was a mythological and nonexistent dissipated as the twentieth century came about and is barely believed anymore. People who do claim this usually have no real understanding of the evidence presented and can be categorized into two main groups, New agers saying that Christianity is another form of paganism, and anti-Christian atheists using historical "evidence" to compromise Christianity. Most of the “convincing” arguments people have for a mythological Jesus are actually very weak. Such as one like: There are no contemporary accounts or mentions of Jesus, but there should be, so he can 't have existed. Back then they didn 't have things like birth certificates and such like we do today so many people back then that are even more famous than Jesus, such
Greek mythology can be viewed as a mirror to the ancient Greek civilization. Ancient Greek myths and legends often reflected how the Greeks saw themselves. Myths were used by Greeks to make justifications of every existing aspect of earth as well as their own society. In myths, Greek gods & heroes often represented key aspects of the human civilization. From Greek mythology, we can learn about the favorable characteristics of humans, such as their behavior and valuable skills that were approved of by the ancient Greek society.
Greek mythology has been one of the most complicated subjects in the field of religion and mythology. This is due to the complex relations and interactions which exists in the history of Greek gods and the humans who lived in ancient Greece. Different versions of the existence and the establishment of the superior beings were developed, which at times created suspense for readers through their interactions. The various tales which exist explain the various connections between different gods, how they relate to one another, the ideological order in which they came into existence as well as the interactions they had with humans. These tales form the basis of various religious beliefs and practices since it is perceived that it is through the interactions of the gods that humans came into existence, a situation which created the dependent relationship between mortals and gods.
In the epic poem The Odyssey, Homer portrays Greek gods and goddesses as possessing human qualities and faults. Through their actions and emotions, Homer emphasizes the detrimental effects of lust, envy, wrath, and greed in ancient Grecian society. He also never fails to remind readers of the importance of respect for holy figures because of their powerful abilities to create chaos and wonder". Homer wants to prove that gods and humans share a variety of traits, and the only difference is that god don’t allow these flaws negatively to impact their society. To help further his argument, we can compare Greek gods and goddesses to that of Christianity.
The Resemblance of Gods and Humans Throughout all religions, gods have always been seen as superior in every way possible. The division between humans and gods has always been prevalent and prominent. However, when the actions and motives of these gods are truly analyzed, it will become evident that the gods of Greek Mythology merely behave as humans with supernatural powers.
For human’s deities are omnipotent, authoritative, dominant and immortal. If there is a need for supplication due to conflict or complication, humans turn towards the divine. Within the Iliad there are various gods who scheme a very significant role in the war of Trojan. The gods are very present, always observing, influencing guiding and most importantly, interfering in the actions of the humans. Athena, Apollo, and Zeus are three very influential divines and their interactions with human characters, along with interference towards the warfare is seen throughout the Iliad.
There is a strong relationship between mythology and religion, as both are very much faith driven. In the example of Greek mythology, there are many Gods and Goddesses, while in modern Christianity there is only one God, but the premise is still the same. In Christianity, people place their faith in God and let his will guide them throughout the trials and tribulations of their life, the same could be said of mythology, as to again use the Greeks as an example, people placed their faith in the Gods and Goddesses and let their actions be guided as such. The difference in Christianity and mythology in today’s time is that religion is thought to be fact, while mythology is believed to be fiction.