Greek Myths Essay Research Paper and Definitions

Definitions of Myth

Before specifying the term mythology one needs to specify the significance of the word myth.

The word itself comes from the Greek  mythos  which originally meant address  or  discourse  but which subsequently came to intend fable  or  legend. In this papers the word myth  will be defined as a narrative of forgotten or obscure beginning, fundamentally spiritual or supernatural in nature, which seeks to explicate or apologize one or more facets of the universe or a society.Furthermore, in the context of this papers, all myths are, at some phase, really believed to be true by the peoples of the societies that used or originated the myth. Our definition is therefore clearly distinguished from the usage of the word myth in mundane address which fundamentally refers to any unreal or fanciful narrative.

A myth is besides clearly different from an fable or parable which is a narrative intentionally made up to exemplify some moral point but which has ne’er been assumed to be true by anyone.Some myths depict some existent historical event, but have been embellished and refashioned by assorted narrative Tellers over clip so that it is impossible to state what truly happened. In this last aspect myths have a legendary and historical nature.

Definitions of Mythology

For our intents the word mythology has two related significances. First it refers to a aggregation of myths that together organize a fabulous system. Therefore one can talk of  Egyptian Mythology  Indian Mythology  Maori Mythology or  Greek Mythology .In this sense one is depicting a system of myths which were used by a peculiar society at some peculiar clip in human history. It is besides possible to group mythologies in other ways.

For illustration one can group them geographically and so speak of  Oceanic Mythology  Oriental Mythology and African Mythology ; # 8221 ; .A 2nd significance of the term mythology is the academic survey of myths and systems of myths in general.

The types of single myths and the intent of mythology

Broadly talking myths and mythologies seek to apologize and explicate the existence and all that is in it. Therefore, they have a similar map to science, divinity, faith and history in modern societies. Systems of myths have provided a cosmogonic and historical model for societies that have lacked the more sophisticated cognition provided by modern scientific discipline and historical probe.Creation myths provide an account of the beginning of the existence in all its complexness.

They are an of import portion of most fabulous systems. Creation myths frequently invoke cardinal Gods and animate beings, titanic battles between opposing forces or the decease and/or taking apart of these Gods or animate beings as the agencies whereby the existence and its constituents were created.Apart from an account of the creative activity of the existence, mythologies besides seek to explicate mundane natural phenomena. The Egyptian Scarabaeus sacer God Khepri, who rolled the ball of the Sun across the sky each twenty-four hours therefore provided an account of the rise of the sun each twenty-four hours, its advancement across the sky and its scene in the eventide. Similarly, the Maori of New Zealand attributed the forenoon dew to the cryings of the God Rangi ( Heaven ) for the goddess Papa ( Earth ) from whom he was separated. This chlorine?buttocks of myth is sometimes called a nature myth.Myths are besides frequently used to explicate human establishments and patterns every bit good. For illustration, the Grecian hero Pelops was reputed to hold started the Olympic Games after Poseidon helped him win the manus of Hippodameia in a chariot race.

This type of myth is therefore aetiologic. It seeks to account for some human establishment through a myth.Another category of myth is the Theogenic myth.

This sets out to define the relationships between assorted Gods and other fabulous personages and existences who are mentioned in antecedently bing myths. Theogenic Myths are therefore secondary in their intent. They set out to supply a support or model for an bing system of myths. The best known illustration of this is the Theogeny of Hesiod.It should non be thought that the maps of myths as delineated above are reciprocally sole. For illustration creative activity myths by their very nature are normally Theogenic as good.

Myths can, and have, served many intents. Myths and systems of myths have been created by human existences for many grounds over 1000s of old ages. They are a brilliant merchandise of humanity jointly and a rich resource for the enjoyment of all world. Their antic and unreal nature to our modern eyes should non forestall us from basking them.

(Encyclopedia Mythica)

Grecian Mythology

The Greeks believed that the Earth was formed before any of the Gods appeared. The Gods, as the Greeks knew them, all originated with Father Heaven, and Mother Earth. Father Heaven was known as Uranus, and Mother Earth, as Gaea. Uranus and Gaea raised many kids. Amoung them were the Cyclopes, the Titans, and the Hecatoncheires, or the Hundred- Handed Ones. Uranus let the Titans roam free, but he imprisoned the Cyclopes and the Hundred- handed Ones beneath the Earth. Finally, Gaea could non bear Uranuss unkindness to the Cyclopes and the Hundred-Handed Ones any longer.

Gaea joined Cronos, one of the Titans ; and together, they overcame Uranus, killed him, and threw his organic structure into the sea. Aphrodite, goddess of love and beauty, subsequently rose from the sea where Uranuss organic structure had been thrown. Now Cronus became male monarch of the existence.Cronos married his sister, Rhea, and they had six kids. At the clip of Cronoss matrimony to Rhea, Gaea prophesied that one of his kids would subvert Cronos, as he had overthrown Uranus. To protect himself, Cronos swallowed each of his first five kids Hestia, Demeter, Hera, Hades, and Poseidon immediatly after birth. After the birth of her sixth and last kid, Rhea tricked Cronos into get downing a stone and so conceal the kid Zeus  on Earth.

Zeus grew up on Earth and was brought back to Mount Olympus as a cupbearer to his unsuspecting male parent. Rhea and Zeus connived against Cronos by blending a noxious drink for him.Thinking it was wine, Cronos drank the mixture and quickly regulated his five other kids, to the full grown.

Then Zeus and his brothers waged a mighty conflict against Cronos and the other Titans. Cronos and the Titans were defeated when Zeus ambushed them with the aid of the Cyclopes and the Hundred-Headed Ones, and they panicked and retreated. Cronos and the Titans were imprisioned in the Earth where their combat still causes temblors from clip to clip. Zeus and his brothers and sisters went to populate on Mount Olympus, where they ruled over the Earth.