Greek Myths

1The ancient Greeks told some of the most enduring stories in all of human history. These myths were not simply entertainment but served as explanations for the natural world, lessons about human behaviour and reflections of what the Greeks believed about fate, courage and the will of the gods.

2At the heart of Greek mythology were the twelve Olympian gods, who were believed to live on Mount Olympus and to watch over the affairs of mortals below. Zeus, the king of the gods, controlled thunder and lightning. Athena was the goddess of wisdom and war strategy, while Poseidon ruled the seas and could cause earthquakes by striking the ground with his trident.

3One of the most famous Greek myths is the story of Icarus. His father, the craftsman Daedalus, built wings made of feathers and wax so that they could escape from the island of Crete. Daedalus warned Icarus not to fly too close to the sun, but in his excitement Icarus ignored the warning. The heat melted the wax, and Icarus plunged into the sea. The myth is often read as a warning against hubris, which means excessive pride or arrogance.

4Another celebrated myth tells the story of Theseus and the Minotaur. Every year, the city of Athens was forced to send seven young men and seven young women to the island of Crete, where they were sacrificed to a monster called the Minotaur, a creature with the body of a man and the head of a bull. Theseus volunteered to go and bravely ventured into the labyrinth, a maze beneath the palace, to slay the Minotaur and free his people.

5Greek myths have had an extraordinary influence on literature, art and language. Words such as panic, chaos and echo all come from Greek myths. The stories of Hercules, Odysseus and Perseus have been retold countless times across thousands of years, and continue to inspire writers, artists and filmmakers to this day.