Characteristics Of Greek Mythology - 821 Words

The Ancient Greeks were known for believing in gods and goddesses, but they created these beings to be feared and related to. The Greeks used Mythology to better understand the world around them, but a few of the stories were purely for entertainment. Mythology was created by those who disliked the irrational, but loved facts. These mythologies consisted of the gods and goddesses encountering struggles, love, pain, and almost any human interaction. The Ancient Greeks applied the stories to overcome similar struggles in their own lives. Although these mythological deities were respected, they were not viewed as religious gods. Every god or goddess has a time to shine, but some had a bit more air time than others. Zeus is arguably the most†¦show more content†¦The theoretical absence of Zeus shows how different the Greek mythologies would be without this powerful god. Zeus appears in countless Greek mythologies, but an exceptionally important one involves Zeus’ father, Cronus. Cronus heard that one of his children were going to dethrone them when they grew up. Cronus response was to swallow all five of Zeus’ older siblings, including Poseidon, Hades, Hestia, Demeter, and Hera. Zeus’s mother, Rhea, wanted to protect her youngest child from being swallowed, so she devised a plan to save baby Zeus. Rhea disguised a stone as a child by wrapping it in swaddling clothes and feeding it to Cronus. Without a second thought, Cronus swallowed the fake, and Zeus was safely taken to the island of Crete where he was raised. When Zeus was fully grown he returned to challenge his father. First, he induced Cronus to throw up his five siblings, and then Zeus, his siblings, the cyclopes, and the hundred-handers started a ten-year battle that eventually overthrew Cronus. Zeus punished his father and the rebellious Titans by confining them to prison in Tartarus. This victory put Zeus in the position of king of the gods, and he chose to split divide up th e universe amongst his brothers. Olympus stayed common property, Poseidon got the sea, Hades had the underworld, and Zeus received the heavens. Although this was not the last of Zeus’ struggles, it did drastically impact his life by giving him considerable influence in theShow MoreRelatedGreek Mythology : The Origin Of The Stars And Sky1528 Words   |  7 PagesGreek mythology was very important in many cultures throughout the world and was utilized to clarify the earth and its circumstances in which mankind lived, the normal wonders they identified and how constellations explained the why the movement of the stars and sky were important in the lives of the Greeks. Greek mythology contained information about the livelihood of these gods and goddesses, humankind after death and simply how to live a joyous life. 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