Ancient Greek Myths and Legends - The Stories of the Ancient Greeks
Greek myths and legends. Stories about the Greek gods and goddesses and the fantastic adventures of the heroes of Greek mythology, as well as glossary entries on many of the famous names from Greek mythology.
Trojan War and the Famous Stories From Greek Mythology
Here is background to the story of the Trojan War and to the heroes of Greek mythology.
Here is background to the story of the Trojan War and to the heroes of Greek mythology.
Achilles
Here you'll see the lineage of Achilles and information on some of his divine forebears.
Here you'll see the lineage of Achilles and information on some of his divine forebears.
Andromeda
Glossary entry on Andromeda. Andromeda was rescued by Perseus, married him, produced 6 children and was transformed into a constellation.
Glossary entry on Andromeda. Andromeda was rescued by Perseus, married him, produced 6 children and was transformed into a constellation.
Argus
Glossary entry on Argus. The giant Argus had 100 eyes.
Glossary entry on Argus. The giant Argus had 100 eyes.
Bulfinch -The Age of Fable or Stories of Gods and Heroes
The tales from Greek mythology written by Thomas Bulfinch.
The tales from Greek mythology written by Thomas Bulfinch.
Cadmus of Thebes
The story of Cadmus and the founding of the city of Thebes. Among other events, Cadmus slew a dragon that had eaten his men.
The story of Cadmus and the founding of the city of Thebes. Among other events, Cadmus slew a dragon that had eaten his men.
Callisto
The story of Juno's jealousy, her adulterous husband Jupiter, and the reason the bear constellations never sets.
The story of Juno's jealousy, her adulterous husband Jupiter, and the reason the bear constellations never sets.
Calydonian Boar Hunt
The Calydonian Boar Hunt is the most famous ancient Greek hunt, shown in literature, artwork, and even on sarcophagi.
The Calydonian Boar Hunt is the most famous ancient Greek hunt, shown in literature, artwork, and even on sarcophagi.
Cannibalism in Greek Mythology
Occasionally in Greek mythology someone's children are served up at a dinner feast.
Occasionally in Greek mythology someone's children are served up at a dinner feast.
Cephalus and Procris - By Thomas Bulfinch in Age of Fables
The story of a hunter whose wife thinks he is having an affair with the breeze and winds up shot by her husband's javelin.
The story of a hunter whose wife thinks he is having an affair with the breeze and winds up shot by her husband's javelin.
Demophon
Glossary entry on Demophon. Demophon is the name of two figures from Greek legend. This Demophon is connected with the Eleusinian Mysteries.
Glossary entry on Demophon. Demophon is the name of two figures from Greek legend. This Demophon is connected with the Eleusinian Mysteries.
Deucalion and Pyrrha
The story of Deucalion and Pyrrha is the Flood Myth of Greek mythology.
The story of Deucalion and Pyrrha is the Flood Myth of Greek mythology.
Dorian Invasion - Greece and the Dorian Invasion
The Greeks believed in a Dorian Invasion of their homeland.
The Greeks believed in a Dorian Invasion of their homeland.
Eponymous Heroes of Athens
Each of the ten tribes of Athens was named for a hero. That is what is meant by an eponymous hero.
Each of the ten tribes of Athens was named for a hero. That is what is meant by an eponymous hero.
Erechtheus - Founder of Athens
Glossary entry on Erechtheus. Erechtheus was the autochthonous founder of Athens who named the city after the goddess Athena.
Glossary entry on Erechtheus. Erechtheus was the autochthonous founder of Athens who named the city after the goddess Athena.
Genealogy of the First Gods
Descendants of chaos include night and day, darkness and light, and a hots of ailments and some pleasures like sexual love (philotes), sleep (hynos) and dreams (oneiroi).
Descendants of chaos include night and day, darkness and light, and a hots of ailments and some pleasures like sexual love (philotes), sleep (hynos) and dreams (oneiroi).
The Golden Fleece and the Heroes Who Lived Before Achilles
Etext of The Golden Fleece and the Heroes Who Lived Before Achilles by Padraic Colum.
Etext of The Golden Fleece and the Heroes Who Lived Before Achilles by Padraic Colum.
Greek Mythology - An Introduction to Greek Mythology
An introduction to Greek Mythology and all the fascinating Greek gods and goddesses. Greek Mythology remains a part of western culture.
An introduction to Greek Mythology and all the fascinating Greek gods and goddesses. Greek Mythology remains a part of western culture.
Hawthorne, Nathaniel in The Tanglewood Tales from Greek Mythology
Nathaniel Hawthorne tells some of the main stories from Greek mythology in charming ways that happen to be suitable for children. Hawthorne is a great introduction to the myths. Here are my summaries of his tales, with links to Hawthorne's full versions of The Minotaur, The Pomegranate, Pygmies, Dragon's Teeth, Circe's Palace, and the Golden Fleece.
Nathaniel Hawthorne tells some of the main stories from Greek mythology in charming ways that happen to be suitable for children. Hawthorne is a great introduction to the myths. Here are my summaries of his tales, with links to Hawthorne's full versions of The Minotaur, The Pomegranate, Pygmies, Dragon's Teeth, Circe's Palace, and the Golden Fleece.
Hermes - Thief, Inventor, and Messenger God
Article on Hermes contains family trees of the god going back to his great grandparents Ouranos and Gaia, who are also his great-great grandparents and his great-great-great grandparents.
Article on Hermes contains family trees of the god going back to his great grandparents Ouranos and Gaia, who are also his great-great grandparents and his great-great-great grandparents.
House of Atreus
The House of Atreus was cursed. Among its unlucky members were Pelops, whose shoulder was eaten by Demeter, Menelaus, whose wife was taken by Paris, Agamemnon, who was murdered by his own wife after he murdered their daughter, and Orestes, who was hounded by the Furies.
The House of Atreus was cursed. Among its unlucky members were Pelops, whose shoulder was eaten by Demeter, Menelaus, whose wife was taken by Paris, Agamemnon, who was murdered by his own wife after he murdered their daughter, and Orestes, who was hounded by the Furies.
The Heroes, or Greek Fairy Tales for My Children By Charles Kingsley
Preface to a collection of Greek myths and legends for children written by Charles Kingsley, who covers the heroes Theseus, Perseus, and Jason.
Preface to a collection of Greek myths and legends for children written by Charles Kingsley, who covers the heroes Theseus, Perseus, and Jason.
Io - By Thomas Bulfinch in Age of Fables
The story of Juno's jealousy, her adulterous husband Jupiter, and the mortal Io who suffered the consequence.
The story of Juno's jealousy, her adulterous husband Jupiter, and the mortal Io who suffered the consequence.
Jason - By Charles Kingsley In Greek Fairy Tales for My Children
Story of the adventures of the heroes known as Argonauts and led by Jason to capture the Golden Fleece.
Story of the adventures of the heroes known as Argonauts and led by Jason to capture the Golden Fleece.
Jason's Angels
Jason, the Argonauts, and Jason's quest for the Golden Fleece.
Jason, the Argonauts, and Jason's quest for the Golden Fleece.
Kingsley, Charles - The Heroes, or Greek Fairy Tales for My Children
Tales from Greek mythology about the heroes Jason, Theseus, and Perseus, from Greek Fairy Tales for My Children, by Charles Kingsley.
Tales from Greek mythology about the heroes Jason, Theseus, and Perseus, from Greek Fairy Tales for My Children, by Charles Kingsley.
Leda and the Swan, by William Butler Yeats
William Butler Yeat's poem based on Greek mythology about the story of Leda and the Swan.
William Butler Yeat's poem based on Greek mythology about the story of Leda and the Swan.
Love, Sex, and Tragedy, by Simon Goldhill Book Review
Book Review of Simon Goldhill's "Love, Sex, and Tragedy," a new answer to the "Why study classics?" question.
Book Review of Simon Goldhill's "Love, Sex, and Tragedy," a new answer to the "Why study classics?" question.
Lovers' Legends - The Gay Greek Myths
Review of "Lovers' Legends: The Gay Greek Myths," by Andrew Calimach. Stories of Tantalus, Pelops, Laius, Ganymede, Hylas, Orpheus, Hyacinth, Narcissus, and Achilles.
Review of "Lovers' Legends: The Gay Greek Myths," by Andrew Calimach. Stories of Tantalus, Pelops, Laius, Ganymede, Hylas, Orpheus, Hyacinth, Narcissus, and Achilles.
Myths vs. Legends
In common parlance the stories of the Greek and Roman deities and heroes are indiscriminately referred to as myths and legends. If we wish to be more careful, however, we can differentiate between the two types of story, and between them and folktales and fairy tales, although a story may shift between these different categories, or may contain elements from each of them.
In common parlance the stories of the Greek and Roman deities and heroes are indiscriminately referred to as myths and legends. If we wish to be more careful, however, we can differentiate between the two types of story, and between them and folktales and fairy tales, although a story may shift between these different categories, or may contain elements from each of them.
Niobe
Profile of Niobe. In Greek mythology, Niobe was the proud and fertile daughter of Tantalus who lost all her children as a result of her boast to the mother of Apollo and Artemis, Leto (Latona).
Profile of Niobe. In Greek mythology, Niobe was the proud and fertile daughter of Tantalus who lost all her children as a result of her boast to the mother of Apollo and Artemis, Leto (Latona).
Olympics
The mythological origins of the Olympic games.
The mythological origins of the Olympic games.
People in the House of Atreus - Index
Index of people in the House of Atreus.
Index of people in the House of Atreus.
Perseus - By Charles Kingsley In Greek Fairy Tales for My Children
Story of Perseus who cut off the head of the Gorgon Medusa.
Story of Perseus who cut off the head of the Gorgon Medusa.
Philemon and Baucis
According to ancient Roman mythology and Ovid's Metamorphoses, Philemon and Baucis had lived out their long lives nobly, but in poverty. Jupiter, the king of the gods, had heard of the virtuous couple, but based on all his previous experiences with humans, he had serious doubts.
According to ancient Roman mythology and Ovid's Metamorphoses, Philemon and Baucis had lived out their long lives nobly, but in poverty. Jupiter, the king of the gods, had heard of the virtuous couple, but based on all his previous experiences with humans, he had serious doubts.
Pyramus and Thisbe - By Thomas Bulfinch in Age of Fables
The story made famous and fun of in Shakespeare's Midsummer Night's Dream.
The story made famous and fun of in Shakespeare's Midsummer Night's Dream.
Review Thomas Cahill - Sailing the Wine-Dark Sea - Why the Greeks Matter
Review of Thomas Cahill's overview of ancient Greece, Sailing the Wine-Dark Sea - Why the Greeks Matter.
Review of Thomas Cahill's overview of ancient Greece, Sailing the Wine-Dark Sea - Why the Greeks Matter.
Sinis - The Pine-Bender
Theseus encountered Sinis on his journey from Troezen to Athens after he had killed the so-called club-man Periphetes by using the club-man's club on him, in Epidaurus. Likewise, Theseus used the pine-bender's own trees to kill him.
Theseus encountered Sinis on his journey from Troezen to Athens after he had killed the so-called club-man Periphetes by using the club-man's club on him, in Epidaurus. Likewise, Theseus used the pine-bender's own trees to kill him.
Tales of Greek Mythology by Thomas Bulfinch
Thomas Bulfinch's Greek Mythology is called The Age of Fable or Stories of Gods and Heroes. This page presents a table of contents.
Thomas Bulfinch's Greek Mythology is called The Age of Fable or Stories of Gods and Heroes. This page presents a table of contents.
Theseus - By Charles Kingsley In Greek Fairy Tales for My Children
Story of Theseus and the Minotaur and the later adventures of Theseus.
Story of Theseus and the Minotaur and the later adventures of Theseus.
Tiresias
The legendary seer Tiresias, famous from The Odyssey and the Oedipus legends, appears in Ovid's Metamorphoses as the first (unhappy) transgendered individual. His plight came to the attention of the contentious king and queen of the gods.
The legendary seer Tiresias, famous from The Odyssey and the Oedipus legends, appears in Ovid's Metamorphoses as the first (unhappy) transgendered individual. His plight came to the attention of the contentious king and queen of the gods.
What Is Myth?
A starting point for looking at the nature of myths is to say that myths are stories shared by a group, and which are a part of their cultural identity. As such, they are important to understand when looking at the history of a people. There is no completely satisfactory definition of myth*, although many of the world's greatest thinkers have provided partial answers.
A starting point for looking at the nature of myths is to say that myths are stories shared by a group, and which are a part of their cultural identity. As such, they are important to understand when looking at the history of a people. There is no completely satisfactory definition of myth*, although many of the world's greatest thinkers have provided partial answers.
Worst Betrayals in Ancient Myth
A look at some of the most famous betrayals in ancient Greek mythology.
A look at some of the most famous betrayals in ancient Greek mythology.