Greek mythology encompasses the tales surrounding the deities, heroes, and customs of ancient Greece, and it prevailed throughout Classical antiquity. Although figures like the philosopher Plato during the 5th to 4th centuries BCE recognized that these myths featured substantial fictional elements, most Greeks regarded them as genuine narratives. The impact of Greek mythology has been profound, informing various artistic and literary expressions throughout Western civilization, inheriting much from Greek cultural paradigms. While myths globally have sought to elucidate natural phenomena, the exploits of divine beings, and rationalize societal structures, Greek myths remain unparalleled in Western discourse for their imaginative depth and influence. Artists and poets throughout the ages have drawn inspiration from these myths, finding contemporary relevance in the ancient stories.
Sources of Myths: Literary and Archaeological
The Homeric Poems: The Iliad and The Odyssey
According to the 5th-century BCE historian Herodotus, the works of Homer and Hesiod contributed significantly to the characterization of the Olympian gods. While some may not take this assertion literally today, the Greek audience could easily identify deities such as Apollo by their lineage. It illustrates that the audience was expected to possess an understanding of preceding myths. Notably, figures like Pindar and later Stoics viewed these stories with great seriousness, often allegorizing or censoring them rather than relegating them to mere entertainment.
The Works of Hesiod: Theogony and Works and Days
Hesiod, dating back to around 700 BCE, is credited with an important source that delves into the origins of deities, prominently featured in his poem “Theogony.” This work not only outlines the genealogies of gods but also includes folktales and explanations for various natural phenomena. Meanwhile, “Works and Days” provides a farmer’s calendar of sorts, alongside a discourse on justice aimed at his possibly fictional sibling, Perses. Scholars conventionally view these two texts as distinct, yet they can also be considered interdependent; “Theogony” defines divine identities while “Works and Days” offers guidance for navigating a perilous world, advocating for justice as a pathway to success.
Other Literary Works
Subsequently, fragmentary post-Homeric narratives filled in the historical gaps regarding the Trojan War as chronicled in the “Iliad” and the “Odyssey.” The “Homeric Hymns,” consisting of shorter poetic works, contributed to various significant religious myths. Lyric poets, particularly Pindar, further preserved these myths while the tragedies composed by Aeschylus, Sophocles, and Euripides during the 5th century BCE showcased a rich variation of traditions and themes.
In the Hellenistic period (323–30 BCE), the poet Callimachus recorded numerous lesser-known myths, while his contemporary, Euhemerus, proposed that gods initially stemmed from human beings, a perspective later coined Euhemerism. Apollonius of Rhodes, another notable figure of the same era, provided the most comprehensive account of the Argonauts’ quest for the Golden Fleece. The Roman Empire period saw contributions from writers such as Strabo, pseudo-Apollodorus, Plutarch, and Pausanias, who offered essential insights into Greek mythology through their works, alongside the Latin genealogies of Hyginus.
Archaeological Discoveries
Crucial archaeological findings have also enhanced the understanding of Greek myth and ritual. Heinrich Schliemann’s excavation of the Mycenaean civilization and Sir Arthur Evans’s discovery of Minoan culture in Crete significantly shaped perceptions of these societies. Their explorations revealed aspects of Minoan culture dating back to approximately 2200 to 1450 BCE and Mycenaean civilization from 1600 to 1200 BCE, preceding a prolonged Dark Age that lasted until around 800 BCE. However, evidence regarding myths and religious practices tends to be monumentally inclined. The Linear B script, primarily used for record-keeping, leaves much interpretive work for scholars as geometric pottery designs from the 8th century BCE depict stories from the Trojan saga and adventures of Heracles without accompanying inscriptions to clarify their meaning.
Conclusion
Across the Archaic, Classical, and Hellenistic periods, additional mythological scenes emerged, enriching the existing literary documentation and offering further insight into the pivotal role of mythology in ancient Greek culture.
