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Greek Mythology
Myths are traditional stories. The Greeks used myths to explain things they did not understand. At first, myths were passed down from generation to generation by word of mouth. Later, Greek poets created epic stories based on those legends. An epic is a long poem about great heroes and their deeds. The Greek gods lived atop Mount Olympus, the highest mountain
in Greece. Zeus was the head of the family of gods. He ruled the sky with
his powerful thunderbolt. One of his brothers, Poseidon, ruled the sea;
another brother, Hades, ruled the “underworld Zeus wasn't always faithful to Hera. He had many affairs with other gods and humans. In one myth, Zeus lived with Mnemosyne, the goddess of memory, for nine days. Their union produced nine daughters known as the “muses.” The nine muses were the goddesses of inspiration, learning, and the arts. Words like music, amusing, and museum originally referred to the goddesses. The Greeks would often consult priests or priestesses called
oracles before making important decisions. They believed that the gods
spoke to the oracles. The oracles were said to be able to read the rustling
of leaves or marks on animals as signs from the gods. The oracles would
often respond in unclear ways so it would be difficult for people to prove
them wrong. |
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To cite this page: |
The
ancient Greeks were polytheistic. This means they believed in many gods.
Writers and artists use the stories and symbols of Greek myths to this
day. While we no longer view the myths as religion, many people still
enjoy reading them. Today, most people who live in the Western Hemisphere
believe in one god. People who believe in one god are monotheistic. 
.”
Zeus's wife, Hera, was the goddess of women and marriage.