Greek Mythology (Ancient Greece) Greek mythology centers on a pantheon of anthropomorphic gods residing on Mount Olympus, led by Zeus, god of the sky. Stories explore themes of fate, hubris, love, and justice through figures like Prometheus, who defied the gods for humanity, and heroes such as Heracles and Odysseus. Myths explained natural events (e.g., seasons via Persephone’s abduction) and justified social customs. Hesiod’s Theogony and Homer’s epics codified early versions, while later tragedians like Sophocles examined moral dilemmas. Unlike monotheistic religions, Greek myths embraced contradiction and complexity—gods were powerful but flawed. Temples, oracles (like Delphi), and festivals integrated myth into daily life. Roman culture later adopted and renamed many deities (e.g., Jupiter for Zeus). Today, Greek mythology profoundly influences Western literature, psychology (Oedipus complex), astronomy, and language. Its enduring power lies in its human-scale drama: divine beings mirror our desires and failures, making the cosmos feel intimately knowable—even when it’s cruel or chaotic.
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