The gods were born in strife and struggle, and the theme of war as an inescapable part of existence runs through Greek mythology. Many myths recount episodes in the Olympians’ conflict with the Titans. Others are connected to the Trojan War, a long conflict in which both people and deities displayed such qualities as courage, stubbornness, pride, and anger. In addition to the war itself, the travels and adventures of warriors after the war ended are subjects of myth and legend.
Many myths deal with love, especially the loves of Zeus, who sometimes disguised himself in order to enjoy sexual relations with mortal women. Other myths present examples of trust, loyalty, and eternal love—or of the pitfalls and problems of love and desire. The tragic myth of Pyramus (pronounced PEER-uh-muhs) and Thisbe (pronounced THIZ-bee) illustrates a divine reward for lovers who could not live without each other. The story of Eros (pronounced AIR-ohs) and Psyche (pronounced SYE-kee) revolves around the issue of trust. In another myth, the gods reward the elderly Baucis (pronounced BAW-sis) and Philemon (pronounced fye-LEE-muhn) for their devotion to each other and their kindheartedness toward strangers.
Another recurring theme in Greek myth is death. Characters in Greek myths sometimes enter the underworld, the kingdom of the god Hades. Heroes may go there seeking advice or prophecies from the dead. Persephone, Demeter’s daughter, was carried to the underworld by Hades, who fell in love with her. Her myth explains the seasons: plants grow and bear fruit while Persephone is aboveground with her mother but wither and die during the months she spends with Hades. The tale of Orpheus (pronounced OR-fee-uhs) and Eurydice (pronounced yoo-RID-uh-see) explores the finality of death and the tempting possibility of a reunion with loved ones who have died.
Many Greek myths deal with themes of right and wrong behavior and the consequences of each. The myth of Baucis and Philemon, for example, illustrates the importance of hospitality and generosity toward all, for a humble stranger may be a deity in disguise with power to reward or punish. Another story tells how the handsome Narcissus (pronounced nar-SIS-us), so vain and heartless that he could love only himself,
Drowned while gazing at his reflection in a stream. The myth of Icarus (pronounced IK-uh-ruhs), who gains the ability to fly but soars so close to the sun that his wings melt, points out the dangers of tempting fate and rising above one’s proper place in life. Such stories often involve unexpected changes or transformations. For example, the myth of King Midas (pronounced MY-duhs), whose request for a golden touch turns his own daughter into a golden statue, warns of the perils of greed.
Like Icarus, those who claim godlike qualities, who defy the gods, or who perform outrageous acts suffer swift and severe punishment. Arachne (pronounced uh-RAK-nee) was a mortal who boasted that she could weave better cloth than the goddess Athena, inventor of weaving. The goddess turned the boastful girl into a spider weaving its web. The gods devised eternal punishments in the depths of Hades for Sisyphus (pronounced SIZ-ee-fuhs), who tried to cheat death, and for Tantalus (pronounced TAN-tuhl-uhs), who killed his own son and fed him to the gods. They also punished Oedipus (pronounced ED-uh-puhs), who killed his father and married his mother, even though he did not know their identities when he did so.
Transformation—the act of changing from one form into another— is a common theme in Greek mythology. The gods had the power to change themselves into animals, birds, or humans and often used this power to trick goddesses or women. Zeus, for example, turned himself into a bull for one romantic adventure and into a swan for another. Sometimes the gods and goddesses transformed others, either to save them or to punish them. Daphne (pronounced DAF-nee), for example, was changed into a laurel tree; Narcissus and Hyacinthus (pronounced high-uh-SIN-thuhs) became the flowers that bear their names.
World History
