Greek Mythology: Culture and Religion (Part III)

(Greek Mythology: Culture and Religion Part I)
(Greek Mythology: Culture and Religion Part II)

In my last post, I examined the variance with similar myths and the possibility that the Greeks didn’t necessarily believe in their own myths. In contrast, another interesting aspect of mythology is the parallels to humanity that exist, which could also provide an explanation for myths that contrasted their beliefs.  

With regards to gods bearing similarities to humans, many believe that the Greeks provide a reflection of themselves and explain the actions of humanity further. The fact that the gods all corresponded to different elements of the everyday world demonstrates that the Greeks used religion as a medium to explain their actions. For example, Hera was seen as the goddess of marriage, highlighting how the sacred and common concept of marriage was personified in a goddess. In a similar way, Oceanus was seen as the divine personification of oceans, which aptly shows that the world around them and the familiar concepts were all represented in their gods.

Furthermore, a myth which is illustrative of this is the legend of Pandora. In order to punish Prometheus, the Olympians created Pandora, each giving her a unique gift to make Prometheus fall in love with her. However, she famously opened the jar that held all of the evils of humanity, or so Hesiod tells us. This myth is regarded as a theodicy, a way to explain how evils could exist when almighty, omnipotent beings such as gods exist. In this way, we see that myths allowed the Greeks to explain their lives and the unknown, something which we still do.

The ancient Greeks are well known for their philosophy, and the theories about humanity. It could be said that myths and religion therefore allowed the Greeks to discuss humanity. Thus, myths that portrayed gods with negative qualities could be viewed in the same way, as a method used to explore humanity and the irrational emotions felt. From Zeus’ extreme lust to Hera’s wrath, the gods demonstrate such extreme emotions, possibly because tales that reflect the state of humanity help to rationalise the irrational human mind. In the modern world, the way we use science to further our knowledge is reminiscent of the Greeks examining the human mind through mythology.

(Greek Mythology: Culture and Religion Part IV)
(Greek Mythology: Culture and Religion Part V-1)
(Greek Mythology: Culture and Religion Part V-2)

(Greek Mythology: Culture and Religion Part V-3)