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Classical mythology, also known as Greco-Roman mythology or Greek and Roman mythology, is the collective body and study of myths from the ancient Greeks and ancient Romans. Mythology, along with philosophy and political thought , is one of the major survivals of classical antiquity throughout later, including modern, Western culture . [ 1 ]
The resulting mythological "history of the world" may be divided into three or four broader periods: The myths of origin or age of gods (Theogonies, "births of gods"): myths about the origins of the world, the gods, and the human race. The age when gods and mortals mingled freely: stories of the early interactions between gods, demigods, and ...
A culture hero is a mythological hero specific to a group of people (cultural, ethnic, religious, etc.), who changes the world through invention or discovery.A typical culture hero might be credited as the discoverer of fire or agriculture, songs, tradition, law or religion, and is usually one of the most important legendary figures of a people, sometimes as the founder of its ruling dynasty.
Perseus, famous for his exploits well before the days of his great-grandson, Heracles, [5] was the son of Zeus. Perseus beheaded the gorgon Medusa, saved Andromeda from the sea monster Cetus, and was the legendary founder of Mycenae. Aeacus was also a son of Zeus. Bellerophon was descended from the nymph Orseis.
A central character in Donna Leon's crime fiction series is a present-day young woman named Elettra (the Italian form of "Electra"), who is highly resourceful and who bears some resemblance to the mythological character. House of Names, by Colm Tóibín. A retelling of the story of Agamemnon's death and the resulting events.
Many popular stories were told of his life, the most famous being the twelve Labours of Hercules; Alexandrian poets of the Hellenistic age drew his mythology into a high poetic and tragic atmosphere. [6] His figure, which initially drew on Near Eastern motifs such as the lion-fight, was widely known.
9. Chimera. Origin: Greek The mythological Chimera is a terrifying creature that features a fire-breathing lion’s head attached to a goat’s body, ending in a serpent tail. There are varying ...
As James Romm has written, Herodotus worked under a common ancient Greek cultural assumption that the way events are remembered and retold (e.g. in myths or legends) produces a valid kind of understanding, even when this retelling is not entirely factual. [84] For Herodotus, then, it takes both myth and history to produce truthful understanding.