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THE GODDESS THESIS IN GREEK MYTHOLOGY

The protogenoi thesis, thesis in the orphic tradition, thesis goddess of creation.

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Theseus, hero of athens.

Terracotta amphora (jar)

Signed by Taleides as potter

Terracotta kylix: eye-cup (drinking cup)

Terracotta lekythos (oil flask)

Attributed to the Diosphos Painter

Terracotta kylix (drinking cup)

Attributed to the Briseis Painter

Terracotta calyx-krater (bowl for mixing wine and water)

Attributed to a painter of the Group of Polygnotos

Terracotta Nolan neck-amphora (jar)

Attributed to the Dwarf Painter

Attributed to the Eretria Painter

Marble sarcophagus with garlands and the myth of Theseus and Ariadne

Andrew Greene Department of Greek and Roman Art, The Metropolitan Museum of Art

August 2009

In the ancient Greek world, myth functioned as a method of both recording history and providing precedent for political programs. While today the word “myth” is almost synonymous with “fiction,” in antiquity, myth was an alternate form of reality . Thus, the rise of Theseus as the national hero of Athens, evident in the evolution of his iconography in Athenian art, was a result of a number of historical and political developments that occurred during the sixth and fifth centuries B.C.

Myth surrounding Theseus suggests that he lived during the Late Bronze Age, probably a generation before the Homeric heroes of the Trojan War. The earliest references to the hero come from the Iliad and the Odyssey , the Homeric epics of the early eighth century B.C. Theseus’ most significant achievement was the Synoikismos, the unification of the twelve demes, or local settlements of Attica, into the political and economic entity that became Athens.

Theseus’ life can be divided into two distinct periods, as a youth and as king of Athens . Aegeus, king of Athens, and the sea god Poseidon ( 53.11.4 ) both slept with Theseus’ mother, Aithra, on the same night, supplying Theseus with both divine and royal lineage. Theseus was born in Aithra’s home city of Troezen, located in the Peloponnesos , but as an adolescent he traveled around the Saronic Gulf via Epidauros, the Isthmus of Corinth, Krommyon, the Megarian Cliffs, and Eleusis before finally reaching Athens. Along the way he encountered and dispatched six legendary brigands notorious for attacking travelers.

Upon arriving in Athens, Theseus was recognized by his stepmother, Medea, who considered him a threat to her power. Medea attempted to dispatch Theseus by poisoning him, conspiring to ambush him with the Pallantidae Giants, and by sending him to face the Marathonian Bull ( 56.171.48 ).

Likely the most famous of Theseus’ deeds was the slaying of the Minotaur ( 64.300 ; 47.11.5 ; 09.221.39 ). Athens was forced to pay an annual tribute of seven maidens and seven youths to King Minos of Crete to feed the Minotaur, half man, half bull, that inhabited the labyrinthine palace of Minos at Knossos. Theseus, determined to end Minoan dominance, volunteered to be one of the sacrificial youths. On Crete, Theseus seduced Minos’ daughter, Ariadne, who conspired to help him kill the Minotaur and escape by giving him a ball of yarn to unroll as he moved throughout the labyrinth ( 90.12a,b ). Theseus managed to flee Crete with Ariadne, but then abandoned her on the island of Naxos during the voyage back to Athens. King Aegeus had told Theseus that upon returning to Athens, he was to fly a white sail if he had triumphed over the Minotaur, and to instruct the crew to raise a black sail if he had been killed. Theseus, forgetting his father’s direction, flew a black sail as he returned. Aegeus, in his grief, threw himself from the cliff at Cape Sounion into the Aegean, making Theseus the new king of Athens and giving the sea its name.

There is but a sketchy picture of Theseus’ deeds in later life, gleaned from brief literary references of the early Archaic period , mostly from fragmentary works by lyric poets. Theseus embarked on a number of expeditions with his close friend Peirithoos, the king of the Lapith tribe from Thessaly in northern Greece. He also undertook an expedition against the Amazons, in some versions with Herakles , and kidnapped their queen Antiope, whom he subsequently married ( 31.11.13 ; 56.171.42 ). Enraged by this, the Amazons laid siege to Athens, an event that became popular in later artistic representations.

There are certain aspects of the myth of Theseus that were clearly modeled on the more prominent hero Herakles during the early sixth century B.C. Theseus’s encounter with the brigands parallels Herakles’ six deeds in the northern Peloponnesos. Theseus’ capture of the Marathonian Bull mirrors Herakles’ struggle with the Cretan Bull. There also seems to be some conflation of the two since they both partook in an Amazonomachy and a Centauromachy. Both heroes additionally have links to Athena and similarly complex parentage with mortal mothers and divine fathers.

However, while Herakles’ life appears to be a string of continuous heroic deeds, Theseus’ life represents that of a real person, one involving change and maturation. Theseus became king and therefore part of the historical lineage of Athens, whereas Herakles remained free from any geographical ties, probably the reason that he was able to become the Panhellenic hero. Ultimately, as indicated by the development of heroic iconography in Athens, Herakles was superseded by Theseus because he provided a much more complex and local hero for Athens.

The earliest extant representation of Theseus in art appears on the François Vase located in Florence, dated to about 570 B.C. This famous black-figure krater shows Theseus during the Cretan episode, and is one of a small number of representations of Theseus dated before 540 B.C. Between 540 and 525 B.C. , there was a large increase in the production of images of Theseus, though they were limited almost entirely to painted pottery and mainly showed Theseus as heroic slayer of the Minotaur ( 09.221.39 ; 64.300 ). Around 525 B.C. , the iconography of Theseus became more diverse and focused on the cycle of deeds involving the brigands and the abduction of Antiope. Between 490 and 480 B.C. , interest centered on scenes of the Amazonomachy and less prominent myths such as Theseus’ visit to Poseidon’s palace ( 53.11.4 ). The episode is treated in a work by the lyric poet Bacchylides. Between 450 and 430 B.C. , there was a decline in representations of the hero on vases; however, representations in other media increase. In the mid-fifth century B.C. , youthful deeds of Theseus were placed in the metopes of the Parthenon and the Hephaisteion, the temple overlooking the Agora of Athens. Additionally, the shield of Athena Parthenos, the monumental chryselephantine cult statue in the interior of the Parthenon, featured an Amazonomachy that included Theseus.

The rise in prominence of Theseus in Athenian consciousness shows an obvious correlation with historical events and particular political agendas. In the early to mid-sixth century B.C. , the Athenian ruler Solon (ca. 638–558 B.C. ) made a first attempt at introducing democracy. It is worth noting that Athenian democracy was not equivalent to the modern notion; rather, it widened political involvement to a larger swath of the male Athenian population. Nonetheless, the beginnings of this sort of government could easily draw on the Synoikismos as a precedent, giving Solon cause to elevate the importance of Theseus. Additionally, there were a large number of correspondences between myth and historical events of this period. As king, Theseus captured the city of Eleusis from Megara and placed the boundary stone at the Isthmus of Corinth, a midpoint between Athens and its enemy. Domestically, Theseus opened Athens to foreigners and established the Panathenaia, the most important religious festival of the city. Historically, Solon also opened the city to outsiders and heightened the importance of the Panathenaia around 566 B.C.

When the tyrant Peisistratos seized power in 546 B.C. , as Aristotle noted, there already existed a shrine dedicated to Theseus, but the exponential increase in artistic representations during Peisistratos’ reign through 527 B.C. displayed the growing importance of the hero to political agenda. Peisistratos took Theseus to be not only the national hero, but his own personal hero, and used the Cretan adventures to justify his links to the island sanctuary of Delos and his own reorganization of the festival of Apollo there. It was during this period that Theseus’s relevance as national hero started to overwhelm Herakles’ importance as Panhellenic hero, further strengthening Athenian civic pride.

Under Kleisthenes, the polis was reorganized into an even more inclusive democracy, by dividing the city into tribes, trittyes, and demes, a structure that may have been meant to reflect the organization of the Synoikismos. Kleisthenes also took a further step to outwardly claim Theseus as the Athenian hero by placing him in the metopes of the Athenian treasury at Delphi, where he could be seen by Greeks from every polis in the Aegean.

The oligarch Kimon (ca. 510–450 B.C. ) can be considered the ultimate patron of Theseus during the early to mid-fifth century B.C. After the first Persian invasion (ca. 490 B.C. ), Theseus came to symbolize the victorious and powerful city itself. At this time, the Amazonomachy became a key piece of iconography as the Amazons came to represent the Persians as eastern invaders. In 476 B.C. , Kimon returned Theseus’ bones to Athens and built a shrine around them which he had decorated with the Amazonomachy, the Centauromachy, and the Cretan adventures, all painted by either Mikon or Polygnotos, two of the most important painters of antiquity. This act represented the final solidification of Theseus as national hero.

Greene, Andrew. “Theseus, Hero of Athens.” In Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History . New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2000–. http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/thes/hd_thes.htm (August 2009)

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Thesis The Greek Primordial Goddess of Creation

In Greek mythology , Thesis is the primordial goddess of creation , often associated with the concept of Physis (Mother Nature). She is believed to have emerged at the beginning of creation alongside Hydros (the Primordial Waters) and Mud. Thesis is sometimes portrayed as the female aspect of the first-born deity, Phanes. She holds a significant role in ancient cosmology and mythology’s origins.

Key Takeaways:

Thesis is the Greek primordial goddess of creation in ancient Greek mythology .
She is associated with Physis (Mother Nature) and emerged alongside Hydros and Mud at the beginning of creation .
Thesis may be considered the female aspect of the first-born deity, Phanes.
She embodies the concept of creation and plays a vital role in ancient cosmology .
Thesis’s origins, family connections, and powers contribute to her importance as a mythological figure .

Origins of Thesis

Thesis, the Greek primordial goddess of creation , holds a significant place in Greek mythology and ancient cosmology . As the first being to emerge at the creation of the universe, she embodies the concept of the birth of the cosmos. Thesis is closely associated with Hydros and Mud, representing the elemental forces of water and earth, respectively. Some interpretations suggest that she is the female aspect of Phanes, a bi-gendered deity symbolizing the essence of life.

In the Orphic Theogonies, Thesis is prominently mentioned as the initial manifestation of creation. This mythological text provides insights into her role in the ancient Greek pantheon. As the Greek primordial goddess of creation , Thesis sets the foundation for the entire mythological framework and cosmological understanding of the ancient Greeks.

Family of Thesis

As a primordial goddess , Thesis does not have traditional parents. She is considered to have spontaneously emerged at the beginning of creation. However, she is associated with several important beings in Greek mythology.

Hydros: The primordial god of water, is mentioned as a possible parent of Thesis. Together, they represent the fundamental elements of creation, water and earth.
Mud: Another possible parent of Thesis, Mud symbolizes the primordial nature of the earth.
Chronos: Thesis is connected to the birth of Chronos, the primordial god of time. This relationship highlights her role as a progenitor of important deities.
Ananke: Thesis is also associated with Ananke, the primordial goddess of necessity. This connection further underscores her significance in the realm of Greek primordial gods .

These relationships highlight Thesis’s role in the family tree of primordial gods , emphasizing her importance as a foundational figure in Greek mythology.

Powers and Attributes of Thesis

As the Greek primordial goddess of creation, Thesis possesses a range of impressive powers and attributes. Her divine nature grants her omnipresence , meaning that she pervades every aspect of the universe. She exists in all places simultaneously, her essence intertwined with the fabric of reality.

Moreover, Thesis is blessed with omniscience . From the moment of creation, she has witnessed and comprehended every event that has unfolded in the cosmos. Her vast knowledge encompasses the intricate details of the universe, past, present, and future.

Thesis’s creative abilities are truly awe-inspiring. With a mere thought, she has the power to shape existence, bringing forth life and shaping the destiny of all beings. From the grandest celestial bodies to the tiniest microorganisms, Thesis can conjure them effortlessly out of nothingness.

Although Thesis is an ethereal being, she can manifest a physical form at will. She can assume any appearance, captivating mortals and immortals alike with her divine beauty and grace. This ability allows her to interact with the world and its inhabitants on a more tangible level, if she desires.

It is also crucial to note that Thesis transcends the constraints of mortality. As a primordial deity , she exists beyond the boundaries of time and the cycle of life and death. Her essence is eternal, sustaining the very essence of creation itself.

Role in Creation and Mythology

Thesis, the Greek primordial goddess , played a significant role in the creation of the cosmos. She is believed to have created a cosmic egg from water, which served as the vessel for the emergence of the first-born deity, Phanes. Phanes, also known as Life, became the first king of the universe and the ancestor of all other living beings.

Thesis is considered the mother of Hydros, the grandmother of Phanes, and the creator of the cosmic egg . Her involvement in the creation of life and the universe establishes her as a foundational figure in Greek mythology, symbolizing the origins of all living beings.

Mystery and Interpretations of Thesis

Despite her significant role in Greek mythology and ancient cosmology, much remains unknown about Thesis, the primordial goddess of creation. She remains a mysterious figure, with limited records and descriptions. Yet, the enigmatic nature of Thesis only adds to her allure and intrigue.

Thesis is often depicted as an ethereal being, capable of shape-shifting and assuming various forms. While she is typically referred to with female pronouns, it is believed that she has the ability to change her gender at will, further adding to the mystique surrounding her.

One prevailing theory suggests that Thesis, along with other primordial deities , has chosen to cast aside her anthropomorphized form. This deliberate act of transcendence may explain the scarcity of information and records about her existence. It is as if Thesis embodies the essence of creation itself, transcending human comprehension and defying categorization.

“Thesis, with her shape-shifting abilities, seems to elude our understanding, much like the very essence of creation she represents.”

Despite the lack of concrete information about Thesis, scholars and myth enthusiasts continue to speculate and interpret her character and motivations. Some theories delve into the metaphysical aspects of creation, linking Thesis to the concept of thesis as an idea or proposition that initiates the birth of new understanding.

In the absence of concrete facts, we are left to contemplate the elusive nature of this ancient deity. Perhaps the true essence of Thesis lies not in predefined descriptions and accounts but in the layers of interpretation and imagination that continue to unfold as we explore the depths of Greek mythology and the primordial deities .

Ethymology of Thesis

The word “thesis” comes from the Greek term “θέσις” (thésis), which means “a setting, a position, or a proposition.” This etymology further emphasizes the underlying connection between Thesis and the concept of creation, as she is the very embodiment of the initiating force behind the birth of the cosmos.

Comparative Analysis of Primordial Deities

Influence and legacy of thesis.

Thesis, the primordial goddess of creation in Greek mythology, had a profound influence on the cosmology and origins of mythology itself. As the embodiment of creation, she played a pivotal role in shaping the universe and the emergence of life. Her legacy as a revered deity continues to resonate in ancient Greek culture.

One of Thesis’s significant contributions to Greek mythology was her creation of the cosmic egg . This cosmic egg served as the vessel from which Phanes, the first-born deity and embodiment of life, emerged. Symbolizing the origins of all living beings, the birth of Phanes represents the intrinsic connection between Thesis and the creation of life.

“Thesis, as the primordial goddess of creation, brought forth the cosmic egg, giving birth to the first deity and the essence of life itself.” – Greek Mythologist

Thesis’s presence in Greek mythology reinforces her importance as a divine being and one of the ancient deities revered by the ancient Greeks. As the primordial goddess of creation, she not only birthed the universe but also established the foundation for the ancient Greek cosmology .

Her legacy extends beyond Greek mythology, influencing the understanding and interpretation of creation in various cultures and religious beliefs. Thesis’s role as a creation deity highlights her significance and enduring influence, shaping the understanding of cosmology and the origins of existence.

Thesis’s influence and legacy continue to captivate scholars, historians, and enthusiasts who dive into the depths of Greek mythology. As one of the foundational figures in ancient Greek cosmology , she continues to inspire and provoke thoughtful analysis of the origins of existence and the ancient Greek understanding of creation. Thesis’s impact on mythology remains an enduring testament to her role as a primordial goddess.

The Primordial Goddess in Ancient Cosmology

In ancient Greek cosmology , Thesis occupies a significant role as the primordial goddess of creation. Rooted in the belief systems of ancient Greece, the concept of the cosmos emerging from primordial elements and beings is central to understanding the origins and structure of the world. Thesis represents the initial manifestation of creation, symbolizing the birth of life and the universe itself.

Within the framework of ancient creation beliefs , Thesis’s presence is instrumental in explaining the emergence of the cosmos. As a primordial deity , she embodies the primal forces that form the foundation of all existence. Her significance lies in her ability to symbolize the birth of life and the universe, delineating the beginnings of Greek cosmology.

“Thesis represents the initiation of creation, a symbol of the universe’s birth and the formation of life itself.” – Greek Scholar

Exploring the Primordial Deity

As a primordial deity , Thesis has a unique place in ancient Greek cosmology. She is considered a divine figure of immense power and influence, integral to the very fabric of the universe. While her character and motivations are often shrouded in mystery, her role as a primordial deity reflects the ancient Greeks’ understanding of creation and the forces that govern the cosmos.

Thesis’s presence in ancient cosmology highlights the importance of primordial deities in ancient Greek mythology and belief systems. These deities represent the fundamental aspects of the universe, embodying the elemental forces that shape reality. As the primordial goddess of creation, Thesis serves as a powerful symbol of the origins and structure of the world.

The Significance of Thesis in Ancient Greek Beliefs

Thesis’s role as the primordial goddess of creation aligns with ancient Greek beliefs regarding the origins of the universe. According to these ancient creation beliefs , the cosmos arose from a primordial state, with Thesis symbolizing the emergence of life and the birth of the universe.

Within the ancient Greek cosmological framework, Thesis’s presence signifies the beginning of existence and the formation of the natural world. She represents the creative force that brings order and structure to the chaotic primordial state, establishing the foundations upon which all subsequent beings and phenomena would arise.

Thesis’s presence in ancient Greek cosmology provides insight into the ancient Greeks’ understanding of the universe and their attempts to explain its formation. Her role as the primordial goddess of creation underscores the importance of divine beings in shaping the beliefs and worldview of the ancient Greeks.

Reflections in Literature and Mythology

References to Thesis can be found in various ancient literary works and mythological texts. Homer, in the Iliad , depicts Okeanos and Tethys (another name for Thesis) as the primordial gods of creation. Alcman describes Thesis as the first being to emerge, followed by Chronos and Ananke. Plato mentions Thesis as the mother of Eros (Procreation). These references point to the significance of Thesis in ancient Greek literature and mythology, solidifying her role as a mythological figure .

Speculations and Interpretations

Due to the limited information available about Thesis, speculation and interpretation surround her character and motivations. Some theories suggest that she was one of the first deities to cast aside her anthropomorphic form, leading to the scarcity of records about her. Others delve into the metaphysical aspects of creation and thesis as a concept. These speculations highlight the intrigue and fascination surrounding this enigmatic Greek primordial goddess.

Modern Influence and Popularity

While Thesis may not enjoy the same level of recognition as other Greek mythological figures, her significance resonates within the realm of mythological studies. Scholars and enthusiasts continue to explore and interpret her role in creation and mythology. Additionally, her portrayal in ancient texts and her connection to primordial deities contribute to the ongoing fascination with Greek mythology. Thesis’s presence in the realm of mythological characters remains intriguing to modern audiences.

Thesis, the Greek primordial goddess of creation, holds a prominent position in Greek mythology and ancient cosmology. As the embodiment of creation, she is intricately connected to the birth of the universe, the emergence of life, and the formation of deities. Although shrouded in mystery, her role as a foundational figure in Greek mythology and ancient beliefs is undeniable. Thesis’s influence and legacy continue to be explored and interpreted, captivating those who delve into the rich tapestry of ancient myth and lore.

Who is Thesis in Greek mythology?

Thesis is the primordial goddess of creation, often associated with the concept of Physis (Mother Nature). She is believed to have emerged at the beginning of creation alongside Hydros (the Primordial Waters) and Mud.

What role does Thesis play in ancient cosmology?

Thesis represents the initial manifestation of creation, symbolizing the emergence of life and the universe. Her presence in ancient cosmology underscores the significance of the primordial deities in explaining the origins and structure of the world.

Who are the possible parents of Thesis?

Thesis is associated with Hydros, the primordial god of water, and Mud. She is also connected to the birth of Chronos, the primordial god of time, and Ananke, the primordial goddess of necessity.

What powers and attributes does Thesis possess?

Thesis is omnipresent, omniscient, and has the ability to create anything from nothing. She can manifest a physical form when desired and exists outside the limitations of mortality as a primordial deity.

What is the role of Thesis in the creation of the cosmos?

Thesis created a cosmic egg from water, from which the first-born deity, Phanes, emerged. Phanes became the first king of the universe and ancestor to all other living beings.

Why is there limited information about Thesis?

Thesis remains a mysterious figure with limited records and descriptions. It is believed that she, like other primordial deities, has chosen to cast aside her anthropomorphized form, leading to a lack of information about her existence.

What is the legacy of Thesis in Greek mythology?

As the primordial goddess of creation, Thesis holds a prominent position in Greek mythology and ancient cosmology. She embodies the concept of the birth of the universe and the subsequent emergence of life, establishing her as a foundational figure.

How is Thesis portrayed in ancient literature and mythology?

References to Thesis can be found in various ancient literary works and mythological texts, including those by Homer, Alcman, and Plato. These references solidify her role as a mythological figure in ancient Greek literature and mythology.

What are the speculations and interpretations surrounding Thesis?

Due to limited information, there are speculations about Thesis’s motivations and character. Some theories suggest that she was one of the first deities to cast aside her anthropomorphic form, leading to the scarcity of records about her.

Does Thesis have modern influence and popularity?

What is the role of the primordial goddess in ancient cosmology?

In ancient Greek cosmology, the primordial goddess represents the initial manifestation of creation, symbolizing the emergence of life and the universe. She is intricately connected to the birth of the cosmos and the formation of deities.

How does Thesis’s influence extend beyond her existence in Greek mythology?

Thesis’s role as the primordial goddess of creation aligns with ancient Greek cosmology. Her presence in ancient creation beliefs highlights the significance of the primordial deities in explaining the origins and structure of the world.

What is the significance of Thesis in ancient mythology and cosmology?

As the Greek primordial goddess of creation, Thesis played a prominent role in the formation of the cosmos and the emergence of life. Her importance as a divine being and one of the ancient deities revered by the Greeks cannot be overlooked.

Source Links

https://www.theoi.com/Protogenos/Thesis.html
https://superhuman-characters-and-their-powers.fandom.com/wiki/Thesis_(Greek_Mythology)
https://www.worldanvil.com/w/a-world-of-myth-and-magic-power-of-a-name/a/thesis3A-primordial-goddess-of-creation-person

Who were Theseus’ parents?

Theseus was the product of an affair between Aegeus, the king of Athens, and Aethra, a princess of Troezen. But in some traditions, the sea god Poseidon slept with Aethra the same night as Aegeus, making Theseus his son instead.

Theseus was raised by his mother Aethra in Troezen. The identity of his father was kept secret until Theseus had proven himself worthy of his inheritance.

Theseus and Aethra by Laurent de La Hyre

Whom did Theseus marry?

Theseus had a weakness for women and was not always loyal to them. He eventually married Phaedra, a princess from Crete. Their marriage ended disastrously, however, when Phaedra fell passionately in love with Hippolytus, Theseus’ son by another consort.

Aside from Phaedra, Theseus had many lovers throughout his storied career. These included Phaedra’s own sister Ariadne; an Amazon queen named either Antiope or Hippolyta; and even the famous Helen, according to some traditions.

Ariadne by Asher Brown Durand, after John Vanderlyn (ca. 1831–1835)

How did Theseus die?

Like many Greek heroes, Theseus did not die happily. In the common tradition, he was exiled from Athens after his recklessness turned the city and its nobility against him. He traveled to the small island of Scyros, where he fell to his death from a cliff (or was thrown from the cliff by the local king).

Roman fresco of Theseus from Herculaneum (ca. 45–79 CE)

Theseus Slays the Minotaur

Shortly after meeting his father Aegeus in Athens, Theseus voyaged to the island of Crete as one of the fourteen “tributes” sent annually as a sacrifice to the Minotaur—a half-man, half-bull hybrid imprisoned in the Labyrinth. Theseus vowed to kill the Minotaur and end the bloody custom once and for all.

In Crete, Theseus’ good looks won him the love of Ariadne, the daughter of the king. Ariadne helped Theseus on his mission by giving him a ball of thread that he unraveled as he made his way through the maze-like Labyrinth. After finding and killing the Minotaur, Theseus re-wound the thread to safely escape.

Theseus Slaying the Minotaur by Antoine-Louis Barye (1843)

The name Theseus was likely derived from the Greek word θεσμός ( thesmos ), which means “institution.” Theseus’ name thus reflects his mythical role as a founder or reformer of the Athenian government.

Pronunciation

In his iconography, Theseus is usually depicted as a handsome, strong, and beardless young hero. Theseus’ battle with the half-bull Minotaur was an especially popular theme in Greek art.

Theseus’ father was either Poseidon , the god of the sea, or Aegeus, the king of Athens. His mother was Aethra, the daughter of King Pittheus of Troezen.

Family Tree

Theseus was the son of Aethra, the daughter of King Pittheus of Troezen, and either Aegeus or Poseidon. Aegeus, who was the king of Athens, had no children and therefore no heir to his throne. Hoping to remedy this, Aegeus went to Delphi, where he received a strange prophecy:

The bulging mouth of the wineskin, O best of men, loose not until thou hast reached the height of Athens. [1]

On his way back to Athens, Aegeus stopped at Troezen, where he was entertained by King Pittheus. Aegeus revealed the prophecy to Pittheus, who understood its meaning and plied Aegeus with wine. Aegeus then slept with Pittheus’ daughter Aethra.

Before leaving Troezen, Aegeus hid a sword and sandals under a large stone. He told Aethra that if she had a son, she should wait until he had grown up and bring him to the stone. If he managed to lift it and retrieve the tokens, he should be sent to Athens.

According to other versions, Aethra had also been seduced by the god Poseidon, and it was he who was Theseus’ father. [2] In any case, Theseus grew up to be a strong and intelligent young man. When he had come of age, his mother took him to the stone where Aegeus had long ago deposited his sword and sandals. Theseus successfully retrieved these tokens and left for Athens to find his father.

Journey to Athens

Instead of travelling to Athens by sea, Theseus decided to make a name for himself by taking the more dangerous overland route through the Greek Isthmus. At the time, it was plagued by bandits and monsters. On his way to Athens, Theseus cleared the Isthmus in what are sometimes called the “Six Labors of Theseus”:

At Epidaurus, Theseus met Periphetes, famous for slaughtering travellers with a giant club. Theseus killed Periphetes and claimed the club for himself.

Theseus then met Sinis, who would bend two pine trees to the ground, tie a traveller between the bent trees, and then let the trees go, thus tearing apart the traveller’s limbs. Theseus killed Sinis using this same method. He then seduced Sinis’ daughter Perigone, who later gave birth to a son named Melanippus.

Theseus next killed the monstrous Crommyonian Sow (sometimes called Phaea), [3] an enormous pig that terrorized travellers.

Near Megara, Theseus met the robber Sciron, who would throw his victims off a cliff. Theseus, as usual, used his opponent’s method against him and threw Sciron off a cliff.

At Eleusis, Theseus fought Cerycon , who challenged travellers to a wrestling match and killed whomever he defeated. Following this model, Theseus wrestled Cerycon, beat him, and killed him.

Finally, Theseus defeated Procrustes (sometimes called Damastes), who had two beds that he would offer to travellers. If the traveller was too tall to fit in the bed, Procrustes would cut off their limbs; if they were too short, he would stretch them until they fit. Theseus killed Procrustes by putting him on one of his beds, cutting off his legs, and then decapitating him.

Arrival at Athens

After clearing the Isthmus, Theseus finally arrived at Athens. He did not, however, reveal himself to his father Aegeus immediately. Aegeus became suspicious of the stranger and consulted Medea , whom he had married after sleeping with Aethra.

Medea realized that Theseus was the son of Aegeus, but she did not want Aegeus to recognize him. She was afraid he would choose Theseus as his heir over her own son. Medea therefore tried to trick her husband into killing Theseus.

In some stories, Medea convinced Aegeus to send Theseus to slay the monstrous Bull of Marathon, hoping that the bull would kill him first.

Theseus fighting the bull of Marathon kylix, circa 440-430 bce

Painting in tondo of kylix showing Theseus fighting the Bull of Marathon by unknown artist (c. 440–430 BC).

In other stories, Medea tried to poison Theseus. But Aegeus recognized Theseus by the sword he was carrying (the sword he had left with Aethra at Troezen) and stopped him from drinking the poison. Medea fled into exile.

Medea was not the only threat to Theseus’ standing in Athens. The sons of Aegeus’ brother Pallas (often called the Pallantides) had hoped to inherit the throne if their uncle Aegeus died childless. According to some sources, the sons of Pallas ambushed or rebelled against Theseus and Aegeus. This attempt failed, however, and after Theseus killed the sons of Pallas he was secured as the heir to the throne of Athens. [4]

The Minotaur

During Aegeus’ reign, the Athenians were forced to send a regular tribute of fourteen youths (seven boys and seven girls) to Minos , the king of the island of Crete. This was reparation for the murder of Minos’ son Androgeus in Athens several years before.

When the fourteen tributes reached Crete, they were fed to the Minotaur, a terrible bull-man hybrid born from an affair between a divine bull and Minos’ wife Pasiphae:

A mingled form and hybrid birth of monstrous shape, ... Two different natures, man and bull, were joined in him. [5]

The Minotaur was imprisoned in the Labyrinth, a giant maze built by the Athenian architect Daedalus. None of the tributes who were sent into the Labyrinth ever made it out.

Soon after his arrival in Athens, Theseus sailed off as one of the fourteen tributes dedicated to the Minotaur. According to some traditions, Theseus actually volunteered to go to Crete, vowing that he would kill the Minotaur and bring an end to the terrible tribute once and for all. [6]

The ship on which he and the other tributes embarked had a black sail; before the ship left for Crete, Aegeus made Theseus swear that if he managed to return alive he would have the black sail changed to a white one.

At Crete, Minos’ daughter Ariadne fell in love with Theseus and agreed to help him kill the Minotaur if he would take her with him to Athens. Before Theseus entered the Labyrinth, Ariadne gave him a ball of thread. Theseus unravelled the thread as he moved through the Labyrinth, killed the Minotaur, and found his way out of the Labyrinth by following the thread back to the exit. Theseus and Ariadne then escaped from Crete with the other tributes.

Aison cup showing the victory of Theseus over the Minotaur in the presence of Athena

Detail of the Aison cup showing Theseus slaying the Minotaur in the presence of Athena (c. 435–415 BC).

On their journey back to Athens, Theseus stopped at the island of Naxos. There are different versions of what happened to Ariadne there. According to some, Theseus simply abandoned her. Another well-known story, however, claims that Dionysus fell in love with Ariadne while she was on Crete and carried her off for himself. In any case, Theseus arrived at Athens without Ariadne. [7]

Ariadne weeping as revenge points towards Theseus ship, Roman fresco

Ariadne weeps as Theseus' ship leaves her on the island of Naxos. Roman fresco from Pompeii at Naples Archaeological Museum.

Whether distracted by the loss of Ariadne or for some other reason, Theseus forgot to raise the white flag as he came back to Athens. Aegeus, who was watching from a tower, saw the black flag and thought that his son had died.

Overcome by grief, Aegeus killed himself by leaping into the sea (this is the origin, according to the Greeks, of the name of the “Aegean Sea”). Theseus arrived to find his father dead and so became king of Athens.

The Amazons

Like many heroes of Greek mythology, Theseus waged war with the Amazons . The Amazons were a fierce race of warrior women who lived near the Black Sea or the Caucasus. Their queens were said to be the daughters of the war god Ares .

While among the Amazons, Theseus fell in love with their queen, Antiope (sometimes called Hippolyta), [8] and carried her off with him to Athens. The Amazons then attacked Athens in an attempt to get Antiope back. In some versions of the myth, the Amazons laid waste to the countryside of Attica and only left after Antiope was accidentally killed in battle. [9]

In other versions, Theseus tried to abandon Antiope so that he could marry Phaedra, a princess from Crete; when the jilted Antiope tried to stop the wedding, Theseus killed her himself. [10] In all versions of the story, however, Theseus finally managed to drive the Amazons away from Athens after the death of Antiope, though only after Antiope had given him a son named Hippolytus.

After the death of Antiope, Theseus married Phaedra, the daughter of the Cretan king Minos and thus the sister of his former lover Ariadne. Phaedra bore Theseus two children, Acamas and Demophon .

Mosaic showing Phaedra and Hippolytus, circa 3rd century ce

Roman mosaic of Phaedra and Hippolytus at House of Dionysus, Cyprus (ca. 3rd century CE).

Eventually, however, Phaedra fell in love with Hippolytus, the son of Theseus’ first wife, Antiope. Phaedra tried to convince Hippolytus to sleep with her. When he refused, Phaedra tore her clothing and falsely claimed that Hippolytus had raped her. Theseus was furious and prayed to Poseidon that Hippolytus might be punished.

Poseidon, unfortunately, heard Theseus’ prayer and sent a bull from the sea to charge Hippolytus as he was riding his chariot near the coast. Hippolytus’ horses were frightened; he lost control of the chariot, became entangled in the reins, and was trampled to death.

Theseus discovered his son’s innocence too late; Phaedra, ashamed and guilty, hanged herself. [11]

Abduction of Helen and Persephone

Theseus took part in several other adventures. Some sources include him among the Argonauts who sailed with Jason to retrieve the Golden Fleece, or with the heroes who took part in the Calydonian Boar Hunt.

In many of these adventures, Theseus was accompanied by his best friend Pirithous , the king of the Lapiths of northern Greece. In one famous tradition, Theseus and Pirithous both vowed to marry daughters of Zeus. Theseus chose Helen, and Pirithous helped him abduct her from her father Tyndareus’ home in Sparta.

Pirithous then chose Persephone as his bride, even though she was already married to Hades . Theseus left Helen in the care of his mother, Aethra, while he and Pirithous went to the Underworld to abduct Persephone. Predictably, this did not end well. Theseus and Pirithous were caught trying to abduct Persephone and trapped in the Underworld.

While Theseus was away from Athens, Helen’s brothers, Castor and Polydeuces , retrieved her and took Aethra prisoner. Meanwhile, Theseus was eventually rescued from Hades by Heracles, but Pirithous remained trapped in eternal punishment for his impiety (in the most common version of the story). [12] When Theseus returned to Athens, he found that Helen was gone and that his mother had become her slave in Sparta.

Athenian Government and Death

Theseus was said to have been responsible for the synoikismos (“dwelling-together”), the political and cultural unification of the region of Attica under the rule of the city-state of Athens. In later times, some Athenians even traced the origins of democratic government to Theseus’ rule, even though Theseus was a king. Theseus was always seen as an important founding figure of Athenian history.

As an old man, Theseus fell out of favor in Athens. Driven into exile, he came to Scyrus, a small island in the Aegean Sea. It was in Scyrus that Theseus died. In some stories, he was thrown from a cliff by Lycomedes, the king of Scyrus. In 475 BCE, the Athenians claimed to have identified the remains of Theseus on Scyrus and brought them back to be reinterred in Athens.

Festivals and/or Holidays

The festival of Theseus, called the Theseia, was celebrated in Athens in the autumn. It was presided over by the Phytalidae, the hereditary priests of Theseus. The Phytalidae were said to have been the direct descendants of the fourteen tributes Theseus saved when he killed the Minotaur. [13] Little else is known of the festivals or worship of Theseus.

The hero-cult of Theseus was almost certainly concentrated solely in the city of Athens. The main sanctuary of Theseus, the Theseion, may have existed as early as the sixth century BCE. [14] It was most likely located at the center of Athens, in the vicinity of the Agora. Though the Theseion was probably the main center of Theseus’ hero-worship, little else is known about it, and there is still virtually no archaeological evidence of it. There were likely other sanctuaries of Theseus in Athens by the fourth century BCE.

Pop Culture

Theseus has had a rich afterlife in modern popular culture. The 2011 film Immortals is loosely based on the myth of Theseus and the Minotaur; Theseus is portrayed by Henry Cavill. Theseus also features in the miniseries Helen of Troy (2003), in which he kidnaps Helen with his friend Pirithous.

The myths of Theseus are also retold in many modern books and novels. Mary Renault’s critically acclaimed The King Must Die (1958) is a historicized retelling of Theseus’ early life and his battle with the Minotaur; its sequel, The Bull from the Sea (1962), deals with Theseus’ later career. The myth of Theseus and Antiope is also reimagined in Steven Pressfield’s novel Last of the Amazons (2002).

Jorge Luis Borges’ short story The House of Asterion (published in Spanish in 1947) presents an interesting variation on the myth of the Minotaur, told from the perspective of the Minotaur rather than Theseus. The myth of Theseus inspired Suzanne Collins’ The Hunger Games trilogy (2008–2010).

Ὑδρος

Transliteration

Latin spelling, translation.

Water ( hydros )

HYDROS was the god of the primordial waters.

In the Orphic Theogonies Hydros (Water), Thesis (Creation) and Mud were the first entities to emerge at the dawn of creation. Mud in turn solidified into Gaia (Earth) who, together with Hydros, produced Khronos (Chronos, Time) and Ananke (Compulsion). This latter pair then crushed the cosmic-egg with their serpentine coils to hatch Phanes (Life) and divide the cosmos into its constituent parts--Heaven, Air, Earth and Sea. The Orphic Rhapsodies , which evolved from the older Theogonies , discarded the figures the Khronos and Ananke and instead have Phanes born directly of Hydros and Gaia.

The figure of Hydros was derived by the Orphics from Okeanos (Oceanus) --the earth-encircling, fresh-water river which Homer describes as the source of the gods. His consort Thesis was likewise the primordial counterpart of Okeanos' wife Tethys .

FAMILY OF HYDROS

[1] NONE (emerged at creation) (Orphic Fragments 54 & 57)

[1.1] GAIA (Orphic Frag 57, Argonautica 1.503) [2.1] KHRONOS , ANANKE (by Gaia ) (Orphic Fragments 54 & 57) [2.2] PHANES (by Gaia ) (Orphic Frag 57)

CLASSICAL LITERATURE QUOTES

I. the homeric cosmogony.

Homer, Iliad 14. 200 ff (trans. Lattimore) (Greek epic C8th B.C.) : "[Homer portrays Okeanos (Oceanus) and Tethys as the primordial gods of creation :] The ends of the generous earth on a visit to Okeanos, whence the gods have risen, and Tethys our mother." [N.B. The Orphics developed this concept into the figures of Hydros and Thesis.]

II. THE ORPHIC COSMOGONY

Orphica, Theogonies Fragment 54 (from Damascius) (trans. West) (Greek hymns C3rd A.D. - C2nd B.C.) : "Originally there was Hydros (Water), he [Orpheus] says, and Mud, from which Ge (Gaea, the Earth) solidified : he posits these two as first principles, water and earth . . . The one before the two [Thesis], however, he leaves unexpressed, his very silence being an intimation of its ineffable nature. The third principle after the two was engendered by these--Ge (Earth) and Hydros (Water), that is--and was a Drakon (Dragon-Serpent) with extra heads growing upon it of a bull and a lion, and a god's countenance in the middle; it had wings upon its shoulders, and its name was Khronos (Chronos, Unaging Time) and also Herakles. United with it was Ananke (Inevitability, Compulsion), being of the same nature, or Adrastea, incorporeal, her arms extended throughout the universe and touching its extremities. I think this stands for the third principle, occuping the place of essence, only he [Orpheus] made it bisexual [as Phanes] to symbolize the universal generative cause. And I assume that the theology of the [Orphic] Rhapsodies discarded the two first principles (together with the one before the two, that was left unspoken) [i.e. the Orphics discarded the concepts of Thesis, Khronos and Ananke], and began from this third principle [Phanes] after the two, because this was the first that was expressible and acceptable to human ears. For this is the great Khronos (Unaging Time) that we found in it [the Rhapsodies ], the father of Aither (Aether) and Khaos (Chaos). Indeed, in this theology too [the Hieronyman], this Khronos (Time), the serpent has offspring, three in number : moist Aither (Light) (I quote), unbounded Khaos (Air), and as a third, misty Erebos (Darkness) . . . Among these, he says, Khronos (Time) generated an egg--this tradition too making it generated by Khronos, and born ‘among’ these because it is from these that the third Intelligible triad is produced [Protogonos-Phanes]. What is this triad, then? The egg; the dyad of the two natures inside it (male and female), and the plurality of the various seeds between; and thirdly an incorporeal god with golden wings on his shoulders, bulls' heads growing upon his flanks, and on his head a monstrous serpent, presenting the appearance of all kinds of animal forms . . . And the third god of the third triad this theology too celebrates as Protogonos (First-Born) [Phanes], and it calls him Zeus the order of all and of the whole world, wherefore he is also called Pan (All). So much this second genealogy supplies concerning the Intelligible principles."

Orphica, Theogonies Fragment 57 (from Athenogoras) : "The gods, as they [the Greeks] say, did not exist from the beginning, but each of them was born just as we are born. And this is agreed by them all, Homer saying ‘Okeanos the genesis of the gods, and mother Tethys [Thesis],’ and Orpheus--who was the original inventor of the gods' names and recounted their births and said what they have all done, and who enjoys some credit among them as a true theologian, and is generally followed by Homer, above all about the gods--also making their first genesis from water : ‘Okeanos (Oceanus), who is the genesis of the all.’ For Hydros (Water) was according to him the origin of everything, and from Hydros (the Water) Mud formed [primordial Gaia], and from the pair of them a living creature was generated with an extra head growing upon it of a lion, and another of a bull, and in the middle of them a god's countenance; its name was Herakles and Khronos (Chronos, Time). This Herakles generated a huge egg [which forms the earth, sea and sky]."

Apollonius Rhodius, Argonautica 1. 503 ff (trans. Rieu) (Greek epic C3rd B.C.) : "He [Orpheus] sang of . . . How, in the beginning, Ophion [Ouranos the Sky?] and Eurynome [Gaia the Earth?], daughter of Okeanos [Hydros the Waters?], governed the world from snow-clad Olympos; how they were forcibly supplanted, Ophion by Kronos (Cronus), Eurynome by Rhea; of their fall into the waters of Okeanos."

Nonnus, Dionysiaca 23. 280 ff (trans. Rouse) (Greek epic C5th A.D.) : "[Nonnus portrays Okeanos (Oceanus) and Tethys as the primordial gods of creation, i.e. counterparts of the Orphic Hydros and Thesis :] Tethys! Agemate and bedmate of Okeanos), ancient as the world, nurse of commingled waters, selfborn, loving mother of children."

Nonnus, Dionysiaca 41. 155 ff : "Aion (Time), his [Okeanos'] coeval [of the same age]."

Homer, The Iliad - Greek Epic C8th B.C.
Apollonius Rhodius, The Argonautica - Greek Epic C3rd B.C.
Orphica, Theogonies Fragments - Greek Hymns C3rd B.C. - C2nd A.D.
Nonnus, Dionysiaca - Greek Epic C5th A.D.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

A complete bibliography of the translations quoted on this page.

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Contemporary feminist adaptations of Greek myth

Judge, Shelby Elizabeth Helen (2022) Contemporary feminist adaptations of Greek myth. PhD thesis, University of Glasgow.

This project primarily addresses why there has been such expansion of interest among women writers in adapting and retelling classical mythology, and what this work reveals about current issues and priorities within feminism and feminist theory. It is my contention that the recent literary vogue for women’s revisionist myth writing reveals much about current concerns within feminism as well as trends within contemporary women’s writing. The scope of this thesis is as follows: it begins with the publication of Margaret Atwood’s The Penelopiad (2005) for the Canongate Myth Series, which I propose to be the mainspring of the current trend in women’s writing to adapt myth, and ends with relevant novels published in 2021. Notable authors within this study include Jeanette Winterson, Ali Smith, Pat Barker, Natalie Haynes, Madeline Miller, and Ursula Le Guin. This thesis utilises a methodology of feminist literary criticism, while also incorporating feminist work in classical studies and, where relevant, in the disciplines of Sociology and Women’s Studies. The ‘Literature Review’ takes as its starting point foundational work within feminist classical scholarship, before moving on to argue that non-traditional literature (mainly women’s myth writing for general audiences, podcasts, and online articles) are essential in order to contextualise the current critical climate of women in Classics. The subsequent five chapters are ‘Women in the Texts’, ‘Antigone’s Afterlives’, ‘Mythic Masculinities’, ‘Queering Myth’, and ‘“I want to tell the story again”: Palimpsests: Paratexts, and Intertexts’. Each chapter organises texts around specific concerns in contemporary feminism while also noting the variety of writing styles and techniques which reflect wider contemporary women’s writing practices.

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122 Greek Mythology Essay Topics & Examples

Welcome to our list of Greek mythology essay topics! In you need good title ideas for your history paper or project, look no further. Here, you will find Greek mythology research topics that will help you learn more about gods like Zeus and Aphrodite. Check them out!

🔝 Top 10 Greek Mythology Essay Topics

🏆 best greek mythology topic ideas & essay examples, 📌 simple & easy greek mythology essay topics, 👍 good greek mythology topics for essays, 🔍 greek mythology research topics, ✅ greek mythology topics for presentation, ❓ research questions about greek mythology.

The Hero’s Journey Archetypes
What’s the Meaning of Pandora’s Box?
Love Story of Orpheus and Eurydice
Hades, Persephone, and the Afterlife
The Twelve Olympian Gods and Their Roles
Athena vs. Poseidon: The Contest for Athens
Infidelity and Betrayal in Greek Mythology
The Labors of Heracles and Divine Punishment
The Myth of Narcissus and the Narcissistic Personality
The Complexity of Medea’s Character in Greek Mythology
“The Matrix” Trilogy and Greek Mythology: Comparison One of the exceptions of the previous statements is the Matrix trilogy directed by Larry and Andy Wachowski.”The Matrix”, The Matrix: Reloaded”, and “The Matrix: Revolution”, all of which gained a cult status among fans, […]
Hercules in Greek Mythology The theme of his legends interpretation was to show the power of mythological heroes on the example of one of the most strong and powerful.
The Suffering Women in Greek Mythology Zeus told Hermes to go down to the underworld and bid the lord of it to let his bride to return to Demeter.
Athena and Gender Roles in Greek Mythology According to Eicher and Roach-Higgins, the elements of her dress were important because they immediately communicated specific ideas about her character that was as contradictory as the physical gender of the birthing parent.”In appropriating the […]
Medusa in Greek Mythology So, it should be pointed out that Medusa was the great character of the Ancient mythology and remains to be the significant image in the world of modern literature and art.
The Issue of “Man’s Relationship with the Divine” in Greek Mythology As the reader explores the idea of divinity throughout most of the Greek mythologies and epics, it becomes clear that there is a strong connection between the people of Greece and their gods thus making […]
Roman & Greek Mythology in Pop Culture: Examples, Referenses, & Allusions One of the most famous examples of the use of the characters taken from Greek mythology in pop culture must be the mentioning of the famous goddess, Venus, in advertising, which is, in fact, based […]
Classical Mythology: Rats in Greek Mythology Hephaestus was the son of Zeus and Hera, and was the god of the creative fire, and was the divine artisan who worked with metals.
Perseus: A Hero of Greek Mythology With the protection of Hermes and Athena, Perseus went ahead and beheaded Gorgon Medusa and took her head to the king of the island.
The Dichotomy of Women in Greek Mythology The male competitive spirit pushed women out of public life, and in the private sphere, the freedom of women was subjected to significant restrictions.
Medea in Greek Mythology: Literary Analysis In this case, the position of kingship was the highest in political rankings, equivalent to the presidency in modern-day practices. Most importantly, the element of leadership in Greek mythology was characterized by concessions and plots.
Political Concerns in Greek Mythology In other words, the ritual of killing the ruler to seize the throne is normal; it is the natural order of things for the Greeks and Romans.
Ancient Greek Mythology: Deities of the Universe Hades is the eldest son of Kronos and Rhea, the god and the guardian of the Underworld, the realm of the dead.
Owls in the Greek Mythology. A Lecture for Librarians They also believed that the owl was a keen full watcher of Athens trade, and that is why it was engraved at the back of their coins.
Greek Mythology, Religion, Philosophy, and History The ancient religious stories of the Minoans and the Mycenaean were transmitted orally to the other parts of the Mediterranean region which later fused with the Greek traditions and religious practices.
Greek Mythology: Story of Demeter and Persephone Review For example, Venus was the goddess of love, and her son Cupid was considered as the god of love; Pan was the god of the jungle, while Hymen was attributed to the domain of marriage, […]
Greek Deities in Primary Sources Hades is the god of the underworld, and he is the son of Cronus and Rhea. Dionysus is the god who represents wine-making, the fertility of the soil, drinking, and even theater; he is the […]
Greek Mythology – Medea by Euripides While the character shares certain features with some of the female leads in other Ancient Greek plays, Euripides’ Medea stands on her own as a character and represents a new set of qualities, which used […]
Greek Mythology: Historical and Factual Roots Greek mythology is a body of teachings used in ancient Greek to describe the human environment, the passing of time, and natural phenomena. The picture and the story behind it illustrate in many ways the […]
Greek Mythology Influence In fact, majority of the traditions that people in the modern society carry out have their origin in Greece. One Greek mythology that has influenced the whole world is the celebration of the Olympic Games.
The Struggles And Eventual Perseverance Of The Greek Mythology
Comparing And Contrasting Rouse And Hamilton’s Books On Greek Mythology
The Mysteries Surrounding How Man Was Created in Greek Mythology
The Influence of Ancient Greek Mythology on Modern Society
The Impact of Greek Mythology on the English Language
Zeus’ Tyranny in Greek Mythology
The Opposition Between Gods and Humans in Greek Mythology
Persephone: Greek Mythology and Spring Persephone Returns
An Analysis of Greek Mythology as a God of Wine and Vegetation
The Myth of Atlas, the Strongest Titan in the Greek Mythology
Understanding the Feminist Theory in Greek Mythology
The Amazons, A Tribe Of Ancient Greek Mythology
The Life And Power Of Zeus, King Of The Gods In Greek Mythology
Confronting Death in Greek Mythology: Allegiance to Family or Empire
Female Influence In Greek Mythology
The Important Role of Hades in the History of Greek Mythology
Ritualistic Sacrifice in Ancient Greek Mythology
The Powers and Symbols of Polyphemus in the Greek Mythology
The Role of Oracles in Chaldean and Greek Mythology
Examining Self Exile In Greek Mythology As A Defense Mechanism
The Portrayal of a Popular Greek Mythology in the Play Oedipus the King
The Theme of Prophecy in Greek Mythology and Literature
The Great Influences of Athene and Hermes in Greek Mythology
The Portrait Of The Roman And Greek Mythology
Story of Aphrodite and Her Son Cupid and Their Place in Greek Mythology
The Effects Of Kleos On Greek Mythology
The Role of Fate in Greek Mythology and Its Influence on American Society
The Tragedy of Medea and Jason from Greek Mythology
The Wise Old Man in the Story of Mentor in Greek Mythology
The Relationship of Greek Mythology and Christianity
The Essential Elements of Human Nature Illustrated through the Characters and Their Actions in the Greek Mythology
Chaldean and Greek Mythology and the Roles Played by Oracles and Fate
An Analysis of the Greek Mythology and the Concept of Creationism
Star Wars, Episode II: Relation With Ancient Greek Mythology And Its Heroes
The Elements of Change in Greek Mythology
The Study and Interpretations of Greek Mythology
The Hero of Athens, Theseus in Greek Mythology
The Relationship between Love and Sex in Greek Mythology
Greek Mythology and Immediate Satisfaction
The Impact of Greek Mythology on Western Culture
The Role of the Women in Greek Mythology
Death And Its Personification In Greek Mythology And Other Cultures
Greek Myths in Art and Literature
The Trojan War in Greek Mythology
Love and Desire in Greek Mythology
Heroes and Heroines of Greek Mythology
Greek Creation Myths of Chaos and Titans
Underworld and Afterlife in Greek Mythology
What Are the Moral Lessons of Greek Myths
How Greek Mythology Influences Pop Culture
The Powers and Stories of Greek Gods and Goddesses
Medusa, Cerberus, and Other Monsters in Greek Mythology
Chaoskampf as the Creation Myth
An In-Depth Exploration of Zeus, Hera, and Poseidon
Hercules, Perseus, and Their Legendary Quests
Goddesses of Wisdom and Beauty in Greek Mythology
The Trojan War: Myth and Reality
Mythical Creatures in Greek Folklore
Tragic Fates of Oedipus and Prometheus
The Influence of Greek Mythology on Modern Cinema
Greek Mythology in Sculptures, Pottery, and Temples
Persephone, Orpheus, and the Themes of Death and Resurrection
What Is the Role of Women in Greek Mythology? How Does It Differ From the Role of Women Today?
How Do the Myths Differentiate Between Human and Divine Power?
What Do the Greek Myths Suggest About Tragedy?
How Does Author Publius Ovidius Naso Capture the Spirit of the Greek and Roman Mythology?
Why Is Creon the Tragic Hero in Antigone?
How Does Child Abuse Affect a Hero, a God, and a Monster in Greek Mythology?
What Moral Lessons Do We Learn From the Greek Myths and Ancient Stories?
How Are Egyptian and Greek Culture Reflected Through Their Respective Mythology?
What Caused the Titanomachy War and Who Was Involved in It?
How Did Greek Mythology Influence Christianity?
Did Zeus and Apollo Have Anything in Common?
How Does Fate and Destiny Work According to Greek Mythology?
What Is the Story of Giants in Greek Mythology?
How Was the Stonehenge Made According to the Myth?
What Is the Most Unbelievable Myth You Find in the Greek Mythology?
How Does Zeus Play Into Modern-Day Religion?
What Is Something You Learned by Reading Homer’s Odyssey?
Why Did the Goddess Athena Help the Hero Perseus Defeat Medusa?
What Role Did Eros Play in the Life of Helen?
Who Was the First Mortal to Be Made a God?
Were the Trojan War and the Fall of Troy Necessary?
What Is the Significance of Pandora’s Box?
Did Jason Care for Medea or Exploit Her?
What Was the Significance of Prometheus’ Gift to Man?
Was the Trojan Horse a Clever Trick or an Act of Treachery?
Who Were the Key Figures in the Trojan War, and Why Was It Fought?
How Were Greek Myths Used to Keep Order in Society?
Can We Criticize the Gods, or Are They Always Perfect in Their Actions and Behavior?
Who Were the First Storytellers, and Why Were They Valued in Ancient Societies?
What Is the Difference Between an Epic, a Legend, and a Myth?
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Medea Topics
Homer Titles
Allegory Essay Titles
Culture Topics
Roman Empire Ideas
Achilles Topics
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The Wrath and Power of Ares: God of War in Greek Mythology

This essay about Ares, the Greek God of War, presents him as a complex and enigmatic figure. It highlights his embodiment of unrestrained fury and force, contrasting with Athena’s strategic warfare. Ares’ character is marked by contradictions, from his tumultuous affair with Aphrodite to his impulsive nature and flaws. His influence on mortal endeavors and history is profound, despite his shortcomings in the Trojan War. Ultimately, Ares’ legacy endures as a symbol of the primal instincts driving humanity towards war and conflict.

How it works

In the grand tapestry of Greek mythology, Ares, the formidable God of War, emerges as a complex and enigmatic figure, akin to a storm brewing on the horizon. Within the divine assembly of Olympus, his essence resonates with the thunderous clash of weapons and the fervent cries of combat, embodying unrestrained fury and relentless force. Yet, amidst the chaos he commands, lies a narrative rich in intricacies and contradictions, woven through the annals of myth with threads both complex and enigmatic.

Ares, often depicted as a towering figure among the gods, wears his armor like a mantle of intimidation, his visage marked by the scars of countless battles. His spear, a gleaming symbol of martial prowess, serves both as a weapon and an emblem of his dominion over the chaotic realm of warfare. In stark contrast to his sister Athena, whose strategies are as delicate as woven silk, Ares revels in the raw force and immediate brutality of battle. For him, war is not merely a means to an end but a visceral expression of primal instincts and boundless passions.

Beneath the façade of relentless aggression lies a complex and contradictory nature. Ares, the god of war, also represents the untamed passions that surge through mortal veins. Stories of his exploits are laced with scandal and intrigue, his name whispered in hushed tones in the halls of Mount Olympus.

Foremost among these tales is the notorious affair between Ares and Aphrodite, a union as explosive as the clash of steel upon steel. Their relationship, fraught with scandal and forbidden desire, exemplifies the intersection of love and war, passion and conflict. The clandestine nature of their liaison fuels jealousy and rivalry, inciting the wrath of Hephaestus, the wronged husband, and stirring gossip among gods and mortals alike.

Ares’ influence, however, extends far beyond the realm of romance, permeating the fabric of mortal endeavors and shaping the course of history. Kings and conquerors offer sacrifices at his altars, seeking his favor before embarking on campaigns of conquest and glory. Temples dedicated to his worship stand as monuments to martial prowess, their halls echoing with the fervent prayers of warriors seeking divine blessing for their ventures.

Yet, for all his might and influence, Ares is not without his flaws. His impulsive nature and reckless abandon often lead him astray, his fervor blinding him to the nuances of strategy and diplomacy. This very hubris earns him the disdain of his fellow gods, who regard him as little more than a blunt instrument of destruction.

Nowhere is Ares’ fallibility more evident than in his ill-fated intervention in the Trojan War, a conflict that serves as a crucible for the gods’ machinations and mortal ambition. Despite his ardent support of the Trojan cause, Ares finds himself thwarted at every turn by Athena’s cunning and the valor of mortal heroes. Ultimately, it is not Ares’ might but Odysseus’ ingenuity and Athena’s divine intervention that determine Troy’s fate.

Yet, even in defeat, Ares remains a formidable presence in the annals of myth, a reminder of the primal instincts that drive humanity to war and conquest. His legacy endures in the hearts of mortals and gods alike, a testament to the enduring power of passion and conflict in shaping history. Though his temples may lie in ruins and his worship may have waned, the essence of Ares lives on in the blood-soaked earth and the clamor of battle, a testament to the enduring legacy of the God of War.

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Theseus, Great Hero of Greek Mythology

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Theseus is one of the great heroes of Greek mythology, a prince of Athens who battled numerous foes including the Minotaur , the Amazons , and the Crommyon Sow , and traveled to Hades, where he had to be rescued by Hercules . As the legendary king of Athens, he is credited with inventing a constitutional government, limiting his own powers in the process.

Fast Facts: Theseus, Great Hero of Greek Mythology

Culture/Country: Ancient Greece
Realms and Powers: King of Athens
Parents: Son of Aegeus (or possibly of Poseidon) and Aethra
Spouses: Ariadne, Antiope, and Phaedra
Children: Hippolytus (or Demophoon)
Primary Sources: Plutarch "Theseus;" Odes 17 and 18 written by Bacchylides in the first half of 5th c BCE, Apollodorus, many other classic sources

Theseus in Greek Mythology

The King of Athens, Aegeus (also spelled Aigeus), had two wives, but neither produced an heir. He goes to the Oracle of Delphi who tells him "not to untie the mouth of the wineskin until he arrived at the heights of Athens." Confused by the purposefully-confusing oracle, Aegeus visits Pittheus, the King of Troezen (or Troizen), who figures out that the oracle means "don't sleep with anyone until you return to Athens." Pittheus wants his kingdom to unite with Athens, so he gets Aegeus drunk and slips his willing daughter Aethra into Aegeus' bed.

When Aegeus wakes up, he hides his sword and sandals under a large rock and tells Aethra that should she bear a son, if that son is able to roll away the stone, he should bring his sandals and swords to Athens so that Aegeus can recognize him. Some versions of the tale say that she has a dream from Athena saying to cross over to the island of Sphairia to pour a libation, and there she is impregnated by Poseidon .

Theseus is born, and when he comes of age, he is able to roll away the rock and take the armor to Athens, where he is recognized as heir and eventually becomes king.

Appearance and Reputation

By all the various accounts, Theseus is steadfast in the din of battle, a handsome, dark-eyed man who is adventurous, romantic, excellent with the spear, a faithful friend but spotty lover. Later Athenians credit Theseus as a wise and just ruler, who invented their form of government, after the true origins were lost to time.

Theseus in Myth

One myth is set in his childhood: Hercules (Herakles) comes to visit Theseus' grandfather Pittheus and drops his lion skin cloak on the ground. The children of the palace all run away thinking it is a lion, but the brave Theseus whacks it with an ax.

When Theseus decides to make his way to Athens, he chooses to go by land rather than sea because a land journey would be more open to adventure. On his way to Athens, he slays several robbers and monsters—Periphetes in Epidaurus (a lame, one-eyed club-wielding thief); the Corinthian bandits Sinis and Sciron; Phaea (the " Crommyonion Sow ," a giant pig and its mistress who were terrorizing the Krommyon countryside); Cercyon (a mighty wrestler and bandit in Eleusis); and Procrustes (a rogue blacksmith and bandit in Attica).

Theseus, Prince of Athens

When he arrives in Athens, Medea —then the wife of Aegeus and mother of his son Medus—is the first to recognize Theseus as Aegeus' heir and attempts to poison him. Aegeus eventually does recognize him and stops Theseus from drinking the poison. Medea sends Theseus on an impossible errand to capture the Marathonian Bull, but Theseus completes the errand and returns to Athens alive.

As the prince, Theseus takes on the Minotaur , a half-man, half-bull monster owned by King Minos and to whom Athenian maidens and youths were sacrificed. With the help of the princess Ariadne, he slays the Minotaur and rescues the young people, but fails to provide a signal to his father that all is well—to change the black sails to white ones. Aegeas leaps to his death and Theseus becomes king.

King Theseus

Becoming a king does not suppress the young man, and his adventures while king include an attack on the Amazons, after which he carries off their queen Antiope. The Amazons, led by Hippolyta, in turn invade Attica and penetrate into Athens, where they fight a losing battle. Theseus has a son named Hippolytus (or Demophoon) by Antiope (or Hippolyta) before she dies, after which he marries Ariadne's sister Phaedra.

Theseus joins Jason's Argonauts and participates in the Calydonian boar hunt . As a close friend of Pirithous, the king of Larissa, Theseus helps him in the battle of the Lapithae against the centaurs.

Pirithous develops a passion for Persephone , the Queen of the Underworld, and he and Theseus travel to Hades to abduct her. But Pirithous dies there, and Theseus is trapped and must be rescued by Hercules.

Theseus as Mythical Politician

As king of Athens, Theseus is said to have broken up the 12 separate precincts in Athens and united them in a single commonwealth. He is said to have established a constitutional government, limited his own powers, and distributed the citizens into three classes: Eupatridae (nobles), Geomori (peasant farmers), and Demiurgi (craft artisans).

Theseus and Pirithous carry off the legendary beauty Helen of Sparta , and he and Pirithous take her away from Sparta and leave her at Aphidnae under Aethra's care, where she is rescued by her brothers the Dioscuri (Castor and Pollux).

The Dioscuri set up Menestheus as Theseus successor—Menestheus would go on to lead Athens into battle over Helen in the Trojan Wars . He incites the people of Athens against Theseus, who retires to the island Scryos where he is tricked by King Lycomedes and, like his father before him, falls into the sea.

Hard, Robin. "The Routledge Handbook of Greek Mythology." London: Routledge, 2003. Print.
Leeming, David. "The Oxford Companion to World Mythology." Oxford UK: Oxford University Press, 2005. Print.
Smith, William, and G.E. Marindon, eds. "Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology." London: John Murray, 1904. Print
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The Women of Greek Myths Are Finally Talking Back

Novels that take on the marginalized or vilified women in mythology are flooding bookstores and reigniting questions about who gets to tell these stories, and how.

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In this illustration, a Greek vase showing images of women’s faces appears to break, allowing the women to break free of its constraints. Stylized butterflies that appear to have book pages for wings flutter around the vase.

By Alexandra Alter

For centuries, the Greek Gorgon Medusa has been cast as a vicious monster, a beastly woman with writhing snakes for hair and a deadly gaze that turns living creatures to stone.

Several years ago, when Nataly Gruender was studying classics as an undergraduate at the University of Arizona, she started to wonder if there was more to Medusa’s story.

Scattered references in Greek and Roman works by Hesiod, Apollodorus and Ovid described her death at the hands of the hero Perseus, but also hinted at a fuller life. In Ovid’s telling, Medusa wasn’t born a monster, but was turned into one as punishment by the goddess Athena, after Medusa was raped by the sea-god Poseidon in Athena’s temple.

Drawing on the fragments she could find, and adding scenes to flesh out Medusa’s narrative, Gruender wrote her own version of the myth. “Often, you only really get to see her as a decapitated head in Perseus’ hand,” Gruender said. “I really wanted to give her a voice and tell the story from her perspective.”

She imagined a climactic moment in which Medusa confronts Athena and asks the goddess why she, the victim, was unjustly punished, and added a noncanonical love affair between Medusa and a female water nymph. “I’m queer, so I wanted to see that reflected in her,” Gruender said. “I was like, you know, she deserves one nice thing.”

Gruender’s debut novel, “Medusa,” which Grand Central will publish this August, is the latest fictional reworking of the Gorgon’s tale. The increasingly crowded sub-sub-genre includes novels like Natalie Haynes’s “Stone Blind, ” Hannah Lynn’s “ Athena’s Child ,” Lauren J.A. Bear’s “Medusa’s Sisters,” Katherine Marsh’s middle grade novel “Medusa,” Claire Heywood’s “The Shadow of Perseus” and Jessie Burton’s young adult novel “Medusa: The Girl Behind the Myth .”

And Medusa is just one of a legion of female mythological figures who are getting literary makeovers. Following in the wake of blockbusters like Madeline Miller’s “ Circe ,” which spotlighted the powerful witch from Homer’s “Odyssey” and sold more than 2.5 million copies, there’s been a flood of novels featuring women from Greek mythology who have often been overlooked, maligned or sidelined as pawns in male heroes’ journeys.

For the women writing these feminist revisions, and the millions of readers enthralled by the stories, placing women at the center of familiar, ancient myths feels like a necessary and overdue corrective.

For most of recorded history, Greek and Roman mythology has been dominated by men, from ancient bards and dramatists like Homer, Euripides and Aeschylus, to the translators and scholars who have interpreted those myths in the centuries since. Female characters have either been relegated to the fringes, or filtered through the male gaze, depicted as helpless victims, sexual objects and war prizes. If they had any agency at all, women in myth were often cast as supernatural monsters like Circe and Medusa, or murderous villains like Medea and Clytemnestra.

To Miller, it makes sense that women are excavating ancient stories and giving new life to female characters whose perspectives have been elided.

“Overwhelmingly, the voices we hear from the ancient world are male,” she said. “It’s not just that the women in these stories lead oppressed lives, it’s that we don’t get their vision of what their lives look like.”

At the same time, these ancient stories retain their potency, culturally and psychologically. As long as myths continue to resonate, writers will extract fresh meaning from them.

Along with Circe and Medusa, other female villains from Greek epics and tragedies are getting resurrected and redeemed in fiction. The murderous Queen Clytemnestra , who killed both her husband, the warrior Agamemnon, and his war concubine, the Trojan princess Cassandra, gets center stage in novels by Costanza Casati and Susan C. Wilson . Medea — one of the most reviled figures in myth, who takes vengeance on her deceitful husband, Jason, by murdering her own children — has inspired recent fictional retellings by Rosie Hewlett and Eilish Quin .

“There’s a huge appetite for these stories because they have a massively archetypal quality,” said Haynes, a classicist turned novelist who is working on her own novelization of Medea.

The trend shows no signs of slowing: This summer, publishers are releasing a fresh wave of feminist Greek mythological reboots.

Claire North’s “The Last Song of Penelope,” due out in June, reimagines the story of Odysseus’ homecoming after the Trojan War from the perspective of his clever wife, Penelope, as she schemes behind the scenes to keep her family safe from the carnage. Caro De Robertis’s new novel, “The Palace of Eros,” out in August, reinvents the myth of Eros, the god of desire, and Psyche, the beautiful mortal he falls in love with. In De Robertis’s version, Eros is a nonbinary deity who presents as female and can change genders, a plot twist that adds new layers to the original story’s themes of forbidden love and desire.

And in “Hera,” also out in August, the best-selling novelist Jennifer Saint recasts the goddess as a powerful, cunning deity in her own right, rather than just the petty, jealous wife of Zeus. In Saint’s version, Hera feels herself every bit Zeus’ equal, but she is forced to marry him after he tricks her by disguising himself as a small injured bird, then overpowering and raping her. From then on, she is bent on revenge against not only her unfaithful husband, but also the nymphs and goddesses he pursues.

“It was important to me to write a woman who is not likable, who is relentlessly ambitious and striving for power and control, and considers that to be her birthright as much as Zeus’,” said Saint, whose previous novels have reanimated female mythological figures like Ariadne, Elektra and Atalanta. “We see Hera through the worst misogynist stereotypes; so often she’s presented as spiteful and vindictive, as nagging Zeus and holding him back, and it’s so deeply unfair. Does Hera look different if we see her through a female lens?”

There’s a long literary tradition of revising and reimagining Greek myths. Romans like Virgil and Ovid adapted these stories. Ancient myths figure in the plays of Shakespeare, in poetry by Derek Walcott and Louise Glück, and in novels by Margaret Atwood, Ursula K. Le Guin, Ali Smith and Rick Riordan, whose Percy Jackson series has sold more than 100 million copies globally. The ancient Greeks and Romans themselves were prone to spinning new versions of their lore, which often morphed from storyteller to storyteller, leaving no fixed or final version.

Still, the recent rise of Greek mythological retellings with an overtly feminist lens stands out for the sheer volume of novels and the seemingly bottomless appetite for mythological fare among both readers and publishers.

Several factors are driving the genre’s explosion. Many of these novels have arrived in the wake of #MeToo, and may hold appeal because the narratives give voice and agency to female characters who are victims of sexual violence and assault.

Some writers are taking myths in which women are victimized, subjugated and objectified, and turning them into stories of romantic and sexual empowerment. The myth of Hades and Persephone — an unsettling story about how the god of the underworld abducted young Persephone, dragged her into the bowels of the earth and forced her to marry him — has been reimagined as a steamy love story in two best-selling series: the “Hades x Persephone Saga,” a spicy romantasy series by Scarlett St. Clair that has sold more than a million print copies, and Rachel Smythe’s graphic novel series “Lore Olympus,” a blockbuster that has more than 2.3 million copies in print.

Queer and gender-flipped versions of Greek myths are part of the new landscape too. Miller’s debut novel, “The Song of Achilles,” which came out more than a decade ago but more recently found a huge audience through TikTok, and went on to sell more than three million copies, centers on a romance between the warrior Achilles and his comrade-in-arms Patroclus. The young adult novelist and TikTok star Bea Fitzgerald’s forthcoming novel, “The End Crowns All,” due out in July from Penguin U.K., is a Sapphic young adult romance in which Helen and Cassandra come together and rewrite their fates to stop the fall of Troy.

Another addition to the canon, Elyse John’s new novel “Orphia and Eurydicius,” retells the story of the poet Orpheus’ journey to the underworld to rescue the woman he loves, Eurydice. In John’s version, Orphia is a female poet who travels to Hades’s realm to save her bisexual male lover, Eurydicius — a radical change that puts a woman in the hero’s role and scrambles gender stereotypes.

“By changing Orpheus into a woman, I could explore what it means to be a creator-heroine, a woman using storytelling to take on the gods,” John said.

Greek mythology has also seeped into other corners of pop culture, showing up in TV, comics, graphic novels and video games, making it feel more accessible and less like an elite, scholarly field.

For younger generations raised on superhero blockbusters and ever-expanding I.P.-derived cinematic universes with endless reboots and character spinoffs, novelizations of myths may hold a similar appeal: You’ve seen this character, but you’ve never gotten her side of the story.

New translations of classical texts by women are also helping to reshape the popular understanding of Western myths, and are in turn inspiring novelists.

In Stephanie McCarter’s 2022 translation of Ovid’s “Metamorphosis,” a Latin poem that recounts famous tales of transformation, love and violence, McCarter uses blunt language to describe the gods’ sexual pursuit of women, labeling assaults as rape, rather than resorting to the euphemisms often used in earlier translations, like “ravished” and “plundered.”

The classicist Emily Wilson ’s translations of Homer’s “ The Odyssey ” and “ The Iliad ” won acclaim, and stirred some controversy, for using plain language to describe the subjugation of women, and by avoiding sexist phrases used by male translators. Whereas some previous versions called the servant girls in Odysseus’ household who were seduced by Penelope’s suitors “sluts” or “whores” — words with sexist overtones that aren’t present in Homer’s original verses — Wilson calls them “slave women.”

Wilson said novelizations of Greek myths appeal to readers in part because they have the patina of high culture, but may feel less intimidating than translations of the originals.

“People are a little bit afraid of ancient literature,” said Wilson, who in addition to translating classics is also working on her own fictional version of Trojan War stories. “The ‘you go girl’ feminism thing — you may think she’s a victim but actually she’s a goddess — is a very relatable, inspiring thing to many young readers.”

Not everyone appreciates mythological makeovers. Some classical purists have taken to social media to criticize new translations and feminist revisions, arguing that these new works are distorting ancient stories by imposing a feminist agenda. A critique of the genre in The New Statesman by Finn McRedmond last year argued that feminist revisions tend to be one-note, and often misread the stories they attempt to unearth: “It is difficult to extract honest feminist parable from stories written in a world that wouldn’t recognize the concept,” she wrote.

Helen Morales, a professor of Hellenic studies at the University of California, Santa Barbara, said that while some recent feminist versions have preserved the moral complexity of these myths, others may go too far in seeking to placate modern readers with uplifting stories of female empowerment.

“Part of the appeal of myth is that it’s complex and unpredictable,” said Morales, author of “ Antigone Rising ,” which explores how Greek and Roman myths have been reclaimed and reinterpreted to speak to contemporary concerns. “If it’s rendered in a way that makes readers complacent, or reaffirms what we know or what we want to hear, I don’t think that’s good for myth, and it’s not good for feminism either.”

Others complain that the genre has become oversaturated — like any popular cultural trend, the explosion of mythological retellings has yielded works that vary widely in quality, and in their fidelity to the originals.

Still, for ardent fans of these stories, and the writers producing them, Greek myths seem to offer endless possibilities for reinterpretation.

“There’s no final word on anything, because language is always changing, so there’s no definitive myth,” said Miller, who is currently working on a new novel about Persephone and Demeter, her mother. “These were fluid texts right from the beginning.”

And for now, readers continue to crave new vantage points on female characters — and the archives are still full of mythological women worthy of their own epics, Miller said.

“They could all have their own novels,” she said.

Alexandra Alter writes about books, publishing and the literary world for The Times. More about Alexandra Alter

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by Edith Hamilton

Mythology summary and analysis of theseus.

Theseus is the great Athenian hero. His father Aegeus is king of Athens, but Theseus grows up in southern Greece with his mother. When he is old enough, Theseus travels to the city to meet his father and overcomes many obstacles along the way. By the time he reaches Athens, he is known as a hero. Not realizing that Theseus is his son, King Aegeus is about to poison him, but just in time Theseus shows him a sword that his father left for him. Aegeus declares Theseus heir to the throne and sends him on an important journey.

Aegeus recounts the tragedy of Minos , the powerful ruler of Crete, who lost his only son Androgeus while the boy was in Athens. Aegeus had sent him on an expedition to kill a dangerous bull, but it killed Androgeus, and in revenge, King Minos vowed to destroy Athens unless every year seven maidens and seven men were sent to Crete. These sacrificial youth would be fed to the Minotaur , a monster, half-bull and half-human, who lived inside a labyrinth. Theseus comes forward to be offered as one of the victims. He promises his father that he will kill the Minotaur, and upon his successful return, his ship will carry a white sail.

When the fourteen men and women arrive in Crete, they are paraded through the town. Minos's daughter Ariadne sees and instantly falls in love with Theseus. She confers with Daedalus the architect to devise a plan for her beloved to stay safe. Then she meets with Theseus, who promises to marry her if he escapes from the labyrinth. Theseus follows Ariadne's plan, walking through the maze as he lets run a ball of string so he can retrace his steps. Theseus finds the Minotaur sleeping and kills it with his bare hands. Theseus, Ariadne, and the other Athenian youth all escape to the ship going back to Athens.

On the way back, Ariadne dies. Some say Theseus deserted her on an island. Others say he let her rest on an island because she was seasick, then got caught in a storm, and by the time he returned to the island she was dead. In any case, for some reason Theseus forgets to raise the white sail. His father, seeing the black sail, assumes his son has died and jumps into the sea. The sea has been called the Aegean ever since.

Theseus rules in a people-friendly fashion, and Athens becomes the happiest city in the world. In later years, however, sadness ensues after he marries Ariadne's sister Phaedra . Theseus already had a child, Hippolytus . When Theseus and Phaedra visit him, Phaedra falls madly in love with Hippolytus, her stepson. He refuses her advances, but she writes a letter falsely alleging that he violated her, and then she kills herself. Theseus finds the letter and banishes his innocent son. Artemis appears to Theseus and reveals the truth, but it is too late because the boy has already been killed at sea.

The story of Theseus is one of the most famous tales of Greek mythology. Indeed, Theseus is one of the best examples of a Greek hero. Not only does he use cunning and strength to kill the Minotaur, but he also works to reunite his family and his kingdom. He goes on to become a monarch who serves his people well. This myth also illuminates the perception that Athens was, in its day, the most respected and just land. The government of justice that Theseus oversaw became an idealized model for Greek and Roman culture throughout history.

The story's tragic end, however, suggests the fragility of goodness and mortal happiness even for a hero like Theseus. Like Bellerophon , he becomes a more complex character as the end of his life becomes more complex than its clearly heroic beginnings. Between Ariadne's death, Aegeus's suicide, and the Phaedra tragedy, Theseus becomes a complicated figure who outgrows his earlier, simpler role of hero.

The tale of Phaedra and Hippolytus may illustrate some of the gendered power relations in ancient Greek life. It was reasonable to imagine that a woman at that time might kill herself after being raped. Phaedra takes advantage of that expectation in revenge, being so distraught over her failure to seduce Hippolytus that she is willing both to kill herself and to ruin his life. Contrast this relationship to that of Theseus and Ariadne; without her, he could not have escaped the labyrinth.

Indeed, the relationship between Ariadne and Theseus is an interesting one as it speaks to the recurring theme of true love. Although in the beginning it seems as if these two lovers have found the true love that the gods support, Hamilton puts that idea into doubt when she reports the idea that Theseus may have left her on an island to die. Although such an action would seem out of place for his character, the alternative suggestion is that Ariadne died because he left her on an island for too long. When he marries her sister, tragic events unfold, and it seems that fate did not look happily on the affair. True love, it seems, is not simple at all--it can cause all kinds of trouble and lead to all kinds of quests and adventures.

The tragedy of Aegeus brings up the recurring theme of a tragic mistake. When Theseus forgets to raise the correct flag, his carelessness takes a fatal turn against someone he loves. Like Apollo killing his best friend Hyacinthus , Theseus clearly means well but makes a tragic mistake. Unlike the other fathers who lose sons, Aegeus is so distraught that he chooses to die himself.

Like the story of Perseus , the tales of Theseus take on an adventurous tone with epic proportions. From the Labyrinth to the Minotaur, Ariadne to Aegeus, the tales of Theseus have become iconic in the Western canon.

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Mythology Questions and Answers

The Question and Answer section for Mythology is a great resource to ask questions, find answers, and discuss the novel.

How does Perseus respond to people and events in the story? How does this response move the story forward?

Which specific myth are you referring to? Title, please?

What drink is given to Polyphemus ? What is the Effect?

The give Polyphemus wine. He falls asleep.

3 gods of goddness

Whatbparticular myth are you referring to?

Study Guide for Mythology

The Mythology study guide contains a biography of Edith Hamilton, literature essays, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis of the major Greek myths and Western mythology.

About Mythology
Mythology Summary
Character List

Lesson Plan for Mythology

About the Author
Study Objectives
Common Core Standards
Introduction to Mythology
Relationship to Other Books
Bringing in Technology
Notes to the Teacher
Related Links
Mythology Bibliography

Wikipedia Entries for Mythology

Introduction

8 YA Books for Fans of Greek Mythology

Grace Lapointe

Grace Lapointe’s fiction has been published in Kaleidoscope, Deaf Poets Society, Mobius: The Journal of Social Change, and is forthcoming in Corporeal Lit Mag. Her essays and poetry have been published in Wordgathering. Her stories and essays—including ones that she wrote as a college student—have been taught in college courses and cited in books and dissertations. More of her work is at https://gracelapointe.wordpress.com, Medium, and Ao3.

View All posts by Grace Lapointe

In a world where the children of the gods inherit their powers, a descendant of the Greek Fates must solve a series of impossible murders to save her sisters, her soulmate, and her city. Descendants of the Fates are always born in threes: one to weave, one to draw, and one to cut the threads that connect people to the things they love and to life itself. The Ora sisters are no exception. Io, the youngest, uses her Fate-born abilities as a private investigator. But her latest job leads her to a horrific discovery: somebody is abducting women, and setting the resulting wraiths loose in the city to kill.

Figures from Greek myths want to be remembered forever, cheat death, know the future, or see their (living or dead) loved ones again. These are deeply relatable desires. Fate, irony, arrogance, and courage are universal concepts, and ancient Greek literature explored them in ways that still resonate today.

Immortals who can become mortal and demigods (the children of gods and humans) still inspire today’s immortal fantasy characters. From Percy Jackson and the Olympians on Disney+ to myth-retelling novels for adults, it’s obvious stories from ancient Greek literature influence pop culture today. And re-imaginings make ancient stories more accessible to many readers.

Though ancient Greek epics, poetry, and drama have endured for millennia, of course, they originated from a specific culture. In 2023, for BR, Lyndsie Manusos interviewed several Greek authors on their opinions about Greek myth retellings. They all said diverse retellings are important, which should include renditions by modern Greek authors. Ancient Greek literature and history were central to 18 th and 19 th -century British and U.S. educations and still get co-opted by white supremacists. A culture is not a vibe or aesthetic.

If you love Greek mythology, these books below have elements that may also appeal to you. They’re not all strict retellings. Some are inspired by ancient Greek myths in subtler ways or use their names, themes, and figures in modern settings.

This Poison Heart by Kalynn Bayron

Helping out in her mom’s nursery, Briseis discovers she can make plants bloom. She inherits an estate from her aunt and uncovers even more secrets. The setting is Gothic and modern, but it also incorporates the elixir of immortality and other ideas and figures from Greek mythology. Briseis’ name originates from a prisoner of war in The Iliad . The original Briseis has no agency and is trafficked from one powerful man to another. So, it’s great to find such a powerful character with that name.

Lore by Alexandra Bracken

If you’ve ever imagined how gods might feel when they become mortal, or vice versa, you might love this book. It has a unique take on the demigods and generational curses of ancient Greek mythology. On a seven-year cycle, nine gods turn mortal, so descendants of human heroes, like Achilles, can hunt them. This is an urban fantasy set in modern NYC with vivid characters. The hunt, the Agon, is named after the main conflict in ancient Greek drama.

Spin by Rebecca Caprara

This YA fantasy-in-verse has a protagonist who’s often overlooked, even among retellings. Arachne’s mother teaches her to weave and tells her stories of the gods and goddesses. The book also mentions concepts from ancient Greek drama: hubris (arrogance) and hamartia (a character’s tragic flaw). These become relevant to Arachne’s story when she says her tapestries are better than Athena’s. The details are vivid, and the subject and structure of this book are unique. Maybe skip this one if you have a strong phobia of spiders, though!

Daughter of Sparta by Claire M. Andrews

Historians think Spartan women had more freedom than women from other ancient Greek city-states and were taught to handle weapons. This allows Daphne to replace her brother in a competition, though she’s still one of the mothakes (outsiders). The goddess Artemis needs Daphne’s help. This novel is partly inspired by the story of Daphne and Apollo. In Roman poet Ovid’s version of the myth, Daphne was turned into a laurel tree to avoid being raped by Apollo. Many ancient myths, like this one, have fascinating potential for YA and feminist retellings.

Icarus by K. Ancrum

This is a contemporary thriller inspired by the myth of Icarus and his inventor father, Daedalus. In the myth, Daedalus makes wax wings for Icarus, who flies too close to the sun. In this novel, Icarus’ father, Angus, is an art forger, and Icarus steals originals and replaces them with Angus’ imitations. As metaphors, the danger and arrogance of flying too near the sun fit the art heist premise perfectly. I also recommend Darling , Ancrum’s modern crime thriller that reimagines Peter Pan .

The Star-Touched Queen by Roshani Chokshi

Maya, the raja’s daughter, is cursed, according to astrology. When one of her father’s wives dies, the other wives blame Maya. In this interview , the author explained that her Filipine and Indian heritage, as well as the ancient Greek myth of Hades and Persephone, inspired the book. Maya’s kingdom, Bharata, shares a name with a legendary emperor from Sanskrit texts, and characters can be reincarnated.

Never Look Back by Lilliam Rivera

This Pura Belpré Honor book is a retelling of the Orpheus and Eurydice myth set in The Bronx in recent times. Eury moved to NYC from Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria in 2017. The novel has alternating chapters narrated by Pheus and Eury, whose names play on Orpheus and Eurydice. Pheus is a musician (a guitarist and songwriter), like the bard Orpheus with his lyre. Literally and figuratively, never looking back is important to the myth, and it fits the young protagonists’ journeys.

House of Salt and Sorrows by Erin A. Craig

This novel is a retelling of the fairy tale The Twelve Dancing Princesses , which was recorded by the Brothers Grimm. Annaleigh’s sisters are cursed to dance every night past the point of exhaustion. This book blends genres: horror, mystery, portal fantasy, and more. The names and atmosphere draw from Edgar Allan Poe. Although it’s NOT a Greek myth retelling, the gods and world-building are reminiscent of ancient Greek mythology. Annaleigh’s family lives on an island and worships nautical gods. Their main god reminded me of Poseidon. Like the ancient Greek gods, their gods walk among humans, and they are often petty. Some are even half-human demigods.

More on Ancient Greek Myths:

In 2020, BR listed 50 must-read books on Greek myths , divided by genre and age category.

8 Spectacular Backlist Sci-Fi and Fantasy Series Worth Reading

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A fall quarter course uses Ancient Athens as a case study to explore practical and philosophical questions about how democracy functions.
For ancient Athenians, political participation was intertwined with leading an ethical life; being part of a well-run society was seen as essential to human flourishing.
At the heart of the decision-making process was the “demos” – the Greek word for people – and the “kratos” – the Greek word for rule.
Knowing they would be called upon to deal with difficult issues had a profound effect on the way Athenian citizens related with the world around them.

With over 4 billion citizens in some 65 countries participating in an election in 2024, the year is being heralded as a historic period – and test – for democracy . In a winter quarter course at Stanford, students examined another important time for self-government: the fifth century BCE, when democracy first emerged.

Each week, Stanford political scientist and classicist Josiah Ober conjured what political life was like in the Greek city-state of Athens to the mix of undergraduate, graduate, and postdoctoral students taking POLISCI 231A: Democracy Ancient and Modern: From Politics to Political Theory . Ober drew on texts by contemporary Greek historians and political theorists who focus on ancient democracy to explore with students some of the issues ancient Athenians grappled with as they put self-government into practice.

For Ober, who has studied ancient and modern political thought for over four decades, ancient Athens makes for an interesting case study for students and scholars to examine how democracy functions and the different forms this mode of government can take.

Josiah Ober, political scientist and classicist, teaches class

In a winter quarter course, political scientist and classicist Josiah Ober teaches students about the foundations of democracy. | Andrew Brodhead

“It gives you these possibilities of the different ways democracy could be done,” said Ober, the Markos & Eleni Kounalakis Chair in Honor of Constantine Mitsotakis in the School of Humanities and Sciences . “History gives you some advantages to test a political theory and find out if it could possibly work.”

Other ways to do democracy

In running their democracy, ancient Athenians did many things differently that students considered closely throughout the course.

For one, the political life of its citizens was incredibly active.

Unlike the American system of representative democracy, where citizens vote for elected officials to represent their concerns in government, rule in Ancient Greece was direct: Participation was not a choice but a civic duty.

For ancient Athenians, being political was intertwined with leading an ethical life: Being part of a well-run society was seen as essential to human flourishing.

As Ober explained, by the time an Athenian citizen was 30 years old, it was highly likely they had already participated in the Assembly – the governing body where 5,000 or 6,000 citizens regularly met to vote on important issues of the day – or even served on the Council, a group of 500 citizens randomly chosen by lottery to serve 10-month terms to help set the Assembly’s agenda (ancient Athenians frequently drew on lotteries to distribute civic responsibilities among its citizens; in the U.S., they are scarcely used – the only thing close is jury duty).

For Athenian citizens, knowing they would be called upon to deal with difficult issues and decisions – like whether to go to war – had a profound effect on the way they related with the world around them.

“The way in which Athenians conducted their lives was highly influenced by the fact that they were going to have some real responsibility for their community,” Ober said. “When an Athenian went to the Assembly and voted for war, he was sending himself to war.”

Democracy isn’t something that is inherent or is going to be given to you. It’s something that you need to work at.” Cameron Adams, ’24 Senior majoring in political science

At the heart of the Assembly’s decision-making process was the “demos” – the Greek word for people – and the “kratos” – the Greek word for rule (the etymological root of democracy comes from these two words).

In a class seminar devoted to deliberation, Ober described how the citizen Assembly made decisions and how those decisions represented the will of the demos, the collective judgment of the people about the best available course of action. The class then discussed some of the tensions that arise when conceptualizing a large, diverse population as a monolithic entity.

They also debated questions about accountability. If the decisions made by the Assembly were that of the demos, did that mean that individuals were no longer responsible for the decisions they contributed to making? Which raised another question: What does a democracy look like when officials are accountable to the people, but “the people” are accountable to no one?

Tackling complex questions like these – which are political, philosophical, and practical in nature – formed the basis of many of the students’ discussions.

For Michael Thomas, a second-year PhD student who took the course, examining how the ancient Greeks approached civic engagement and education has made him think about what could happen if American society did something similar.

Michael Thomas is a second-year PhD student in the Department of Political Science. | Andrew Brodhead

“We ask ourselves a lot about how to do democratic education and a great deal of it for the Greeks was by doing, such as governing through the Assembly and holding office,” Thomas said. “I think people would feel more committed to democracy if they experienced it in their own lives through participating in collective action.”

Learning from limitations

But not everyone in ancient Athens was able to participate in political life.

Excluded from the franchise were women and slaves – not too dissimilar to the limitations America’s Founding Fathers set when they wrote the Declaration of Independence, Constitution, and the Bill of Rights in the late 18th century.

For political science major Cameron Adams, ’24, learning how Athenians restricted democratic participation has helped them better understand barriers in American democracy.

“We modeled our democracy after Athenian democracy, which was flawed, so it makes sense that our system is flawed,” said Adams, who took two of the courses Ober taught in winter quarter.

I think people would feel more committed to democracy if they experienced it in their own lives through participating in collective action.” Michael Thomas Second-year PhD student in the Department of Political Science

Even with a series of reforms in the 20th century that expanded and protected U.S. voting rights to include women and people of color, there are still groups of Americans today who are ineligible to participate in an election. For example, people with a criminal conviction may be blocked from voting in their state. People have also become disenfranchised by being forced to face long wait times at polling stations or not being provided enough places to vote .

While learning how ancient Athenians grappled with who was and was not able to participate in democratic life, Adams considered contemporary problems like these. One essay Adams read that they found particularly relevant examined the ways in which women and slaves in ancient Athens found ways to speak out against the injustices they faced.

“It illuminates that democracy isn’t something that is inherent or is going to be given to you,” Adams said. “It’s something that you need to work at.”

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195 Impressive Greek Mythology Essay Topics
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Greek Mythology Essay Topics You'll Enjoy Writing
Greek Myth Presentation Storyboard by elamyth
Themis
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Greek Mythology (CLASS 2604)
Greek Myths C 2, 3
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Greek Myths D 8, 9
Greek Myths 09

COMMENTS

The Goddess Thesis in Greek Mythology
The name Thesis is one given to a rarely spoken about goddess from Greek mythology; with her name mainly surviving only in fragments of ancient texts. In her own right Thesis was an important goddess for she was a Greek goddess of Creation, but Thesis' role was within the Orphic tradition whilst surviving tales are based on the tradition ...
THESIS
Thesis was the primordial, ancient Greek goddess of creation, a divinity related to Physis (Mother Nature). She occurs in the Orphic Theogonies as the first being to emerge at creation alongside Hydros (the Primordial Waters) and Mud. Thesis was sometimes portrayed as the female aspect of the first-born, bi-gendered god Phanes (Life).
Theseus
Myths / Heroes / Theseus. The son of either Poseidon or Aegeus and Aethra, Theseus was widely considered the greatest Athenian hero, the king who managed to politically unify Attica under the aegis of Athens. Son of either Aegeus, the king of Athens, or Poseidon, the god of the sea, and Aethra, a princess, Theseus was raised by his mother in ...
Theseus
Theseus (UK: / ˈ θ iː sj uː s /, US: / ˈ θ iː s i ə s /; Greek: Θησεύς [tʰɛːsěu̯s]) was a divine hero and the founder of Athens from Greek mythology.The myths surrounding Theseus, his journeys, exploits, and friends, have provided material for storytelling throughout the ages. Theseus is sometimes described as the son of Aegeus, King of Athens, and sometimes as the son of ...
Why Myth Matters: The Value of the Female Voice in Greek Mythology
In this thesis I will primarily examine how the retellings of Greek myths from the female perspective provide insight into the importance of myth and why these stories are still relevant today. Specifically, I will examine three major figures: Circe in Madeline Miller's . Circe, Penelope in Margaret Atwood's . The Penelopiad,
Greek Gods and Religious Practices
Greek myths explained the origins of the gods and their individual relations with mankind. The art of Archaic and Classical Greece illustrates many mythological episodes, including an established iconography of attributes that identify each god. There were twelve principal deities in the Greek pantheon. ... Additional Essays by Seán Hemingway.
Theseus, Hero of Athens
In the ancient Greek world, myth functioned as a method of both recording history and providing precedent for political programs. While today the word "myth" is almost synonymous with "fiction," in antiquity, myth was an alternate form of reality.Thus, the rise of Theseus as the national hero of Athens, evident in the evolution of his iconography in Athenian art, was a result of a ...
Greek Mythology Critical Essays
In analyzing the hero myths, Kirk details the exploits of some of the more prominent Greek heroes, including Perseus, Theseus, Oedipus, and Odysseus. He notes that many elements in these myths ...
PDF Modern Lyrical Interpretations of Ancient Greek Myths
The purpose of this Creative Thesis Project is to see if ancient Greek myths and their many themes and retellings can be modernized and put into a lyrical and musical format and still retain their true meanings as well as resonate with a new, younger audience. Success will be determined by how effectively the lyrics of these songs convey
Thesis The Greek Primordial Goddess of Creation
In Greek mythology, Thesis is the primordial goddess of creation, often associated with the concept of Physis (Mother Nature).She is believed to have emerged at the beginning of creation alongside Hydros (the Primordial Waters) and Mud.Thesis is sometimes portrayed as the female aspect of the first-born deity, Phanes. She holds a significant role in ancient cosmology and mythology's origins.
Theseus
Theseus was the product of an affair between Aegeus, the king of Athens, and Aethra, a princess of Troezen. But in some traditions, the sea god Poseidon slept with Aethra the same night as Aegeus, making Theseus his son instead. Theseus was raised by his mother Aethra in Troezen. The identity of his father was kept secret until Theseus had ...
Greek Mythology Essay Topics: Gods, Heroes, and Legends
2.5 Love Topics in the Essay about Greek Mythology. With its rich pantheon of gods, heroes, and timeless tales, Greek mythology has been a source of inspiration and fascination for centuries. From the mighty exploits of Hercules to the cunning of Odysseus, these myths offer a window into ancient Greek culture, values, and understanding of the ...
Theseus
Theseus is a legendary hero from Greek mythology who was considered an early king of Athens.Famously killing villains, Amazons, and centaurs, Theseus' most celebrated adventure was his slaying of the fearsome Minotaur in the labyrinth of the Cretan king Minos. In the Classical period, Theseus came to represent the perfect Athenian - the just man of action determined to serve his city as best ...
HYDROS
In Greek mythology was the god of the primordial waters. In the Orphic Theogonies Hydros (Water), Thesis (Creation) and Mud were the first entities to emerge at the dawn of creation. Mud in turn solidified into Gaea (Earth) who, together with Hydros, produced Chronos (Time) and Ananke (Compulsion). This latter pair then crushed the cosmic-egg with their serpentine coils to hatch Phanes (Life ...
Origins And Development Of Greek Mythology
The historical aspect of Greek mythology and especially the mythical chronology are products of the systematizing of the myths by the poets of cyclical epics and still more the product of ...
Contemporary feminist adaptations of Greek myth
The scope of this thesis is as follows: it begins with the publication of Margaret Atwood's The Penelopiad (2005) for the Canongate Myth Series, which I propose to be the mainspring of the current trend in women's writing to adapt myth, and ends with relevant novels published in 2021. Notable authors within this study include Jeanette ...
122 Greek Mythology Essay Topics & Examples
Love Story of Orpheus and Eurydice. Hades, Persephone, and the Afterlife. The Twelve Olympian Gods and Their Roles. Athena vs. Poseidon: The Contest for Athens. Infidelity and Betrayal in Greek Mythology. The Labors of Heracles and Divine Punishment. The Myth of Narcissus and the Narcissistic Personality.
The Wrath and Power of Ares: God of War in Greek Mythology
In the grand tapestry of Greek mythology, Ares, the formidable God of War, emerges as a complex and enigmatic figure, akin to a storm brewing on the horizon. Within the divine assembly of Olympus, his essence resonates with the thunderous clash of weapons and the fervent cries of combat, embodying unrestrained fury and relentless force.
Ancient Greek Myth in Modern Greek Poetry
Originally published in 1996, this volume contains essays by scholars, critics and translators and includes themes such as the myth in the Cretan Renaissance and the use of ancient myth by 19 th and 20 th Century poets. Some essays deal with individual mythical figures such as Odysseus, Orpheus, Prometheus and Aphrodite, while others deal with the problematic issue of the use of myth by Greek ...
Theseus, Great Hero of Greek Mythology
Updated on August 31, 2019. Theseus is one of the great heroes of Greek mythology, a prince of Athens who battled numerous foes including the Minotaur, the Amazons, and the Crommyon Sow, and traveled to Hades, where he had to be rescued by Hercules. As the legendary king of Athens, he is credited with inventing a constitutional government ...
(PDF) Contemporary feminist adaptations of Greek myth
text within the scope of this thesis is a response to a Greek myth and, often, an act of resistance. against the patriarchal domination of the classical ﬁeld, as well as a space to narrate modern.
Thetis
Thetis (/ ˈ θ iː t ɪ s / THEEH-tiss, / ˈ θ ɛ t ɪ s / THEH-tiss; Greek: Θέτις) is a figure from Greek mythology with varying mythological roles. She mainly appears as a sea nymph, a goddess of water, and one of the 50 Nereids, daughters of the ancient sea god Nereus.. When described as a Nereid in Classical myths, Thetis was the daughter of Nereus and Doris, and a granddaughter of ...
Greek mythology
Greek mythology is the body of myths originally told by the ancient Greeks, and a genre of ancient Greek folklore, today absorbed alongside Roman mythology into the broader designation of classical mythology. These stories concern the ancient Greek religion 's view of the origin and nature of the world; the lives and activities of deities ...
The Women of Greek Myths Are Finally Talking Back
Along with Circe and Medusa, other female villains from Greek epics and tragedies are getting resurrected and redeemed in fiction. The murderous Queen Clytemnestra, who killed both her husband ...
Mythology Theseus Summary and Analysis
Mythology Summary and Analysis of Theseus. Theseus is the great Athenian hero. His father Aegeus is king of Athens, but Theseus grows up in southern Greece with his mother. When he is old enough, Theseus travels to the city to meet his father and overcomes many obstacles along the way. By the time he reaches Athens, he is known as a hero.
8 YA Books for Fans of Greek Mythology
Greek mythology fans, get in here. These YA books have all the drama, love, and pettiness that makes the ancient stories so fun. Articles. Main; ... Her stories and essays—including ones that she wrote as a college student—have been taught in college courses and cited in books and dissertations. More of her work is at https://gracelapointe ...
What the ancient Greeks can teach us about democracy
Ober drew on texts by contemporary Greek historians and political theorists who focus on ancient democracy to explore with students some of the issues ancient Athenians grappled with as they put ...