Greek theology encompasses beliefs and accounts of gods and goddesses prior to Christianity in Greece. Ancient Greeks did not refer to their religious beliefs as Greek theology, but rather held them as a matter of fact. The Twelve Olympians and additional deities and demigods played important roles in Greek religion. Greek theology, much like modern […]
“Greek to me” is an English idiom used to describe something incomprehensible. It can refer to language, jargon, or situations. The phrase’s meaning has evolved over time due to cultural use. The origin of the phrase is likely from Shakespeare’s “Julius Caesar.” “Greek to me” is an English idiom that describes something that is completely […]
Sisyphus, son of King Aeolus, was a deceitful and arrogant figure in Greek mythology who was punished by the gods to roll a boulder up a hill only to have it roll back down for eternity. Some believe this story explains the rising and setting of the sun. Sisyphus has been depicted in artwork and […]
The Greek alphabet has seven vowels: alpha, epsilon, eta, iota, omicron, upsilon, and omega. Some pronunciations have changed over time, but the symbols have remained the same. There are seven vowels found in the Greek alphabet. The Greek vowels are alpha, epsilon, eta, and iota, along with omicron, upsilon, and omega. Although the pronunciations sometimes […]
Geryon was a giant in Greek mythology who guarded a herd of red cattle on the island of Erytheia. He had three heads or three bodies and was slain by Hercules in the Labors of Hercules. Geryon was associated with a mythical land near the Hesperides, and Hercules had to overcome obstacles to deliver the […]
There are multiple figures in Greek mythology named Diomedes, including a Trojan War hero who founded cities in Italy and a giant who owned man-eating horses captured by Hercules. The Trojan War hero was favored by Athena and eventually granted immortality, but returned home to find his wife unfaithful and lost his throne. The two […]
Greek rhetoric is the art of persuasive speech, developed by ancient Greek thinkers and considered essential for civic engagement. Aristotle’s “Rhetoric” breaks it down into ethos, pathos, and logos. Quintilian’s five canons of rhetoric influenced modern training methods. Greek rhetoric is the art of persuasive speech, practiced and written about by ancient Greek thinkers. In […]
The Ceryneian hind was a sacred deer to Artemis with golden antlers and metal hooves that could travel faster than an arrow. Hercules captured it as part of his 12 labors, but returned it to Artemis. All deer are sacred to Artemis due to their connection to the Ceryneian hind. In Greek mythology, the Ceryneian […]
Aphrodite, the Greek goddess of love and sexual desire, may have originated from the Semitic goddess Ishtar or Astarte. She is often depicted as capricious and deceitful, causing the Trojan War. Depictions of her in art often show her naked, representing sexual freedom. Aphrodite (Venus in Roman mythology) is best known as the Greek goddess […]
Achilles, the Greek warrior in the Trojan War, was almost invincible due to his mother dipping him in the river Styx, but his heel was his weak point. He initially retired from warfare but was spurred into action after the Trojans killed his best friend. His fate was to die in battle, fulfilling a prophecy. […]
The New Testament was written in Greek, the lingua franca of the Roman Empire, over a period of 100 years. It documents the early stages of Christianity and is an important part of many Christians’ faith. The form of Greek used, Koine, is an evolutionary step between Ancient Greek and its modern version. Christ and […]
Daedalus and his son Icarus were imprisoned in a labyrinth by Minos, but Daedalus created wings made of wax and feathers to escape. Icarus flew too close to the sun, causing the wax to melt and him to fall to his death. The story has been depicted in art and inspired the name of an […]
Hippolyta was a powerful woman who ruled over the Amazons, a tribe of warrior women. She was involved in battles, including the Amazonomachy, and was abducted by Theseus in some stories. Hippolyta also appears in the legends of the labors of Hercules. It’s possible that a fierce tribe of women did exist, inspiring people to […]
Roman and Greek mythology share similarities, but differences go beyond just renaming central characters. Greek mythology is a Hellenistic soap opera, while Roman mythology merged with Greek over time. Differences include the roles of Ares and Mars, with the latter being a multitasking god who used war to talk about peace. Other differences include personality […]
