greek-mythology

58 Stories

Agamemnon and Achilles in Greek mythology

Agamemnon in The Odyssey: The Death of the Cursed Hero

Agamemnon in The Odyssey is a recurring character in the form of several cameos across Homer's Classic. In its precursor, the Iliad, Agamemnon was ...

Ancient Literature
February 15th, 2024
By Ancient Literature
Cerberus and Hades - the three-headed guardian of the Underworld

Cerberus and Hades: A Story of a Loyal Servant and His Master

Cerberus and Hades are Greek characters that are synonymous with the Land of the Dead. Even though there are only a few stories featuring Cerberus,...

Ancient Literature
February 16th, 2024
By Ancient Literature

Charybdis in the Odyssey: The Unquenchable Sea Monster

Charybdis in the Odyssey is one of the most remarkable creatures in The Odyssey. This story in Greek mythology tells of the struggles of Odysseus w...

Ancient Literature
February 16th, 2024
By Ancient Literature
Oedipus character illustration

Choragos in Antigone: Could the Voice of Reason Have Saved Creon?

The Choragos in Antigone represents the advisors of Creon. Ostensibly, they were there to guide the king and give voice to the concerns of the peop...

Ancient Literature
February 16th, 2024
By Ancient Literature
Antigone mourning over the body of Polyneices

Creon's Refusal to Bury Polyneices and the Consequences After

King of Thebes Creon, the king of Thebes, brought about disaster towards himself and his family due to his hubris. Creon prohibits burying Polyneic...

Ancient Literature
February 16th, 2024
By Ancient Literature
Creon and his dying daughter Creusa

Creon's Wife: Eurydice of Thebes

When it comes to Antigone, knowing side characters such as Eurydice, better known as "Creon's wife," is crucial. They add more depth and color to t...

Ancient Literature
February 16th, 2024
By Ancient Literature

Diomedes: Iliad's Hidden Hero

It seems as if there is little mention of Diomedes in the Iliad, considering the importance of his exploits to the continuation of the storyline. A...

Ancient Literature
February 16th, 2024
By Ancient Literature

Divine Intervention in the Odyssey: What Are the Effects on Odysseus?

Divine interventions in the The Odyssey made the epic novel more interesting. They also showed different sides of the gods and goddesses like Posei...

Ancient Literature
February 16th, 2024
By Ancient Literature
Elpenor fell from the roof of Circe's castle

Elpenor in The Odyssey: Odysseus' Sense of Responsibility

Elpenor in The Odyssey was Odysseus' youngest man in his troop. On Circe's Island, he was turned into a pig and, once freed, drank himself to a stu...

Ancient Literature
February 16th, 2024
By Ancient Literature
Eumaeus helping Odysseus kill the suitors in the great hall of his palace

Eumaeus in The Odyssey: A Servant and Friend

Eumaeus in The Odyssey is written as Odysseus' swineherd and friend. He is the first person Odysseus seeks after arriving back home in Ithaca. But ...

Ancient Literature
February 16th, 2024
By Ancient Literature
Eurycleia in the Odyssey - illustration of loyal servant

Eurycleia in The Odyssey: Loyalty Lasts a Lifetime

The servant Eurycleia in The Odyssey is an essential archetype in both fiction and real life. She plays the role of the loyal, trusted servant, who...

Ancient Literature
February 16th, 2024
By Ancient Literature
Eurylochus in the Odyssey

Eurylochus in The Odyssey: Second in Command, First in Cowardice

Eurylochus in The Odyssey represents a specific archetype in fiction. He is quick to complain and criticize but often afraid to act himself. When h...

Ancient Literature
February 16th, 2024
By Ancient Literature

Greek Gods vs Norse Gods: Know the Differences Between both Deities

Greek gods vs Norse gods comparison has always fascinated scholars and literature enthusiasts for centuries. Their similarities and differences mak...

Ancient Literature
February 16th, 2024
By Ancient Literature
Comparison of Greek and Roman gods - all you need to know about the differences between the two pantheons

Greek vs Roman Gods: Know the Differences Between the Deities

Greek vs Roman gods are hard to be distingusihed because they share similar functions and roles. For instance, Zeus was the king of the gods and hi...

Ancient Literature
February 16th, 2024
By Ancient Literature

Hades Daughter: Everything You Must Know About Her Story

Hades daughter would be Melinoe, the most well-known daughter, but unknown to many, Hades has three children. Two of whom he shares with his wife, ...

Ancient Literature
February 16th, 2024
By Ancient Literature
Haemon and Antigone - Greek tragedy illustration

Haemon: Antigone's Tragic Victim

Haemon in Antigone represents an often forgotten character in classic mythology – the innocent victim. Often the offspring of acting characters, vi...

Ancient Literature
February 16th, 2024
By Ancient Literature

Hector in the Iliad: The Life and Death of Troy's Mightiest Warrior

Hector was the son of King Priam and Queen Hecuba of Troy and he was married to Andromache, the daughter of Eetion. The couple gave birth to a son ...

Ancient Literature
February 16th, 2024
By Ancient Literature

Hector vs Achilles: Comparing the Two Great Warriors

Classical literature enthusiasts have compared Hector vs Achilles during the Trojan War and have analyzed their strengths, weaknesses, missions, an...

Ancient Literature
February 16th, 2024
By Ancient Literature

Helen: Iliad Instigator or Unjust Victim?

Helen of Sparta is often accused of being the cause of the Trojan War. But was the war truly her fault or was Helen a pawn of the gods, a hapless v...

Ancient Literature
February 16th, 2024
By Ancient Literature
Statue of Helios, the god of the sun in Greek mythology

Helios in The Odyssey: The God of Sun

Often referred to as a titan, Helios in The Odyssey is a gentle god known to bring light onto the earth. He rides his chariot throughout the sky, b...

Ancient Literature
February 16th, 2024
By Ancient Literature

Helios vs Apollo: The Two Sun Gods of Greek Mythology

Helios vs Apollo were the two characters in Greek mythology that were both associated with the sun. Greek mythology is a fascinating tale of many c...

Ancient Literature
February 16th, 2024
By Ancient Literature
Heracles vs Hercules - everything you need to know about the Greek and Roman hero

Heracles vs Hercules: The Same Hero in Two Different Mythologies

Heracles vs Hercules is a debate that has been very popular among the Greeks and the Romans. The reason for this debate is that both characters are...

Ancient Literature
February 16th, 2024
By Ancient Literature
Hermes, the Greek messenger god with winged sandals

Hermes in The Odyssey: Odysseus' Counterpart

Hermes in The Odyssey guided and aided Odysseus in his quest to save his men. But how exactly did this come about? Who is Hermes in The Odyssey? We...

Ancient Literature
February 16th, 2024
By Ancient Literature
Honor in the Iliad - what you need to know

Honor in the Iliad: The Penultimate Aim of Every Warrior in the Poem

Honor in the Iliad was more valuable than life, therefore, everyone strived to achieve it. Characters such as Achilles, Agamemnon, Odysseus, Patroc...

Ancient Literature
February 16th, 2024
By Ancient Literature

Hospitality in The Odyssey: Xenia in Greek Culture

Hospitality in The Odyssey played a crucial role in Odysseus' journey to his hometown and his family's struggles back home in Ithaca. Still, to ful...

Ancient Literature
February 16th, 2024
By Ancient Literature
Bust of Antinous from ancient Rome

How are the Suitors Described in The Odyssey: Everything You Need to Know

The Odyssey is an epic Greek poem that tells the story of the return journey of Odysseus to the island of Ithaca. It describes the challenges that ...

Ancient Literature
February 16th, 2024
By Ancient Literature
The death of Achilles

How Did Achilles Die? The Demise of Greeks' Mighty Hero

How did Achilles die? Achilles die for a number of reasons that all contributed to his demise: the gods conspired for his death, he was shot with a...

Ancient Literature
February 16th, 2024
By Ancient Literature
Oedipus and the Sphinx - ancient Greek art depicting the famous riddle scene

How Does Oedipus See Himself?

Oedipus is a prominent character in two of Sophocles' three plays about him and his family. The plays were written over a thirty-six-year span of t...

Ancient Literature
February 16th, 2024
By Ancient Literature
Creon displaying hubris in Antigone

Hubris in Antigone: Sin of Pride

Hubris in Antigone is vigorously portrayed by both the protagonist and the antagonist in the Sophoclean play. From a healthy dose of pride to irrat...

Ancient Literature
February 16th, 2024
By Ancient Literature

Hubris in the Iliad: The Characters That Displayed Immoderated Pride

Hubris in the Iliad is an exposition of some characters in the poem who was excessively arrogant and the price they paid for their insolence. This ...

Ancient Literature
February 16th, 2024
By Ancient Literature
Ino in The Odyssey - the goddess who saved Odysseus

Ino in The Odyssey: The Queen, Goddess, and Rescuer

Ino in The Odyssey appears for only a handful of verses, but she plays an essential role. Without her assistance, Odysseus would have perished just...

Ancient Literature
February 16th, 2024
By Ancient Literature
Jocasta, Queen of Thebes, mother and wife of Oedipus

Jocasta Oedipus: Analyzing the Character of the Queen of Thebes

Jocasta Oedipus is the queen of Thebes and wife of King Laius who received a prophecy that she would give birth to a boy who would kill her husband...

Ancient Literature
February 16th, 2024
By Ancient Literature
Justice in Antigone - depiction of the Greek tragedy

Justice in Antigone: Tipping the Scale

Justice in Antigone is controversial; from the perspective of different characters, justice served through their fates often enough ends in tragedy...

Ancient Literature
February 16th, 2024
By Ancient Literature

King Priam: The Last Standing King of Troy

King Priam was the last standing king of Troy during the Trojan War. He was an important figure in ancient Greek mythology. His story is explained ...

Ancient Literature
February 16th, 2024
By Ancient Literature
Kleos in the Iliad - the theme of fame and glory in Homer's epic poem

Kleos in the Iliad: Theme of Fame and Glory in the Poem

Kleos in the Iliad explores the theme of prestige and honor that drove major characters in Homer's epic poem. The setting of the poem provides a ri...

Ancient Literature
February 16th, 2024
By Ancient Literature

Laestrygonians in The Odyssey: Odysseus the Hunted

Laestrygonians in The Odyssey resided on the Island of the Laestrygonians and are known in Greek mythology to be cannibalistic. They are one of the...

Ancient Literature
February 16th, 2024
By Ancient Literature
Land of the Dead in the Odyssey - Odysseus in the Underworld

Land Of The Dead Odyssey

In the Odyssey, books 10 and 11 are known as "Land of the Dead." The Odyssey proceeds with Odysseus continuing his quest to return to Ithaca. Havin...

Ancient Literature
February 16th, 2024
By Ancient Literature
Monster in the Odyssey - Scylla the six-headed sea monster

Monster in the Odyssey: The Beasts and the Beauties Personified

In Greek mythology, the monster in the Odyssey includes Scylla, Charybdis, the sirens, and Polyphemus the cyclops. They are important figures in th...

Ancient Literature
February 16th, 2024
By Ancient Literature

Neptune vs Poseidon: Exploring the Similarities and Differences

Neptune vs Poseidon is an article that will uncover the similarities and differences between the two gods of Roman and Greek mythologies respective...

Ancient Literature
February 16th, 2024
By Ancient Literature
Nestor in the Iliad - Who was he

Nestor in the Iliad: The Mythology of the Legendary King of Pylos

Nestor in the Iliad was the king of Pylos who was known for his wisdom and insight which helped several characters in the epic poem, though some of...

Ancient Literature
February 16th, 2024
By Ancient Literature
Odysseus in the Iliad - Greek hero and King of Ithaca

Odysseus in the Iliad: The Tale of Ulysses and the Trojan War

Odysseus in the Iliad is a Greek warrior and wise man who left to fight in the Trojan War. His story was a famous one because of how clever he was ...

Ancient Literature
February 16th, 2024
By Ancient Literature
Odyssey Muse - Erato, Muse of Lyrical Poetry

Odyssey Muse: Their Identities and Roles in Greek Mythology

Odyssey's Muse does not pertain to a figure that evokes inspiration from our Greek author. Instead, The Odyssey starts with the invocation of the M...

Ancient Literature
February 16th, 2024
By Ancient Literature
Laius and Jocasta - parents of Oedipus in Greek mythology

Oedipus' Family Tree: What You Need to Know

The family relations in Sophocles' Three Theban Plays (Oedipus Rex, Oedipus at Colonus and Antigone) are a key part of the famous tragedies. These ...

Ancient Literature
February 16th, 2024
By Ancient Literature
Oedipus and Tiresias: What was his role in Oedipus the King

Oedipus Tiresias: The Role of the Blind Seer in Oedipus the King

Oedipus Tiresias follows the events involving the blind prophet and how those events influence the outcome play, Oedipus Rex. Tiresias is one of th...

Ancient Literature
February 16th, 2024
By Ancient Literature
The Sack of Troy, depicting the fall of the ancient city

Paris of the Iliad – Fated to Destroy?

Alexander of Troy, also known as Paris, was the younger brother of Troy's hero, Hector. Paris, however, did not have the pampered upbringing of his...

Ancient Literature
February 16th, 2024
By Ancient Literature
Patroclus and Achilles in Greek mythology

Patroclus and Achilles: The Truth Behind Their Relationship

Patroclus and Achilles had a one-of-a-kind relationship, and it was one of the major themes in Homer's epic novel, The Iliad. Their closeness trigg...

Ancient Literature
February 16th, 2024
By Ancient Literature
Patroclus - ancient Greek warrior

Patroclus' Death in the Iliad

Patroclus – Death by Hubris Patroclus' death was one of the most poignant and powerful scenes in the Iliad. It reveals the futility of mortals ende...

Ancient Literature
February 16th, 2024
By Ancient Literature
Who are the Phaeacians in The Odyssey - seafaring people of Scheria

Phaeacians in The Odyssey: The Unsung Heroes of Ithaca

Phaeacians in The Odyssey play a small but crucial role in Homer's Greek classic; the irony of how they meet our hero and become the Ithacan's life...

Ancient Literature
February 16th, 2024
By Ancient Literature
Polyphemus and Galatea mosaic from ancient Rome showing the cyclops in love with the sea nymph

Polyphemus in the Odyssey: The Strong Giant Cyclops of Greek Mythology

Polyphemus in the Odyssey was described as a one-eyed giant monster who played an important role in Greek mythology. His appearance may be very dif...

Ancient Literature
February 16th, 2024
By Ancient Literature
Pride in the Iliad: ancient Greek warriors on the battlefield

Pride in the Iliad: The Subject of Pride in Ancient Greek Society

Pride in the Iliad, written by Homer, was about the heroic achievements of warriors on the battlefield and how they would be remembered in years to...

Ancient Literature
February 16th, 2024
By Ancient Literature

Scylla in the Odyssey: The Monsterization of a Beautiful Nymph

Scylla in the Odyssey is the female sea monster encountered by Odysseus and his men on their journey back home. She haunted the rocks on one side o...

Ancient Literature
February 16th, 2024
By Ancient Literature

Siren vs Mermaid: Half Human and Half Animal Creatures of Greek Mythology

Siren vs Mermaid is a fascinating comparison between two creatures that have the same physical trait, they have the head of a human and the body of...

Ancient Literature
February 16th, 2024
By Ancient Literature
Siren creature in the Odyssey

Sirens in The Odyssey: Beautiful Yet Deceitful Creatures

Sirens in The Odyssey were alluring creatures who sang beautiful songs that could drive a man mad just by hearing them. The sirens were one of the ...

Ancient Literature
February 16th, 2024
By Ancient Literature
Iliad themes illustration with Greek warriors

Six Major Iliad Themes That Express Universal Truths

Iliad themes cover a bunch of universal topics from love and friendship to honor and glory as presented in the epic poem. They represent universal ...

Ancient Literature
February 16th, 2024
By Ancient Literature
The Sphinx questioning Oedipus, mythological creature with woman head and lion body

Sphinx Oedipus: The Origin of the Sphinx in Oedipus the King

The sphinx Oedipus was originally an Egyptian creation that was adopted by Sophocles in his tragic play, Oedipus Rex. The gods sent the creature to...

Ancient Literature
February 16th, 2024
By Ancient Literature
The Sorrows of Telemachus painting depicting Odysseus son

Telemachus in The Odyssey: The Son of the Missing King

Telemachus in The Odyssey played a small but crucial role in Homer's Classic. The Homeric classic plays the son of our missing hero, Odysseus, and ...

Ancient Literature
February 16th, 2024
By Ancient Literature
Hermes ordering Calypso to release Odysseus, painting depicting the god delivering Zeus' message

Temptation in the Odyssey: Dangerous Tests

Temptation in the Odyssey is one of the themes in the epic poem. It was exhibited repeatedly throughout the poem. On many occasions, the concept of...

Ancient Literature
February 16th, 2024
By Ancient Literature
The Cicones in the Odyssey

The Cicones in The Odyssey: Homer's Example of Karmic Retribution

The Cicones in the Odyssey mark one of the times the crew's disobedience nearly cost them everything. As Odysseus and his crew traveled, they neede...

Ancient Literature
February 16th, 2024
By Ancient Literature
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