Greek Mythology Research Paper

Greek and Roman myths versus Norse myths

Thesis: The Greek and Roman myths are fundamentally the cultures that steered to western culture revolution and influence among other regions in the continent.

Introduction

A myth is a story that tries to explain the origins of the humanity, the earth and the cosmos. Myths are used to answer some awkward questions that are normally asked by kids like how the world will end and how it came to being, the origin of humanity and where people go when they die. Myths are also used to make sense or to defend the existing social practices and to explain the customs and the traditional rites.

The myths

The myths of the Greek involved different heroes that were seen as their gods. The gods of the Greeks were supposed

Olympus. The twelve included Zeus or Jupiter who was the king of all the gods and the god of law, fate and weather. Hera or Juno, the queen of the gods was also the goddess of women and marriage. Aphrodite or Venus, was the goddess of beauty and love. Apollo was the god of knowledge, music and poetry, and prophesy. Ares or Mars was the god of war (Berens

They include Hades or Pluto who was a god of the underworld, Hestia or Vesta the goddess of family and home and Eros or Cupid the god of sex and was also Aphrodite’s minion (Berens 27-107).

The heroes/heroines of these myths

Greek myths also talk of human heroes like Hercules who was an adventurer and he performed twelve incredible labors for king Eurystheus. There is also a myth about a king Midas who is said to have a golden touch and there was also a handsome young man that fell in love with his own image, Narcissus. Arachne was a female weaver changed into a spider for her arrogance. There is also a tale about Ganymede who was a Trojan prince and he became a cupbearer for the gods. These heroes and heroines are later worshiped like gods after their prowess (Bazopoulou 66-80).

The Greek and Roman myths effects on our culture

In literature, the impact of the Greek mythology can be seen especially in the phrases and the terms that are used today. A “herculean task” is an example of a phrase used today to mean a task that needs great effort. This phrase is derived from a tale about Hercules’ Twelve Labors. Morphine is a narcotic and analgesic drug administered today to relieve pain. The term morphine came from Morpheus, the Greek God of sleep. Venus was a Greek goddess whose name today has been used as the source for the term Venereal disease (Highet