Greek And Roman Mythology/Who Was Your Favorite? [Archive]

FUNKMAN

06-21-2003, 03:57 PM

I always enjoyed reading about Roman and Greek mythology growing up, they seemed to be some of the greatest stories ever told.

Dammit if i could remember much detail of who was who's wife or son but i do remember Hercules, Samson, and Posiedon being a few of my favorite Gods.
I used to be a big Minnesota Viking fan and of the "viking head" symbol so i think I have this thing for the "big strong macho type"...

I think the movie "Jason And The Argonauts" displayed a few of them, it was a pretty good flick...
And you had a bunch of Hercules movies(tip: The Ferrigno one SUCKED!)

SO! Did you have a favorite Roman or Greek God and a favorite tale?

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TooCute

06-21-2003, 05:33 PM

but i do remember Hercules, Samson, and Posiedon being a few of my favorite Gods.

Hate to rain on your parade, but Hercules and Samson weren't gods. In fact about the only thing that Samson (who is from the bible) has to do with greek or roman mythology is that the biblical story of Samson probably influenced the story of Hercules (or perhaps more properly, the story of the greek Heracles, later latinized into Hercules). Heracles' father was Zeus, but his mother was Alcmene - a mortal.

Eventually Heracles was granted immortality (after he burned himself on a funeral pyre) in that he was brought to live on Olympus with the gods (and given Hera's daughter Hebe to wed, in some versions)... I don't know if that techinically makes him a god? Or just an immortal?

Anyway, I remember in second grade we read some greek myths in class and then we were told to write our own. Being the uncreative little plagiarist that I was, I wrote the story of Oedipus - because my mother had read it to me, and I figured, how on earth would any of these teachers ever read this slim little paperback story and figure it out? I fondly recall drawing a picture of Oedipus poking out the eye of the cyclops with a burning skewer.

Well, I never got in trouble, anyway.

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FUNKMAN

06-21-2003, 05:58 PM

Hate to rain on your parade

why not, it's raining everywhere else...

didn't Hercales trick Atlas into holding the world?

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reeshy

06-21-2003, 06:00 PM

Baby Jesus had some neat tricks too!!!

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TooCute

06-21-2003, 06:58 PM

didn't Hercales trick Atlas into holding the world?

Kind of. Atlas was already holding the world as punishment for fighting along side Cronus (Zeus's father) against Zeus way back in the early days (all of the other Titans got thrown into Tartarus - a pit even deeper and more unpleasant than the underworld, Hades.

One of Heracles's 12 tasks (ultimately set upon him by his namesake, Hera) was to get the golden apples of the Hesperides, who in some versions of the myth are Atlas's daughters. The golden apples were a present from Hera to Zeus, and are kept in the Hesperides' garden in a tree guarded by a dragon named Ladon (in some versions, Ladon doesn't exist). Heracles told Atlas he'd hold the world up for him if he would go and get the apples for him, so Atlas did. When he came back, he said that he'd take the golden apples to Eurystheus (the king with whom Hera and Zeus worked this whole complicated deal out involving Heracles and succession to the throne and all this other junk), but Heracles was like hey that sounds great, but can you just hold the world for a sec while I reqdjust the padding on my shoulders? And Atlas was like sure, at which point Heracles picked up the apples and left.

Poor Atlas is still holding up the world today.

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FUNKMAN

06-21-2003, 07:02 PM

Thanks Cute...

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mikeyboy

06-21-2003, 07:07 PM

The mythical Mikey Deus

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FUNKMAN

06-21-2003, 07:14 PM

The mythical Mikey Deus

and what are this God's special powers? and is he Roman or Greek?

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ADF

06-21-2003, 07:24 PM

so i think I have this thing for the "big strong macho type"...

Hmm...

Hate to rain on your parade, but Hercules and Samson weren't gods.

Like virtually all Roman mythology, Hercules was based on the Greek Herakles. I'm unsure of which legend came first, Herakles or Samson, but most cultures have a "strongman" legend. Gilgamesh of the Babylonians is a good example. Later on, Herakles as indeed referred to as a "god" in the literature and theatre of the day.

I was a big fan of the Iliad when I was a kid.

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mikeyboy

06-21-2003, 07:26 PM

and what are this God's special powers?

He can make bumper music rain from the heavens.

and is he Roman or Greek?

If you asked him that, he'd probably hit you.

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FUNKMAN

06-21-2003, 07:36 PM

If you asked him that, he'd probably hit you.

Greek
:8o:

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grlNIN

06-21-2003, 07:49 PM

The tale of Eros and Psyche was always on of my favorites. Along with Proserpine - Glaucus and Scylla.

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06-21-2003, 08:19 PM

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FUNKMAN

06-21-2003, 08:25 PM

Eros

Eros EE rohs
Archer of Love
In Theogony (116), Eros is listed as one of the primal gods of the generation after Khaos, the originator. He is the most handsome of the immortals and can break the will of the wisest god or the strongest mortal when scratched by one of his arrows.
With arrows of gold and lead, he would wound the hearts of mortals and Olympians alike. The golden arrows inspired love and the lead arrows caused distaste. In Theogony (120), it's said emphatically that 'Eros is love'. The negative aspect, with the lead arrows, was added at a later date.
The Trojan War began when the daughter of Zeus, Helen, was smitten by Eros' arrow. In the blind madness of love, she abandoned her husband, took her bridal dowry and sailed off to Troy with her lover, Alexandros. I assume that Eros's enchantment can wear off because after the sack of Troy we find Helen at home with her rightful husband Menelaos, very much in love. She blamed her folly on Zeus, who, we can assume, now commands Eros.

Eros is most often confused with the Roman god, Cupid.

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FUNKMAN

06-21-2003, 08:27 PM

SKYLLA

Skylla Sky la
The beast with six heads.
This was what you would call a `no win situation'. Circe warned Odysseus that if he sailed too close to Skylla she will attack and eat what she can of his crew. If he sailed too close to Charybdis he would surely be caught when she sucked down the sea in her regular routine. Odysseus could sail by Skylla and take his losses or he could linger and fight Skylla, thus loosing the entire crew to Charybdis. It was a cruel choice for Odysseus but it got worse.
Odysseus wanted to fight Skylla and then try to flee before Charybdis rose to action. Circe scolded him and said he must yield to the Immortals. Odysseus did yield. He did not warn his crew of the danger because Circe said it would do no good. Skylla was bloodthirsty and she would have her way.
When Odysseus and his brave crew came to the Rovers (The Odyssey, 12.225), Odysseus put on his finest armor and stood with two spears scanning the rockface for any sign of Skylla. Regardless, he was still taken by surprise. They gave Charybdis a wide birth and sailed near Skylla's rock. While Charybdis kept their attention with her gushing and sputtering, Skylla swooped down unseen and snatched up six of the crew. Their legs and torsos were dangling from Skylla's mouths as she lifted them to her cave to eat them. They screamed for Odysseus and begged for help but he stood helpless on the deck with the rest of the terrified crew. Odysseus said it was the most pitiful scene his long suffering eyes had ever seen.

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TheMojoPin

06-21-2003, 09:41 PM

Both are so full of rape and beatiality...this is like asking me to choose between my children!

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silera

06-22-2003, 08:42 AM

I've always wondered why the depictions of Atlas holding the world always show the world as round considering that the world was considered flat in those times.

Anyway, I never really took to any of the gods, my favorite mythical (mythilogical?) character was Penelope.

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FUNKMAN

06-22-2003, 09:00 AM

Penelope

Penelope is another of those mythic heroines whose beauties were
rather those of character and conduct than of person. She was
the daughter of Icarius, a Spartan prince. Ulysses, king of
Ithaca, sought her in marriage, and won her over all competitors.
When the moment came for the bride to leave her father's house,
Icarius, unable to bear the thoughts of parting with his
daughter, tried to persuade her to remain with him, and not
accompany her husband to Ithaca. Ulysses gave Penelope her
choice, to stay or go with him. Penelope made no reply, but
dropped her veil over her face. Icarius urged her no further,
but when she was gone erected a statue to Modesty on the spot
where they parted.

Ulysses and Penelope had not enjoyed their union more than a year
when it was interrupted by the events which called Ulysses to the
Trojan war. During his long absence, and when it was doubtful
whether he still lived, and highly improbable that he would ever
return, Penelope was importuned by numerous suitors, from whom
there seemed no refuge but in choosing one of them for her
husband. Penelope, however, employed every art to gain time,
still hopping for Ulysses' return. One of her arts of delay was
engaging in the preparation of a robe for the funeral canopy of
Laertes, her husband's father. She pledged herself to make her
choice among the suitors when the robe was finished. During the
day she worked at the robe, but in the night she undid the work
of the day. This is the famous Penelope's web, which is used as
a proverbial expression for anything which is perpetually doing
but never done. The rest of Penelope's history will be told when
we give an account of her husband's adventures.

Lisa Croft

06-22-2003, 09:24 AM

A Trojan War epic, based on The Iliad, is being made right now in Malta. Brad Pitt is playing Achilles. I don't know about this. They're probably going to BUTCHER it. I would much prefer a movie based on The Odyssey. I always found The Iliad kind of boring.

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furie

06-22-2003, 09:49 AM

Dionysus for the gods and as for heroes, Agamemnon

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This message was edited by furie on 6-23-03 @ 10:29 AM

Lisa Croft

06-22-2003, 09:56 AM

furie

06-22-2003, 10:02 AM

Dionysus for the gods and as for heroes,
AgamemnonHa! Agamemnon was a fucking idiot.
Did he do ANYTHING right? He couldn't even see his
murder coming.

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he had enough faith in his cause and in the gods that he
sacrificed his daughter, the only light in his life. now that's
powerful.

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Lisa Croft

06-22-2003, 10:06 AM

Faith? Eh, I guess. It was really his only choice if he wanted to get home. He was stupid, but it doesn't make him unlikeable.

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furie

06-22-2003, 10:13 AM

he sacrificed his daught before they set off for troy.

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FUNKMAN

06-22-2003, 10:19 AM

this guy PAN is pretty cool, except for the "prancing" part...

Pan PAN
Protector of Goatherds and Shepherds
Usually depicted as goat-like in appearance, Pan prances through the fertile countryside playing his seven-reed pipe in wild abandon. His piping can be as soft and seductive as the breeze, but when he's angered, his bellow and howl can be heard for miles.

He fought with the Olympians against the Titans of Kronos and for his terrifying war cry, his name is still associated with PANic fear.

His lust for the nymphs, naiads and dryads is legendary. The nymph, Syrnix, was the name sake for Pan's reed-pipe because she was turned into a reed to escape the amorous advances of the Goat God (I'm not sure where this story originates). Also, the nymphs Pitys and Echo, were made famous when they fled from Pan. For their insolence Pitys was turned into a pine tree and Echo was transformed into a voice that could only repeat that last word spoken to it

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Katylina

06-22-2003, 10:21 AM

In elementary school I was in a gifted and talented program, and one of the themes we studied was Greek mythology. We each chose a character and acted our part during the times we were pulled out of class for the STEPS program. I was Hera, Queen of the Gods and Godesses. I used to go to the library and read obsessively about Hera and Greek mythology (kind of like how I am with the Elizabethan period in my adult life).

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TooCute

06-22-2003, 11:13 AM

Brad Pitt is playing Achilles. I don't know about this. They're probably going to BUTCHER it.

Yeah, but Orlando Bloom is going to play Paris...

They made the Odyssey into a TV special a couple of years ago. I recall it being awful. I seem to recall Vanessa Williams playing Circe?

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Lisa Croft

06-22-2003, 11:16 AM

he sacrificed his daught before they set off for troy.Ah, I stand corrected. Either way, they couldn't leave Aulis. I won't argue, mainly because there are many different interpretations of mythology, plus I'm obviously sketchy on my facts, but I always thought we were supposed to see Agamemnon as kind of a bumbling ass, rather than a noble hero.

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The Chairman

06-22-2003, 11:22 AM

I've always wondered why the depictions of Atlas holding the world always show the world as round considering that the world was considered flat in those times.

Excellent observation/point Silera, as usual.

I'll leave a detailed explanation of this to persons more knowledgeable on this subject (or who have the time to do a Google Search)...but I do know Atlas didn't just hold up the "world/earth", but the "heavens as well." Kinda hard to make a statue of the heavens....

In addition, some ancient Greek scientists (i.e. Pythagoras) supported a round earth theory, although most supported a flat earth.

I have seen statues of Atlas holding up a flat world. These kind of look like me last week at Ikea when I carried a new boxed cocktail table called Igven out to the car on my back....

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Lisa Croft

06-22-2003, 11:34 AM

They made the Odyssey into a TV special a couple of years ago. I recall it being awful. I seem to recall Vanessa Williams playing Circe?
I just looked it up on imdb and it lists Vanessa Williams as Calypso and Isabella Rossellini as Athena. Terrible. I'd love to see a big-screen version. There's so much to work with, special effects-wise.

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TooCute

06-22-2003, 11:41 AM

Ehh, Isabella Rosselini could make an ok Athena, if she beefed up a little bit. Somehow I don't see her carrying a shield, but she seems to have that whole wisdom thing down...

Not as perfect a Paris as Orlando is going to make though...

And yeah I think it was generally accepted that the earth was round by the more "educated" greeks, I mean Aristotle came up with an argument for why the earth was round (and at the center of the universe for that matter), and there was another fellow, a greek in Egypt, that even calculated the circumfrence of the earth using some sticks and shadows and a bit of geometry. Pythagoreas was into the round-earth thing, too. Those crafty Greeks... they were citing evidence like the shape of the earth's shadow on the moon during eclipses and the disappearance of ships masts as they travelled over the horizon.

Meanwhile, the rest of the world was pretty into the whole flat earth thing.

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Lisa Croft

06-22-2003, 12:12 PM

Not as perfect a Paris as Orlando is going to make though...Yeah, I totally see it. I can't even picture what he looks like non-Legolas, but he just has that pompous "Vanity Smurf" qualilty, sort of like Joaquin Phoenix in Gladiator.

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TooCute

06-22-2003, 12:18 PM

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furie

06-22-2003, 02:06 PM

They made the Odyssey into a TV special a couple of years
ago. I recall it being awful. I seem to recall Vanessa
Williams playing Circe?

it was more than awful. Damn you NBC!

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HordeKing1

06-23-2003, 12:22 AM

Greek Mythology is lots of fun to read. Lots of fascinating psychodynamics among the mostly flawed and dysfunctional gods.

Technically, Hercules was a demigod, being that his father was Zeus, and his mom a mortal.

Hera, Zeus's wife was always out to kill the offspring of Zeus's trysts. Hera is portrayed as extremely jealous but in addition to being queen of the gods, hera was also goddess of marriage. I guess she took that part of the job description to heart.

For more information about Atlas, I suggest reading Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand. (Yes, that's a joke. A great read though)

My favorite Greek Goddesses:
1. Aphrodite (Goddess of love and beauty) b/c she had a great back story - One of the Titans castrated Uranas and threw the bloody mess into the sea. Aprhordite sprang from them. I also got a kick out of how the goddess of love was married to one god, but cheated on him with Ares, Hermes and Dionysis (perhaps others?)

2. Athena - Goddess of wisdom. The city of Athens is named in her honor. She also had a cool back story. Zeus (her father) had an affair with a Titan and she became pregnant. Zeus had some kind of prophecy that this woman's son would be more powerful than he, so he swallowed her whole! The pregnancy continued (hey it's mythology) and Athena was born inside of Zeus. Zeus got some super migrane headaches after this birth, and he asked the god of smiths to cut open his head. (I think in Roman mythology this god was Vulcan, but I don't recall the name in Greek mythology). (Trepanning is the oldest known surgery!) After this surgery, Athena climbed out of her Dad's head, already full grown.

3. Gaea - I don't think she's recognized officially as a goddess. She is simply mother earth from which all life came, but primarily she's considered important b/c she gave birth (or created) the Titans and many Gods. The most interesting stories about her, in my opinion, are the other kids she had. Monsters, cyclops, pretty horrible creatures. But she loved them all.

If I recall, the Roman Gods, were basically the Greek Gods with different names. Does anyone know if this is the case?

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A.J.

06-23-2003, 05:25 AM

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TooCute

06-23-2003, 07:31 AM

Hephaestus was the greek name of Zeus's gimpy blacksmith son.

Roman mythology borrowed heavily from the Greeks in the beginning. However, they had a lot of cults, and many more festivals to honor the gods. They also had a god for EVERYTHING.

When they conquered other countries, those conquered countries' gods were adopted, so after a while, in addition to the latinized greek gods, you had a lot of people in the roman empire who worshipped Egyptian, etc. gods. They also started deifying emperors and their families (eg Livia's struggle to become deifyied according to Suetonius, the National Enquirer of ancient Rome) and forming cults to worship them. By the end of the Roman empire, Christianity had a pretty strong foothold; Constantine declared it the official religion of the empire when under his reign, and some dude after him got rid of all pagan cults at some point not long after.

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Bill From Yorktown

06-23-2003, 07:47 AM

always kinda liked the whole "Prometheus" tale....

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Se7en

06-23-2003, 08:04 AM

They made the Odyssey into a TV special a couple of years ago. I recall it being awful. I seem to recall Vanessa Williams playing Circe?

Eh, it wasn't that bad. It had Armand Assante in it. It was decent enough for TV miniseries fair.

It wasn't near as good as the Merlin mini they did with Sam Neill. THAT kicked ass.

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Hosp

06-23-2003, 08:48 AM

HELIOS
http://www.theoi.com/image/T17.1Helios.gif

HELIOS was the all-seeing god of the sun. He was also, by extension, the god of the gift of sight and of the measurement of time (the time goddesses - the twelve sister Hours, the goddesses Day, Month and Year, and the three sisters called Seasons - were said to attend his throne). Helios was a close friend of the other fire-god Hephaistos.
Helios was married to Rhode, daughter of Poseidon, and the goddess of the island of Rhodes, the centre of his cult. He also loved three of the beautiful cloud-nymphai: Klymene, Perseis and Klytie. The last of these, Klytie was transformed into the heliotrope (a flower whose head always turned toward the sun), and another mortal lover Leukothoe was transformed into the shrub frankincense.

These two plants were sacred to the god. His sacred bird was the rooster which heralded the sun's rising each morn.
Helios was depicted as a beardless man crowned with the aureole of the sun and driving a four horse chariot through the sky.

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