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Greek mythology

Greek mythology

Adapted from Wikipedia · Discoverer experience

Ancient Greek vase painting showing Achilles and Penthesileia, two figures from Greek mythology.

Greek mythology is the collection of stories told by the ancient Greeks. These tales explain how the world began, who the gods and goddesses were, and the adventures of famous heroes. They also show us how the ancient Greeks worshipped and celebrated important events.

Achilles and Penthesileia by Exekias, c. 540 BC, British Museum, London

These myths were first shared through songs and poems long ago, starting around the 18th century BC. Famous poems like the Iliad and the Odyssey by Homer tell of wars and journeys. Another poet, Hesiod, wrote about how the world was created and the lives of the gods.

Greek myths have influenced art, literature, and culture in Western civilization for thousands of years. Artists and writers continue to find inspiration in these ancient stories, keeping them alive today.

Images

A dramatic painting by Gustave Moreau depicting the mythological figure Prometheus.
A historical manuscript illustration of the Roman poet Virgil from an ancient book.
A restored ancient Roman fresco depicting a scene from mythology, now displayed in the British Museum.
A classical painting by Caravaggio depicting Cupid, the mythological god of love, triumphantly victorious.
Ancient Greek artwork showing Athena emerging from Zeus's forehead, a scene from mythology, on a black-figured amphora from the Louvre Museum.
A classical artwork inspired by Michelangelo depicting the myth of Leda and the Swan, suitable for learning about art history.
Ancient Greek artwork showing a mythological scene from a red-figured cup dating back to around 480 BC.
An ancient Greek painting from a pottery vessel showing the goddesses Demeter and Metanira, created around 340 BC.
A classical statue from the Louvre showing Heracles, the famous Greek hero, in a mythological scene with Telephus.
A beautiful ancient Roman mosaic showing the hero Bellerophon riding the winged horse Pegasus to defeat a monster, representing courage and bravery in Greek mythology.
An artistic painting showing the dramatic moment of Achilles from Greek mythology, created by Giovanni Battista Tiepolo in the 18th century.
A classical painting of the philosopher Plato from 'The School of Athens' fresco in the Vatican.

This article is a child-friendly adaptation of the Wikipedia article on Greek mythology, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

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