Tell Me Why About Facts

  Q:   What is the myth of the Trojan War? A:      The Trojan War was the greatest conflict in the Greek mythology, a war that was to influence literature and arts for centuries. It was fought by the Greeks against the city of Troy, and lasted for 10 years.        Paris, son of king Priam of Troy fell in love with the beautiful Helen, wife of Menelaus, the king of Sparta in Greece. Helen went with Paris to Troy. After the Trojans refused to return Helen to Menelaus, Greek warriors proceeded to Troy in 1000 ships.        After 10 long years, the city of Troy was captured by treachery. A force of Greek warriors gained entrance to the city by hiding in the interior of a large wooden horse. The Trojans thought it was an offering to the Gods, and dragged the horse inside the city gates. When night fell, Greek soldiers slipped out of the horse, and burned the city.        The phrase 'A Trojan Horse' has ...

  Q: Why did the ancient Greeks believe in oracles and sacrifice? A:     The ancient Greeks believed that there was once a muthical age called the Golden Age, when everyone was happy and everything was easy. Men lived like gods, no one worked, and spring never ended. However, men became greedy and started fighting woth each other. Then, the gods grew disgusted, and as a punishment, created the first woman, Pandora. She was responsible for unleashing evil on earth.        After the Golden Age, there was another mythical age called the Bronze Age. This was a time when great heroes performef extraordinary feats, and the gods helped man to defeat his enemies. The Greeks believed that they themselves were living in the Iron Age. They thought that the gods had abandoned them again, and could be pleased only by prayer or sacrifice. They also believed in oracles — priests ot priestesses who were thought to have direct contact woth the gods. The Greeks would co...

Greek mythology is filled with stories of gods, goddesses and heroes. Sometimes, the gods and goddesses married humans, and their children were half god and half man. These children were called demi-gods. Heracles, Achilles and Theseus were some of the famous demi-gods of Greek myths.

  Q :   Why does humanity suffer hardships according to the myths of Prometheus and Pandora? A :       Prometheus was the son of Lapetus who was one of the Titans. He tricked the gods into eating bare bones instead of good meat. He also stole the sacred fire from Zeus and the gods. A firious Zeus ordered him to be chained for eternity on Mount Caucasus. There, am eagle would eat his liver, and each day the liver would be renewed, and the bird would come and eat it again. So, the punishment was endless, until another Greek hero, Heracles (Hetcules) finally killed the bird.          It is believed that Zeus wanted to punish Prometheus further. He did this by sending Pandora, the first woman on earth to Prometheus' brother, and he gave her a jar that she was not to open under any circumstances. Now Pandora was gifted with many talents. In fact, her name Pandora means 'all-gifted'. Pandora however, had one great weakness. She was very, very ...

Q. Why is Zeus called the 'king of the gods'? A.       Zeus in Greek mythology is the king of the gpds, the ruler of Mount Olympus and god of the sky and thunder. His symbols are the thunderbolt, which he hurled at whoever displeased him, the eagle, the bull and the oak.           Zeus was the son of two titans called Kronos and Rhea. Do you know who the titans were? These were giants who had a human form. Kronos, Zeus' father, became father of the gods by murdering his own father, Uranus. The dying Uranus put a curse on Kronos that one of his own sons would dethrone him. So, Kronos swallowed all his children when they were born!           But Kronos's wife, Rhea, however, tricked him when she gave birth to a son, Zeus. She gave Kronos a stone wrappef in a baby's clothes to swallow, and hid Zeus witj a shepherd's family until he grew up.           Zeus fought a mighty battle against his father, fre...

  Q. Why was Mount Olympus known as 'the home of the gods'? A.    In early Greek mythology, it was believed that the important gods dwelt on a divine mountain called Mount Olympus. On its summit were the places of the major gods, known as the Olympians. The entrance to Olympus was through a gate of clouds, protected by the goddesses known as the Seasons.       Zeus, the king of the gods, had his throne on Olympus. The other gods who were believed to dwell there were his wife Hera, his brothers Poseidon and Hades, his sisters Demeter and Hestia, and his children, Apollo, Artemis, Ares, Aphrodite, Athena, Hermes and Hephaestus.       All these gods, reflected some aspect of human life and nature. Zeus was the god of mind and intellect. Hera was the goddess of a woman's life and marriage. Apollo represented law and order. Aphrodite was the goddess of love. Hermes was the god of travellers, sleep, dreams and prophecy. Athens was the goddess of wi...

 Greek myths inspired the famous epics, the "Iliad" and "Odyssey", which were written by the poet Homer in the 8th centuary B.C. These poems tell the story of a great war known as the Trojan War and the adventures of the superheroes, Achilles and Odysseus. Once the war ended, they started their journey back home to Greece.

  Q. Why is the city of Athens called by this name? A.     Do you know that there is a myth about how the ancient city of Athens got its name? According to this myth, Athens is named after Athena, the strong, fair and meciful goddess of wisdom, who was the daughter of Zeus, king of the gods.       The birth of the Greek goddess Athena was more than unusual, it was truly amazing! When Zeus heard that his first wife Metis was pregnant, he swallowed her, because someone had prophesied that her child would be greater than its father. But poor Zeus swallowed more than he had bargained for! He developed a terrible headache, and after some time, his head split open and his child, the fully grown Goddess Athena appeared.        According to another muth, Athena and another god, Poseidon quarreled over who should be the patron of Athens. Finally, it was decided that the city would be named after whoever gave it the best gift. Poseidon's gift was ...

  Q: Why are Greek myths important for westerners? A:     Greek mythology has greatly influenced Western art, literature and culture. Greek gods resembled human beings in their form and emotions. They lived in a world that resembled ours in many ways. However, an important difference existed between gods and human beings: human died, and gods were immortal!        Heroes also played an important role in Greek mythology, and stories about them conveyed serious themes. We can say that the legends of ancient Greece explained the world to the West, and at the same time, provided entertainment.        Myths also helped worshippers make sense of a religious practice by telling them how the practice originated. In fact, Western dramatists, artists and philosophers are inspired by the thrilling legacy of anciwnt Greece to this day.

  Q:  Why do animals play an important part in myths? A:     Since the beginning of human histoey, people have lived in close contact with animals, usually as hunters and farmers. As a result, all kinds of animals play important roles in mythology. A myth can give special meaning or extraordinary qualities to common animals such as frogs and bears. However, other creatures found in myths such as many headed monsters, dragons and unicorns.           Animals may serve as stand-ins for humans or human characteristics and in some legends, animals perform heroic deeds. Sometimes they act as mediators between heaven and earth, and may also be the source of wisdom and power.          Many muths explore relationships between humans and animals. People may talk with animals, fight with them, or even marry them in myths. Sometimes, animals perform services for humans such as guiding them through the underworld or helping them t...

  Q: Why do myths survive? A:    Even though myths are thousands of years old, people still like to read them to this day. Myths are an important part of a religion, and so, many socities consider them sacred, and make sure that every generation learn about them. Myths teaches us a lot about life. They tell us about triumph of good agaunst evil, and many rulers claimed to be the descendants of the gods and goddesses of myths. Many myths describe the creation of the umiverse, while others seek to explain how the first humans appeared on this earth.         Myths also teach us to be heroic while teaching us the rules of civilized society. Myths emphasize the importance of loving in harmony with nature and highlight certaun places as being sacred. They explain what happens to us after death, while promising rewards for good behavior on earth. They take us back to oir roots, to a shared heritage and culture.

  Q: Why is it difficult to say where myths come from? A:   It is difficult to know where the first myths came from. Myths are older than the invention of writing in ancient times, they were told and retold from generation to generation.  In many cases, no one knows who told the story first, and the myths itself may change as each person repeats it to another.          Some myths took the form of sacred religious texts, and were retold faithfully. Others changed with each teller, and people often forgot what the original version was! It is only much later, while the invention of the printing press, the myths are written down. So, a myth doesn't have an 'author' like story has. It belongs to a people, and a culture as a whole.