Many Greek gods and goddesses exist as fully realized personalities, for better or worse. Everyone knows Zeus for his wisdom and mercy (and, in equal parts, his philandering and quick temper), just as Aphrodite is widely recognized for her vanity and jealousy. This makes a great deal of sense. The Greek gods, after all, were …
The ancient Greeks created a complex pantheon to explain the world around them and their existence in it. They created several generations of gods and goddesses, Aether was one such god. Aether belonged to the first generation of Greek gods, known as primordial deities. The first group of Greek deities in the ancient Greek pantheon …
“Who does not know the name of Lamia, Libyan in race, a name of greatest reproach among mortals?” (Euripedes, Dramatic Fragments). Lamia was a shapeshifting monster that devoured children in Greek mythology. Described as a half-woman, half-monster, Lamia roamed the countryside in search of her next meal. The name Lamia likely is derived from the …
We sleep around one-third of our lives. If you live to around 90 years old, that means you will spend close to 30 years of your life with your eyes closed. Thinking about dreams can become quite weird. It isn’t something with a clear and beginning and end. Yet, it has inspired a great deal …
A centaur is a mythological creature belonging to Greek mythology. They are an infamous bunch with a reputation that precedes them, who apparently value good wine and worldly pleasures above all else. For a creature that is as notorious as the centaur, it is no wonder that their progenitor is described by Pindar as an …
Achilles may be another of ancient Greece’s dashing heroes, but there is more to this soldier than a pretty face and mean right hook. As a hero, Achilles symbolized both mankind’s excellence and its extreme vulnerability. The Greeks of eld venerated this man: the bravest, most handsome, toughest of the Achaean forces. However, his sensitivity …