Greek Mythology
During the Dark Ages Greeks developed ideas about their gods and life. To the Greeks life was not the grim waiting -for-death that dominated other civilization. Greeks did not develop the cult of worshiping their rulers and they did not believe in making human sacrifices Although some of their gods were originally introduced by the people living in the Fertile Crescent and Egypt they took on different personalities in Greece. Stories of the lives and actions of gods and goddesses are still read today. These stories are called myths and the study of myths is called mythology. The Greeks did not actually believe that their gods were divine. They thought they were humans more beautiful than most who had become immortal. Because they were still human the Greek gods did not sit in judgement of the world. Instead they became involved in the affairs of the world often acting just like spoiled overgrown children trying to have their way. Greek myths tell of gods and goddesses taking different sides in quarrels and actually fighting with each other over events on earth. The Greek gods were thought to live in splendid palaces high atop the cloud-covered peak of Mount Olympus in northern Greece. They did not spend much time in their mountain homes however. Supposedly they often came to earth taking the form of ordinary people. They came in contact with the people of earth. Occasionally a woman was so beautiful or a man so brave that the gods allowed him to come to Olympus joining the gods and becoming immortal.
Greek gods
According to Greek mythology the king of the gods was Zeus. He was often pictured with lightening bolts which he hurled at anyone who offended him. Although Zeus was king of the gods he was a hen-pecked husband who often tried to hide what he was doing from the sharp eyes of his wife Hera. Zeus had two brothers. Poseidon was the ruler of the seas and oceans and the god of horses. Hades his other brother was ruler of the underworld kingdom where people went when thy died. Hades married Proserpine the lovely daughter of Ceres goddess of the harvest. He had carried her off against her will. She only remained with him three month out of the year. During those months her mother punished earth by making it turn to winter. The favorite goddess of the people of Athens was Zeus' daughter Athena. She was supposed to have spring full grown and in armor out of Zeus' forehead She supposedly protected warriors in battle but she was also goddess of wisdom. Another child of Zeus was Apollo. It was one of his jobs to drive the chariot of the sun across the heavens from sunrise to sunset. A Greek myth claims that when Apollo's son half-man an d Half-god tried to manage the wild horses that pulled the chariot he almost set the world on fire.
Oracales
The Greeks had a special places where they believed the gods spoke to them through the help of priestesses. These places were called oracles and people went to the oracle when they wanted to know the future. The oracles answered any question they were asked by they answered in a way that seemed obvious. Usually their answers had a hidden or double meaning. Thus people tried to foresee their own fate and often made the wrong decision after hearing the oracle. The most famous oracle was the oracle of Delphi where Apollo was supposed to give the messages.
Oracle at Delphi
People in ancient time often visited an oracle which is a person or shrine believed to have divine knowledge. Their advice however usually had double meanings. An interesting story about an oracle concerns King Croesus of Lydia. King Croesus had been watching the rise of a powerful new empire called Persia and wanted to conquer it. Lydia located in Asia Minor was one of the richest kingdoms the world has ever know. She was one of the earliest countries to mint coins and this money was used throughout the Middle East. Even today the phrase "rich as Croesus" means unequaled wealth. Croesus who ruled Lydia from 570 to 546 B.C. visited the famous Oracle at Delphi to get advice about whether or not to attack the Persians. The oracle's answer was that a mighty kingdom would be destroyed if he did attack. Confident of victory against the powerful Persians he declared war. A mighty kingdom was destroyed but it was King Croesus own Kingdom of Lydia.
Strange creatures
In addition to gods and goddesses the Greeks had myths and legends about who their heroes fought. They believed there were many strange creatures such as centaurs creatures with head, shoulder, and chest of a man and the body of a horse. Other creatures were Cyclops giants with only one huge eye in the center of their foreheads and also a dreadful woman named Medusa who had a nest of snakes for hair. Legend tell that Medusa was so fearful that anyone who looked at her face would turn to stone. There were also other strange creatures who could help of hinder the god or goddess. Among them were the winged horse Pegasus, and the various local deities, such as nymphs, oreads, and dryads.
Decline of the worship to gods and goddesses
Like other civilizations the Greeks built temples to their gods. Before many centuries passed however the people stopped worshiping the gods. The temples lasted long after belief in the gods had ceased. Although no longer believed in the gods and goddesses remained close to their hearts. Even today people enjoy reading the exiting funny, and always fascinating stories of Greeks myth.