Examples of Greek Myths

The legends and examples of Greek myths have lasted the test of time. From the beginnings of antiquity to the present, many examples of Greek myths have managed to filter down into modern society.

Examples of Greek Myths

Myth of Narcissus

Narcissus, an exceedingly handsome young boy, was the son of a blue nymph and a river god. While hunting in the forest he heard footsteps; but, he did not see a nymph named Echo. When he asked who was there, Echo's reply was the same as what he asked. When she embraced Narcissus, he pulled away abruptly and walked away. She felt crushed and heartbroken. She prayed to Venus, the love goddess, to avenge Narcissus' rejection. As punishment, Venus made Naricssus fall in love only with himself.

Myth of Prometheus

In this famous Greek Myth, Prometheus, a powerful deity known as a Titan, decided to give the gift of fire to mankind. Zeus punished him, forcing him to be tortured for the rest of eternity!

Myth of Hercules

Hercules (known in Greek as Herakles) was a half-god, the son of Zeus. He is known for his many adventures, such as the defeat of the nine-headed Hydra, capturing the Erymanthian Boar, clashing with a giant known as Antaeus, and stealing cattle from a fearsome monster.

Myth of Pandora's Box

According to myth, Pandora was a tempter of mankind. She was given a box as a gift but told not to open it. When she disobeyed, all of the evil in all of the world was released to harm humans.

Myth of Zeus

Zeus is the Father of the Gods on Mount Olympus. He became the King after a clash with the Titans. His brothers were said to be Poseidon, the King of the Sea, and Hades, the King of the Underworld.

Myth of Creation

The universe was in chaos, and from that chaos was born the Earth, Night and Day. Uranus, the sky, was the first god, and had 13 powerful children called Titans. One of them, Kronos, eventually overthrew Uranus to become King.

Myth of Theseus

Theseus was said to be the founder of Athens, the capital city of Greece. When children from Athens were being sacrificed to a beast called a Minotaur, Theseus offered to go into the beast's lair (known as the Labyrinth) to slay the Minotaur and rescue the children.

Myth of Ares

According to this myth, Ares is the God of War. He was a very feared god because of the death and destruction that he caused with his two sons, Fear and Panic. Not even his own father, Zeus, approved of him.

Myth of Jason and the Argonauts

Jason was a hero, a very good-looking and charming man who was very handy with a sword. He had a strong vessel built called the Argo, and his crew, the Argonauts, went on a dangerous expedition to the far-away land of Kolhida.

Myth of Odysseus

In a famous epic by Homer, Odysseus was King of Ithaca. He was displaced by the Trojan War and over ten years made his way back to his homeland. The journey was difficult and included clashes with monsters like the mighty Cyclops.

Myth of Pan

Pan was a god who had the legs and the horns of a goat. He was laughed at by the other gods, so he left to live in the forest, where according to myth he plays the flute and sings in a loud, beautiful voice.

These different myths are all famous stories that taught lessons and that remain well-known to this day.