Questions tagged [greek-mythology]
Questions related to the history of the body of myths originating in ancient Greece, concerning the origin and nature of the world, including also the lives of deities, heroes and mythological creatures.
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Was Uranus a Roman god?
Is Caelus the Roman equivalent of Uranus, or did the Romans adopt the latter and incorporated him in their mythology while keeping his original name?
I've seen multiple conflicting answers on the ...
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What is the "bag on a stick" Hercules is holding in this picture?
The picture in the upper right of this page depicts Hercules/Heracles (or is it King Erystheus?) sitting on a chair or a throne, with the Nemean lion's skin and a club. Archaeolovers clarifies why ...
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What did the Greeks call their gods while under Roman rule? [closed]
I read this question and it made me think. The Romans "inherited" the Greek gods, they just gave them new names, but what happened in actual Greece after the Roman conquest of Greece? Did ...
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When and how did classical mythology subjects start to appear in art in medieval/Renaissance Europe?
All early medieval Europe art objects I am aware of are either about the Christian subjects or about the history (chronicles etc.). Classical mythology was obviously known in Europe before, see e.g. ...
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In the painting "Ariadne", by Arthur Streeton, why are the sails of the ship white?
In the painting Ariadne, by Arthur Streeton, seen here:
Ariadne is seen crying, with a ship with white sails in the distance. Presumably, this is depicting a heartbroken Ariadne watching Theseus ...
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What is the original source for Vico's reference to Varro counting 30,000 pagan gods?
In his 1725 work Principi Di Una Scienza Nuova (known in English as The New Science; link to the CUP modern edition), Giambattista Vico wrote that:
For Hebrew began and remained the language of a ...
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Is my comparison on the significance of black and red pottery plausible?
I am writing a paper on 8th-3rd century Greece. I am trying the distinguish the differences between black and red figure pottery.
Black figure pottery very commonly illustrated the mingling of ...
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Greek History vs Mythology
I am having trouble distinguishing History from Mythology, especially in the context of Greek Mythology.
The internet sources have a narrative that intermixes both. After reading for a few minutes I ...
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What did people in 13th century England know about Greek mythology?
I understand this may depend on various factors, but I am interested to find out whether many/some/any people in 13th century England would have knowledge of the stories out of Greek mythology. ...
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When is the Cumaean Temple to Apollo dated?
Cumae was founded by Ionians from Euboea around 750. Cumae had a Temple to Apollo and Sibyline oracle that channeled Apollo. In Greece, Apollo and its oracle became active in the eighth century. It ...
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Did Greeks and Romans tolerate those who only worshipped some of their gods?
Did Greeks and Romans worship all their gods, or was it permissible to worship some of them only (e.g., only in Diana, Jupiter, Apollo, Mercury, etc.)?
{It seems it was permissible to worship some of ...
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Help identifying image of winged robed figure and young man
Our brand-new office building has this brass medallion in the floor in the lobby. Is this a copy of some image from antiquity? Or just something they made up?
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Historicity of Agamemnon
Is there discussion among scholars about whether the Agamemnon of the Iliad was was closely based on a real person, probably with some embellishments and inaccuracies? What books, if any, could I read ...
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Who is the model in this Edward Burne-Jones painting?
I am preparing a short article on Sir Edward Burne-Jones' Perseus Cycle, specifically the final painting, 'The Baleful Head.' It is crucial that I ascertain the identity of the woman whose likeness ...
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How could one understand the essence of Greek mythology and the deep meanings? Understanding the belief system of Ancient Greeks [closed]
When one tries to read Greek myths allegorically by substituting the names of Olympians with the forces of nature they represent sometimes the stories make complete sense and sometimes they don't. ...
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Did the ancient Greeks ever climb Mt. Olympus?
We all know that the ancient Greeks believed that their gods lived on top of the mountain Olympus (and some of them in other places like the Underworld). But Olympus - they knew where it was (between ...
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Prior to Christianity, did some or all Greeks commonly believe in Greek mythology as historical fact? [duplicate]
Prior to the spread of Christianity, religion in Greece centered around worship of the Greek pantheon, and Greek mythology included many stories to explain historical fact, such as the founding of ...
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When did Greek historians stop believing Greek mythology to be historical fact?
In Greek mythology, there are all kinds of historical stories. Fire from Mount Olympus, founding of Thebes, not to mention actions of the gods.
First, is it safe to assume that there was a time in ...
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Did the ancient Greeks revere the Titans?
We know that the ancient Greeks worshiped the Olympian Gods and their descendants but what about the Titans? did the ancient Greeks ever worship the Titans such as Cronos, Okeanos, Rhea and Hyperion?
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When and where, exactly, did the concept of a male god eating grapes orginate?
I am sure you have seen, somewhere, of a male god eating grapes or in some classical romantic settings, a half-naked woman putting grapes in the mouth of a half-naked man. I am very curious, where and ...
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Are there any images from ancient times in which Heracles is shown with a cornucopia?
I have read in Wikipedia the cornucopia was created when Heracles wrestled with the river god Achelous and wrenched off one of his horns.
Are there any images from ancient times in which Heracles is ...
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Are there any records of ancient people looking for the misdirect in a prophecy?
Ancient prophecies, especially those of ancient Greece and the Oracle of Delphi, were famously tricky. There are dozens of stories of great leaders being tripped up by double-meanings and ...
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Why is there a Herakles/Hercules sarcophagus?
I recently visited the Archeological museum of Antalya, seeing two 'Herakles sarcophagi' like this one, depicting his twelve labours.
I learned some about him like how he reached immortality. I was ...
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Alexander, Olympias, and Zeus in Giulio Romano's painting
According to the myth, Alexander the Great was conceived through the sexual intercourse of Olympias and Zeus, as shown in the below painting by Giulio Romano.
But, who is the man whose face is showed ...
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Is there a Greek myth of Poseidon "dating" his daughter in the form of a dolphin? [closed]
On Saturday Night Live, there was a skit in which Greek god Poseidon said that he took the form of a dolphin and raped his daughter. Do we have literary or other evidence for such a myth?
It might ...
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