The stories of the ancient Greeks about their gods, heroes, and explanations of the nature and history of the universe are known as Greek mythology. These stories, or myths, have survived for more than 2,000 years. Greek mythology has had an extensive influence on the arts and literature of Western civilization, which inherited much of Greek culture.

Like the myths of many other cultures, those of ancient Greece tell how the world was created and help explain why things happen. The ancient Greeks worshipped many gods. Their mythology deals with the creation of the gods and the struggle among them for supreme power. Many Greek myths recount the love affairs and quarrels of the gods. Myths also tell of the effects of the gods’ adventures and powers on the world of human beings. In these stories, the gods’ activities are linked with natural phenomena such as thunderstorms or the seasons and with religious sites or rituals.

Some Greek myths were primarily religious. For information on the religious beliefs and practices of the ancient Greeks, see Greek religion. While some Greek myths were viewed as embodying divine or timeless truths, others were legends that the Greeks believed had some historical basis. In other words, these stories were thought to have been based on events that really happened or on people who really lived. Folktales, consisting of popular recurring themes and told for amusement, also found their way into Greek myth.

• Encyclopædia Britannica. (n.d.). Greek mythology. Britannica School. Retrieved August 6, 2024, from https://school-eb-com-au.db.scotch.wa.edu.au/levels/middle/article/Greek-mythology/608505