Greek Mythology, Stories & Myths

Greek mythology is a collection of stories and myths about the gods, goddesses, heroes, and monsters of ancient Greece. These stories have been passed down through generations and have become some of the most famous tales in all of history.
Some of the most well-known Greek myths include the story of Demeter and Persephone, which explains the changing seasons; the legend of Achilles, which tells the story of the greatest warrior of his generation; and the tale of Odysseus and his ten-year journey home from Troy.
Whether you're looking to learn more about Greek mythology or just enjoy a good story, these Greek myths are sure to entertain. So sit back, relax, and enjoy some of the greatest stories ever told.

Montage of sphinx creature representations.

6 September, 2018 - 22:56 dhwty

There Is More to the Sphinx Than You Find at Giza

The sphinx is a creature from mythology that is composed of a human head and a lion’s body. The most famous story about the sphinx is arguably the Greek myth involving Oedipus, the king of Thebes,...

Theseus and the Minotaur.

9 September, 2018 - 23:06 dhwty

Theseus: The Greek Hero That Slayed the Minotaur

Theseus was a hero in Greek mythology and a legendary king of Athens. The most famous myth involving Theseus is the one in which he slayed the dreaded Minotaur. Many stories about Theseus say he not...

Flight of the Pegasus.

25 February, 2019 - 18:55 Sarah P Young

Eight Legendary Creatures from Greek Mythology That You Might Not Know About

Ancient Greek mythology is filled with heroes, gods, and epic adventures. The stories told in the myths are interesting and engaging enough that most of us will be familiar with at least a few, and...

Aeneas fleeing from Troy

16 April, 2020 - 20:25 pkoutoupis

History Versus Legend: In Search of Aeneas, the Trojan Refugee

Roman mythology designates Aeneas as the founder of the great nation of Rome and ancestor to its peoples. In fact, his story begins long before Rome came into existence. While the Romans lay claim to...

‘Ariadne in Naxos’ (1877) by Evelyn De Morgan.

9 January, 2018 - 18:52 Riley Winters

The Descent of Ariadne: Minoan Queen of the Dead to Mistress of the Labyrinth?

"Mistress of the Labyrinth", "the Great Goddess", "The Potnia ." These three terms have long been used, somewhat interchangeably, to describe the original forms of Ariadne, a Cretan princess who has...

Modern representation of Pandora with the infamous box.

31 July, 2019 - 19:37 dhwty

Pandora: Unleashing Hell and Hope Upon Humanity

Most people are familiar with the creation of Adam and Eve in the Book of Genesis. But the story of mankind’s creation in Greek mythology is probably less well-known, and is arguably darker in tone...

Heracles wrestling the Mares of Diomedes.

28 April, 2017 - 14:06 Carly Silver

Heracles and the Mares of Diomedes: Greek Hero VS Man-Eating Beasts

By now, you’re probably aware that the Greek hero Heracles (a.k.a. Hercules) had to complete twelve arduous labors as retribution for killing his wife and kids in a divinely-induced rage. The eighth...

According to ancient Greek mythology, the hero Bellerophon with the aid of the winged horse Pegasus slew the monstrous creature known as the Chimera. Source: insima / Adobe stock

8 May, 2020 - 14:00 dhwty

Bellerophon – The Escapades of a Bad Boy Hero With Hidden Lessons

Bellerophon is a well-known hero in Greek mythology. He is best-known for the slaying of the Chimera, a monstrous fire-breathing creature with three heads. The hero was able to accomplish this feat...

Achilles and Patroclus: Brothers from Other Mothers or Passionate Paramours?

12 February, 2021 - 01:03 Riley Winters

Achilles and Patroclus: Close Confidants or Passionate Paramours?

The true nature of the relationship between Achilles and Patroclus, characters in Homer’s Iliad , has long been a source of speculation. Were they friends or lovers? Brothers from other mothers or...

The Food of the Gods and the Elixir of Life

6 January, 2014 - 08:01 johnblack

Immortality, the Elixir of Life and the Food of the Gods

When we look into the accounts of many different mythologies and religions, it becomes clear that the gods are either immortal or live a life of many thousands of years. What is rarely mentioned is...

Jonah and the Whale by Pieter Lastman, (1621) (Public Domain)

19 November, 2021 - 22:25 John McHugh

How Jonah Was Swallowed By The Celestial Sea Serpent Cetus

The Old Testament saga of Jonah and his dreadful, three day and night confinement within the “belly of a whale” and disgorgement onto the shore remains one of the Bible’s most enthralling mysteries...

‘Diana and Actaeon’ (1602-1603) by Giuseppe Cesari.

27 January, 2019 - 22:18 dhwty

Diana and Actaeon: When an Innocent Encounter Turned Deadly

Diana and Actaeon is a story found in Classical mythology. The myth centers on the hero and hunter Actaeon, who is transformed by the goddess Diana (Artemis to the Greeks) into a stag, after which he...

Sophocles

18 July, 2020 - 15:51 dhwty

Sophocles: Archetypal Master of Greek Tragedy

Sophocles was a playwright who lived in Greece during the 5 th century BC. He is one of the three Greek writers of tragedy (the other two being Aeschylus and Euripides) whose works have survived till...

Titanomachy, war of Greek gods versus giant Titans (matiasdelcarmine / Adobe Stock)

13 October, 2019 - 06:14 B. B. Wagner

Battle of the Gods, When Titans Took on Zeus

When discussing the creation myths of the ancient Greek gods, as told by the poet Hesiod (750-650 BC), it is best to imagine an audience huddled around a single speaker by way of a fire pit in the...

My Name Is Heracles, And I Have Father Issues

15 August, 2019 - 22:59 B. B. Wagner

My Name Is Heracles, And I Have Father Issues

The story of Heracles is considered one of the oldest of the Greek myths . Heracles’ popularity stretched from the western world to the far reaches of northern India. His likeness has appeared as...

Atreus and Thyestes. Two members of the House of Atreus.

2 May, 2019 - 23:50 Miriam Kamil

The Curse of the House of Atreus: A Dysfunctional Family Taken to Extremes

The Ancient Greeks often spoke of the Heroic Age, when nymphs and satyrs cultivated the mountains and gods played with mortals. Among the Greek myths that take place in the Heroic Age is the story of...

Achilles’ Shield: What’s the Meaning of the Iliad’s Most Symbolic Object?

12 April, 2021 - 14:46 Sarah Piraino

Achilles’ Shield: What’s the Meaning of the Iliad’s Most Symbolic Object?

The Iliad is one of the most famous epic poems created by the Greek poet Homer and the piece recounts the last weeks of the Trojan War. In book 18 of the series, Homer writes about Achilles’ shield...

King Menelaus, seen here finding Helen at Troy, is best known as her husband.

15 June, 2021 - 18:33 dhwty

Why We Should Remember Menelaus, the King Lost in his Wife’s Shadow

Menelaus, the mythological king of Mycenaean Sparta, is perhaps best remembered as the husband of Helen of Troy. While lost in his wife’s shadow, his story is inexorably entwined with that of the...

King Diomedes leader of the troops and unsung hero. Source: serhiibobyk / Adobe Stock.

2 December, 2019 - 14:04 B. B. Wagner

Diomedes, the Unsung Hero of Troy

Any Greek epic by the poet Homer should never be read quietly to one’s self but spoken out loud to all who wish to listen, especially if it has to do with the Trojan War. His epic poems sing praises...

Penthesilea: Queen of the Amazons

23 September, 2014 - 02:55 mrreese

The Dramatic Life and Death of Penthesilea: Queen of the Amazons

Penthesilea was an Amazonian Queen from Greek mythology. She was the daughter of Ares and Otrera and the sister of Hippolyta, Antiope and Melanippe. One of many famous Amazonian Queens, Penthisilea’s...

Medusa and the Gorgons: The Origins of the Legendary Tale

14 June, 2016 - 19:10 Cam Rea

Medusa and the Gorgons: The Origins of the Legendary Tale

In the middle is the Gorgon Medusa, an enormous monster about whom snaky locks twist their hissing mouths; her eyes stare malevolently, and under the base of her chin the tail-ends of serpents have...

King Arthur statue at Tingagel (Deriv/ CC0)

1 February, 2020 - 03:21 ashley cowie

Real World Locations, Where Myth Meets Reality

Mythology presented in books, arts, cartoons and movies have subliminally forged impressions of mythical castles, magical mountains and enchanted forests in people’s minds, but many of the places...

Pyrrha and Deucalion by Giovanni Benedetto Castiglione, 1655.

2 April, 2022 - 01:36 johnblack

Deucalion Myth – The Great Flood From Greece

Deucalion was the son of the last Titan (god), Prometheus . According to Hesiod , Prometheus and the god Zeus were in conflict. Prometheus was the one who, with the help of the Goddess Athena ,...

Helen of Troy

16 March, 2019 - 20:29 Miriam Kamil

Helen of Troy, The Beauty Who Sparked the Trojan War

In Greek mythology, Helen of Troy is known as the woman whose beauty sparked the Trojan War. But Helen’s character is more complex than it seems. When considering the many Greek and Roman myths that...

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