Graeae

Graeae in Greek mythology

The Graeae were mythical creatures of Greek mythology.They were two (or three by others), the Pefrido and Enyo, they were borned old and they were children of Phorcys and Kitus. Phorcys and Kito were brothers, children of Pontus and Gaia.The Graeae had one eye and one tooth which they shared among themselves. Some say they were beautiful and had a swan neck. Once, Perseus came to their cave , wanting to know where is the Gorgon Medusa, sister of Graeae. Knowing that the demon creatures would deny to uncover the lair of their sister, grabbed the eye and the tooth and told them that he would not return them unless they say where was the Gorgon Medusa. They told him to go to the Nymphs of the North to tell him. Perseus then threw the eye into a river , so the Graeae wouldnt be able to alert the Nymphs.

Medusa

Medusa in Greek mythology

Daughter of Forks and Cetus, sister of the Gorgons Vigor and Euryale, and Graeae Dino, Enyo and Pefrido was the beginning Centaur.

According to one version was a beautiful priestess of Athena, Poseidon disguised in a horse, raped her  in the sanctuary of Athena. The goddess, enraged by the fact,and not being able to snap on Poseidon,so she  broke up on Medusa. Transformed her into a hateful monster, which  instead of hair  had snakes on her head. The ugliness was so powerfull that anyone looking at her face turned to stone.

Eventually killed by Perseus, with the help of Athena. The head of the infamous "Gorgoneion" was received by the goddess which she affixed to the shield, because her head even  dead,could turne to stone anyone who looked at it.

Gorgons

Gorgons in Greek mythology

After the defeat of Uranus, Gaia mated her second son, Ocean. Their children are the gods of the sea, rivers, lakes and generally liquid asset.

Children of Pontus and Gaia were Nereus, the Thavmaton, the broad s, the Phorcys and Kito. The Phorcys and Kito (brothers) "mingled" and gave birth to three Graiae also Scylla and Charybdis, and the three Gorgons (Vigour, Euryale and Medusa).

It is said they were Kentafrisses, which turned into hateful monsters by Athena because of Medusa. Often associated with the Sirens.

Empousa

Empousa in Greek mythology

In Greek mythology Empousa was a ghost (or a group of ghost in the plural: `Empousai) which was sent by Hecate as a harbinger of suffering,and with the name of which mothers frighten the naughty children in ancient Greece. Empousa is mentioned by Aristophanes (in the comedy Frogs, where Empousa scares Dionysus and Xanthus on their way to the underworld) and other comedy writers. Believed that she was transformed usualy to: a cow,a bird, a beautiful woman,a dog,a tree, a stone and many other formats. Empousas face glowed like fire and she had either a single foot or a bronze and a asinine. Also said that she feed on human flesh.
From the mythical form, `Empousa was the mother of  the orator Aeschines,she was the priestess of the Mysteries, because they are suddenly overnight at myoumenous and frightened.

Charybdis

Charybdis in Greek mythology

The Charybdis or Charyvdis or whirlpool or sea vortex,according to the dictionary Liddel-Scott, name of dubious etymology, is a female monster of Greek mythology. Considered daughter of Poseidon and Gaia. She lived on the Asian shore of the Strait of Bosporus (on the European shore lived another monster, Scylla) and was sipping sea water engulfing with passing ships and sailors. Later mythographers transferred the residence of the two monsters over the Strait of Messina between Italy and Sicily.
Both Charybdis and Scylla involved in the myths of Odysseus and the Argonauts, who went through those straits having few losses.

Cerberus

Cerberus in Greek mythology

In Greek mythology, Cerberus represents the watchdog of Hades and usually its most common form is a dog with three heads and a tail that ended in an dragon head. In Hesiod refers Cerberus as wild dog of Hades, with sonorous voice and 50 heads, while Homer is aware of what the dog is but not the name. According to Aeschylus, born from the union of two monsters, the giant Typhon and Echidna and was the brother of the Orthrum (similar mythical wild dog) and the Hydra. Its presence ensures the eve of the dead to the underworld but also the inability of the living one, to enter it.

Ancient authors often describe Cerberus differently. There are versions which represent it as  an ordinary dog, but legged lion tail reptile or snake around his body.

Typical references about Cerberus exist:

In the labors of Hercules: This is the twelfth labor, during which Hercules, using only the strength of his arms, captured and carried Cerberus to Eurystheus, who, however, from fear sent him back to Hades.

In Roman mythology and the myth of the hero Aeneas.

In Dante's Divine Comedy, the third circle of Hell (ode f).

Also apart from Hercules,people who attempted to capture and abduct Cerberus were the Pirithous and Theseus but they failed. Only Orpheus succeeded using the sounds of his magical lyre,tamed him so he was able to take Eurydice from Hades.

Odysseus

Odysseus in Greek mythology

Odysseus,was the legendary king of Ithaca, is the main hero in Homer's epic poem, The Odyssey, and also plays a key role in another epic of Homer, the Iliad. He is widely known for his cunning and ingenuity, famous for the ten years it took him to return to his home after the Trojan War, as allegorical yielded Homer. He was the son of Laertes and Antikleia, husband of Penelope and father of Telemachus.

The genealogical tree of Odysseus,was one of the best lieutenants of Agamemnon. His father (or stepfather) of Laertes is Arkesios, son of Cephalus (known founder of Kefalonia), and grandson of Aeolus. In the tragedy "Iphigenia in Aulis" by Euripides the mythical Sisyphus cited as the father, while believed he acquired a son with Circe, the Tilegono.

Ithaca was one of the many islands that were included in the kingdom of Odysseus, between the Ionian islands of ancient Greece. His kingdom was apparently a small stronghold in mainland Greece, near the river Achelous. Accurate data of the limits of the kingdom are not known, as the information provided by Homer is unclear.

Before the Trojan War

Early Years

Few is known about  childhood and teenage years of Odysseus. From the few references in the Odyssey we learn to hunt the boar home Autolycus, at Mount Parnassos. In this hunt, Odysseus was injured and had a scar above the knee (sign was enough to recognize the maid, Evrykleia when he returned to Ithaca). Elsewhere we learn about his trip to Messina and his encounter with Ifitos, son Eurycles, who gifted him the heavy bow which later killed the suitors.

Helen and Penelope

Odysseus was one of the prospective suitors of Helen, daughter of Tyndareus. Tyndareos however, fearing that he would offend the powerful and famous suitors who had gathered, delayed the selection process. Then Odysseus promised to solve the problem, suggested all the suitors to oath to support and help those who chose Helen as her husband. The suitors, including Odysseus, took the oath and thus Helen chose Menelaus, the most powerful of them.

There are two versions for the marriage of Odysseus with Penelope. The first version, which describes Homer,shows Odysseus defeating their rivals in a race that had launched Ikarios, father of Penelope. According to the second version, Odysseus for the help he offered to Tyndareus at the wedding of Helen, he got in exchange the daughter of his brother, Ikarios.

Enlistment

When Helen was abducted by Paris of Troy (which caused the Trojan War), the suitors were required to honor their oath and help Menelaus to take back Helen. According to Homer, Odysseus knew an oracle that he would return after 20 years, so he did not want to participate in the campaign. To get rid of conscription represented a madman, but the scam was perceived and revealed by Palamedes and Odysseus has devoted himself to the success of the campaign. For others, the brother of Menelaus, Agamemnon, visited Odysseus in Ithaca and after much difficulty persuaded him to join in the Trojan War.

With Odysseus now part of the expeditionary, Agamemnon turned to Achilles (which was not suitor of Helen), because it was said that Troy would not fall without him. Odysseus was sent to Skyros at the courtyard of Likomidis to ensure the participation of Achilles. But the mother of Achilles, the goddess Thetis, advised him to dress in women's clothes and hide among the women of the courtyard to not be compelled to participate in the war. Thetis led to this act beacause of prophecy saying that her son will either lived a long and boring life or would die young  achieving eternal glory, and feared the consequences if he left for the Trojan War. Odysseus unable to locate Achilles asked, before returning,to be permitted to make gifts to the women of the court. He took some jewelery as well as a sword, a spear and a shield.

All women interested in jewelery except one, which caught the interest of the military equipment. Odysseus suspected the fraud and sounded a martial trumpet, upon hearing that,the 'woman' instinctively grabbed the weapons. "She" turned out to have been Achilles and Odysseus so cunning managed to discover it. Then Thetis allowed to Achilles to fight, since firstly gave him the armor of his father, Peleus, which was forged by God Hephaestus himself , to protect him in battle.

Shortly before the war started, Odysseus and Menelaus together formed a diplomatic mission to bring back Helen peacefully. And while the arguments of Menelaus was emotionally and unconvincing, Odysseus almost convinced the Trojan senate to return Helen, but ultimately he failed.

Odysseus was one of the main Achaean heroes in the Trojan War. The other were the "godlike" Achilles, "lordly" Agamemnon, Menelaus, the wise Nestor, Aias , Telamonios and Diomedes.

In the Iliad, Odysseus is presented by Homer as a brave warrior prudent king and a resourceful leader. His view on many issues adopted by other leaders as all of them respected him. Besides the trio Nestor, Odysseus and Idomeneus recognized as the most trusted advisor. During the war, Odysseus becomes a conciliatory and unifying force among the Greeks. Trying to reconcile Achilles with Agamemnon, after the controversy over Briseis, and dissuade Agamemnon when disappointed by military defeats thinks to leave Troy. Still manages to keep the berserk Achilles,who after the death of Patroclus wants to attack the Trojans immediately and unprepared.

The bravery and martial skill of Odysseus were praised many times by Homer in the Iliad, but mostly on his nightly campaigns. With Diomedes he managed to sneak in the Troy  and steal the palladium, while other time they went to the camp of the Thracians, killed many of them in their sleep and stole the horses of their king. During the funerary games in honor of Patroclus succeeded with the help of Athena,to win the race. Then beat Aias the Telamonios (at funerary games in honor of Achilles) winning the armor of the dead Achilles and causing the suicide of Aias with the sword had given Hector.

The most catalytic contribution of Odysseus in the Trojan War yet was the inspiration of the Trojan Horse. This wooden construction,a sample of strategic intelligence,was built by Epeio according to the instructions of Odysseus. When completed, Odysseus led inside the Horse dozens Achaeans and waited patiently for the 'triumphant' Trojans. The Trojans, since they believed that the Achaeans left the shores of Troy and left them as a gift the Trojan Horse, led it inside the city and began frantically feasts. With the fall of the night though, the hidden inside the horse Achaeans dashed out and managed to seize the defenseless city relatively easily. This marked the end of the Trojan War.

The return trip

When the city of Troy was captured by the Achaeans after ten years of war, many of the winners made ​​extremities. Killed many civilians, women and children and captured soldiers. Even killed those who sought asylum in the sacred temples of the Gods. The few survivors, mostly women, were transferred to ships for use as slaves after the homecoming of each. At the end of the Iliad refers complete looting, destruction and leveling of the city, did not left standing nor the sacred temples of the gods.

After the war ended, Odysseus, like everyone else, he made his way back to Ithaca. For attacks on the Gods but committed to Troy (hubris) he suffered his punishment (nemesis), ten years wandering before he reaches Ithaca. Initially, Odysseus, the gods had not decided on such a big punishment but when Odysseus blinded Polyphemus angered Poseidon, who vowed not to let him never to return to Ithaca. All adventures and wanderings are described in detail in Homer's Odyssey.

Starting from Troy, Odysseus had at his disposal 12 ships, within which were aboard the Ithacans comrades. The wanderings begin with cruising, and battle in the land of Kikonon, adventure in the land of the Lotus Eaters, and then the land of the Cyclopes, which were trapped in the cave of Polyphemus and Odysseus blinded him, incurring the wrath of Poseidon. Then arrived at the island of Aeolus, where the namesake God gave him a bag containing all the winds except the favorable to immediately return to Ithaca.But while approaching  Ithaca, Odysseus' companions open the bag, causing a storm that destroys the 11 ships and drifted the ship of Odysseus to the island of Laestrygonians. From there to the island of Circe, a witch who has transformed many of the crew to animals. A year later, after having descended into Hades to meet Teiresias, leaving the island of Circe, pass through the strait of the Sirens, the strait of Scylla and Charybdis and reach decimated the island of the god of Sun.

On the island of the Sun, the remaining companions died while he carried away by the waves,arrives alone in the island of Calypso.He stays for seven years with Calypso,before he made a raft,but after the storm caused by Poseidon he draws to the island of Corfu. There he was found by Nausicaa and finds refuge in the court of King Alcinous, where finally reveals his true identity and moves them all by telling them about his wanderings (where starts the Odyssey). With the help of Alcinous and after new storm Odysseus manages finally, after 10 years, to reach Ithaca.

In his way back,initially he had  to hide his identity(since he was alone) before finally kill with the help of Telemachus and Eumaeus the 40 suitors, that aristocratic descendants of his kingdom,who believing that he is dead stalked for 10 years the  faithful queen Penelope, whose main intention was one of them to get the empty (as they believed) throne of Odysseus.

Eventually he killed and the royal concubines who betrayed him all this time.

Cadmus

Cadmus in Greek mythology

In Greek mythology, Cadmus is the son of Agenor and Telephassa, brother of Finika,of Cilica and Europe.
When Zeus abducted Europe,Cadmus started searching for his sister, but the Oracle of Delphi gave him an order to stop the search and follow a cow and where the cow stopped, he should build a  new city. Thus founded by Cadmus the city of Thebes.

Cadmus killed a dragon that guarded a nearby source of Thebes. The dragon, however, was the son of Ares and the nymph Telphousa so Cadmus was forced to serve as slave Ares for one year. By order of Ares or with the advice of Athena, according to other legends, Cadmus sowed half the dragon's teeth in a plowed field and from the earth grew fierce warriors named Sparta. With a clever plan of Cadmus they killed each other  and only five survived, and they were the first citizens of Thebes. As a reward the god if war gave him as wife his daughter, Harmony. Cadmus donated his wife a veil made ​​of Athena and a famous necklace, known as the necklace of Harmony,created by Hephaestus.

Greek mythology

Greek mythology

With the term Greek mythology we mean the entire web of myths related to the cause of Hellenism, as presented in the texts of Ancient Greek or Byzantine literature. In Greek mythology also specifies the narration of stories created by the ancient Greeks concerning their gods and heroes, the nature of the world and the ritual practices of worship.

Modern scholars refer to the myths and study them in an attempt to understand the religious and political institutions of the ancient Greeks and generally the ancient Greek civilization.
The Greek mythology consists in part of a large collection of narratives that explain the origins of the world and chronicle the life and adventures of a wide variety of gods, heroes, heroines, and other mythological creatures. These stories originally elaborated and disseminated in an oral-poetic tradition and that is why the Greek myths are known today primarily from the Greek literature. The oldest known literary sources are the epic poems Iliad and Odyssey, which focus on events surrounding the Trojan War. Also two poems of Hesiod, the Theogony and Works and Days, contain many descriptions of the genesis of the world, the succession of divine rulers, the succession of human ages, the origin of human woes and sacrificial practices. Various myths have also been conserved from: Homeric Hymns, fragments of epic poems circle, lyrics, works tragedians of the 5th century BC, writings of scholars and poets of the Hellenistic period and texts by writers of the Roman period, as Plutarch and Pausanias.
Monumental evidence at Mycenae and Minoan Crete helped resolve many questions arising from the Homeric epics and granted archaeological evidence for many of the mythological details about gods and heroes. The Greek mythology was depicted also in artifacts. The geometric designs on pottery of the 8th century BC depict scenes from the Trojan cycle, as well as the adventures of Heracles(Hercules). In the Archaic, Classical and Hellenistic periods, the Homeric and various other mythological scenes complement the existing literature data.
The Greek mythology had extensive influence on the culture, arts and literature of Western civilization and remains part of Western heritage. It is a part of the education from childhood, while poets and artists from ancient times to the present have been drawing inspiration from Greek mythology and have discovered contemporary meanings and relevance in classical mythological themes. 

Achilles

Achilles in Greek mythology

The birth of Achilles

In Greek mythology, Achilles, grandson of Aeacus (Achilles Eakides) was the greatest and the main hero of Homer in Iliad.
Achilles was son of Peleus (that's why he was called and Pilides), king of the Myrmidons in Phthia (now East - Northeast Fthiotida) and the Nereid Thetis. Zeus and Poseidon vied for her hand until an oracle revealed that she would give birth to a son greater than his father, so they wisely chose to give her to someone else. According to the post-Homeric legend, Thetis attempted to make Achilles invulnerable, dunking him in the waters of the Styx, but holding him by the heel,so left him vulnerable at that point. Homer, however, reported a slight injury in the Iliad. In a newer and less popular version, Thetis anointed the boy in ambrosia and then placed it over the fire to burn the mortal parts of his body.But, she was interrupted by Peleus and she abandoned father and son, enraged. Peleus gave him (perhaps with his little friend Patroclus) to the centaur Chiron on Mount Pelion,to raise them up.

Achilles in the Trojan War

When the Greeks sailed to Troy, accidentally stopped in Mysia, where Telephus was king. In the ensuing battle, Achilles wounded Telephus. The wound was not closing so Telephus asked for an oracle,which stated "the burrowing is the healer" meaning that the one that wounded that one shall heal ".
According to other reports on the lost work of Euripides' Telephus went to Aulis, pretending the beggar and asked Achilles to heal his wound. Achilles refused, claiming that he had not medical knowledge. Alternatively, Telephus held Orestes hostage in exchange for the help of Achilles in wound healing. Odysseus concluded that the spear created so the spear wound should heal it. Copper shavings from the spear placed in the wound and Telephus was healed.

In a post-Homeric (but popular) version of the myth, the seer Calchas said that the Greeks could not win without the help of Achilles, but his mother, Thetis, she knew he would die if he went to Troy. So she hid him in the yard of Likomidis in Skyros, disguised as a girl. There was a tie with Diidameia resulting in a son, Neoptolemus. However, he was discovered by the wily Odysseus, who arrived disguised as peddler with jewels and weapons. Achilles identified by the fact that he looked the "wrong" goods. Alternatively,he was revealed by the sound of a trumpet, where instead flinch,he grabbed a spear to repel the invaders. Beyond that it took little persuasion to go to Troy, accompanied by his cousin and best friend Patroclus and his teacher, Finikas(Phoenix) (this is the same Finikas that accompanied Odysseus in Skyros in a later version).

Death of Achilles

The main hero of the story,Achilles, is killed by Paris,when he shoots and arrow and hits the heel of Achilles. Thetis when plunged  Achilles into the waters of Styx to make him immortal was holding him by the heel which was not placed in the water and thus became the only vulnerable point of Achilles (the one that would kill him.)