informative essay on greek mythical character

Ancient Greek Mythical Characters Essay

Heracleidae, seven against thebes.

Bibliography

Daedalus is a character from Greek mythology, a famous artist and craftsman known for his numerous inventions, as well as for building the Labyrinth on Crete. He is also known as the father of Icarus; he made wings for Icarus and himself to escape from Crete by air together. The story of Icarus and Daedalus is told in a Roman source, Ovid’s “Metamorphoses”; the Isle of Crete was blocked by the order of King Minos, but Daedalus wanted to return to his home, Athens. Thus, he devised the wings for himself and his young son; but the son disobeyed his instructions and sank in the sea. 1 It is stated that Daedalus is a symbol of the ability of Athenians to invent and solve extremely complicated problems. Making The Labyrinth is one of the embodiments of this ability; creating the wings enabling people to fly is another.

Artemis is the Ancient Greek goddess of wild animals and hunting, of fertility and virginity; she is also the embodiment of femininity. This daughter of Zeus and Leto is usually portrayed as a huntress with a bow and arrows, sometimes accompanied by a deer. According to one of the myths, Agamemnon angered Artemis during the Troyan War by slaying one of her animals. Agamemnon was advised to sacrifice his daughter Iphigenia to appease the goddess. 2 Apparently, the Ancient Greeks, who very much disliked human sacrifice, believed Artemis to be rather cruel and ruthless if they thought she would wish Iphigenia to be sacrificed. That the goddess of femininity and virginity possessed such traits is not surprising; it was common in that (rather a sexist) culture to think of women as of ruthless and cunning beings.

Medusa, a mythical being of the Ancient Greece, was one of the three of the Gorgon sisters, the only one mortal among them. She had the appearance of a hideous human female with snakes instead of hair; her gaze was able to turn anyone into stone permanently. Ovid tells the story of how Perseus beheaded Medusa in order to protect her mother from Polydectes, who fell in love with her and whom Perseus believed to be dishonorable. 3

Numerous gods helped Perseus and equipped him for battle so that he could slay Medusa. Thus, Perseus killed one woman in order to protect another. Interestingly, late classical myths state that Medusa was at first a beautiful woman who offended Athena and was transformed into a beast of malevolence, an embodiment of female rage. Thus, Medusa was first abused by one woman, and then slain to save another, which, perhaps, also shows the attitude of the Ancient Greek (male-dominated) culture towards women.

Heracleidae, or Heraclids, were the numerous descendants of the Ancient Greek hero Heracles and his multiple consorts. The words are most often used to denote the descendants of the oldest son of Heracles, Hyllus, one of the generations of whom were able to capture the Peloponnesus, a land once owned by Heracles. According to Euripides, the children of Heracles were pursued by the Herald Copreus working for King Eurystheus, who was responsible for many of Heracles’ problems and thought the hero’s sons would take revenge on him. 4 The play finishes with the death of Eurystheus; other myths state that Heraclids would recapture the Peloponnesus later. According to some historical hypotheses, the recapture is associated with the Dorian invasion, which might have taken place in the latter half of the 2 nd millennium B.C. These hypotheses reflect the fact that some historical events often might stand beyond the stories told in myths and beliefs.

Seven against Thebes is the third (and the only one extant) part of Aeschylus’ trilogy about Oedipus; it was first staged in 467 B.C. The story starts when Polynices leads an army to Thebes in order to take power from Eteocles; both are sons of Oedipus, who married his own mother and, having learned of it, left their children to divide the kingdom via bloodshed. According to the story, Polynices leads six other heroes to attack and capture Thebes; there are seven bloody battles, in which most of the heroes die.

Tydeus, a fallen hero, even eats the brains of Melanippus. 5 Noteworthy, the story was written circa 467 B.C., approximately 10-12 years after the unsuccessful invasion of Xerxes supported by Thebes; thus, Thebes was rather disliked by the other polises. It is, therefore, not surprising that the cruelty, greed, and other adversities of human nature are depicted as attributes of Thebans.

Theseus was one of the most famous Ancient Greek heroes, the 11 th King of Athens, the son of either Aegeus (an Athenian king) or Poseidon (the God of the Sea), and Aethra. Theseus was famous for numerous feats, including the death of the Minotaur. According to Plutarch, Theseus, assisted by Ariadne who had fallen in love with him, killed the Minotaur, the beast who had been terrorizing the population of the Isle of Crete.

Theseus then found the way out of the Labyrinth using Ariadne’s thread, and sailed off Crete with Ariadne and “the youths.” 6 Interestingly, by finding the Minotaur in the Labyrinth, killing him, and finding the way out, Theseus shows his Athenian strength and intelligence (even though he was helped by Ariadne). Importantly, the Labyrinth was built by Daedalus, and is, thus, also a result of Athenian ingenuity. Thus, Athenians attempted to make Theseus one of their most famous heroes, and a symbol of their wisdom, intelligence, and strength.

Aeschylus. “ Seven against Thebes. ” Theoi Greek Mythology . Web.

Euripides. “ Iphigenia at Aulis. ” The Internet Classics Archive . Web.

Euripides. “ The Heracleidae. ” The Internet Classics Archive . Web.

Ovid. “ Metamorphoses, Book 8. ” Theoi Greek Mythology . Web.

Ovid. “ Metamorphoses .” The Internet Classics Archive . Web.

Plutarch. “ Life of Theseus. ” Theoi Greek Mythology . Web.

• Ovid, “Metamorphoses, Book 8,” Theoi Greek Mythology . Web.
• Euripides, “Iphigenia at Aulis,” The Internet Classics Archive . Web.
• Ovid, “Metamorphoses,” The Internet Classics Archive . Web.
• Euripides, “The Heracleidae,” The Internet Classics Archive . Web.
• Aeschylus, “Seven against Thebes,” Theoi Greek Mythology. Web.
• Plutarch, “Life of Theseus,” Theoi Greek Mythology . Web.
• Chicago (A-D)
• Chicago (N-B)

IvyPanda. (2023, October 31). Ancient Greek Mythical Characters. https://ivypanda.com/essays/ancient-greek-mythical-characters/

"Ancient Greek Mythical Characters." IvyPanda , 31 Oct. 2023, ivypanda.com/essays/ancient-greek-mythical-characters/.

IvyPanda . (2023) 'Ancient Greek Mythical Characters'. 31 October.

IvyPanda . 2023. "Ancient Greek Mythical Characters." October 31, 2023. https://ivypanda.com/essays/ancient-greek-mythical-characters/.

1. IvyPanda . "Ancient Greek Mythical Characters." October 31, 2023. https://ivypanda.com/essays/ancient-greek-mythical-characters/.

IvyPanda . "Ancient Greek Mythical Characters." October 31, 2023. https://ivypanda.com/essays/ancient-greek-mythical-characters/.

• Daedalus, Artemis, Medusa, Heracleidae, Theseus
• The Myth of King Minos and the Minotaur
• Perseus: A Hero of Greek Mythology
• The Poems: Landscape with the Fall of Icarus and Musee Des Beaux Arts
• Image Revision: "Landscape with the Fall of Icarus" by Pieter Bruegel
• “In This Strange Labyrinth” by Mary Wroth
• Aviation Industry: Past and Present
• “The Minotaur and the Muse: Picasso’s Carmen Fixation” by Alan Riding
• Heracles’ Death in Women of Trachis and Modern Perspective
• Medusa in Greek Mythology
• The Ideal Relationship in Ramayana
• Reality of Achilles in “The Iliad”
• One Eye Character in the Valhalla Rising Film
• Myths about Gods and Spirits in Different Cultures
• Cosmic Myths of Ancient Civilizations

Essay on A Greek Mythical Character

Students are often asked to write an essay on A Greek Mythical Character in their schools and colleges. And if you’re also looking for the same, we have created 100-word, 250-word, and 500-word essays on the topic.

Let’s take a look…

100 Words Essay on A Greek Mythical Character

Introduction.

Greek mythology is a rich world of stories about gods, heroes, and monsters. One famous character from this mythology is Hercules. He is known for his superhuman strength and bravery.

Hercules’s Birth

Hercules was the son of Zeus, the king of the gods, and a human woman named Alcmene. Zeus’s wife Hera was very angry about this and made life difficult for Hercules.

The Twelve Labors

Hera made Hercules go crazy and he did something terrible. To make up for it, he had to complete twelve very hard tasks. These are known as the Twelve Labors of Hercules.

Hercules’s Death

Even a hero like Hercules could not live forever. He was tricked into wearing a poisoned shirt and it caused him so much pain that he chose to die. After his death, he became a god.

Hercules’s story shows us that even heroes can make mistakes and have to work hard to fix them. His strength and bravery are still admired today, making him a timeless character in Greek mythology.

250 Words Essay on A Greek Mythical Character

Greek myths are full of amazing characters. One of them is Hercules, a hero known for his strength and courage.

Birth and Early Life

Hercules, the son of Zeus, the king of gods, and Alcmene, a mortal woman, was born with great strength. From a young age, he showed his power by killing a snake that tried to harm him.

Twelve Labors

Hercules is most famous for his twelve labors. These were tough tasks given to him as punishment for a bad thing he did. He had to fight monsters, capture animals, and even travel to the underworld. His strength and bravery helped him complete these tasks.

Death and Legacy

Hercules died a heroic death and became a god. He is remembered as a symbol of strength and bravery. His stories teach us that we can overcome challenges if we are brave and determined.

In conclusion, Hercules is a fascinating character from Greek mythology. His life was full of adventures and challenges, showing us the power of bravery and determination. Greek myths, like the story of Hercules, are not just tales. They are lessons that teach us important values.

(Word Count: 200)

500 Words Essay on A Greek Mythical Character

Greek mythology is a treasure trove of fascinating stories, full of mighty gods, brave heroes, and terrifying monsters. One of the most famous characters is Hercules, known for his strength and courage. This essay will talk about Hercules’ life, his twelve labors, and his death and ascension to Mount Olympus.

Hercules’ Early Life

Hercules, the son of Zeus and a mortal woman named Alcmene, had a challenging start. Hera, Zeus’ wife, was jealous of Hercules and made his life difficult from the beginning. Even as a baby, Hercules was very strong. He showed his power when he strangled two snakes sent by Hera to kill him.

The Twelve Labors of Hercules

As Hercules grew older, his strength and bravery became known all over Greece. But Hera’s hatred for him never faded. She tricked Hercules into a fit of madness during which he killed his wife and children. Feeling deep regret, Hercules sought to make up for his actions and was given a set of tasks known as the Twelve Labors. These tasks were almost impossible to complete, but Hercules managed to finish all of them, showing his determination and courage.

The tasks were:

1. Slay the Nemean Lion. 2. Slay the nine-headed Lernaean Hydra. 3. Capture the Golden Hind of Artemis. 4. Capture the Erymanthian Boar. 5. Clean the Augean stables in a single day. 6. Slay the Stymphalian Birds. 7. Capture the Cretan Bull. 8. Steal the Mares of Diomedes. 9. Obtain the girdle of Hippolyta, Queen of the Amazons. 10. Obtain the cattle of the monster Geryon. 11. Steal the apples of the Hesperides. 12. Capture and bring back Cerberus, the three-headed dog of Hades.

Hercules’ Death and Ascension

Despite Hercules’ heroic deeds, his life was filled with suffering, mostly caused by Hera. His death was also tragic. He was poisoned by his second wife, Deianira, who had been tricked into thinking that the poison was a love potion. In pain, Hercules built a funeral pyre and set himself on fire. After his death, Zeus took him to Mount Olympus, where he became a god.

Hercules is a fascinating character in Greek mythology. His tales of bravery, strength, and determination have been told for thousands of years. His life was full of challenges, but he faced them all with courage. Even though he made mistakes, he always tried to make things right. Hercules teaches us that even the strongest among us can face hardships, and it’s our courage and determination that help us overcome them.

In conclusion, Hercules’ story is not just about a hero’s strength but also about his struggle, his will to make amends, and his undying spirit. This makes him one of the most loved and enduring characters in Greek mythology.

That’s it! I hope the essay helped you.

If you’re looking for more, here are essays on other interesting topics:

• Essay on Turning Challenges To Opportunities
• Essay on A Challenge Overcome
• Essay on 1619 Project

Apart from these, you can look at all the essays by clicking here .

Happy studying!

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Write An Informative Essay On A Greek Mythical Character

Greek mythology is full of tales about the gods and their interactions with humans. One of these stories is about Pandora, a woman who was created by the gods to be a curse on humanity.

Pandora was given a box by the god Zeus, told not to open it, and released into the world. Of course, she eventually opened the box, unleashing all sorts of evil into the world. From that moment on, humans have had to deal with things like disease, war, and famine.

Pandora’s story is a reminder that even the best intentions can lead to unforeseen consequences. It also serves as a warning against curiosity and disobedience. Despite the hardships that Pandora’s actions caused, she is still remembered and respected in Greek mythology.

Pandora was the first woman in Greek mythology, given to humanity by Zeus as a punishment for Prometheus’ stealing of fire. She opened the box out of curiosity and released all of humanity’s ills; married to Epimetheus. To create a woman as beautiful as a goddess, Hephaestus was ordered by Zeus to mix earth and water together and form a substance that might be molded into a human being.

All the gods helped in her creation by giving her gifts: Athena clothed her, Aphrodite gave her beauty, Hermes gifted her with lies and persuasion, and so forth. She was named Pandora – “all-gifted” – for the gifts she had received.

Zeus then sent Pandora down to Earth as a gift to Epimetheus, Prometheus’ brother. Epimetheus had been warned by his brother not to accept any gifts from Zeus but, being smitten by Pandora’s charms, he ignored the warning and married her. As a wedding present, Zeus gave Pandora a special box which she was not supposed to open under any circumstances.

Pandora became curious about what was inside the box and eventually opened it, releasing all the evils of human life – disease, hatred, greed, etc. – into the world. Only hope remained inside, trapped at the bottom of the box. Pandora quickly shut the lid but it was too late; the damage had been done and humankind would never be able to rid itself of these evils completely.

Greek mythology teaches that we must be careful about what we wish for because it might come with unforeseen consequences. The story of Pandora also serves as a reminder that even something that seems bad at first can have a silver lining – in this case, hope.

Athena adorned her and taught her how to weave, while Aphrodite endowed her with grace and passion, the Graces and Peitho garlanded her with gold ribbons, and the Hours decorated her with spring blossoms. Hermes, on the other hand, maliciously planted false and untrue statements in Pandora’s heart. Because she had been given (dora) by all of the gods, Zeus called her Pandora and sent her to Epimetheus.

Epimetheus, son of Prometheus and Clymene, was responsible for giving gifts to humankind. When he saw Pandora, he was immediately entranced and decided to marry her. Against the advice of his brother Prometheus, he accepted her into his home.

Zeus had also given Pandora a jar (pithos), which she was not supposed to open. Of course, being curious, she eventually lifted the lid and let all sorts of evils fly out into the world: old age, disease, death, toil, hunger, crime, hatred, and misery. All that remained in the jar was hope.

When Pandora closed the lid again, only Hope was left inside it… or so some versions of the myth say. Other versions claim that Pandora managed to trap all the evils inside the jar once more. In either case, ever since then, humans have had to deal with the ills of the world, but they also have hope to help them get through it all.

Greek mythology has always been a big part of my life. I grew up listening to stories about the Greek gods and goddesses, and Pandora is one of my favorites. She’s often portrayed as a curiosity seeker who gets herself into trouble, but I like to think of her as a symbol of hope. No matter what problems we face in life, we always have hope to help us through it. And that’s a powerful thing.

He was bewitched by her beauty and fell in love with her, at which point he took her out for the public to see. Pandora’s fate was to be the cause of human suffering since she opened the jar’s lid, causing all manner of evils to spill out into the world.

Only hope remained in the jar because Pandora slammed down the lid just as it was about to break. As a result, mankind – who until then had known no pain or sickness – would have everlasting sorrow. In Greek mythology, Pandora (mythical figure) is considered to be humanity’s first woman on Earth, created by Zeus as a present for Hephaestus.

She was fashioned as a punishment for mankind, with whom Zeus was angry because Prometheus had stolen fire and given it to them. Pandora carried a jar (pithos) with her, which she was not to open under any circumstances.

Greek mythology is the body of myths originally told by the ancient Greeks. These stories concern the origin and nature of the world, the lives and activities of deities, heroes, and mythological creatures, and the origins and significance of the ancient Greeks’ own cult and ritual practices. Modern scholars study the myths in an attempt to shed light on the religious and political institutions of ancient Greece and its civilization, and to gain understanding of the nature of myth-making itself.

Zeus wished to counteract the gods’ gift of fire, which had been stolen by the Titan Prometheus and given to humans. Pandora, whom the gods endowed with every good and beautiful quality, was dispatched to Epimetheus, who gladly accepted her as his wife despite prior warnings from his brother Prometheus never to accept anything from Zeus.

Pandora had a large jar (pithos) which she was told never to open. One day, driven by her curiosity, she opened it, and all the evils and plagues of the world flew out. Only Hope remained at the bottom of the jar.

Greek Mythology Pandora is one of the most famous women in Greek mythology. She was the first human woman who was created by the gods. Her name means “all-giving” or “all-gifted”. Pandora was sent to Earth with a special jar (pithos) which she was told never to open. However, driven by her curiosity, she eventually opened it, releasing all the evils and plagues of the world. Only Hope remained at the bottom of the jar.

More Essays

• Greek vs Norse Mythology
• Norse And Greek Mythology Differences
• Roman and Greek Gods
• The Making Of Gods And People Analysis Essay
• Prometheus: The Gift Of Dreaming Essay
• The Greek-Trojan War in The Iliad
• The Role Of Reemergence Of Greek Culture In The Middle Ages Essay
• Greek Theatre Essay
• Essay On Athena As A Greek Goddess

Leave a Comment Cancel reply

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Home — Essay Samples — Literature — Myths — The Greek goddess Artemis

The Greek Goddess Artemis

• Categories: Mythology Myths

About this sample

Words: 553 |

Published: Feb 12, 2019

Words: 553 | Page: 1 | 3 min read

Works Cited:

• Bainton, R. H. (1950). Here I Stand: A Life of Martin Luther. Nashville: Abingdon Press.
• Cameron, E. (2012). The European Reformation. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
• Collinson, P. (2003). The Reformation: A History. New York: Modern Library.
• González, J. L. (2010). The Story of Christianity: Volume 2: The Reformation to the Present Day. New York: HarperOne.
• Luther, M. (2017). The Ninety-Five Theses. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic.
• Marshall, P. (2018). Heretics and Believers: A History of the English Reformation. New Haven, CT: Yale University Press.
• Marty, M. E. (2004). Martin Luther. New York: Penguin Group.
• McGrath, A. E. (2012). Christianity’s Dangerous Idea: The Protestant Revolution - A History from the Sixteenth Century to the Twenty-First. San Francisco: HarperOne.
• Pettegree, A. (2017). Brand Luther: How an Unheralded Monk Turned His Small Town into a Center of Publishing, Made Himself the Most Famous Man in Europe – and Started the Protestant Reformation. New York: Penguin Group.
• Spitz, L. W. (1996). The Protestant Reformation: 1517-1559. New York: HarperCollins.

Cite this Essay

Let us write you an essay from scratch

• 450+ experts on 30 subjects ready to help
• Custom essay delivered in as few as 3 hours

Get high-quality help

Verified writer

• Expert in: Science Literature

+ 120 experts online

By clicking “Check Writers’ Offers”, you agree to our terms of service and privacy policy . We’ll occasionally send you promo and account related email

No need to pay just yet!

Related Essays

1 pages / 582 words

1 pages / 533 words

1 pages / 487 words

2.5 pages / 1223 words

Remember! This is just a sample.

You can get your custom paper by one of our expert writers.

121 writers online

Still can’t find what you need?

Browse our vast selection of original essay samples, each expertly formatted and styled

Related Essays on Myths

Hades was the Greek god of the underworld, the ruler of the dead. Hades is known in the Greek world as “the god of the Underworld,” “the Invisible One,” “the god of wealth” or “god of Death,” and “the god of the Death Realm”. [...]

The Homeric Hymn to Aphrodite is a beautiful piece of ancient Greek literature that tells the tale of Aphrodite and Ares’ affair. This hymn serves as an excellent example of how Greek mythology and ancient Greek culture placed a [...]

The tale of Orpheus and Eurydice is one of the most poignant and enduring love stories in Greek mythology. This tragic narrative, filled with themes of love, loss, and the power of music, has captured the imagination of [...]

Overall, Hercules is one of the most fascinating and enduring figures in Greek mythology. His heroic feats, divine parentage, and enduring legacy have inspired and entertained people for centuries, and his influence continues to [...]

In Greek mythology, Prometheus is a Titan, culture hero, and trickster figure who is credited with The creationofmanfrom clay, and who defies the gods by stealingfire and giving it to humanity,an act that enabled progress and [...]

It is no secret that in most cases many of the main characters we encounter in Greek mythology share certain similarities, as well as differences to one another this idea, goes especially for Prometheus in Aeschylus’ “Prometheus [...]

Related Topics

By clicking “Send”, you agree to our Terms of service and Privacy statement . We will occasionally send you account related emails.

Where do you want us to send this sample?

By clicking “Continue”, you agree to our terms of service and privacy policy.

Be careful. This essay is not unique

This essay was donated by a student and is likely to have been used and submitted before

Download this Sample

Free samples may contain mistakes and not unique parts

Sorry, we could not paraphrase this essay. Our professional writers can rewrite it and get you a unique paper.

Please check your inbox.

We can write you a custom essay that will follow your exact instructions and meet the deadlines. Let's fix your grades together!

Get Your Personalized Essay in 3 Hours or Less!

We use cookies to personalyze your web-site experience. By continuing we’ll assume you board with our cookie policy .

• Instructions Followed To The Letter
• Deadlines Met At Every Stage
• Unique And Plagiarism Free