Greek History World

Myths, legends and the stories behind them.

Fact of the day: To tantalize comes from Tantalus, who stood in water he could never drink.

The Olympians were the principal gods of the Greek pantheon, said to live on Mount Olympus, the highest mountain in Greece.

Greek heroes were mortals, often with one divine parent, whose deeds were celebrated in poetry and cult.

Greek myth is full of monsters, many of them born from the primordial gods or created as punishments.

Many Greek myths explained the natural world or warned against pride, which the Greeks called hubris.

Did you know?

The Aegean Sea is named after King Aegeus, father of Theseus.
The word panic comes from Pan, the goat-legged god of the wild.
The ancient Olympic Games were held at Olympia in honor of Zeus, traditionally beginning in 776 BC.
The Titan Atlas was condemned to hold up the sky on his shoulders.
To tantalize comes from Tantalus, who stood in water he could never drink.
Nike was the Greek goddess of victory.