Download or read book Myth and History in Ancient Greece written by Claude Calame and published by Princeton University Press. This book was released on 2003-07-22 with total page 199 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Surely the ancient Greeks would have been baffled to see what we consider their "mythology." Here, Claude Calame mounts a powerful critique of modern-day misconceptions on this front and the lax methodology that has allowed them to prevail. He argues that the Greeks viewed their abundance of narratives not as a single mythology but as an "archaeology." They speculated symbolically on key historical events so that a community of believing citizens could access them efficiently, through ritual means. Central to the book is Calame's rigorous and fruitful analysis of various accounts of the foundation of that most "mythical" of the Greek colonies--Cyrene, in eastern Libya. Calame opens with a magisterial historical survey demonstrating today's misapplication of the terms "myth" and "mythology." Next, he examines the Greeks' symbolic discourse to show that these modern concepts arose much later than commonly believed. Having established this interpretive framework, Calame undertakes a comparative analysis of six accounts of Cyrene's foundation: three by Pindar and one each by Herodotus (in two different versions), Callimachus, and Apollonius of Rhodes. We see how the underlying narrative was shaped in each into a poetically sophisticated, distinctive form by the respective medium, a particular poetical genre, and the specific socio-historical circumstances. Calame concludes by arguing in favor of the Greeks' symbolic approach to the past and by examining the relation of mythos to poetry and music.
Download or read book The Origins of Ancient Greek Mythology written by Charles River Charles River Editors and published by Createspace Independent Publishing Platform. This book was released on 2018-02-21 with total page 76 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: *Includes pictures*Includes ancient Greek accounts of the mythology*Includes online resources and a bibliography for further reading*Includes a table of contents"Even Cronus, the Titan who literally had his kids for breakfast, would find these facts hard to swallow." - Tai, Cupid's Academy: Argus' Big Fat Greek Wedding Ring "The sole art that suits me is that which, rising from unrest, tends toward serenity." This quote by Andr� Gide perfectly encapsulates the story of the Titans. Most commonly known as the antagonists of the pantheon of gods led by Zeus, the Titans embody "unrest" and "transience" for the modern reader, but for reasons less than the obvious. History, after all, is the story of the winners, and the world of the ancient Greeks was a world of a very real, highly querulous pantheon that would behoove ancient writers to glorify in their works. Unlike the other gods, the Titans' appearance in ancient Greek writing is limited, and the full treatment of their "history" appears, predominantly, in just two works: Hesiod's Theogony and Works and Days. The story of the Titans appears in both works in different degrees of detail, and for that reason, any work about their story has to incorporate references from each. Rather than becoming ensnared in source criticism, it's necessary to combine the works to create a fuller picture of the mythology Hesiod expounds. For example, it's worth noting that the Theogony, at least, has all of the hallmarks of a "hymn to glory of Zeus the King." The reason for this is that, throughout the work, Zeus is lauded as being the progenitor of "order" in the cosmos, once he had defeated his enemies and ceased to battle monsters. It will soon become apparent that Zeus is not only the "lord of gods and men," but also the revolutionary leader of a new power system. This understanding of the cosmos as a political arena is vital to the interpretation of the myth of the Titans.By looking at these works of Hesiod, it's possible to get a better understanding of how the ancient Greeks viewed their cosmos, their pantheon of gods, and the power struggles their deities went through in order to become dominant celestial beings. The Titans play a much larger part in this process than they are often given credit for, and the importance of their lasting effect upon the cosmos, the mythology, and the ancient Greek psyche cannot be overstated.The Origins of Ancient Greek Mythology: The History of the Titans and the Greeks' Creation Story looks at the Titans and their role in the ancient Greeks' creation story. Along with pictures depicting important people, places, and events, you will learn about the origins of Greek mythology like never before.
Download or read book A Brief Guide to the Greek Myths written by Stephen P. Kershaw and published by Hachette UK. This book was released on 2013-02-07 with total page 228 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The book leads the reader through these vibrant stories, from the origins of the gods through to the homecomings of the Trojan heroes. All the familiar narratives are here, along with some less familiar characters and motifs. In addition to the tales, the book explains key issues arising from the narratives, and discusses the myths and their wider relevance. This long-overdue book crystallises three key areas of interest: the nature of the tales; the stories themselves; and how they have and might be interpreted. For the first time, it brings together aspects of Greek mythology only usually available in disparate forms - namely children's books and academic works. There will be much here that is interesting, surprising, and strange as well as familiar. Experts and non-experts, adults, students and schoolchildren alike will gain entertainment and insight from this fascinating and important volume.
Download or read book Myths and Legends of Ancient Greece written by Ksenia Gandin and published by . This book was released on 2020-07-23 with total page 715 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Based on the bestselling book of N. A. Kun, this is an easy-to-read, comprehensive collection of Greek myths. The book consists of eight chapters, covering the majority of the Greek mythology universe: (1) Stories of the Gods - the stories of creation, the war with the Titans and the myths related to the main Olympian gods. (2) Stories of the Heroes - Perseus and the Gorgon Medusa, Theseus and the Minotaur, Prometheus, Bellerophon, Orpheus, Daedalus and Icarus, Europa, Cadmus, Niobe and many more. (3) Heracles - the Twelve Labors and other myths related to the greatest of the heroes. (4) Oedipus and the Theban Cycle - including Antigone, Seven against Thebes and the Epigoni. (5) The Argonauts and the Quest for the Golden Fleece - a detailed retelling of the famous journey, including the story of Jason and Medea. (6) Stories of Troy - mainly based on "The Iliad" by Homer, but also other myths related to the Trojan War, such as the Golden Apple, the Judgement of Paris, the Trojan Horse, the Fall of Troy, and additional stories about Achilles, Patroclus, Ajax the Great, Helen, Cassandra and more. (7) The House of Agamemnon - the stories of Agamemnon, Clytemnestra, Orestes and Iphigenia. (8) The Odyssey - the journey of Odysseus to his native Ithaca, retold from "The Odyssey" by Homer.The book is based on a translation of the bestseller "What The Ancient Greeks And Romans Told About Their Gods And Heroes" by Nikolay A. Kun, a famous historian and writer, written in 1914. Ever since, the book has been extremely popular in Eastern Europe, and since it came out, has received hundreds of publications in Russian, and was translated into multiple languages. This edition: * Is an easy-to-read, adapted retelling of the original book, based on its translation into simple, modern English. * Is organized in a story-like manner, combining myths from different sources into a unified tale. * Is adjusted in a manner appropriate for younger readers, while staying as loyal as possible to the original ancient texts. * Includes detailed retelling of the "The Iliad" and "The Odyssey" by Homer, Ovid's "Metamorphoses", "The Argonautica" by Apollonius of Rhodes, the greatest Greek tragedies by Sophocles, Euripides and Aeschylus and many more. * Closely follows the ancient sources, completing and supplementing Kun's stories with new details and context. * Contains stories that have been adapted into the versions of the myths more commonly popular in the West.*Includes multiple stories not included in Kun's original book. * The order of the chapters is different from the original book to simplify chronological understanding. * Includes multiple, in-depth annotations referencing art, history, linguistics, geography and more.
Download or read book Zeus written by Charles River Charles River Editors and published by Createspace Independent Publishing Platform. This book was released on 2017-11-10 with total page 68 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: *Includes pictures of important places and historic art depicting Zeus and other Greek gods. *Explains the historical origins of the god and the mythological tales about him. *Includes a Bibliography for further reading. "I will sing of Zeus, chiefest among the gods and greatest, all-seeing, the lord of all, the fulfiller who whispers words of wisdom to Themis as she sits leaning towards him. Be gracious, all-seeing Son of Cronos, most excellent and great!" - "The Hymn To Zeus," attributed to Homer Zeus is a god of apparent paradox: sublimely regal yet ridiculously fickle, a giver of laws but a slave to his own passions, a being of incredible power who is desperate to possess that which he cannot have. As the leader of the Greek pantheon on Mount Olympus, Zeus was the god of kingship (and the associated elements of law, oaths, the state and the protection of property) and the god of storms, controlling lightning, wind and thunder. In many ways, one of Ancient Greece's most complex gods is also the most understandable, since he seems so human, and because there is plenty of information about him that survived, including the original legends about his birth, his early deeds and his many relationships with other gods, lovers, and humans. Furthermore, scholars have been able to analyze the historical roots of "Zeus" as a concept, identifying what gods he is related to among other cultures, where the legends of Zeus originated, and what this information says about the Ancient Greeks. One of the reasons Zeus remains one of the most recognizable gods in history is because of the spread of his influence. Due to the conquests of Alexander the Great, Zeus was brought along with other elements of Hellenization to Egypt and the Near East, and a few centuries later, Rome all but adopted him as their own chief god, Jupiter. From there, he was exported around the Roman Empire and fused with numerous other local gods in the process. Ultimately, Zeus was a prominent god from the period of pre-recorded history until the Christianization of Greece, which was complete by the early 7th century A.D. It is difficult for modern observers to understand how a hot-headed, sex-obsessed god could command the love and admiration of so many Greeks, not to mention their cultural heirs throughout the Roman Empire. What did the worship of this god provide for his worshipers? How did belief in his existence fulfill their spiritual needs? How was he different from other members of his pantheon? This book explores the figure of Zeus, including his origins, the stories told about him, the way he was worshiped and how he is remembered today. Along with pictures and a bibliography, you will learn about the Greek god like you never have before, in no time at all.
Download or read book Gods of Ancient Greece written by Jan N. Bremmer and published by Edinburgh University Press. This book was released on 2010-07-30 with total page 552 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This collection offers a fresh look at the nature and development of the Greek gods in the period from Homer until Late Antiquity The Greek gods are still very much present in modern consciousness. Although Apollo and Dionysos, Artemis and Aphrodite, Zeus and Hermes are household names, it is much less clear what these divinities meant and stood for in ancient Greece. In fact, they have been very much neglected in modern scholarship. Bremmer and Erskine bring together a team of international scholars with the aim of remedying this situation and generating new approaches to the nature and development of the Greek gods in the period from Homer until Late Antiquity. The Gods of Ancient Greece looks at individual gods, but also asks to what extent cult, myth and literary genre determine the nature of a divinity and presents a synchronic and diachronic view of the gods as they functioned in Greek culture until the triumph of Christianity.
Download or read book The Mycenaean Origin of Greek Mythology written by Martin Persson Nilsson and published by . This book was released on 1972 with total page 284 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: "Nilsson studied the geographical aspects of the Greek myths. He proved that almost without exception, the places in the myths, especially those in the great cycle of stories, are the very same places as those now known from archaeology to have been important Bronze-Age sites ... Nilsson made it amply clear, in a host of interesting details which he worked out with ingenuity and almost always good sense, that the memory of the great Bronze-Age centres survived, and that the stories told of them ... truly reflected, in Classical times, the Mykenaian Age. To have discovered this great bridge was the triumphant achievement of Nilsson." [Back cover].
Download or read book Apollo written by Charles River Charles River Editors and published by Createspace Independent Publishing Platform. This book was released on 2017-03-14 with total page 66 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: *Includes pictures *Includes ancient descriptions of Apollo *Includes online resources and a bibliography for further reading "Foolish mortals and poor drudges are you, that you seek cares and hard toils and straits! Easily will I tell you a word and set it in your hearts. Though each one of you with knife in hand should slaughter sheep continually, yet would you always have abundant store, even all that the glorious tribes of men bring here for me. But guard you my temple and receive the tribes of men that gather to this place, and especially show mortal men my will, and do you keep righteousness in your heart." "Apollo's history is a confusing one," said the renowned poet and mythologist Robert Graves. This notion is also illustrated in the above quote from the 6th century BCE Homeric Hymn to Apollo, which gives the reader a brief glimpse into the confusion surrounding Apollo's multi-faceted nature. The quote comes from the end of an episode in which Apollo is traversing the known world, looking for a place to build a temple to himself. Once he lands upon a place of his liking, however, he realizes that he needs to populate it with priests who would 'guard' and care for its ceremonies. Rather than depend upon those 'glorious tribes' to supply his temple with sycophants, Apollo has no patience for chance, and flies down to a Cretan merchant ship, landing on it in the form of a timber-shaking dolphin. After terrifying the merchants, he tells them that their lives in the sea trade are over, and they are to be priests at his temple from then on. Cautioning the merchants to eschew piracy and 'keep righteousness' in their hearts, while simultaneously confronting and sequestering them captures the youthful god's capricious character quite well. Of course, the rest of the ancient Greek gods were certainly not above hypocrisy - the adultery of Zeus alone demonstrates that - but Apollo was a brash contrarian in the face of all divine order. Unlike many of the other Olympian gods, Apollo's nature changed dramatically at the closing of his adolescence. His twin sister Artemis, in direct comparison with Apollo, immediately leapt to her mother's aide as midwife to her brother after she was born. Artemis would continue to be a goddess of midwives, while Apollo's "role" would continue to evolve over centuries. Naturally, there are many approaches to Greek myth and many variant opinions and strategies for unearthing "truths" in the mythological canon. For the purpose of unveiling the origins, development, and contemporary views of Apollo, it is necessary to see his myths firstly as remnants of the movements and actions of ancient peoples. This "Memory of Myth" can provide the modern reader with an analogous view of the history of a place and of a character. Much of Greek mythology is politico-religious history , and exploring how the episodes in these myths tie in with episodes in the historical record can reveal certain fascinating aspects of an often frustratingly murky past. Ultimately, any 21st century study of a mythological being must gather together as many strands of learning as possible in order to formulate a useful hypothesis. In the case of Apollo, these strands are expansive, permeative, and international, and at first blush, they can seem very confusing indeed. An important thing to bear in mind when approaching Apollo is that his role in the ancient Greek pantheon was eclectic, even by contemporary standards, and the expansion of Greek culture to other parts of the Mediterranean only served to compound his identity even further. The story of Apollo is an excellent example of how stories and characters can change when they're beloved across centuries, and it is for this reason that reading about the god is so enjoyable.
Download or read book History of Ancient Rome written by Nathaniel Harris and published by Hamlyn (UK). This book was released on 2000 with total page 192 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: It was the greatest empire ever, with an unconquerable army, larger-than-life rulers, impressive structures, richly developed art and philosophy, and a vast, advanced culture. Any discussion of our own civilization's law, religion, war, and literature must invoke Rome's name. From the republic's establishment to its timeless legacy, follow the thrilling narrative of Rome's history, impressively illustrated with more than 200 photographs, drawings, and paintings. The spectacular remains are scattered over three continents, and its influence will never fade.
Download or read book Greek Mythology Explore The Timeless Tales Of Ancient Greece The Myths History Legends of The Gods Goddesses Titans Heroes Monsters More written by History Brought Alive and published by History Brought Alive. This book was released on with total page 132 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Chaos was the origin of everything, the beginning of time. From Chaos sprang forth three primordial deities, Gaea, Tartarus & Eros... Ancient Greece & its Mythology is Truly a Marvel of History Greek Myths were more than just stories...,Take a deeper look and you will uncover the lessons, philosophies, wisdom and even warnings that these myths taught. In truth they are still relevant to this day. Discover Everything you need to know about Ancient Greece & Greek Mythology in This Book Throughout your read, we will not simply rehash the ancient Greek myths of the time, but rather uncover the context and background behind them and the Ancient Greek world. We want to make sure that you cannot only enjoy these fascinating myths but understand what they were like when they were told thousands of years ago. All the secrets of one of the most fascinating civilizations the world has ever known lie within these pages. Inside you will discover The Ancient Origins & Story of The Olympics Lessons From The 12 Labors of Hercules How The Gods Played a Significant Role in All Aspects of Ancient Greek Society The Flight of Daedalus & Icarus - Discover One of The Most Famous Greek Myths Tales of The Most Legendary Monsters - Medusa, The Hydra, Typhon, Cerberus & More! Aphrodite - The Greek Goddess of Love, Sex, Beauty, and Fertility. How Achilles' Weak Heels Become Iconic until Now The Trojan War, Epic Battles & Facts Pandora's box, Finally The Ancient Mystery Revelead And much, much more Join us on an adventure to discover Greek Mythology and learn what life was like in Ancient Greece in This Book.
Download or read book Athena written by Charles River Charles River Editors and published by Createspace Independent Publishing Platform. This book was released on 2017-02-13 with total page 50 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: *Includes pictures of important places and historic art depicting Athena and other Greek gods and goddesses. *Explains the historical origins of the goddess and the mythological tales about her. *Includes a Bibliography for further reading. "I begin to sing of Pallas Athene, the glorious goddess, bright-eyed, inventive, unbending of heart, pure virgin, saviour of cities, courageous, Tritogeneia. From his awful head wise Zeus himself bare her arrayed in warlike arms of flashing gold, and awe seized all the gods as they gazed. But Athena sprang quickly from the immortal head and stood before Zeus who holds the aegis, shaking a sharp spear: great Olympus began to reel horribly at the might of the bright-eyed goddess, and earth round about cried fearfully, and the sea was moved and tossed with dark waves, while foam burst forth suddenly..." - "The Hymn To Athena," attributed to Homer For the ancient Greeks, there were few divine beings more important, and more generous, to humanity than the goddess Athena, who was also called "Pallas," "Pallas Athena" and (to the Romans) "Minerva." The daughter of Zeus, Athena was famous as a virgin warrior woman who was born from her father's skull bearing a helmet, shield and spear, but she was far more than simply a warrior goddess. She was at heart the patronage of civilization and all of the arts that made advanced human society possible. She was the mistress of weaving, navigation, craftsmanship, and she gave her patronage to defensive wars, wise laws, and the "city" itself. Since the city-state, known as a "Polis" by the Greeks, was the center of Ancient Greek life, law and politics, this made her all the more important as a deity, especially since she lent her name to one of the most famous of them all: Athens. The pervasive nature of her influence in the Greeks' everyday life has ensured that Athena remains one of the most instantly recognizable goddesses. She is mentioned in diverse works like Hesiod's Theogony, Homer's Iliad and Odyssey and several of Plato's philosophical texts. These works shine light on what contemporary Greeks said about their goddess and how they understood the relationship she had with humanity. At the same time, there were temples, festivals, and everyday forms of worship that the Greeks dedicated to her. What did the worship of this goddess provide for her worshipers? How did belief in her existence fulfill their spiritual needs? How was she different from other members of the Greek pantheon? This book explores the figure of Athena, including her origins, the stories told about her, the way she was worshiped and how she is remembered today. Along with pictures and a bibliography, you will learn about the Greek goddess like you never have before, in no time at all.
Download or read book Structure and History in Greek Mythology and Ritual written by Walter Burkert and published by Univ of California Press. This book was released on 1982-11-08 with total page 250 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: "Tantalizingly rich . . . this is a splendid book."--Greece and Rome "Burken relegates his learned documentation to the notes and writes in a lively and fluent style. The book is recommended as a major contribution to the interpretation of ancient Greek myth and ritual. The breadth alone of Burkert's learning renders his book indispensable."--Classical Outlook "Impressive. . . founded on a striking knowledge of the complex evidence (literary, epigraphical, archaeological, comparative) for this extensive subject. Burkert offers a rare combination of exact scholarship with imagination and even humor. A brilliant book, in which . . .the reader can see at every point what is going on in the author's mind--and that is never uninteresting, and rarely unimportant."--Times Literary Supplement "Burkert's work is of such magnitude and depth that it may even contribute to that most difficult of tasks, defining myth, ritual, and religion. . [He] locates his work in the context of culture and the historv of ideas, and he is not hesitant to draw on sociology and biology. Consequently his work is of significance for philosophers, historians, and even theologians, as well as for classicists and historians of Greek culture. His hypotheses are courageous and his conclusions are bold; both establish standards for methodology as well as results. "--Religious Studies Review
Download or read book Gods and Robots written by Adrienne Mayor and published by Princeton University Press. This book was released on 2020-04-21 with total page 294 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Traces the story of how ancient cultures envisioned artificial life, automata, self-moving devices and human enhancements, sharing insights into how the mythologies of the past related to and shaped ancient machine innovations.
Download or read book Greek Mythology written by Patrick Auerbach and published by Createspace Independent Publishing Platform. This book was released on 2016-06-07 with total page 74 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Greek Mythology is the body of myths and teachings that belong to the ancient Greeks, concerning their gods and heroes, the nature of the world, and the origins and significance of their own cult and ritual practices. It was a part of the religion in ancient Greece. The Greeks were polytheistic in their religious beliefs. Polytheistic means they believed in and worshiped many different gods. Modern scholars refer to and 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. In Greek Mythology, the gods often represented different forms of nature. Their religion/mythology had no formal structure with the exception of various festivals held in honor of the gods. There was no sacred book or code of conduct to live by. The most powerful Greek gods were known as the Olympians. The Greeks believed the Olympians lived on the highest mountain in Greece, Mount Olympus. The Olympian gods included: Zeus, Hera, Apollo, Aphrodite, Ares, Artemis, Athena, Demeter, Hades, Hermes, Hephaestus, Poseidon and Hestia or later she was replaced in some lists by Dionysus. Greek Mythology is explicitly embodied in a large collection of narratives, and implicitly in Greek representational arts, such as vase-paintings and votive gifts. Greek myth attempts to explain the origins of the world, and details the lives and adventures of a wide variety of gods, goddesses, heroes, heroines and mythological creatures. These accounts initially were disseminated in an oral-poetic tradition; today the Greek myths are known primarily from Greek literature. The oldest known Greek literary sources, Homer's epic poems Iliad and Odyssey, focus on the Trojan War and its aftermath. Scroll to the top of the page and click Add To Cart to read more about this extraordinary chapter of history.
Download or read book Did the Greeks Believe in Their Myths written by Paul Veyne and published by University of Chicago Press. This book was released on 1988-06-15 with total page 178 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: An examination of Greek mythology and a discussion about how religion and truth have evolved throughout time.
Download or read book Greek Gods written by Patrick Auerbach and published by Createspace Independent Publishing Platform. This book was released on 2015-12-12 with total page 50 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The ancient Greeks believed there were a great number of gods and goddesses. These gods had control over many different aspects of life on earth. In many ways they were very human. They could be kind or mean, angry or pleasant, cruel or loving. They fell in love with each other, argued with each other and even stole from each other. The ancient Greeks built great temples and sanctuaries to their gods. They held festivals in their honour, with processions, sports, sacrifices and competitions. Stories of the gods' exploits were told to children by their mothers and to large audiences by professional bards and storytellers. People today still enjoy hearing stories about the Greek gods. This book tells the tales of gods and goddesses such as Zeus, Aphrodite, Apollo, and Athena and heroes and monsters such as Helen of Troy, Perseus, and Medusa will fascinate and engage your imagination. Here is a selection of what you will learn: The Creation and the Gods The Olympian Gods (and a few others) Prometheus, Epimetheus and Pandora Psyche and Eros Oedipus and His Children The Trojan War Learn more about Greek Gods NOW and scroll up to the top of this page and BUY it Now!
Download or read book Ares written by Charles River Charles River Editors and published by Createspace Independent Publishing Platform. This book was released on 2017-05-24 with total page 62 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: *Includes pictures *Includes ancient myths and accounts of Ares and cults that worshiped him *Includes online resources and a bibliography for further reading Ares, the God of War and personification of all that is reactionary and violent, is remembered today as the hated, unshakeable, and infallible embodiment of the violence prevalent in war and society at large, but surviving evidence suggests that this may not have always been the case. To understand that, it's necessary to remember that Greek mythology has been filtered and tempered by centuries of editors and zealots and fickle word of mouth. The stories that arrive in the beloved mythology books of today were not necessarily those read and told by the ancients. This is true not only thanks to later mythographers' overeager shears, wielded in order to strip the ancient Greek myths of much of their "heathenism," but also because over 2,000 years later, modern society is not privy to much of the cultural strata from which these stories emerged. This book was written in the hope of presenting the modern reader with as much of the latter as possible, so as to provide a more accurate representation of Ares than is found in most modern collections of ancient Greek mythology. Being the "living" representation of the act that killed family members every year is more than enough to attract a certain degree of ignominy, but it is very likely that negative feelings towards Ares were not as pervasive among the ancient Greeks as one might believe today. An important thing to bear in mind when thinking about the stories of Ares is that the thin vein of myth that has come down today most often comes directly from Athenian sources, which were unfavorable towards Ares because they were generally unfavorable towards anything considered un-Athenian. The historian Thucydides, while discussing the Peloponnesian War, which was fought between Athens and Sparta at the end of the 5th century BCE, said that any "future scholar" would no doubt believe that the great city of Sparta was culturally insignificant in comparison with her enemy, Athens. It is well known today that Ares was worshipped by the warlike Spartans, but since they created very few grandiose works of architecture or literature (compared to those that came out of Athens), Sparta's views on Ares, and most other deities they worshipped, are paltry. Athenian culture, on the other hand, dominated the ancient world's art and culture, and its influence was felt strongly in the beloved myths and histories of the epoch. For better or worse, then, Athens left subsequent generations their marginalized corpus of ideas on ancient Greek religion, and this can be seen in the paltry occurrences of Ares in modern books on Greek mythology today. That said, being a worshipper of Ares didn't necessitate the bellicose nature of the Spartans, either. Although Athens left literary and archaeological evidence of their preferences for civic worship, many other poleis (Greek city-states) were loath to openly despise the god of war, despite his macabre associations. After all, war was a facet of yearly life, and Ares was one of the 12 gods of the highest Greek pantheon of deities who commanded worship according to a divine mandate. Ares's appearances in myths today (his affair with Aphrodite being a strong favourite) seem to be cursed by repeated banality. There's little of the "War God" in any of his stories other than the odd mention of how horrid he is. However, with a little effort, Ares and his influences can be found, even if only at the fringes of the stories, in the wider literary canon. One such example is the "Judgment of Paris," which refers to the Trojan warrior Paris's decision to award Aphrodite with the Golden Apple of the Hesperides (or the "Apple of Discord," as it came to be known).
