Greek Myth
...and hot and dry conditions throughout the summer. The moisture from the Aegean Sea on the right and Ionian Sea on the left of this country nourish a wide array of plants and an even more diverse animal species. Embedded underneath the land are rich deposits of metals and minerals. Without a name this part of the world seemed to inherit a selective majesty fit for things beyond mortal imagination. The country of course is Greece. Over two millennium ago, Ancient Greece was born into the world's chronology of time. Greek thought and law influenced successive cultures even up to the Tudor dynasty in England. However, many people are more intrigued by their mythical stories composed by such legendary poets as Homer. In order to understand Greek myth we must first examine the internal factors that motivate the fantastic forces at work in the myths.
There existed a collective system of political and religious customs in Europe before the advancement of the Greek culture. This period of time, referred to as Neolithic Europe, had a homogeneous set of religious ideas based on the worshipping of mother-goddesses. The great goddess was regarded as immortal, changeless, and omnipotent. The role of fatherhood was not a practice that had any influence in a group's religious toleration. This focus on goddesses transferred into the reverence of a queen as the dominant figure amongst a people. The matriarchal structure that developed is dramatically different from the practices patriarchal cultures observe today. (Graves)
The queen chose lovers for pleasure only. The father was not an important part in providing for the children. Most men feared the power held by the matriarch, but they obeyed. In a twist of fate, men's religious status actually improved at the expense of a sacrificial young man. Over time in some tribes, a tribal nymph, or queen, choose a man to become...
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