/: Grčki mitovi i pripovijetke

Greek myths and stories

FASCINATING CHARACTERS and stories from Greek mythology have intrigued us for a long time. The gods of the ancient Greeks were passionate and violent, jealous of each other for power and subject to strong outpourings of love and outbursts of revenge wars. Thus inhabited by a pantheon of gods, bold but imperfect heroes and supernatural creatures,
mythology of the ancient Greeks explored themes of love, courage and conflict and explained many aspects of nature, and even the creation of the world,
creating a tradition of great stories that are retold in this book. The stories on the following pages, which include all the well-known characters you'd expect,
like the deities Zeus and Aphrodite, or the heroes Heracles and Achilles, as well as perhaps some lesser-known myths from the Greek canon, are filled with wonder and excitement that's hard to beat.

Here are a few more key elements and characters from Greek mythology:

1. Heroes:
   • Greek myths are full of heroes, demigods or people with extraordinary abilities. Heracles (Hercules), Achilles, Odysseus, Perseus and Theseus are just some of the famous heroes.
2. Gorgones:
   • Gorgones are three sisters, Medusa, Stheno and Euryale, of which Medusa is the most famous. She has snake-like hair and the ability to turn people to stone when she looks at them.
3. Cyclops:
   • Cyclops are giants with one eye in the middle of their forehead. They are known for working for the gods, especially for placing lightning in storm clouds.
4. The Nemean Lion and the Labors of Heracles:
   • Heracles (Hercules) is a mighty hero whose many adventures are known as the "Labours of Heracles". One of his famous achievements was killing the Nemean Lion, whose skin could not be pierced.
5. Oracles and Oracles:
   • In Greek mythology, oracles were sacred places where priestesses gave prophecies. The most famous is Delphi, dedicated to Apollo, where the priestess Pythia would give interpretations of the future.
6. Trojan War:
   • The Trojan War is a key event described in Greek mythology, in which the Greeks besieged Troy to recover Helen, who had been kidnapped by Paris. From this war comes the famous story of Achilles' heel.
7. Hercules and the Tasks of Eurystheus:
   • Eurystheus, king of Mycenae, set Heracles twelve tasks (known as the Tasks of Heracles) as penance for the crimes Heracles committed in his madness sent to him by the god Hera.
8. Prometheus and the Gift. Fires:
   • Prometheus is a Titan who stole fire from the gods in order to give it to humans.
     This act played an important role in the creation of human civilization, but provoked the wrath of the gods themselves.

Greek mythology remains extremely influential, and stories of gods, heroes and monsters are deeply rooted in world literature, art and culture.