Classical Myth: Creation Myths

The classical mythology encompasses the study of myths from the ancient Greek and Roman history and how they have received cultural reception over the years. The classical mythology has helped in shaping subject matter in these two societies in various tenets including music, poetry, drama, sculpture, and literary art among others. Research has shown that the classical myth dates back to 700 BC during the period of Homer and Hesiod. 1 Most fundamentally, many scholars agree that their primary mode of acquisition was through oral tradition. The Greek myths are drawn from the ancient Greek religion characterized by the stories of the gods and supernatural beings that remained an essential part of human life. On the other hand, the Roman myths include the traditional stories relating to the religious institutions, legendary origins, and moral models with a portrayal of the role of the deities in the lives of human beings. Out of the two societies, the Greeks have better shaped their mythology to explain the origin of the universe. The Greek creation myths maintain that in the beginning, the universe was empty and filled with darkness. Through the interrelationship displayed in the mythologies such as Gigantomachy, Saturn (Cronus) devouring his children, Prometheus, and Pandora, readers have a clear picture of how the universe came to being. The Greek creation myths have a profound cultural significance because of their attempt to explain the etiology of the world and its inhabitants. 

Gigantomachy 

Giants occupy a central role in many myths and legends. They are mythical creatures that are much bigger than the normal person. Also, they possess the human form but are monstrous in appearance. Although they showed great cruelty and evil mind, they would be let down by their clumsiness and stupidity. It is also important to note that giants represented chaos in society and as such, needed to be defeated by normal human beings. They remained a significant threat as they aimed at distorting the order observed in the natural world. In Greek mythology, the giants were a race of huge creatures that descended from Gaia and Uranus, the earth and heaven respectively. Some of the characteristics of the giants included having half human and half monster characteristics with the tails of a serpent instead of legs. Gaia showed profound anger with the father of the Olympian gods known as Zeus. 2 As a result, a war ensued between the Olympians and the giants known as the Gigantomachy. Furthermore, the gods required significant help from a human hero since the gods alone could not kill the giants. Zeus, therefore, sired a human mother and bore a son known as Hercules. The battle was at the home of the giants in a place known as Phlegra. The Giants put in a spirited fight throwing rocks and mountain tops. However, the gods also fought back with Hercules killing the giants one by one with his arrows. 

The gigantomachy is vital mythology in the history of Greek due to its cultural significance. First, it is an important documentation of creation because the creatures were the first descendants of the Gaia and the Uranus. Many scholars have also sought to associate the giants with the primitive tribes known as the Thrake or Thrace found in the Northern parts of Greece and whose barbarian behavior significantly differed from that of the Greek civilization. Others have also intimated that the members of this tribe came as a result of the recreation of the blood and ashes of the dead giants. Some have associated volcanism in parts of Greece and Italy to have come as a result of the buried giants. In emphasizing the cultural significance of the gigantomachy, many artists and sculptures have continued to create art depicting the brutal war between the gods and the giants. For many years, the gigantomachy myth has been reutilized in many contexts throughout Greek history. During the late 2 nd century BCE, the myth was represented in the Altar of Zeus at Pergamon. Part of the portrayal is that of Athena engaging in a battle with a giant known as Alkyoneos. The dying giants are also depicted writhing in pain as they fall down. Such scenes have been illustrated in many sculptures, paintings, and poems to contrast the order suggested by the Olympian gods versus the chaos brought in by the giants. The war of the Olympus has also been reutilized in many movies and films especially the portrayal of Hercules as the human leader who tilted the outcome of the war in favor of the gods. 

Saturn (Cronus) Devouring His Children 

Saturn is the Latin version of the Greek’s Cronus. Cronus had his father as Uranus, the lord of the skies. His mother was Gaia, who personified the earth. However, an animosity began between Gaia and Uranus after the latter had imprisoned tow of their children in the Tartarus. In the act of retribution, Gaia mobilized her sons to castrate Uranus. However, it was only Cronus who had envied the powers of his father that fell into the trap and castrated Uranus. He eventually claimed the throne of Uranus, imprisoned his brothers and adopted his sister Rhea to occupy the position of the queen. Consequently, Gaia and Uranus warned him that history would repeat itself and one of his sons would also dethrone him. As a result, he began eating his children one after the other soon after they were born to prevent such an unlikely scenario. Rhea on her part sought help from Gaia by asking her to save the children from the husband who had turned cannibalistic. 3 They hatched a plan that saw them tying stones to the baby towels which Cronus went ahead to eat without noticing any difference. As a consequent, this allowed Zeus to survive and grow in secrecy. The Greek myth also maintains that Cronus swallowed his children without any significant violence because of Rhea's intervention in duping him with the stones. Zeus, therefore, embarks on revenge in an attempt to punish his father and salvage all the children who are now stored in his father's stomach. He gives him a potion, and Cronus vomits all the children stored in the stomach. 

First, it is crucial to accredit this mythology and the role it plays in explaining the creation theory. It provides a picture of the first human offspring of Gaia and Uranus and the conflict that developed henceforth. It, therefore, paints a picture of the etiology of the first genealogy after Gaia and Uranus. Most fundamentally, it would be critical to appreciate the cultural significance of this story and how the Greeks have continued to re-utilize and represent it over the years. First, it is essential to understand that in the beginning, the Greek deities could essentially be described into three different levels. The first tier was occupied by what was referred to as the primordial deities who were primarily gods and goddesses occupied by Gaia and Uranus. The primordial gods gave birth to children leading to the second level of deities known as the Titans. One of the Titans was Cronus, and he also gave birth to Zeus and other Olympians leading to the third tiers of gods. The mythology shows a culture of power hunger where the sons develop an envious attitude towards their father leading to their dethroning. Greeks have primarily believed that Cronus was a representation of chaos and disorderliness. On the contrary, the Romans have in their history perceived the deity in a positive light. The mythological status of Cronus significantly fell due to his actions that that were regarded as immoral and monstrous. As a result, he has not featured much in several popular religious activities celebrated in the ancient Greek. However, it is important to note that his position was not entirely forgotten. 

The position of Cronus has significantly been re-utilized from time to time. For example, “In Athens, on the twelfth day of the Athenian month of Hekatombaion, a festival called Kronia was held in honor of Cronus.” 4 Since Cronus was known mainly as the god of agriculture, the celebration was significantly tied to agrarian practices. During the celebration of this event, some social mores were disregarded. For instance, the slaves were emancipated to commemorate a Cronus' time that had nothing to do with the institution of servitude. All the deities involved in this story continue to be represented in many ways today. "Cronus is often represented as an old man leaning on a scythe, with an hour-glass in his hand.” 5 Rhea has also continued to be worship and adored as a great mother. Art representation of Cronus especially in portraits and paintings has been a common practice up to date. Examples of depictions include his ultimate swallowing or vomiting of the children he had eaten in fear of getting dethroned. The position of Zeus in literature and films today continues to provide many audiences with an illustration of this myth that primarily features sons forcefully taking the positions of their fathers. 

Prometheus 

The Prometheus had a strong reputation for cleverness and trickery. Most fundamentally, he provided the human race with dire and the skill to pursue metalwork. However, these actions did not please Zeus, who punished him by ensuring that an eagle would eat his liver on a daily basis. It is also important to appreciate that Prometheus was a significant factor in the battle pitting the Olympian gods and the Titans. In an instance, Prometheus had asked the Titans to follow his trickery in the war, but they would not adhere to his demands. As a result, he decided to switch sides and supported the Olympian gods who ultimately became victorious. Some traditions have held that Prometheus created the first man from clay while there are others that believed that the gods were responsible for the creation of the earth and Prometheus was only there to provide the creatures with gifts so that they would survive. However, Prometheus engaged in a criminal act that would later change the landscape of humanity. He embarked on a raid on Hephaistos and Athena workshop on Mt. Olympus and took the fire, hid it, and gave it to man, as a gift to assist them in their struggles. He also taught the man how to use the gift of fire leading to the emergence of the gift of metalwork. As a result, this led to the development of science and culture. 

Due to his theft, Zeus was facing an imminent punishment that would be fulfilled by Zeus. Zeus showed outrage and dissatisfaction with the act of theft perpetrated by Prometheus. He was subsequently captured and taken furthest east where chained to a rock. Zeus would them send a Titan to eat the Tiran's liver on a daily basis. The case was even worse as the liver would continuously re-grow giving an opportunity for the eagle to come back again and eat the flesh. However, Hercules saved his situation one day using an arrow as he passed nearby. The mythology is vital for depicting the stories of creation as it further explains the punishment of the man who had received a stolen fire. Zeus instructed a deity known as Hephaistos to create the woman, who would later be known as Pandora. She was created from clay, and all the negative aspects of life came due to her position in the life of man. 6 She led to the suffering of man in various aspects such as war, illness, and death. Furthermore, she destroyed the cordial relationship with men enjoyed with their gods. However, the deity has remained a symbolic figure in the cultural observations of the Greek people. For instance, Prometheus has been significantly worshipped in most parts of Athens. The group of people that have shown the most allegiance to this group of people is the potters mainly because they fire in the creation of their kilns. In honor of the role that this god played, there has been an annual torch race as a way of paying homage to the critical position he held. The re-utilization of the myth has been overemphasized by the introduction of Prometheus in the Greek art during the 7 th century BCE. Most of the portrayals have shown him being punished by Zeus. The theme of his brutal punishment has been an important subject in many works of art such as poems such as in the work of Aeschylus who wrote a tragic poem known as "Prometheus Bound" that recounted these tragic events. 

As earlier mentioned, Prometheus has held an excellent reputation for being one of the wisest deities ever in Greek mythology. Many people continue to acknowledge him for his actions in bringing knowledge and enlightenment to human beings. Other than the pieces of art and poems that have documented this valuable historical information, many books today continue to utilize this story in developing their respective stories. For instance, the novel "Frankenstein" was significantly influenced by this Greek tale. 

Pandora 

The Greek mythology on Pandora is critically important because it documents the etiology of the first woman. The story dates back to that of the Titan Prometheus who was given an opportunity to create the entire human race. However, Prometheus was dissatisfied with the high level of meanness illustrated by the gods and decided to steal fire. Part of the punishment directed to humanity for their sin in receiving the fire was Zeus command to his gods, especially Hephaestus to create the first woman known as Pandora. The woman was then delivered to Prometheus’ younger brother known as Epimetheus who was known for his foolishness. Additionally, Zeus accorded the woman a storage jar to act as a wedding gift. On opening, the jar would release evil spirits that were initially trapped within her. Such spirits would forever bring humanity problems ranging from illness to death. The only spirit that remained behind was “Elpis” or hope, a form of blessing that would ease humanity from their problems. Pandora's daughter was known as Pyrrha or Fire, and she became the first child to be born of a mortal parent. Pyrrha was married by Deucalion together with whom they survived the Great Deluge. They had a significant task of repopulating the world. As a result, they received instructions to cast stones on both sides of their shoulders, and as a result, this would form a new race of men and women. 

The cultural significance of Pandora's Greek mythology forms a critical discussion among many scholars. First, it is vital to appreciate the role of the myth in contributing to the creation story. First, it explains the role of gods such as Zeus and Hephaestus in the creation of the first ever woman. It also paints a picture of the circumstances surrounding their creation which was an essential punishment to the human race for acting as an accomplice in the theft of fire that had been perpetrated by the deity of Prometheus. The story is usually juxtaposed with the biblical account of Adam and Eve who were the first human beings. 7 Eve caused the man to sin leading to a curse of pain and suffering from God. Therefore, this mythology on Pandora significantly influenced the position of women in Greek society. The myth essential paints a picture of how men lived in good health and peace before the coming of the first women. Pandora acted as a punishment to men and would unleash diseases, evil, and misery in general. As a result, women were regarded continuously as necessary evils in the ancient Greek. It further painted them as devious, untrustworthy, and a glorification of a paternalistic structure that has taken roots in the ancient culture for a long time. The myth is also a justification that women were less important than men. The legal and citizenship status of many women in the ancient Greek society was subject to men. The women were always thrown to the periphery with an undue form of guidance imposed on them. Over the years, the Athenian women have also faced discrimination and a lifetime ban from owning property. All these are cultural tenets that came as a result of the creation of Pandora. 

The mythology of Pandora has also been utilized throughout history in several contexts. First, the creation of Pandora has been portrayed in various vase paintings. In most circumstances, she appears as a statue surrounding by a group of gods. In others, she depicts the figure of a woman rising out the ground. Some artists have also attempted to picture her as a woman surrounded by the dancing Satyroi. Her position has also been subject to many plays with the most famous one a play by Sophocles known as Satyr. The myth has significantly contributed to English and many other languages across the globe with a phrase known as the “Pandora’s Box.” The box is equated to the jar that had secrets of evil that when opened, would affect humanity. Dramatists have also played a significant role in re-establishing the myth today courtesy of their plays in the 17 th and 18 th century. Most fundamentally, the myth has featured in many poems and films over the past century in an attempt to recount the events leading up to the creation of the first woman according to the Greek culture. 8 

In conclusion, the Greek creation myths have a profound cultural significance because of their of their attempt to explain the etiology of the world and its inhabitants. The gigantomachy explained the etiology of the first giants from Gaia and Uranus and their subsequent battles with the Olympus gods. The story of Saturn or Cronus reveals one of the descendants of Gaia who decided to dethrone his father and eat his children fearing that the same would happen to him. Prometheus was the god of wit and knowledge and was punished for his actions in stealing fire and giving it to the man. The creation of Pandora was a consequent of the actions of Prometheus in availing fire to humanity. All these myths have a cultural significance in the Greek society and help an individual to relate how they impacted the society today. Most fundamentally, they have since been reutilized in a wide array of contexts including art, literature, and films among others. 

Bibliography 

Blundell, Sue. The Origins of Civilization in Greek and Roman Thought (Routledge Revivals). Routledge, 2016. 

Bremmer, Jan N. Interpretations of Greek Mythology (Routledge Revivals). Routledge, 2014. 

Bertagnolli, Paul. Prometheus in music: representations of the myth in the romantic era. Routledge, 2017. 

Evslin, Bernard. Gods, Demigods, and Demons: An Encyclopedia of Greek Mythology. Open Road Media, 2012. 

Newby, Zahra. Greek Myths in Roman Art and Culture: Imagery, Values, and Identity in Italy, 50 BC-AD 250 . Cambridge University Press, 2016. 

Slater, Philip Elliot. The glory of Hera: Greek mythology and the Greek family. Vol. 99. Princeton University Press, 2014. 

1 Sue, Blundell. The Origins of Civilization in Greek and Roman Thought (Routledge Revivals). Routledge, 2016. 

2 Philip Elliot, Slater. The glory of Hera: Greek mythology and the Greek family. Vol. 99. Princeton University Press, 2014. 

3 Philip Elliot, Slater. The glory of Hera: Greek mythology and the Greek family. Vol. 99. Princeton University Press, 2014. 

4 Zahra, Newby. Greek Myths in Roman Art and Culture: Imagery, Values, and Identity in Italy, 50 BC-AD 250. Cambridge University Press, 2016. 

5 Zahra, Newby. Greek Myths in Roman Art and Culture: Imagery, Values, and Identity in Italy, 50 BC-AD 250. Cambridge University Press, 2016. 

6 Bertagnolli, Paul. Prometheus in music: representations of the myth in the romantic era. Routledge, 2017. 

7 Bernard, Evslin. Gods, Demigods, and Demons: An Encyclopedia of Greek Mythology. Open Road Media, 2012. 

8 Jan N., Bremmer. Interpretations of Greek Mythology (Routledge Revivals). Routledge, 2014.