The Mythology of Greece and Rome, With Special Reference to Its Use in Art

The Mythology of Greece and Rome, With Special Reference to Its Use in Art

Myths may be described as poetic narratives of the birth, life, and actions of the old heathen gods and heroes or demigods. Both myth and legend[1] are distinguished from the Mhrchen, or popular tale, by not being, like the latter, a mere product of the imagination, but always being founded on some preceding reality, whether that be an oft-recurring phase of nature, or a distinct and real occurrence. It is often most difficult to recognise with any precision the true germ of a myth, on account of the numerous additions and alterations made by the poets. And therefore the question, whether a particular tradition be a myth or not, is very hard to answer: on one side we are tempted to view, in the god or demigod, the hero of a tribe magnified to superhuman proportions by the admiration of 12posterity; and, on the other side, comparison of the legends of different families of nations points us to the operations of nature, not only in the demigod or the hero, but in the animals of fable and the traditions of the nursery. 1. The German word sage (legend) is really only a translation of the Greek word mythos, and is often used in that sense. But lately the custom has tacitly sprung up of employing the term mythos when speaking of the life or actions of the gods, and sage when speaking of those of heroes. A large proportion of these myths are due to mens observations of Nature, and her various active and creative forces, which appeared to their lively Southern fancy as manifestations of single supernatural beings. These were regarded, now as friendly, now as hostile, to man; and men therefore strove as eagerly to gain their favour as to appease their wrath. Of the appearance of the deities who thus manifested themselves in the workings of nature, men necessarily formed at first very crude and fantastic ideas. But later, when men emerged from the simple conditions of the early patriarchal epoch, and began to dwell in regular political communities, they gradually ceased to regard the gods as mere personifications of natural forces. They began to regard them as beings acting in accordance with unchangeable moral laws, and endowed with forms similar to those of men (Anthropomorphism). They brought the gods into connection with each other by means of genealogies in a great measure artificial, and built up a vast political system, which has its centre in Zeus, the father of gods and men. ......Buy Now (To Read More)

Product details

Ebook Number: 61901
Author: Seemann, Otto
Release Date: Apr 23, 2020
Format: eBook
Language: English

Contributors

Editor: Bianchi, G. H. (George Henry)