Why did the ancient Greeks create myths?

Answer 1

Heroic myths were considered true stories, but no one really knew where they came from.
As for other myths, like Aesop's myths, they were created to teach people certain values of life.

Answer 2

The ancient Greeks are not different from any other society - every one creates its own myths. Today in the U.S. there is a multi-billion dollar entertainment industry recycling or creating new myths. Myths have always served the function of passing on History and knowledge from previous generations.

Answer 3

Myth blends half-remembered history with attempts at explaining natural events and human behavior.

It's hard for us to 'distance ourselves' from our 'logical' view of the universe where everything is known and explained, and even the light pollution in our skies makes it hard for us to understand what a stunningly dramatic spectacle the milky way would have been as it arched across a pitch black landscape each night.

The ancient Greeks (and other people of that time) were no less interested (indeed driven) than us in their attempt to 'understand the universe', and myths were their explanations, and in many ways useful ones. Their insight into human emotions and behavior was finely tuned, even if they used different 'labels' to describe things that we know as depression, or stress or anger.

A lot of the historical myths, legends of heroes and Gods were likely to reflect actual history. For example, where a certain God was defeated by another God (as the Titans were by the Olympians) it is thought by some to reflect one race - who worshiped the Titan Gods, being overwhelmed by another race who worshiped the Olympian Gods

The point of all this - I guess - is that we shouldn't dismiss myth as simply 'stories', but remember that every story tells us something about the subject of the story, or the teller of the story, and often both. And the degree to which the story resonates with us (how it 'moves' us) also tells us something about ourselves - even today.

Answer 4

Because they couldn't explain away some of the "extraordinary" things that happen to them and around them. Myths do not belong to the ancient Greeks alone. Every society has, had and would have myths and folklores of its own. It's a way man can feel warm and secure in an alien world which seems to threaten his existence and in which he finds himself vulnerable all the time.

Answer 5

The used myths to explain natural events - For example the myth about death and the river Styxx. This was a way to explain what happens when you die. There is also a myth about the rising and setting of the sun(I can't remember who is was) but he pulled the sun across the sky with a chariot. Also their was a god Somulus who came to you and blew sand in your eyes that caused sleep.

Answer 6

Mainly as a form of education. Myth was previous to philosophy as a way to explain things.

Answer 7

Myths created in order to explain phenomenons like thunders, fire, the meaning of life, world's creation that they couldn't explain with the artificial knowledge they had then.

Answer 8

so that they have scary stories to tell their children
and i suppose you can also class it as a part of what they beleived in

It was probably in fact the higher power of their Religion that started Myths to make sure that the people of Greece stayed in line and didnt do anything against their Gods as they would be struck down or eaten by some HUGE thing ???

Answer 9

I think to explain the world

Answer 10

Because they fascinate us they want to tell about there believe