All those fables from Greek mythology ... tribute to the Gods or making fun of them?

Question

were they actually laughing at God in their own way ? Or could the intricacies of the mythologies be considered proof of extra reverence to God or Gods ?

Answer 1

Usually fables from Greek mythology explain things. Like the story of Persephone, that story explains the seasons changings. It can also be a tribute but more than often were used as explinations.

Answer 2

What do you mean "proof of an extra reverance to God"? That question doesnt relate to the context of fables /mythologies. As far as I am concerned these mythologies/fables are just a way of explaining natural phenomena that might be poorly understood. As far as an extra reverance to God is concerned, I doubt if they have a choice but to be reverent.

Answer 3

xenophanes of colophon was an ancient greek, pre-socratic philosopher who lived around 540B.C. he criticized both Homer and Hesiod, the two most revered poets and primary sources of mythology of the greeks. xenophanes wrote,
"Homer and Hesiod have ascribed to the gods all things that are a shame and a disgrace among mortals, stealings and
adulteries and deceivings of one another." herakleitos of ephesos was even harsher. "Homer was wrong in saying,'Would that strife might perish from among gods and men!' He did not see that he was praying for the destruction of the universe for, if his prayer were heard, all things would pass away." And, " Homer should be turned out from the lists..."

Both of these ancient thinkers belonged to the priestly cast and lived their lives associated with temples. they were the intellectuals of their day and they did not appreciate the popular notions of deity that were held by the peasant masses.

but the myths themselves that so scandalized these philosopher priests were not originated by homer and hesiod. the myths were used by priests to teach their flocks, like the career of jesus is used as metaphorical source material for christian preaching from the pulpit in our day.

myths are always mystery stories. the modern reader, so many removes from the original context in which the stories evolved, can never hope to penetrate the "true" meaning of the myth or the nature of the gods. all myths have "secret" meanings that only the highest priests understand and perpetuate. those priests are long gone. the myths as we know them are the only the public survivals of their efforts.

so a god who kills and rapes and adulterizes certainly appears to be an evil super-human spirit and nothing more, and certainly only to be feared, rather than loved and worshiped. but we can be certain, that to the priests who perpetuated these myths, their job was to explain, how every act of god is holy, to the masses and to themselves.

for if the gods did indeed make the universe, realistically speaking, and not in punishment for some mythological ill deed committed long long ago a la Adam and Eve, then it is reasonable for humans to wonder why so much pain is associated with living, as harm we both suffer and inflict in order to survive. homer is concrete in his notion of the gods, herakleitos is abstract. both try to justify the world just as it is.

And this is one of the most terrifying ideas and the most beautiful. Could the world and its ways be any different than it is? Mythology teaches us somehow about reality. It's the "somehow" that really makes mythology fun. visit my website at odysseusepicmythhero.com.

Answer 4

I think that they could be considered proof of extra reverence to God or Gods.

Answer 5

The Greek myths were about the Greek gods and demigods. They are to the ancient Greeks as the Talmud was to the ancient Jews.

Some of their myths were most likely inspired by exposed fossils, and mammoth bones may have been venerated as "hero bones".

Answer 6

All societies in the past came to the conclusion that there has to be a higher power governing this world. So they made their idols and worshiped their God(s), whether false or real.

Answer 7

Greek Gods were looked at *very* differently than most religions view their devine-entities in today's society... they had very human emotions and foibles - they could be wraithful and sinful and very child-like in many ways... yet they were still very powerful and they were credited with many of nature's events.

Answer 8

tribute to the gods they were also used to explain stuff

Answer 9

I think it is Satan's mockery and some probably actually take it for truth and fact.

Answer 10

It was their way of explaining the world. Humorous sometimes, but not irreverent.