04.06.2007, 10:58
“The Ancient ‘Greek gods’ were Greek”
We often read in books, see movies and hear stories about the so called mythical “Greek gods” but have we ever stopped to think what makes these deities Greek? Are they “Greek” because they originated where modern Greece is today? Are they “Greek” in a national sense? Are they Greek because the Ancients that lived in the region where modern Greece is today wrote about them? How are they “Greek”?
The word “Greek” before the word “gods” implies that there is a relationship between “Greek” and “gods” which means that in some way these gods belong to Greece or the “Greeks”. Since these “gods” are not associated with other Mediterranean people such as the Macedonians, Paeonians, Illyrians, Thracians, Phrygians, Lydians, Carians, Lycians, Paphlagonians, Cappadocians, Cilicians, Picidians, Pamphylians and others, in a similar manner, who also celebrated and believed in them, then one is led to believe that these gods must be exclusively connected to Greece and the “Greeks”
The question is how?
Among several sources we consulted, Microsoft’s Encarta encyclopedia under the heading “Greek Mythology” had an explanation but this explanation did not enforce the idea that the so called “Greek gods” were actually “Greek”.
According to Encarta, mythology in written form appeared for the first time in the literary works of Hesiod and Homer around the eighth century BC. Homer, as we know, produced the famous works the “Iliad” and “Odyssey” and Hesiod produced the poems “Theogony”. Both authors in their respective works talk about the various tales and legends associated with ancient deities. Hesiod, however, according to Encarta, takes a step further and introduces a larger number of myths that include deities that are not mentioned by Homer. Hesiod, in “Theogony”, who talks about the creation of the world, the birth of the gods as well as their adventures, NEVER ONCE mentions “Greek” or any other name derived from this word!
Similarly, Homer in his works the “Iliad” and the “Odyssey”, considered to be reliable sources for the so called “Greek Mythology” and the “Greek gods”, NEVER ONCE mentions the word “Greek” or any other name derived from this word!
So again, how are these so called “Greek gods” “Greek”? Perhaps the authors who wrote about them were from the region where modern Greece is today?
According to Carlos Parada, an internationally recognized researcher and expert on mythology, the following authors have contributed to the so called “Greek mythology”;
Author
%
Contribution
Lived in
/ Ethnicity
Year
Apolodorus
19
Alexandria
/ Unknown *
2nd Cent. AD
Paucsanias
12
Lydia
/ Lydian
Hyginus
12
Rome
/ Unknown (Spanish?)
1st Cent. AD
Homer
8
Asia Minor?
/ Unknown
8 Cent. BC?
Ovid
6
Rome
/ Roman
43BC-17AD
Nonnus
5
Egypt
/ Egyptian
5th Cent. AD
Hesiod
4.6
Boeotia
/ Boeotian **
8th Cent. BC?
Diodorus Siculus
4.4
Sicily
/ Sicilian
21 BC
Virgil
4
Mantua Italy
/ Roman
70 and 19 BC
Quintus Smynaeus
3.3
Statius
2.6
Rome
/ Roman
1st Cent. AD
Antonius Liberalis
2
Rome
/ Roman
Valerius Flaccus
2
Rome
/ Roman
1st Cent. AD
Apollonius Rhodius
1.8
Alexandria
? Unknown
3rd Cent. BC
Dionysius of Halicarnassus
1.5
Caria
/ Unknown
1st Cent. BC
Euripides
1.5
Attica
/ Athenian **
480 BC
Plutarch
1.3
Boeotia
/ Boeotian **
46 AD
Herodotus
1
Caria
/ Carian
484-425 BC
Pindarus (Pindar)
1
Thebes
/ Boeotian
518-438 BC
Parhenius of Nicaea
1
Aeschylus
0.5
Aristophanes
0.4
Caimachus
0.4
Cicero
0.3
* Highest probability - Macedonian
** From Ancient City States south of Mount Olympus where Modern Greece is located today.
From the table above, we can see that the vast majority of works about the so-called “Greek mythology” and the “Greek gods” were in fact written by NON-GREEKS or by authors of unknown origin/ethnicity.
If the authors who wrote about them were not “Greek” then perhaps the legends of the so called “Greek gods” originated somewhere in the lands of modern Greece?
Unfortunately, that is not true either. According to Herodotus, many of the elements of the so called “Greek myths” associated with the “Greek gods” were borrowed from foreign religions, mainly from the Pelasgi who in turn borrowed them from the Egyptians. (There are some scientists today who believe the Pelasgi lived in the lower Balkans, including Macedonia and were the ancestors of the Slavs).
However, let as not just take Herodotus’s word. Let’s examine the mythological deities themselves starting with the supreme god Zeus.
According to the Grolier Encyclopedia, Zeus is a celestial deity of Indo-European origin symbolically associated with the sky. Poseidon, the elder brother of Zeus, is also a deity of Indo-European origin. Apollo, on the other hand, is an Asian deity from the Asian shaman cults, imported from Siberia.
The following is a list of deities and major mythical figures commonly referred to as “Greek gods” and “Greek mythical figures” who are believed to be of “non-Greek” origins;
Deity/Major Figure
Origin
Source
Rhigmus
Thracian
Carlos Parada
Diomedes
Thracian
Carlos Parada
Phineus
Thracian
Carlos Parada
Tereus
Thracian
Carlos Parada
Rhesus
Thracian
Carlos Parada
Alcon
Thracian
Carlos Parada
Memnon
Ethiopian
Carlos Parada
Alcyoneus
Ethiopian
Quintus Smyrnaeus
Alexipus
Ethiopian
Quintus Smyrnaeus
Clydon
Ethiopian
Quintus Smyrnaeus
Laomedon
Ethiopian
Quintus Smyrnaeus
Mmeneclus
Ethiopian
Quintus Smyrnaeus
Nychius
Ethiopian
Quintus Smyrnaeus
Thalius
Ethiopian
Quintus Smyrnaeus
Andromeda
Ethiopian
Carlos Parada
Cepheus
Phoenician
Carlos Parada
Europa
Phoenician
Carlos Parada
Pelops
Phrygian
Carlos Parada
Agenor
Egyptian
Carlos Parada
Belus
Egyptian
Carlos Parada
Midus
Phrygian
Carlos Parada
Opis
Phrygian
Carlos Parada
Aura
Phrygian
Carlos Parada
Proteus
Egyptian
Carlos Parada
Egeria
Italian
Ovid
Hora
Roman
Ovid
Janus
Roman
Carlos Parada
Juturna
Roman
Carlos Parada
Penates
Roman
Carlos Parada
Tantalus
Paphlagonia
Carlos Parada
Orchamus
Persia
Carlos Parada
Pyramus
Babylon
Carlos Parada
Thisbe
Babylon
Carlos Parada
Dido
Cartagenan
Carlos Parada
Nicea
Indian
Carlos Parada
Phoenix
Arabian
Carlos Parada
Hypnos
From the Black Sea region
Carlos Parada
Muses (9)
Macedonian
Carlos Parada
Dionysus
Macedonian (Brygian)
Grolier Encyclopedia
For details on the above, see Donski, pages 146 to 173, “The Myth about the so-called ‘Greek Mythology’”, in his book “The Descendants of Alexander the Great of Macedon”.
From the table above, we can see that a large number of deities and important mythical figures have purposely or unwittingly been misrepresented. Clearly they are not of “Greek origins”
And finally, perhaps the so called “Greek gods” were “Greek” because they were exclusively celebrated by the ancient people who lived south of Mount Olympus where modern Greece is today?
That too, I am afraid is not true. The mythical gods, referred to as the “Greek gods”, were common to most ancient Mediterranean nations and cultures. They were as much universal to the ancient world as Christ and Christianity is universal to our modern world.
THE TRUTH The Ancient “Greek gods” were not Greek at all! In fact, referring to them as “Greek gods” would be a myth in itself.
It is more appropriate, truthful and precise to call them Mediterranean gods than it is to call them “Greek gods”. After all, they were celebrated, revered and feared by many more nations and cultures north, east and west of Mount Olympus than they were south of Mount Olympus. And that is the truth.
Sources
“Greek Mythology”. Microsoft Encarta 98 Encyclopedia, USA, 1998.
Aleksandar Donski, “The Descendants of Alexander the Great of Macedon, The Arguments and Evidence that Today’s Macedonians are Descendants of the Ancient Macedonians”. Shtip, 2004.
Carlos Parada, “Geneological Guide to Greek Mythology”. Philadelphia: Coronoet Books, 1993.
The Columbia Encyclopedia. Third Edition, New York: Columbia University Press, 1963.
Grolier Encyclopedia. Navato: Grolier Electronic Publishing Inc., 1995.
We often read in books, see movies and hear stories about the so called mythical “Greek gods” but have we ever stopped to think what makes these deities Greek? Are they “Greek” because they originated where modern Greece is today? Are they “Greek” in a national sense? Are they Greek because the Ancients that lived in the region where modern Greece is today wrote about them? How are they “Greek”?
The word “Greek” before the word “gods” implies that there is a relationship between “Greek” and “gods” which means that in some way these gods belong to Greece or the “Greeks”. Since these “gods” are not associated with other Mediterranean people such as the Macedonians, Paeonians, Illyrians, Thracians, Phrygians, Lydians, Carians, Lycians, Paphlagonians, Cappadocians, Cilicians, Picidians, Pamphylians and others, in a similar manner, who also celebrated and believed in them, then one is led to believe that these gods must be exclusively connected to Greece and the “Greeks”
The question is how?
Among several sources we consulted, Microsoft’s Encarta encyclopedia under the heading “Greek Mythology” had an explanation but this explanation did not enforce the idea that the so called “Greek gods” were actually “Greek”.
According to Encarta, mythology in written form appeared for the first time in the literary works of Hesiod and Homer around the eighth century BC. Homer, as we know, produced the famous works the “Iliad” and “Odyssey” and Hesiod produced the poems “Theogony”. Both authors in their respective works talk about the various tales and legends associated with ancient deities. Hesiod, however, according to Encarta, takes a step further and introduces a larger number of myths that include deities that are not mentioned by Homer. Hesiod, in “Theogony”, who talks about the creation of the world, the birth of the gods as well as their adventures, NEVER ONCE mentions “Greek” or any other name derived from this word!
Similarly, Homer in his works the “Iliad” and the “Odyssey”, considered to be reliable sources for the so called “Greek Mythology” and the “Greek gods”, NEVER ONCE mentions the word “Greek” or any other name derived from this word!
So again, how are these so called “Greek gods” “Greek”? Perhaps the authors who wrote about them were from the region where modern Greece is today?
According to Carlos Parada, an internationally recognized researcher and expert on mythology, the following authors have contributed to the so called “Greek mythology”;
Author
%
Contribution
Lived in
/ Ethnicity
Year
Apolodorus
19
Alexandria
/ Unknown *
2nd Cent. AD
Paucsanias
12
Lydia
/ Lydian
Hyginus
12
Rome
/ Unknown (Spanish?)
1st Cent. AD
Homer
8
Asia Minor?
/ Unknown
8 Cent. BC?
Ovid
6
Rome
/ Roman
43BC-17AD
Nonnus
5
Egypt
/ Egyptian
5th Cent. AD
Hesiod
4.6
Boeotia
/ Boeotian **
8th Cent. BC?
Diodorus Siculus
4.4
Sicily
/ Sicilian
21 BC
Virgil
4
Mantua Italy
/ Roman
70 and 19 BC
Quintus Smynaeus
3.3
Statius
2.6
Rome
/ Roman
1st Cent. AD
Antonius Liberalis
2
Rome
/ Roman
Valerius Flaccus
2
Rome
/ Roman
1st Cent. AD
Apollonius Rhodius
1.8
Alexandria
? Unknown
3rd Cent. BC
Dionysius of Halicarnassus
1.5
Caria
/ Unknown
1st Cent. BC
Euripides
1.5
Attica
/ Athenian **
480 BC
Plutarch
1.3
Boeotia
/ Boeotian **
46 AD
Herodotus
1
Caria
/ Carian
484-425 BC
Pindarus (Pindar)
1
Thebes
/ Boeotian
518-438 BC
Parhenius of Nicaea
1
Aeschylus
0.5
Aristophanes
0.4
Caimachus
0.4
Cicero
0.3
* Highest probability - Macedonian
** From Ancient City States south of Mount Olympus where Modern Greece is located today.
From the table above, we can see that the vast majority of works about the so-called “Greek mythology” and the “Greek gods” were in fact written by NON-GREEKS or by authors of unknown origin/ethnicity.
If the authors who wrote about them were not “Greek” then perhaps the legends of the so called “Greek gods” originated somewhere in the lands of modern Greece?
Unfortunately, that is not true either. According to Herodotus, many of the elements of the so called “Greek myths” associated with the “Greek gods” were borrowed from foreign religions, mainly from the Pelasgi who in turn borrowed them from the Egyptians. (There are some scientists today who believe the Pelasgi lived in the lower Balkans, including Macedonia and were the ancestors of the Slavs).
However, let as not just take Herodotus’s word. Let’s examine the mythological deities themselves starting with the supreme god Zeus.
According to the Grolier Encyclopedia, Zeus is a celestial deity of Indo-European origin symbolically associated with the sky. Poseidon, the elder brother of Zeus, is also a deity of Indo-European origin. Apollo, on the other hand, is an Asian deity from the Asian shaman cults, imported from Siberia.
The following is a list of deities and major mythical figures commonly referred to as “Greek gods” and “Greek mythical figures” who are believed to be of “non-Greek” origins;
Deity/Major Figure
Origin
Source
Rhigmus
Thracian
Carlos Parada
Diomedes
Thracian
Carlos Parada
Phineus
Thracian
Carlos Parada
Tereus
Thracian
Carlos Parada
Rhesus
Thracian
Carlos Parada
Alcon
Thracian
Carlos Parada
Memnon
Ethiopian
Carlos Parada
Alcyoneus
Ethiopian
Quintus Smyrnaeus
Alexipus
Ethiopian
Quintus Smyrnaeus
Clydon
Ethiopian
Quintus Smyrnaeus
Laomedon
Ethiopian
Quintus Smyrnaeus
Mmeneclus
Ethiopian
Quintus Smyrnaeus
Nychius
Ethiopian
Quintus Smyrnaeus
Thalius
Ethiopian
Quintus Smyrnaeus
Andromeda
Ethiopian
Carlos Parada
Cepheus
Phoenician
Carlos Parada
Europa
Phoenician
Carlos Parada
Pelops
Phrygian
Carlos Parada
Agenor
Egyptian
Carlos Parada
Belus
Egyptian
Carlos Parada
Midus
Phrygian
Carlos Parada
Opis
Phrygian
Carlos Parada
Aura
Phrygian
Carlos Parada
Proteus
Egyptian
Carlos Parada
Egeria
Italian
Ovid
Hora
Roman
Ovid
Janus
Roman
Carlos Parada
Juturna
Roman
Carlos Parada
Penates
Roman
Carlos Parada
Tantalus
Paphlagonia
Carlos Parada
Orchamus
Persia
Carlos Parada
Pyramus
Babylon
Carlos Parada
Thisbe
Babylon
Carlos Parada
Dido
Cartagenan
Carlos Parada
Nicea
Indian
Carlos Parada
Phoenix
Arabian
Carlos Parada
Hypnos
From the Black Sea region
Carlos Parada
Muses (9)
Macedonian
Carlos Parada
Dionysus
Macedonian (Brygian)
Grolier Encyclopedia
For details on the above, see Donski, pages 146 to 173, “The Myth about the so-called ‘Greek Mythology’”, in his book “The Descendants of Alexander the Great of Macedon”.
From the table above, we can see that a large number of deities and important mythical figures have purposely or unwittingly been misrepresented. Clearly they are not of “Greek origins”
And finally, perhaps the so called “Greek gods” were “Greek” because they were exclusively celebrated by the ancient people who lived south of Mount Olympus where modern Greece is today?
That too, I am afraid is not true. The mythical gods, referred to as the “Greek gods”, were common to most ancient Mediterranean nations and cultures. They were as much universal to the ancient world as Christ and Christianity is universal to our modern world.
THE TRUTH The Ancient “Greek gods” were not Greek at all! In fact, referring to them as “Greek gods” would be a myth in itself.
It is more appropriate, truthful and precise to call them Mediterranean gods than it is to call them “Greek gods”. After all, they were celebrated, revered and feared by many more nations and cultures north, east and west of Mount Olympus than they were south of Mount Olympus. And that is the truth.
Sources
“Greek Mythology”. Microsoft Encarta 98 Encyclopedia, USA, 1998.
Aleksandar Donski, “The Descendants of Alexander the Great of Macedon, The Arguments and Evidence that Today’s Macedonians are Descendants of the Ancient Macedonians”. Shtip, 2004.
Carlos Parada, “Geneological Guide to Greek Mythology”. Philadelphia: Coronoet Books, 1993.
The Columbia Encyclopedia. Third Edition, New York: Columbia University Press, 1963.
Grolier Encyclopedia. Navato: Grolier Electronic Publishing Inc., 1995.