31 Facts about Greek Mythology

The Greek civilization was one of the most influential in the history of the world. They gave us democracy, mathematics, philosophy, and of course, their crazy mythology that has been portrayed in films such as Clash of the Titans, Heracles, and Percy Jackson and the Olympians. Many people relate to the Greek gods because of their surprisingly human behaviour.

Here are a few facts you may not have known about Greek mythology.

Greek mythology has been around for a long time, and the stories have been told and retold, with a few tweaks along the way.

This means that there are many different--and sometimes conflicting--versions of these stories, so please keep this in mind while reading.

31. Titans

The twelve Titans were the group of gods immediately preceding the Olympian gods in Greek mythology. The Olympians defeated the Titans in a battle and took control of the world.

30. Aww Hell

As Lord of the Underworld, Hades gets treated as the Greek equivalent of the devil. But, in actuality, he got the job because he and his brothers drew straws and he got stuck with the underworld.

Seriously, the story goes Hades drew lots with his brothers, Zeus and Poseidon, to decide which part of the world each would rule. Zeus received the sky, Poseidon the seas, and Hades the underworld.

29. Covered All the Bases

Hades is not considered to be the equivalent of death, he just rules over the dead in his kingdom (the underworld).  Thanatos, the god of peaceful death, brings people to the underworld and in that sense acts as death.

Violent death was the domain of Thanatos' blood-craving sisters, the Keres, spirits of slaughter and disease.

Relief of Thanatos

28. Don’t Look Back

Hades was considered to be quite fair. For example, when Orpheus descended to the underworld to get his bride, Hades was so moved that he agreed to let the woman go on the condition that Orpheus not look back.

Of course, Orpheus did because he’s stupid and he lost her. But that’s not Hades’ fault.