Meddling
with the gods is dangerous. Often the best advice one could be
given would be to have as little to do with them as possible. Give them
their sacrifices, worship them, and leave them alone. This is good
advice because the Greek gods share the same human emotions that we do.
They love, they hate, they feel jealous, and they feel wrath. And
pleasing the gods is almost as dangerous as angering them.
This storybook will examine the flaws of the Greek gods. The emotions that drive the Greek gods cause them to make rash decisions and their human vices can create major character flaws. For example, how the King of the Gods, Zeus, would not remain loyal to his wife, Hera, who was the goddess of marriage and birth. Or how Apollo, the god of the sun, fell in love with a woman who did not want him and had vowed to remain a virgin. The way the gods punish humans who boast that their skill, beauty, or abilities exceeded the gods' own abilities causes the gods to punish them without mercy. The gods of Greek myth are spiteful, jealous beings who use humanity to alleviate boredom or to get back at their fellow gods. It is the flaws that makes the gods so much like humans but also it is what makes them so dangerous.
The first story in this story book is about the maiden, Europa, whose beauty and innocence causes Zeus to decide to disguise himself as a sacred white bull. He disguises himself so that she would not be frightened and so that he could abduct her for his own sordid reasons. This story shows just how lustful and tricky a god can be to get what he wants.
The second story is about Daphne who vows to be a virgin. However, her beauty causes Apollo to fall in love with her. Although she receives the help of a goddess, it is unclear if this truly rescues Daphne since Apollo still claims her as his own. The gods are forceful and will take what they want. Apollo's desire and pride makes him not realize that Daphne does not want him or any man.
The third story is about the importance of not angering the gods and the punishment that one can get if they are angered. Arakhne boasted that her weaving was better even than Athena's, the goddess of war, wisdom, and art. Although Athena gives Arakhna the chance to take back what she said, they end up having a weaving contest. Athena was jealous of the girl's skill but also of the attention that was paid to it.
The fourth story is about how the gods can be compassionate and kind in their own way, but there is a stipulation or price. In this story, Orpheus travels to the underworld to save his wife from an untimely death but is he able to complete the small task that Persephone, the queen of the underworld, sets before him?
The Greek gods and the people who worship them share the same personality flaws. Humanity, however, should remember that if it becomes a question of who is more skilled or right that humans should remain humble or be humbled because the punishment for angering the gods might be a fate worse than death.
This storybook will examine the flaws of the Greek gods. The emotions that drive the Greek gods cause them to make rash decisions and their human vices can create major character flaws. For example, how the King of the Gods, Zeus, would not remain loyal to his wife, Hera, who was the goddess of marriage and birth. Or how Apollo, the god of the sun, fell in love with a woman who did not want him and had vowed to remain a virgin. The way the gods punish humans who boast that their skill, beauty, or abilities exceeded the gods' own abilities causes the gods to punish them without mercy. The gods of Greek myth are spiteful, jealous beings who use humanity to alleviate boredom or to get back at their fellow gods. It is the flaws that makes the gods so much like humans but also it is what makes them so dangerous.
The first story in this story book is about the maiden, Europa, whose beauty and innocence causes Zeus to decide to disguise himself as a sacred white bull. He disguises himself so that she would not be frightened and so that he could abduct her for his own sordid reasons. This story shows just how lustful and tricky a god can be to get what he wants.
The second story is about Daphne who vows to be a virgin. However, her beauty causes Apollo to fall in love with her. Although she receives the help of a goddess, it is unclear if this truly rescues Daphne since Apollo still claims her as his own. The gods are forceful and will take what they want. Apollo's desire and pride makes him not realize that Daphne does not want him or any man.
The third story is about the importance of not angering the gods and the punishment that one can get if they are angered. Arakhne boasted that her weaving was better even than Athena's, the goddess of war, wisdom, and art. Although Athena gives Arakhna the chance to take back what she said, they end up having a weaving contest. Athena was jealous of the girl's skill but also of the attention that was paid to it.
The fourth story is about how the gods can be compassionate and kind in their own way, but there is a stipulation or price. In this story, Orpheus travels to the underworld to save his wife from an untimely death but is he able to complete the small task that Persephone, the queen of the underworld, sets before him?
The Greek gods and the people who worship them share the same personality flaws. Humanity, however, should remember that if it becomes a question of who is more skilled or right that humans should remain humble or be humbled because the punishment for angering the gods might be a fate worse than death.
Chapter One: Abduction
Chapter Two: Escape
Chapter Three: Contest
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