Greek and Roman Mythology

Zeus and Jupiter: fathers to gods and men, architects and demolishers of the universe, legendary mythical gods immortalized by time through literature and legends. Greek and Roman mythological gods that are both symbolized by the eagle, prefer to smite with lightning, and are undistinguishable in appearance from each other. Although Greek mythology is similar to Roman mythology, ancient Greek values are richer in creativity and philosophical value compared to ancient Roman values. Though, without Roman preservation of Greek mythology, who knows if Greek mythology would have held the historical significance it has present day. One cannot separate the mythology of the Greeks and Romans from their history and culture unless a boundary line is drawn between their two very different values.
Greek mythology is older, and depends heavily on portraying individual human flaws and weaknesses, like hubris, through gods clashing with epic heroes. Instead of worshipping the gods, the Greeks sought to learn from the values set forth in stories by the gods or epic hero. The core Greek values taught in these stories are hospitality, intelligence, and virtue. Roman mythology, however, is mostly recycled ancestral tribe mythologies and the Greek divines’ hierarchal structure (roles of gods). At the core of Roman values are more military focused values like discipline, bravery, and politics (Berens, 53-59). The Greek and Roman mythologies incorporate and reflect the culture and origins of each people:
When the Greeks first settled in Italy they found in the country they colonized a mythology belonging to the Celtic inhabitants, which, according to the Greek custom of paying reverence to all gods, known or unknown, they readily adopted, selecting a...

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...ualities affected the values of both cultures. Although Roman values are less artistically thoughtful and refined, Greek mythology would not exist today as we know it, if not for the Romans’ preservation through assimilation with their own culture. This essay would not have even been written if not for the Romans’ use of the Greek alphabet to create Latin, which later became English.

Works Cited
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