Ancient Greece - interesting facts. The most interesting myths about the gods of ancient Greece

Interesting facts about Ancient Greece - sounds intriguing, especially for history buffs. Modern history owes much to ancient Greece. This civilization has big influence on our world, and development human history. It was in Greece that art, medicine, literature, and much more originated.

1. Politics came to modern world from ancient Greece. When elections were held, people were paid for participating in them. It is for this reason that all the inhabitants of Greece actively participated in the elections. This is how democracy began.

   

2. The ancient Greeks were not as fearless as history describes. They were very afraid of water, most of them could not swim. They sailed on ships only along the coast. On the basis of this fear, they had many water gods, whom they prayed for help and salvation if they were far from the coast.

   

3. Ancient Greece - the birthplace of the theater. But Greek theater very different from today. All performances were very tragic, they had a lot of death and suffering. Only men could play in the theater, they played both male and female roles as well. Only men could go to see performances.

   

4. The Greeks had special armor, they were called "linothorax". Such armor was made of linen in several layers. This armor was really unique, it was excellent protection against sword and bow attacks.

   

5. The ancient Greeks were absolutely not shy, they were not ashamed. Quite a long period of time Olympic Games running completely naked. This happened after one runner lost his loincloth and ran naked. Yes and in ordinary life they could afford to go naked.

   

6. At the first Olympic Games there was only one competition - running..

   

7. It was not customary for rich, wealthy Greek women to study and work. Their favorite hobby was to consider decorations.

   

8. Women who were educated, smart, were called "getters". Such women were not valued, they were not even wanted to be married.

   

9. The ancient Greek philosopher Plato was an athlete. He participated in the Olympic Games, namely in the wrestling competition, and even won two times in them.

   

10. Our modern word school comes from Greek . Only then in ancient times did it have a different meaning. For the Greeks, it was leisure and recreation. IN in public places Benches were made in Greece, they were made for people to relax, in such places there were always clusters of citizens. Over time, various speakers began to gather there, they had many listeners. In such conversations there were many disputes and discussions, and it became a permanent tradition. Thus, there was a need for educational institution, school.

    

11. The Greeks were devout, believed in an afterlife. According to their beliefs, in order to get into the world of the dead, the shadow or soul of the deceased must pass through one of the rivers that surrounded the kingdom of Hades. The carrier of the shadows was called Charon. For his services, he took a fee from each shadow. So that the shadow could cover the costs of transportation, the relatives of the deceased put a coin under his tongue. If the coin was not placed, the soul of the deceased was doomed, she could not get into the realm of the dead.

    

12. There is a legend that all Greek goddesses had blue eyes.. And all Greek women basically had brown eyes. Women wanted to look at least a little like goddesses, and for this they poured blue vitriol into their eyes. From this, the eyes did acquire a blue tint, but this had a very negative effect on health.

    

13. The name of the gemstone Amethyst was coined in Greece.. The meaning of this word is non-intoxicating. The ancient Greeks made vessels for wine from amethyst, and it was believed that if you drink from such a vessel, it is impossible to get drunk.

    

14. In ancient Greece, the drachma was the national currency.. And what is most interesting, it was changed to the euro only in 2002, it turns out that the drachma held out as the main currency of civilization for almost 3000 years.

    

15. Ancient Greece was not one single state. Each city of Greece had its own laws, rules, army. Very often conflicts and misunderstandings arose between cities.

Greece gave humanity brilliant philosophers and scientists, gave birth to thousands of modern words and explained some physical phenomena. Interesting facts about Ancient Greece will allow the reader to get to know this cradle of world civilization better.

1. Ancient Greece consisted of about one and a half thousand individual city-states, the largest of which was Athens. Despite the fact that each of the policies had its own laws and army, conflicts between them were commonplace.

2. Greek cities were ruled by a meeting of all adult males or a college of the richest citizens, who were called oligarchs - "the ruling minority."

3. Wealthy Greek women led an idle lifestyle and considered looking at jewelry as the only worthy occupation. They did not work, did not learn to read and write, and took special milk slaves to feed their own babies.

4. Women who disagree with this state of affairs were called getters. They were educated independent image life and very rarely married, because they were considered bad wives.

5. The average life expectancy for women in ancient Greece was 36 years, for men - 45. Infant mortality was very high, half of the children died in the first year of life.

6. The expression "do your bit" came to us from Greece. Lepta was the hundredth part of the drachma (the ancient Greek monetary unit), which was a very small bargaining chip.

7. On the first coins, the faces of gods and heroes were minted in full face. On such images, the nose was erased very quickly, so later the Greeks switched to profiles.

8. The concept of democracy appeared in ancient Greece. For participation in elections locals received a fee, which ensured a very high voter turnout.

9. The ancient Greeks were the first to make mathematics a theoretical discipline. The works of Pythagoras, Euclid, and Archimedes form the basis of modern algebra textbooks.

10. It was customary to engage in physical exercises naked.

11. The first 13 Olympic Games consisted of only one discipline - running.

12. Ancient athletes were awarded with olive wreaths, branches and olive oil in amphoras.

13. Hellenes did not drink wine in pure form. They mixed the intoxicating drink with salt water (fresh water was too expensive) in a ratio of 1:7. The mixture was drunk throughout the day as a soft drink.

14. The city of Athens was named after Greek goddess. It was she who gave the city the best gift - an olive tree. Poseidon competed with her, he gave water to the townspeople. At first they were delighted, but when they found out that she was salty, Athena was recognized as the winner.

15. According to ancient legends, the philosopher Diogenes lived in a barrel. In fact, the famous Greek was sheltered in a large clay vessel pithos, which was buried in the ground to store grain in it.

16. The first tourist guide was written in the 2nd century AD. and it was called "Description of Hellas." In ten books, the author of the work, Pausanias, invites you on a journey through the most interesting places Greece, describes temples, statues, theaters and talks about the local way of life.

When studying history, we are still in high school learn about it intellectual heritage which was given to the world by Hellas. The following Interesting Facts about Ancient Greece will refresh our knowledge about this wonderful country.

Ancient Greece included one and a half thousand independent city-states. And the largest among them was Athens. Each of the cities issued its own laws and maintained an army, conducted by them. foreign policy often led to wars.

The supreme governing body of some cities was general meeting adult male citizens. In other states, the board of the richest citizens, called oligarchs, or “ruling minority”, ruled.

Wealthy Greek women were accustomed to an idle lifestyle, their main interest was the acquisition of jewelry and jewelry. It was believed that they did not need to study or work. Even their own babies were fed by specially hired milk slaves.

There were women in Greek society who opposed this way of life. They were called getters. They were educated and lived independent lives. Society considered hetairas to be bad wives, and therefore they rarely married.

Talking about interesting facts about Ancient Greece, we note that the ancient Greek representatives of the fair sex lived on average 36 years, slightly longer than men - up to 45. The mortality rate among newborns was amazingly high, in the first year of their lives, half of the babies died.

The monetary unit of Ancient Greece was the drachma, and its hundredth part was the mite. From that time to the present day, the expression "do your bit" has come down.

The first Greek coins had images of heroes and gods minted in full face. Since the nose was quickly erased on them, they began to issue coins with profiles.

Hellas we owe the concept - democracy. It should be noted that the amazing activity of voters at that time was a consequence of the payment to the townspeople who came to the polls.

Mathematics became a theoretical discipline among the ancient Greeks. The founders of many of its sections were Pythagoras, Euclid and Archimedes.

According to the customs of that time for classes exercise the Greeks were naked.

Running was the only discipline in the first thirteen Olympic Games.

As awards, ancient athletes received branches of the olive tree, olive wreaths and amphoras with olive oil.

Drinking undiluted wine was considered in bad taste. It was diluted with sea water, maintaining a ratio of 1: 7, due to the high cost of fresh water. Throughout the day, this wine mixture was consumed as a soft drink.

Athens got its name in honor of the Greek goddess. Legend has it that she gave the city-state an olive tree, her rival Poseidon gave Athens water. Having figured out that the water was salty, the townspeople named Athena the winner.

According to a legend that has come down to us, an ordinary barrel served as the home of the philosopher Diogenes. IN real life it was a pithos - a large clay vessel buried in the ground. Usually it was used as a container where grain was stored.

The progenitor of world travel guides for tourists had the name "Description of Hellas". It belongs to the 2nd century AD. e. The author of this work, consisting of 10 books, he is considered Pausanias, recommending readers to visit the most attractive places in Greece, gives detailed descriptions theaters, beautiful statues and magnificent temples. The guide does not forget to tell about the traditions and customs of the places described.

One Greek is worth a thousand barbarians. (Alexander the Great).

Modern European (and not only European, by the way) civilization very much owes its development to ancient Greece. This relatively small state has made a huge contribution to global culture: medicine, politics, art, literature, theater. And to this day, ancient greek myths serve as a source of inspiration for many people, are studied and retold. And the famous ancient Greek theater, which became the prototype of the modern theater, is now being reconstructed again, modern people trying to revive a piece of ancient Greece through theatrical art. And all this is just small part great Greek heritage.

History of ancient Greece

The phrase "ancient Greece" is associated with high ancient culture, wise Athenian philosophers, brave Spartan warriors and majestic temples. In fact, ancient Greece is not one, but several civilizations at once, which developed and transformed over the centuries. Among them are:

• Minoan civilization that existed in early period development of ancient Greece, for example, the famous legend of Theseus and the Minotaur is associated with it, which probably has some real historical basis under it.
• Achaean civilization, it is about this period that Homer writes in his epic poems The Iliad and The Odyssey.
• Hellenic civilization, in fact, the period of the highest flowering of ancient Greek civilization.

Also, the territory of ancient Greece itself is conventionally divided into three parts: Northern, Middle and Southern. In southern Greece, there was a warlike and harsh Sparta, the heart of ancient Greece - Athens, located in Central Greece, while Thessaly and Macedonia were in the North. (The latter, however, was not considered “true Greek”, the Macedonians were rather half-Greeks, half-barbarians, it’s true that they had a significant role in the history of ancient Greece itself, but see about this later).

As for the history of ancient Greece, its historians conditionally divide it into several periods, and then we will examine in detail the main periods of ancient Greece.

Early period

The emergence of ancient Greece originates in ancient times, at a time when the ancient Greeks themselves were the same barbarians. Pelasgian tribes inhabiting the Greek territory for 3 millennia BC. e. were expelled from there by the tribes of the Achaeans who came from the north. The Achaeans, who created the Achaean civilization, were in turn destroyed by the Dorians, who were at a culturally lower level of development. After the death of the Achaean civilization, the so-called "dark age" of the ancient world begins. Like the other "dark age" that came after the collapse, it is characterized by the decline of culture, the absence of written sources that can tell us about this historical period.

Only Homer shed some light on him, however, for a long time serious historians considered the events described in the Iliad about the Trojan War to be only an invention of the poet, until someone, the German archaeologist Heinrich Schliemann, unearthed the real Troy. True, disputes about the reliability of Troy excavated by him are still ongoing, we have a separate interesting one on this topic on our website, but for now we are returning to the history of Greece.

Archaic period

He is archaic period ancient Greece, is characterized by a new flowering of Greek civilization. It was during this period that Greek policies began to appear - independent city-states, among which Athens, Thebes and Sparta gradually rise. Athens became the greatest cultural center ancient Greece, it was here that many outstanding philosophers, scientists, poets later lived. Also, Athens was the stronghold of ancient Greek democracy, the power of the people ("demos" - in Greek means "people", "kratos" - power) and the birthplace of this form of government.

Of course, ancient Greek democracy was different from modern democracy, for example, slaves and women could not take part in voting and public meetings (it was not soon before the advent of feminism). For the rest, Athenian democracy was precisely the most real democracy in its traditional sense, any free citizen had not only the right, but also the obligation to participate in popular assemblies, the so-called ecclesias, at which all important political and economic decisions were made.

Popular meetings in Athens.

Sparta, on the other hand, was the complete opposite of Athens, a military state, where, of course, there could be no question of any democracy, Sparta was ruled by two kings at once, one of whom commanded the army and went on military campaigns at the head of the army, the second was in charge of the economy in his absence . Each Spartan man was a professional warrior who spent all his time improving military skills, as a result, the Spartan army was the strongest in Greece at that time. And the feat of 300 Spartans who held back the offensive big army, has been celebrated more than once both in art and in cinema. The economy of Sparta was completely based on slaves - helots, who often rebelled against their masters.

Thebes, another great city of ancient Greece, was also a significant cultural and economic center, which also had great political influence. Power in Thebes belonged to a group of wealthy citizens, the so-called oligarchs (yes, this is a familiar word in our everyday life Greek origin), who, on the one hand, were afraid of the spread of Athenian democracy, but on the other hand, the severity of the Spartan way of life was also unacceptable to them. As a result, in constant conflicts between Athens and Sparta, Thebes supported one side or the other.

classical period

The classical period of ancient Greece is characterized by the highest flowering of its culture, philosophy, art, it was during this period that such outstanding personalities as Solon and Pericles (outstanding politicians who strengthened democracy in Athens), Phidias (creator of the Parthenon in Athens and many other great buildings), Aeschylus (a talented playwright, "father of drama"), Socrates and Plato (we think these philosophers need no introduction).

However, with the highest development of culture in this period, ancient Greece also faces great trials, namely the invasion of the Persians, who seek to enslave the freedom-loving Greeks. In the face of a formidable enemy, even such previously irreconcilable rivals as Athens and Sparta united and acted as a united front, pan-Greek patriotism took up over small-town quarrels. As a result, after a series of outstanding victories (the Battle of Marathon, the Battle of Thermopylae) over the superior forces of the Persians, the Greeks managed to defend their independence.

True, after the victory over the Persians during the Greco-Persian wars, the Greeks again returned to their former squabbles, which soon escalated so much that they resulted in the great Peleponian War between Athens and Sparta. And on both sides, the two policies supported their allies, lasting 30 years, the war ended with the victory of Sparta. True, victory did not bring much joy to anyone, the brilliant Greek civilization again fell into decay and desolation during the war years, and the Greek policies themselves weakened so much during the war that soon the energetic Macedonian king Philip, the father of the great conqueror Alexander the Great, conquered all of Greece without much difficulty. .

Well, already his son, as we know, having rallied all the Greeks, he himself attacked Persia, so successfully that he reached with his invincible Greek phalanxes at that time. From this moment begins the Hellenistic period of the history of ancient Greece.

Hellenistic period

It is the final period of the heyday of Greek civilization, the moment of its greatest zenith, when the power (and at the same time the culture) of the Greeks, thanks to the energy of one Macedonian, stretched from Greece proper to distant India, where a unique Greco-Indian culture was even created, manifested, for example, in statues Buddha made in Greek style, antique sculpture. (such amazing cultural syncretism).

The Bamiyan Buddha statue, made in the antique style, unfortunately has not survived to our time.

After the death of Alexander the Great, his vast empire fell apart as quickly as it was conquered, Greek influence nevertheless, it still continued to be preserved for some time, but over time it gradually began to decline. The situation was complicated by the invasion of Greece itself by warlike Galatian tribes.

And finally, with the rise of Rome and the appearance on Greek land Roman legionnaires came to the final end of the Greek civilization, which was completely absorbed by the Roman Empire. The Romans, as we know, in many respects sorted out Greek culture for themselves and became its worthy successors.

Culture of ancient Greece

It was in ancient Greece that the first philosophical concepts were formulated, which laid down the fundamental knowledge about the universe, which is also used by modern science.

The Greek historian Herodotus literally became the "father of history", it was his historical writings are models for the works next generations historians. The Greek physician Hippocrates became the "father of medicine", his famous "Hippocratic oath" to this day expresses the moral and ethical principles of the doctor's behavior. The playwright Aeschylus, already mentioned by us, became the creator of theatrical drama, his contribution to theatrical art and the development of the theater is simply enormous. As well as the enormous contributions of the Greeks Pythagoras and Archimedes to the development of mathematics. And the philosopher Aristotle can generally be called the "father of science" in the broad sense of the word, since it was Aristotle who formulated the fundamental principles of scientific knowledge of the world.

It looks like the ancient Greek theater, which emerged from the religious mysteries, it soon became one of the favorite places of entertainment for the ancient Greeks. The theater buildings themselves in ancient Greece were an open area with a round structure for the choir and a stage for the actors. All ancient greek theaters had excellent acoustics, so even the audience sitting in the far rows could hear all the replicas (there were no microphones yet).

The ancient Greek Olympic Games, during which even all wars were interrupted, became, in fact, the foundation for the development of modern sports and the modern Olympic Games, which are just the same revival of the ancient Greek sports tradition.

A lot of interesting inventions the Greeks also had in military affairs, for example, their famous phalanx, representing a cohesive combat formation of infantry. The Greek phalanx could easily win (and won) victories over the numerically superior, but not organized Persians, Celts and other barbarians.

Art of ancient Greece

Ancient Greek art is represented, first of all, by beautiful sculpture and architecture, painting. Harmony, balance, orderliness and beauty of forms, clarity and proportion, these are the basic principles of Greek art, which considers a person as the measure of all things, represents him in physical and moral perfection.

The famous Venus de Milo, the creation of an unknown Greek sculptor. Depicting the goddess of love and beauty Venus, after all, she first of all conveys the primordial beauty female body, this is the whole sculpture of ancient Greece and all its art.

The architecture of ancient Greece was especially famous thanks to Phidias, a sculptor and architect, the Parthenon, a temple dedicated to the patroness of Athens, the goddess of war and wisdom, Athena, his greatest creation.

But besides the Parthenon, the Greeks built many other equally beautiful temples, many of which, unfortunately, have not survived to our times or have been preserved in the form of ruins.

As for painting, it was presented in ancient Greece in skillful drawings on Greek vases, in the form of vase painting. The ancient Greeks achieved great skill in decorating and painting vases and amphoras.

Painted Greek amphora. It is worth noting that the ancient Greeks painted the most different types earthenware. And the inscriptions on the vases left by some vase painters have become an additional source of historical information.

Religion in ancient Greece

The religion of ancient Greece and its mythology are perhaps the best studied, and the names of many Greek gods and goddesses, led by the supreme god Zeus, are widely known. Interestingly, the Greeks endowed their gods with completely human qualities and even the vices inherent in people, such as anger, envy, revenge, adultery, and so on.

Also, in addition to the gods, there was a cult of demigod heroes, such as, for example, Hercules, the son of the supreme god Zeus and the usual mortal woman. Often, many Greek rulers declared that they were descended from one or another semi-divine hero.

Interestingly, unlike many other religions, the ancient Greeks were not at all characterized by religious fanaticism (“If Alexander so wants to be a god, then let him be,” the Spartans calmly remarked in response to Alexander the Great’s claim to his divine origin), nor a special reverence for the gods. Communicating with their gods, the Greeks never knelt, but talked with them, as if with equal people.

A Greek temples dedicated to one or another god, in addition to their ritual functions, they also had another very important purpose, they were the most real banks of antiquities, that is, places where various Greek oligarchs and nobles kept their acquired by hook or by crook values.

• Everyone is familiar with the word "idiot" of ancient Greek origin. The ancient Greeks called an idiot a citizen of the polis who did not take part in public meetings and voting, that is, a person who was not interested in politics in our modern sense, who removed himself from political vicissitudes.
• In ancient Greece, there was a special institution of hetaerae, which in no case should be confused with prostitutes. Getters, like Japanese geishas, ​​were beautiful and at the same time educated women, capable of both maintaining an intellectual conversation, and versed in poetry, music, art, with a broad outlook, serving for the enjoyment of men not only in physical sense but also in every other conceivable sense. Many Greek getters gathered around themselves philosophers, poets, scientists, a vivid example of this is Aspasia, the former mistress of Pericles, young Socrates even fell in love with Aspasia at one time.
• All other representatives, so to speak, less cultural peoples the ancient Greeks called "barbarians" and it was they who introduced this term ("barbarian" from ancient Greek translates as "foreigner, stranger"). Later, the Romans also became infected with this Greek xenophobia.
• Although the Greeks treated with disdain any Scythians and Germans, calling them "barbarians", in turn they themselves learned a lot from the more developed ancient Egyptian civilization and culture. So, for example, Pythagoras in his youth studied with the Egyptian priests. The historian Herodotus also visited Egypt and talked a lot with the Egyptian priests. “You are Greeks, like little children,” the local priests told him.

Ancient Greece video

And finally, interesting documentary about ancient Greece.

Why was a coin placed under the tongue of the deceased in Ancient Greece? Where did the ancient Greeks think the winds blow from? How did the cornucopia come about? Since when did the dawn turn pink? How and why did the ancient Greeks call the Strait of Gibraltar? When did the floating rocks of the Symplegades become immobile? What work is called Sisyphean? What does the expression "Achilles' heel" mean? How was the winged horse Pegasus born and how did it become a symbol of poetry? Who did the ancient Romans call Genius? Why did the ancient Romans fear the good man gods? What sacrifices did the ancient Romans make to the Thunderer Jupiter after a lightning strike? What did the ancient Roman god Janus look like? How could one escape from the basilisk?

Why in ancient Greece did they put the deceased under language coin? Where did the ancient Greeks think the winds blow from? How did the cornucopia come about? Since when did the dawn turn pink? How and why did the ancient Greeks call the Strait of Gibraltar? When did the floating rocks of the Symplegades become immobile? What work is called Sisyphean? What does the expression "Achilles' heel" mean? How was the winged horse Pegasus born and how did it become a symbol of poetry? Who did the ancient Romans call Genius? Why did the ancient Romans fear the good man gods? What sacrifices did the ancient Romans make to the Thunderer Jupiter after a lightning strike? What did the ancient Roman god Janus look like? How could one escape from the basilisk?

Why was a coin placed under the tongue of the deceased in Ancient Greece?

According to the ideas of the ancient Greeks, in order to get into the realm of the dead, the shadow of the deceased had to cross one of the surrounding domains of Hades. rivers- Styx, Acheron, Cocytus or Pyriflegethon. The carrier of the shadows of the dead across these underground rivers Charon - a gloomy but energetic mean old man in dirty rags - demanded a payment of one obol from each shadow. It was for this that pious relatives put a coin under the tongue of the deceased. If the shadow of the deceased was without money, she had to while away the time on the shore.

Where did the ancient Greeks think the winds blow from?

Once the Thunderer Zeus closed all the winds behind the sheer cliffs of the floating island of Aeolia, because he was afraid that, given them full freedom, they would lift both the earth and the sea into the air. He instructed Aeolus, king of the island of Aeolia, to look after them. It was Eol's duty to release the winds one at a time, according to the will of the gods or his own. When a storm was needed, Eol threw a spear into the rock, and winds began to blow from the resulting hole until Eol closed it. Eol performed his duties so well that, in Hera's opinion, he deserved the honor of attending the feasts of the gods. Only Poseidon was dissatisfied, who considered the sea and the air above it to be his property, and therefore believed that Eolus was not doing his own thing.

How did the cornucopia come about?

Rescuing the baby Zeus from Kronos, Rhea hid him in cave Mount Dikta in Crete. Here the nymph Adrastea nursed the future Thunderer with the milk of the goat-nymph Amalthea. The accidentally broken horn of Amalthea Zeus, having filled with fruits and decorated with flowers, made it a cornucopia, in which, at the request of its owner, any food and drink. Subsequently, the cornucopia became a symbol of the goddess of peace Eirena and the god of wealth Plutos.

Since when did the dawn turn pink?

The ancient Greeks tell the following about the reason for the pink color of the sky at dawn. Once upon a goddess dawn Eos fell in love with the giant hunter Orion and kidnapped him. They shared a bed on the sacred island of Delos, and it was from this blasphemous shamelessness that the dawn was filled with a blush, and it remained crimson.

How and why did the ancient Greeks call the Strait of Gibraltar?

Strait between Europe And Africa, now known as Gibraltar, the ancient Greeks called the Pillars of Hercules. And that's why. On its way to the island of Erifia, located far to the west in ocean, Hercules reached this strait and erected on its opposite banks two stone steles - the so-called pillars of Hercules. Some even argue that before the advent of Hercules, both continents were one and that it was Hercules who cut a channel or parted the rocks, creating a strait. Others say that, on the contrary, he narrowed the existing strait so that they could not swim through it. whales and other sea monsters.

When did the floating rocks of the Symplegades become immobile?

The floating rocks of the Symplegades prevented the passage of ships from the Bosporus to Pontus Euxinus and in the opposite direction. When any ship tried to pass between them, the Symplegades closed in, crushing its hull. Approaching the Symplegades, the Argonauts, taught by Phineus, released a dove. As soon as the closed rocks, having pulled out a few feathers from the bird's tail, began to disperse, the helmsman Typhius directed the Argo between the rocks, and the rowers leaned on the oars so that they bent like bows. The ship managed to overcome the strongest current, and the approaching Symplegades only slightly damaged the Argo's stern, freezing after that forever so that a narrow strait remained between them.

What work is called Sisyphean?

For the fact that Sisyphus (Sisyphus) betrayed the secret of Zeus, for the fact that he deceived Hades and Persephone, and maybe for the fact that he lived as a robbery and killed travelers taken by surprise, crushing them with a huge stone, he received the appropriate punishment. The judges of the dead sentenced Sisyphus to roll a huge stone block to the very top of the mountain, and then lower it down the opposite slope. However, Sisif never managed to reach the top: when approaching it, the stone overturned it with its weight and rolled down. Sweat was constantly pouring down Sisyphus's body, and a cloud of dust swirled over his head, but he had to start all over again. Hence the expressions “Sisyphean labor” and “Sisyphean stone” appeared, meaning hard, endless and fruitless work and torment. So the gods showed Sisyphus the futility of his attempts to defeat them.

What does the expression "Achilles' heel" mean?

In Greek mythology Achilles (Achilles) - the son of Peleus and the sea nymph Thetis, one of the greatest heroes Trojan wars. In an effort to make her son invulnerable and thus give him immortality, Thetis tempered the infant Achilles on fire, and then rubbed it with ambrosia. Peleus grabbed her son from her when Thetis had already made his entire body immortal, with the exception of the ankle, which remained unrubbed. According to another version, Thetis dipped Achilles in water underground river Styx, holding his heel. The heel that remained dry was the only unprotected part of the hero's body. This is where the expression "Achilles' heel" came from, meaning the most vulnerable, sensitive place in someone.

How was the winged horse Pegasus born and how did it become a symbol of poetry?

IN Greek mythology Pegasus - winged horse, son of Poseidon and Gorgon Jellyfish, who was born along with the warrior Chrysaor from the dead body of a monster beheaded by Perseus. Bellerophon bridled Pegasus with the divine bridle given to him by Athena and, with the help of a winged horse, defeated the monstrous Chimera, and then defeated the Solims and Amazons. When Bellerophon, intoxicated with glory, dared to fly up to Olympus, immortal, Zeus sent a gadfly that stung Pegasus under the very tail - the horse reared up and threw off the rider. Pegasus was taken to Olympus, where he delivered thunder and lightning to Zeus. From the blow of the hoof of Pegasus on Mount Helikon, where the Muses lived, the source of Hippocrene scored. Since the source began to give inspiration to poets, the winged Pegasus became a symbol of poetry. The expression "to ride Pegasus" means to catch creative inspiration.

Who did the ancient Romans call Genius?

In Roman mythology, Genius is originally a faithful companion and spirit - the patron of men (Juno patronized women). This supernatural being was also the protector of the family, home, community, city and state, the personification life force and energy. Genius was originally considered as a personification of internal properties human, then became an independent deity, born together with a person (sometimes two Geniuses were assumed - good and evil). Throughout his life, Genius directed the actions of man, and after his death he wandered near the earth or joined other gods. The birthday of a Roman was considered the holiday of his Genius. The opinion was stable that not only people, but also cities, separate localities, corporations, military units had Geniuses.

Why did the ancient Romans fear the good man gods?

In Roman mythology, manas are the gods of the underworld, then the deified spirits of the ancestors. The Romans believed that the mana of their ancestors appeared from their tombs for several days in February, and during these days they performed solemn ceremonies to appease them. Sacrifices were made - wine, water, milk, the blood of black sheep, bulls and pigs. During these celebrations, the temples of all other gods were closed, wedding ceremonies were forbidden. Manas were considered good gods, but they were feared, because the terrible underground goddess Mania, who sent madness, was associated with them.

What sacrifices did the ancient Romans make to the Thunderer Jupiter after a lightning strike?

According to the ancient Roman myth, once the Roman king Numa Pompilius caught two forest gods, Faun and Peak, by cunning. Mixing wine into the water they drank, he elicited from them the secrets of sorcery spells and magic potions. Jupiter, angry with this thunderer, descended to Earth to announce a terrible rite of purification, which from now on should be performed after a lightning strike, which was considered a sign of anger or the will of the king of the gods. Thanks to wit and courage in dealing with a high deity, Numa managed to persuade Jupiter to mercy and soften the rules of the rite. The pacified Thunderer agreed to sacrifices in the form of onion heads, human hair and small fish, although at first he intended to demand human heads.

What did the ancient Roman god Janus look like?

In Roman mythology, Janus is the god of entrances and exits, doors, gates and every beginning (the first month of the year, the first day of the month, the beginning of the day, the beginning of a person's life). They depicted Janus with keys, 365 fingers (according to the number of days in the year that he began) and with two faces looking in opposite directions, hence his nickname "two-faced". The two-facedness of Janus was explained by the fact that the doors lead both inside and outside the house, and his faces were considered to be facing the future and the past, which he knows.

How could one escape from the basilisk?

In Roman mythology, the basilisk is a monstrous serpent that possessed supernatural ability to kill not only with poison, but also with a look, with breath, from which the grass dried up and the rocks cracked. He had a crest in the form of a diadem, hence his name - "the king of snakes." You could save yourself from a basilisk by showing it a mirror: the serpent died from its own reflection. The look or cry of a rooster was also considered fatal for a basilisk.

Source
Kondrashov A.P.,
3333 tricky questions and answer