From the most primitive cultures to the present, mythological characters capture the imagination of the human being. The responsibility for what could not be resolved has fallen on them for a long time, be it death, love, beauty, hate, everything falls on the mythological characters. In ancient Greece, everything that had no explanation was given a divine explanation.
Famous Heroes and Mythological Characters
There is a large number of mythological characters, it is for this reason that we will only deal with the most famous, these are protagonists and champions of mythology. They are widely known for their exploits, and culturally define a society famous for its cultural, political, and social advancements. This mythology is from ancient Greece, which was considered the cradle of culture and democracy. If you want to expand your knowledge about mythology of other peoples you can follow the following link, origin of the universe according to the mayans.
The Saga of Civilization Greece, encompasses a fantastic variety of fantasy entities; among these we can find deities, semi-deities, heroic characters and extremely striking beings. These mythological characters were recognized powers, even over life and death.
These characters inhabited a tremendous place, which grew continuously, becoming larger than itself. Greece, passing by the imposing castles of the deities in the frozen Mount Olympus and reaching the depths of hell. All these mythological characters have fed the imagination of many, even today.
Over time the mythological stories of Greece, began to form part of the European culture and imaginary; Thus, their myths and stories spread throughout the world, in unison with the European influence on the other continents.
Greek mythical beings
The mythical beings of the culture of Greece, they were possessors of matchless strength and supernatural powers; physically they were similar to human beings. Their reactions and uses were related to passions such as misgivings and doubts, infatuations, they were proud or not, they even had the desire for revenge. In short, they were affected by the same passions and feelings as human beings.
Whenever they so wished, these deities came out of the Mount Olympus, and in this way they intervened in the actions and consequences that affected human beings; while the gods were immortal, human beings could die. Relating to the latter, whether they were male or female, as guides, contenders and on occasion as lovers.
They didn't need illusions, nor magical acts, nor were they hidden by the use of disguises; they simply executed their deeds and the human beings accepted it. Many times they planned turbulently, generating confusion in mortals, but it was the most they did to confuse. They were fascinating mythological characters.
Mythological characters and ordinary people generally had good relationships and it did not matter that some events could not be demonstrated. The deities liked dignified actions and displays of obedience. Human beings who defiled themselves, or who carried out an offense or affront against a deity, were made to suffer an exemplary and very harsh punishment.
The beliefs of the ancient Greek civilization have been preserved over time, thanks to its history. Even these myths and legends impact the popular imagination. In this way, modernity always has in some way the legends of these mythological characters.
Zeus
Zeus He is the god of the firmament and sovereign of the gods of the OlympusIn short, the supreme god. He was also considered the father of all deities and human beings, although in the sense of guardian and not immediate author. He was also called Zooganians, because it lengthens the vitality of the animals as much as it wanted.
As has been said, he was the lord of the firmament and of precipitation, and the creator of the clouds that he controlled with his fearsome thunderbolt from his golden throne, one of the most powerful weapons in the world. Olympus. His primary object of combat was the aegis (armor) that he gave to Atenea, his bird was the eagle and his trees, the oak and the holm oak, both symbols of strength.
The parents of Zeus were the titan chrono and Titan Rhea, and had many important brothers such as: Poseidon, Hades, Hestia, Demeter y Ivy. All of them famous mythological characters.
Zeus began the generation of the so-called gods of Olympus establishing the entire court of gods and goddesses that inhabited it. The power of it was also disputed by the Giants and by the aloads, however, in the end he managed to make his faction triumph.
Gigantomachy
The Giants made a first attempt to dethrone Zeus, LLAMADA Gigantomachy. This fierce dispute between Zeus and Giants, beings of colossal size, as their name suggests, with fifty heads and legs, were the enemies of Zeus. These are mythological characters with a somewhat dark behavior.
A conflict arose with said Giants and the gods of Olympus. This war was won by Giants and they achieved supremacy for a long time. But, with great efforts, the gods left the lair in Egypt to which they had fled, except Dionisio, and with the help of Hercules (Noel Hercules heroic we all know) defeated the Giants.
However, a time of crime began in the world in which tyrants and kings exercised all their power in an unjust way. As punishment, Zeus decided to send a flood to end the human race, and only saved Deucalion and his wife, who were able to create him again. One of the most notable episodes in mythology is the birth of Zeus.
Crono, to prevent any of his children from dethroning him, devoured them as they were born. However, Sale tired of so much death, when he was born Zeus he wrapped a stone in swaddling clothes and handed it to Crono, who vomited up his brothers and the stone. Beginning in this way the history of these mythological characters.
That is how Zeus and the other sons of Crono, were winners of the war that originated, against the Titans. These were banished to the abysses of the Tartarus, in a very deep place so that they could not escape. Since then, Zeus, Poseidon y Hades command of the land was shared.
Minotaur
Minos was the offspring of the aforementioned god with Europe, and among his relatives were Rhadamanthus and Sarpedon. from the metropolis of Knossos, on the island of Crete, colonized many islands in the Aegean Sea, creating a thriving civilization. As a mythological character he is a bit terrifying.
To strengthen your domain Minosask for the help of the gods. The king asks Poseidon to send him a bull to be sacrificed in honor of the god of the seas. And so he would show that the gods are on his side.
PoseidonHe sent him a white bull to be sacrificed on his behalf. Minos he refused to perform such an act and trying to deceive the god, he sacrificed any other bull. So, by the wish of the god of Mar, misfortune hung over his family: his wife, Pasiphae, fell in love with said bull; their daughters Fedra y Ariadne, they suffered terrible love affairs; and others of his sons, Androgeus, died prematurely.
the origin of the beast
Poseidon, made the bull become a furious and indomitable animal, causing damage to the kingdom of Minos. But his revenge was not yet complete, with the help of Aphrodite, As mentioned above, he makes Pasiphae, wife Minos, fall in love with the bull.
The queen tries to approach the beautiful bull, who rejects the flirtation of Pasiphae. Driven mad by her passion for the animal, she demands that Daedalo Help her seduce the big bull. The creative inventor has an unusual idea; he creates a replica of a cow made of leather and wood, with a compartment where it would stay Pasiphae and thus the queen managed to consummate her union with the bull of Minos.
From this abominable union, the Minotaur, a creature half man and half bull. The birth of this heinous beast, brought a great revenge for the king Minos. While he was a baby, he was raised by his mother, but as he grew older, his bestial and violent nature could no longer be controlled.
The fate of Minotaur
The king Minos, he orders Daedalo to build a great labyrinth, where the terrible Minotaur be imprisoned. The labyrinth became the abode of the abominable monster, which was located in the city of Knossos en Crete.
Time passed and human beings, both male and female, were taken to be immolated to the Minotaur. These people were taken to the labyrinth, where they wandered lost for many days. All the paths of the famous labyrinth ended in the center, where the monster was abandoned and it devoured them.
Time after Androgeus, son of Minos, had come to Athens to participate in the games of the Panathenaic; overcoming all challenges and competitors. This act irritated Aegean, the king of Athens, so he urged him to kill the bull of Marathon; knowing that in this way his fate would be cast.
The bull ended up killing Androgeus and this was enough for the king Minosdeclared war on all Athenians. he invaded Attica, where he took the city of Megara, the most important in the region. Athens surrendered, and it was said that the oracle of Delphi had recommended that Athens offer tribute to King Minos for the surrender.
Minos, accepted the tributes, and from time to time Athens, was to send fourteen young men, seven of each gender, to Crete; all of them were locked in the labyrinth, where the Minotaur he ate them. This is one of the great tragedies of the world of mythological characters.
The death of Minotaur
Years later, Teseo, son of Aegean, would take upon himself the mission of assassinating the Minotaur; to liberate the homeland from him in this way, not only from the Minotaur, but also from the influence of the king Minos.
Teseo He joined the group of young people, who would go to Crete where he gave himself up to the labyrinth of the Minotaur. In Crete the king's daughter received them Minos, Ariadna, who immediately fell in love with Teseo. The princess offered Teseo release him, but he refused as his goal was to kill Minotaur.
Entonces Ariadna, decided to help him, with the condition that once the beast was dead, he had to get it out of Crete and take her to Athens to make her his wife. Ariadna asked Daedalo, the solution of the maze. This explained to him that the only way to get out would be using a ball of thread, which he should tie at the entrance of the labyrinth to remember the way back.
Teseo, entered the labyrinth with the ball that gave him Ariadna, killed the Minotaur and he was able to find his way back. With this he freed his nation from the terrible punishment imposed by Minos y Athens, he did not have to send young men in sacrifice to the terrible Minotaur.
Hercules (Heracles)
He is a demigod from Thebes, progeny of Zeus and Alcmene, general's wife Host. In order to get her child, and as Zeus wished, that her mother be Alcmene, he became the figure of her husband and joined her in her bed that same day. Host, returning from an expedition, conceived together with his wife Iphicles, who was born at the same time Heracles o Hercules.
Ivy, determined to kill the son of an unfaithful husband, and much more irritated, by the fact that Zeus his prowess was boasted among the other deities; Shortly after the birth of Heracles or Hercules, he sent two huge snakes to finish him off. The kid was still very young, but he suffocated the snakes.
In spite of everything, Hercules' mother left him abandoned, frightened by Hercules' fury. Ivy and the child was taken in by Hermes, who lied to the deity in such a way that the deity nursed Heracles making him immortal.
The hero conquered as a young man a tribe that demanded Slash the payment of a tribute and as a reward he was able to marry the daughter of the king of Slash, Megara, with whom he had three children. All this power and energy were the product, in part, of having been instructed by the great teacher Chiron, another of the great mythological characters, so that he became the most famous and courageous man of his time. However, he also received education from other great masters such as Flax, Castor y Rarely.
The madness of Hercules (Heracles)
Hercules, the famous offspring of ZeusHe was already a hero recognized for the exploits of his youth, but fate still presented him with serious challenges. Zeus he planned great honors for his son, even before he was born. The great god had proclaimed that the first grandson of the lineage of the great Perseus would inherit the throne of Mycenae.
The goddess IvyJealous, seeing her husband's bastard son have such an honor, she intervened. She made the cousin of Hercules, Eurystheus, was born prematurely, and that he stole the hero's inheritance. Eurystheus was imposed on Hercules, for which the hero went to the oracle of Delphi, to see if he should continue to obey a man he considered inferior to himself.
The oracle told him that with every job he did, the power usurped by Eurystheus decreased. Hercules, he was annoyed with the answer, because he was hoping that the oracle would tell him that he did not have to continue obeying Eurystheus.
Taking advantage of the vulnerability of Hercules, the goddess Ivy plant the seed of madness in his head. Heracles, began to see the most terrible creatures and fight great battles with them. But they were all hallucinations, recovering from this wild madness, he was covered in blood, and his children and his wife MegaraThey lay dead at his feet.
The Twelve Labors Hercules
To redeem himself for his sins, Hercules Twelve labors were imposed on him, which the king Eurystheus considered impossible to fulfill. Even for mythological characters of the stature of Hercules.
The first was to hang the lion of nemea. This was a fierce animal that snatched women and was immune to the weapons of men. Hercules suffocated him with his bare hands, and with his mouth and his skin he fashioned a helmet and armor.
The second was to kill the hydra of lerna. in the ponds of lerna, resided a seven-headed hydra that gobbled up men. Hercules killed him with the assistance of Yolao, who passed the burning shears to burn the wounds of the heads already chopped, and thus prevented them from growing back. He then managed to pool the hydra's blood with his arrows, to make them more deadly.
The third task was to catch the wild boar alive Erymanthus and take him to the palace Eurystheus. This was a huge beast. Heracles caught him and took him alive to Eurystheus, who hid in a panic in a pitcher. The fourth was to catch the doe of Cerinia. It was a large hind, with limbs of bronze and antlers of gold. He chased her for a year until he finally caught her. To learn more about the myths of the great civilizations you can read, mayan myths.
The fifth job was to kill the birds of the stymphalus. It was a large flock of carnivorous birds, they devoured everything in their path, animals and men. Hercules was able to kill them with the help of Atenea, who gave him powerful bronze castanets. The sixth task was to clean the stables of Augean in a day. Hercules diverted the rivers Alphaeus and Peneus and with this I clear the gigantic stables in one fell swoop.
The seventh task was to capture alive the bull of Crete. Heracles captured and brought before Eurystheus the bull, but he did not want it, so he released it in Attica, where it devastated everything in its path. The eighth was to catch the mares of diomedes. These were carnivorous and very fierce, he was also able to catch them, Eurystheus consecrated them to Ivy and set them free Olympus.
The ninth was to get the belt Hippolyta. The tenth steal the giant's cattle Geryon. The eleventh and perhaps most impressive, descend into hell and capture the dog Cerberus. This was the guardian of the realm of the dead. Hercules protected by the skin of the lion and armed with the poisoned arrows, he managed to catch the monstrous dog, showed it to his Eurystheus and then returned him to the underworld.
The twelfth and final task was to steal the golden apples from the garden of the Hesperides. These apples were planted to celebrate the weddings of Zeus and Hera, they were very well guarded, even so, Hercules he stole them when taking them to Eurystheus, he was afraid to take them, because his intention was to end Hercules, do not own the apples.
That is how Hercules he fulfilled the twelve dangerous tasks entrusted to him, in redemption for the murder of his family.
The death of Hercules
The hero had many women and getting his attention, it was worth many difficulties: to achieve the favors of Omphale, had to divest himself of everything that was always his, and the passion of Deyanira was a new challenge and crime, this time of Achelous. This is perhaps the most violent of the mythological characters.
The death of Heracles came actually caused by the same Deyanira. One day when the two were together, Heracles left his wife in the care of Neso the centaur, to help her wade from one part of a river to another, while he was walking another more tangled part of it, but more attractive for his intentions.
However, there are always mythological characters with reprehensible behavior, Neso pretended to enjoy Deyanira y Hercules he came to finish him off, which he managed, despite his swiftness, by shooting an arrow at him. But before succumbing Neso he gave to Deyanira a garment that, according to him, was worth to awaken the passion of unfaithful spouses.
Later, when Hercules I was traveling and with the beautiful lol en Euboea, Deyanira He sent him the dress and as soon as he happily opened it, he began to feel an unbearable pain induced by the penetrating poison that the garment had impregnated.
HerculesKnowing that he was going to die, he built a formidable bonfire with huge logs, lay down on it and asked Philoctetes to turn it on Hercules He passed away this way, but was soon rescued from the Hades by the deities of Olympus who, as a show of gratitude for his conduct, elevated him to the Olympus, they turned him into a god and married him Hebe.
Achilles
He was the son of an ordinary human being named Peleus and of a Nereid named tetis. His mother, as soon as he was born, submerged him in the waters of the lagoon of Styx. With this he managed to make it invulnerable; the only thing that was not protected was the heel by which his mother held him, this part of his body was left out of the water, and therefore it was the only thing without this gift.
grew up with the centaur Chironin the valleys of the mountain Pelion where he met and practiced the trade of war and hunting, as well as learned music and the healing properties of plants.
When he was 9 years old, the necromancer decals predicted that the Greeks would not succeed in usurping the city of Troy without the intervention of Achilles, but that he would perish before the walls of said city. So his mother hid them among the daughters of the king of skiros, Lycomedes, to try to separate him from his destiny. But the Greeks, already about to leave for Troy, sent to Ulises to find out.
Lycomedes denied that he was in the palace, so the cunning Ulises he brought ornaments and jewels to the king's daughters, which aroused their admiration, but he also brought a shield and a spear, presenting these instruments of war and sounding a sharp bugle at the same time. Achilles, unable to contain himself, he pounced on the weapons exposing himself. Then the son of Peleus he promised his aid to the Greeks, whose ranks he joined.
On the course of the conflict against Troy, Achilles he was constantly at the forefront of the brawl, and it is said that 12 enemy cities were devastated by him from land and 11 from sea. After the depredation of Lyrnese he was pillaged by a young woman named Briseis, who accompanied him in the shop of the great hero. There are many mythological characters who participated in the war of Troy.
Later the king Agamemnon, leader of the Greek expedition, also received, after the looting of crisa, a woman assigned to the temple cult of Apolo, Chryseid. resentful the god Apolo, for the offense made towards his priestess, he released a cloud of arrows on the army and many of the soldiers were shot down, falling in agony with no chance of stopping the damage.
To return to have the favors of the god, Achilles gave the idea of reintegrating the priestess into the temple of Apolo, which seemed like a good idea to his fellow expeditioners. Agamemnon was opposed to it, but all the other leaders of the advance guard against Troy they insisted and the king agreed to please them. But in exchange, he demanded as retribution the slave that had been given to him. Achilles.
Achilles he agreed, but as he felt sullied, he stated that he would not fight again until his pride had been satisfied.
As Achilles was not present on the battlefield, the Trojans began to feel confident. These began to surround their besiegers and made them fall back more and more on the battlefield. The Greeks begged Achilles to return to the battle, they even returned him to Briseis, but even so, he refused to fight.
Patroclus, a very dear friend of Achilles, to try to instill confidence in the soldiers, put on his armor and went to the battlefield. It is so, that the Trojan Hector he kills him in the heat of the fight. This was very painful for Achilles, so much so that he decided to return to the fight.
Achilles fought with the strength of ten men and the fury of an army, cornering Hector, who tried to run away, but was hit by the spear of Achilles that ended his life. Achilles took the corpse of Hector and dragged him, for several days around the walls of Troy. He refused to return the body, so that his family could bury them properly.
The gods intervened, since they were displeased with the proceeding of Achilles, got him to admit his mistake and show respect to the fallen combatants, returning the body of their leader, in exchange for a large ransom from his father, and thus be able to bury him.
It was not much that Achilles was able to enjoy the riches obtained after the death of Hector. In one of the battles that took place on the site of Troy, Achilles He faced Paris, being this a protégé of Aphrodite, who told him how to face the hero.
He shot an arrow at the only vulnerable spot on Achilles, your heel; it is said that this arrow was directed in the path of him, by the very Apolo, who was jealous of the admiration he aroused Achilles.
The heel wound ended his life, leaving his legend alive, as one of the most courageous and hardened heroes that ancient history knew. Greece, and remaining as one of the most memorable mythological characters.
Teseo
The most famous and great hero he had Athens was Teseo. He was the king's son Aegean and Etradaughter of the king of Thirteen in the Argolis. He was cared for by his mother in the court of his grandfather, in adolescence he felt the need to look for his father.
At his insistence, his mother told him about the love affair she had with Aegean Being already married and taking him to the middle of a road, he asked him to lift a stone. Teseo Complying with his mother's order, he lifted a large stone; Beneath it he found a beautiful sword and shoes. Both objects once belonged to the king Aegean, he left them to eventually be given to his children.
Carrying the weapons his father left under the stone for him, he began his journey to his father's kingdom to meet his destiny. Facing a multitude of bandits and monstrous beasts, which made his journey an adventure. The arrival Teseo a Athens with the firm will to make himself known as the king's son.
The king and father of Teseo, was under the influence of his second wife Medea, which had convinced Aegean that he would be able to cure him of his sterility. At the time that Teseoreached the capital of Attica, only Medea He knew who he was and, realizing that his duration on the throne was in danger, he decided to finish off the young man by poisoning him for the duration of an entertainment.
But Teseo that he was very cunning, he had planned how to proceed during the entertainment. Before eating anything, he requested to chop the meat with his blade, so the king Aegean He looked at him and admitted him as his son. Seeing the happiness of everyone present except her spouse, the king realized her treacherous act and banished her from the kingdom.
Teseo He was young, cheerful and above all, very clever and brave, he did everything possible to integrate with his people. He supported the people in the claims for his sufferings, it is for this reason that when he found out about the tribute that Athens delivered to the king MinosHe was very upset, he felt very angry.
Athens he was to award to the Cretan ruler fourteen youths of the noblest possible origin, seven young girls and seven young boys. This was a war tribute, and in turn the young people, upon arriving at Crete, were delivered to the terrible Minotaur for him to devour them.
When Teseo asked the reason for such a terrible tribute, he learned that it was for the murder of the king's son Minos, riding a Athens, at the hands of Aegean. The Cretan army reached the gates of Athens, seeking to atone for the death of the king's son, besieging it. Athens, was soon ravaged by famine and pestilence, and the only thing they could do to get out of the siege was to accede to the request of the king of Crete.
When those sent from Crete they came to seek the terrible tribute of that year, Teseo managed to be sent as part of this. His father tried to convince him not to do it, because he was convinced that he would never see him again. What Teseo insisted on going, the king begged him to carry with him two pairs of sails, so that they would hoist them on his return. A pair of white candles, the result was positive, and a pair of black candles, if the consequence was his death.
Upon arriving at Crete with the tribute, those chosen for the sacrifice, were immediately conducted to the palace of Minos. There he examined them and declared them fit to be taken to the rigmarole de Minotaur. In the palace was the daughter of Minos, Ariadne, is watching Teseo She immediately fell in love with him, thus remaining captivated forever. You have to remember that Teseo in one of the most renowned mythological characters.
The heir of Aegean l Crete displaying his lineage, he was arrogant and young, this was what dazzled Ariadna. She came into contact with Teseo, and realized his real intentions and looked for a way to help him.
Teseo he planned to enter the labyrinth first and finish off the monster, but to achieve this he had to go into the center of it. The dilemma was how to get back out, since the labyrinth was famous for its complex design, it was thought so that the Minotaur couldn't get out.
Teseo entered the labyrinth with a ball of thread that he gave Ariadna, which was unraveling as he entered the labyrinth. After many detours, he finally reached the center where the monster was, he did not carry any weapon, only his ingenuity.
He began to run causing the creature to chase him; when the monster was exhausted, Teseo he confronted him with his bare hands, managing to kill him with a slap. Then he left the labyrinth following the thread that his beloved had given him.
Teseo, the tribute boys and girls and AriadnaThey immediately left Crete. But a storm took them off the road and they had to stop on the island of Naxos, Ariadna she felt a little sick, so she got off the boat. But the fate of her was not next to Teseo, so the winds moved the boat away from the island, separating the young people.
When the expedition returned in triumph, they neglected to hoist the white sails. The king believing the dead son, he ended his life by throwing himself into the sea. When Teseo disembarked, found the celebration of his father's funeral.
He was appointed king, from then on he ruled the country, since he achieved the union of the twelve peoples that until then were antagonistic, thus creating the Athenian state. That is why Teseo He is one of the most named mythological characters in literature.
Odysseus o Ulises
Odysseus He was perhaps, among the mythological characters, the one who had the most popularity in Greek civilization. He is popularly known as Ulises, but its Greek name is Odysseus. Ulises It is the Latin name with which the Romans named it later.
In him the whole ideal of what a hero, navigator and traveler par excellence should be, was embodied, his adventures were narrated from generation to generation by oral tradition. Until it reaches the present, narrated in one of the best-known books of world literature, The odyssey, written by the Greek poet Homer.
Odysseus, was offspring of laertes, King of Ithaca, an island separated by a strait of Kefalonia. In the youth of UlisesWhen laertes he was still the king of Ithaca, was visiting the great Eurytus; he was an unsurpassed archery practitioner, possessing the most powerful bow on earth, a gift from god Apolofused in the heat of the sun and forged in the waters of the oceans.
In view of the good treatment he received during the visit, Eurytus, presented Odysseus with the wonderful bow made by the god Apolo. Furthermore, in his entire life, Eurytus he had not found another boy with the strength to draw a bow and shoot an arrow with it.
Odysseus he married Penelope, the great love of his life. With her he had his only son Telemachus. Initially, Odysseus refused to go to conflict Troy pretending to be crazy, he was spreading salt in his fields, but the Greeks located his son Telemachus in front of the plow and the hero was forced to join the Greeks.
Being in the Trojan conflict, Odysseus intervened more as a diplomat than as a warrior, contrary to Achilles that in these battles, it represented the fierce fight and the incredible and unmatched strength. once destroyed Troy, Odysseus begins the journey back to his beloved IthacaThis is where his true adventure begins, on a journey that lasted ten long years. These mythological characters were adopted by the Roman civilization, to know about this you can read, roman myths.
When Odysseus embarked, the god of the winds AeolusTo give him his support, he gave him a leather skin. In this skin were all the gales capable of diverting their sails and ships, and thus taking them to strange ports for their journey. The idea was that he would only remain in the skies, the only wind that could carry him safely and quickly to Ithaca. The sailors, believing that the skin had wine, opened it.
The winds escaped and as an act of revenge for being locked up, they rejoiced by shaking the ship of Odysseus From one side to the other. In this way the ship was at sea without being able to set a course, traveling to lands unknown to sailors.
the long journey of Odysseus, was full of impressive adventures, these are widely known. In one of them he won a fight against the Cyclops Polyphemus; another was his stay on the island of Circe, with whom he fathered a son.
On the other hand, the seven years he was trapped on another island with the nymph are counted. Calixto, with whom he fathered two children; the method he found to make himself invulnerable to the song of the sirens; his arrival to the island of the Phaeacians and his encounter with Nausicaa; and finally, his return at last to Ithaca.
On his return he had to fight against the suitors of his beloved Penelope, who had remained faithful to her husband despite the time it took to return. In the end they met and continued to rule the island together until the end of their days.
Jason
Jason the great traveler, was born from the union between alcimeda y That N, regent of Iolcos, located in Thessaly, therefore grandson of Aeolus. His mom could be Polymede, as other adaptations claim.
Pelias who was the stepbrother of That N, overthrew him, due to this great betrayal, an oracle predicted that one of his nephews would kill or overthrow him, so his reign would not be permanent. in what is born Jason, his mother immediately began to fear for the actions of Pelias, then pretended that the baby was sick and then with great sorrow, announced his death.
Funeral rites were performed, with much pomp and drama, in order to give more credibility to the death of Jason. In reality, the child was completely healthy and strong, and they had him in the care of the centaur Chironwho was a great teacher. Which, instructed him in the arts of astronomy and medicine.
When he reached the age of twenty, he left his master's side and was told by an oracle to go to Iolcos, only covered with leopard skins, who was barefoot and carried two spears.
Upon entering his hometown, he caused a stir and people noticed him, astonished people paid attention to him, and he was able to talk to them. At that time he made the announcement that he was the son of That N and that he came ready to recover his throne.
knowing this Pelias, who must have feared the boy, and his dissatisfied and angry people, began to devise a way to solve the dilemma and benefit from it. he called Jason to the court and informed him that in a dream an oracle told him that he should restore the honor of Phryxo, a common ancestor killed in the colchis, bringing his ashes to his nation.
He also told him that the golden fleece that he would find and that would make him immensely rich, belonged to Phryxo and that it was therefore his right of inheritance to take it. Finally, he told him that if he complied with everything he would give him back the throne to which he is entitled.
How to Live Aligned with Jason he was a boy, fierce and brave, he immediately went to carry out the tasks, then he gathered a group of sailors for the Argos, these were called the Argonauts and together with them, he undertook the search for the golden fleece.
He sent for a call Argon, to ask him to build the boat Argos, which was the one in which they traveled Jason and Argonauts during his campaign. Argon He came from Thespia, was the son of Arestor o Phryxoaccording to other versions. The ship was built in you paid, riding a Thessaly, the region in which the Olympus, with the help of Atenea.
The ship was raised with trunk of Pelion, but the anterior part was specially brought by the goddess from a consecrated oak in dodona. This special wood was carefully carved by the same Atenea and then gave him the gift of speech and prediction.
Throughout his adventures, he met Medeadaughter of the ruler of the colchis, who had the golden fleece in his custody, thanks to her he achieved success. they returned to yolco after this fact. There are different stories about what happened when they returned. In some to Jason they give him the throne and in others he simply stays to live there.
In addition, Medea assassinate Pelias, in one version it is said that with the consent of Jason and in others without it. Jason and Medea had several children, there is no consensus on what they were. Among them are Medeo, Eriopis, Feres, Mermerus, Thesallus, Alcimenes y Thysander.
Some time later they went to Corinth, perhaps on a simple whim, or because yolco expel them for the death of Pelias. They were happy there for many years, but the king of the Corinthians, wanting to marry the hero, offered him the hand of one of his daughters. Jason without hesitation he accepted and rejected Medeawho had to go into exile.
However, before leaving, he prepared his revenge, which he consummated with the murder of the entire royal court. Time after, Jason being solitary he articulated with Peleus to depose the rulers of Iolcus, Acastus and Astidamia, which he achieved by being brutal. In this way he managed to be the king of yolco until the end of his days.
Bellerophon
This is another of the important mythological characters, Bellerophon is offspring of Poseidon and Eurynomewho was the daughter of the ruler of Megara. it was really called iponoo. But popularly called Bellerophon, who was a famous hero, who earned this name as a sign of dishonor.
It happened that the king of Maroon, LLAMADA bellero, was murdered in conditions that were never determined, it was something very strange, this crime was pinned on iponoo, and from there he adopts the nickname of Bellerophon, Meaning "Murderer of Belero”. Since he was disgraced and it affected him in his daily life, he decided to move to Tirinto.
It happened that the king of Maroon, LLAMADA bellero, was murdered in conditions that were never determined, it was something very strange, this crime was pinned on iponoo, and from there he adopts the nickname of Bellerophon, Meaning "Murderer of Belero”. Since he was disgraced and it affected him in his daily life, he decided to move to Tirinto.
Despite having moved, problems continued to cross his path and in this way, his life was still very complicated. He came to move to the city of Tirinto, where the King's wife tried to seduce him, but Bellerophon he greatly respected the monarch and did not give in to his charms.
She, to take revenge, accused him before her husband for the tricks that she herself used to attract him, and thus put him in trouble with the sovereign. The husband, feeling cheated, decided to take revenge against the false offense and sent belorophon to fulfill a mission in Asia Minor, exactly to the palace of Iobates, the father of Anthea (the Queen).
Bellerophon being a man of action, he had no problem undertaking the journey requested by the king. They handed him a letter, which was really his death sentence, since he was informing Iobates, that this man had wanted to dishonor his daughter.
The king Iobates He received him with the characteristic welcome of Asian peoples and presented him with all kinds of gifts, for 9 full days, until, finally, he decided to read the letter sent by his daughter's husband. Amazed by what he was reading, he couldn't muster the courage to take revenge, but instead sent him to kill the Quimera and thus end his life. Quimera it was a terrible beast that ravaged their lands.
La Quimera It was a beast with the head of a lion, the back of a dragon, the abdomen of a goat covered in scales, and with its breath it could burn anything near it. Faced with such injustice, quickly the gods of the Olympus they lent their help to Bellerophon. The goddess Afrodita gave him the reins Pegaso endowed with a gold bridle.
When riding on his horse, he only carried some white weapons, he was a very brave and daring man. He fought against the terrible beast, he stabbed him with the knife several times, until he managed to put a piece of lead through his mouth and when it liquefied with the heat, this boiling liquid burned him from the inside. He cut off its head and tail to give to the king as a trophy.
The feelings of IobatesThey were hate and admiration at the same time. The ruler constantly imposed a new and dangerous task on him: he had to face the violent solimos, fought against the Amazons and battled without quarter with the strongest and most violent beings of his reign.
Bellerophon, was the winner in all the tests that they put him to execute, he achieved the respect of Iobates, who reconsidered, since winning these great feats was only achieved if the deities were on his side. The king as a prize gave his daughter Philonoe and made him king of Lycia.
Bellerophon, in his life he had obtained much success and recognition, in this way he recovered his honor as a warrior and as a person. However, he was guilty of arrogance since, using Pegaso, flew to the Olympus.
Zeus he got upset and applied a punishment. A horsefly stung his horse, it went wild and the hero was smashed into a bramble, leaving him blind and practically paralyzed. In either case, he distanced himself from the gods and humans. Anthea repentant for her false accusation and dead of remorse, she decided to take her own life.
Orpheus
Orpheus, was a civilizing hero, as well as a dogmatist, a reformer of moral norms and those considered healthy customs, a bard and an exceptional composer. Different legends can be found about his birthplace.
According to some stories, he had the muse as parents Calliope and to the god Apolo, and this is why he had extraordinary artistic gifts. Another fable asserts that he was conceived by eagro, ruler of Thrace, and his mother was Calliope or, according to other versions, Apolo with the muse Clio. According to the legends, he received a lyre, it could be from Apollo or Hermes, to this instrument he added two strings, to have a total of seven with which he played ingenious and beautiful melodies.
All nature and, of course, all men and gods, were delighted to hear him sing along with his instrument. In the world of mythological characters, he is impressive, in his path the stones moved and the rivers changed their course, just to listen. The beasts calmed down and grew tame before his melodies, and gathered around him to listen to him.
His great musical ability came in handy on many occasions: he accompanied the Argonauts on their journeys and on these adventures he achieved impressive feats with his powerful voice; One of them was managing to move the ship from the beach to the depths of the sea.
Another of his feats was to separate two wandering islands that prevented the passage of ships, to sleep the dragon that guarded the golden fleece. He also managed to free the members of the expedition from the charms of the mermaids.
However, singing was not Orpheus's favorite activity, certainly he was a great scholar with leanings towards philosophy and therefore, he dedicated himself to investigating the world around him. he traveled to Egypt and there he joined the wise priests of the place, who taught him the mysteries about Isis y Osiris.
In his mystical explorations he also visited Phoenicia, Asia Minor y Samothrace, and on his return to Greece he educated his own on all the knowledge he had acquired. He formed an important religious discipline known as "orphism". He also established some of the cults to Dionysus and Demeter.
They had so many graces and wisdom, that countless ladies and nymphs sought him in marriage. Despite everything, she was the most modest of all, Eurydice, which caught the attention of Orpheus. They married and loved each other for the rest of their lives. Their union was very happy, but it lasted a very short time. These mythological characters are the protagonists of a beautiful love story.
One day EurydiceI was escaping from Auristheus, who was trying to take her by force, but she was much faster, more agile and smarter than him, thus managing to get away from her captor. As she hid in some bushes and in the heat of the race, a poisonous snake bit her, which caused her sudden death.
Orpheus He was terribly sad and inconsolable, he decided that he wanted to bring him back to life at any cost. She begged the gods of heaven to return her to the world of the living, but they gave her no answer; so she set out to descend into hell, where she intended to enlist the help of Hades and his wife. Of the mythological characters this is perhaps one of the most tragic.
He headed to the underworld, singing melodies about his deep sadness, these were so cute that they moved Hades, who promised to return Eurydice, in exchange for the fact that while he climbed back to the world of light he did not turn back. she reached Eurydice the place where everyone was and behind Orpheus he undertook the elevation to the world from which he came. However, the rise was gradual. Eurydice He was still suffering from the snake bite.
When they were about to reach the place of departure, Orpheus Anxiously he turned to look at her. He could only see her for a moment and tried to hug her, but in that instant his beloved Eurydice he vanished forever into the world of the dead and was therefore only able to touch its vapor. He was blind with despair, he tried to go back to the underworld, but Charon, the boatman, refused to transport it again. Orpheus he stayed at the gates of hell for seven more days, when he finally understood that he would not achieve anything, he left.
From that moment on, he lived wandering through the desert playing his lyre, bewitching the boulders and the animals, without eating food and refusing the company of any human being. He ended up in a region of Thrace, where many of the ladies there tried to join him, though to no avail.
In a celebration in honor of the god Dionisio, these women rejected by Orpheus, they silenced their voice with intemperate shouts; they surrounded him and killed in revenge for not wanting them, then tore them to pieces. His head was thrown into the river Hebrew and when it reached the shores of Lesbos, muses They took her and buried her. These mythological characters had a tragic life.
Throughout this journey, Orpheus continued to cheer Eurydice. After his death, the lyre of Orpheus became the constellation Lira, which contains the star Vega, the most radiant of all that can be seen from the northern hemisphere.
Cadmus
Cadmus was one of the offspring of agenor, ruler of the city of Tira. He was one of the brothers of Europe and founder of Slash. This is not one of the most well-known mythological characters, but his exploits were very interesting.
Zeus he transformed into an animal to kidnap Europa, since he had fallen in love with the princess. They arrived in Crete, where they spawned 3 offspring: Minos, Rhadamanthys and Sarpedon. the brothers of Europe, entre ellos Cadmus, they went out to look for their sister; although they knew that if they failed they would not be able to return to her father's court.
A Cadmus his mother accompanied him, she died in Thrace, then he went to speak with the oracle of Delphi. He advised him to look for a cow with a spot in the shape of a crescent moon. Cadmus, I had to start building a city where I can find this animal.
bought from the king Pelagon of Phocis, an animal that fit the description, and then in the first place he used to rest, he started the city of Slash, name that means the rest of the cow, although at first he called it cadmea.
Cadmus organized everything to sacrifice the cow in homage and recognition to Atenea, then asked his staff to fetch water, but a dragon killed them all. This dragon had commanded Ares the god of fights, and Cadmus gave him death. He took the dragon's teeth and planted them around on instructions from Atenea.
From the planted teeth, armed fighters came out who began to battle each other, after Cadmus throw a rock at them. Those who were left standing after the fight helped build cadmea, thus being the constructors and principals of the most relevant families of Slash.
For having slain the dragon he commanded Ares, Cadmus he had to suffer for 8 years. After this, Atenea made him king of his city and Zeus married him to Harmony, Daughter of Ares and Afrodita. Since this woman was the daughter of gods, the wedding party was filled with deities, which was truly impressive. This only happened again when Peleus married with Thetis.
The wedding was attended by such important guests that they brought fabulous gifts. Afrodita, as a gift for his daughter, he had a necklace made with Hephaestus, which he gave her for the wedding. This necklace made its wearer irresistibly beautiful to all who saw her. Atenea He gave her a special dress for the ceremony, Hermes Gave her a lira y Demeter, an immense quantity of cereals.
Despite the fact that his marriage was very happy, and he as a ruler was very skillful and fair, many unfortunate events befell his sons. His daughter Autonomoussaw his son Actaeon turn into a deer and be devoured by his own pack of dogs, after having looked naked at Sagebrush during a bath.
the jealousy of Hero, they made Ino went crazy and jumped off a cliff with her baby son. Semele was pregnant with Dionisio, god of wine created by Zeus, and burned himself from wishing for the supreme god in his original form. Finally, Agavea Meneida fascinated, she destroyed her own son.
A Polidorok, the only son of Cadmus and Harmony, no immediate tragedy is known to him, but very bad things happened to his descendants. his descendant Laius was killed by his son Oedipuswho later became the husband of Jocasta, his own mother.
Atalanta
Atalanta was offspring of Clymene and Yaso or Esquenao, according to the different versions that exist about this interesting story. As a child, she was left to her fate by her father in the mountains because he wanted a boy, and she was cared for by some trappers in the area and suckled by a bear.
As he grew up in such a natural environment, Atalanta He had extraordinary physical conditions, since in this type of environment it is simply necessary. They were a very fast young woman and had great hunting skills. On one occasion the centaurs tried to catch him from her and the highly developed abilities of Atalanta they allowed him to escape. He also managed to injure the wild boar Calidon, before anyone else.
When she grew up, many tried to suit her, but she was not very interested in getting married. Also, she was nervous because an oracle had predicted that something bad would happen if she got married.
However, at the request of her father, it was agreed that she would marry that young man who managed to beat her in a race. Of course, she was so confident in her speed that she accepted without any qualms. For her part, the father had sworn that anyone who ran against Atalanta And if I lost, I would die. Many young people perished for this cause, because indeed the girl was very fast; this meant that fewer and fewer young people will try it. To learn more about these topics you can read, myths of honduras.
Other Mythological Characters
Greek mythology is very rich in characters and legends. Below is a group of these, which are not so famous, but are very relevant in the lives of the great mythological characters.
mormo
It is a character from Greek mythology, who instructs naughty children by biting them. This name is also used to refer to a creature similar to a female vampire.
Cecrops
In Greek culture, Cecrops, means, "face with tail", this is famous for being the first ruler of Athens. In the tales of Pausanias and Herodotus, is said to have also been known as erectus. Due to its supernatural origin, it has the body of a snake.
heroon
This is not one of the mythological characters, however, it is a sacred place of the Greeks and Romans. Which is the space to honor a hero and is built on an unknown tomb. In each city one was built to honor the heroes.
Argonauts
The Argonauts, are the warrior sailors, who were part of the crew of the Argos and who accompanied Jason on his awesome adventures. These sailors achieved glory, facing many of the most terrible mythological creatures, without them they would not have been able to reach the labyrinth of Minotaur and thus free Athens from having to deliver young people to be eaten by this beast.
The myth of Galatea and Polyphemus
Galatea She was a beautiful and serene woman who had a lot of charisma. the cyclops Polyphemus he wanted her; but he was the complete opposite of her. The young woman did not want anything with him, since she had fallen in love with a young man named Asics, with whom he was seen frequently.
One day the lovers were there and the Cyclops arrived. Asics he ran scared and Polyphemus He threw a huge stone at him, crushing him. Galatea tried to revive him, but she was unsuccessful. She cried so much that the moved gods used the blood that came out of the young man's body and her tears to create a river, and that way they would always be together.
The amazon
All the AmazonThey are warrior mythological characters. All of them were trained as excellent gladiators, achieving a physical condition. They were daughters of Ares and Harmony.
Once a year they allowed themselves to have male contact with foreigners, in order to reproduce. The children were given to their parents and the girls remained with them. One of the tasks of Hercules was to remove the belt from the queen of these mythological characters.
Oedipus
Among the mythological characters, there is the myth of Oedipus. This begins when an oracle predicted to his father that if he fathered a male he would kill him. when he is born Oedipus, his father gave him to a shepherd to abandon him to the mercy of the beasts. As luck would have it, instead of being eaten by wild beasts, it was found and adopted by the king. polybus.
When an oracle told Oedipus that his destiny was to kill his father and marry his mother, he left Maroon, without knowing what polybus it wasn't his father. Oedipus He lived many adventures, in one of them, he had to defend himself from some abusers on a road, he killed them all, without knowing that one of them was Laius, his father.
Then he defended Slash of the terrible Sphinx and entering the city as a hero married Jocasta the king's widow, who turned out to be his mother. When the truth came out Jocasta committed suicide and Oedipus gouged out his eyes.
Medusa
It is about one of the monstrous mythological characters, incapable of feeling mercy; he had hands of bronze and large fangs, enormous golden wings, but he could not fly, light came out of his eyes that turned whoever he looked at into stone.
Medusa she did not have the appearance of her sisters, she was a normal young woman, with whom she fell in love Poseidon. As it was in a sanctuary of Atenea, the goddess was offended, in revenge she turned the girl's hair into a nest of snakes. Everyone who looked at her turned to stone. she died when perseus he cut off his head.
perseus
He is one of the mythological characters with divine blood, since he was a demigod, son of Zeus, was very brave and courageous, lived great adventures. He killed Medusa by cutting off her head. He received as a gift the flying sandals from Hermes, and an unbeatable sword and shield. On his return he used the head of Medusa to save his mother from the attack of PolydectesFrom then on he dedicated his life to helping the desperate and helpless from the attacks of the gods.
Sagebrush
She is the goddess of the hunt and the protection of nature and health. she daughter of Zeus y Leto, and twin of Apolo. As a child she asked her father for 3 wishes of hers, to remain a virgin, dogs to hunt and an entourage to accompany her. She is the defender of young girls and protector of hunters. She tells the legend, that Actaeon he looked at her naked while taking a bath and she turned him into a deer, to be eaten by her own dogs.
Calypso
Calypso she is a nymph According to legend she lived on the island of Ogygia. He had an encounter with Ulises with whom he had four children, because he kept him seven years on the island with distractions, so that he would not notice the passage of time. In the end Ulises he missed his wife so much Penelope, who Calypso she lets him go, and she died sad and lonely.
Eros
Son of Afrodita y Ares, Eros represents love, is the protector of lovers. Legend has it that a prick of his arrows ignites passion in mortals. Some say that he was in charge of communication between gods and mortals. Eros is revered, in the Greek tradition, as the god of fertility, he is responsible for having strong and noble offspring.
Nereids
They are the fifty daughters of Nereus y Doris. They were considered sorceresses, they appeared in the sea riding on dolphins and there they were venerated. They personified the beauty and wonder of the marine world. They defended sailors on their voyages and asked them for protection against sea monsters. The altars dedicated to these deities were found on outcrops and cliffs.
sleeping
The word acamante is a title bestowed on many heroes: whenever someone performed one or more especially heroic deeds, they were given the title of acamante. The most acclaimed of those who received the title was the son of Teseo y Fedra, and he is the one they call the most as acamante. The name of acamante is used to refer to many heroes of Greek mythology, especially the son of Teseo y Phaedra.
Actaeon
Actaeon He is one of the mythological characters who became sadly famous for having seen Artemis naked while the goddess was taking a bath. He was a hunter and the goddess in anger turned him into a deer. the dogs of Actaeon Seeing the animal, they destroyed it, without knowing that it was its owner. Then they looked for him crying through the forest, until the centaur Chiron, reassured them by showing them a picture of Actaeon.
I admit
He was one of the Argonauts and his exploits earned him the favor of the gods. he fell in love with Alcestis, but the girl's father refused the marriage. Apolo intervened and the lovers managed to marry. On the day of the wedding they forgot to pay homage to Sagebrush, the annoying goddess filled the enclosure with poisonous snakes. Alcestis offered to die in place of her husband. According to legend Persephone admired for the sacrifice, she rescued the maiden from the underworld and returned her to her husband's side.
Adonis
Adonis was born from a tree Myrrh, was welcomed by Afroditawho turned his mother into a tree. She left him in the care of Persephone, these two deities ended up fighting over him, so Zeus He determined that they take turns taking care of them. Ares he killed him by having a boar ram him as he was jealous by the time he Afrodita dedicated to the boy. Adonis it is the symbol of spring.
Aphrodite, one of the unique mythological characters
Afrodita emerged from the sea, where the zephyrs they move her to Kythera, where the Stations They receive her and take her to the abode of the gods. Despite loving Ares, she married Hephaestus. One night Hephaestus captured the lovers in a magical net, and called the rest of the gods as his witnesses, humiliating both Afrodita that this one went to Cyprus.
Agamemnon
Agamemnon, was the brother of Menelaus husband Helena. the abduction of Helenalaunched the war against TroyWhere Agamemnon He had an outstanding participation, as commander of the armies. He performed many heroic deeds and upon his return they made him king of Argos. His wife was Clytemnestra, whom she married after killing her husband. She became famous for taking a lover from Achilles, which caused him to stop fighting, which almost cost them the loss of the war.
Aix, an interesting Greek mythological character
Aix is the goat they fed Zeus. When the god is born, his mother, to hide him, gave him to Amalthea and she fed him with the milk of this goat. She was a gigantic creature, instilling fear in the very Titanium; They kept her hidden in a cave in the hills of Crete. Aix She was also the playmate of Zeus and accidentally broke a horn. This is the horn of plenty, since it magically fills with all the goods that its owner desires.
Alcaeus
He was the first son of perseus, considered ancestor of Hercules. descended from Zeus and maternally Poseidon. He got married to Astidamia, thus uniting two families of great heroic lineage. He was ruler in Tirinto, where he succeeded his father. No great deed is recognized for him, but great heroes came from his offspring. He is the forerunner of one of the most mentioned lineages in the narrative of the exploits of the heroes of Greek mythology.
Alcestis
Alcestis She became famous for taking her husband's place when the gods decided to end her life. in which she died HeraclesHe plunged into the underworld to rescue her. Another version tells that Persephone, moved by the act of AlcestisHe had returned her to the world of the living. Alcestis she also showed love to her father, refusing to participate in his murder, which was committed by her sisters.
Amalthea
According to some legends, Amalthea it was the goat that gave its milk to feed Zeus, others more extended say that it was the nymph in charge of the care of the god. as they say Amalthea, to protect Zeus before his father saw it, he hung it from a tree and around it he placed Curettes, extremely noisy animals, so that their crying would not be heard. This is how they prevented Crono from eating his son and he eventually killed the father and rescued his brothers.
Amphitrite
Amphitrite is the name given to the daughter of the Nereid Doris, and goddess of the calm sea. She is in charge of organizing the songs of her sisters. She was kidnapped by Poseidon, who saw her dancing and fell in love with her. She used to be seen singing accompanied by the god of the sea. She had four children with him, one of them was the famous Triton.
Anteros
He was a descendant of Ares and Aphrodite. Anteros was born because Aphrodite wanted a playmate for Eros, since the boy did not grow in size. This was something that worried the goddess. At first, the boys were antagonists and fought each other. Over time everything changed Anteros dedicated himself to avenging the insults to Eros. When a love promoted by Eros, was attacked intervened Anteros to fix everything.
Antigone
Antigone was the fruit of the incestuous relationship between Oedipus and Jocasta. She was one of the couple's four children. She always faithfully accompanied her father, from the time he gouged out his eyes and exiled himself, until the day of his death in Colonists. Your uncle Creon He sentenced her to be buried alive. She confronted him by giving her brother a proper burial Polynices, who was accused of betraying Creon.
Arges
Arges He was one of the first Cyclopes, son of Uranus and GaiaHe had only one eye and a terrible temper. Along with his brothers Brontes and Steropes, participated in the battle against his father to help Cronos to beat him. He is famous for forging the lightning god Zeus. He was a highly skilled creature as a craftsman, maker of many of the powerful weapons used by the gods.
Atlas
Atlas, he was the descendant of the titan Iapetus and of the nymph Clymene, and relative of Prometheus. High He was a great giant who fought on the side of the titans in the battle to get the gods out of the Olympus. As they overcame the brawl, Atlas was sentenced to carry on his shoulders the weight of the planet and the sky that crushed him throughout his life.
One of the most famous events in which he participated was when he helped Heracles to get the golden apples from the orchard of the Hesperides, these were family of Atlas. He was the father of mythological characters such as the Pleiades and hyades. The Greek is not the only culture that had such imposing mythological characters, to learn more about this topic you can read, god jupiter.
Later Atlas was turned into a mountain when he saw the head of Medusa, cut by perseus and that he showed him in the face of his lack of hospitality. As a curious thing, the term atlanteans, plural of Atlas, designates in classical architecture the columns sculpted in the form of a man.