nGreek mythology is a group of oral stories of ancient Greece. It can be divided into two parts: n1) stories about godsn2) the heroic tales1) stories about godsnThe stories about gods tell us the creation of the universe, the birth of Gods and their lives, and the origins of humankind. The Characteristics:n1. All the chief gods took human forms of beauty and grace and shared the human feelingsn2. Greek mythology is full of great imaginations and lively characters.2) the heroic talesnThe heroic tales is a collection about the heroes and the leaders of the tribe or the founders of the city-states. nGreek Mythology and Greek myths are filled with an impressive array of Greek heroes, each one having his or her own story to tell. These mythological figures, are unique and very distinctive in their own right.nThe English word hero comes from the Greek word heroas (iroas, ). The word has different meanings depending on its use, but in one of its meanings, the word heroes refers to the great men who have fought hard and became deities or famous. These heroes are also known to have protected their land during the times of danger and crisis.nThe heroes in Greek mythology are known for many different reasons; some of them went to the Underworld and fought with monsters, others fought with giants, sea serpents and dragons, while others are known due to their family tragedies more than anything else.nThe heroes of the Greek mythology became immortals, since the Gods acknowledged their fame and courage. The enduring fights and stories of these heroes moved the Gods who made them immortal, offering them a place among the Gods and deities of the Mt Olympus. However, these heroes were most popular because they were human and because they would exhibit weaknesses, they would make mistakes and would share their passions with other people - characteristics that all humans can identify with.nGreek mythology presents us with the adventures and passions of Greek heroes; it also reveals us many secrets of their lives and their ability to endure pain, withstand the tear and wear of time and remain so popular throughout the ages.nThe heroes in Greek mythology have inspired numerous art pieces throughout the centuries, becoming symbols of life, courage and endurance.nArgos (middle Greece) PerseusnMycenae (south Greece) HeraclesnIolcus (north Greece) JasonnCrete (an island) MinosnAttica (the territory of Athens) TheseusnnTo the Heroic Age are ascribed three great military events: nthe Theban Warnthe Argonautic Expedition nthe Trojan WarChapter7 Stories of Argos蔡海燕 goddy0223163.comTodays content:nI. Danaus and His Fifty DaughtersnII. Danae and Her SonnIII. The Hero PerseusI. Danaus and His Fifty DaughtersZeus and IonIo was the daughter of Inachus, a river-god. Zeus loved and wooed and won her. nBecause of Heras suspicions, Zeus changed Ios form into a white heifer. nAfter Hermes killed Argos, who watched over the little heifer, Hera sent the mother of all gad- flys to sting the still bovine Io. This pushed her near madness, trying to escape she wandered the world. nShe eventually reached the Nile where Zeus did restore her to human form. There, she bore Epaphus, who later became the king of Egypt.nSome of her descendants remained in Egypt and ruled there as kings.nOne of these Egyptian kings had two sons, Aegyptus and Danaus. Les Danaides, Jan Frans De Boever, 1927 n About the fate of the forty-nine daughters there is some difference of opinion. Some say that no suitors dared to marry them, their father was compelled to give them to the contestants in a race.nOthers say that Lynceus killed them all to avenge his brothers, and they were punished in Hades by being compelled eternally to carry water in leaky vessels, or through jugs to a leaky vessel.Cask of Danaidesn- means “达那伊得斯姐妹之桶”，with the metaphoric meaning “无底洞”。The Danaides Schmidt, Martin Johann (1718-1801)II. Danae and Her SonTitian (14901576) nBut Zeus came to her in the form of golden rain, and impregnated her. Soon after, their child Perseus was born. Dana reclining with Zeus as the shower of gold depicted on a vase 450-425 BC nUnwilling to provoke the wrath of the gods by killing his offspring, Acrisius cast Dana and Perseus into the sea in a wooden chest. The sea was calmed by Poseidon and at the request of Zeus the pair survived. They were washed ashore on the island of Seriphus, where they were taken in by Dictys - the brother of King Polydectes - who raised Perseus to manhood. III. The Hero PerseusnAfter some time, Polydectes fell in love with Dana, so Perseus, who knew that Polydectes had grim intentions, constantly protected his mother from him. Polydectes desired to remove Perseus from the island so he could have Dana, and therefore hatched a plot to send him away. Polydectes held a large banquet where each guest was expected to bring a gift. nThe fishermans foster son