Myth Madness: A Mythology Podcast

Aphrodite is the Greek goddess of desire, sex, and love. She causes desire in others, and takes a great joy in using this power, even on the other gods. There are two very different accounts of Aphrodite’s birth and some Greek philosophers attempted to rationalize this. Aphrodite had two important mortal lovers – Anchises and Adonis – and I discuss both of their myths here. 

This episode serves as a geography lesson of the ancient Greek underworld. I cover its ruler Hades and its other inhabitants. Hades largely remains within the underworld and there are not a lot of myths involving him. I also tie the discussion together with the previous two episodes dealing with Persephone. 

Demeter is one of the original six Olympians. She is a goddess of agriculture and fertility and is the mother of the goddess Persephone. After Persephone went missing, Demeter unsuccessfully searched for her and then wandered the Earth. This episode covers what she did in Eleusis and also discusses the Greek mystery cults Demeter was a central figure in.

Persephone is a goddess associated with nature and death. She was worshipped throughout Greece and had distinct local cults on the mainland,  Greek islands, and what is now Turkey and Italy.  Persephone, or Kore “Maiden” as she is also called, was the daughter of Demeter and Zeus. The myth of her abduction by Hades explains how she became Queen of the Underworld.

Ares was responsible for the chaotic elements of war and a lust for battle. He did not have many temples but was naturally very important to Greek soldiers when they were on military campaigns. Ares does not feature in many surviving Greek myths – his affair with Aphrodite is the most well-known. I also discuss what is strange about his Homeric Hymn and the Roman’s conception of him. 

Poseidon is known as the Greek god who ruled over the seas. But he was also the Earthshaker and the god of horses. Poseidon was very important in the general Greek religion. Greek colonists who travelled across the sea praised Poseidon for allowing them to reach their destinations safely. But there is also evidence Poseidon was much more important in the earlier days of ancient Greece, and this may be reflected in some of his myths.

Hephaestus was a god of craftsmen, responsible for blacksmiths, metal working, carpenters, and sculptors. In Greek myth, Hephaestus is often more of a supporting character, he stays in his workshop and creates things – typically armour – that are used by other people. This episode focuses on Hephaestus’ fall from the heavens, return to Mount Olympos, failed marriage to Aphrodite, and his fabulous creations.

This episode will focus on the Greek god Hermes. In Greek mythology, Hermes is shown as a clever god. He is a trickster and also a thief. But he also serves as a humble messenger boy, bringing the will of the gods to human beings. I retell the story of how Hermes stole Apollo’s cattle when he was only a baby, and also discuss how Hermes was repackaged during the Medieval Era and even survived to today. 

Athena is the Greek goddess associated with wisdom and war. Athena is one of the most important of the Olympians and be viewed as Zeus lieutenant. In terms of strength and power, she is even said to be Zeus’ equal and often bears his “Aegis”. In this episode I discuss some of the main myths of Athena, what the Aegis is, and what it may actually refer to.

Artemis, the “Mistress of Animals”, is associated with hunting and the wilderness. The poet Callimachus wrote a long hymn detailing how a young Artemis acquired her responsibilities. Famously, Artemis does not take kindly to mortal men and I retell a few of those stories. The ones involving Orion are the most interesting and show a more complicated side to Artemis.