What is Classical Mythology or Greek mythology?
What is Classical Mythology? Classical mythology was used as a means to explain the environment in which human kind lived, the natural phenomena they witnessed and the passing of time through the days, months, and seasons. Classical myths were also intricately connected to religion and explained the origin and lives of the gods, where humanity had come from and where it was going after death.
Classical myths gave faces and characters to the gods of the Classical religion but they also gave people helpful practical advice on the best way to lead a happy life. Another purpose of myths was to re-tell historical events so that people could maintain contact with their ancestors, the wars they fought, and the places they explored.
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What is the difference between primitive and classical mythology?
in classical mythology psyche is the personification of what:
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Who was Psyche?
Psyche was born as the youngest daughter of an unknown Greek King and Queen, with two elder sisters. She was regarded as so beautiful by the people of her kingdom that even the priests compared her to Aphrodite, the Greek goddess of love and beauty. Many people even went as far as saying she was more beautiful than the goddess herself.
Eventually, Aphrodite’s temples were deserted as people started to worship the princess instead. As such, the goddess was outraged! As a punishment, she sent her son, Cupid, to make Psyche fall in love with a vile and hideous person. Although, Aphrodite’s plans were not so easy to fulfil.
The story of Psyche is known to us now through a story called ‘The Golden Ass’, written by Lucius Apuleius in the 2nd century in Rome.
Aphrodite’s Jealousy
Within Greek mythology it was never a good idea to anger a god or goddess, and when her worship was neglected, Aphrodite soon grew angry. The target of her anger was the princess Psyche.
Aphrodite decreed from Mount Olympus that Psyche would fall in love with the most unworthy and ugly of mortal men, she charged Cupid with arranging this love using his golden arrows.
Whilst Aphrodite was plotting, Psyche’s father was also trying to plan for the future of his daughter. He consulted one of the magical oracles, who could read far into the future. The oracle’s proclamation did not comfort Psyche’s father for, he confirmed Aphrodite’s plan, that Psyche was to marry a monster.