Herakles

The Mythology of Olympia: Zeus, Pelops and the Founding of the Games

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The east pediment of the Temple of Zeus at Olympia, showing the founding myth of the chariot race of Pelops and Oinomaos

The mythology of Olympia is as rich as its ruins, for the sanctuary was woven through with legends that explained the origin of the Olympic Games and bound them to the gods. Several founding myths were told: that Zeus himself founded the Games after defeating his father Kronos; that his son Herakles established them after … Read more

The Myths and Legends of Thassos

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The Myths and Legends of Thassos

Thassos mythology reaches back to the age when gods, heroes and Phoenician sailors first shaped the northern Aegean. The island of Thassos took its very name from a hero, Thasos, who sailed west in search of a stolen princess and stayed to rule the land instead. Ancient writers wove the island into the great myth-cycles … Read more