Classical Mythology by Geography

Geographical mythology comes in many forms such as Mt. Olympus being noted as the gathering site for the gods of ancient Greece. Zeus himself had a palace built on this site according to legend. Lolcus was the site of the mythical search for the Golden Fleece. The king Jason was denounced and went on the hunt, knowing that if he could find it, he would gain his rightful place.

The shrine of Apollo was once located at Delphi. The city was also home to a world renowned Oracle whose advice was sought after by many. Oedipus ruled Thebes for a number of years, but the city was founded by Thebes who was on a quest to find his missing sister. His quest led him to the Divine Oracle and eventually this city.

Aulis was the location of an ancient port. Prior to the Trojan War, the Greeks gathered together here before setting sail for Troy. Athens has a long rivalry with Sparta and was rule by Theseus. The city was regarded as one of the strongest and best in all of ancient Greece.

A large temple devoted to Apollo was once located in Corinth. The city was so rich and wealthy that the Romans overtook the settlement, tore down the buildings, and built everything new. Troezen was the site where Theseus took his first steps. It was also where he proved his worth and showed his strength when challenged by his own mother.

Tiryns was the site of an ancient temple devoted to Hera. Artifacts and digs at the site have found evidence that humans once lived there. Mycenae was documented as a real city by archaeologists. In terms of mythology, it’s the place where Hercules was supposed to rule, but his seat was given away by Hera.

Olympia was the site of the first ancient Olympic games. A temple for Zeus was also built at this site and it remains of historical importance today. Sparta was known for being the main rival of Athens. It was also where Helen of Troy was from and the area where the Hero Twins lived.

Pylos is most noted for being the birthplace of King Nestor, while Ithaca was the home of Homer who’s travels to get back were published as The Odyssey. Cythera is most often associated with Aphrodite and is considered the home of the Goddess of Love.

Knossos was located on Crete and the mythology relates to the Minoan civilization that once lived there, including their King Minos. Naxos was an island where Ariadne was abandoned by her lover when he fell for her sister. She eventually met the god Dionysus on the island and fell in love with him.

Delos is the birthplace of Apollo and Artemis and Chios was a small island ruled by the Minoans. Scyros was where Achilles was birthed and the site of Theseus’s death. Lemnos was considered a sacred site by Hephaetus, who was a son of Zeus. Troy is one of the leading cities associated with Greek mythology. During the Trojan War, a prince stole away another man’s wife after being tricked by the Goddess of Love.

The coming together of Helios and Rhode supposedly created the island of Rhodes. Cyprus was the birthplace of several gods including Adonis and Aphrodite. There’s also Lesbos, ruled by King Lesbos. His daughters traveled through the area and it had a large population of females. King Acisius once lived in the area known as Argos. According to mythology he was told that his grandson would kill him and a short time later his grandson accidentally hit him with a discus and killed him.

The Encyclopedia of Greek Mythology is one of the best websites for those interested in mythology. They have hundreds of listings on popular gods, topics, and people associated with Greek mythology. Mythography is another interesting website, with the different types of mythology broken down into areas of Greek, Celtic, and Roman stories.

Other helpful encyclopedia type entries include Greek Mythology, Encyclopedia Mythica, and Greek Mythology at Wikipedia.

Ancient Greek Mythology is another useful site for those trying to understand how the stories are related. An in depth history of these legends is located at Euhemerus. The Olympians contains a list of the 12 major gods in Mythology, while Greek Mythology: Gods, Goddesses, Titans and More lists information on all figures associated with mythology. Children will like Ancient Greece for Kids, with the information broken down into easy to understand stories.