The Greek mythology as known today is a culmination of the traditions in different parts of the Greek civilization with each region having its own heroes. For examples, the Homer’s Iliad is a regional mythology that strived to appeal to as many cities as possible bringing together a common identity of the Greeks. During the time of Hesiod and Homer, Greece comprised of many cities and islands separated by natural boundaries made by the gods (Works and Days, 167-171). The Iliad mentions almost all the apart of Greece that took part in the Trojan War. The mythology often conflict with each on various matters. However, later, the myths on legends were merged into a single Greek tradition or mythology. For examples, the Mycenaean and the Minoan civilizations that were in the main land and the island of Crete respectively. Homer mentions many part to ensure that there is no regions that are left out to show that his expedition were a pan-Greek expedition. Homer emphasizes on the physical features of the places he visited and gave a detailed explanation of the hypothetical locations to explain about god.
Both Homer and Hesiod mention Mt. Olympus so as to appeal to their audiences on the historical aspect of their epics in relation to god. Such also appealed to strangers. Hesiod tends to use symbolic geographical locations as opposed to the actual locations to bring in the myths the concept of God in Mt. Olympus. Hesiod allocates Olympus the sky, Gaia the underworld and the earth, and Poseidon the sea that are all symbolic. Homer’s Iliad is used an almost impossible locations mentioning Athenian statue and troy-a spiritual centre that had very small role during the beginning of the Trojan War. Both homer and Hesiod use the muse of Mt. Helicon. The mentioned places differentiated parts occupied by humans, and the ones occupied by humans. The description of the places was also aimed at advancing personal views. For examples, Homer described many places to ensure that his adventures are continued in generational inheritances making him immortal even when he was not. In the mythologies, the locational descriptions put the narrations in context making them easy for understanding and close association with the readers. Important places mentioned in the Iliad include Troy, Mysia, Arisbe, and many other cities across the region that gave Homer the legitimacy of his poems. Other places mentioned in the Theogony include Kypros, Kythra, Krete, Lyktos, Mt. Aigiaon and also Mekone. The myths are tied to relationships between the actual locations and the hypothetical locations that were mainly the places where god lived. The interaction of these two places forms the fundamental description of the geographical features and how they affected the people.
Work cited
Hesiod, Works and Days. Trans. Hugh G. Evelyn-White . 1914. people.sc.fsu.edu. web. 30 Nov. 2014.
