Poll: Roman vs. Greek Mythology

[WolffgangVW]

For some reason I keep thinking of Simon the god of hairdo's and Jeff the god of Biscuits for some strange reason but I have no earthly idea why.

Eddie Izzard FTW! Oh you glorious trannie...

 

[Fiz_The_Toaster]

Since the Romans pretty much stole the Greek mythology and made it their own with name changes, I'm going with Greek. Besides, Greek mythology is much more interesting.

How can Greek mythology be so much more awesome than Roman if it is true as you say, that "Romans pretty much stole the Greek mythology and made it their own with name changes"? Shouldn't they then be exactly the same, not counting the names? =3

Vampirecat has struck again!

Not exactly, the Romans took the mythology since they didn't have a native one, so for me they just copied. Romans didn't really go around telling stories of epics like the Illiad, they were just too busy conquering places. Romans mythology was more about their personal history and how Rome was founded, with some stuff about the world, i.e. not a whole lot, while the Greek's mythology was about not only theirs but the worlds.

Roman mythology doesn't impress me, it's interesting, but not as cool as Greek mythology. To me anyways.

 

[Who Dares Wins]

Since the Romans pretty much stole the Greek mythology and made it their own with name changes, I'm going with Greek. Besides, Greek mythology is much more interesting.

How can Greek mythology be so much more awesome than Roman if it is true as you say, that "Romans pretty much stole the Greek mythology and made it their own with name changes"? Shouldn't they then be exactly the same, not counting the names? =3

Vampirecat has struck again!

I think the Romans copied the gods and religion but not the mythology itself, they didn't have Achilles, Hercules, Theseus, Perseus, the Minotaur and the likes, only gods were renamed and had myths about Aeneas (Aeneid) and Romulus and Remus. (Jupiter = Zeus, Neptune = Poseidon, Mars = Ares...) I'm not sure about this though.

 

[johnzaku]

I like greek, mainly because I'm largely unfamiliar with Roman =P

 

[johnzaku]

EDIT: oops double posted, sorry T^T

 

[Rhaff]

Greek, since it is the original, and has a lot of the myths, tales and tragedies. Romans just rebranded the pantheon, not the myths themselves.

 

[James Kortright]

I would have to agree with the others. As Roman mythology was so influenced (trying to avoid the word 'copy', as it is a bit simplistic) by the Greek mythology, it lacked the depth and sophistication of their neighbours. If I may, I would like to add to the poll and ask how you would compare Greek mythology to Norse mythology? or even Egyptian or Mesopotamian mythology. I have to say that I am a Norse man myself

 

[Smokej]

I think the Romans copied the gods and religion but not the mythology itself, they didn't have Achilles, Hercules, Theseus, Perseus, the Minotaur and the likes, only gods were renamed and had myths about Aeneas (Aeneid) and Romulus and Remus. (Jupiter = Zeus, Neptune = Poseidon, Mars = Ares...) I'm not sure about this though.

Wrong, just to give an example the epic cycle around Heracles (greek)transported itself into roman mythology as Hercules (latin)... There is even an Hercules temple in Rom you can still visit today. That being said alot of the topoi of ancient mythology were widely spread in the Mediterranean not only limited to Greece and Rome.

 

[Who Dares Wins]

I think the Romans copied the gods and religion but not the mythology itself, they didn't have Achilles, Hercules, Theseus, Perseus, the Minotaur and the likes, only gods were renamed and had myths about Aeneas (Aeneid) and Romulus and Remus. (Jupiter = Zeus, Neptune = Poseidon, Mars = Ares...) I'm not sure about this though.

Wrong, just to give an example the epic cycle around Heracles (greek)transported itself into roman mythology as Hercules (latin)... There is even an Hercules temple in Rom you can still visit today. That being said alot of the topoi of ancient mythology were widely spread in the Mediterranean not only limited to Greece and Rome.

I said I'm not sure, I know I was taught only those Roman myths and Greek Myths, and never heard of what you said. Nice to know though.

 

[MetalDooley]

I think the Romans copied the gods and religion but not the mythology itself, they didn't have Achilles, Hercules, Theseus, Perseus, the Minotaur and the likes, only gods were renamed and had myths about Aeneas (Aeneid) and Romulus and Remus. (Jupiter = Zeus, Neptune = Poseidon, Mars = Ares...) I'm not sure about this though.

You know that Hercules is the Roman version of the Greek hero Heracles.Think you're right about the rest of the heroes though

 

[Chal]

I think the Romans copied the gods and religion but not the mythology itself, they didn't have Achilles, Hercules, Theseus, Perseus, the Minotaur and the likes, only gods were renamed and had myths about Aeneas (Aeneid) and Romulus and Remus. (Jupiter = Zeus, Neptune = Poseidon, Mars = Ares...) I'm not sure about this though.

Wrong, just to give an example the epic cycle around Heracles (greek)transported itself into roman mythology as Hercules (latin)... There is even an Hercules temple in Rom you can still visit today. That being said alot of the topoi of ancient mythology were widely spread in the Mediterranean not only limited to Greece and Rome.

Right on. Lovers of Greece, you have been assimilated! Rome has your myths, Etruscan myths, early Christian myths, and more. On a side note, even the most famous of Greek artwork is mainly known through Roman copies.

 

[Who Dares Wins]

I think the Romans copied the gods and religion but not the mythology itself, they didn't have Achilles, Hercules, Theseus, Perseus, the Minotaur and the likes, only gods were renamed and had myths about Aeneas (Aeneid) and Romulus and Remus. (Jupiter = Zeus, Neptune = Poseidon, Mars = Ares...) I'm not sure about this though.

You know that Hercules is the Roman version of the Greek hero Heracles.Think you're right about the rest of the heroes though

It's the same in my language (Heracles - Herkul, Hercules - Herkul)so I mixed it up a bit.

 

[PureChaos]

Roman mythology is heavily based on Greek mythology, therefore Greek mythology has a lot more myths and i find it a lot better

 

[HerbertTheHamster]

Considering Roman mythology is nothing short of a clusterfuck of all eastern Mediterranean gods, gonna have to go with Greek.

Seriously, Rome had like 500 gods before Christianity.

 

[Smokej]

Right on. Lovers of Greece, you have been assimilated! Rome has your myths, Etruscan myths, early Christian myths, and more. On a side note, even the most famous of Greek artwork is mainly known through Roman copies.

Yep, that was a part of their "Interpretatio Romana". A mechanism they used to secure religious stability and to justify their legitimation as rulers. It helped with the integration of all the cultures in their vast empire.

 

[aakibar]

techinically they are the same but roman is always better then those pussy-footing greeks.

 

[aakibar]

Right on. Lovers of Greece, you have been assimilated! Rome has your myths, Etruscan myths, early Christian myths, and more. On a side note, even the most famous of Greek artwork is mainly known through Roman copies.

Yep, that was a part of their "Interpretatio Romana". A mechanism they used to secure religious stability and to justify their legitimation as rulers. It helped with the integration of all the cultures in their vast empire.

it's also because the romans considered themselves decedents of Aeneas who himself was a trojan which is a variation on greek

 

[Hero in a half shell]

You know that Hercules is the Roman version of the Greek hero Heracles.Think you're right about the rest of the heroes though

Now that is something I didn't know, It always confused me and I never knew if they were two different people or not, as their tales were so similar, but had some inherent differences. Thanks.

Also the Greek gods were more balanced; The Greek god of war, Ares was bad tempered and violent, unbeatable in battle but ugly from battlescars, and utterly lacking poise and social skills. It created an interesting character, as he was indespensible during war, but everywhere else a bit of a lunatic, not someone you would want at a house party.
The Romans, on the other hand, wanted their God of war to be infallible, since war was so important to the Romans expansion of their empire. So they made him unbeatable in battle, but also handsome, and a ladies man and charmer. Basically without fault.

 

[Chal]

techinically they are the same but roman is always better then those pussy-footing greeks.

Heh, welcome to the club.

Spoiler: Also...

It's not "O Tyche", now is it? Anyone want to change their mind?

 

[Zhukov]

Greek mythology is the Minecraft to Rome's Fortresscraft.