Well, I Laughed 121: Word of Mouth pt.1: Myths of Madness
Sep 3, 2025
Dive into the wild world of Greek mythology, where gods are as vengeful as they are ridiculous. Discover the chaotic family tree of the Pantheon and hear about the infamous antics of Zeus. The spotlight shines on Dionysus, the god of wine and madness, exploring his roots, lesser-known rituals, and the infamous Bacchae. Uncover how Dionysus transitioned from a mysterious figure to a beloved party god, complete with tales of transformation and chaos. Prepare for a rollercoaster of divine debauchery!
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Myths Predate Their Famous Authors
- Greek mythic names and roles existed before Homer and Hesiod because Linear B inscriptions record them in Mycenaean times.
- Oral traditions were fixed later into multiple written, conflicting versions during the Archaic period.
Hesiod’s Creation Frames The Pantheon
- Hesiod's Theogony gives a creation sequence from Chaos to Gaia to Uranus and the Titans.
- That poem frames many later genealogies and explains why gods like Aphrodite and the Fates appear in later stories.
Cronus Eats His Children, Zeus Leads The Revolt
- Maia recounts Kronos castrating Uranus and eating his children, then Zeus forcing Kronos to vomit them up.
- Zeus then leads the Olympians to victory over the Titans in the Titanomachy.
