Human Similarities In Edith Hamilton's Mythology

Humanlike Characteristics Although Gods and today’s human beings may be quite different, they also share some similarities. Gods and humans alike have certain characteristics and personalities that make them who they are. In Edith Hamilton’s Mythology, many Gods and Goddesses tend to depict human qualities such as jealousy, pride, and fraudulence. The flaw of jealousy was one of the traits shared by mythological gods, goddesses, and human beings. For example, Hera constantly has to “punish the many women Zeus fell in love with” (Hamilton 27). As the wife of Zeus, Hera witnessed her husband consistently having affairs with other women. Even being the protector of married women, Hera never forgot a face and children of mistresses were often
Furthermore, thievery was used when “Prometheus had not only stolen fire for men; he had also arranged that they should get the best part of any animal sacrificed…” (87). Even though his stealing of fire was for the better, Prometheus was punished for treating the gods in such a way. People, too, tend to make bad decisions, but with good intentions without thinking of the possible outcomes or consequences. In addition to thievery, trickery played a major role when “the Greeks had to find a secret way of entering the city, or accept defeat” (283). By disguising a large wooden horse where the Greeks were hidden as a gift to the Trojans, the Greeks deceived them to believe they had given up. Likewise, deception is used by humans to get what is wanted or defeat enemies. On the subject of deception, Odysseus was to use trickery to “persuade him who they had wronged to give his precious weapon to them” (280). In this case, deception was used to better Odysseus’ chance of survival rather than that of the man who was left behind. Human beings also like to trick others into doing or giving them what they want. Deception can be used for better r for worse when it comes to dealing with