The origin of the universe can be explained by modern astronomers and astrophysicists, while archaeologists and historians try to clarify the origin of human societies. In the distant past, however, before any sciences existed, the beginnings of the world and of society were explained by MYTHOLOGY. The dictionary defines mythology as the myths dealing with the gods, demigods, and legendary heroes of a particular people. The word myth is often mistakenly understood to mean fiction-something …showed first 75 words of 517 total…

…showed last 75 words of 517 total…form clay tablets dating back to the Mycenaean civilization, which reached its peak between 1450 and 1200 B.C. This civilization consisted of several city -states in Greece, including Mycenae. The basic sources for classical Greek mythology are Hesiod's ''Theogony' and Homer's 'Iliad' and 'Odyssey', which date from about the 700's B.C.. Hesiod and Homer rank among the greatest poets of ancient Greece. The books contain most of the basic characters and themes of Greek mythology.