How to Write Poems on Greek Mythology

Zeus is an Olympian Greek god, reigning from Mount Olympus.

If you want to write a poem on Greek mythology, you have to go to the texts. Greek myths are loaded with imaginative, once-worshipped gods and goddesses with special powers and wisdom unattainable to mortal men and women. To write a poem on Greek mythology, selecting a Greek god or goddess and the story surrounding their powers is an ideal way to start.

Things You'll Need

• Book on Greek gods, goddesses and myths

Instructions

1. Choose a god or goddess. Pick from the Olympian gods, the Titans or other gods. Olympian gods include Zeus, Poseidon, Hades, Athena, Aphrodite and others; the Titans include Themis, Oceanus, Crius, Phoebe, Prometheus and Atlas. The other gods include more general gods, like The Graces, The Muses, The Fates, Dionysus, Eros and Persephone.

2. Look for attributes that interest and intrigue you about the gods. Make notes on what characteristics you like and dislike about the gods. For instance, you may write that you like Zeus's power with lightning bolts, but you do not like his temper and his disloyalty to women. Write descriptions of what you believe the gods and goddesses may have looked like. Athena is described as the "goddess of beauty." Imagine what that means to you personally, and write a few physical descriptions of ultimate beauty.

3. Select a myth. Read through selections of Greek myths in a book that includes all the myths, or a book that features specific myths, like the creation story. Choose from creation stories, like the creation of man by Prometheus, Zeus' lovers, the birth of Athena, the wanderings of Dionysus, or the Theseus Adventures.

4. Dig for interesting objects and details in the myths. Greek myths have been read for thousands of years. Strong poems, however, often catch a detail, mood or meaning that other readers and thinkers have missed. After reading an entire myth, read it again looking for inanimate objects, for instance. Write a list of those objects to include in your poem. Breathe life into these thousand year-old objects and places.

5. Write with the senses. Draft a poem that evokes sights, sounds, smells, tactile feelings and tastes. Incorporate what it means to be alive in the time period into the poem. Because Greek myths have been recycled so often in literature, poetry, storytelling, movies and TV shows, a poem will only be interesting and powerful if you offer readers a fresh perspective on the old, heroic stories.

References

• Greek Mythology: Greek Gods
• Desy: Greek Mythology