Greek mythology and African mythology are two very different things. Greek mythology is based on the stories of the ancient Greek gods and heroes, while African mythology is based on the myths and legends of the various African cultures.
Greek mythology has influenced many aspects of Western culture, from art to literature to philosophy. African mythology, on the other hand, is not as well known in the West but is nonetheless just as important and interesting.
Greek mythology is often seen as being more sophisticated than African mythology, but this is not necessarily true. Both types of mythology have their own unique stories and characters that can be enjoyed by everyone.
The popular belief that the word “myth” has Greek roots is incorrect. Myth, in its original meaning (as defined by the Oxford English Dictionary) refers to a traditional or legendary narrative, particularly one concerned with gods or demigods and explaining some religious practice act or natural phenomenon (such as Thor’s hammer). We have a precise definition of what a myth is, so every myth must conform to it in some respect. However, other than this basic definition, there are far more ties between African and Greek mythology than appears at first sight.
For example, most Greek myths were used to explain natural phenomena, such as why the leaves change color in the fall or why there is day and night. African myths also often explained natural phenomena, but they also explained the origins of things, such as how humans came to be or why certain animals act the way they do. Greek and African myths also often featured gods and goddesses who had human characteristics and emotions. Lastly, Greek and African myths were passed down orally from generation to generation before being written down.
Even though Greek and African mythology share many similarities, there are also some key differences between the two. Perhaps the most obvious difference is that Greek mythology is set in Greece, while African mythology is set in Africa. Obviously, this means that the pantheons of Greek and African gods are different. Additionally, Greek mythology is heavily influenced by the culture and history of Greece, while African mythology is heavily influenced by the cultures and histories of the various African tribes. This means that Greek and African myths often have different messages and meanings.
Greek mythology teaches about the dangers of hubris and the importance of obeying those in authority, while African mythology often focuses on lessons about working together and living in harmony with nature. Greek mythology is also generally more focused on individuals, while African mythology is more focused on the community as a whole. Despite these differences, Greek and African mythology both offer valuable insights into the cultures that created them.
The landscapes of Africa and Greece are several thousand kilometers apart, yet there are significant parallels between the two. One of the first things to note is that they both demonstrate a certain ethical lesson, regardless of the narrative’s subject matter. In African folklore “The Hare and the Elephant,” a hare outwits an elephant by lying to him, with the meaning being “Do not undervalue anyone, no matter how small they may appear.” There are numerous examples of this message in Greek mythology.
One is when Zeus was disguised as a beggar and went to ask for food from Prometheus, who knew it was Zeus but still gave him food. The moral here is obviously to always help others, even if you don’t know them.
Another similarity between African and Greek mythology is that they both have gods that control different aspects of nature. In Greek mythology, there are the 12 Olympians who each rule over a different aspect of life such as love, wisdom, agriculture, etc. In African mythology, there are gods for different animals, the sun, the moon, thunder, etc. These similarities show that even though Greek and African cultures are very different, they still have some common ground in their mythology.
Greek and African mythology have some similarities, such as portraying a moral in every story and having gods that control different aspects of nature. Even though Greek and African cultures are very different, they still have some common ground in their mythology. These similarities can be seen in many of the stories that have been passed down through generations.
The most noticeable difference is that the Greeks utilized monsters in their myths far more than Africans did. The Cyclops, Chimera, Minotaur, Medusa, Hydra, Cerberus…. These are just a few examples of Greek monsters. African monsters are rarely mentioned. Another key distinction between Greek and African mythology is who is involved in the narrative and to whom it is attributed.
Greek myths were based on humans and their interaction with the gods, while African myths were based on animals. In Greek mythology, there are more evil beings such as Typhon, who was a giant with a hundred serpent heads, or Python, a dragon that guarded the oracle at Delphi. These beings caused pain and death to humans. In African mythology, evil is not as common and is not personified as much. It is more of a force than an actual being. Lastly, the way that Greek and African cultures saw the world was different which is reflected in their myths.
The Greeks believed that everything had a purpose and everything happened for a reason. They also saw the world as being orderly and having balance. The Africans believed that the world was full of chaos and that everything was constantly changing. These different worldviews is one of the reasons why Greek and African myths are so different.
In Greek traditions, you’ll find stories that involve battles between heroes and monsters, gods arguing about humans, or massive conflicts among the gods and Titans. In African mythology, animals dominate the tale; for example, in “Cave of Souls” by Chinua Achebe. “Jason and the Argonauts” and “Hercules” are two examples of Greek myths that feature warriors fighting monsters.
These myths were probably created to teach Greek children about the dangers in the world and how to protect themselves. Examples of African myths that talk about animals are “The Tortoise and the Hare” or “ Why Zebras Have Stripes”. These myths were probably created to teach African children about the different animals in their environment and how they behave. Greek mythology is more focused on gods, while African mythology is more focused on animals.
