Why is Greek mythology more popular than Norse mythology?

Originally posted by Deadline
They didn't. England is right next door to Scandinavia, which is why people from there frequently landed in England. As far as I'm aware there are more examples of Vikings settling and visting Britain than there are in Ireland for example.

But seriously, I don't know where we're going with this one anymore. It's not like we can deny that Greek mythology is more popular than Norse.

Originally posted by Deadline
and I'm arguing this is because of the Normans.

Originally posted by Deadline
Like I said if that were the reason it would be more popular in Norway and Iceland, I might be wrong but I doubt it.

Greek people had more good worths (gold)

I found this:
Greek mythology and Roman mythology are almost identical. This is an accepted fact, as it is widely known that the Romans stole the Greek myths. However, it is very interesting to note that the mythology of the Vikings (Norse) has many similarities with the Greek myths. These myths are, by no means, identical to the Greek ones (like the Roman ones are), but there are very distinct commonalities between the two. I see two possible reasons for this besides pure coincidence. The first has to do with the fact that Norse myths were codified during the Viking era: 780 - 1070. This gives the Norsemen many centuries to become exposed to the Greek (or Roman) myths. The Vikings did travel as far east as the Caspian sea, which is further east than both Italy and Greece. The Norse myths were fashioned after the fall of the Roman empire. During the expansion of the Roman empire, the Romans were able to get all the way to Britain, which is farther west than the Scandinavian countries where these myths originated. The Vikings made many expeditions into Britain. So it is a very realistic thought that the Vikings could have been exposed to the stories of the Greek and Roman gods. It is also possible that the Vikings could have extrapolated parts of the Roman stories into their own. The only two existing primary sources of Norse mythology are the Prose (Elder) Edda, and the Poetic (Younger) Edda. These were written about one thousand to eight hundred years ago respectively. The second factor has to do with mythology as an extension of the society that fashions it. I see mythology as an attempt by a people to explain the powerful forces which affect and shape it, that are beyond its control, such as weather, the elements, and nature. I also see gods as being characters that have many similarities with the people within the society. The gods and goddesses are powerful beings capable of super-human powers, but nevertheless are characters fraught with very human frailties and flaws. In this way they created gods that had similarities with the common man in the society. This made the gods more tangible and easier to identify with. I think that this was necessary because they were not yet at the societal maturity level to have a single god on a cosmic plane.

Originally posted by alltoomany
I found this:
Greek mythology and Roman mythology are almost identical. This is an accepted fact, as it is widely known that the Romans stole the Greek myths. However, it is very interesting to note that the mythology of the Vikings (Norse) has many similarities with the Greek myths. These myths are, by no means, identical to the Greek ones (like the Roman ones are), but there are very distinct commonalities between the two. I see two possible reasons for this besides pure coincidence. The first has to do with the fact that Norse myths were codified during the Viking era: 780 - 1070. This gives the Norsemen many centuries to become exposed to the Greek (or Roman) myths. The Vikings did travel as far east as the Caspian sea, which is further east than both Italy and Greece. The Norse myths were fashioned after the fall of the Roman empire. During the expansion of the Roman empire, the Romans were able to get all the way to Britain, which is farther west than the Scandinavian countries where these myths originated. The Vikings made many expeditions into Britain. So it is a very realistic thought that the Vikings could have been exposed to the stories of the Greek and Roman gods. It is also possible that the Vikings could have extrapolated parts of the Roman stories into their own. The only two existing primary sources of Norse mythology are the Prose (Elder) Edda, and the Poetic (Younger) Edda. These were written about one thousand to eight hundred years ago respectively. The second factor has to do with mythology as an extension of the society that fashions it. I see mythology as an attempt by a people to explain the powerful forces which affect and shape it, that are beyond its control, such as weather, the elements, and nature. I also see gods as being characters that have many similarities with the people within the society. The gods and goddesses are powerful beings capable of super-human powers, but nevertheless are characters fraught with very human frailties and flaws. In this way they created gods that had similarities with the common man in the society. This made the gods more tangible and easier to identify with. I think that this was necessary because they were not yet at the societal maturity level to have a single god on a cosmic plane.

not ready for monotheism you mean. All religions borrow from others, either earlier or comparative and this is still true today, it may be stories, archetypes or just symbolism.

I have a belief that most prophets are delusional schitzo's.

If you've never read Sebastian Faulkes book a week in December, do. His dissection of Islam is hilarious and so clkever in it, as is the way he juxtaposes the Prophet with a character in an asylum who has invented his own belief system based on... "You will go to hell".
Genius!

Originally posted by Lord Lucien
Yes and as far as I know, the descendants of those Pagan Vikings that interbred with the Anglo-Saxons/Picts of Britain became Christian. Bye bye Norse mythology, hello Greco-Roman religion!

But seriously, I don't know where we're going with this one anymore. It's not like we can deny that Greek mythology is more popular than Norse.

So wait... the Normans who converted to Christianity which originated from the Mediterranean world of Roman/Greek cultures? Or the Norman ancestors who were once Norse Pagan?

You might wanna start clarifying your single-sentence responses, because I have no idea what you're referring to here.

I never argued that Norse mythology was more popular than Greek if thats what you're trying to imply. Anyway don't think this discussion is going anywhere.

Cause it's more interesting /thread

In all honesty, despite what the others told you. It is because of not just influence but culturally. The germanic people all worshipped norse beliefs but by 400 CE the whole norse thing was mostly in Scandinavia. The roman conquests and documentation made for influence I. Their options and culture and they took a lot of their culture from Greeks. English was a poetic germanic language but even now most used words are of germanic origin mostly originated from the German language itself. But in all truths it was the fact that the Greeks traded and spread it, nod the Romans spread hat the Greeks had before them. Now why their more famous I have no idea, not only o the norse have equal power in both male and female gods (I hardly consider a girl spawning from your scalp and upper part of your skull the same as a warrior queen) freya is of equal power to Odin and they are not related in any way. The coolest mythical creatures are norse unless you think the Minotaur is cooler than a dragon, an Orc, elf, werewolf, and troll... So yeah. Also just as a note Loki was not a giant he was a trickster god who takes on whatever form pleases him and he was not related to Thor. And Thor's hammer (I did not write its name cause of autocorrect) was not as small as in the comics or movies but it was by no means a warhammer (really big hammer weapon). Also the only person who cheats on their spouse is in a damaged norse tale which was edited by missionaries who destroyed original texts. In norse the gods got divorces, and there was no incest, or people crossing with wild animals. In fact the religion promoted women being equal to men even in not god stories hence sweden's current equal policy. But in greek myth we on bathed men, shined their armor, washed their clothes and linens, they cooked and if you were a goddess you either had kids with your brother, son, or father (maybe all 3 or a different relative) or you were abducted by one of your family who to say the least took advantage of you. Or you were a man seduced to cheat on your wife or you were a woman seduced to let a male god cheat on his wife. Clearly norse myth was more interesting and creative and had better laws. I suppose one reason we look it the Greeks is the culture's democratic times and the fact that so many texts survive. It's not that the norse's texts were not as good or influencing but that they did not have homer to write the traditions down and the few recorded ones were lost to time itself. I also saw the comment on norse more violent but this is not true, nordic writings came in all types in fact more greek tales are more bloody and gory. or should i say every greek tale has gore but not every nordic one does even if the ones that do are equally so. another big reason is events typically christianization involving the destruction of most nordic records of any kind, including witch hunts which not only hunted so called female women it was actually the executions of satan worshippers, cultists of any kind, european pagans such as the few remaining unconverted norse, and people that believed in any kind of necromantic beliefs which i what the actual witches were. yes men were executed but the earliest ones killed the men as it was courtesy not to harm the women later on they killed the ones the did not kill earlier.Take this from me, I am an expert on influence, historical, and cultures. I know a ton about the norse and well I believe the logical reasons are the influence they had including Rome's + their demorcratic system, and the loss of knowledge and culture of the norse

It is cultural.

Chinese mythology beats them both

/thread

Chinese mythology sucks.

And fantasy tales set in Greek Mythology in the modern book and film mediums has some awesome awesome stuff in it.

Agreed, Mindset, Chinese mythology is terrible compared to Greek and Norse.

Originally posted by Omega Vision
Agreed, Mindset, Chinese mythology is terrible compared to Greek and Norse.

Mindset thinks any mythology where Ion/Doom/Ironfist aren't the main divinity sucks.

You're just racist biscuits

I love greek mythology. I like norse mythology.

I do like roman mythology more than I like norse mythology. but I like christian mythology more than I like roman mythology.

in other words, here's my order:

1. Greek mythology
2. Christian mythology
3. Roman mythology
4. Norse mythology

Originally posted by Adam_PoE
Norwegians are hotter than Greeks.

Yeah right, most Scandinavian men either look very feminine or very ugly. Especially Norwegians who look no different from the British. How is having pasty pink skin hotter than olive toned, tall dark and handsome. Most people with that type of skin almost aways tan themselves extensively. Almost no women like blonde men, not even blonde women themselves.

Compare the Italian football players to the Norwegian ones.

And to the one guy that said "Greeks were once fair nordics" that is such nordicist garbage right there. Germanic influence in all of the southern nations was insignificant. Both historical accounts & genetic data disagrees with such idealogy. No southern european population looks like Iraqis or Afghanis, if they do they are not ethnic. They have changed little in appearance since ancient times. Not to mention Blonde hair didn't even evolve in any "Germanic nation" it is thought to have come out of the east. Which is why Finland is the most blonde country, and the further west you go the blondness decreases. Should we start calling every dark olive toned German, Brit, or Scandinavian like David Gandy, Collin Farrel, or Gerard Butler, Julien Hedquist, Christian bale...Southern european influenced? or every Scandinavian with small almond eyes asian influenced? lol

There is no evidence that states the ancient Italic groups or Greeks couldn't have light eyes or different shades of hair. And fair Southern Europeans almost never look like fair northern europeans, they often have totally different phenotypes. But on topic, the reason is because Greek mythology is much more interesting and more about it is known, plus they along with Romans founded much of western. While Scandinavians didn't do much for the west but raid a few countries.

None of those mythologies gave us Dragon Ball Z so why do we even care?

Originally posted by Bentley
None of those mythologies gave us Dragon Ball Z so why do we even care?

Originally posted by Crostic
Yeah right, most Scandinavian men either look very feminine

Originally posted by NemeBro
I prefer feminine-looking guys though.

This guy reminds of me that anime, Asian-supremacist weirdo.

Originally posted by Bentley
Chinese mythology beats them both

/thread

Originally posted by Bentley
Mindset thinks any mythology where Ion/Doom/Ironfist aren't the main divinity sucks.