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The Greek gods and goddesses were unique in the ancient world, the first deities to be represented as human-like figures. They survived for hundreds of years in the oral tradition before scribes of the time began penning their mythology. The best-known was Homer, author of the Iliad and the Odyssey, who lived about 750 B.C.
Gods and Goddesses is about an hour and 40 minutes. It starts with the inception of the gods and shows their impact on the people of ancient and classical Greece. It continues on into their influence on the Romans and eventually Christianity. A number of Greek myths are told and analyzed during the documentary, including such classics as Oedipus' story. The myths are highlighted by looks at the ancient ruins of Greece and preserved artwork from the period.
I found the section on Greek heroes particularly noteworthy. It makes for an interesting comparison to our own society where heroes are typically people who do "great good." In Greece, heroes were people (sometimes descended of the gods) who accomplished extraordinary things, whether for good or ill.
If you're already quite familiar with Greek mythology, Gods and Goddesses might not offer you anything new, though it is a good refresher if you're a bit rusty. If you're new to Greek mythology, it makes a good introduction piece and may be helpful to watch along with reading the Greek myths.
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