When most people think of a Greek myth, they think of the weird stories of some questionable things one of the Gods has done. But most Greek myths have a compelling story of love, heroes, mistakes, and even explanations behind some mysteries in life. Here are the most interesting stories you should make sure to read:  

MEDUSA 

Starting with probably my favorite story, Medusa. I think Medusa is one of the most misunderstood creatures/beings

represented in the media. Most people know her as an ugly, evil monster who kills for fun. But, that wasn’t always the truth, she used to be a beautiful maiden before Poseidon decided to use her spite Athena. Medusa loved her hair, often bragging about how beautiful it was, so when Athena found Poseidon and Medusa in her sacred temple, she punished her by turning her hair to snakes and cursing her so every man who looks in her eyes will be petrified. 

“This story is relevant in people’s lives today,” East Islip Junior Brooke McCally said. “There are two sides to every  story but people only see what they want to.” 

ECHO

Have you ever wondered how something got its name? I know I have at least a couple of times. Well, what if I told you some ancient Greek stories have the answers? For example, an echo. Echo was a beautiful but talkative mountain nymph who caught Zeus’ eye, resulting in her facing his jealous wife Hera’s wrath and being cursed to only be able to repeat the last thing that was said to her, which is the Echo. Echo’s story is one of heartbreak, she falls in love with a man named Narcissus (sounds like a word you’ve heard before, too, right?), an egotistical man, who rejects her due to her inability to speak her own thoughts. 

CALYPSO

Calypso’s story is another one of heartbreak, though instead of facing the wrath of one god, she was punished by all of the gods. Many people may recognize her name from the popular Percy Jackson book series or the famous Pirates of The Caribbean movie. Calypso is punished after the war against gods and titans. She supported the titans due to her father being Atlas, a titan. After the gods win the war, Calypso is imprisoned on the island of Ogygia, forced to spend the rest of her days alone on her island, Odysseus eventually is sent to her island where he is stuck for seven years. Calypso having not seen another person in a hundred years, falls in love with him. Athena argues for Odysseus to be free, causing Calypso to be left alone on her island once again. Calypso is continuously hurt and left alone due to her curse, that never fit her crime to begin with. 

ICARUS

People often hear the phrase “don’t fly too close to the sun,” but do you know where that really came from? It came from the story of a man named Icarus, a mortal with a father who was a craftsman. Icarus and his father Daedalus were imprisoned by an enemy, so his father created wings with wax. Daedalus warned Icarus not to fly too high because the sun would melt the wax, but Icarus did not listen. He fell into the ocean and drowned. To this day you hear Icarus mentioned more than most other ancient Greek stories, it’s even referenced in popular media like the musical Hamilton for example, when it says “you have married an icarus, he has flown too close to the sun.”

THE ODYSSEY

Not all stories have a heartbreaking ending, some actually do have a happy ending. The last story is one everyone has definitely heard of at least once, The Odyssey. Recently there was a musical made about it on YouTube called “Epic the Musical” and it’s even getting a movie adaptation in 2026. The musical isn’t completely accurate but it’s a good, slightly modernized representation. Most people learned about the Trojan war, that was the start of Odysseus’ Odyssey, he and his crew of 600 men survived the war. Odysseus was king of Ithaca, he married a girl named Penelope and they had a baby. Less than a year later Odysseus had to leave for war, which lasted ten years. On the way back, Odysseus faces monsters, gods, and even betrayal from his crew.

“Odysseus’ own hubris prolongs his own suffering, I think it’s interesting his own arrogance continues to get in his way,” said Mrs. Pellicano. “He keeps thinking he’s the best, taking him further and further from his goal.”

After seven years go by, Odysseus has gone to the underworld and even a punishment from Zeus, where he loses his entire crew, and he’s spent years trapped on Calypso’s island. When he’s released, he sails across the ocean, fights the sea monster Charybdis, and even Poseidon. He finally makes it home to his wife and son after twenty years.