I'm curious to know how members and other practitioners of Hellenic Polytheism understand and interpret the myths. Do you take them as they are, or do you believe they point to higher meaning?
I guess I envision a Christian asking the same question to a Hellenist, only to be told, "Well, how do you view your own central story of your savior being born of a virgin, who tradition says conceived when the spirit of God entered her ear?" But it is a valid question. Modern-day Christians are faced with similar questions. Some take it literally, others are quite happy as Christians who believe Jesus was born as any other man and yet had something unique to say to humankind.
I mean, how do Hellenists treat the stories of Zeus' adventures outside his marriage to Hera, or the apple contest between the Goddesses that started the Trojan War? And I ask this with complete respect to this faith and its teachings. I suppose it's sort of a silly question since many ancient Greeks themselves interpreted their sacred stories symbolically, but they just as well posited that some of them happened just as they were told.
Not sure if this has been asked on here. I looked but didn't find anything. Would be interested in seeing what you all have to say.
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