Humanities › History & Culture Famous Stories About Men and Women From Greek Mythology Pivotal Myths and Legends Share Flipboard Email Print History & Culture Ancient History and Culture Mythology & Religion Figures & Events Ancient Languages Greece Egypt Asia Rome American History African American History African History Asian History European History Genealogy Inventions Latin American History Medieval & Renaissance History Military History The 20th Century Women's History View More By N.S. Gill Ancient History and Latin Expert M.A., Linguistics, University of Minnesota B.A., Latin, University of Minnesota N.S. Gill is a Latinist, writer, and teacher of ancient history and Latin. She has been featured by NPR and National Geographic for her ancient history expertise. our editorial process N.S. Gill Updated March 06, 2018 The major stories in Greek mythology focus on specific families ("houses") and heroes. Here are some of the clusters of Greek myths and legends, including the Trojan War and the tragedy-inspiring House of Atreus, as well as the major heroes, and the most famous hunt. You'll also find popular stories from Greek mythology like Pandora's Box and the Minotaur's labyrinth. 01 of 10 Trojan War fotomania_17 / Getty Images The Trojan War provides the background for much of both Greek and Roman literature. When Paris handed Aphrodite the prize, the apple of discord, he started the series of events that led to the destruction of his homeland Troy, which, in turn, led to the flight of Aeneas and the founding of Rome 02 of 10 The Odyssey MR1805 / Getty Images Sometimes called Ulysses, Odysseus was the most famous hero of the Trojan War who made it home. Granted, the war took 10 years and his return trip another 10, but unlike most of the Greeks, he made it back safely, and to a family that was, oddly, still waiting for him. His story makes up the second of the two works attributed to Homer, "The Odyssey," which contains more fanciful encounters with mythological characters than "The Iliad." 03 of 10 Perseus VvoeVale / Getty Images Perseus was one of the major heroes, founder of Mycenae, and the ancestor of the Persians. His wife Andromeda is better known as a constellation, but first Perseus had to rescue her from a monster (and a fiance). 04 of 10 The House of Thebes dangrytsku / Getty Images Cadmus set out to find his abducted sister (Europa, who was carried off on a white bull), but wound up founding the important city of Thebes. Among other adventures, Cadmus slew a dragon that had eaten his men. Oedipus, of Freudian fame, was king of Thebes only a few generations later. 05 of 10 Calydonian Boar Hunt Sarcophagus Depicting the Calydonian Boar Hunt. Proconnesian marble. Musei Capitolini, Rome. Marie-Lan Nguyen/Wikimedia Commons. A group of heroic hunters, including the female Atalanta, chase after a boar sent by the irate goddess Artemis to ravage the Calydonian countryside. This is the most famous of the Greek hunts in art and literature 06 of 10 House of Atreus Starcevic / Getty Images The House of Atreus was cursed. Among its unlucky members and ancestors were Pelops, whose shoulder was eaten by Demeter; Menelaus, whose wife was taken by Paris; Agamemnon, who was murdered by his own wife after he murdered their daughter; and Orestes, who was hounded by the Furies. 07 of 10 The Quest for the Golden Fleece Anastasiia_Guseva / Getty Images These are the adventures of the heroes known as Argonauts, who are led by Jason to capture the Golden Fleece. The story tells of the recovery with the help of Medea, and how they didn't live happily ever after. 08 of 10 Theseus sasimoto / Getty Images Theseus was the Athenian hero who volunteered to be one of the victims in the labyrinth of the Minotaur. Before he became king of Athens, he rivaled Hercules in adventures. 09 of 10 Hercules (Heracles) Soo Hon Keong / Getty Images Hercules had lots of adventures and a couple of marriages. Among the heroic myths about him, it's told that Hercules went to the Underworld and traveled with the Argonauts on their voyage to collect the Golden Fleece. He also completed 12 labors as atonement for his crimes 10 of 10 Prometheus jarnogz / Getty Images Prometheus was the brother-in-law of Pandora, the first Athenian woman, who unleashed the world's ills,and the parent of the Greek Noah. Take the Which Greek Hero Are You? Quiz ?