5 Most Psychopathic Greek Mythological Figures

Many individuals are familiar with Greek myths and characters, such as Zeus and Hercules. However, Greek mythology features numerous characters with incredibly strange and bizarre stories, making even Zeus's sexual escapades and Hercules's feats appear mild in comparison. It is puzzling to consider how such tales came into existence. This compilation presents ten of the most shockingly disturbed characters in Greek mythology who exhibit psychopathic tendencies.

1. Circe:

Circe is a character known for her impulsive and illogical behavior. For instance, she transformed Odysseus’s men into pigs and turned Picus, who rejected her, into a woodpecker. Her behavior towards those who scorned her highlights the popular adage ‘Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned.’ Additionally, Circe once fell in love with Glaucu, son of the Titan Kronos, but when she discovered that he was in love with Scylla, she took the irrational course of action of poisoning the sea where Scylla bathed, which resulted in Scylla turning into a monster with six heads.

2. Medea:

The niece of the infamous Circe was equally disturbed and showed her true colors when she fell in love with Jason of the Argonauts and helped him steal the Golden Fleece. While escaping with Jason, her father, the king of Colchis, pursued them, prompting Medea to take drastic measures. She killed her own brother and dismembered him, scattering the pieces so her father would be delayed in gathering them for a proper burial. As if that weren't enough, in Iolcos, King Pelias denied Jason the throne, so Medea urged Pelias's daughters to boil him in water after chopping him into pieces to reverse his aging. Clearly, Medea was not one to shy away from violence and treachery.

3. Tantalus

It is difficult to comprehend the actions of Tantalus, a son of Zeus, who was highly regarded by the gods and was often invited to their gatherings. In an act of betrayal, he stole the food and drink of the gods, and even went as far as to steal Zeus's beloved dog. Although the gods were infuriated by his actions, they decided to give him another chance. However, he committed an even more heinous act by killing his own son, Pelops, and serving his roasted flesh to the gods during a feast. Tantalus's actions are inexplicable, as he could have simply asked for food if he was hungry. The gods discovered his deceitful actions, and as punishment, they killed him and condemned him to Tartarus. He was placed in a pond with an unreachable fruit tree hanging above him, and cursed with unending hunger and thirst.

4. Sisyphus:

As the ruler of Ephyra, Sisyphus was a successful and powerful figure, but his ambition and cruelty knew no bounds. He would sometimes murder his own guests to demonstrate his power and fearlessness. Zeus, outraged by his senseless violence, condemned Sisyphus to Tartarus. However, Sisyphus, who was known for his intelligence, tricked the god of death, Thanatos, by capturing him in his own chains when he came to take him away.

With death held captive, people were unable to die, which enraged Ares, the god of war, and he retaliated by seizing Sisyphus. But Sisyphus was not deterred and convinced Persephone, the queen of the underworld, to allow him to return to the living world to punish his wife for not giving him a proper burial. Ultimately, he was dragged back to Tartarus by Hermes and given the punishment of rolling a boulder up a hill for eternity. This tale serves as a warning that excessive intelligence and cunning can lead to downfall.

5. Dionysos:

Dionysos had an unpleasant birth as his mother was killed by Hera, but Zeus saved the fetus and kept it in his thigh until it was fully developed. As an adult, Dionysos became the god of wine and had a reputation for making people lose their minds. Once, he was kidnapped by some pirates who tried to tie him up but were unable to, and he turned them into dolphins when they insulted him. On another occasion, he visited Thebes, where his cousin Pentheus was in charge. When Pentheus ordered Dionysos's drunken followers to be imprisoned, Dionysos was angry and tried to reason with him, but Pentheus refused to listen. As a result, Dionysos caused Pentheus's family to go insane and they ended up killing him. Despite being the god of wine, Dionysos's adventures were not always enjoyable.