Greek mythology is a collection of myths and legends from ancient Greece that were used to explain natural phenomena. The myths featured a pantheon of gods and goddesses like Zeus, Hades, Aphrodite, Ares, Athena, Poseidon, and heroes like Heracles. Zeus was considered the most important god as the father and ruler of the gods. Other gods ruled over domains like the underworld, love, war, wisdom, and the sea. Heroes were half-mortal beings that protected humans from threats. The myths helped ancient Greeks understand the world around them in terms of these divine figures.