Greek Mythology What is Mythology Mythology is a

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Greek Mythology

Greek Mythology

What is Mythology? • Mythology is a purely fictitious narrative, usually involving supernatural beings,

What is Mythology? • Mythology is a purely fictitious narrative, usually involving supernatural beings, actions or events, and embodying some popular idea concerning natural or historic origin or phenomena Huh? • Myths are ridiculous stories that were taken very seriously by ancient cultures for the main reason of explanation.

What did myths explain? • Questions of Nature • Questions of History • Questions

What did myths explain? • Questions of Nature • Questions of History • Questions concerning genealogy, creation and origin • Often, myths reflected Greek culture and codes of conduct

Themes in Mythology: Creation • Explains the birth of a god and the world

Themes in Mythology: Creation • Explains the birth of a god and the world out of nothingness • Illustrates an epoch of warfare to explain the battles between good and evil • Always a victor; order is established

Themes in Mythology: The Great Search • Mythical wandering of an individual on a

Themes in Mythology: The Great Search • Mythical wandering of an individual on a quest; involves monsters, enchantresses, world of the dead • Hero must prove manhood; the challenge caused maturity, change and growth in the hero

Themes in Mythology: Historical Events • Some myths are based on factual events in

Themes in Mythology: Historical Events • Some myths are based on factual events in history • To be a myth, it’s altered slightly or elements such as the supernatural are added • Iliad & Odyssey are based on the Trojan War.

Myths are generally about… • Myths deal with the significant aspects of human and

Myths are generally about… • Myths deal with the significant aspects of human and superhuman existence • They are about Gods, Kings, and Heroes • Creation of the world • Future destruction of the world • How man was created • The relationship between gods and man • Presentation of a moral code to live by • The ideals that heroes represent to society.

What else are myths? • Stories that are handed down ORALLY and passed on

What else are myths? • Stories that are handed down ORALLY and passed on by word of mouth through generations • Popular tales that embody a collective knowledge – represents learning and accumulated knowledge of a society • Belong to a primitive and pre-scientific people as their cultural heritage – helped explain the unexplainable of the time

Gods: A Very Human Image Gods were like humans: • They were vain, got

Gods: A Very Human Image Gods were like humans: • They were vain, got jealous, fell in and out of love, and could be immature or wise and benevolent • Sole purpose was to have humans serve them, however.

The 411: Gods & Goddesses Where did they live? • Mount Olympus – but

The 411: Gods & Goddesses Where did they live? • Mount Olympus – but sometimes they mingled with humans on earth What did they eat? • Ambrosia What separated them from humans? • They were immortal and had superhuman powers

The Building of Temples • Way Greeks worshipped the gods • Better temples =

The Building of Temples • Way Greeks worshipped the gods • Better temples = better favor w/gods • Gods could make life miserable for man if he disrespected them: Odysseus from The Odyssey is a perfect example

Famous Temples • Acropolis – in Athens, a city within a city – a

Famous Temples • Acropolis – in Athens, a city within a city – a religious city w/several temples, most notably, the Parthenon • Oracle at Delphi – one of the most popular to visit in honor of Apollo

Influence of Mythology • Myths account for the origins of names, symbols and ideas

Influence of Mythology • Myths account for the origins of names, symbols and ideas in our modern culture: • Science: Planets, names of species (arachnids), Biology terms (Cerebellum, Achilles heel) Apollo Mission, Titan Missiles • Education: Geographical names: earth, plutonium; English vocabulary words: chronological, lethal, cereal • Car Names/Companies: Nike, Odyssey, Eos, Saturn, Dove Soap, Ajax Cleanser • Movies/TV: Harry Potter, Star Wars, Xena, Hercules, Little Mermaid • Symbols and Holidays: FTD Florist; American Medical Association, Chicken of the Sea, Atlas Moving Company, Valentine’s Day, New Year’s Eve, Owl = Wisdom

Recognize These?

Recognize These?