Introduction to Greek Mythology What Is A Myth

Introduction to Greek Mythology

What Is A Myth? • A myth is humanity’s earliest imaginative attempts to explain the universe, its creation, and its working • A myth reveals a way of life and thought of a particular culture • Western civilization traces its roots back to Greek culture • Greek myths are all that is left of the ancient Greek religion. About 1200 b. c. e. , the residents of Greece and Asia Minor shared a common belief in the deities known as The Olympians.

Where Do We see mythology Alive today? Mercury Venus Pencil Nike Achilles tendon Ajax Panasonic

Creation myths The creation of the gods and the creation of the earth

Chaos • Confusion, no limits, no bounds, an abyss • There was disorder, but in it was hidden all things that exist • Eventually Chaos ceased • Out of Chaos were created Erebus (Darkness) and Nox (Night) – produced energy called Eros (Love) • Resolved into two beings – deities • Gaea – Mother Earth and Uranus – Overhanging heavens • The memory of chaos still remains in night – darkness in which chaos lives

Gaea and Uranus • Gave birth to many children both ugly and beautiful • 12 Titans, 3 100 headed hecatoncheries, and 3 one eyed Cyclopes • Father – Uranus – hates all children especially the six ugly ones • Confines them to the lower region of the earth called Tartarus • How does Gaea feel about all of this?

Gaea is angry • Calls upon the Titans for help • All of them are too scared to fight against their father except for Cronus • He uses a sharp sickle to slay Uranus • Uranus promises punishment to the Titans – “You will be punished for this…Ahhhhhh. ” • Cronus is now ruler

Cronus Marries Rhea • Cronus first divides his empire among the Titans • Cronus feared his own children – 3 daughters and 3 sons • He decides to swallow all of his children • His last son – Zeus – lives • Zeus is exiled to Crete

Zeus Defeats Cronus • Cronus vomits up his children • Zeus returns as Cronus’ cupbearer • The children that were vomited up elect Zeus as their new leader • Cronus at this point hasn’t been defeated • War is now waged against him • Zeus frees the “uglies” from Tartarus • Zeus was provided with lightening bolts by the Cyclopes • The Hecatoncheires rained down boulders – Titans believed the mountains were falling

Zeus and the Olympians • All of the Titans were exiled except for Atlas – punished by holding the world on his shoulders • Zeus now reigns over Mt. Olympus

The Creation of man by Prometheus • Prometheus – Forethought • Epimetheus – After thought • Spared imprisonment in Tartarus (didn’t fight with fellow Titans) • They were asked the task of creating man • Prometheus shaped man out of mud and Athena breathed life into his clay figure

Creation of man cont’d • Prometheus assigned Epimetheus the task: give creatures of the earth various qualities • Epi. gave all the good qualities away and none were left for man • Prometheus decided to make man stand upright and gave them fire

Man • Prometheus loved man • Man must sacrifice a portion of each animal to the gods (The Odyssey) • Prometheus decides to trick Zeus • Zeus is angry – he takes fire away from man • Prometheus gets fire from the sun – Zeus very angry. Zeus inflicts punishment on both man and Prometheus

Man’s Punishment • Zeus has Hephaestus create a mortal beauty • She received gifts of wealth and a deceptive heart and a lying tongue • Thus, Pandora was created • Pandora was given a box to take with her • Prometheus warned Epimetheus about accepting gifts from Zeus • Epimetheus became enraptured by Pandora’s beauty, and he let her stay • Her curiosity about the box heightened and eventually she opened the box

What come out of Pandora’s box? • Out of the box flew the following things: Evils Sorrows Plagues Misfortunes Hope?

The Different ages • The Golden Age: When the whole earth was a paradise. Everyone was living in harmony with each other. From the beginning of the universe until Zeus takes over • The Silver Age: Race of man started to decline. Man had less respect for the gods and were absorbed by material pleasure • The Brazen (Bronze) Age: Constant violence and warfare. This period produced the heroes of the Trojan War • The Iron Age: A period of poverty and misery, cold weather, crop shortages, and dwindling food supplies

The many lovers of Zeus • Zeus had three wives prior to Hera: Metis, Themis, Mnemosyne • He wanted Demeter, but she rejected him • Eurpoa, Io, and Semele are just a few of his lovers