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MYTHOLOGY

MYTHOLOGY. An Introduction To Mythology and the Greek Gods & Goddesses Mr. Dewalt English I WHS. What Is a Myth? . Myths are traditional stories, rooted in a particular culture, that deal with gods, goddesses, and other supernatural beings, as well as human heroes.

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MYTHOLOGY

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  1. MYTHOLOGY An Introduction To Mythology and the Greek Gods & Goddesses Mr. DewaltEnglish I WHS

  2. What Is a Myth? • Myths are traditional stories, rooted in a particular culture, that deal with gods, goddesses, and other supernatural beings, as well as human heroes. • Myths often embody religious beliefs and values and explain natural phenomena. • Every early culture has created their own myths.

  3. Mythology Continued • Myths surround our daily lives. • What are some examples of myths that you are aware of?

  4. Myths Found Today • Did you eat Cereal for breakfast? • Research is being conducted on Mars. • What did Cupid send you for Valentine’s Day? • It’s Thursday. Is it May or June though? • Cereal from Cerealia; a festival for Ceres the Roman goddess of the harvest. • Mars is the Roman god of war. • Cupid young Roman god. • Thursday- Thor; Norse god of thunder. • May- Maia; Greek goddess of the fields. • June- Juno; Roman goddess of marriage and women.

  5. Mythology Cont. • Originally, myths were used to explain the cause and occurrence of phenomena in the natural world. • With the advancement of science though, these tales have become more for entertainment purposes rather than to instruct people.

  6. So What Exactly is a Myth?! • A myth is a traditional story, rooted in a particular culture. • Deals with gods and other supernatural beings. • Can also deal with human heroes. • Often embody religious beliefs and values and explain natural phenomena. • Myths can also detail why things occur in life such as the changing of the seasons or reason for human suffering.

  7. Types of Myths • Creation Myths • Origin Myths • Social Myths • Ritual Myths • Describe how the world or universe came into being. • Explain the beginning of customs or names of objects . • Reinforce or explain social values or practices. • Explain performance of rituals and religious practices .

  8. Words We’ve Acquired from Myths • Narcissism • To love oneself: Narcissus. • Nemesis • Someone who wants to bring about vengeance; goddess of vengeance. • Meander • Ancient Greek river Maiandros or Maeander; a bend in a river; verb form means to wander aimlessly. • Stoical • School of Greek philosophy that believed people hoping to be wise should be free of joy, grief, and passions.

  9. Purposes of Myth Herakles

  10. Myths Explain Natural Occurrences • Examples? • Gaea and Ouranos • Thunder and lightning (Zeus) • Earthquakes (Poseidon) • Seasons (Persephone & Demeter) • The sun rises (Greece: Helios’ chariot, Egypt: Ra and Semektet)

  11. Myths Explain Fundamental Philosophical Questions • Early Greeks as proto philosophers • Attempting to answer fundamental questions • Where did we come from? • Who created the universe? • Is there life after death? • To explain is to control • Comfort in knowing

  12. Myths Explain Culture and Institutions • Why women couldn’t vote • To explain is to control • Athena and Poseidon both want to rule and protect Athens • Gift contest • Poseidon=saltwater well (useless) • Athena=olive tree (olive, wood, oil) • Men vote for Poseidon, women for Athena • Athena wins • Poseidon flood the Attic plain • Athenians blame the women, take away vote

  13. Myths as Means to Instruct • Myths often relay a message or moral • Teach cultural traditions, values • Icarus—life has limits • Narcissus and the dangers of pride and self love

  14. Myths to Explain History • A biased version of history • Reinforce Greek culture and power • Trojan War • Crete and King Minos • Founding of Rome • Founded by sons of Mars • Gave tellers sense of identity, sense of place

  15. Myths to Entertain • People were illiterate in early Greece • Couldn’t read or write • Entertainment in an oral culture • Blood, shock, exciting tales • The Heroes • Herakles, Odysseus, Theseus, Jason • Stronger, smarter, more handsome than mere mortals • Nobility in humanity • Humans are better than gods

  16. Important Greek Gods & Goddesses • Zeus • Hera • Athena • Ares • Aphrodite • Demeter • Hephaestus • Hades • Poseidon • Apollo • Artemis • Dionysus • Hestia • Hermes

  17. Why Study Mythology?

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