MYTHS Prepared by: Merline A. Into

Definition of terms: Mythology- is a body of myths describing the God’s of the people, demigods and legendary human beings which involve supernatural elements. Myth has usually a specialized meaning and refer to stories in which gods, and goddesses, and other pagan divinities play apart.

MYTH - Myths are legendary stories that ancient people created to explain the mysteries of life, death, the beginning of the world, and natural powers. They were not able to understand these mysteries, so they wove stories on the basis of their imagination. Since myths are imaginary stories, they have imaginary characters in them like dragons, monsters, fairies, giants, and gods. All these characters had magical powers and were much more powerful than human beings.

Different types of myths were woven about the same thing in different parts of the world. These very myths gave rise to different religions in various parts of the world. Major Type of Myths: MYTHS OF ORIGIN MYTHS OF ESCHATOLOGY AND DESTRUCTIONESCHATOLOGY MESSIANIC AND MILLENARIAN MYTHS MESSIANICMILLENARIAN MYTHS OF CULTURE HEROES AND SOTERIOLOGICAL MYTHSCULTURE HEROESSOTERIOLOGICAL.

MYTHS OF TIME AND ETERNITYTIMEETERNITY MYTHS OF PROVIDENCE AND DESTINYPROVIDENCE MYTHS OF REBIRTH AND RENEWAL MYTHS OF MEMORY AND FORGETTINGMEMORYFORGETTING MYTHS OF HIGH BEINGS AND CELESTIAL GODS MYTHS CONCERNING FOUNDERS OF RELIGIONS AND OTHER RELIGIOUS FIGURES MYTHS OF KINGS AND ASCETICSKINGS MYTHS OF TRANSFORMATION

Evolution of Myths I. Euhnedemerus believed that the ancient gods were patterned after heroes who actually lived at one time. II. Made by philologists or people who study the growth of language. III. Made by anthropologists or people who study the history of human race. IV. Emile Durheim a French sociologist explained that myths came from society as a whole.

Sources of Mythology Greek and Roman Mythology the Romans adopted the mythology of the Greek but changed the name of the gods they had not only the same god but also demigod.

Venus and Mars

Norse Myths the Norse myths came from the Scandinavian countries. The are more serious in tone and plot than the Greek myths. In the Norse stories: Odin- the ruler of heaven and earth Freya corresponds to Aphrodite Thor corresponds to Mars Valhalla the home of gods in Odin’s palace Valkyries maiden messengers

Celtic mythology The religious beliefs and practices of the ancient Celts, an ancient Indo- European people. In the 4th century BCE their influence and territories covered the length of Europe, stretching from Britain to Asia Minor. Celtic mythology consists of three groups:

1. The Goidelic, including Ireland, the Isle of Man, and the western highlands of Scotland. In language, race, and tradition these form a homogenous block; 2. The Insular Brythonic, including Wales and Cornwall, also inhabited by kindred people with a somewhat similar history; 3. The Continental Brythonic, that is, Brittany. Though racially akin to the Welsh and Cornish, the Bretons have had a very differently history and enjoy a distinct culture.

Native American mythology The mythical beasts, heroic humans, and nurturing spirits that make up the fascinating spectrum of Native American mythology. There is currently is no distinction between tribe, tribal boundary, geography, or language.

Values of Myths 1. It has a dramatic quality that captures the imagination of the poets and children. 2. Many English poems are filled with classical allusions from myths. 3. Subjects of sculpture and graphic arts are taken from the Greek and Roman myths. 4. They furnish background for the great national epics of all country. 5. They serve to explain the origin and meaning of many words in everyday use.

6. They serve as an aid in the understanding of art and literature. 7. They widen our knowledge about the physical world, the history and civilization of the times in which the stories originated and about human nature. 8. Myths gives answers to questions often asked by children concerning the how, when, why of the ways of animals, birds, insects, trees, flowers, and other forces of nature.