Fables, Fairytales and Legends Folktales and The Oral Tradition: Fables, Fairytales and Legends

The Oral Tradition The original method of relaying stories, news and other information before the availability of books or newspapers. Served as entertainment and a way to spread values, ethics and morals of a society.

Folktales Characteristically anonymous, timeless, and placeless tale circulated orally among a people.

Fairytales Stories for children involving fantastical forces and beings such as fairies, wizards and goblins. Made up story usually used to teach a lesson of social values.

Snow White & the Seven Dwarves Familiar Fairy Tales Cinderella Snow White & the Seven Dwarves The Little Red Riding Hood

Legends and Tall Tales A story coming down from the past, Popularly regarded as historical, but not verifiable, Elements are exaggerated to the point they are unbelievable.

Traditional American Legends Pecos Bill Paul Bunyun Daniel Boone

What is Mythology? An ancient story that explains cultural, religious or social beliefs. a popular belief or assumption that has grown up around someone or something

Types of Myths Origin Myths – Tell the story of the beginning or “origin” of an animal or natural feature such as seasons or the mountains. Moral Myth – Teaches a lesson, even if the lesson is don’t tick of the gods. Hero/Quest Myth – Tells the story of one or more heroes or adventurers.

Greek Mythology The Greeks religious, cultural and social beliefs are reflected in their myths. The stories tell us what they believed, but today we study them as stories, as literature.

Ancient Greece Even into the time of the Romans, no one was considered educated and refined if they could not speak Greek. Most standards of literature were first written in Greek including the Bible. From 2000 BC until 146bc, the Ancient Greeks were the guardians of Social, Scientific, and Cultural development for the Western World.

The Beginning of the World Gaea the Earth Mother was lonely. So out of Chaos she created the world. All life came from her womb and filled the earth.

The Titans Key Titans Included: Cronus Rhea Oceanus They were the children of Gaea and Uranus who she created to be her mate. Key Titans Included: Cronus Rhea Oceanus Prometheus Epimetheus Hyperion Atlas Mnemosyne Pheobe Cronus and Rhea are parents of the Olympians. Oceanus is an unending stream of water that nourishes the earth, he created all the waterways. Mnemosyne is titan of memory and mother of the muses. Phoebe is titan of the moon and mother of Leto. Epimetheus-pandora’s husband, Hyperion titan of light. His children were Helios, Selena and Eos (the dawn).

Cronus and Rhea: Parents of Gods Cronus and Rhea, two Titans, were parents to the original Olympians: Zeus, Hera, Poseidon, Hades, Demeter, and Hestia Story of Cronus eating his children goes here.

Zeus King of gods, god of sky, weather, and married men. Usually shown as a man in his prime of life. Quick tempered, but just as quick to laugh.

Hera Daughter of Cronus and Rhea Wife of Zeus Goddess of Women and protector of marriage. She is usually shown with green eyes as her fits of jealousy were legendary.

Poseidon Brother of Zeus God of the Sea, maker of horses and earthquakes. Is very greedy, easily angered, vengeful. Often fought with other gods over their cities.

Hades Brother of Zeus. God of the Underworld and wealth. Is cold and unpitying, but not quick to act. Never relents.

Demeter Sister of Zeus Goddess of growing things and season of the earth. Large festivals were held each year to thank her, but the goings on were always very secret. First loaf of the new year is always offered in her temples.

Hestia Sister of Zeus and Goddess of hearth and home. Romans called her Vesta and a temple with seven young women served, never letting the hearth light go out.

Aphrodite Goddess of love and beauty. Reportedly born from the foam of the sea, she arrived on shore carried by a clam shell.

Ares Son of Zeus and Hera, but neither like him. God of war and is considered blood thirsty and a murderer, but also a coward. Was in love with his brother’s wife, Aphrodite and she with him. But because she created such discord among the gods, she was given to Hephaestus as wife.

Hephaestus Son of Zeus and Hera. Zeus was so unhappy at his birth that he threw him from Olympus, crippling him. The Forge god, he creates the gods weapons. The Temple of Hephaestus

Apollo and Artemis Goddess of the hunt, the moon, wild animals, unmarried women and childbirth. God of the sun, poetry, medicine, music, light, truth, archery and prophecy. Always shown as a handsome youth. Very quick to anger and cruel. If angered she would exact swift and deadly revenge.

Athena Daughter of Zeus. Is his favorite child. Goddess of wisdom, strategy, craftsmen, and cities. Is considered wise and fair. Is often appealed to for justice. The most famous of all temples, the Parthenon, belongs to Athena.

Hermes Hermes is Zeus’ son. Known as the messenger of the gods. His winged helmet and hat allow him to fly across the world in seconds.

Other gods and goddesses Dionysus Hebe Eris Thantos Eros The Fates The Furies The Muses The Graces Dionysius: Dionysus is the god of the vine. He invented wine and spread the art of tending grapes. He has a dual nature. On the one hand bringing joy and divine ecstasy. On the other brutal, unthinking, rage. Hebe: daughter of Zeus and Hera goddess of youth Eris: Discord, rides with Ares in his chariot, sister to Ares. Eros: Eros is the son of Aphrodite. Eros is the god of love. In particular romantic, love. He is often represented blindfolded because, love is often blind. Thantos: actual god of death The Fates: The Fates have the subtle but, awesome power of deciding a mans destiny. The assign a man to good or evil. There most obvious choice is choosing how long a man lives. There are three Fates. Clotho, the spinner, who spins the thread of life. Lachesis, the measurer, who chooses the lot in life one will have and measures off how long it is to be. Atropos, she who can not be turn, who at death with her shears cuts the tread of life. The Fates are old and predate the gods. It is not entirely clear how far their power extends. It is possible that they determine the fate of the gods as well. In any case, not even the most powerful is willing to trifle with them. The Furies: Also known as the Furies, punish crime. They pursue wrong doers relentlessly, until death, often driving them to suicide. They are particularly concerned with matricide. There are three Erinye - Tisiphone, Megaera, and Alecto. The Muses: They are the daughters of Zeus and Mnemosyne. They are known for the music of their song, which brings joy to any who hear it. There are nine Muses, each with her own specialty: Clio (History), Urania (Astronomy), Melpomene (Tragedy), Thalia (Comedy), Terpsichore (Dance), Calliope (Epic Poetry), Erato (Love Poetry), Polyhymnia (Songs to the Gods), Euterpe (Lyric Poetry). The Graces: They are the daughters of Zeus and Eurynome. There are three Graces: Aglaia (Splendor), Euphrosyne (Mirth), and Thalia (Good Cheer). The are known for singing and dancing for the gods.