The Myths of Greece and Rome Feature Menu Myths All Around Us What Is a Myth? The Uses of Mythology Makers of Myths The World of Classical Mythology Gods and Goddesses Practice

Myths All Around Us You may know more about myths than you think. Have you ever watched a movie about Hercules? Do you know about the spaceship Apollo?

Myths All Around Us What about the planets in our solar system. . . Mercury Jupiter Venus Neptune Mars Pluto

Myths All Around Us . . .or the Olympics?

Myths All Around Us Even if you don’t know the stories behind all these names, you know something about Greek and Roman myths. What is Poseidon holding in his hand? What kind of arrow does Cupid shoot? Where have you seen these characters?

Myths All Around Us Greek and Roman myths have had a lasting impact on Western culture. Our museums contain artwork influenced by Greek or Roman myths. Our cities contain architecture inspired by Greece.

Myths All Around Us Aspects of Greek and Roman myths even show up in everyday conversations. You probably know, for instance, that Hades is another word for the underworld.

Myths All Around Us You will also come across many names from ancient myths in your reading. places Troy Carthage Delphi Olympus gods and goddesses Zeus Athena Mercury Venus heroes Ulysses Achilles Hercules monsters Medusa Cyclops Sirens

Myths All Around Us Because myths are all around us, writers expect us to recognize names from mythology. Zeus wasn’t a big dog, but he always got his way. The other dogs in the house backed away from their food bowls, heads lowered, when Zeus ducked through the dog door. Zeus had charmed his owner into letting him sit on the couch, but if another dog approached the furniture, he’d soon feel Zeus’s wrath. Tuck wasn’t a big dog, but he always got his way. The other dogs in the house backed away from their food bowls, heads lowered, when Tuck ducked through the dog door. Tuck had charmed his owner into letting him sit on the couch, but if another dog approached the furniture, he’d soon feel Tuck’s wrath. Notice how this writer’s story is different when the main character has the name of a Greek god. [End of Section]

What Is a Myth? A myth is a story that explains something about the world —mysterious or frightening natural forces . . .or the origin of the world itself.

What Is a Myth? A myth usually involves gods or other superhuman beings. In many myths, a hero or god goes on a quest— a dangerous journey in pursuit of something very valuable.

What Is a Myth? Myths were spoken aloud for many generations before they were written down. Writers today continue to draw inspiration from these same myths. [End of Section]

The Uses of Mythology Throughout history, people have used myths for many purposes. To explain the creation of the world To explain natural phenomena To give story form to ancient religious beliefs and practices

The Uses of Mythology Myths have had everyday uses as well— to teach moral lessons and to explain history.

The Uses of Mythology Myths—like dreams—express the deepest fears and hopes of human beings. For this reason, they help us understand and relate to each other.

The Uses of Mythology Think about all the “big” questions that people wonder about. Why am I here? How did we get here? Are we alone? What should I do? These are all questions that myths try to explain or answer. [End of Section]

Makers of Myths The ancient Greek and Roman myths originated in the area around the Mediterranean Sea. By the end of the second century B.C., the Romans had conquered Greece.

Makers of Myths The Romans kept the stories represented by Greek myths but changed the names of the characters to Roman gods and goddesses. Zeus became Jupiter. Poseidon became Neptune. And Artemis became Diana. [End of Section]

Gods and Goddesses According to the Greek myths, the gods and goddesses lived together on Mount Olympus. Many of them were related to each other. Zeus Hera Hades Poseidon Apollo The divinities often left Mount Olympus to spend time among ordinary people.

Gods and Goddesses The gods and goddesses were powerful. Each one was usually associated with specific forces of nature. Apollo Poseidon Artemis [End of Section]

The World of Classical Mythology On this map, the place names are real. Some of the events and characters, however, exist only in myth. [End of Section]

Achilles: A VERY Short Story Practice Let’s Try It Achilles: A VERY Short Story Achilles was the greatest Greek warrior of all. His father was human, but his mother was an immortal sea nymph, Thetis. She wanted her son to be immortal, too. Soon after Achilles was born, she held baby Achilles by the heel and dipped him into the River Styx. The magic water made Achilles invulnerable—all except for his heel. Years later, King Agamemnon sent his general, Odysseus (you might know him better by his Latin name, Ulysses) to find Achilles. The King wanted Achilles to fight for the Greeks in the Trojan War. 1. What information could explain why Achilles was the greatest Greek warrior of all?

Achilles: A VERY Short Story Practice Let’s Try It Achilles: A VERY Short Story Achilles was the greatest Greek warrior of all. His father was human, but his mother was an immortal sea nymph, Thetis. She wanted her son to be immortal, too. Soon after Achilles was born, she held baby Achilles by the heel and dipped him into the River Styx. The magic water made Achilles invulnerable—all except for his heel. Years later, King Agamemnon sent his general, Odysseus (you might know him better by his Latin name, Ulysses) to find Achilles. The King wanted Achilles to fight for the Greeks in the Trojan War. 2. Why do you think the underlined information is important?

Practice Let’s Try It Thetis was still afraid for Achilles, so she dressed him up as a woman. Clever Odysseus, however, saw right through the disguise. Anyway, after about ten years, the Greeks were defeating the Trojans. Achilles and the king quarreled. Achilles refused to fight. The Greeks started losing. Achilles sent his best friend into battle, dressed in Achilles’ armor. Achilles’ friend was killed by the Trojan hero Hector, who had help from the god Apollo. Back on the battlefield, Achilles slaughtered everyone in sight. With the help of the goddess Athena, he killed Hector, the man who had killed his friend. In myths, the hero often makes a small mistake that has huge consequences. 3. Why did Achilles send his friend into the battle?

Practice Let’s Try It Thetis was still afraid for Achilles, so she dressed him up as a woman. Clever Odysseus, however, saw right through the disguise. Anyway, after about ten years, the Greeks were defeating the Trojans. Achilles and the king quarreled. Achilles refused to fight. The Greeks started losing. Achilles sent his best friend into battle, dressed in Achilles’ armor. Achilles’ friend was killed by the Trojan hero Hector, who had help from the god Apollo. Back on the battlefield, Achilles slaughtered everyone in sight. With the help of the goddess Athena, he killed Hector, the man who had killed his friend. 4. Why would Athena want to help Achilles avenge the death of his friend?

Practice Let’s Try It Finally, according to some versions of the story, Hector’s brother Paris killed Achilles. Paris, by the way, was the guy who started all the trouble in the first place. He stole Helen—the most beautiful woman in the world—from the King of Sparta and took her away to Troy. The Greeks sailed to Troy and spent ten years at war to get Helen back. But back to Achilles: How could Paris kill Achilles? After all, Achilles was supposed to be invulnerable and immortal. Paris shot an arrow into Achilles’ heel, and Achilles died from that wound. 5. Do you think the Greeks and Trojans were really fighting over Helen? 6. Think about the actions of Thetis, Achilles’ mother. In what way was Thetis like all mothers (or fathers)?

Practice Let’s Try It Finally, according to some versions of the story, Hector’s brother Paris killed Achilles. Paris, by the way, was the guy who started all the trouble in the first place. He stole Helen—the most beautiful woman in the world—from the King of Sparta and took her away to Troy. The Greeks sailed to Troy and spent ten years at war to get Helen back. But back to Achilles: How could Paris kill Achilles? After all, Achilles was supposed to be invulnerable and immortal. Paris shot an arrow into Achilles’ heel, and Achilles died from that wound. 7. This story—even this very short version—has more than one moral. Write two or three sentences about what this story teaches.

Practice Let’s Try It Finally, according to some versions of the story, Hector’s brother Paris killed Achilles. Paris, by the way, was the guy who started all the trouble in the first place. He stole Helen—the most beautiful woman in the world—from the King of Sparta and took her away to Troy. The Greeks sailed to Troy and spent ten years at war to get Helen back. But back to Achilles: How could Paris kill Achilles? After all, Achilles was supposed to be invulnerable and immortal. Paris shot an arrow into Achilles’ heel, and Achilles died from that wound. 8. Have you ever heard someone refer to finding a person’s Achilles’ heel”? What do you think this phrase means? 9. Do you know where your Achilles’ tendon is?

Practice On Your Own Look at the chart of gods and goddesses and their special powers. List the names of the divinities that you recognize. Chart Next, add any other Greek or Roman gods and goddesses you can think of. Now, write down any prior knowledge you may have about the names on your list.

Practice On Your Own Greek Name Roman Name Area of Power Zeus Jupiter king of the gods; sky; weather Apollo the sun; youth; music; archery; healing; prophecy Artemis Diana Apollo’s twin sister; the moon; hunting Hades Pluto king of the underworld Poseidon Neptune ruler of the seas Hera Juno wife of Zeus; queen of gods; women; marriage

Practice On Your Own Greek Name Roman Name Area of Power Dionysus Bacchus wine; fertility; music Athena Minerva wisdom; war; crafts Hephaestus Vulcan craftsman for the gods; fire Hermes Mercury messenger god; secrets; tricks Demeter Ceres agriculture; earth; corn Persephone Proserpine daughter of Demeter; queen of Hades [End of Section]

The Myths of Greece and Rome The End