Greek Mythology Mrs. Garbo

Greek Myths The stories present interpretations of some natural phenomena. Primitive men created their own imaginative explanations for things they could not understand.

Gods Influencing Nature An echo The changing of the seasons The rising & setting of the sun They thought that many other natural effects from natural causes were really the results of the persistent, intense will of the gods.

Questions of How and Why They invented their own explanations of creation and of the origins of life and death. Primitive man was challenged by the unknown No established laws of science Created magnificent answers in the form of stories.

Significance of Mythology It has been kept alive long after the culture in which it evolved has disappeared. Mythology was a religion to the Greeks as well as being their literature and philosophy.

The Ancient Greeks To understand the myths is to understand the people who created them and to understand their way of life, which was so different from our own.

Myths as Stories Myths are exciting stories full of beauty, strangeness, power, freshness, and adventure. Myths were thought to be true by their original tellers—no matter how wild or strange they seem to contemporary readers.

History of Greeks Greeks came from tribes from the south-central part of Asia who came to the land now known as Greece about 2000 B.C. At first they settled in the valleys, in the hills, or along the seacoast. They were proud of their settlements. Each group created their own myths, but later the myths became a fusion of all the diverse cultures.

The Greek Gods Greeks accepted the ideas that there were many gods and they were very near. Gods had magnificent powers and talents. They were eager to associate with mortals. The gods had some typical human characteristics like greed and jealousy.

How Greeks felt about life To the Greeks, life was something to enjoy, to take delight in, and to inspire one with awe. They were aware of the presence of mystery in everything. They responded to compelling beauty in nature and people.

References to Greek mythology are all around us! Nike – goddess of victory Eros/Cupid – god of love Apollo - god of archery and prophecy Ajax – hero of Trojan war Olympus – home of the gods & goddesses

Sources Mythlopedia, by Steven Otfinoski The Greek Gods, by Evslin, Evslin, & Hoopes