Journal #1 Think about the stories we tell today. Why do we tell them? What purpose do these stories serve in our culture? Think about the stories we tell today. Why do we tell them? What purpose do these stories serve in our culture? ½ page minimum ½ page minimum

Phaeton

Myth Defined Greek Mythos=“discourse” or “speech” Greek Mythos=“discourse” or “speech” Dictionary: A traditional story dealing with supernatural beings, ancestors, or heroes that informs or shapes the world view of a people, by explaining aspects of the natural world or delineating the customs or ideals of society. Dictionary: A traditional story dealing with supernatural beings, ancestors, or heroes that informs or shapes the world view of a people, by explaining aspects of the natural world or delineating the customs or ideals of society.

Myth vs. Legend vs. Folktale Myth =Story based on culture, concerning the early history of people, with some supernatural stuff (mortal and immortals), Seeks to explain or justify the natural world Legend =story from the past, has a validated historical basis unlike a myth or a folktale Folktale = story based on by word of mouth; entertainment, does NOT try to explain/describe human behavior

Elements of Greek Myth Interaction between gods and humans Interaction between gods and humans Gods as hypertrophied humans Gods as hypertrophied humans Gods as flawed beings Gods as flawed beings Supernatural beings and monsters Supernatural beings and monsters Larger than life, godly “superheroes” Larger than life, godly “superheroes”

Best-known writers of Greek and Roman mythology. Homer – One of the oldest known Greek literary sources, Homer's epic poems Iliad and Odyssey focus on events surrounding the aftermath of the Trojan War. He is revered as the greatest ancient Greek epic poet. Homer – One of the oldest known Greek literary sources, Homer's epic poems Iliad and Odyssey focus on events surrounding the aftermath of the Trojan War. He is revered as the greatest ancient Greek epic poet. Hesiod- Was a poor farmer and a near contemporary of Homer. His two poems, the Theogony and the Works and Days, contain accounts of the genesis of the world, the succession of divine rulers, the succession of human ages, the origin of human woes, and the origin of sacrificial practices. Hesiod- Was a poor farmer and a near contemporary of Homer. His two poems, the Theogony and the Works and Days, contain accounts of the genesis of the world, the succession of divine rulers, the succession of human ages, the origin of human woes, and the origin of sacrificial practices. Ovid - His poetry influenced European art and literature and remains as one of the most important sources of classical poetry. Ovid - His poetry influenced European art and literature and remains as one of the most important sources of classical poetry.

Continued. Pindar- Greatest lyric poet, many versions of his poems still exists today. Pindar- Greatest lyric poet, many versions of his poems still exists today. Aeschylus, Sophocles, Euripides- All tragic poets, Aeschylus was the oldest and Euripides was the youngest. The famous play, Oedipus Rex, came from Sophocles. Aeschylus, Sophocles, Euripides- All tragic poets, Aeschylus was the oldest and Euripides was the youngest. The famous play, Oedipus Rex, came from Sophocles. Aristophanes- Great writer of comedy. Aristophanes- Great writer of comedy. Plato- Famous philosopher. Plato- Famous philosopher. Virgil- Found human nature in the myths, and he brought mythological personages to life as no one had since the tragedians. Virgil- Found human nature in the myths, and he brought mythological personages to life as no one had since the tragedians.

Purposes of Myth Herakles

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

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

Myths Explain Culture and Institutions Why women Why women couldn’t vote To explain is to control 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

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

Myths to Explain History To hold onto history To hold onto history So people don’t make the same mistakes So people don’t make the same mistakes Attempts to create a past Attempts to create a past

Myths to Entertain Couldn’t read or write Couldn’t read or write Entertained with blood, shock, sex, and exciting tales (like our movies) Entertained with blood, shock, sex, and exciting tales (like our movies) Heroes: Heroes: Heracles, Odysseus, Theseus, Jason Stronger, smarter, more handsome than mere mortals Nobility in humanity Humans are better than gods

Cultural Supremacy and Civil Order Persuasion Persuasion  Greek superiority over non- Greeks  Other as “barbarians” Religion: Cult & Ritual Religion: Cult & Ritual  Maintained order  Gave people reason to be loyal to a city  Temples and sacrifices  Feared retribution of the gods Apollo’s Temple at Delphi

Why Study Myth?

To Understand Literature and Art PoemsPaintingsStories:Plays Mythical allusions and references: Keats and the Romantics Shakespeare “Like Hyperion to a satyr” (Hamlet)

Brueghel’s Landscape with the Fall of Icarus (1555)

Truth in Myth Universal truths Universal truths Stories about the human condition Stories about the human condition

Archetypes and Mythic Patterns Greek characters, places, themes have influenced (consciously or not) Western literature and art Greek characters, places, themes have influenced (consciously or not) Western literature and art Journeys to the underworld Journeys to the underworld Serpent figures Serpent figures Temptresses Temptresses Finding connecting patterns Finding connecting patterns

Myth and Language Word origins Word origins Arthritis Narcissism Sirens Hook Air Anchor Achilles Elixir Atlas Volcano Aphrodisiac Herculean Tantalize Music

Myth and Cultural Literacy E.D. Hirsch E.D. Hirsch Knowledge of myths makes us literate Knowledge of myths makes us literate Enriches our understanding of the Western world Enriches our understanding of the Western world Empowering Empowering Shared culture Shared culture

This is not a “G” rated class Mythology is … Mythology is … - violence- death - war- hideous injuries - love- sex - power- deceit - ambrosia - pride - hate - jealousy - impossible feats