Introduction to Mythology Purposes of Mythology and Background to The Odyssey

Myth defined  Greek Mythos = “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, customs or ideals of society.

Purposes of myths 1. Myths explain natural occurrences:  Zeus – thunder and lighting  Poseidon – earthquakes

Purposes of myths 2. Myths explain basic philosophical questions:  Where we came from?  Who created the universe?  Is there life after death? ** To explain is to control – attempt to control the unknown **

Purposes of myths 3. Myths explain culture & institutions:  Example: Why women couldn’t vote? - Athena & Poseidon both wanted to rule & protect Athens - Held a gift contest: Poseidon gave saltwater well (useless) Athena gave an olive tree (olive, wood, oil) - Men voted for Poseidon and women voted for Athena - Athena won the contest as a result Poseidon flooded the Attic plain - Athenians blame the women and therefore their right to vote was taken away.

Purposes of myths 4. Myths are means to instruct or teach  Often share a moral or a message to teach cultural traditions  Example: Icarus flew to close to sun – life has limits, listen to elders

Purposes of Myths 5. Myths explain history  Often a biases version to reinforce Greek culture and power  Example: Rome was believed to founded by the sons of the war god Mars, Romulus and Remus  Gave citizens pride if their city was founded by god or sun of god

Purposes of Myths 6. Myths to entertain  People were illiterate in Greece so they found entertainment in an oral culture  Enjoyed following the Epic Heroes Example: Hercules, Odysseus and Theseus

Epic Hero Tales  Possess human characteristics: has both strengths and weaknesses  These Heroes often appear to be “larger than life”  Great leader who is identified as strong within society  Setting is broad and often includes supernatural realms  Does great deeds in battles or goes on an extraordinary journey  Gods or other supernatural beings take part in action

The Gods and Goddesses of Ancient Greece

MOUNT OLYMPUS Home of the Gods Originally Thought to be a Real Mountain Finally Came to be Thought of as a Floating Mountain in the Sky

ZEUS (Roman Name: Jupiter) Supreme Ruler of the Gods His weapon was the mighty THUNDERBOLT© He falls in love frequently and often acts on it (even though he is married)

HERA (Roman Name: Juno) Zeus ’ Wife and Sister Protector of Marriage and Married Women Very Jealous of Zeus ’ Numerous Lovers

HADES (Roman Name: Pluto) Lord of the Underworld Ruler of the Dead

POSEIDON (Roman Name: Neptune) Ruler of the Seas and Oceans

DEMETER (Roman Name: Ceres) Goddess of Corn and Agriculture Her Moods Affect the Seasons

APHRODITE (Roman Name: Venus) Goddess of Love and Beauty Wife of Hephaestus

HESTIA (Roman Name: Vesta) Goddess of the Home

ALL ZEUS ’ CHILDREN

ARES (Roman Name: Mars) God of War None of the Other Gods Like Him Much

ATHENA (Roman Name: Minerva) Battle Maiden and Goddess of Wisdom While Adopted by Hera, She is the Daughter of Zeus Only (Sprang from his Head)

HEPHAESTUS (Roman Name: Vulcan) God of Fire and the Forge He is the Only Ugly God Husband of Aphrodite

HEBE (Roman Name: None) Cupbearer of the Gods

APOLLO (Roman Name: Apollo) Twin Brother of Artemis God of Music and Poetry God of Light and Truth No False Words (Never Told a Lie) His Oracle at Delphi was the Most Popular

ARTEMIS (Roman Name: Diana) Twin Sister of Apollo Goddess of the Moon and the Hunt Lady of the Wild Things

PERSEPHONE (Roman Name: Proserpine) Goddess of Spring She was Kidnapped by Hades Later Made the Queen of the Underworld Spends Half the Year in Hades, Half on Earth

HERMES (Roman Name: Mercury) Messenger of the Gods Has Wings on Sandals and Cap Appears the Most Often of All the Gods

Zeus  King of the Gods – most powerful god Athena  Daughter of Zeus & Goddess of wisdom, skills and warfare; assists Odysseus on his journey home Gods/Goddesses Morgan Freeman = actor, appears in god-like roles Oprah Winfrey =, talk show host, actress, producer, and philanthropist

 Poseidon  God of the sea and Earthquakes  Calypso  nymph goddess who is immortal and beautiful; 1 st feminist in history; holds Odysseus captive for 7 years Michael Phelps = USA Olympic swimmer Malala Yousafzai = Pakistani education activist for girls; shot by the Taliban

 Hermes  messenger of the gods; guide for the dead; sent by Zeus to tell Calypso to let Odysseus off the island  Helios  the sun god, he can see everything; Odysseus’ men eat the god’s cattle Usain Bolt = Jamaican sprinter “fastest man ever” Jay-Z = rapper, producer, entrepreneur; rumored to be in the Illuminati (can see all)