Greek and Roman Mythology

What is the purpose of “myth”? Used to explain natural phenomena to people of preliterate cultures. Often a lesson (in story form) that is symbolic. A way to preserve the wisdom of the society’s elders through oral traditions.

What is a myth? Usually about gods and heroes, its theme expresses the beliefs of the culture. A myth is neither historically true or false. Myths transmit truth that cannot be understood apart from the story.

But… To understand Grecian myths, you have to understand the Greeks

Gifts from Ancient Greece Trial by jury Greek Myths Democracy Tragedy and Comedy Theater The Olympics

TO BE GREEK The ancient Greeks all spoke the same language. They believed in the same gods. They shared a common heritage. They perceived themselves as Greeks.

Politics The ancient Greeks did not have one king or queen. They lived in city-states. Each city-state was a separate political unit. Daily life was somewhat different in the Greek city-state of Athens, for example, than it was in the city- state of Sparta.

TO BE A CITIZEN OF A CITY-STATE The ancient Greeks referred to themselves, however, as citizens of their individual city-states. Each city-state (polis) had its own personality, goals, laws and customs. Ancient Greeks were very loyal to their city-state.

GREEK MEN: Men ran the government, and spent a great deal of their time away from home. When not involved in politics, the men spent time in the fields, overseeing or working the crops, sailing, hunting, in manufacturing or in trade.

GREEK WOMEN: With the exception of ancient Sparta, Greek women had very limited freedom outside the home. They could attend weddings, funerals, some religious festivals, and could visit some friends. In their home, Greek women were in charge! Their job was to run the house and to bear children.

GREEK BABIES: The ancient Greeks considered their children to be "youths" until they reached the age of 30!

GREEK GIRLS: In Athens, as in most Greek city- states, with the exception of Sparta, girls stayed at home until they were married. Like their mother, they could attend certain festivals, funerals, and visit neighbors for brief periods of time. Their job was to help their mother, and to help in the fields, if necessary.

GREEK BOYS: In most Greek city-states, while young, the boys stayed at home helping in the fields, sailing, and fishing. At age 6 or 7, they went to school.

SLAVES Slaves were very important to ancient Greek daily life. Slaves cleaned and cooked, worked in the fields, factories, shops, in mines, and on ships. Even the police force in ancient Athens was made up of slaves! Most slaves’ lives were not that different from a poor Greek citizen's life.

COURT Before democracy in ancient Athens, if you thought someone had wronged you, you could try to convince an aristocrat to beat/kill them. But soon people realized this wasn’t the best idea. Athens established democracy and juries had up to 500 people on them. They sat in a big theater and listened to the accused and accuser make speeches. Popular people tended to win trials.

Used for trials and plays

SACRIFICES If a person felt they owed something to a specific god, they would kill an animal, usually with other family members present. The fat and bones of the animal were offered to the god, but all the meat had to be eaten at once (for religious reasons and because there was no refrigeration).

GREEK ART A slave nanny taking the baby. Greek red- figure vase from Athens, about 450 BC

ROMAN BATHS It was too difficult to heat up water for baths in apartments, which is what most Greeks & Romans lived in, so many bathed at local public baths (like health clubs). It would have gardens, pools, libraries, exercise equipment, and hot tubs. Most were decorated with elaborate mosaics, frescoes, marble, and vaulted ceilings.

AQUADUCTS In larger Roman towns, people often became sick or died from drinking water contaminated with sewage. To fix this problem, they built aquaducts to bring in fresh water from hills outside the towns. They also built public latrines and systems of sewage pipes to carry sewage out of the streets and into the river.

This was a big improvement on Greek sewage arrangement, where people just poured their waste into the street.

Odysseus and his men put out the eye of the Cyclops, Polyphemos

Athenian red-figure vase, BC