How Ancient Cultures Explained Their World Pegasus - the Greek flying horse

Myths were told or written to answer some of the biggest questions a person could ask: Who are we? Where did we come from? Why do these things happen? Greek god, Atlas, holding up the world

A myth is often a story of gods and goddesses, heroes, great deeds, and supernatural powers. It may explain things that are mysterious or unknowable to us. In ancient times, myths sometimes explained things that we now understand through science, like the movement of the stars and planets, and the changing of the seasons.

A legend is a story that has some truth to it. It may start out as a story about a true event or real person, but through time changes into something extraordinary. Many legends are about “heroes.” Romulus and Remus were the twin boys who founded Rome. They were said to be raised by wolves.

A CHILLES - THE G REEK H ERO OF THE T ROJAN W ARS

Myths and legends are almost the same type of story. What starts out as a true tale, changes over time at each telling and turns into something more magical or more fantastic. The people in the story grow into supernatural creatures, or their deeds become more wondrous. Icarus, the Greek mythological boy who flew

Ancient people needed to understand their world and didn’t have scientific explanations. Some of these stories explained events such as thunderstorms or hurricanes. Their gods were angry or a dragon in the sky was breathing fire. Unicorn – A Greek mythological creature

The Eight ImmortalsDragons Wang Mu Mother of the Sky

A TALANTA Huntress A ENEAS Ancestor of Rome M INERVA Goddess of Wisdom

Who are we going to learn about today? Today you will hear stories about: Hercules Roman Strongman AthenaGreek Goddess of Wisdom Lu Tung-PinChinese Immortal The Hero Twins Mayan Heroes IsisEgyptian Goddess Robin Hood Medieval Hero