1. Introduction to Greek Mythology
3rd Six Weeks
English I
2012

2. What is mythology? 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. (Webster’s Dictionary)
Essentially, mythology is a way to explain
Where we came from
Why things happen
Where we go when we die

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

4. What is the purpose of myth?
Myths explain natural occurrences.
Examples?
Gaea and Uranus (creation of the Earth, the Gods & Man)
Thunder and lightning (Zeus)
Earthquakes (Poseidon)
Seasons (Persephone & Demeter)
The sun rising and setting (Helios/Apollo’s chariot)

5. Myths Explain Fundamental Philosophical Questions
These are questions that have echoed throughout history.
Fundamental questions:
Who are we?
Why are we here?
How did we get here?
What happens when we die?
To explain is to have control
Control is comforting
It allows people to deal with the fundamentals of life surrounding us each and every day.

6. Myths Explain Culture and Institutions
Why women
couldn’t vote
To explain is to control
Athena and Poseidon both want to rule and protect Athens
Gift contest
Poseidon=saltwater well (useless)
Athena=olive tree (olives, wood, oil – all useful items in Greece)
Men vote for Poseidon, women for Athena
Athena wins; Poseidon flood the Attic plain
Athenians blame the women, take away vote

7. Myths as Means to Instruct
Myths often relay a message or moral
Teach cultural traditions, values
Icarus
Stole his father’s wax wings and tried to touch the sun. He flew too high, against his father’s wishes, and the wings began to melt. Icarus tumbled to his death.
Moral of the story? Life has limits.
Narcissus
A beautiful youth who was tempted to stare at his reflection in a lake. He was so drawn to his own reflection, he fell in and drowned.
Moral of the story? Excessive self-love and pride are dangerous

8. Myths to Explain History
A biased version of history – “History is written by the winners”.
Reinforce Greek culture and power
Trojan War – explains why the war happened.
Crete and King Minos – Minos was the 1st king of Crete.
Founding of Rome
Founded by sons of Mars, Romulus & Remus.
Brother founded two competing cities.
They fought, Remus was killed, and Romulus founded the city of Rome.
Gave tellers sense of identity, sense of place

9. Myths to Entertain Many Greeks could not read or write.
Oral storytelling provided entertainment for the masses.
The Greeks loved their stories filled with blood, shocking situations, and sex.
The Heroes
Herakles (Hercules), Odysseus, Theseus, Jason
Stronger, smarter, more handsome than mere mortals
Nobility in humanity - Humans are better than gods

10. Cultural Supremacy and Civil Order
Greek superiority over non-Greeks
Other as “barbarians”
“barbarian” - The Greeks thought everyone who didn’t speak Greek sounded like “ba ba ba”.
Religion: Cult & Ritual
Maintained order
Gave people reason to be loyal to a city
Temples and sacrifices
Feared retribution of the gods
If you wanted the gods to bless you, your family, your business, your campaign, etc., you made an offering to the Oracles and Gods.
Oracle (orare – “to speak”)
an oracle was a person or agency considered to be a source of wise counsel or prophecy of the future, inspired by the gods.
Most famous oracle – The Oracle at Delphi. Dedicated to the god Apollo.

11. Why study mythology?

12. To Understand Literature and Art
Mythical allusions and references
In order to understand many of the allusions in Western literature, you need to know Greek mythology.
Provides the foundation for Western literature.
Examples
William Shakespeare
Titania & Oberon (the fairy Queen & King – A Midsummer Night’s Dream”)
The Tempest – many allusions to mythology.
Poetry
John Keats & The Romantic Poets
Art
Botticelli’s “The Birth of Venus”
John William Waterhouse’s “Pandora”

13. The Birth of Venus - Botticelli
Venus was born from the foam of the sea, perfectly formed.

14. “Pandora” by John William Waterhouse (1896)
Pandora was allegedly the first woman, who was made out of clay. According to the myth, Pandora opened a jar, releasing all the evils of mankind — although the particular evils, aside from plagues and diseases, are not specified in detail— leaving only Hope inside once she had closed it again.

15. Archetypes
Archetype
Characters, situations, and images that are recognizable in many times and cultures.
Greek characters, places, themes have influenced (consciously or not) Western literature and art
Journeys to the underworld
Serpent figures
Temptresses
Sea monsters
Buried treasure
Suitors’ contests
Loyal servant
Epic Hero

16. Myth and Language Word origins – Where did these words originate?
Volcano – Vulcan, god of fire
Herculean – Hercules; a great task
aphrodisiac – Aphrodite; a love potion
Music – the Muses, goddesses of inspiration
Atlas – a Titan forced to carry the world on his back.
Tantalize - Tantalos, punished by food held just out of reach.
Erotic – Eros, god of Love; desirable
Narcissism – Narcissis. excessive self-love.