1. Warm-Up:
Can you think of examples of Greek mythology in other cultures? How are other civilizations influenced by it?

2. Mythology
A rich collection of stories about the exploits of gods and goddesses that sought to explain natural phenomena and life events

3. The Significance of Greek Mythology
Often there were multiple, opposite stories about the gods and goddesses
This is possible because there is no sacred text and no single set of beliefs could be elevated as supreme.
Therefore, people are fairly religiously tolerant, there are no heretics (someone who does not conform to a certain belief system)
Religion brought the community together and faith was a more personal affair

4. Greek Gods and Goddesses
Polytheistic
Represent human qualities
Evident in Greek art and architecture
Incorporated into western art and literature
The Parthenon – a temple built and dedicated to the goddess Athena in Athens

5. Greek Mythology in Western Civilization
Many of Western civilization’s symbols, metaphors, words, and idealized images come from ancient Greek mythology, such as…

6. Nike – Goddess of Victory

7. Atlas – Astronomy and Navigation
Doomed to hold the heavens on his shoulders
Examples include an atlas (book of maps), as well as the moving company which bears the same name

8. Apollo – God of Music
Apollo Theatre in New York City

9. Trident The three-pronged spear of Poseidon, god of the seas
Trident is a popular brand of gum
'Tria' is Greek for 'three' and 'donti' means 'tooth'; hence, Trident translates literally as 'three-teeth', or 'triple-toothed‘
Trident Gum, if one is to believe the advertising, helps to clean your teeth, thus the allusion

10. Exit Ticket:
How did mythology help the early Greek civilization explain the natural world and the human condition?
What impact did Greek mythology have on later civilizations and the contemporary world?