1. Aim: How did Homer and Myths Contribute to Early Greek Culture?

2. Mycenaean Civilization
2000 BCE- Mycenaean’s settle in Greek mainland
Group of Indo-Europeans
Kings dominated Greece from 1600 to 100 BCE 2

3. Greek Culture Declines
Greek culture declines under Dorians
Less advanced than Mycenaean
Greeks temporarily lose the art of writing During Dorian Age
No written records exist for 400 years
Greeks learn about history through spoken word and stories
Greatest story teller was Homer
Epics of Homer
Wrote narrative poems that celebrated heroic deeds
Most famous Epic- The Illiad (The Trojan War) 3

4. The Trojan War
Historians thought events of Trojan war was fictional (Illiad)
Archeological evidence claiming events are based on real cities
Synopsis
Mycenaean’s fought 10 year war against Troy because Trojan prince kidnapped Helen, Queen of the Greek King
Epic sees heroes: Achilles and Prince Hector 4

5. Greeks Create Myths Greeks develop rich set of myths
Traditional stories about gods
Works of Homer are sources for Greek Mythology
Through myths, Greeks seek to understand mysteries of nature and human nature
Greeks attribute human qualities such as love, hate, jealousy to gods
Ex: Zeus, Hera, Athena 5