1. The Origins of Greek Mythology

2. Do you recognize this famous structure?

3. That’s right... It’s the Parthenon in Athens, Greece Constructed between 447-438 B.C.E. Dedicated to the goddess Athena, patron goddess of the city Pediments tell stories from Greek Mythology

4. Why were the myths created? What purposes did they serve?

5. Greeks made gods in their own image Discobolos ca. 450 B.C.E.

6. Greeks celebrated Youth and Beauty Examples of Painted Peplos Kore Statues ca. 600-480 B.C.E.

7. Greek Myths Made the Irrational... Rational For Example: Which Greek God sent down the thunderbolt, and why?

8. Magic Existed In, But Did Not Dominate, the Greek Myths Medea The Quest of the Golden Fleece (film still from the 1963 movie, “Jason and the Argonauts”)

9. The Myths Attempted to Explain Nature Poseidon God of the Sea a.k.a. The Earth-Shaker

10. The Myths Were Not a Formal Religion, Though Sacrifices Were Made to the Gods Animal SacrificesHuman Sacrifices (Ex: Iphigenia, daughter of Agamemnon)

11. Theories for the Purposes of the Greek Myths Theory #1: Historical Theory States that the myths are based on real people and events that have been embellished

12. The Trojan War ca. 1200 B.C.E.

14. Theories for the Purposes of the Greek Myths Theory #2: Allegorical Theory States that the myths are symbolic and contain moral, religious, or philosophical truth, or historical fact

15. Pandora’s Box

16. Theories for the Purposes of the Greek Myths Theory #3: Physical Theory States that supernatural beings are believed to rule over different objects of nature

17. Winter and...... Summer Brought to you by...

18. Persephone Daughter of Zeus and Demeter Wife of Hades