1. Introduction to Mythology
English II

2. Unit Questions What is a myth? What makes Gilgamesh and Iliad epics?
What are some similarities and differences between creation stories around the world?

3. Myth
a traditional or legendary story, usually concerning some being or hero or event, with or without a determinable basis of fact or a natural explanation, especially one that is concerned with deities or demigods and explains some practice, rite, or phenomenon of nature.

4. Greek Mythology Origin
Greeks were polytheistic people, meaning that they believed in the existence of Gods, the famous 12 Gods of Mount Olympus and numerous deities and semi gods that played supporting roles to the original Gods.
Ancient Greeks believed that their Gods had enormous powers, and that they were able to control nature in all its forms. The interesting part is that it was Greeks themselves who appointed all this power to their Gods, yet, they were full of respect and fear for them.

5. Origin of Greek mythology continued
The oldest sources of Greek Mythology are the two epic poems written by Homer: the Odyssey and the Iliad, although the origins of the world and the vast effort to explain the nature, the surroundings and the very essence of Greek mythology itself, lies at the texts of Hesiod, especially Theogony:
“At the beginning, there was chaos” he said, explaining the Genesis of the world, the birth of Gods, the succession of rulers, the origins of human woes. Till today, Theogony is considered the basis of the Greek mythology, probably the most comprehensive literal creation of that time.

6. Icarus Greek mythology Characters: Daedalus, Icarus, and King Minos
Setting: Labyrinth of Crete
Plot: Daedalus and Icarus are held prisoner by King Minos because he wants to keep Daedalus’ talent to himself

7. What is an epic
Epic- is a long narrative poem about a larger than-life- hero who is engaged in a dangerous journey, or quest, that is important to the history of a nation or people
Types of Epics:
Folk Epics- stories about heroes that were originally recited or sung as entertainment at feasts
Literary epics were written by a specific author, usually borrowing the style and characteristics of folk epic

8. Elements of epic
An epic focuses on the adventures of a larger-than life main character called the epic hero
Heroic quest- hero goes in search of something of value to his people
Divine intervention- the epic hero often receives help from a god or some other supernatural force

9. Epic conventions
Epic usually begins with an open statement of theme, followed by an invocation, or appeal for supernatural help
Story begins in medias res- readers are plunged right into the action, and then flashbacks and other narrative devices report on earlier events
Serious tone
Epic similes- comparisons using like and as
Epithets- stock descriptive words or phrases. Poems were originally composed and recited orally
Kind of shorthand

10. The Epic of Gilgamesh notes:
Long Narrative Poem
Traced to BC
Named for a Sumerian King
Concerns: Timeless and Universal
How to become known and respected
How to cope with the loss of a dear friend
How to accept one’s own inevitable death

11. How Epic stories endured
Told and handed down by Sumerians for hundreds of years after death
Babylonians conquered the Sumerians soon afterward; they inherited the Sumerian cultural tradition
Babylonian author created the start of the unified Gilgamesh epic
Others modified the epic, adding the prologue and the flood story and emphasizing the friendship between Gilgamesh and Enkidu
Most important search for immortality

12. Story of the Ancient king
Gilgamesh is the King of Uruk
gods and goddesses in his life to provide challenges, obstacles, and challenging tests
Gods and goddesses Aruru creates Enkidu to provide such a challenge to Gilgamesh
Gilgamesh and Ekindu became engaged in a heated wrestling match, which Gilgamesh wins after a hard fought battle with his opponent
The two men became close friends

13. Worried about his mortality, Gilgamesh goes in search of everlasting life
Utnapishtism the sole survivor of a great flood that had destroyed humanity centuries before
Gilgamesh learns for him there is no permanence
His death then completes the cylce of life

14. Archetype
An archetype is a basic plot, character, symbol, or idea, that recurs in the literature of many cultures

15. Hero’s Quest
A plot in which an extraordinary person goes on a difficult journey or mission
The hero may search for a person, place, or object of value; the answer to a problem or puzzling question or some other kind of special knowledge
In Gilgamesh, a heroic king searches for the secret of immortality

16. Characterization
Characterization is the means by which characters are created or developed
Authors reveal characters’ personalities through direct statements; through characters’ actions, speech, and thoughts; or through descriptive details

17. As you read
Before you read complete an overview of Sumerian and Babylonian civilization As you read look for details about the way the people lived, worked, and believed On a chart record the details that provide clues to the culture that created this epic

18. Historical Background
Those who spoke Semitic languages, the Semites, were nomadic people who had migrated to Mesopotamia from the Arabian Peninsula
At the times that Sumerian civilization was developing along the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, Egyptian civilization arose along the banks of the Nile in Northeaster Africa.
At first the villages along the Nile were divided into two countries: Upper Egypt in the south and Lower Egypt in the north

19. Time period
The history of the pharaohs, or rulers, who then led Egypt to be divided into:
Early Dynastic Period (c B.C)
Old Kingdom (c c B.C)
Middle Kingdom (1938-c 1600 B.C)
New Kingdom (c B.C)

20. Background continued The pharaohs were looked at as gods
The pyramid that housed a pharaoh's remains was both a symbol of the afterlife and an image of Egyptian society
At top of pyramid was pharaoh
Beneath pharaoh were priest and nobles who held administrative positions
Next were the middle class: artisans, merchants, and physicians who served the ruling class
Last were the lowest and most numerous: the peasants and slaves

21. Babylonians
Babylonians had a reverent attitude toward Sumerian culture, however, they were far more than slavish imitators
The Babylonians reshaped the group of Sumerian tales about a legendary king, Babylonian scribes fashioned a brilliant work that we know today as The Epic of Gilgamesh

22. Hebrew Scripture
Hebrew monotheism, or belief in a single God, served as a basis for two other world religions, Christianity and Islam
Hebrew law demonstrated a greater respect for human life than had previously existed in the ancient North East
Another new idea was the Hebrews’ deep concern with moral behavior