1. INTRO TO MYTHOLOGY? What is myth? Myth and related genres What is mythology? Mythology as science Mythology as religion

2. WHAT IS MYTH? The word “myth” originates in the Greek word mythos, meaning speech or utterance. The evolution of the word’s meaning Fact -------------------------- Fiction True -------------------------- False History ----------------------- Story Speech  Narrative  Tale Myth: A narrative which is not factually exact but still containing a sense of credibility in and for itself.

3. MYTH AND RELATED GENRES-1 Saga: Originally an Icelandic term applied to supposedly true histories of families/clans or of kings. Narrative which has a basis in history (Dowden, 1992). Legend: Originally traditional stories about saints. “Any myth with only a kernel of truth and historicity (Dowden, 1992).”

4. MYTH AND RELATED GENRES-2 Folk-tale: Translation of the German word Märchen. Traditional tales which ordinary folk used as a sort of moralising entertainment. They tend to depict types rather than individuals. Myth: Tales which do not fall into the categories given above (Dowden, 1992).

5. WHAT IS MYTHOLOGY? Mythology: A shared fund of motifs and ideas ordered into a shared repertoire of stories. These stories link with, compare and contrast with, and are understood in the light of, other stories in the system (Dowden, 1992).

6. MYTHOLOGY AS SCIENCE Mythology functioned as a set of ideas by which people could use in order to explain natural phenomena.

7. MYTHOLOGY AS RELIGION Mythology was also a belief system, namely a polytheistic religion in ancient Greece. Hence it permeated the ancient Greek society and also regulated social conduct.