1. Introduction to Greek Mythology Sherry Whiddon Deerlake Middle School

2. What is Greek mythology? The people of ancient Greece shared stories called myths with gods, goddesses, and heroes in which they fully believed. The people of ancient Greece shared stories called myths with gods, goddesses, and heroes in which they fully believed. Each god or goddess was worshipped as a diety and ruled over a given area of the Greeks lives. Each god or goddess was worshipped as a diety and ruled over a given area of the Greeks lives. These exciting stories, myths, explained natural phenomena that could not be explained by science of the ancient Greek world. Myths attempted to teach moral lessons, to explain traditions & customs, to relate history These exciting stories, myths, explained natural phenomena that could not be explained by science of the ancient Greek world. Myths attempted to teach moral lessons, to explain traditions & customs, to relate history

3. Greek mythology of today was religion of Ancient Greece. The Greeks believed the stories we now call myths. The gods and goddesses ruled the world and were believed to be responsible for the success or failure of human life. So the Greeks worshipped their gods by praying, giving offerings, and building temples.

4. Why should we study mythology? The Ancient Greek culture has been kept alive through oral and later written stories handed down over 1000’s of years. The Ancient Greek culture has been kept alive through oral and later written stories handed down over 1000’s of years. Modern plays, novels, movies, advertisements, and TV programs refer to Greek gods, heroes, monsters, etc. Modern plays, novels, movies, advertisements, and TV programs refer to Greek gods, heroes, monsters, etc. Adventurous and exciting stories entertain us. Adventurous and exciting stories entertain us.

5. Movies, books, games……

6. HISTORY can tell you facts about a society, but MYTH shows you their personality – their thoughts, beliefs, fears, and hopes. HISTORY can tell you facts about a society, but MYTH shows you their personality – their thoughts, beliefs, fears, and hopes. Relying only on only HISTORY to tell you about a people is like reading someone's driver's license instead of meeting him or her face-to-face. Relying only on only HISTORY to tell you about a people is like reading someone's driver's license instead of meeting him or her face-to-face.

7. CULTURE (noun): the intellectual and artistic ability, and the works produced by it, in a particular society. CULTURE (noun): the intellectual and artistic ability, and the works produced by it, in a particular society. Myths not only tell us about the thoughts, fears, feelings, and beliefs of the societies that created them – they also, like any type of art, help shape the culture of those who tell the myths. Myths not only tell us about the thoughts, fears, feelings, and beliefs of the societies that created them – they also, like any type of art, help shape the culture of those who tell the myths.

8. https://my.hrw.com/content/hmof/l anguage_arts/hmhcollections/resou rces/common/videoPlayer/index.ht ml?shortvid=V_FLLIT_0288&title=G reek%20Gods&imgdisplay=history https://my.hrw.com/content/hmof/l anguage_arts/hmhcollections/resou rces/common/videoPlayer/index.ht ml?shortvid=V_FLLIT_0288&title=G reek%20Gods&imgdisplay=history

9. Characteristics of a Myth PurposesContentsModern Implications 1.To explain the creation of the world 1. Gods/goddesses with superhuman powers 1. Modern people places things, or expressions that refer to mythology 2.To explain natural phenomena 2. Gods/goddess with humanlike qualities (flaws) 2. Other stories, movies, TV shows with same situations or lessons as the myth. 3.To give story form to religious practices 3. Heroes with admirable qualities 4. To teach a moral lesson 4. monsters or other creatures 5. To explain history 5. humans who are helped or hindered by the gods 6. To express the deepest dreams, hopes, and fears of mankind 6. a quest or ordeal that must be accomplished 7. a death followed by a rebirth or transformation