Greek Mythology & Epics

Amanda L. RobbinsNinth Grade LiteratureSpring Semester 2012

Unit Overview Mythology and epics Greek Culture Greek Gods and Goddesses

What is mythology? A sacred narrative Usually to explain how the world or humankind came to be “Ideology in narrative form” – Bruce Lincoln

o Basically, philosophy or religion told as stories Often includes supernatural characters like epic heroes,

gods, or goddesses May start as:

o Overelaborated historical eventso Explanation of ritualso Allegory for or personification of natural phenomena

Epics can often be counted as myths if they include creation stories (Ex: in Gilgamesh, the snake eats the plant of eternal life, and this is why he sheds his skin)

Why do we read mythology?

To gain understanding about ancient cultureso Before we had modern science and medicine, people

made up myths to explain things; this teaches us about the way they learned, what they valued, etc.

To learn a new belief systemo Mythology often relates to stories of gods or goddesses.

By reading myths, we learn the ancient religions and the beings associated with them

To view the stories of ancient societieso Stories were not written in ancient cultures for

entertainment; they were written with specific purposes in mind (IE to explain natural phenomena, to celebrate gods and goddesses)

Ancient Greece 800 BC – 600 AD Began in Greece, a southern European country

o Capital: Athenso Near many seas

Leader in many different cultural movementso Philosophy (reasoning and questioning of life)o Theatero Literature (they were the first to put dialogue in their stories)o Architecture (white columns)o Art (marble statues)o Debateo Language (many root words are based in Greek)o The Olympics

Not just in Greece!o Spread from Central Asia to the western end of the Mediterraneano Grecian Culture outside of Greece is called “Hellenistic Culture”

Ancient Greece Basically, much of our

governmental structure, basis of religion, art and architecture, and even language can be tied back to Greek culture

All the way until the 1960s, a young man’s education was not considered complete unless he was taught the “Classics” (Greek language and culture)

What was life like for the Greeks?

Farming Societyo Families grew and produced their own foodo Grain, olives (pressed into oil), goat’s milk and sheep’s milk cheese known as

feta Also a warring society

o Fought many wars (Spartans were especially trained for battle)o Conquered many lands under the leadership of Alexander the Great

Very creativeo Creators of dramatic and comedic theatero Debate as a source of judicial law, problem-solvingo Played the first Olympic games

Male-focusedo Men were in charge of the farm, wars, government, etc.o Women were delegated to the house only

Religiouso Temples devoted to the Gods and Goddesseso Part of a farm’s crop was often given as sacrifice at these temples

Who are the Gods? That’s a long story…

According to Greek mythology…

The earth was begun by the goddess Gaia (earth) and the god Uranus (sky)

They had a son, Cronus, who killed his father with a scythe

Cronus and his wife, Rhea, had many children – the first gods and goddesses

Cronus – History’s first deadbeat dad

Cronus worried his own children would do what he did, so he decided to kill them by eating them

Rhea saved their last son from death by giving Cronus a stone wrapped in cloth

This son, Zeus, grew up and defeated his father, making him throw up the dead children who come back to life

Zeus King of the Gods Creator of Mount

Olympus, the home of the gods

Throws lightning bolts when mad

Has many children with many different women

Hera Queen of the Gods Zeus’s wife Goddess of marriage Gets very jealous of

Zeus’s women and often curses them

Poseidon God of the Sea Zeus’ brother Can control storms Often carries a trident

Hades God of the Underworld

and the dead Zeus’ brother Rarely leaves the

underworld and guards the river that surrounds it

Kidnapped Persephone and made her his wife

Ares God of War Son of Zeus and

Hera Wears the

trademark warrior helmet and carries a spear

Athena Goddess of Wisdom Daughter of Zeus –

sprang out of his head fully formed and has no mother

Also often shown wearing a helmet

Aphrodite Goddess of Love and

Beauty Daughter of Zeus and

Dione, a lesser earth goddess

Wife of Hephestus, who makes Zeus’s lightning bolts

Mother of Cupid

Apollo and Artemis Twin god and goddess Children of Zeus and

Leto, a lesser goddess Apollo – god of music

and the suno In charge of driving the

chariot that pulls the sun across the sky

Artemis – goddess of the hunt and childbirtho Often shown with a bow

and arrow

Dionysus God of Wine and

Revelry (partying) Son of Zeus and

Semele, a mortal princess

Often dressed in a toga with grapes in his hair

Sometimes bearded and fat, sometimes young and thin

Hermes Messenger of the Gods Son of Zeus and Maia,

a wood nymph Wears winged sandals

and a winged helmet Carries a staff Often mischievous and

troublemaking Plays the pipes