Introduction Introduction to to

Greek MythologyGreek Mythology

Sherry WhiddonSherry Whiddon

Deerlake Middle SchoolDeerlake Middle School

What is Greek mythology?What is Greek mythology?

• The people of ancient Greece The people of ancient Greece shared stories called myths shared stories called myths with gods, goddesses, and with gods, goddesses, and heroes in which they fully heroes in which they fully believed. believed.

• Each god or goddess was Each god or goddess was worshipped as a diety and worshipped as a diety and ruled over a given area of ruled over a given area of the Greeks lives.the Greeks lives.

• These exciting stories, These exciting stories, myths, explained natural myths, explained natural phenomena that could not be phenomena that could not be explained by science of the explained by science of the ancient Greek world. Myths ancient Greek world. Myths attempted to teach moral attempted to teach moral lessons, to explain traditions lessons, to explain traditions & customs, to relate history& customs, to relate history

Greek mythology of today was Greek mythology of today was religion of Ancient Greece.religion of Ancient Greece.

• The Greeks believed the stories we The Greeks believed the stories we now call myths.now call myths.

• The gods and goddesses ruled the The gods and goddesses ruled the world and were believed to be world and were believed to be responsible for the success or failure responsible for the success or failure of human life.of human life.

• So the Greeks worshipped their gods So the Greeks worshipped their gods by praying, giving offerings, and by praying, giving offerings, and building temples.building temples.

Why should we study Why should we study mythology?mythology?

• The Ancient Greek culture The Ancient Greek culture has been kept alive has been kept alive through oral and later through oral and later written stories handed written stories handed down over 1000’s of years.down over 1000’s of years.

• Modern plays, novels, Modern plays, novels, movies, advertisements, movies, advertisements, and TV programs refer to and TV programs refer to Greek gods, heroes, Greek gods, heroes, monsters, etc.monsters, etc.

• Adventurous and exciting Adventurous and exciting stories entertain us. stories entertain us.

Movies, books, games……Movies, books, games……

• HISTORY can tell you facts about a HISTORY can tell you facts about a society, but MYTH shows you their society, but MYTH shows you their personality – their thoughts, beliefs, fears, personality – their thoughts, beliefs, fears, and hopes.  and hopes. 

• Relying only on only HISTORY to tell you Relying only on only HISTORY to tell you about a people is like reading someone's about a people is like reading someone's driver's license instead of meeting him or driver's license instead of meeting him or her face-to-face.her face-to-face.

• CULTURE (noun): the intellectual and CULTURE (noun): the intellectual and artistic ability, and the works produced by artistic ability, and the works produced by it, in a particular society.it, in a particular society.

• Myths not only tell us about the Myths not only tell us about the thoughts, fears, feelings, and beliefs of the thoughts, fears, feelings, and beliefs of the societies that created them – they also, like societies that created them – they also, like any type of art, help shape the culture of any type of art, help shape the culture of those who tell the myths.those who tell the myths.

https://my.hrw.com/content/https://my.hrw.com/content/hmof/language_arts/hmof/language_arts/

hmhcollections/resources/hmhcollections/resources/common/videoPlayer/common/videoPlayer/

index.html?index.html?shortvid=V_FLLIT_0288&title=shortvid=V_FLLIT_0288&title=

GreekGreek%20Gods&imgdisplay=history%20Gods&imgdisplay=history

Characteristics of a MythCharacteristics of a MythPurposes Contents Modern Implications1.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