Download Mythology - New City Middle School

Define Mythology
 Think-Pair-Share
 On a piece of gift bag paper, answer the following:
 What do you know about mythology?
 Where have you seen or heard mythology?
 What would you like to know?
Share with your Elbow partner.
Share out with the group.
Our definition of mythology is…
Interview with Rick
Riordan
 While you listen to the podcast, listen for
 http://www.metmuseum.org/metmedia/audio/kids/0
68-episode-for-families-percy-jackson--theolympians-the-lightning-thief-at-the-met
What is a myth?
 A fictitious story or half truth
What makes a myth?
 How the myth was created
 Evolve over time, passed down orally
 Often more than one version of a story
 Involves a higher power or entity
 Gods, goddesses and other supernatural beings
are worshipped.
 Myth is considered true and sacred within the
culture
What makes a myth?
 Explains the unknown
 Like how the universe was created
 Meaning of life
 Part of a larger mythology
 Tied together by common things
 Gods and goddesses, historical events
Ancient Greece:
A Brief History
 Typically considered the time between 800 BC to
600 AD (about 1,300 years)
 City-states
 Saw the rise of democracy
 Great thinkers: Plato, Socrates, Aristotle
 Discovered geometry, applied mathematics
Greek geography
Who’s who in Greek Mythology
(and their Roman Names)
 Cronos (Saturn)-father of the gods Zeus, Hades and
Poseidon and goddesses Hera, Hestia and Demeter
 Rhea (Cybele)- Wife of Cronos and mother of the
gods and goddesses
 Zeus (Jupiter/ Jove)- King of the gods
 Poseidon (Neptune)- God of the Sea
 Hades (Pluto)- God of the Underworld
Who’s who in Greek Mythology
(and their Roman Names)
 Demeter (Ceres)- Goddess of Grain and Fertility
 Hestia (Vesta)- Goddess of Home and Family
 Hera (Juno)- Goddess of Women and Marriage
 Persephone (Proserpine)- Goddess of the
Underworld
 Ares (Mars)- God of War
Who’s who in Greek Mythology
(and their Roman Names)
 Dionysus (Bacchus)- God of Wine and good times
 Hermes (Mercury)- messenger of the Gods
 Hephaestus (Vulcan)- God of fire and technology
 Athena (Minerva)- Goddess of Heroic Endeavour
 Artemis (Diana)- Goddess of Forests, Hills and
Fertility
 Aphrodite (Venus)- Goddess of Love
 Apollo- God of Light, the Sun, Truth and Prophecy
Vocab
 Oracle- someone considered very wise or who is able
to predict the future
 Prophecy- a prediction
 Sacrifice- an animal or person killed in honor of a god
 Strife- conflict
Heroes
On a sheet of paper, discuss with your tent partner:
 What is a hero?
 What are characteristics of a hero?
 What are some examples of a hero?
Comparing Contemporary
and Greek Heroes
Characteristic Contemporary
(Modern) Hero
Contemporary
Behavior
Greek Hero
Greek
Behavior
Think
 You're trapped in a room with your greatest enemy,
who has the only key and superior strength.
 How would you get out?
 Read the story of Odysseus. Think about:
 What personal traits allowed Odysseus to escape?
What personal traits got him into (or might get him
into) trouble?
 Brainstorm a list of chores you would really hate to
do (even worse than the chores you already do).
 http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/Herakles/labors.html
 How would you like to do Hercules’ chores?
 What personal traits allowed Hercules to succeed?
What personal traits got him into trouble?
Another take
 Read the story of Atalanta
 In what ways is she like and unlike a male Greek
hero?
 Fill in your Hero Chart
Oh Behave!
Turn and Talk
 What echoes have you heard.
 Where was the best echo they have ever heard?
 What causes echoes?
 Popcorn read the story of Echo
Echo
 In what way was having to echo a fitting punishment
for Echo?
 How does this tale explain what causes echoes?
 How did the story dramatize poor behavior?
 Narcissism – www.dictionary.com
Turn and Talk
 If someone is termed a "narcissist", what would that
mean?
 Name a fictional character from any medium who
could be called a narcissist?
 Is that a trait we admire in people?
Narcissus
 Partner read the story of Narcissus
 Was Narcissus's fate a fitting end for him?
 How did the story dramatize his arrogance and the
consequences of this behavior?
 http://www.wga.hu/framese.html?/html/c/caravagg/03/21narcis.html
Icarus
 http://youtu.be/7W1TZ16W-3k
 Was Icarus's fate a fitting end for him?
 How did the story dramatize his inappropriate
choices?
Conclusion
 What are some character traits the Greeks admired?
 What traits did they not admire?
How it Came to Be
 Greek myths often attempted to explain mysterious
elements of the natural world.
 How did the Echo story explain what causes an
echo?
 Spiders have adapted to catch prey through the
creation of webs.
 http://youtu.be/qW3Bbav7w4A
 How does the story of Arachne explain the origin of
spiders?
The Consellation Myths
 Visit the website below and read at least 3 myths
about how the constellations got their names.
 http://www.dibonsmith.com/constel.htm
It Came From a Myth
 Mythological terms are common in contemporary
society. For example, an odyssey is a voyage, as well
as a minivan! As you learn more about the characters
of Greek mythology, you may be surprised to
discover many familiar words derived from myths.
It Came from a Myth
 Working in pairs, you will use online and print
resources to find as many connections between
contemporary society and Greek mythology.
 Resources to use:
 Print dictionaries, encyclopedias
 Magazines
 Online resources (these sites ONLY)
 www.encyclopedia.com
 www.factmonster.com