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Mythology
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 Traditional tales of a particular people,
 originally told orally (spoken) but later passed on in
written form
 Extends from early Greek and Roman times up to today
 Myths can range from the tale of an egg cracking open to
form the earth to the traditional wedding belief of
something old, something new, something borrowed,
something blue.
Mythology
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 Mythical places range from Mt. Fuji in Japanese mythology to
MOUNT OLYMPUS in Greek mythology to the Fountain of
Youth in more recent times.
Why do myths exist?

 Possibly to answer awkward questions!
– Who made the world?
 Where does the sun go at the end
of the day?
 Why does it rain?
Why do myths exist?

 Created to meet the religious needs of a people
 To justify an existing social system
 To account for a particular custom of a people
Types and classes of myths
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 Creation stories
 Myths of the fall
 Love Affairs
 Hero Stories
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Harry Potter
Finding Nemo
Star Wars
Percy Jackson
Types of Mythology
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Myths
Early humanity’s seeking for explanations of the phenomena
of nature:
 The sun is a chariot
 A volcano can show a god’s anger
 Scientific Investigation
Types of Mythology

 Myths can be used to explain customs or rituals
 Before you hunt, dance; before you feast, dance or pray
Legends

 True stories that are exaggerated
 The TROJAN WAR is a real event, but the stories dealing with
the war cannot be verified
• Usually about heroes who may or may not have
accomplished great deeds
– Odysseus from The Odyssey: he may have been a
real person but did he have contact with the gods and
goddesses?
Folk tales and Fairytales

 Generally pure FICTION used to amuse, entertain or teach
 Uses the supernatural (witches or fairies) and deals with
the common people (peasants or farmers)
What can WE learn from
myths?

 We can learn how different societies or cultures have
answered basic questions about the world and our place
in it.
Differences in Myths

 Myths will differ based on climate, custom or social
system
 The Greeks lived in a warm climate therefore they saw
humans as created from the mud of a river bank
 Farther North, the first humans were said to have come
from frozen stones, licked by a divine cow until the person
was released from the ice
Greek Mythology
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 Map of Greece
 Greek mythology is the body of myths and
teachings that belong to the ancient Greeks,
concerning their gods and heroes, and the nature of
the world
 Began 2000 B.C.
Characteristics

 Gods resembled humans
 Gods showed human emotions
 Greeks believed all gods controlled nature
 Stormy? – blame Zeus
 Rough waters? – blame Poseidon
 Part of every day life
 Everything had an explanation
Epic Hero
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 A character who is brave and noble
 The protagonist
 Has 7 traits
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Noble birth
Superhuman capabilities
Traveler
Warrior
Well known
Shows humility
Battles supernatural foes