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Mythology Why do we tell myths? What do myths try to accomplish? Explain the world around us Explain the unknown Entertain Preserve history Teach moral lessons Archetypes What is an archetype? A literary model or pattern What are some mythological archetypes? Flood Stories Hero/quest Punishment from god(s) Global Myth Archetypes underworld Stories Miraculous births First Man/Woman stories Trickster stories Creation stories Flood Stories Christian Tradition: Noah and the Great Flood Mesopotamian Tradition: The Epic of Gilgamesh God commands Noah to build an Ark in advance of a flood sent by God as punishment. One of the “Great Gods,” Ea, commands Utnapishtim to build a boat to save living creatures from a flood caused by the gods. Hindu Tradition: Manu and the Great Flood Manu a man created by the gods to give life to all other humans Manu saves a small fish who then promises to save him from a great flood The fish instructs Manu to build a large boat to save himself and his animals and then grows very large and pulls Manu’s boat through the flood to calm waters. Flood Stories Manu and the Great Flood Noah’s Ark The Epic of Gilgamesh Trickster Stories Native American Tradition English Folklore Loki West African (Akan) Mythology Robin Hood Norse Culture Coyote/Old Man Coyote Ananse Greek Mythology Hermes Trickster Stories Old Man Coyote Loki Hermes Ananse Robin Hood Miraculous Births Christian Tradition Jesus Christ Aztec Tradition Quetzlcoatl Virgin Birth Native American Tradition Kutoyis Virgin Birth Born from a blood clot of a wounded buffalo Greek Mythology Hercules Fathered by a god (Zeus) Miraculous Birth Stories Jesus Christ Hercules Quetzlcoatl Quest Stories (A quest archetype is one in which a Hero goes on a journey and oftentimes must overcome their own weaknesses and faults in order to succeed.) Greek Mythology Judeo-Christian Tradition Moses Leading the Israelites through the desert Native American Tradition Jason and the Golden Fleece Hercules Wunzh English Mythology Percival (one of King Arthur’s knights) and his quest for the Holy Grail Quest Stories Jason Hercules Wunzh Moses Percival Greek myths – religious history 800 BC – 330 BC Peaked during the Classical period (c. 500-338 B.C.E.) No uniform faith Many different belief systems, many different temples, gods, goddesses Cults centered around worship of mythological figures – heroes, gods, etc. Religion was local and domestic Each village had its own cults and rituals Each family/home honored various deities Greek myths - religious history Oral poetic tradition Bards – traveling singing storytellers Memorized and recited epic poems telling of Greek heroes, gods, and monsters Bards memorized millions of lines of poetry Greek mythology Oral storytelling tradition The tradition predates Greek alphabet – stories not written down Most famous poems are __________________ Epic stories telling of battles and heroes Greek mythology Mythologia Term coined by Plato (Greek philosopher) Myths have several purposes: to entertain to tell the stories of a multitude of gods, goddesses, heroes, monsters and mortals to teach lessons about right behavior - morality to explain the nature of the world ; fire, human suffering, sickness, the seasons, etc. What central characters appear in Greek mythology? Central characters Gods Human-like personalities; arguing, interfere with human affairs, help their favorites Reside on Mount Olympus Heroes Can be gods, mortals or part god - part mortal Men of action, strength and power Warlike figures “Heroic ideal” – many Greeks modeled their lives on these heroes Central characters (cont’d.) Monsters These characters usually present a challenge to the lesser gods or human characters The monsters sometimes work in cooperation with the gods, or as their servants Examples? Medusa, Cyclops, Minotaur What archetypes appear? Quest archetype Type of story found in many cultural traditions Hero is sent on a mission, or goes looking for something, faces trials along the journey, is usually (but not always) successful Examples of quests: Jason and the Golden Fleece Early written versions This is one of the oldest stories in Greek mythology, with its roots in the Bronze Age (2300-700 BCE) Apollonius – Author of first written version of the story, in poetic form, around 200 A.D. Other early written versions: Euripides – 5th century A.D., tragic play centered on this quest tale Pindar – 5th century A.D., lyric poem Jason and the Golden Fleece Rooted in History Elements of the story appear to reflect actual history places and events: Jason travelled from Volos (most likely the ancient town of Iolkos) through the Bosphorus Canal and across the Black Sea What ancient city was located at the Bosphorus and the Dardanelles? What is the significance of Jason traveling past this important place?