Download axis mundi - Denton ISD

Mythology
from the Greek 'mythos' for story-of-the-people,
and 'logos' for word or speech, the spoken story of a people
Terms:
• Mythology is the study and interpretation of often sacred tales
(myths) of a culture. Every ancient culture has its own mythology. To
the ancients, the meaning of the story was most important, not the
literal truth of the details.
• Myths- a collection of stories which express the beliefs and values
held by certain cultures. Myths usually deal with the human
condition, good and evil, human origins, life and death, the afterlife,
gods and goddesses, the elements of nature, and customs. They often
describe the actions of deities or supernatural beings.
• Deities-gods or goddesses.
Common Mythological Themes
• Creation Stories- How and why the world was created.
• Titanomachy- a group of younger, more civilized gods conquers and/or
struggles against a group of older gods who represent the forces of chaos.
• In Hindu mythology, the younger devas (gods) battle the older asuras (demons),
though both are born from the same father, Kashyap, the grandson of Brahma.
• In the Greek mythology, the Olympian gods defeat the Titans, an older and more
primitive divine race, and establish cosmic order.
• The Celtic gods of life and light struggle against the Fomorians, ancient gods of
death and darkness.
• The Creative Sacrifice- a god or supernatural being is sacrificed in order to
create the world.
• The Chinese myth of Pangu, the Indian Vedic myth of Purusha, and the Norse
myth of Ymir all tell of a cosmic giant who is killed to create the world
• Great Flood- Cultures around the world tell stories about a great
flood that covered the Earth.
• Stories of a single flood survivor appear in Hindu mythology and Aztec
mythology. Other myths focus on groups of people who helped each other
survive.
• Axis Mundi-Many mythologies mention a place that sits at the center
of the world and acts as a point of contact between different levels of
the universe. This "axis mundi" is often marked by a sacred tree or
other mythical object.
• Many myths describe a great tree or pillar joining heaven, earth, and the
underworld. India, ancient China, and the ancient Germans all had myths
featuring a "Cosmic Tree" whose branches reach heaven and whose roots
reach hell.
• Founding Myths- stories about why cultures have certain customs.
• Heroes- mortals or demigods (half gods) who preform miraculous
feats while on a quest.
The Hero’s Journey
Hero’s Journeys in Movies
Simpler Versions of The Hero’s Journey
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4V7drZMyL5M