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Introduction to Mythology English III What is a myth? • A myth is a usually traditional story of ostensibly historical events that serves to unfold part of the world view of a people or explain a practice, belief or natural phenomenon. • A myth is a dramatic shorthand record of such matters as invasions, migrations, dynastic changes, admissions of foreign cults, and social reform. What is a myth? • Myths, being basically stories, arise from the oral storytelling tradition. • Mythology has come to denote both the body of myths and the study of myths. • Classical mythology is a term often used to designate the myths belonging to the Greek and Roman tradition. Functions of myths Myths have two main functions: 1. To answer the sort of awkward questions children ask. 2. To justify an existing social system and account for traditional rites and customs. Types of Myths Most myths can be divided into two groups: 1. Creation myths try to explain the origin of the world, the creation of human beings, and the births of gods and goddesses. 2. Explanation myths try to explain natural processes or events. Types of Myths • Some myths, through the actions of particular gods and heroes, stress proper behavior. • Myths about national heroes also emphasize basic moral values. Mythical Beings • Most myths concern divinities. • Divinities have supernatural powers, have human characteristics, are guided by a variety of emotions, and experience life and death. In many cases the human qualities of the divinities reflect a society’s ideals. • Some are anthropomorphic and some are theriomorphic. • Stories about heroes are called epics. How did myths begin? Theories… 1. All myths are based on historical facts. 2. All gods and mythical heroes were representations of nature, especially the sun. 3. Myths began through people’s efforts to account for unexplainable occurrences in dreams. How did myths begin? Theories… 4. Myths began in the great cycle of nature--birth, growth, decay, death, and rebirth. 5. Myths derive from rituals or ceremonies. 6. All people recognize that a frontier exists between what people can and cannot explain logically; people create myths when they reach this frontier How did myths begin? Theories… 7. People use myths to express--for the most part unconsciously--their deeply held ideas about themselves and their relationship with to the world around them. What mythology tells us about a society • Most of a society’s gods, heroes, and myths are really collective representations of the institutions and values of that society or of important parts within it. What mythology tells us about a society • Swiss psychologists Carl Jung developed a controversial theory about how myths reflect the attitudes and behaviors of individuals. • Jung suggested that everyone has a personal and a collective unconscious. What mythology tells us about a society • An individual’s personal unconscious is formed by the person’s experiences in the world. • An individual’s collective unconscious is inherited and shared by all humankind. What mythology tells us about a society • Jung believed that the collective unconscious is organized into basic patterns and symbols. • These basic patterns and symbols are called archetypes. • Myths represent one kind of archetype--others include fairytales, folktales, and works of art. What mythology tells us about a society • Jung believed that all mythologies have certain features in common, such as gods and heroes, and themes, such as love and revenge. • Other features include places, such as the home of the gods or the underworld, and plots, such as a battle between generations for control of a throne. Basic Features of Myths • Myths touch upon any field of human life and experience, and although consisting of many stories, are perceived as a single, all embracing tale, which is assumed to have been delivered to men by the gods, being in virtue of that circumstance true and sacred. Basic Features of Myths • Myths are not concerned with belief and disbelief. • Myths are not a system, a doctrine, a religious dogma, or instructions for performing rituals or magic, but a tale. Divisions of Myths • Divine Myths consist of the tales referring to the gods, such as creation of the world, the origin of the gods, and other tales related mainly to them. • The scene of these tales includes several places of imaginary nature, but also refers to visible places such as Mount Olympus. Division of Myths • Heroic myths are formed by tales related to kingdoms on earth, and heroes and heroines. • The events in these tales are normally located in real geographical places. Division of Myths • Heroic myths are linked to divine myths through three devices: 1. Divine intervention in human affairs 2. References to the gods or to someone related to the gods 3. Genealogy establishing descendance from the gods. Greek Divinities-the Olympians Greek Divinities-the Olympians • The most powerful group of the Greek divinities was the Olympians. • Six gods: Zeus, Apollo, Ares, Hephaestus, Hermes, Poseidon • Six goddesses: Athena, Aphrodite, Artemis, Demeter, Hera, Hestia • 3 other associates: Hades, Dionysus, Pan Zeus Ruler of the gods Apollo--god of light, medicine and poetry Ares--god of war Hephaestus-blacksmith for the gods and god of fire and metalworking Hermes--messenger for the gods; god of commerce and science, protector of travelers Poseidon--god of the sea Athena--goddess of crafts, war, wisdom Aphrodite-goddess of love Artemis--goddess of hunting and childbirth Demeter--goddess of growing things Hera-- protector of marriage and women; sister and wife of Zeus Hestia-goddess of the hearth Other gods associated with the Olympians--Hades, Pan, Dionysus Dionysus Minor divinities--nymphs Minor divinities--the Fates Minor divinities-the Muses Demigods-Heracles (Hercules) Heroes-Jason and the Argonauts Ancient Greece Mythical Places-Mount Olympus Mythical Places-the Underworld Mythical Places-the Underworld Mythical Places-the Underworld--the Elysian Fields Champs Elysee Creatures-Centaur, Pegasus, Medusa