Mythology

You know more than you think!You’ve been exposed to Greek mythology your entire

life!Here are some examples you might recognize:

You know more than you think!

What is a myth?A traditional, typically ancient story dealing

with supernatural beings, or heroes that serves as an explanation of aspects in the

natural world or delineating the psychology, customs, or ideals of society.*

* www.dictionary.com

Explaining the world…Myths seek to explain all those

unexplainable or unknowable aspects of life.

Where do we go after we die?How was the world created?Why can we see our reflection in water?Why are there four separate seasons?

Why do we fall in love?How is lightning created?Why do our voices sometime echo?How was fire created, and why do we have it?

… through the supernatural.These natural occurrences are explained through

the actions and behaviors of supernatural beings such as gods, goddesses, monsters, heroes, and

other mythical beings.How did humans get fire?Prometheus was the wisest Titan of all. Prometheus is credited with bringing enlightenment to humans. Prometheus stole fire from the gods and gave it to humankind, bringing the power of warmth and light to the dark and miserable earth.

Prometheus acted against the express wishes of the Olympian Gods, who wanted to keep the power of fire - enlightenment - for their exclusive use. For this Zeus punished Prometheus by having him chained to a rock with an eagle tearing at his liver. He was later rescued by Hercules.

Using the lingo… today

Cupid: Son of the goddess of Love. This winged god can be seen to this day, especially during Valentine’s day. One shot from his bow is supposed to make the victim fall in love.

Nike: The Greek goddess of victory

Cyclops:Named after a mythological being with only one eye.

Mythology in nature and scienceMany of our planets (and many moons) are named

after Roman godsMercury- messenger god

Mars- god of warVenus- goddess of loveJupiter- king of the gods

Saturn- god of agricultureNeptune- god of the seas

Uranus- ancient Greek deity of the heavensPluto- god of the underworld

Gods and Goddesses in Greek Myth

Deities in mythology typically are patrons of certain areas. They control those aspect of life. Despite

their supernatural nature, they also had very human qualities… both good and bad.

Zeus

Ruler of the Olympian GodsController of the

heavensControls thunder

and lightning

Manipulative womanizer who repeated cheated on his wife, Hera.He had numerous children by women and goddesses he either tricked, seduced, or raped.

The Trojan WarHomer’s The Illiad details a 10 year war that

pits Greece against Troy. The war actually occurred, though the circumstances that

led up to it are up to debate.

According to myth, it all starts with one very special apple…

The Trial of Paris

Goddesses Hera, Athena, and Aphrodite were competing to see who was the most beautiful. Each of them wanted the title of the most lovely goddess on Olympus, and they also wanted the prize of the golden apple.

Zeus refused to judge the contest (for good reason)

A tough decisionParis, said to be the most handsome and fair mortal alive, is chosen to judge the contest. Determined to win at all cost, each of these goddesses bribes Paris

with something to sway his judgment.

Hera, queen of the Olympic gods, offered Paris power beyond his wildest dreams.

Athena, goddess of wisdom, offered Paris infinite wisdom.

Aphrodite, goddess of love, offered Paris the love of the most beautiful woman.

Paris’ choiceParis chooses Aphrodite (of course) and in turn,

receives Helen of Troy as his prize. Helen is said to be the most beautiful woman on earth.

Small problem… she’s married to the King of Sparta.

Paris takes off with Helen. Helen’s husband, Menelaus, wages war against Troy to regain his wife.

Thus begins the Trojan War… (all because of some stupid apple!)

EpicsAn extended narrative poem in elevated or

dignified language, celebrating the feats of a legendary or traditional hero.

The story of the Trojan war is detailed in the famous Greek epic The Iliad. It was told by the

famous blind poet Homer.

The Odyssey details the trials of a hero trying to find his way home. This hero, Odysseus, was the hero of the Trojan war. He was the brains behind

the Trojan horse, which ends the war.