MONDAY, MAY 11, 20159TH LIT WARM-UP:

WHAT, IF ANYTHING, DO YOU ALREADY KNOW ABOUT GREEK MYTHOLOGY?

WHAT IS MYTHOLOGY?

“Mythology” is a word used to describe all myths of a particular society.

Every culture has its own myths that help us understand its customs and ways of viewing the world.

WHAT IS A MYTH?

A myth is a kind of story. Most myths have one or more of these characteristics:

Myths are usually about gods or supernatural beings with greater powers and abilities than ordinary humans.

Myths explain the origins of the world and how humans came to be.

Myths take place a long time ago, usually in the earliest days of humanity (or just before humans showed up on Earth).

Myths were usually thought to be true by their original tellers--no matter how wild or strange they seem to be.

Mythopedia: Oh My Gods! by Megan E. Bryant

TWO NAMES, POWERS THE SAME

Many gods and goddesses have both Greek and Roman names. That is because the ancient Romans adopted a great deal of Greek mythology and made it their own.

Often, they changed the names of the particular gods and goddesses.

TWO NAMES, POWERS THE SAME

Generally, the deity’s powers and myths stayed the same--even though they had a new name.

As a result, the study of Greek and Roman mythology is often grouped together under the same name-- classical mythology.

WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF A MYTH? Myths can…

Explain how things came to be--like the origin of the universe or the creation of humans.

Teach people about the values and beliefs that are important in their society.

Contain deep religious significance to the people who tell and believe them.

Studying myths can teach us about people around the world -- their cultures and what is

(or was) important to them. Mythopedia: Oh My Gods! by Megan E. Bryant

HOW DID WE LEARN THESE STORIES?

Myths were first passed down through storytelling, songs, and poetry.

We learned the stories from written versions, mainly Homer’s epic poems The Illiad and The Odyssey, which tell of the great deeds of heroes.

Other sources were Hesiod’s Theogony, which describes the origins of the world and the gods, and Homeric Hymns, as collection of poems addressed to different gods.

Mythopedia: Oh My Gods! by Megan E. Bryant

DO MYTHS REALLY MATTER TODAY?

YES!!! References to Greek mythology are all around us:

Ever heard of Nike athletic gear? Nike was the Greek goddess of victory.

What would Valentine’s Day be without Cupid? Cupid, (Eros, to the Greeks) is the god of love.

Does Apollo 13 ring a bell? The first crewed US space missions were named for Apollo, the god of archery and prophecy.

BOTTOM LINE

References to ancient myths are everywhere, from science to

pop culture, and knowing about them will help you

understand more about the world we live in.

Before existence there was a vast nothingness called Chaos. Out of Chaos came Gaea, the earth, and Uranus, heaven or the sky.

Gaea and Uranus gave birth to the Titans, who looked just like humans but were huge. They were the first gods and goddesses. Uranus banished some of them to the Underworld, which made Gaia upset. She encouraged them to rise up against him. They were led by Cronus who attacked and overthrew his father.

Gaea: Mother Earth

Cronus married his sister Rhea and they had five children. Before they were born, Cronus was warned that they would overthrow him, the same way he had overthrown his father. When each child was born, he swallowed them whole. When Rhea gave birth to Zeus she wrapped a rock in blankets and pretended it was her son. Cronus swallowed the rock, and Zeus grew up in hiding.

Zeus

Zeus grew up and visited his parents in disguise. He gave Cronus a drink that made him throw up all the babies he had swallowed. Zeus led his siblings in a revolt against Cronus and the other titans. The younger gods won and divided the world among themselves. Poseidon took the sea, Hades took the Underworld, and Zeus became King of all the gods.

Hades

The new gods were known as the Olympians. They lived on Mount Olympus, high above the clouds. No humans could visit Olympus unless by special invitation. The gods did visit the earth and some married humans. Their children, who were half-god and half-mortal, often became heroes.

IT’S ALL RELATIVE!

Greek Mythology: The Gods and Goddesses

The Olympian Gods

WHAT WAS LIFE LIKE ON MT. OLYMPUS?

IT WAS WILD!!! A certain god turned a nymph into

a tree.

A grumpy dad swallowed his kids one-by-one.

A winged cherub was accused of fly-by shootings.

ZeusTitle: King of the Gods

oWife: HeraoRuler of weather; keeper of

laws; protector of Greek kings; guardian of morality

oHad over 115 girlfriends and wives and over 140 children!!

WHO’S YOUR DADDY?

POSEIDON

Title:God of the Seao Zeus’s brother and second

most powerful godo Creator of earthquakeso Maker of horses

HERMESTitle: Messenger of the GodsoThe god of secrets and tricksoOften portrayed with wings on

his feetoGuided souls to the

underworldoPatron of thieves and liars

HADESTitle: God of the Underworld

Ruler of the dead Underground wealth Brother of Zeus and Poseidon Original “he who must not be

named”

ARES

Title: God of War Disliked by gods and

mortals for being bloodthirsty and a coward

Had a child—Eros—with Aprodite, Goddess of Love

HEPHAESTUS

Title: God of Fireo Craftsman for the godso Maker of fireo Mom, Hera, thought he was so ugly that

she threw his off of Mt. Olympuso Married to Aphrodite, goddess of love

DIONYSUS

Title: God of drama, fertility, poetry, dance, song, wine

Was born twice--cut out of his dead mom’s body and then sewn into Zeus's thigh until ready to be born

Brought his mom back from the Underworld

The Olympian

Goddesses

HERA

Title: Queen of the GodsoWife of ZeusoGoddess of women and

marriageoKnown for her jealousy

Athena

Title: Goddess of Wisdom, War, and Crafts

oDaughter of Zeus and Metis

oBorn from Zeus's head and came fully formed wearing armor

HESTIA

TITLE-Goddess of houses; home; family; domestic life

Hestia was wooed by the gods Apollo and Poseidon, but spurning both, petitioned Zeus to let her remain forever a virgin.

ARTEMIS TITLE-Goddess of hunting,

wilderness and wild animals. She was also a goddess of

childbirth, and the protectress of the girl child up to the age of marriage

Twin sister of Apollo Artemis expects her followers

to stay away from boys, just like she does.

APHRODITE

Title: Great Olympian goddess of beauty, love, pleasure and and procreation.

oMother of CupidoCaused the Trojan War

Demeter

Title: Goddess of Agriculture, the earth, and corn.

oHer daughter, Persephone was kidnapped by Hades.

oShe cares for the earth and makes things grow.

CREATE-A-GOD PROJECTYou have been invited to join the Olympians on Mt. Olympus to crown the newest god to the family of the gods. This is a very high honor; not everyone may visit the home of the immortals! Your task is to try to create a god based upon your own personality traits and your likes and dislikes. Create a god that represents you.

CREATE-A-GOD POSTER WILL INCLUDE:

Name and what he or she is the god/goddess of_____/10

Special power_____/10

Epithet______/10

Weapon______/10

Symbol______/10

Sacred plant and/or animal______/5

Acrostic poem______/45 (see point breakdown on planning sheet)

Origin story is worth 50 points but does not have to be included on the poster.

Can you think of any commonly-held modern beliefs that would seem crazy to an ancient civilization such as the Greeks?

9th Lit Summarizer: