mythology. why do we tell myths? what do myths try to accomplish? explain the world around us...
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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?
Global Myth Archetypes
FloodStories
Creationstories
Miraculous births
First Man/Woman stories
underworldStories
Hero/quest
Punishment from god(s)
Trickster stories
Flood Stories
Christian Tradition: Noah and the Great Flood
God commands Noah to build an Ark in advance of a flood sent by God as punishment.
Mesopotamian Tradition: The Epic of Gilgamesh
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
The Epic of Gilgamesh
Noah’s Ark
Trickster Stories
Native American Tradition Coyote/Old Man Coyote
English Folklore Robin Hood
Norse Culture Loki
West African (Akan) Mythology Ananse
Greek Mythology Hermes
Trickster Stories
Hermes
Old Man Coyote
Loki
Ananse Robin Hood
Miraculous Births
Christian Tradition Jesus Christ
Virgin Birth Aztec Tradition
Quetzlcoatl Virgin Birth
Native American Tradition Kutoyis
Born from a blood clot of a wounded buffalo Greek Mythology
Hercules Fathered by a god (Zeus)
Miraculous Birth Stories
Hercules
Quetzlcoatl
Jesus Christ
Quest Stories
Greek Mythology Jason and the Golden Fleece Hercules
Judeo-Christian Tradition Moses Leading the Israelites through the desert
Native American Tradition Wunzh
English Mythology Percival (one of King Arthur’s knights) and his
quest for the Holy Grail
(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.)
Quest Stories
Hercules
Wunzh
PercivalMoses
Jason
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?