1. Stories From the Beginning of Time
Myths 1

2. Myth: A Definition
An ancient story dealing with superrnatural beings, ancestors, and heroes
It explains the view of a group of people
The word mythology is Greek in origin (etymology)
Mythos= story
Logo= speech or argument 2

3. Atlas
What are Myths?
Myths- Stories that use fantasy to express ideas about life that cannot easily be expressed in realistic terms
They are, at heart, religious stories
They deal with and explore the relationship between human beings and the unknown/spiritual world
They were once believed to be true

4. Purposes of Myths… Scientific: explanations of things in nature
Literary: entertainment; good storytelling
Religious: give meaning to things in life; explain the role of the gods in everyday life

5. Why do we Study Myths? Pandora’s Box Prometheus
They depict and reveal behavior problems common to all human beings
Remind us that human nature is the same across time and culture
Reveal that many social, ethical, and religious attitudes continue through time
They reflect the attitudes, priorities, and values of the cultures that produced them
Prometheus

6. Cultures that Have Myths
The Fates
Cultures that Have Myths
Every culture has its own mythology
Universal symbols and themes appear in different cultures’ myths
Greek, Roman, Native American, Celtic, South American, African, and Norse mythology are examples of myths from different cultures 6

7. Characteristics of Myths
Contain heroes and heroines
Supernatural elements
Told orally (spoken)
Gods and goddesses
Explains a natural phenomenon 7

8. The Reason for Myths To help explain the unexplainable
To explain natural phenomenon
To tell about their heroes
To explain human nature
To teach morals and values 8

9. Greek and Roman Mythology
The mythology from the Greek and Roman cultures is often called “Classical Mythology.” 9