1. Greek Mythology Dr Toni Badnall toni.badnall@nottingham.ac.uk

2. What is a myth? Dictionary.com definition a traditional or legendary story, usually concerning some being or hero or event, with or without a determinable basis of fact or a natural explanation, esp. one that is concerned with deities or demigods and explains some practice, rite, or phenomenon of nature. a traditional or legendary story, usually concerning some being or hero or event, with or without a determinable basis of fact or a natural explanation, esp. one that is concerned with deities or demigods and explains some practice, rite, or phenomenon of nature. stories or matter of this kind: realm of myth. stories or matter of this kind: realm of myth. any invented story, idea, or concept: His account of the event is pure myth. any invented story, idea, or concept: His account of the event is pure myth. an imaginary or fictitious thing or person. an imaginary or fictitious thing or person. an unproved or false collective belief that is used to justify a social institution. an unproved or false collective belief that is used to justify a social institution.Origin: < LL my ̄ thos < Gk mŷthos story, word Synonyms: 1. See LEGEND. 3. fiction, fantasy, talltale. LEGEND.

3. Implication of falsity...but... These were the most powerful navies. And even these, although so many generations had elapsed since the Trojan war, seem to have been principally composed of the old fifty-oars and long-boats, and to have counted few galleys among their ranks... Thucydides 1.14

4. Greek etymology mu=qoj mu=qoj word, speech word, speech public speech public speech conversation conversation thing said, fact, matter thing said, fact, matter thing thought, unspoken word, purpose, design thing thought, unspoken word, purpose, design saying saying talk of men, rumour talk of men, rumour tale, story, narrative tale, story, narrative fiction (opp. lo/goj, historic truth) fiction (opp. lo/goj, historic truth)lo/goj generally, fiction, legend, myth generally, fiction, legend, myth professed work of fiction, children's story, fable professed work of fiction, children's story, fable plot of a comedy or tragedy plot of a comedy or tragedy

5. Myth as a function of social ideology Csapo 2005 p.9: “…narrative which is considered socially important and is told in such a way as to allow the entire social collective to share a sense of this importance…” Csapo 2005 p.9: “…narrative which is considered socially important and is told in such a way as to allow the entire social collective to share a sense of this importance…”

6. Towards a definition Spoken Spoken Narrative/story Narrative/story Connotations of falsehood/‘legendary’ Connotations of falsehood/‘legendary’ But – deeply rooted in culture/identity But – deeply rooted in culture/identity

7. How do we study mythology? Literature Literature Visual culture Visual culture Ritual? Ritual? No coherent picture No coherent picture Meaning within a particular text Meaning within a particular text Meaning within a particular social context Meaning within a particular social context

8. Mythological theory Comparatism Comparatism Psychoanalysis Psychoanalysis Ritual theory Ritual theory Structuralism Structuralism Ideology/cultural criticism Ideology/cultural criticism

9. Comparatism Study of myths from different cultures in order to identify shared characteristics. Study of myths from different cultures in order to identify shared characteristics. Associated with discovery of Indo-European language Associated with discovery of Indo-European language Also with European cultural superiority Also with European cultural superiority Max Mueller Max Mueller Myths = Aryan poetic metaphors for celestial phenomena Myths = Aryan poetic metaphors for celestial phenomena James Frazer James Frazer Age of magic, Age of religion, Age of science Age of magic, Age of religion, Age of science

10. Psychoanalysis Myth as an expression of repressed ideas in human consciousness Myth as an expression of repressed ideas in human consciousness Sigmund Freud Sigmund Freud Unconscious mind/dream interpretation Unconscious mind/dream interpretation Analyses of Oedipus, Prometheus and Medusa myths Analyses of Oedipus, Prometheus and Medusa myths Carl Jung Carl Jung Theory of “collective unconscious” Theory of “collective unconscious” Archetypes (inherited ‘archaic’ patterns) Archetypes (inherited ‘archaic’ patterns)

11. Ritual Theories Scholars coming to realise that myth is product of social, not individual thought (Durkheim) Scholars coming to realise that myth is product of social, not individual thought (Durkheim) Myth exists in a significant relationship to ritual Myth exists in a significant relationship to ritual Jane Harrison & the Cambridge Ritualists Jane Harrison & the Cambridge Ritualists Explain meaning & function of myths by relating them to rituals – absolute dependence Explain meaning & function of myths by relating them to rituals – absolute dependence Walter Burkert Walter Burkert Sociobiology Sociobiology Close relationship between myth & ritual – both cluster round essential needs, common crises and dilemmas of individual and society. Close relationship between myth & ritual – both cluster round essential needs, common crises and dilemmas of individual and society.

12. Structuralism Analyses myth as a complex system (structure) of interrelated parts Analyses myth as a complex system (structure) of interrelated parts Ferdinand de Saussure Ferdinand de Saussure Structuralist linguistics Structuralist linguistics Claude Levi-Strauss Claude Levi-Strauss Structuralist anthropology Structuralist anthropology Jean-Pierre Vernant Jean-Pierre Vernant Analysis of mythology Analysis of mythology

13. Ideology Cf. Vernant’s structuralism: ideological/cultural analysis aimed at placing myth in social context Cf. Vernant’s structuralism: ideological/cultural analysis aimed at placing myth in social context Cultural criticism Cultural criticism Feminism Feminism Queer theory Queer theory Post-colonialism Post-colonialism Post-structuralism: Derrida/Foucault Post-structuralism: Derrida/Foucault Marxism Marxism Emphasis on social/ideological change, rather than rigidity Emphasis on social/ideological change, rather than rigidity