Mythology An Introduction

A Means of Explaining… Earliest imaginative attempts… to explain to explain Universe Universe Its creations (animals, monsters, etc.) Its creations (animals, monsters, etc.) Its working (natural phenomenon) Its working (natural phenomenon) to teach to teach How to behave in society (moral directives) How to behave in society (moral directives) The extent to which man is a victim of circumstances and the extent to which he brings his destiny upon himself The extent to which man is a victim of circumstances and the extent to which he brings his destiny upon himself

Why Study Myths? #1 – Myths are an important link to the past. The study of the mythology of a particular culture reveals The way of life The way of life Thought of that culture Thought of that culture #2 – Myths are entertaining! striking plots striking plots Remarkable and memorable characters Remarkable and memorable characters

#3 – These stories have a deep influence on all great literatures, musical masterpieces, and all forms of art. Literature is filled with allusions to Greek & Roman gods and goddesses. Literature is filled with allusions to Greek & Roman gods and goddesses. Artists and sculptors throughout the ages have used mythological stories as subjects Artists and sculptors throughout the ages have used mythological stories as subjects Modern comic books and television shows draw from classical myths. Modern comic books and television shows draw from classical myths. Contemporary science fiction also draws from classical stories. Contemporary science fiction also draws from classical stories. Even today’s advertisements use myths – i.e. Atlas tires Even today’s advertisements use myths – i.e. Atlas tires

“mythology” defined A body of traditional tales of a particular people, originally told orally but later passed on in written form. Myths – early humanity’s seeking for explanations of the phenomena of nature; they are the imaginative precursors of scientific investigation. Myths – early humanity’s seeking for explanations of the phenomena of nature; they are the imaginative precursors of scientific investigation. Some myths were used to explain customs or rituals (i.e. - dancing before hunting buffalo insures your success) Some myths were used to explain customs or rituals (i.e. - dancing before hunting buffalo insures your success)

Legends – true stories exaggerated; often deal with heroes who may or may not have accomplished great deeds Trojan War – a real event, but the stories dealing with the war cannot be proved Trojan War – a real event, but the stories dealing with the war cannot be proved Beowulf might have been a real person, but could he wrench off a monster’s arm or swim underwater for hours? Beowulf might have been a real person, but could he wrench off a monster’s arm or swim underwater for hours? Davy Crockett – a noted frontier settler, but did he kill a bear when he was 3-years-old? Davy Crockett – a noted frontier settler, but did he kill a bear when he was 3-years-old?

Folk Tales or Fairy Tales – generally pure fiction; often use the supernatural (witches or fairies) and deal with the common people (forest dwellers or farmers). To amuse or entertain To amuse or entertain To teach a lesson or moral To teach a lesson or moral

Why did people NEED to create myths… Cognitive Dissonance – Cognitive Dissonance – people don’t like it when they don’t understand or know why something happens people don’t like it when they don’t understand or know why something happens it’s uncomfortable for them, so they invent a solution that seems MOST plausible it’s uncomfortable for them, so they invent a solution that seems MOST plausible Myths serve 2 purposes Myths serve 2 purposes To explain To explain To teach To teach

Studying myths helps to understand a culture because of the means they use to explain basic questions… Greeks = warm climate Greeks = warm climate Humans were created from the mud of a river bank Humans were created from the mud of a river bank Norse = very cold climate Norse = very cold climate Humans were created from frozen stones, licked by a divine cow until the person was released from the ice. Humans were created from frozen stones, licked by a divine cow until the person was released from the ice.

Important Sources of Mythology Ovid (Roman) Ovid (Roman) Most of the books about stories of classical mythology depend chiefly upon the Latin poet Ovid Most of the books about stories of classical mythology depend chiefly upon the Latin poet Ovid He told almost all of the stories and at great length, but they were just tales/stories to him He told almost all of the stories and at great length, but they were just tales/stories to him Virgil (Roman) – (contemporary of Ovid) Virgil (Roman) – (contemporary of Ovid) Aeneid – brings characters to life, finds humanity Aeneid – brings characters to life, finds humanity Homer (Greek) Homer (Greek) Iliad (1000 BC) and Odyssey (later) Iliad (1000 BC) and Odyssey (later) Hesiod (Greek) - (9 th or 8 th century BC) Hesiod (Greek) - (9 th or 8 th century BC) Poor farmer whose life was hard and bitter Poor farmer whose life was hard and bitter The Theogony – long poem of stories about the creation of the universe and the generations of the gods The Theogony – long poem of stories about the creation of the universe and the generations of the gods

Less Important myth sources… Pindar (end of the 6 th century BC) Pindar (end of the 6 th century BC) Odes in honor of the victors in the games at the great national festivals of Greece Odes in honor of the victors in the games at the great national festivals of Greece Sophocles, Euripides, and Aeschylus (6 th /5 th century BC) Sophocles, Euripides, and Aeschylus (6 th /5 th century BC) Greek tragedians Greek tragedians Aristophanes (5 th -4 th century BC) Aristophanes (5 th -4 th century BC) comedy comedy Herodotus (5 th century BC) Herodotus (5 th century BC) 1 st great historian 1 st great historian Plato (4 th century BC) Plato (4 th century BC) philosopher philosopher