MythologyMythology
What is mythology? The system of beliefs told by a given race
WHY STUDY MYTHOLOGY? Mythology is the study of myth. Myths are ancient stories that have been handed down from generation to generation in a certain culture. By studying myth, a person can learn how a culture thought, lived, and expressed themselves.
HISTORY can tell you facts about a people, but MYTH shows you the personality, their beliefs, fears, and hopes. Relying only on HISTORY to tell you about a people is like reading someone's driver's license instead of meeting him or her face-to-face.
Myths began as religious stories, and many of them prominently feature gods and goddesses. Over time they have lost their religious significance, yet they still remain excellent tales. Today we read them for this quality, storytelling, rather than religious significance.
As you read myths from ancient cultures, it also causes you to think of your own culture. What stories are we leaving behind for generations to come? What do we value? What mark are we leaving on an ever-changing world?
Out of all the mythologies of the world, Greek mythology has had the most influence on Western culture. Literally thousands of artists and writers have used Greek mythology as their muse--bringing the ancient stories to life through sculpture, painting, poetry, and song.
Myth-inspired phrases such as Achilles Heel and Oedipus Complex and stand-alone words like labyrinth and mentor proliferate our language.
Media other than high art use mythological references too. Businesses and advertising firms use mythology as a selling tool.
Mythology in Ads These examples show how culturally ingrained Greek mythology has become.
Atlas
Nike
Poseidon’s Trident
Venus
King Midas
Allusions Together with the Bible and Shakespeare, Greek mythology rounds out the Big Three of Allusions. Any serious student of literature must have a healthy background in these three areas in order to spot the numerous references authors make to them.
Types of Myths Explanatory Romance Folk Tale/Fairy Tale Symbolic Story Heroic Saga
Explanatory Accounts for the origin of names and natural phenomena
Romance Love Story
Folk Tale/Fairy Tale Told for entertainment
Symbolic Story Teaches a lesson
Heroic Saga Condenses and dramatizes lengthy historic events
Themes in Mythology Heroism Hospitality Faith Love Fate
Heroism Greek heroes tend to share uncommon strength, immense bravery, and noble morality. They also depend upon a certain degree of clever ingenuity to achieve success. For example, Perseus could not have killed Medusa if he did not have the smarts to steal the Gray Women's eye.
Hospitality Greek myths were used as morality tales, explaining what is right and what is wrong, how to live and how not to live. Generosity, altruism, or freely giving to others may not seem to be in the immediate interest of the giver, which might be why these myths reinforce the idea that it is a good quality that should be valued. Dictys takes in baby Perseus and Danae when they wash up on his shore.
Faith Characters who defy or anger the gods are punished, and those who honor and praise the gods find rewards. Having faith in a prophecy is better than trying to circumvent it.
Love Love appears throughout the Greek myths. Different kinds of love emerge in the text with different implications. In some instances, love is impulsive, caused by Cupid's arrow. We also see a less exciting but ultimately longer lasting kind of love. Ceyx and Alcyone become birds who fly together for eternity after they die.
Fate Throughout the myths, fate appears as a powerful force that no human or god may contend with. Cronus received a prophecy that he would be overthrown by his son, as did King Acrisius. Both men tried to prevent the outcome, and both failed.