About Mythology How Mythology Began… HOW THE WORLD BEGAN ACCORDING TO GREEK MYTHOLOGY

What is Mythology? It is the study of myths. Myths are stories about supernatural beings, in early times handed down orally from one generation to another. Mythology includes a collection of stories about people—such as Greeks, Romans, and Celtics. Myths attempt to explain such things as: 1.Nature 2.Man 3.Gods

NATURE Where did man come from? 1.Heavens -sun, moon, stars, etc. 2.Seasons -rain, fertility 3.Geography - oceans, mountains, forests

Man Where did man come from? 1.His life -birth, growth, reproduction, death 2.His victories - glories in battle 3.His defeats - misfortune 4.His end - Rewards and punishments

Gods Where did the gods come from? 1.Number of gods -how many, their religions 2.Role of gods - their power and weaknesses

Chief Source of Our Knowledge The chief source of our knowledge of ancient myths is from literature! Mythology is interesting, entertaining, shows how the ancient people viewed their world— and because you’ll find constant references to mythology all of your life!

Why Is Mythology Important? In literature In music In the arts In advertising In history In language

Mythology is Especially Interesting to… Psychologists, who see in myths the expression of subconscious needs. Theologians, who study religions and myths to understand people. Students of literature, who must understand myths to understand much poetry and other works.

Purposes Myths Serve –People of many cultures have created myths to explain their world and themselves. For example, myths can be used: To explain elements of the natural world (why there are seasons, how the oceans are created) To explain the origins of good and evil (why there is suffering in the world) To teach valuable moral lessons about living (lessons about controlling anger, overcoming greed) To explain human behavior (understanding about love, jealousy, etc.)

Differences Between Greek and Roman Myths Roman myths came after Greek myths. Often the only difference are in the names given to the figures.

HOW THE WORLD BEGAN ACCORDING TO GREEK MYTHOLOGY OUT OF CHAOS (CONFUSION) GAEA (MOTHER EARTH) URANUS (HEAVENS) EMERGED 2 BEINGS

Whose children were 12 Titans, including these 8: OCEANUS (oh-see-a-nus) RULED THE SEA TETHYS (tee –this) RULED THE SEA HYPERION (hy-pair-ee-on) SUN THEA (thee-ah) MOON RHEA (ree-ah) GREAT MOTHER THEMIS (thee-mis) LAW AND JUSTICE MNEMOSYNE (ne-mos-i-nee) MEMORY CRONUS (kroh-nus) YOUNGEST/STRONGEST

Plus 4 Monsters: HECATONCHIRES (hek-a-ton-kee-reez) HUNDRED HANDS 3 CYCLOPES (sy-klohp-eez) ONE-EYED

THE PLOT Uranus hated all of his children, but particularly the monsters—and these he sent to Tartarus (the underworld). Gaea asked the Titans to rescue the monsters but only Cronus agreed to help—and he overthrew his father, Uranus.

THE PLOT From Uranus’s blood came Giants and Erinyes (furies). –Giants were more like men than gods. They were fierce fighters –Erinyes were furies with hair of writhing serpents. They were winged.

THE PLOT Cronus and Rhea are married. They are now the rulers of the earth. Cronus and Rhea have 6 children. 3 DAUGHTERS HESTIA (hes-tee-uh) DEMETER (de-mee-ter) HERA (hee-ra) 3 SONS HADES (hay-deez) POSEIDON (poh-sy-don) ZEUS (zoos)

THE PLOT CONTINUES Cronus now feared that his children would destroy him—so he swallowed all of them but Zeus, who escaped. When Zeus grew up, he and Rhea waged war against Cronus. A long battle followed—Cronus disgorged (vomited up) his children. The monsters helped Zeus and gave him weapons.

THE PLOT CONTINUES Cronus, who was assisted by some of the Titans, was defeated. Zeus divided the world amongst his brothers and sisters and himself.

HOW THE WORLD WAS DIVIDED Hera was the goddess of love and marriage. –Symbols: diamonds, all white flowers, peacocks Hestia was the goddess of hearth and home. –Symbols: keys, living flame, and home Demeter was the goddess of agriculture. –Symbols: wheat, poppies, cornucopia (wealth)

HOW THE WORLD WAS DIVIDED Hades was in charge of the underworld. –Symbols: cerberus, bident, cypress Poseidon was in charge of the oceans, horses, and earthquakes. –Symbols: trident, dolphins, horses Zeus was in charge of gods and men from Mt. Olympus. –Symbols: eagle, thunder bolt, oak

MEANWHILE… Meanwhile, the FOUR AGES OF MAN pass by. 1.GOLDEN AGE 2.SILVER AGE 3.BRONZE AGE 4.IRON AGE

GOLDEN AGE Under Cronus was a “Garden of Eden” existence. There was eternal spring, no work, men were happy and good, no fighting, no poverty.

SILVER AGE Under Zeus was the beginning of the “Fall.” The four seasons were created. Work was necessary, hunger and cold became an issue, shelters were needed. Men were courageous but overbearing.

BRONZE AGE During the Bronze Age, men learn to use arms and go to war. Prometheus tried to help man during the Bronze Age.

IRON AGE The Iron Age was a period of crime and dishonor. The gifts of the gods were abused. Man sinks into degradation (poverty).

Where Did They Live? The Greek gods and goddesses lived on Mt. Olympus, along with Zeus and his 12 wives! Mount Olympus had a 10,000 feet altitude. Its top is always covered with snow. Mount Olympus was between Macedonia and Thessaly.

Mt. Olympus

COUNCIL OF 13 GODS The COUNCIL OF 13 GODS was formed. It consisted of the following gods/goddesses: Zeus, Hera, Athena, Ares, Apollo, Hestia, Poseidon, Hades, Hephaestus, Artemis, Hermes, Aphrodite, and Demeter. Zeus was in charge of everything—gods and man, good and evil, law and order, even the weather. The council meets and oversees the world.

3 MOIRAE (FATES) All gods and goddesses, including Zeus, obeyed the 3 Moirae (mo-ih-ry) or Fates. They were: –Clotho (kloh-thoh), who spun the web of life. –Lachesis (lak-uh-sis), who gave each man his fate. –Atropus (at-roh-pus), who cuts out the fatal web.

3 REGIONS OF THE UNDERWORLD 1.TARTARUS -A place of misery and torture. -The Titans lived here. 2.ELYSIUM -In the West, ruled by Cronus, a paradise which had its own sun and stars. -Great poets came here. 3.ACHERON -A place where people wandered aimlessly. -Home of the majority of those who died.

5 RIVERS OF THE UNDERWORLD 1.STYX - Where you wait for Cheron’s ferry 2.LETHE - Where you forget your past 3.ACHERON -The river of woe 4.PHLEGETHON -The river of fire 5.COCYTUS - The river of wailing