1. Mythology

2. What is mythology?
The word "myth" comes from the Greek word mythos, which means a spoken or written story
Many events in a myth are not realistic or based on fact, since the message communicated by the story is more important than telling about an actual event
uses the supernatural to interpret natural events and to explain the nature of the universe and humanity
Oral tradition until Homer (700 B.C.)

3. all groups of people have myths
often myths are associated with religion
become the basis of a society.

4. What is the purpose of mythology?
The purpose of a myth is to explain human experience---the unexplainable
myths to explain many aspects of life: how they came into existence as a people; the reasons for good and evil; the seasons; the weather; and the movements of the sun, moon, and stars
They are truth, but not in the literal sense
(must view them allegorically)

5. Allegory
Things in the myths have a symbolic meaning.

6. Myths persist b/c they are universally appealing. What does this mean?
They appeal to many cultures across many time periods
All are humans so all have a human experience

7. Anticipation Questions First (individually answer the questions) Mark A if you agree or D if you disagree with the statement

8. God created the Earth, heavens, and man
All myths are lies.
Only the ancient Greeks wrote myths.
One Greek man, Sophocles, is responsible for writing all the Greek myths.
Myths were told as a way of explaining things to a people.
Greek mythology has shaped American culture and the world.
Greek gods and heroes were strong, beautiful and intelligent, but also quarrelsome, unforgiving, jealous and spiteful.
I believe in myths. (They are….)

9. I believe in the after-life.
I believe in reincarnation.
Anything that can go wrong will go wrong.