1. Greek Mythology: an introduction
Mrs. Minks Language Arts

2. Mythology is the study of stories that were used to explain the world and other human experiences.
What is mythology?

3. Why? Greek myths were used to explain: The creation of the earth
Death and the afterlife
Natural phenomena such as seasons, echoes
Human experiences such as love, jealousy, revenge
They were also used as entertainment and were only told orally because most people couldn’t read
Why?

4. Gods and Goddesses Greek myths include gods and goddesses.
A god or goddess is immortal, meaning they live forever and never die.
Though the immortal gods and goddesses could never die, they did make mistakes and they did have human emotions such as jealousy, love, and anger.
Gods and Goddesses

5. Mortals are men and women who live on earth
Mortals are men and women who live on earth. To be mortal means you will eventually die.
Sometimes the gods liked to help, punish, or even have romantic relationships with mortals.
Myths include mortals

6. Why learn about mythology?
We can learn how a culture lived, thought, and expressed themselves.
History can teach you facts, but MYTH shows us personality, beliefs, fears, and hopes.
It causes us to think about our own culture and the stories we are leaving behind.
What do we value?
What mark are we leaving behind on an ever- changing world?
Why learn about mythology?

7. Ever heard of Nike brand athletic gear
Ever heard of Nike brand athletic gear? Meet Nike, personification and goddess of victory.
What would Valentine’s Day be without the god of love, Cupid – or Eros, as the ancient Greeks called him?
Does Apollo 13 ring a bell? The first crewed U.S. space missions were named for Apollo.
Bottom line: References to ancient myths are everywhere from science to pop culture, and knowing about them will help you understand more about the world we live in.
Do myths really matter?