Mythology

Why do we tell myths?

What do myths try to accomplish? Explain the world around us Explain the unknown Entertain Preserve history Teach moral lessons

Archetypes

What is an archetype? A literary model or pattern

What are some mythological archetypes?

Global Myth Archetypes

FloodStories

Creationstories

Miraculous births

First Man/Woman stories

underworldStories

Hero/quest

Punishment from god(s)

Trickster stories

Flood Stories

Christian Tradition: Noah and the Great Flood

God commands Noah to build an Ark in advance of a flood sent by God as punishment.

Mesopotamian Tradition: The Epic of Gilgamesh

One of the “Great Gods,” Ea, commands Utnapishtim to build a boat to save living creatures from a flood caused by the gods.

Hindu Tradition: Manu and the Great Flood

Manu a man created by the gods to give life to all other humans Manu saves a small fish who then promises to save him from a

great flood The fish instructs Manu to build a large boat to save himself and

his animals and then grows very large and pulls Manu’s boat through the flood to calm waters.

Flood Stories

Manu and the Great Flood

The Epic of Gilgamesh

Noah’s Ark

Trickster Stories

Native American Tradition Coyote/Old Man Coyote

English Folklore Robin Hood

Norse Culture Loki

West African (Akan) Mythology Ananse

Greek Mythology Hermes

Trickster Stories

Hermes

Old Man Coyote

Loki

Ananse Robin Hood

Miraculous Births

Christian Tradition Jesus Christ

Virgin Birth Aztec Tradition

Quetzlcoatl Virgin Birth

Native American Tradition Kutoyis

Born from a blood clot of a wounded buffalo Greek Mythology

Hercules Fathered by a god (Zeus)

Miraculous Birth Stories

Hercules

Quetzlcoatl

Jesus Christ

Quest Stories

Greek Mythology Jason and the Golden Fleece Hercules

Judeo-Christian Tradition Moses Leading the Israelites through the desert

Native American Tradition Wunzh

English Mythology Percival (one of King Arthur’s knights) and his

quest for the Holy Grail

(A quest archetype is one in which a Hero goes on a journey and oftentimes must overcome their own weaknesses and faults in order to succeed.)

Quest Stories

Hercules

Wunzh

PercivalMoses

Jason

Greek myths – religious history

800 BC – 330 BC Peaked during the Classical period (c. 500-338

B.C.E.) No uniform faith

Many different belief systems, many different temples, gods, goddesses

Cults centered around worship of mythological figures – heroes, gods, etc.

Religion was local and domestic Each village had its own cults and rituals Each family/home honored various deities

Greek myths - religious history

Oral poetic tradition

Bards – traveling singing storytellers Memorized and recited epic poems

telling of Greek heroes, gods, and monsters

Bards memorized millions of lines of poetry

Greek mythology

Oral storytelling tradition The tradition predates Greek alphabet – stories

not written down Most famous poems are __________________

Epic stories telling of battles and heroes

Greek mythology

Mythologia Term coined by Plato (Greek philosopher) Myths have several purposes:

to entertain to tell the stories of a multitude of gods, goddesses,

heroes, monsters and mortals to teach lessons about right behavior - morality to explain the nature of the world ; fire, human suffering,

sickness, the seasons, etc.

What central characters appear in Greek mythology?

Central characters Gods

Human-like personalities; arguing, interfere with human affairs, help their favorites

Reside on Mount Olympus

Heroes Can be gods, mortals or part god - part mortal Men of action, strength and power Warlike figures “Heroic ideal” – many Greeks modeled their lives on these

heroes

Central characters (cont’d.) Monsters

These characters usually present a challenge to the lesser gods or human characters

The monsters sometimes work in cooperation with the gods, or as their servants

Examples? Medusa, Cyclops, Minotaur

What archetypes appear?

Quest archetype Type of story found in many cultural traditions Hero is sent on a mission, or goes looking for

something, faces trials along the journey, is usually (but not always) successful

Examples of quests:

Jason and the Golden Fleece

Early written versions This is one of the oldest stories in Greek

mythology, with its roots in the Bronze Age (2300-700 BCE)

Apollonius – Author of first written version of the story, in poetic form, around 200 A.D.

Other early written versions: Euripides – 5th century A.D., tragic play centered

on this quest tale Pindar – 5th century A.D., lyric poem

Jason and the Golden Fleece

Rooted in History Elements of the story appear to reflect actual

history places and events: Jason travelled from Volos (most likely the

ancient town of Iolkos) through the Bosphorus Canal and across the Black Sea

What ancient city was located at the Bosphorus and the Dardanelles?

What is the significance of Jason traveling past this important place?