Mythology: Greek Myths, Gods, and Goddesses

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Mythology Greek Myths, Gods, and Goddesses
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Myths

• A myth is an imaginative story that was used to
  explain things about life and the world. They
  told people why things are the way they are.
• Most myths can be proven scientifically now.
• The plot of mythological stories was also
  influenced by famous historical events, like a
  famous king or a war.

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Myth Origin Notes

• Myths were a part of the religious system of
  ancient Greece.
• There were many different gods and goddesses, for
  many different things god of war, goddess of
  love, goddess of wisdom, god of the sun, etc.
• Shrines were built to honor the gods and
  goddesses.
• Messages were sent to the people from the gods
  through Oracles. An oracle was a person who could
  hear the gods voices and tell the people what
  they wanted.

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Myth Origin Notes (continued)

• Myths started out in the oral tradition. Due to
  being written down as epic poems, we can study
  them today.
• Three famous ancient epic poets were Virgil,
  Homer, and Hesiod.
• The blind poet who composed the Odyssey and the
  Iliad Homer.

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Creation Myths

• A creation myth tells us why the world is the way
  it is, in literature terms. Every religion and
  culture has one.
• How did the world come to be as it is today? What
  where you taught? This is known as your cultures
  creation myth.

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The landscape of the Greek Mythological World

• Earth Where mortals lived out their lives
  created by the Titans.
• Olympus Where most of the gods and goddesses
  lived above Earth.
• Ocean Where Poseidon, god of the ocean and
  earthquakes, lives. Home to Sirens, nymphs, and
  sea monsters.
• The Styx The river that the dead have to cross
  to reach the Underworld.
• The Underworld Where people go when they day.
• Good people Elysian Fields.
• Bad people Hades

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What am I?
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What am I?
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What am I?
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Introduction to The Iliad

• In Greek epic poetry storytelling, one of the
  greatest tales is that of the Trojan War. It
  includes heroes like Achilles (oh, but for his
  heel!), Odysseus (smart like a fox, that one),
  and Hector (woo hoo, what a guy!).
• The Trojan War began when Paris, Hectors younger
  brother, ran off with Helen, who was the wife of
  the King of Sparta Menelaus.
• The bad thing about this is that Paris and Hector
  were in Sparta to sign a peace treaty with
  Menelaus. Stealing his wife is a bad way to say,
  Thanks for the party, good buddy!

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Introduction to The Iliad

• The Trojan War went on for 10 long years, and
  both Achilles and Hector died in the process.
  Finally, Odysseus came up with the idea of the
  Trojan Horse. Ever heard of it? (think back a
  couple of slides)
• After the war, Odysseus began his long journey
  home. A trip that should have taken a few weeks,
  took him another 10 years. But thats another
  story (which youll read next year).