Title: GLORIOUS GREEK
1GLORIOUS GREEK
GODS AND GODDESSES
2GREEKS BELIEVED
- The world was flat and circular
- It was divided by the Mediterranean and Eixine
Seas - The River Ocean flowed around the Earth
- The Hyberboreans lived in the north and the
Aethiopians lived in the south - The Elysian Plain, or Isles of the Blessed, was
in the west
3Ancient Greeks believed that gods and goddesses
controlled their everyday lives. These divine
beings lived on
MT. OLYMPUS
4 - MYTHS, or stories, about these gods and goddesses
were made up to help them understand their world. - CREATION myths tried to explain the origin of the
world, the people, and the creation of man. - NATURE myths tried to explain the natural
phenomena of the universe. - ANCIENT GREEKS believed these stories about the
gods and goddesses. - THE GREEK PEOPLE tried to please the gods with
prayers, gifts, and sacrifices. They honored the
gods in art, drama, and storytelling.
5CHARACTERISTICS OF MYTHS
There are eight common characteristics of
myths. Not all myths will contain all of the
characteristics, but they will show up again and
again throughout the stories of the individual
gods. These characteristics are illustrated in
the following slides. Click on the link to read
stories that exemplify the characteristics.
6MYTHS ATTEMPT TO EXPLAIN
NATURAL PHENOMENA
Click to read a myth about Helios, the sun god.
7 MYTHS HAVE MANY GODS
Click to read a myth about the creation of the
world.
8GODS AND
HEROES ARE SUPERHUMAN BEINGS
Click to read a story about Atlas, who holds the
earth on his shoulders.
9GODS HAVE HUMAN EMOTIONS
Click to read a story about Apollo and Daphne.
10MYTHS CONTAIN MAGIC
Click to read a story about the flying horse,
Pegasus.
11GODS OFTEN APPEAR
IN DISGUISES
Click to read a story about the hero Odysseus in
disguise.
12Click to read a story about King Midas being
rewarded.
GOOD IS REWARDED
EVIL IS PUNISHED
Click to read a story about the punishment of
Sisyphus
13MYTHS CONTAIN VIOLENCE
Click to read a story about the violence of the
Cyclops Polyphemus.
14How Are Myths Relevant Today?
- Literary references - a Herculean task, an
Olympian feat - Vocabulary enrichment - narcissism
- Movies and Television - Clash of the Titans,
Hercules - Brand Names - Ajax, Nike, Amazon.com
- Company Logos - Hermes, the FTD Florists symbol
- Astronomy - the names of the moons and
constellations - Personal Names - Daphne, Helen, Iris, Melissa,
Selena - Music lyrics- The Police Wrapped Around Your
Finger
15IN SUMMARY
Myths are stories made up by ancient people to
help them understand their world. These stories
connect us to the Greek culture, enrich our
lives, and stimulate our imagination. We are
fortunate that Homer and other writers preserved
these myths for us to enjoy.