a collection of stories explaining the origin and history of a people
Humans use art to express their: hopes fears joys sorrows cultures understandings of the world. Humans can communicate though: painting sculpture prose poetry dance.
Oral Tradition - stories shared verbally through many generations. Tales repeat the of achievements of: gods Heroes ordinary people in unusual adventures Stories classified as: myths legends or folktales
Mythology is not a study of religion (but it involves gods and goddesses). No advanced science = imagination explained how things came to be. Storytellers created gods & goddesses to explain how things, people, emotions, etc. came to be.
Legends Myths Folktales About: Stories about real people who are famous for doing something brave or extraordinary Traditional stories occurring in a timeless past. Fictional stories for entertainment. Characters & plot: Superheroes, actual events Supernatural beings or events Fictional beings and events Time: Have a historical connection No specific date No specific date Fact or fiction: Are considered facts or distorted facts Religious = mythology other myths = fiction Fiction Proof: Sometimes, because they have a date None None
Myths = stories intimately bound up with the traditions of a people. Myths deal with: gods heroes religious beliefs cultural traits Myths explain how: the world was created Natural phenomenon occur (sunrise, rainbows, earthquakes, etc) people and animals came into existence important customs were established and preserved. Myths are told as timeless stories without attempts to place them historically.
Legend = entertaining narrative that is supposedly based on historical fact. Legendary characters perform great feats. Legends are told as true, historical accounts. (They re really exaggerations based on facts).
Folktale = a traditional narrative with magical elements. Originality is undesirable. Oral Tradition preserves the story through generations.
Greek mythology: 12 Olympian gods and goddesses. Most lived on Mount Olympus. Roman mythology had the same gods and goddesses (different names). The Greeks believed their gods and goddesses liked humans AND were like humans.
Zeus Ruler of all gods and man. Defeated his father Cronus & drew lots with his 3 brothers for their shares of the universe. Chosen as supreme ruler. Controls the lightning bolt Stronger than all other gods combined.
Hera Zeus wife and sister Queen of the gods. Special protector of marriage & married women. Zeus wasn t a good husband to her. An angry goddess who never forgot or forgave an insult to herself.
Poseidon God of the seas. Zeus brother. Very important because Greeks relied on his kindness for their paychecks. In artwork, he always carries the Trident a three-pronged spear.
Hades God of the land of the dead Unwanted and unwelcome at Olympus. Has no pity (still not considered an evil god). Had a helmet that made the wearer appear invisible.
Hestia Goddess of the Hearth and domestic life. Usually pictured with a tea kettle Zeus sister One of the 3 virgin goddesses.
(The rest of the 12 Great Olympians are grandchildren of Cronus mostly fathered by Zeus.) Athena The goddess of wisdom and war. Zeus favorite. Athena sprang fully-grown and dressed in armor from Zeus head. The second virgin goddess. Often called the Maiden.
Apollo A beautiful god and a master musician. Entertains the gods by playing on his golden lyre. He is god of archery, prophecy, and music. He is sometimes called god of the sun, but the actual Sun-god is Helios.
Artemis The last of the virgin goddesses Apollo s twin The goddess of the moon & the hunt. She is known for having two faces: good and evil.
Aphrodite Goddess of love and beauty Born from the sea Zeus made her marry the ugliest (and steadiest) of the gods, Hephaestus.
Hermes The god of speed The messenger of the gods Often pictured with winged sandals, a winged hat, and a magic wand.
Ares Greek god of war Ruthless Both Zeus and Hera (his parents) hated him. Not important in Greek mythology (usually just a symbol of war).
Hephaestus god of fire Popular on earth and on Olympus. Born so lame and ugly that his mom threw him off Mt. Olympus. Hephaestus forged the gods armor and built their houses