Myths as Explanations of Natural Phenomena PDF

Myths as Explanations of Natural Phenomena (Greek Mythology) Presented by: Group 4 BSEd-English 2  Why are there "Four Seasons"? General Objectives: To examine how Greek mythology provided explanations for various natural phenomena. Specific Objectives: To identify key Greek myths that...

Myths as Explanations of Natural Phenomena (Greek Mythology) Presented by: Group 4 BSEd-English 2  Why are there "Four Seasons"? General Objectives: To examine how Greek mythology provided explanations for various natural phenomena. Specific Objectives: To identify key Greek myths that relate to natural phenomena. To analyze the symbolism and cultural significance of these myths. To compare mythological explanations to modern scientific understanding. To know the role of myths in understanding and interpreting the natural world.  How Greek Myths Explained Natural Phenomena Divine Control -In Greek mythology,many natural phenomena were believed to be directly controlled or influenced by the gods and goddesses. Personification of Natural Forces -The gods were often seen as personifications of natural forces,such as the sun,the moon,the sea,and the weather. Divine Intervention -The gods could intervene in the natural world to reward or punish humans, or simply to express their will. Roles of Gods and Goddesses  Roles of Gods and Goddesses Apollo falls madly in love with Daphne, a nymph who is sworn to remain a virgin. Apollo hunts Daphne who refuses to accept his advances. Right at the moment he catches her, she turns into a laurel tree. The myth of Apollo and Daphne is a story describing what happens when lust faces rejection. Apollo and Daphne Apollo with the laurel wreaths Sculpture of Apollo and Daphne Retrieved from: https://sl.bing.net/k81QjVBusrQ Retrieved from: https://www.arthistoryperspectives.com/posts/ap ollo-and-daphne  Roles of Gods and Goddesses Cephalus, accompanied by a nymph, takes the dog and spear with him to hunt a stag. Procris grows suspicious that Cephalus is being unfaithful and follows him into the forest. Hearing her movements in the bushes, Cephalus mistakes her for a wild animal and accidentally kills her with his spear. This story depicts misfortunes due to Cephalus and lack of marital trust and fidelity. Procris  Roles of Gods and Goddesses Juno is the Roman goddess of love and marriage. She also symbolizes women's health, fertility, and childbirth among the Romans. The goddess Juno often found herself entangled in a web of jealousy and rivalry, primarily due to the infidelities of her husband, Jupiter. Among her most notable rivals were Io and Callisto, whose stories are marked by transformation, suffering, and eventual celestial redemption. Juno and her rivals  Roles of Gods and Goddesses Io was a beautiful maiden who caught Jupiter’s eye, leading him to transform her into a cow to protect her from Juno’s wrath. Despite his efforts, Juno’s suspicion led her to claim Io as her own, placing her under the watchful guard of Argus, a giant with a hundred eyes. Io’s plight and eventual rescue by Mercury. Furious, Juno sent a gadfly to torment Io, who wandered the earth in pain until Jupiter finally restored her to human form. In her anger, Juno took the hundred eyes of Argus and placed them on the tail of her favorite bird, the peacock. Callisto a nymph of great beauty, also fell victim to Jupiter’s affections. When Juno discovered their affair, she transformed Callisto into a bear, condemning her to a life of fear and isolation. The story reaches its climax when Callisto’s son, Arcas, nearly kills her, only for Jupiter to intervene and place them both in the sky as the constellations Ursa Major and Ursa Minor.  Roles of Gods and Goddesses Pyramus and Thisbe are the heroes in Babylonian love story. Their family opposses their union so they thought of fleeing away just so they could be together. Thisbe, the first to arrive, was terrified by the roar of a lioness and took to flight. In her haste she dropped her veil, which the lioness tore to pieces with jaws stained with the blood of an ox. Pyramus, believing that she had been devoured by the lioness, stabbed himself. When Thisbe returned and found her lover mortally wounded under the mulberry tree, she put an end to her own life. Pyramus and From that time forward, legend relates, the fruit of Thisbe the mulberry, previously white, was black.  Roles of Gods and Goddesses This young couple was so much in love that neither the gods nor death could set them apart. Alcyone followed her husband to the other life and did so with her free will. From this myth also derives a well-known phrase, the Halcyon Days. This story depicts how love triumphs over tragedy. The phrase halcyon days owes its origin to this beautiful myth of Alcyone and Ceyx and Alcyone Ceyx.  Roles of Gods and Goddesses Echo is an oceanid who offended Hera because she kept her from spying on Zeus. As her punishment, Hera deprived her of speech. Her love for Narcissus is so big that it makes her disappear until all that was left is her voice. This myth depicts that loving someone too much would kill you. And the natural phenomenon associated to this was the Echo echo that is created whenever we speak  Roles of Gods and Goddesses Narcissus’s mother was told by the blind seer Tiresias that he would have a long life,provided he never recognized himself. However, his rejection of the love of the nymph Echo or of the young man Ameinias drew upon him the vengeance of the gods. He fell in love with his own reflection in the waters of a spring and pined away The flower that bears his name sprang up Narcissus where he died.  Roles of Gods and Goddesses Clytie's love for Helios, the sun god, began as a radiant tale filled with hope. As an oceanic nymph, her passion for the god who painted the sky with golden hues each dawn was irresistible. Helios, in turn, admired Clytie's beauty and basked in her adoration. Clytie's transformation also represents the concept of rebirth and immortality in Greek mythology. By becoming a sunflower, she is not only bound to Helios's chariot but also becomes part of the Clytie mythological cosmos, forever seeking the light that once captured her heart.  Roles of Gods and Goddesses Persephone was the goddess queen of the underworld, wife of the god Haides (Hades). She was also the goddess of spring growth, who was worshipped alongside her mother Demeter in the Eleusinian Mysteries. Her annual return to the earth in spring was marked by the flowering of the meadows and the sudden growth of the new grain. Her return to the underworld in winter, conversely, saw the dying down of plants and the halting Persephone of growth. Myths as Allegories Roles of Gods and Goddesses Allegories the expression by means of symbolic fictional figures and actions of truths or generalizations about human existence a narrative story that conveys a complex, abstract, or difficult message. It achieves this through storytelling.  Roles of Gods and Goddesses The myth of Pygmalion and Galatea tells the story of a skilled sculptor who falls in love with his beautiful creation. His devotion to the statue moves Aphrodite, the goddess of love, who brings it to life. Later on, Pygmalion and Galatea married each other and lived happily. Their story explores themes of art, desire, and the power of love. Pygmalion and Galatea  Roles of Gods and Goddesses The myth of Adonis and Aphrodite tells the tragic tale of a mortal man and an immortal goddess who fall deeply in love. Despite Aphrodite's attempts to protect him, Adonis is killed by a wild boar sent by Ares, the jealous god of war. Overwhelmed by grief, Aphrodite convinces Zeus to allow Adonis to spend part of the year on Earth with her. This cyclical pattern of death and rebirth became associated with the changing seasons, with Adonis's return representing the arrival of spring. Adonis and Aphrodite  Roles of Gods and Goddesses Cupid and Psyche is a Greek myth about a beautiful princess who falls in love with Cupid, the god of love. Despite facing challenges and temptations, their love endures. Psyche's perseverance and devotion to Cupid touched Aphrodite(Cupid’s mother). With that, she was rewarded with immortality and a happy marriage. The myth explores themes of love, deception, and the power of perseverance. Cupid and Psyche  Roles of Gods and Goddesses Perseus, in Greek mythology, the slayer of the Gorgon Medusa and the rescuer of Andromeda from a sea monster. Perseus was the son of Zeus and Danaë, the daughter of Acrisius of Argos. Perseus was tasked by King Polydectes with retrieving the head of Medusa, one of the three Gorgons. With the help of the gods, Perseus received several magic items: a reflective shield from Athena, a sword and winged sandals from Hermes, a helmet Perseus and Medusa from Hades, and a magical bag.  Roles of Gods and Goddesses The story of Meleager and Atalanta revolves around the Calydonian Boar Hunt. The goddess Artemis, sent a giant boar to ravage the land of Calydon. Meleager gathered the best hunters including the skilled and swift atalanta to kill the boar. During the hunt, Atalanta was the first to wound the boar. Out of admiration and love for Atalanta, Meleager gave her the boar’s hide as a prize, angering his uncles. When they insulted Atalanta, he killed them in a fit of rage. Meleager’s mother, devastated by the deaths of her brothers, burned the magical log that was tied to Meleager and Meleager’s life. Atalanta  Roles of Gods and Goddesses Hercules, the famous hero and son of Zeus, completed the Twelve Labors and many other heroic feats. After his death, Zeus granted him immortality, and he ascended to Mount Olympus, where he married Hebe, the goddess of youth and daughter of Zeus and Hera. Hebe’s powers ensured that Hercules would remain youthful forever. Hebe, who had previously served as the cupbearer for the gods, was replaced by Ganymede, a mortal prince abducted by Zeus for his beauty. Ganymede was brought to Olympus and made immortal to serve the gods by offering them nectar and ambrosia, the food and drink that kept them immortal. Together, these figures symbolize eternal life, rejuvenation, and service to the gods on Olympus. Hercules, Gebe, and Ganymede  Roles of Gods and Goddesses Arachne and Athena is a Greek myth about a gifted weaver named Arachne who boasts that her weaving skills surpass those of Athena. Arachne challenges the goddess to a weaving contest, where Arachne creates beautiful work, but Athena’s cloth is even more magnificent. Realizing her defeat, Arachne is filled with despair. In a moment of pity, Athena transforms Arachne into a spider, allowing her to continue weaving for eternity. The myth explores themes of pride, rivalry with the gods, and transformation as both Arachne and Athena punishment and mercy.  Roles of Gods and Goddesses This Greek myth tells the story of Princess Ariadne, who fell in love with the hero Theseus and helped him defeat the Minotaur at the palace of Knossos on the island of Crete. However, Theseus abandoned her while she slept on the island of Naxos. Heartbroken, Ariadne wandered along the shore in search of his ship, when the wine god Bacchus appeared. Falling in love with her, Bacchus asked her to marry him, offering the sky as her wedding gift, where she would one day become a constellation. Bacchus and Ariadne  Roles of Gods and Goddesses Achilles, a legendary Greek warrior known for his strength and bravery, was a key figure in the Trojan War. Despite his invincibility, a vulnerability in his heel led to his downfall. Penelope, the loyal wife of Odysseus, the King of Ithaca, endured many hardships during his long absence. Her cleverness and fidelity helped her resist suitors and maintain her loyalty to her husband. The myth symbolizes the enduring power of human emotions. Achilles' tragic downfall highlights the destructive nature of flaws, while Penelope's unwavering loyalty showcases the strength of Achilles and Penelope love and perseverance.  Roles of Gods and Goddesses Orpheus and Eurydice is a tragic Greek myth about a musician who journeys to the underworld to rescue his beloved wife, Eurydice. Despite successfully persuading the gods to release her, Orpheus's impatience leads to her loss. The myth explores themes of love, loss, and the power of music. Orpheus and Eurydice Myth Vs. Science  h S M yt cie tested and confirmed nc often told as stories through e Both scientific or narratives theories and myths experimentation. offer explanations for the world and its convey symbolic or Scientific claims phenomena. metaphorical strive for objectivity meanings Both can provide and are based on guidance for human evidence. behavior and reflect the values, decision-making. beliefs, and way of Scientific theories living of the ancient Both play important can be used to make roles in human culture people predictions about and understanding. future events. The Impact of Greek Mythology to Culture and Science Astronomy Physics and Biology In the realm of science, Greek mythology provided a narrative framework for understanding natural phenomena and the structure of the universe. Early Greek scientists, or natural philosophers as they were known, often began their inquiries into the natural world with mythological explanations before developing more systematic and empirical approaches.  MEDICAL CONCEPTS In the field of medicine, Greek mythology played a central role through the figure of Asclepius, the god of healing. Temples dedicated to Asclepius, known as Asclepieia, were centers of medical treatment and research, where the sick would come to seek cures through a combination of ritual and early medical practices. The staff of Asclepius, entwined with a serpent, remains a symbol of medicine to this day. This emblem reflects the ancient association of snakes with regeneration and healing, as well as the transformative power of medical knowledge.  ART Visual arts Architecture LITERATURE Epics and Poetry Drama RELIGIOUS BELIEF Polytheism Mythological morals  Conclusion Greek myths explained the beliefs and views of the ancient people on natural things and phenomena involving Greek Gods and Goddesses. These stories helped shape Greek culture and art, besides, showing the creativity of Greek when it comes to literature. Myths greatly impact science, revealing natural aspects that were later proven through scientific discoveries. Even though science has better explanations now, Greek myths still inspire people today. References: 1. BookBaker. (n.d.). Exploring Greek mythology: A visual journey - The influence of Greek mythology on philosophy and. 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Apollo and Daphne: A detailed breakdown of the famous Greek myth. TheCollector. https://www.thecollector.com/apollo-and-daphne/ 8. DEMETER - Greek goddess of grain & agriculture. (n.d.). Theoi Greek Mythology. https://www.theoi.com/Olympios/Demeter.html 9. Grammarly. (n.d.). Allegory. Retrieved October 7, 2024, from https://www.grammarly.com/blog/allegory/ 10. Greeka. (n.d.). Alcyone and Ceyx. Retrieved from [https://www.greeka.com/greece- myths/alcyone-ceyx/](https://www.greeka.com/greece-myths/alcyone-ceyx/) References: 11. Leanbh Pearson. (2023, February 15). Myth of Orpheus and Eurydice. Retrieved October 7, 2024, from https://leanbhpearson.com/2023/02/15/myth-of-orpheus-and-eurydice/ 12. Legend Love Story. (2016, February). Legend love story of Odysseus and Penelope. 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Cenita, Angel Aimee B. Marbid, Shieka Chen N. Marquez, Rochelle Anne A. Nidua, Shane Orteo, Ezra Raip, Atasha Camille C.