Introduction to Mythology PDF

ING 1109 Mythology Introduction to Mythology  Mythos => Myth Mythos (Greek): speech, thought, word, discourse, conversation; story, saga, tale, myth, anything delivered by word of mouth a word of unknown origin. Myth: a traditional story, es...

ING 1109 Mythology Introduction to Mythology  Mythos => Myth Mythos (Greek): speech, thought, word, discourse, conversation; story, saga, tale, myth, anything delivered by word of mouth a word of unknown origin. Myth: a traditional story, especially one concerning the early history of a people or explaining some natural or social phenomenon and typically involving supernatural beings or events. : a widely held but false belief or idea. Logos / logy: logic, knowledge of sth. / science of sth. Mythology: the knowledge and the study of myths collection of myths of a certain culture or region (Greek mythology/Norse mythology) Mythic: related to mythology legendary, very famous (for people esp. ) used for exaggeration (related to false information) Mythopoeic: related to the composition of myths (mythopoeic age, mythopoeic society) Mythmaking: the practise of creating myths mythos myth fact fiction true false history story (literature)  Why did myths emerge in the first place? Why do they still survive? Why do we still enjoy them? Why did they shape the culture of the following ages? Why are myths re-created and re-represented in art and literature? Mythology asks the most basic and fundamental questions of humanity such as: Who am I? Where do I come from? What does await me after death? What is the nature of the universe I live in? Where am I in the universe? What is my relationship with the universe? What do I need to survive on this world? Am I the only person responsible for my actions? What are my responsibilities towards my family, society, government and my faith? How can I live with dignity? How can I accept the inevitability of death?  The Functions of Mythology MYTH as a means of explaining the world: One of the functions of mythology was to explain the natural phenomena such as earthquakes, thunder, storms as well as fertility of the soil. Mythology also explains the creation, the beginning of all things. (aetiological myths) MYTH as a religious belief system: Mythology was also a polytheistic religious system in ancient Greece. It was the religion of the early ages. It does not usually have a sacred book. It used to regulate the society and its operation. It presents a punishment and reward system. MYTH as a moral lesson: It teaches necessary morals and behaviour patterns for an organized and peaceful society. Especially through hero narratives, myths present role models. The heroes are not flawless figures. Their adventures teach and instruct through their strengths and weaknesses. MYTH as a means of entertainment: Myths used to gather people around common feelings. They served as pass-time activity. Myths served as a bridge between the sacred and daily life. Myths show one of the basic instincts of humanity, which is storytelling. MYTH as history Mythology is not necessarily history. Myths provide historical references to the times before the recorded history. Trojan War (circa 1240-1230 BC), flood myths, carvings, vases, paintings, sculptures, statues. MYTH as a means of psychological manifestation Carl Jung, Sigmund Freud, Joseph Campbell consider myths as reflection of the universal and collective unconscious. All around the world, mythologies show similarities and they represent common needs, desires and fears of humanity. The differences between the mythologies of different geographies stem from cultural, social, geographical, political and economic differences.  The Formation of the Greek Society 45,000-40,000 BC?: First establishments in southwestern Asia and Europe 20,000 BC: First human habitation discovered in south-eastern Greece 10,000-8,000 BC?: First signs of agricultural activity and permanent settlements. 1700-1,500 BC: Greeks (Mycenaeans) became a linguistically identifiable group (myths emerging around 1700s BC) 950-750 BC: Greeks adopted the Phoenician alphabet (from Syrian and Lebanon territories) 776 BC: First Olympic Games started to be held every four years in honour of Zeus. 750-500 BC: The oral literature started to be written (The Odyssey and The Iliad) 700 BC: Greeks began to write myths. Social Structure in Ancient Greece Social Classes in Athens Athenian born citizens Aristocracy Wealthy Powerful Had right to vote The Upper Class / Athens Political and military power Landowners Wealthy tradesmen Rulers, priests, soldiers, craftsmen, farmers Free-born foreigners The Middle Class / Metics No political rights Served in the military Tradesmen Commoners The Lower Class / Freedmen Freed slaves Had no legal rights The Slaves They were usually war victims/captives Dealt with domestic chores  Patriarchal society and patriarchal Government family structure. (Male Rulers) Nuclear family Monogamy Social structure Male Citizens shaped Greek mythology. Male Children Women/Female Children/Foreigners Slaves  Political Structure  Greek city-states (polis) emerged around 750 BC (Athens, Sparta, etc.)  Greek cities were established all around the Mediterranean Sea region during the following two hundred years.  Polis consisted of an urban centre and small settlements in the surrounding area.  Each polis had a protector god/goddess (Athena for Athens) (Apollo for Delphi)  Only free men/the citizens had political rights.  Forms of oligarchy, tyranny, and democracy were observed.  Economy in Ancient Greece Agriculture Olive (Klazomenai) Wine (Knidos) Grains Livestock Fishing Honey Spices Trade Europe North Africa Black Sea Coast Greek city states Handicrafts Asia Minor (Turkey) Metallurgy Slave trade Pottery Textile  Basic Characteristics of Greek Mythology It consists of stories about gods, goddesses, demi-gods and mortals. Some stories are told to explain natural phenomena. Magic and superhuman powers are widely represented. Gods and goddesses, disguised as mortals or animals, frequently descend from Olympus and interfere with the lives of the mortals. Gods and goddesses resemble human beings (anthropomorphic) and they have emotions like jealousy, rage and envy. Gods and goddesses are involved in incest and adultery almost to the point of moral corruption. Greek myths have been told, retold, written, rewritten and revised throughout history. They have changed and transformed in time. There may be different versions of the same myth. Their inscribers are artists, poets, writers, painters, sculptors… Greek Mythology vs. Roman Mythology  Roman Mythology The foundation of Rome was attributed to the Greeks in Virgil’s Aeneid. (12th-13th BC?) Romulus and Remus? (753 BC?) Romans considered the Greeks their cultural and mythological ancestors. Roman mythology draws on Greek mythology. They adopted Greek mythology and adapted them to their culture. The deities and the stories are parallel in both mythologies. Latin names were given to the Greek gods.  Main Sources of Greek and Roman Mythology  The Iliad Homer  The Odyssey  (epic poems about the Trojan War) (c. 750 BC)  Theogony (c. 700BC) Hesiod  Works and Days  The Catalogue of Women  The Library/The Bibliotheca Anonymous / Apollodorus ? (a collection of myths) (c. 0-200 AD) Anonymous / Homer?  Homeric Hymns?) (c. 700 BC) Virgil (Roman)  Aeneid (c. 29 BC) Ovid (Roman)  Metamorphoses (8 AD)