R. Efpatridis – ETS 4U1
Myths are humanity’s earliest imaginative attempts to explain the universe, its creation, its working, and phenomena of nature. They were the first traditional tales of a group of people shared orally within communities, but later passed on in written form, to explain the beginning of earth, events in history, and anything beyond.
The study of the mythology of a particular culture reveals the way of life and thoughts of that culture. By studying myths we can learn how different societies or cultures answered basic questions about the world and our place within it.
Most of them date back to the Bronze Age, centuries before recorded history began up to today – known as urban myths. The study of mythology requires the suspension of disbelief.
1 .
They are wonderful stories. The characters, events and messages in ancient myths are the foundation of the people, events and themes in the movies we see and the books we read today.
2. The myths are the foundation of our language and literature . References to myths can be found throughout the plays and novels we read today, and are part of our everyday language. When we hear someone say that they are opening a “Pandora’s Box” or making a “Promethean” effort to find the “Golden Fleece,” they are referring to the myths.
3. Myths stretch our imagination . They inspire us to strive for things we can only dream about. There is a clear connection between Icarus’s wings and Neil Armstrong’s walk on the moon. The myths contain the hopes and dreams of humanity.
Since Western civilization traces its roots back to Greek culture, it would seem that the acknowledgement of classical mythology is essential.

Literature is filled with allusions to Greek gods and goddesses.

Artists and sculptors throughout the ages have used mythological stories as subjects.

The modern world, while seemingly far removed from Greek culture, has only to turn on the television or look at a page of comics or watch the latest science fiction movies to see mythology come alive.

From an advertisement for Atlas tires to Superman’s heroic adventure – mythology lives.
We will also study the mythology of several countries and cultures, learn what it says about the cultures which produced it, how the myths from one culture compare to another and times, and how it has influenced succeeding generations.
The reasons for myth-making vary. The varying reasons resulted in the various types of myths being created: stories of creation, myths of the fall, love affairs, hero stories, and many others.

Some myths were created to answer awkward questions or what at the time was considered unexplainable:
Where does the sun go at the end of the day? Why does it rain? Where did a volcano come from?

Some myths were created to meet the religious needs of a people.

Others were created to justify an existing social system

Some myths account for a particular customs or rituals of a people

Myths were often explanations or precursors of scientific investigation

Using the sheet below, identify each mythological reference with a partner. Place an X in the box.
Your partner(O) then takes a turn, and the game proceeds as in Tic Tac Toe.