Introduction
to Mythology
Purposes of Mythology and
Background to The Odyssey
Myth defined
 Greek Mythos = “speech”
 Dictionary: A traditional story dealing with supernatural
beings, ancestors, or heroes that informs or shapes the
world view of a people, by explaining aspects of the natural
world, customs or ideals of society.
Purposes of myths
1. Myths explain natural occurrences:
 Zeus – thunder and lighting
 Poseidon – earthquakes
Purposes of myths
2. Myths explain basic philosophical
questions:
 Where we came from?
 Who created the universe?
 Is there life after death?
** To explain is to control – attempt to
control the unknown **
Purposes of myths
3. Myths explain culture & institutions:
 Example: Why women couldn’t vote?
- Athena & Poseidon both wanted to rule & protect
Athens
- Held a gift contest: Poseidon gave saltwater well (useless)
Athena gave an olive tree (olive, wood, oil)
- Men voted for Poseidon and women voted for Athena
- Athena won the contest as a result Poseidon flooded the
Attic plain
- Athenians blame the women and therefore their right to
vote was taken away.
Purposes of myths
4. Myths are means to instruct or teach
 Often share a moral or a message to
teach cultural traditions
 Example: Icarus flew to close to sun –
life has limits, listen to elders
Purposes of Myths
5. Myths explain history
 Often a biases version to reinforce Greek
culture and power
 Example: Rome was believed to founded by
the sons of the war god Mars, Romulus and
Remus
 Gave citizens pride if their city was
founded by god or sun of god
Purposes of Myths
6. Myths to entertain
 People were illiterate in Greece so they
found entertainment in an oral culture
 Enjoyed following the Epic Heroes
Example: Hercules, Odysseus and Theseus
Epic Hero Tales
 Possess human characteristics: has both strengths and
weaknesses
 These Heroes often appear to be “larger than life”
 Great leader who is identified as strong within society
 Setting is broad and often includes supernatural realms
 Does great deeds in battles or goes on an extraordinary journey
 Gods or other supernatural beings take part in action
The Gods and
Goddesses
of Ancient Greece
MOUNT OLYMPUS
Home of the Gods
Originally Thought to be a
Real Mountain
Finally Came to be Thought
of
as a Floating Mountain
in the Sky
ZEUS
(Roman Name: Jupiter)
Supreme Ruler of the Gods
His weapon was the mighty
THUNDERBOLT©
He falls in love
frequently and often
acts on it (even though
he is married)
HERA
(Roman Name: Juno)
Zeus’ Wife and Sister
Protector of Marriage and
Married Women
Very Jealous of
Zeus’ Numerous Lovers
HADES
(Roman Name: Pluto)
Lord of the Underworld
Ruler of the Dead
POSEIDON
(Roman Name: Neptune)
Ruler of the Seas and
Oceans
DEMETER
(Roman Name: Ceres)
Goddess of Corn and
Agriculture
Her Moods Affect the
Seasons
APHRODITE
(Roman Name: Venus)
Goddess of Love and Beauty
Wife of Hephaestus
HESTIA
(Roman Name: Vesta)
Goddess of the Home
ALL ZEUS’ CHILDREN
ARES
(Roman Name: Mars)
God of War
None of the Other Gods
Like Him Much
ATHENA
(Roman Name: Minerva)
Battle Maiden and Goddess
of Wisdom
While Adopted by Hera,
She is the Daughter
of Zeus Only
(Sprang from his Head)
HEPHAESTUS
(Roman Name: Vulcan)
God of Fire and the Forge
He is the Only Ugly God
Husband of Aphrodite
HEBE
(Roman Name: None)
Cupbearer of the Gods
APOLLO
(Roman Name: Apollo)
Twin Brother of Artemis
God of Music and Poetry
God of Light and Truth
No False Words
(Never Told a Lie)
His Oracle at Delphi
was the Most Popular
ARTEMIS
(Roman Name: Diana)
Twin Sister of Apollo
Goddess of the Moon
and the Hunt
Lady of the Wild Things
PERSEPHONE
(Roman Name: Proserpine)
Goddess of Spring
She was Kidnapped
by Hades
Later Made the
Queen of the Underworld
Spends Half the Year
in Hades, Half on Earth
HERMES
(Roman Name: Mercury)
Messenger of the Gods
Has Wings on Sandals
and Cap
Appears the Most Often
of All the Gods
Gods/Goddesses
Zeus  King of the Gods – most powerful god
Morgan
Freeman =
actor,
appears in
god-like roles
Athena  Daughter of Zeus & Goddess of wisdom, skills and
warfare; assists Odysseus on his journey home
Oprah
Winfrey =,
talk show host,
actress,
producer, and
philanthropist
 Poseidon  God of the sea and Earthquakes
Michael
Phelps =
USA
Olympic
swimmer
 Calypso  nymph goddess who is immortal and beautiful; 1st
feminist in history; holds Odysseus captive for 7 years
Malala
Yousafzai
=
Pakistani
education
activist
for girls;
shot by
the
Taliban
 Hermes  messenger of the gods; guide for the dead; sent by
Zeus to tell Calypso to let Odysseus off the island
Usain
Bolt =
Jamaican
sprinter
“fastest
man
ever”
 Helios  the sun god, he can see everything; Odysseus’ men eat
the god’s cattle
Jay-Z =
rapper,
producer,
entrepreneur;
rumored to
be in the
Illuminati
(can see all)