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
Traditional stories involving supernatural
beings or events that were passed down orally
between generations.
While a myth may seem similar to a fairy tale, a
myth has profound meaning so it is not just a
trivial tale.

Myths were created to orally
explain the natural wonders
of the world before science
could provide answers.
Myths attempt to explain
complex topics such as:
 Agriculture
 Seasons
 Hunting
 Fertility
 Death
What are the problems associated with oral
traditions?
*Describe the pros and cons*
There are many types of myths, not just Greek and
Roman. Many cultures have created their own
mythological tales to explain their history, origins,
heroes etc.
 For example:
China
Africa
Ireland
North America
Australia
Japan
And many more...

Greek mythology was
created before Roman,
therefore many Roman
gods have been borrowed
from the Greek myths. Both
Greek and Roman myths
feature similar gods and
goddesses, they simply have
different names.
 For example:
The Greek god named ‘Zeus’ is
called ‘Jupiter’ in Roman
mythology.

Mythology is constantly referred to in today’s
society (allusions), or used as symbolism.
 Primarily through:
Language
Pop Culture
Advertising


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“Museum”- originates from the
Greek term “mouseion” meaning
“seat of the muses”
In mythology the ‘muses’ are
Zeus’ 9 daughters
“Janitor”- originates from the
Roman term “janus” meaning
“god of gates, doors and
passages”
Apollo 13- 1995 space movie
Name refers to the Greek god of the
sun.
 The Little Mermaid- “King Triton”
is an indirect reference to the
Greek god “Triton”, Poseidon’s
son, the first merman.
 Harry Potter- “Minerva”, head of
Gryffindor (the boys’ dormitory),
is based off the Roman god of
wisdom.


This will be one of the main areas of focus for
this unit!
Can you think of any existing products that are
branded with mythological allusions? There are
many!
Check out this example…
Here is a hint, can you guess the company?
1971This image depicts a siren, from Greek
mythology, that is half bird and half woman
figure who appears almost as a double finned
mermaid. The three well known sirens were
those who lured/ seduced nearby sailors to
destruction through their attractive singing.
This logo is chosen because the company’s roots
are based in Seattle, which is located on the coast
with many seaports.
In addition, this company sells goods that are
dispersed worldwide via the sea, hence the
nautical themed image.
Still can’t guess?
1985-86
Another company opens with this image as it’s
logo, selling the same goods as the previous
company.
This logo is the head of Mercury, a Roman god
known for his speed as a messenger.
1987
The owner of this company, Howard Schultz, buys
the previous company. He creates a new logo that
looks like this:
Now can you tell?
Charles Schultz merged the original
Greek siren with the Roman Mercury
border to create the modern Starbucks
logo.
This is just one example of mythological
allusions used in marketing.
http://logoblink.com/starbucks-logomania/
We will be focusing on:
 Creation Myths from various cultures
 The Monomyth (The hero’s journey)
 Character archetypes
 Symbolism
 Advertising and marketing strategies
 Product branding
 Evaluating existing ads and creating new ads