INTRODUCTION TO GREEK MYTHOLOGY

Pages 13-23

What is Greek mythology?

• Greek Mythology is the body of myths and legends belonging to the ancient Greeks concerning their gods and heroes, the nature of the world,

and the origins and significance of their own cult and ritual practices.

What is the difference between primitive and classical mythology?

Greek and Roman mythology would be considered as classical mythology as it is viewed as more organized and can be more rational. Primitive mythology is seen as more basic explanations of the unknown, lacking the in depth structure and detailed storylines/epics.

How are the Greek gods different from Egyptian or Mesopotamian gods?

• The biggest difference would be that Egyptian and Mesopotamian gods are primitive so they made gods in whatever forms they liked.

• However the Greek gods weremade in man’s image and theywere companionable,incomparably lovelier and morepowerful, and not to mentionimmortal. Also they acted in away no decent man/woman would,so they were created perfect by man.

What is “the miracle” of Greek Mythology?

• The miracle of Greek mythology would be a humanized world, where men were freed from the paralyzing fear of an omnipotent unknown.

What are the “dark spots” referred to by Edith Hamilton?

• The “dark spots” are basically characteristics of the gods that make them not god-like (cruel, inhumane, and otherwise acting worse or seeming less impressive than some mortal creatures).

• “The change came slowly and was quite never completed…”

How does she define mythology?

• She defines mythology as man’s first science, trying to explain the world around them.

What is her explanation for differing views of the same gods?

• She explained the gods would change based on what the PEOPLE needed/saw or what life demanded of them. So in tough times they would configure certain gods to suit their needs/wants.

Best-known writers of Greek and Roman mythology

• Ovid- His poetry influenced European art and literature and remains as one of the most important sources of classical poetry.

• Homer- Author of the Iliad and the Odyssey, and is revered as the greatest ancient Greek epic poet.

Continued

• Hesiod- Was a poor farmer and the first man in Greece to wonder about creation/world.

• Pindar- Greatest lyric poet; every one of his poems, myths are told or alluded to.

• Aeschylus, Sophocles, Euripides- All tragic poets, Aeschylus was the oldest and Euripides was the youngest. Famous play came from Sophocles, Oedipus Rex.

• Aristophanes- Great writer of comedy.

• Plato- Famous philosopher.

• Virgil- Found human nature in the myths and he brought mythological personages to life as no one had since the tragedians.

• These writes are the best guides who believed in what they wrote.

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