Mythology The Myths of Greece and Rome

Mythology: The Myths of Greece and Rome

Mythology “Whenever you see a large building with many columns holding up a roof, you are looking at an imitation of a Greek temple. ”

Imitations • Copies of “classical” temples: –The Capitol building in Washington, D. C.

Capitol – Washington, D. C.

New York Public Library

The White House

The White House

Other imitations: • Post offices, town halls, banks, & churches • Tall columns resemble the structures that were once built in Greece and Rome to honor the gods.

Why Know the Myths? • The myths are tied to Greece and Rome. • Greece and Rome were important to our development as a society.

Contributions: • Astronomy • Mathematics • Philosophy • Architecture • Medicine

Contributions: • Monetary (money) system • Systems of government & Law

Contributions: • Democracy comes from the Greek word demokratia meaning “rule of the people. ” • This government, our government, first flourished in the ancient city-state of Athens.

Why Know the Myths? • People no longer believe in the Greek & Roman gods & goddesses. • Still fascinating as literature.

Why Know the Myths? • Myths may reveal truths about who we are and why we behave the way we do.

What is a Myth? • Mythology – the study of myths. • Myth – from the Latin word mythos and the Greek word muthos, meaning “story. ”

What is a Myth? • Stories that are always in some sense religious. – Represent the deepest wishes and fears of “primitive” human beings. – Originated to help these people understand the universe.

Understand What? • Seasonal changes • Fire • Lightening • Drought • Floods • Death

Understand What? • “Myth-makers” might have been wise old men and women who had a talent for telling stories to explain the natural world.

Myths • Stories about gods & goddesses. • Gods were powerful, capable of cruelty, jealousy, lying, murder.

Myths • Gods & goddesses lived on Mount Olympus. • Traveled down to spend time with ordinary people.

Myths • Originated in area around Mediterranean Sea. • Early myth-makers could not write. • Myths were passed down orally from generation to generation.

Myths • Written down many years later. • Poets: Homer & Hediod (both lived 800 years before Christ)

Where the Romans Come In… nd • 2 Century B. C. • Romans conquered Greeks • Adopted Greek myths as their own. • Added new tone • Roman Poets: Ovid & Virgil

Romans • Roman gods are same as Greeks, but with different names. • See blue book, page 459 or handout

What’s It Good For? • Give us insights into the nature of our world. • Classical mythology is used: – To explain creation of the world

– To explain natural phenomena – To give story form to ancient religious practices – To teach moral lessons – To explain history – To express, as dreams do, the deepest fears and hopes of the human race