3. Mythology is a body of myths
describing the gods of the people,
demigods and legendary human
beings in the stories which involve
supernatural elements. It is the
science that treats of myths.
6. The term myth has usually a more
specialized meaning and refers to
stories in which gods, goddesses,
and other pagan divinities play a
part. It is a story that explains
primitive man’s idea of the origin of
the universe, the mysteries of
natural phenomena.
7. The purpose of the myths is to
explain matters in the science of
prescientific age. A myth remains a
myth as long as the divinity of its
actors is recognized. It is associated
with religious rites and beliefs.
8.
9. The evolution of myths and religion
differ from people to people. An
ancient Greek writer Euhemerus
(300 B.C.) believed that the ancient
gods were patterned after heroes
who actually lived in one time.
10. A second theory was made by
philologists or people who study the
growth of language. This study
claims that the man repeating things
their ancestors said understood
them in a different sense and
because of that, misunderstanding
created myths.
11. The third theory was made by
anthropologists or people who study
that history of human race. They
tried to explain the cause of natural
phenomenon.
12. The fourth theory according to
French sociologists, Emile Durheim,
explained that myths came from
society as a whole. He believed that
people got so excited during their
tribal festivities that they thought
that a great power came to them
from an object in their camp. This
object became a sacred emblem to
the tribe.
13.
14. The Romans had no system of
mythology of their own. They
adopted the mythology of the
Greeks, but changed the name of
the gods. The Romans and Greeks
had not only the same gods, but the
same demigods.
Greek and Roman
Mythology
15. Greek Name Roman Name
1 . Zeus Rulers of the Heavens
and Earth
Jupiter or Jove
2. Hera Queen of the
heavens
June
16. Greek Name Roman Name
3. Poseidon god of the sea Neptune
4. Aphrodite goddess of love
and beauty
Venus
17. Greek Name Roman Name
5. Athena goddess of wisdom Minerva
6. Apollo god of the sun Apollo
18. Greek Name Roman Name
7. Artemis goddess of moon
and the chase
Diana
8. Ares god of war Mars
19. Greek Name Roman Name
9. Hermes Messenger of Zeus
and of gods
Mercury
10. Hercules
(demigod)
Strong man Hercules
20. In both mythologies, the abode of
the gods and goddesses was on
Mount Olympus. The Roman names
are more familiar than the Greek;
the Greek names have more
beautiful sounds. The myths have
come down to us in Latin writing
than in Greek.
21.
22. The simplest of the myth stories are the
“why” stories or “pourquoi”tales.
24. The second type of the myth story is
the allegory or the symbolic story.
An acceptable story for children is
the story of “King Midas” who
wanted everything that he touches
turn into gold. He became so
wealthy that even his only daughter
turned into gold.
Example story:
“King Midas”
25. A type of myth story deals with the
ways of the gods with other gods
and with men. This is complex type
of story and is not suitable for
children.
26. Another type of myth story is about
nature and other phenomena that
are often baffling.
27.
28. 1. There is a dramatic quality about
myths that captures the imagination
of the poets and children.
29. 2. Many English poems are filled
with classical illusions from myths.
30. 3. Subjects of sculpture an graphic
arts are taken from the Greek and
Roman Myths.
31. 4. They furnish background for great
national epics of all countries.
32. 5. They serve to explain the origin and
meaning of many words in everyday use.
33. 6. They serve as an aid in
understanding of art and literature.
34. 7. They widen our knowledge about
the physical world, the history and
civilization of the times in which the
stories originated and about human
nature.
35. 8. Myths give answers to question
often asked by children concerning
the how, when, why of the ways of
animals, birds, insects, trees,
flowers, and others forces of nature.
36. However, myths are for the older
children, those in Grade VI and for
High School students.
