Greek myths served six main purposes: 1) To create a shared history and values for Greek culture. 2) To provide guidelines for moral behavior. 3) To justify cultural activities and social standards. 4) To give meaning to life's joyous and painful experiences. 5) To explain natural phenomena. 6) To offer role models for children and adults. Examples are provided for each purpose, such as myths explaining volcanoes and justifying animal sacrifice.

1. Guide to Greek Mythology
Example
by Sally Student

2. Six Elements of Greek Mythology
 Greek myths are characterized by six elements:
 1. Myths create stability in a culture by creating a set of values and
history that people can share shared set of perspectives, values, and
history.
 2. Myths give guidelines for how people should live
 3. Myths justify activities of a culture by giving rituals, laws, and
social standards for how people act and are treated in society.
 4. Myths give meaning to the joyous and painful experiences of life.
 5. Myths explain the unexplainable by giving a reason behind
phenomena.
 6. Myths offer role models for children and adults to look up to.
They also offer examples of how not to act.

3. Stability
In the Greek Flood Myth, Zeus tries to destroy wicked
humankind because they have abandoned the gods and turned to
cannibalism. A husband and wife, Deucalion and Pyrrha,
escaped the flood on a boat. Zeus saw they were good people
and saved them from the flood, then allowed them to repopulate
the earth by throwing the “bones of their mother” (rocks from
Mother Earth) over their shoulders.
This myth gives stability by creating a common history for the
Greek people

4. Guidelines
In the myth of Niobe, Niobe the mother of 14 children. At a
feast in honor of the goddess Leto, Niobe boasted that Leto only
had two children, while Niobe had 14. In revenge, Leto sent her
children, Artemis and Apollo, to kill all of Niobe’s children to
teach her humility.
This story gives humans a guideline for how to live-- never anger
or dishonor the gods!

5. Justify Activities
In the myth of Pentheus, the god Dionysus, the god of wine and
madness, wants to exact revenge on Pentheus, who refused to
worship Dionysus. Dionysus drives Pentheus mad and rips him
limb from limb.
This myth justifies activities because worshipers of Dionysus
would sacrifice animals by ripping them apart in honor of this
myth.

6. Give Meaning to Life
In the myth of King Oedipus, a prophecy says that Oedipus will kill
his father and marry his mother, so his father, the king, abandons
him in the woods. A kind shepherd raises him as his own child.
Later in life, Oedipus runs into his birth father (whom he doesn’t
know is his real father) and kills him in a fight, then marries the
queen (Oedipus’s mother). The result puts a curse upon the family.
The myth gives meaning to life by explaining that fate is
inescapable, and no matter how hard a person tries there will always
be bad things that happen in life.

7. Explain the Unexplainable
Hephaestus was the god of blacksmiths. He forged all of the
armor and weapons of the other gods. Hephaestus was said to
live in a mountain and when he was working, his might sparks
would fly from the mountain and create volcanic explosions.
Hephaestus explains the unexplainable by giving a reason for
volcanoes.

8. Give Role Models
The greek hero Theseus risked his own life to end the
punishment of his people. He volunteered as a sacrifice to the
Minotaur, a half man, half bull monster who lived in an elaborate
maze called the Labyrinth. Theseus killed the monster and set
his people free from oppression
Theseus was a role model because he risked his life to save his
people. He valued his countrymen more than his own life.

9. Reflection
By studying the Greek myths, the values of this group of people is
clear. Submission and reverence to the gods is one of the most
important aspects of Greek life. In order to be a good Greek, one
must keep the gods in the upmost importance and respect.
Honor is also important in Greek life. Putting your own life at
risk for the sake of glory or freedom for your fellow man brings
honor. But if someone is gravely foolish or dishonors the gods,
they should be prepared for severe punishment. The gods do not
take insults lightly and are likely to torture and kill anyone who
insults them!