Mythology vocabulary

1. Mythology Vocabulary Introductory Terms And Concepts

2. Myth vs. Mythology - ology generally means “the study of”, therefore, “mythology” means “ the study of myth ” The term “mythology” is often used to mean “a culture’s body of myths” We will use both meanings interchangeably in this course Classical Mythology Cultures of ancient Greece and Rome

3. What is Myth? In modern times, it often means a lie, a misconception, or a mistaken belief i.e. “Love at first sight is just a myth” Definition: a traditional story that takes place in the distant past . Told by a society about itself Represents the world view, beliefs, principles, and often fears of a society It is something that has to be communicated – it communicates something about ourselves, who we are, our place in the world, and the gods we worship

4. When is Myth? Myths are generally set in the distant past, often when things are very different from how they are now Often things were better in that past – a “golden age” Set in a time that cannot be measured by the clock, or a time before clock time began, when great suffering and pleasure can last for eons Gods and humans interact more freely, things in the world are still changeable (people can turn into trees, etc.)

5. Preliterate versus Literate All societies have myths, but more important in preliterate societies Preliterate does not mean illiterate In a literate culture, we have many ways of explaining our world Psychology, science, history, theology, philosophy, etc. A culture that does not have writing passes down its belief system, values, traditions, history, views of the world, views about society, etc. through word of mouth The best way to remember and pass on the information is through stories

6. Fiction or Reality? Our society makes great distinction between fact and fiction Not true in pre-literate societies i.e. Mother Earth (Gaea) Societies believe that their mythologies are true – what actually happened in the distant past i.e . How the world was formed Myth only exists when you are from an outside culture looking in Within the culture, the myth is a belief of how things actually are or used to be Of course, not every member of the society believes in the truth, and those societal beliefs change as time evolves

7. Myth – an Oral Tradition Myths generally start out as oral stories, told numerous times before being written down, and often change or evolve with different tellers. Much of Greek mythology was transmitted orally through a tradition of bardic storytelling across Greece, so generally there is no clear “ author” Not written down for most of their existence (not until 8 th century BCE) First written myth is Homer’s Odyssey and Iliad Texts are recordings of a live oral performance – a live storytelling Passed down from generation to generation Can’t really say where the story originated, or who the original author is

8. Bards Bards’ importance to Greek society Bond between various Greek villages, thus connect society Greek mythology changes based on the teller and the listeners Uses it to promote different ideas, aspects of society Life was short (average lifespan was mid-30’s) Live on through stories

9. Problems Studying Ancient Myths Through Literature Because it is written down, it becomes “the real” version but in reality, other versions may have been more popular/significant Myths were givens in society – something everyone knew, so authors often only make brief references to a myth George Washington cutting down the cherry tree Only a fraction of Greek literature still exists

10. Problems Studying Ancient Myths Through Archeology Archaeology and literature can sometimes shed light on each other If we don’t know the story, it’s hard to determine from an archeological artifact such as a sculpture or painting Often times a general reference can be somewhat misleading Golden Arches

11. “Mythos” vs. “Logos” vs. “ Fabulai ” Mythos (Greek) means “spoken story”, “retelling” or “plot” Logos (Greek) means “personal account” Speaker takes responsibility for their words rather than just passing on a traditional tale Fabulai (Roman) became our word, “fables” Less importance on the stories than the Greeks

12. Purpose of Myths Explain some unexplainable event Early science Justify certain rites or social institutions i.e. a certain rite in honor of a particular god or goddess, a social institution such as marriage, etc. Legitimatize a particular people or ruling family The most changeable of myths, as ruling dynasties change and as empires grow or fall Rulers are often legitimated by direct descent from a god Instruct the audience how to behave (or more often warn how not behave) Not directly stated; you must infer from story

13. Types of Myths Myths often help to explain some unexplainable event; they are the precursors of scientific investigation. NOTE : religion refers to what people do to honor their gods (rites, ceremonies, rituals etc. to honor their gods and values and guidelines for behavior); mythology would be the underlying stories that go along with the religion

14. Myth Continued Sometimes myths were used to explain customs or rituals (before you hunt buffalo, you dance – then the hunt will be successful). Myths fall into several main categories: Divine myth Legends Folktales

15. Etiological or Divine Myths Comes from the Greek word aetion , which means cause Stories of the Gods, creation, and a time before humans Explain gaps in our knowledge Persephone (the seasons)

16. Divine Myth, cont. Stories in which supernatural beings are the main actors Usually take place in a world before or outside the present order, where time and often space have different meaning from those familiar to human beings. i.e. before humans were created, in locations ordinary mortals do not visit while alive (Mt. Olympus, Hades, etc.)

17. Heroic Myth or Legend Analogous to an early form of history A mythological memory of a human past A story that got its start from some actual event in the past, but because people kept exaggerating what really happened, the story becomes a legend There was a real event (such as a Trojan War), but the stories dealing with the event cannot be proved.

18. Heroic Myth or Legend Main characters are human, not divine Legends frequently deal with heroes who may or may not have accomplished great deeds. (Davy Crockett was a noted frontier settler, but did he kill a bear when he was three? Beowulf might have been a real person, but could he really swim underwater for hours? Etc .)

19. Heroic Myth or Legend In Greek mythology, these reflect the aristocratic hero class Hercules, Jason, Theseus , etc. Aristos cratos (Greek words) meaning “best power” – power of the best Legends emanate from a time prior to Dark Age Greece (pre-written culture) Meant the best fighters, who went into battle fighting for their villages or towns in single combat Heroes had special qualities Heroes are usually sons of the gods or the divine

20. Folk Tale A fictional story, most often told orally, that entertains and tells a timeless story about traditions and beliefs of a group. Societal fears Rites of passage Moral guidance Folk tales frequently use the supernatural (witches, fairies, etc.), but deal with the common people (forest dwellers or farmers ). Fairy tales and fables fall under this category

21. Folk Tale Mythology of initiation/rites of passage Birth , becoming a man, first blood in battle, death, etc. Contain recognizable motifs, such as a hero going on a journey, entering a cave, etc. Many of these motifs are found in mythology Use of items imbued with magic power Escape from danger using trickery A moral battle with a terrible monster

22. Fairy Tale A simple story that deals with supernatural beings, told primarily for the benefit of children; to amuse, entertain, or teach. Any message would be something simple such as “The good guy always wins” – he slays the dragon, awakens the princess with a kiss, etc.

23. Fable Usually a story in which animals act like and talk like human beings in order to get a message across; For example, in AESOP’S FABLES, a tortoise shows us that “slow and steady can win a race.”