1 / 14

Introduction to Greek Mythology

Introduction to Greek Mythology. Mythology in Most Primitive cultures. horror; magic; human sacrifice Gods had no resemblance of reality. The Bestial Gods in Egyptian Mythology. The Bestial Gods in Egyptian Mythology. The Bestial Gods in Egyptian Mythology.

dcrotty
Download Presentation

Introduction to Greek Mythology

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. Introduction to Greek Mythology

  2. Mythology in Most Primitive cultures • horror; magic; human sacrifice • Gods had no resemblance of reality

  3. The Bestial Gods in Egyptian Mythology

  4. The Bestial Gods in Egyptian Mythology

  5. The Bestial Gods in Egyptian Mythology

  6. The Bestial Gods in Egyptian Mythology

  7. The Particularity of Greek Mythology: • The Greeks made their gods in their own image. • Mankind became the center of the universe. • The universe became rational. • The ancient Greeks were preoccupied with the visible; they were finding the satisfaction of their desires in what was actually in the world around them. Ex. Apollo as the fulfillment of their search for beauty.

  8. Olympus • Human gods naturally made heaven a pleasantly familiar place. • Zeus as a capital figure of fun • Hera as stock character of comedy • Such stories made for a friendly feeling. • Laughter—perfectly natural in Olympus—made the gods companionable.

  9. The Deities’ Residence on Earth • On earth, the deities were exceedingly & humanly attractive. • A humanized world, men freed from the paralyzing fear of an omnipotent Unknown. • The ancient Greek mythmakers disliked the irrational and had a love for facts. • Even the most non-sensical take place in a world which is essentially rational & matter-of-fact.

  10. The Features of Greek Mythology • A familiar local habitation gave reality to all the mythical beings. • The terrifying irrational has no place in it: • No magic: Circe & Medea two exceptional figures • There are stories about stars; but we see no trace of their influence on human lives.

  11. The Features of Greek Mythology • Ghosts never appear on earth. • The Greeks were not afraid of the dead: “the pious dead” in the Odyssey • The world of Greek mythology was not a place of terror for the human spirit. • The whole divine company were entrancingly beautiful with a human beauty. • The early Greek mythologists transformed a world full of fear into a world full of beauty.

  12. Some Dark Spots in this Bright Picture • Gods often acted in a way no decent man or woman would. • A very limited sense of right & wrong prevailed in Homer’s heaven.

  13. Some Dark Spots in this Bright Picture • These are features shared with other primitive cultures; however, they are so few in comparison. • Traces of a time when there were beast-gods: Satyrs & Centaurs. • Shadows of human sacrifice. • Mythical monsters to glorify heroes: Gorgons; hydras (九頭海蛇怪); chimeras (吐火獸)

  14. The Significance of Greek Mythology • Early science: An explanation of something in nature; ex. the cause of thunder & lightning. • Pure entertainment • Early literature • A tint of religion: (but not so thick as the Hebrew Bible) • The evolution of human civilization

More Related