Introduction To Myth I Myth Mythology The study of myths but can also mean the whole body of myths that a culture tells ex Egyptian mythology Myth is referred to as an untrue story but NOT in this course In this course myths are true because the culture that originally told the myth believed these myths to be true A Provisional Definition A story about Gods There is usually a powerful or supernatural being It s a story has a beginning middle and end B Fuller Definition A traditional story that usually involves gods or other powerful C Traditional Story Handed down from one generation to the next by word of mouth II Definition of myth supernatural beings orally III Types of Traditional Stories A Myth a Gods b Remote Past B Legend a Heroes b Recent Past C Folktale a Lesser supernatural figures witches giants or even ordinary people b No set time Once upon a time IV Versions of Myths A There is an original version of every myth B Different tellers different versions of a myth If you can pin point who actually created it then it is not a myth Every time someone tells a myth it gets transformed C Literary versions of a myth preserved in literary works V Approaches to myth 1 Modern Theoretical Approaches a Why do people create think in terms of myths b In every culture there are myths 2 Our Approach a Why does a specific culture or literary author tell a particular myth VI Gods Heroes Tricksters A gods goddesses powerful important supernatural beings when speaking about the individual Christianity God etc gods is then God B Heroes figures in whom the gods take a special interest The word hero is Greek It could be a positive interest by helping them or it could be negative The attention from the gods makes them special C Tricksters amoral shape shifting deceivers instigators and sometimes culture heroes They make things happen and get the ball rolling VII Important Concepts A Polytheism The belief in many poly gods the B Anthropomorphism Conception of gods in shape morph of human beings anthropo They also act like human beings with human emotions love hate jealousy anger C Binaturalism Conception of gods with two natures Not all gods are binatural a Physical space god Sky Earth Sea b Abstract Concept god Love Victory Envy c Thing god Vedic god Agni fire and Soma sacred drink D Syncretism Adaptation of one culture s mythic beliefs by another culture mixing a Sumerian Inanna Akkadian Ishtar b Greek Zeus Roman Jupiter together connected E Spheres of Influence areas with which gods are associated have power Usually not Ishtar goddess of sexual desire war morning evening star Planet Venus a b Zeus god of rain lightning kingship and hospitality VIII Three main rubrics for this course 1 Creation Myths stories that tell how universe came into being gods humans earth sky etc 2 Hero myths stories about heroes adventures 3 Myths of the afterlife stories about what happens to gods humans after death X Dating system for this course BCE Before Common Era and CE Common Era Instead of BC Before Christ and AD After Christ Enuma Elish I Mesopotamia a Means Land Between Rivers b Tigris and Euphrates are the two rivers that create that land II Mesopotamian Civilizations a Sumerians First human civilization and also the first to have laws a writing system etc b Akkadians Their language is semiotic conquered the Sumerians i Assyrians also spoke the Akkadian semiotic languages ii Babylonians also spoke the Akkadian semiotic languages III Enuma Elish a Babylonian creation epic about how the universe was created b Enuma Elish When on high c Poem that was recited performed at the Babylonian New Year Festival the Akitu The king has everyone in the city of Babylon to see that he is the human king which is renewed each year at this festival d Tells of rise to power of Marduk and how he becomes the king of the gods i Patron god of Babylon Ancient cities usually have one god goddess who protected the city Marduk protected Babylon ii Storm god controls the rain lightning wind etc Marduk is not binatural because he can control the storm e 1000 BCE f Was written upon 7 cuneiform tablets Written by using a sharpened reed and wet clay tablet Cunei wedge shaped a Poetry Vs Prose IV Enuma Elish i Poetry USED FIRST It s catchy and easier to remember ii Prose It doesn t have a rhythmical pattern a NOT A MYTH Author tells myths but Enuma Elish is a poem and work of literature that contains a creation myth b Succession myth Apsu Tiamat to Marduk How gods come to be rulers of the gods How it goes from one king to the next Marduk succeeds to be king of the gods c Marduk Vs Tiamat i Thunderstorm vs Sea ii Babylon vs Sealand region to the south of Babylon iii Order vs Chaos 1 Tiamat represents chaos since she is the enemy of Marduk and is associated with the sea V Enuma Elish Apsu and Tiamat a In the beginning there was water Surrounded by rivers so they believed that s where it all began b Apsu fresh water Tiamat sea i We don t know how they were created or who created them c Binatural they are a space and a god d They produce gods Their waters mingled as a single body e Lahmu m and Lahamu f f Anshar m Kishar f Anu g Anu i Sky ii Uppermost sky Tripartite h Anu father of Ea Ea father of Marduk i Anshar Kishar Anu Ea Damkina Marduk i Noise of gods Apsu can t sleep He wants to kill the gods his own offspring and plots destruction i Tiamat protests ii Vizier right hand man for Apsu incites Apsu to kill the gods VI Enki Ea a Enki Sumerian Ea Akkadian aka Nudimmud i Spheres of influence Cleverness wisdom and fresh water ii Trickster god has close relationships with human beings iii Associated with human creation b Finds out Apsu s plot Remember tricksters try to get things going c Lulls Apsu and Mummu to sleep d Kills Apsu Takes Mummu captive e Takes Apsu s body and creates his home temple reservoir of fresh water f Ea Damkina Marduk 4 eyes 4 ears and breathes fire Very powerful g Anu grandfather of Marduk gives control of the 4 winds to Marduk VII Tiamat s Plot a Marduk lets the 4 winds loose which disturbs Tiamat s waters b Gods that support Tiamat can t sleep because of the winds of Marduk c Tiamat has changed her mind and instead of trying to stop Apsu s murder of the gods she creates an army of 11 monsters d God Qingu NOT one of the monsters A god put in charge of the army i Becomes lover of Tiamat ii Given the Tablet of Destinies Do not know exactly what this is the destinies had not been determined yet Could possibly be the
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