Introduction to Mythology 8 27 What is a Myth narrative o Mythos Anything delivered by word of mouth word speech a tale story o Logos a word language talk or narrative o Provisional definition o Explanatory function religious societies trying to make sense of the world around Myths are stories about gods them tradition heroes o Take the reader on a journey o Sacred have been passes down over generations usually oral tradition o Part of the cultures identity Myths Define Culture Both Ancient and Modern o Star Wars Indiana Jones Harry Potter o Telling about beliefs about our own society Appealing Nature of myths o Connect us to ancient cultures in a recognizable way o Adam and Eve good vs evil o Provide entertainment value Harry Potter Mayan relief of a ball player Deeper Purpose o Ancient myths can be associates w the religion lessons and or values that were considered important by ancient cultures o Parents weren t always alive to pass down wisdom had to rely on myth for wisdom o Connotation today Myths are false Ex sun rotates around Earth cultures considered them to be true Myths as Science o The myths we read in class are considered true in the sense that the original o Inherent science in a myth may be incorrect o Science may be incorrect but doesn t mean these peoples beliefs on how they made sense of things were incorrect What is a Myth Revised o Traditional story that usually involves gods or other supernatural beings o Traditional story handed down over generations usually orally Myths Legends Folktales o What distinguishes them Gods remote past original creator can t be identified time is Myths vague Legend Folktales people no set time Once upon a time Heroes more recent than myth Contain lesser supernatural figures witches giants or ordinary Approaches to studying Myth o Modern theoretical approaches Scientist Historians Our course Ancient perspectives of the working of the universe Why does a specific culture tell a particular myth Motivations and mindset of ancient peoples similar to historical prospective Mythological Characters o Gods Goddess experienced to be more powerful than themselves have a bearing on their lives and helped to explain the order or function of the universe shifters deceivers instigators sometimes are cultural heroes figures in whom we take a special positive or negative interest amoral neither good nor bad have own inscrutable reasons shape o Heroes o Tricksters Important Mythological Concepts o Anthropomorphism act like humans have emotions varies by god conception of gods with two natures o Bi naturalism conception of gods in the form of human beings look and 1 Sky Earth 2 Abstract thing and a god Love Victory 3 Tangible thing and a god Fire One culture adopts the mythic beliefs of another culture we see this o Syncretism in Greece and Rome Greek Zeus Roman Jupiter o Spheres of influence area in which gods are associates have power Don t always make sense Sometimes overlap Zeus rain lightning kingships hospitality Ishtar sexual desire war morning evening star 9 1 Themes in Myths o Heroes Heroines o Creation Destruction universe Gods humans earth obstacles they have to overcome after death o Afterlife Underworld o Mother Goddess myths that focus upon the origins and annihilation of the Myths that address how these characters overcome adversity myths that entail what happens to both gods and humans myths that focus upon a nurturing or not divine female creator Ancient Mythology vs Classical Mythology o Classic Only Greek and Roman Dates more relative than specific o BCE Before common era and CE common era o Rather than BC before Christ and AD in the year of the lord o CF confer compare o C about around Geographical Context o Half way between Ancient Greece and Ancient Egypt is where we draw the line between Western Eastern History and the Present o Looking back from now can t avoid looking back at history It must always be o Self Discovery Our modern world is influenced both positive and negatively by o Values both human and divine such as beliefs in gods and distinction between o War and Peace the ancient past acts as a constant reminder of the consequences rewritten the ancient world mortality and immortality of failed diplomacy Mesopotamian Creation Enuma Elish o Mesopotamia Land between rivers Tigris Euphrates Fertile Crescent fertile flood plain good farming o Mesopotamian Civilization 6000 BCE 6000 4000 BCE people settles in this area o Sumerians C 4500 2270 BCE Writing systems first literate urban civilization Cuneiform tablets o Akkadian Empire c 2334 2193 Influenced by Sumerians o Sumerian Revival c 2100 2000 BCE o Rival Kingdoms c 2000 1600 BCE rival city states rise of city of Babylon o Rise of Assyria c 1600 BCE Akkadian Speaking o Babylonia Akkadian speaking rival to Assyria Defeats Assyrians Falls its self into Persians Enuma Elish Marduk o Babylonian work that tells creation and succession myths Apsu Tiamat to o Enuma Elish When on high skies were not yet named o Poem recited preformed at New Years Festival Spring Equinox o Describes the rise of power of Marduk ruler of the universe Zeus of Babylonian culture o 7 cuneiform tablets Preserved as a poem o In the beginning Water primordial o Apsu fresh water and Tiamat salt water Bi natural gods Space and god No explanation for their existence o Gods born within them Lahmu male and Lahamu female Anshar male and Kishar female Anshar Sky Axle Akkadian sky god great grandfather of o Anshar Kishar Anu incest Marduk Another sky god Controls heavens and constellations Father of Enki Ea Eventual father of Marduk o Anshar Anu Enki Ea Marduk o Young generation meet together and create Clamour Generation gap Negative view of noise in Babylonian mythology Noise isn t appreciated by older gods creates generational conflict 9 3 Epic of Gilgamesh human noise leads to flood Apsu cant sleep because of noise from younger gods plots destruction Tiamat protests reacts maternally o Compare Ouranos and Gaia to Kronos and Rhea Apsu s vizier counselor Mummu incites him o Urges him to destroy the younger gods Younger generations of gods discover Apsu s plotting Enki Sumerian Ea Akkadian Nudimmud o Spheres of influence cleverness wisdom fresh water lives in water o Trickster god o Associated with human creation o Discovers Apsu s plotting lulls Apsu and Mummu to sleep with spell Slays Apsu takes Mummu captive Sets up dwelling in Apsu reservoir of fresh water arises from slain god 1st example of fratricide
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