Greek MythologyGreek Mythology

8/28/20088/28/2008

Why study Greek Mythology Why study Greek Mythology in the 21in the 21stst Century? Century?

Greek Myths in YOUR everyday Greek Myths in YOUR everyday life:life:

• Greek myths in the night skyGreek myths in the night sky

• Greek myths in the English language Greek myths in the English language (e.g., “thersitical” and “Achilles’ (e.g., “thersitical” and “Achilles’ heel”)heel”)

Greek Myths in American Greek Myths in American Popular CulturePopular Culture

Greek Myths in Western Lit.Greek Myths in Western Lit.

Greek Myths and Modern Greek Myths and Modern Psychology/PsychiatryPsychology/Psychiatry

• Freud and the Oedipus ComplexFreud and the Oedipus Complex

• Jonathan Shay – Greek mythical Jonathan Shay – Greek mythical heroes and PTSD (heroes and PTSD (Achilles in Achilles in VietnamVietnam))

Myth and History Myth and History or or

Myth vs. History?Myth vs. History?

• No clear separation b/w myth and No clear separation b/w myth and history in the Greek mindhistory in the Greek mind

• More than one version can exist of More than one version can exist of each mytheach myth

• Propoganda: influence of historical Propoganda: influence of historical events on transmission and events on transmission and evolution of mythevolution of myth

What is Mythology?What is Mythology?What is a Myth?What is a Myth?

• Mythology = mythos + logos Mythology = mythos + logos the the study of mythsstudy of myths

• What does “myth” mean in modern What does “myth” mean in modern English?English?

• What did “mythos” mean in Ancient What did “mythos” mean in Ancient Greek?Greek?

Myth: Modern DefinitionsMyth: Modern Definitions

• Webster gives 4 meanings. Webster gives 4 meanings.

1a: A traditional story of ostensibly 1a: A traditional story of ostensibly historican events that serves to unfold historican events that serves to unfold part of the world view of a people or part of the world view of a people or explain a practice, belief, or natural explain a practice, belief, or natural phenomenonphenomenon

2b: An unfounded or false notion2b: An unfounded or false notion

3. A person or thing having only an 3. A person or thing having only an imaginary or unverifiable existence.imaginary or unverifiable existence.

Myth as FalsehoodMyth as Falsehood

• ““That’s a myth!”That’s a myth!”

• The myth of EchinaceaThe myth of Echinacea

Roland Barthes and Roland Barthes and Modern MythsModern Myths

• The Myth of the Steak and the FriesThe Myth of the Steak and the Fries

• The Myth of the Novel Writers The Myth of the Novel Writers (“Romans et Enfants”)(“Romans et Enfants”)

• Myth = symbol in modern societyMyth = symbol in modern society

• A myth can be a person or an objectA myth can be a person or an object

Mythos and Logos:Mythos and Logos:Greek DefinitionsGreek Definitions

• Mythos – word or speech, a story that is Mythos – word or speech, a story that is transmitted by oral traditiontransmitted by oral tradition

• Logos – account/storyLogos – account/story

• Plato: first to draw clear distinction Plato: first to draw clear distinction between mythos (just a story) and between mythos (just a story) and logos (an account that accords with logos (an account that accords with reason and truth)reason and truth)

Organization of the CourseOrganization of the Course

• Survey of cultural backgroundSurvey of cultural background• Myths of origins of the world, Myths of origins of the world,

gods, and institutions/civilizationgods, and institutions/civilization• Myths establishing relationships Myths establishing relationships

between men and godsbetween men and gods• Myths of heroesMyths of heroes• War and its aftermath in Greek War and its aftermath in Greek

mythologymythology