the importance of graecoroman myths to contemporary culture

8/14/2019 The Importance of GraecoRoman Myths to Contemporary Culture

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By Ellie Davidson Wolf

The Importance of Graeco-Roman Myths to Contemporary

Culture


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Emphasized the importance of the gods ineveryday life

Explained strange and everyday occurrences

Provided precedents for sacrificeDictated rituals of Greek and Roman lifeImpacted life through fear of retribution from

the gods as in stories

Were they important?


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ExplanationsUsed myths to explain the world around themLittle science to explain the worldStorms created when Zeus the Thunder God

played with lightning bolts.Bad luck was claimed as ill-favor from thegods.

Love affairs between mortals and gods

explained many children parentage,especially royal childrenLed to rituals for luck and to appease wrath


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Accounted for the changing seasons.Daughter of Demeter, goddess of

plantskidnapped by Hades, god of the

Underworld, to be his brideDemeter searched for her daughterand would not tend to the growingplants

Created perpetual desolation and

winterMade a deal that Persephone wouldcome home to her for half the yearand spend half the year withHades

When Persephone is with Demeter,it is summer

The Story of Persephone


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RitualsLike rituals of mythsCelebrations and feasts were meant to

appease and honor the gods

Brought good luck to the worshippersPart of daily life in Graeco-Roman timesHonoring ancestors in a household shrineVisiting higher gods templesConnected to the past and the gods


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SacrificePart of rituals and ceremonyLarge part of Greek cultureOrdered by the gods

Prometheus and the first sacrificeZeus decided which part of the bull he wanted

as an offeringPrometheus tricked Zeus into choosing the

lesser part


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Artemis and IphigeniaBefore the Trojan WarKing Agamemnon was told to sacrifice his

daughter, Iphigenia for favorable winds tocross the Aegean

At the last moment, Artemis replacedIphigenia with a deer and rescued the girl

Agamemnon went on the win the Trojan War

Brought luck to the Greek campaign


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Myths and legends did have an influence onGraeco-Roman life

Influenced philosophy, religion and social lives

Lived in the shadow of the godsSubstituted myths for scienceRituals a part of lifeDesign influenced by their presence in mythsSacrifice central focus of many ceremoniesPresent in myths

So


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http://www.montana.edu/cybertour/socialstudies/6to12/hathawaym/briefhistory3205.gif

http://www.mythinglinks.org/Hades_Persephone_R75_lightened_h08.jpg

http://www.historyforkids.org/learn/greeks/religion/pictures/sacrificelouvre2.jpg

http://literaria.net/RP/L7/GiovanniBattistaTiepo

loIphigenia.jpgwww.wikipedia.orgEllwood, Mcgraw . Many Peoples, Many Faiths

Bibliography

the importance of graecoroman myths to contemporary culture

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