Greek and Norse Mythology

What is a myth?

Folklore. Myths, folktales, legends, fairy tales,fable.

What do myths do?

Teaches cultural value, Entertain, Explain natural occurrences. Answer important questions> Ex: (What happens when we die? What makes a "Good Person"? How did the earth get started?)

What do myths do? #2

Norse myth/Norse Goddess (Frigg) and Pangu Rivers.

Anthropomorphism

the attribution of human characteristics or behavior to a god, animal, or object. Ex: (Thor had a mit and a hammer)

Fatalism

the belief that all events are predetermined and therefore inevitable.

Aninism

The belief that parts of nature and the universe itself possesses souls Ex: (Give souls to trees, flowers, and other parts of the natural world)

Characteristics of myths.

Express early humankind's desire to explain the universe Ex: (Phaethon riding a chariot where the sun rises.)

Characteristics of myths. #2

Generally involve nature and adventure of gods & goddesses and heroes.

Gods & Goddesses and other Deities

Super human in strength and power.

Gods & Goddesses and other Deities; Spirits

They sometime appear in disguise (Loki Norse Mythology)

Gods & Goddesses and other Deities; Spirits. #2

Often experience human emotions such as jealousy (Hera); Love and loss, or grief (Demeter and Persephone)

Deity

a god or goddess

People use myths to...

Reveal the hopes and fears of people from all cultures

Similarities between myths

Includes Chaos, water, apple, lions, wind, fire, trees, sun, snakes, eggs, cows, Homes for gods or goddesses, giants, three people controlling peoples fates, Deity s becoming land forms, People formed from clay, common images across cultures or archetypes.

Animism examples

Baucis and Philemon= Loyalty and hospitality

Golden Mean

Balance. Ideal condition where nothing is lacking and nothing in excess,

Narcissistic (Adjective)

- Exhibiting an inordinate admiration for one's self- Having excessive self love- Showing an exaggerated (and even pathological) sense of self importance- Forms of the word: narcissism, narcissist

Narcissistic (Story)

Narcissistic comes from the Greek myth about Narcissus. Narcissus was a quite striking youth with an intense love for his appearance. One day a nymph, Echo, fell in love with Narcissus, but he wanted nothing to do with her. Then a god, Nemesis, said "May he who loves not others love himself." He set Narcissus up so that when he bent over to get a drink, he fell in love with his own reflection. He spent hours trying to get his reflection to talk to him, but it didn't answer. He fell in the water towards his reflection and died. Where Narcissus' dead body laid was a white flower now named after him.

Lethal (adjective)

Deadly

Lethal (Greek Meaning)

The word "lethal" comes from the Greek river, Lethe, one of the five rivers in Hades. It is the river of forgetfulness or oblivion. When people drank from the Lethe, they would forget all of their memories, and their soul would officially pass on to another state.

Valor

courage in battle; bravery

Sisyphean (Adjective)

of or related to a task that is impossible to complete

Sisyphean (Greek Meaning)

The word Sisyphean comes from the story of Sisyphus, a wealthy man who defied the gods. He joked that he would win against Death, and he did. Hades took him, but Sisyphus told his wife not to bury his body, and because Sisyphus' body was not properly buried, Sisyphus could not die. This made Zeus furious, so Zeus punished him by making him have to push a boulder up a hill. After he finished the ascent, the boulder rolled back down, and he had to push it back up. Each time he made it close to the top of the hill, it fell back down.

Tantalize (verb)

- To tease by presenting something pleasing but keeping it out of reach- To torment with something that is desired but unattainable.- Forms of the word: tantalizing, tantalized

Tantalize (Story)

Tantalize comes from the story of Tantalus. Tantalus was treated like an immortal because he was Zeus' son, but he always displayed atrocious behavior. Tantalus tried to trick the gods by boiling his only son, Pelops, and serving him to them. The gods knew, though, and were greatly offended. They punished him by putting him in Hades. There whenever he tried to drink from a pool of water or eat from the grapes that hung from a branch above his head, he could not drink or eat. It was right there, but he couldn't quench his thirst or satisfy his hunger. This meant perpetual torment for Tantalus.

Yggdrasil

The World Tree, The Tree of Life

Odin

Father of gods, ruler of the Aesir

Valhalla

Odin's Paradise

Frigg

Sky goddess, Change in color of the sky depending of the color of dress she wears.

Thor

Strongest of all gods

Loki

Always stirring up trouble

Heimdall

Guardian of Asgard

Njord

Protector of ships and fishing

Frey

God of peace and prosperity

Freya

Goddess of love and fertility

The Valkyries

Warriors "Naked Uber drivers

Tyr

God of battle

Bragi

God of poetry and words

Balder

Sun god

Hel

Ruler of the underworld

Atrophy

Atropos

Titanic and titanic

Titan

Panic

Pan

Cloth

Clotho

Music

Muses

Cerebral

Cerberus (Three headed dog)