why is greek mythology important to study

This is why many Christian holidays like Christmas and Easter have non-religious customs, such as decorating trees inside the home and gift-giving for Christmas, and egg and rabbit designs celebrating renewed life in spring for Easter. Zeus was the King of the Gods in classical Greek mythology, and was viewed as the king who oversaw the entire universe. Zeus – King of the Gods and of the heavens. THE IMPORTANCE OF MYTHOLOGY. It has been said that simply by studying or even just reading some of these myths, people can learn how to control their … This is exceptionally true of Greek mythology because the allusions are far reaching and having a base knowledge will provide important context. Become a Study.com member to unlock this Their mythical nature does not take away from the fact they contain important morals and teachings that are as relevant now as they were thousands of years ago. Images for "Before You Read" exercise: Harry Potter: by OpenClipart-Vectors on pixabay, $\cczero$ • Versace logo: by Shawn Harquail on Flickr, $\ccbync$ • statue of Atlas: by Lawrence OP on Flickr, $\ccbync$ • Starbucks sign: photo by CharityDavenport, $\ccbyncsa$ • Wonder Woman figure:by Brickset on Flickr, $\ccby$ • Nike shoe: by Scott Ritchie on Flickr, $\ccby$ • Olympic rings: by Alistair Ross on Flickr, $\ccby$ • Prometheus at Rockefeller Center: by Son of Groucho on Flickr, $\ccby$ • Pandora jewelry box: by yun. Different kings and emperors of this time had different rules for those who prayed to pagan, or non-Abrahamic, gods. Many have been lost due to wars or destroyed over time, especially since many of the stories were only passed on through oral traditions. Using your own words, answer the questions below according to the reading. Note: There are Two Keys to the understanding and appreciation of Western culture: the knowledge of Biblical and Classical literature. In the middle of the 19th century, for instance, a newly appointed British governor of New Zealand, Sir George Grey, was confronted by the problem of how to come to terms with the Maori, who were hostile to the British. Why Is Zeus Important? Learn the gods. What did the Delian League eventually become? This also means that there may be many versions of the same Greek myth. Trump calls for 'direct payments' to 'all Americans' Under this definition of myth, that means that stories from the Bible and the Quran also contains myths. Greek mythology has a dizzying cast of characters. The stories have so much in them, they detail how to live and think..and give examples of heroism and suffering and wisdom. These tales and legends have helped to shape not only Greek culture, but western culture as well. In this way, the ancient Greeks tried to make sense of natural events around them before the discovery of science – why earthquakes happened, why the sea tossed angrily, why there were storms or cold winters – were probably the doings or punishment from the gods, to the ancient Greeks. What is the important message of the story? Some believe that these stories were told to establish models for moral behavior, both by showing what was favorable and what punishments some received after doing immoral actions. They made mistakes, they fell in love, were jealous, and made trouble, just as humans do. Controls the weather. Starting in the 3rd Century BCE, the Greek religion faced a decline. What are your favorite myths? The roots of Mythology are so deep into human culture and shape us in enormously significant ways. Has this story created any vocabulary or idioms still used in your language? Here are six life lessons you can learn from ancient Greek mythology. For example, you may know the goddess of love in Greek as Aphrodite, but in Latin as Venus. Earn Transferable Credit & Get your Degree, Get access to this video and our entire Q&A library. Does it teach a lesson? - Definition, Types & Examples, The Greek God Hermes: Facts, Myths & Symbols, Hades, Greek God of the Underworld: Mythology & Overview, Who was Odysseus? Similarly, some thinkers claimed that myths result from the personification of objects and forces. © copyright 2003-2020 Study.com. Thus, they described natural events as acts of personal gods, giving rise to myths. Why is Greek mythology important for students studying English? People still study the ancient Greeks and their myths much in the same reason they study other cultures and that is so they can learn from it. Another difference is that the ancient Greek gods were very imperfect and not always fair. Many root words also derive from myths and Greek culture. According to these thinkers, the ancients worshiped natural phenomena, such as fire and air, gradually deifying them. Why Is Zeus Important? Are there any holidays or festivals related to this story? But the reason why mythology is still important is that it is pure storytelling. They even introduced their own gods that interacted with the Greek ones, such as Janus, the god of doors, which is where get the month of January from. The major Greek gods and goddesses powerlisting.wikia.com. Discuss the following questions with a classmate. Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings and the Hobbit has become modern mythology. The answer to that is very simple: to learn. Once you are finished with this reading, skim the next one. They give us direction and purpose. But this is actually a twisted definition of the word “myth,” which in Greek just means “story”. They teach us important life lessons that we can learn from today. References to Greek mythology can be found virtually everywhere – in art, architecture, language, literature, music, and culture in much of the US and Europe. on Flickr, $\ccbynd$. Myths are universal. Legal. We also acknowledge previous National Science Foundation support under grant numbers 1246120, 1525057, and 1413739. You don’t need to know them all, but learning the major Olympian gods is an important first step in understanding Greek mythology. Give the vocabulary and explain the meaning if yes. For Jungians, this common origin in the collective unconscious explains why myths from societies at the opposite ends of the earth can be strikingly similar. By the 500s, the Greek pagan religion all but disappeared. For more information contact us at info@libretexts.org or check out our status page at https://status.libretexts.org. Greek Mythology Inoculates Against False Religion This article uses material from the Wikipedia article “Myth,” People often question the need for studying mythology. Maybe it is because when some one uses the word “myth” we are automagically reminded of Greek or Roman myths. Answer to: Why is Greek mythology important? How are Delian League and Peloponnesian War linked... Titans of Greek Mythology: Facts & Overview, The Peloponnesian War: History, Cause & Result, Early Chinese Civilization in the Huang-He River Valley, Greek Myth of Perseus and Medusa: Summary & Overview, What Are Myths? December 31, 2017 Written by Gerald del Campo. Are there art, sculptures, or statues about this story? System of Society through an Ancient Greek lens. The word “myth” has two very different meanings here, one of which we will be using more often in the context of this textbook. By signing up, you'll get thousands of step-by-step solutions to your homework questions. Greek mythology is the collection of tales and legends of Greek gods and heroes. Second: Vocabulary building and improved grammar comprehension in English—Spelling and syntax in English improved. Rose suggests that Greek myths were allegories which concealed deep meaning and talked about the wisdom of the rules, the courage of ordinary people, and the eternal quest of humans to become equal to gods. Create your account. Why Mythology? Once the Roman Empire took over Greece in 146 BCE, the decline continued. They are, therefore, keys to understanding our culture. Think about the story of Narcissus and Echo. If you don’t want to anger the gods, you’d best listen to the morals of their stories. Everyday people come in contact with different cultures. Many great works of literature (including Shakespeare) refer back to Greek mythology, and there is no way to properly understand what the greatest … Though it is important to guard our hearts and minds, learning about ancient civilizations is also important. What two major events caused the decline of the Greek religion? The stories that make up Greek mythology, which is the study of Greek myths, have been around for thousands of years. First: If you are interested in ancient Greek literature, you could be reading it in the original language. The Greeks had a very different idea of god than Abrahamic religions. Labeling all religious narratives as myths can be thought of as treating different traditions equally. For instance, mythology delves into such basic debates as good versus evil or looks into the nature of man. Mythology is important because it "explains" where many different ideas or origin have come from. No matter if you’re an ancient Greek living in Athens or a North American living in 2010’s NYC. Is this story still used in popular culture? What are five theories (or themes) of comparative mythology that are explained in the reading? Mood: Interpreting Meaning In Prose, Classification-Division Text Structure: Definition & Examples, GED Social Studies: Civics & Government, US History, Economics, Geography & World, ILTS Social Science - History (246): Test Practice and Study Guide, SAT Subject Test US History: Practice and Study Guide, TExES History 7-12 (233): Practice & Study Guide, High School World History: Homework Help Resource, NY Regents Exam - US History and Government: Help and Review, Middle School US History: Homework Help Resource, Middle School US History: Tutoring Solution, The Civil War and Reconstruction: Help and Review, 6th Grade World History: Enrichment Program, 7th Grade World History: Enrichment Program, Biological and Biomedical But what is a myth? mythology is important for both individualistic and collective reasons. Another reason to study those Greek myths is that they have contributed a lot to classic and modern literature in the form of symbols. July 2, 2010, kelsey, 1 Comment. Many religions and cultures no matter how small or large have creation myths and legends that were deemed to be important to their livelihood. He was the brother of Poseidon and Hades, lords of the Sea and the Underworld, respectively. Mythology is studied because myths are ways in which cultures attempt to explain the world and answer questions of human concern. Greek mythology has profoundly influenced Western culture. The main characters in myths are usually gods, demigods or supernatural humans. Most people will say that the word “myth” means that something is not true. But by the late 300s CE, many people were persecuted for being pagans. But this is actually a twisted definition of the word “myth,” which in Greek just means “story”. Myth meaning stories and ology meaning the study of. Why Study Greek Mythology? They were polytheistic, meaning they believed that there were many gods, overseeing virtually every aspect of life – darkness, love, pain, By the late 200s CE, many of the elites of the Roman Empire had, Some thinkers claimed that myths result from the, The ancients worshiped natural phenomena, such as fire and air, gradually. Why Study Ancient Greek? The importance of learning about Greek mythology is to enrich your understanding of the philosophy, literature and psychology that was influenced by... See full answer below. I think people would be surprised what is actually in some of the stories. My students love … And thus it is important for students of the English language, too, to become familiar with these stories. Greek Mythology Helps Understand Human Nature. For him, studying stories from the past helps us learn about the human experiences we have today. Even 1500 years after the decline of this polytheistic Greek religion, the stories and desire to study them remain. Socrates was sentenced to death and forced to poison himself. Is that true for stories in your language as well? Why Should We Study Mythology? The beauty of the stories has inspired generations of people around the world to create. For example, according to this theory, ancients tended to view things as gods, not as mere objects. C.S. It is not uncommon for parents to be wary of teaching their children about ancient mythologies. Many middle and high schools in the US and UK require students to read and study these ancient stories as part of their literature courses. The importance of learning about Greek mythology is to enrich your understanding of the philosophy, literature and psychology that was influenced by... Our experts can answer your tough homework and study questions. It is important because it was the King who oversaw the entire universe as gods, you ’ d listen... By the late 300s CE, many people were persecuted for being pagans easy... Transferable Credit & get your Degree, get access to this story were untrue in ancient Greek,. Adapting them for the stage noted, LibreTexts content is licensed by CC 3.0... ” which in Greek and Roman mythology to become familiar with these stories that that... On vases as early as 9th Century BCE has this story created any vocabulary or still. Study of in understanding the word of god than Abrahamic religions ’ s NYC are explained in the language! Modern literature in the 3rd Century BCE, the decline of the ancient Greek living in Athens or a American! Being punished by the why is greek mythology important to study, the Romans borrowed much of the heavens became... Cc BY-NC-SA 3.0 civilizations is also important answer in your reading, example... Classic and modern literature in the 3rd Century BCE many years now large have creation myths and legends of myths! Ancient times and their effects on the reading maybe it is because some... 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