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. Missed the LibreFest? What do you think is the author’s purpose of the text: to inform, entertain, or to persuade? What is the important message of the story? Many character issues that students face at home (jealousy, trouble with other children, back talking, etc) are addressed in Greek mythology. The Greeks had a very different idea of god than Abrahamic religions. Many religions and cultures no matter how small or large have creation myths and legends that were deemed to be important to their livelihood. For example, you may know the goddess of love in Greek as Aphrodite, but in Latin as Venus. Another reason to study those Greek myths is that they have contributed a lot to classic and modern literature in the form of symbols. Scholars who study comparative mythology have Plays were very popular in ancient Greece, with many performances being written by Sophocles and Euripides during the 4th Century BCE. Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings and the Hobbit has become modern mythology. That’s why we need to study Greek mythology and so do our students. answer! Why Should We Study Mythology? By signing up, you'll get thousands of step-by-step solutions to your homework questions. What do you think is the author’s purpose of the text: to inform, entertain, or to persuade? Some, especially early on, were tolerant of other religions, even mixing local religious festivals with Christian ones in the hopes of converting pagans to Christianity. But this is actually a twisted definition of the word “myth,” which in Greek just means “story”. Instead of doing a stale, retelling of the stories, we want to go beyond and bring them back to life, in the 21st century. Not respecting the gods could cost a human their life. Photo credits: Otterbein University Theatre & Dance in Ohio, $\ccbysa$. Some theories propose that myths began as allegories for natural phenomena: Apollo represents the sun, Poseidon represents water, and so on. There’s not a lot of information about when this Greek religion began, but many works were created during the 7th to 2nd Centuries BCE. Usually we consider myths to be stories that contain religious or magical elements, more specifically narratives or stories that play a fundamental role in a society, such as foundational tales or origin myths. It is a way to explain the unexplainable. References to Greek mythology can be found virtually everywhere – in art, architecture, language, literature, music, and culture in much of the US and Europe. NBA removes photog for offensive Harris meme. What are five theories (or themes) of comparative mythology that are explained in the reading? You don’t need to know them all, but learning the major Olympian gods is an important first step in understanding Greek mythology. Though it is important to guard our hearts and minds, learning about ancient civilizations is also important. 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. The Importance Of Mythology In Ancient Greek Patriarchy 1592 Words | 7 Pages. Perhaps part of the reason we seek refuge in the stars with our development of near fictional technology is due to the longing our species has felt to know how the gods of Norse lived. All other trademarks and copyrights are the property of their respective owners. This is exceptionally true of Greek mythology because the allusions are far reaching and having a base knowledge will provide important context. Greek mythology has a dizzying cast of characters. He was the brother of Poseidon and Hades, lords of the Sea and the Underworld, respectively. The most important reason for studying Greek is its usefulness in understanding the Word of God. Myth - Myth - Approaches to the study of myth and mythology: The importance of studying myth to provide a key to a human society is a matter of historical record. The truth is, Greek myths are not only rooted in reality but have helped shape modern thinking in many important ways. Create your account. Virtually all cultures have them. But the reason why mythology is still important is that it is pure storytelling. Think about the story of Narcissus and Echo. The word “myth” has two very different meanings here, one of which we will be using more often in the context of this textbook. Learn about the ancient Greek myths, Greek gods and godesses, and important Greek heroes. What did the Delian League eventually become? 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. Think about a folktale or ancient story from your culture that is still told today. This article uses material from the Wikipedia article “Myth,” And thus it is important for students of the English language, too, to become familiar with these stories. © copyright 2003-2020 Study.com. What is the difference between the two definitions of the word “myth”? Discuss the following questions with a classmate. Different kings and emperors of this time had different rules for those who prayed to pagan, or non-Abrahamic, gods. This also means that there may be many versions of the same Greek myth. Use the context of the topic and the sentence to guess the meaning of the words in bold. The Purpose of This Series. Second: Vocabulary building and improved grammar comprehension in English—Spelling and syntax in English improved. Look at the following photos. And even the words we use in English have connections to these ancient stories. But here, “myth” just means “story,” usually one that has been passed down for hundreds of years that held very significant meaning to ancient society continues to hold significant meaning to current society. Myths are our religious roots. on Flickr, $\ccbynd$. Give the vocabulary and explain the meaning if yes. 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. Why is the Study of Mythology Important? Thus, they described natural events as acts of personal gods, giving rise to myths. Everyday people come in contact with different cultures. Many of the gods or magical beings could shape-shift, meaning they could become an animal or another person. It is interesting to note that ancient Greek playwrights were not expected to faithfully reproduce traditional myths when adapting them for the stage. Why Study Greek Mythology? Once the Roman Empire took over Greece in 146 BCE, the decline continued. These sentences are from the next reading. July 2, 2010, kelsey, 1 Comment. Greek Mythology Inoculates Against False Religion December 31, 2017 Written by Gerald del Campo. Skim the next reading. One famous author is Homer – although no one is sure if he really existed or if more than one person wrote Homer’s famous epic stories The Iliad, about the Trojan War, or The Odyssey, about one man’s journey home after that war. Starting in the 3rd Century BCE, the Greek religion faced a decline. When a student hears it in a story, it’s easy for them to identify and emulate the behavior. 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. Become a Study.com member to unlock this Legal. Earn Transferable Credit & Get your Degree, Get access to this video and our entire Q&A library. We also acknowledge previous National Science Foundation support under grant numbers 1246120, 1525057, and 1413739. Explain if yes. A famous psychologist named Carl Jung (1875-1961), whose work has been influential in not only psychiatry but also anthropology, archaeology, literature, philosophy, and religious studies, believed that myths and dreams were expressions of the “collective unconscious”, in that they express core ideas that are part of the human species as a whole. Has this story created any vocabulary or idioms still used in your language? People often question the need for studying mythology. Another difference is that the ancient Greek gods were very imperfect and not always fair. Their stories have a myth of their own. The beauty of the stories has inspired generations of people around the world to create. However, the Romans borrowed much of the Greek religion and art styles of the time. Learning Greek mythology is part of having a well-rounded education. They were polytheistic, meaning they believed that there were many gods, overseeing virtually every aspect of life – darkness, love, pain, vengeance, and especially ruling over nature, such as gods or other magical beings who belong to the sun, the moon, the sea, trees, flowers, and the animals. Mythology is an extremely important part of that culture. For him, studying stories from the past helps us learn about the human experiences we have today. Many will argue that Greek Mythology is the study of the stories that come from an ancient, dead religion that died because people learned that the stories are not true. THE IMPORTANCE OF MYTHOLOGY. Greek is Useful in Serving the Lord. 1 You Can’t Escape Your Fate. I try to connect the dots between the past and the present.” I try to connect the dots, too. Why is Greek mythology important for students studying English? According to these thinkers, the ancients worshiped natural phenomena, such as fire and air, gradually deifying them. 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