Mythology

mythology The word **//mythology//** (from the Greek μυθολογία //mythología//, from μυθολογειν //mythologein// to relate myths, from μυθος //mythos//, meaning a narrative, and λογος//logos//, meaning speech or argument) literally means the (oral) retelling of ** myths ** – stories that a particular culture believes to be true and that use supernatural events or characters to explain the nature of the universe and humanity. In modern usage, "mythology" is either the body of myths from a particular culture or religion (as in// Greek mythology //, // Egyptian mythology // or // Norse mythology //) or the branch of knowledge dealing with the collection, study and interpretation of myths. In common usage, //myth// means a falsehood — a story which some believe but which is not true. The field of mythology does not use this definition.

Definition
Myths are generally narratives passed down traditionally intended to explain the universal and local beginnings (" creation myths " and " founding myths "), natural phenomena, inexplicable cultural conventions, and anything else for which no simple explanation presents itself. Not all myths need have this explicatory purpose, however. Myths are by definition sacred and usually involve a supernatural force or deity

Go the following sites and watch the presentations on the different "Creation Myths". Go through the creation, culture and pantheon for each 'race'/place.

Use the form below to respond to the questions.

Mayan

Egyptian

Inca

Maori

Norse

Chinese

Yoruba

Inuit

Complete the form here.

Explanatory Myths

** How did the echo come about? **   Echo was a beautiful [|nymph], fond of the woods and hills, where she devoted herself to woodland sports. She was a favorite of [|Artemis], and attended her in the chase. But Echo had one failing; she was fond of talking, and whether in chat or argument, would have the last word. One day [|Hera] was seeking her husband, who, she had reason to fear, was amusing himself among the nymphs. Echo by her talk contrived to detain the goddess till the nymphs made their escape. When Hera discovered it, she passed sentence upon Echo in these words: "You shall forfeit the use of that tongue with which you have cheated me, except for that one purpose you are so fond of - //reply//. You shall still have the last word, but no power to speak first." This nymph saw Narcissus, a beautiful youth, as he pursued the chase upon the mountains. She loved him and followed his footsteps. O how she longed to address him in the softest accents, and win him to converse! But it was not in her power. She waited with impatience for him to speak first, and had her answer ready. One day the youth, being separated from his companions, shouted aloud, "Who's here?" Echo replied, "Here." Narcissus looked around, but seeing no one called out, "Come". Echo answered, "Come." As no one came, Narcissus called again, "Why do you shun me?" Echo, asked the same question. "Let us join one another," said the youth. The maid answered with all her heart in the same words, and hastened to the spot, ready to throw her arms about his neck. He started back, exclaiming, "Hands off! I would rather die than you should have me!" "Have me," said she; but it was all in vain. He left her, and she went to hide her blushes in the recesses of the woods. From that time forth she lived in caves till at last all her flesh shrank away. Her bones were changed into rocks and there was nothing left of her but her voice. With that she is still ready to reply to any one who calls her, and keeps up her old habit of having the last word

** How the sun moves across the sky: The Story of Phaeton **

Phaeton, also known as Phaethon, was the son of Clymene and Sun god Helios (Apollo is also associated with the sun (as well as prophecy, archery and music), you often find in Greek Mythology more than one God being associated with something). When the young man learned of his great heritage he did of course brag about it and tell his friends, who unsurprisingly didn’t believe his story. Despondent Phaeton went to his mother who bid him to travel and visit his father, seeking proof of this great lineage. Phaeton travelled far to the heavens where Helios resided and came across him sitting on his throne, surrounded by precious jewels and his ministers and henchmen; the Hours, the Days and greatest of all the Seasons, Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter. Initially intimidated by his father and ministers Phaeton was afraid to approach, but was welcomed by his father asking what had brought him from Earth. When the boy explained his complaint Helios said he had done well to come to him seeking proof of his birth right and he swore by the Styx, “Ask and you shall have.” The Styx was an oath that bound even the gods. So the boy made his demand, to drive the Sun’s golden chariot across the sky as his father did every day. Immediately Helios realised the rashness of his oath and begged his son to reconsider, for the chariot could only mastered by him. But the boy refused to heed his fathers warning and insisted upon his wish. Bound by oath the fiery steeds were harnessed to the sun’s chariot as Helios spoke hasty words of advice, but his son was so excited he hardly heard the words being spoken to him. Once more before he left, his father begged he reconsider but Phaeton eagerly jumped aboard the chariot and taking the reins led the wilful horses out in their arc across the sky. Soon into his journey he realised the magnitude of what he was doing and began to fear, the swiftness of the chariot taking his breath away. The horses sensing the inexperience of their driver and his fear began to take their own path, veering from the arc they usually took under the guidance of Helios. Soon the boy sorely regretted his ambition as the horses soared up towards the heavens burning the clouds, then back down to the Earth on their wild course. Disaster struck; crops were burned, the dry earth cracked and rocks exploded under the intense heat, the rivers dried up and receded, fish and animals died, and since then, one stretch of the Earth has remained burned, dry and inhabitable where no man nor animal may thrive. The story also tells that the fiery chariot burned some races skin dark, hence people of different skin tone, e.g Black Africa. Phaeton cried out a prayer to his father for help, but could barely be heard over the noise of the horses. Except by Zeus, who awaking from sleep and seeing what had befallen the Earth grabbed the nearest thunderbolt and threw it through the sky until it struck Phaeton and he fell from the chariot to Earth into the river Eridanus. Without a rider the horses returned back to their stalls in the sky. So ended his disastrous ride across the sky. The nymphs of Eridanus buried him on the banks and his mother and sisters came and wept bitterly until at last the gods turned them into poplar trees, dropping tears of amber into the river. So often has Cygnus, Phaeton’s friend, dived into the river looking for his charred remains, that when he eventually pined away from sorrow, he was allowed to haunt the river in the form of a swan.

** How spiders came about: **
 * The Story of Arachne **

Arachne was gifted in the art of weaving. Not only were her finished products beautiful to look at, but the very act of her weaving was a sight to behold. Nymphs were said to abandon their frolicking to come observe Arachne practice her magic. So remarkable were her works that observers often commented that she must have been trained by the very patron goddess of weaving, Athena herself. Arachne scoffed at this. She was disgusted at being placed in an inferior place to the goddess and proclaimed that Athena herself could not do better than her. Athena was quite perturbed at Arachne's bold claim, but she decided to give the young woman a chance to redeem herself. She came to Arachne disguised as an old woman and warned her to be careful not to offend the gods, lest she incur their wrath. But Arachne told the old woman to save her breath. She welcomed a contest with Athena, and, if she lost, would suffer whatever punishment the goddess deemed necessary. The goddess accepted the challenge and revealed her true form. The nymphs who had come to watch Arachne's weaving shrunk back in fear, but Arachne stood her shaky ground. She had made a claim, and she was sticking to it. So the contest began, the mortal at her loom, the goddess at hers. Athena began to weave the scene of her contest with [|Poseidon] for the city of Athens. A beautiful scene developed from the threads, showing Poseidon and the salt water spring, and Athena with an olive tree, gifts to the people who would name Athena as their patron, and their city after her. The bystanders marveled at the goddess' work. Arachne, for her part, created a tapestry showcasing scenes of [|Zeus]' various infidelities: [|Leda] with the Swan, [|Europa] with the bull, [|Danaë] and the golden rain shower. So exquisite was the mortal's work that the bull seemed lifelike, swimming across the tapestry with a real girl on his shoulders. Even Athena herself was forced to admit that Arachne's work was flawless. (Whether or not Arachne was actually better than Athena is still a mystery.) Angered at Arachne's challenge, as well as the presumptuousness of her choice of subjects, Athena tore the tapestry to pieces and destroyed the loom. Then she touched Arachne's forehead, making sure that she felt full guilt for her actions. Arachne was ashamed, but the guilt was far too deep for her poor, mortal mind. Depressed, she hanged herself. Athena took pity on Arachne. She most likely did not expect that Arachne would commit suicide. She brought her back to life, but not as a human. By sprinkling her with the juices of aconite, Athena transformed the woman into a spider, her and her descendants to forever hang from threads and to be great weavers. Complete the form here.