Myth Flashcards
What does the study of mythology do?
- Allows people to connect to characters in the myth, no matter what background or life they live
- Introduces cultures to people
- Makes the world smaller (people learn about other people) and larger (people realize how much is out in the world)
- Teaches human nature (good vs. evil)
- Teaches people about themselves
- Gives interest into other fields (architecture)
What type of questions are asked/answered by mythology?
- Who am I?
- How should I lead my life?
- What id the nature of the universe in which I live?
- How do I relate to that universe?
- How much control do I have over my own life?
- What must I do in order to survive?
- How can I lead a satisfying life?
- How can I balance my own desires with my responsibilities to my family and community?
- How can I reconcile myself with the inevitability of death?
What are some similarities in myths?
- humans are created from the earth
- the gods wipe out most of earth with a flood
- there is birth, maturity, and death before rebirth
- heroes are usually the children of gods
- earth is made from a god’s body
- humans are created to be servants/ helpers/ worshipers.
What are the purposes for myths?
Entertainment and serious purposes
What are the two serious purposes?
To explain the ways of the universe and change people’s mind in the society to better how the community works.
What three main ideas make a society matriarchal?
Agricultural year, Cyclical view of life, and forms of the Mother Goddess
Name the three Mother Goddesses.
Goddess of the Underworld, Earth, and Sky
What does the Goddess of the Underworld control?
Birth and childhood, maturity and reproduction, an old age and death
What does the Goddess of the Earth control?
Spring (Birth or rebirth), Summer (blooming and harvest), and winter (decay, death, or dormancy)
What does the Goddess of the Sky control?
New/ waxing moon (birth, rebirth, and growth), full moon (maturity), and waning moon (decline, death, or dormancy)
What important role did women play in matriarchal societies?
Women were considered daughters of the great goddess and life bearers because they gave birth to children. Women were part of the great goddess so they were important.
What lead to the end of matriarchal societies?
Tribes that did not have matriarchal societies took over the areas that did. When these tribes gained power, the matriarchal part of society was lost.
What are the academic perspectives on myths?
Myths represent the external environment and the internal environment of the unconscious mind of the author. It also represents abstract constructions (patterns of stories), religion, economics, social structure, and power.
BABYLONIAN MYTH
;)))
What is the name of the myth?
Enuma Elish
What does “Enuma Elish” mean?
“When on high”
Who is Tiamant?
One of the first gods, older gods, goddess of salt water, mother of Ashar, Kshar, Mummu, and Kingu Creates monsters to fight the younger gods but loses, her body is the foundation of the earth
Who is Apsu?
One of the first gods, older gods, god of sweet water, father of Anshar, Kshar, and Mummu, wants to kill the younger gods
Who is Mummu?
One of the first gods, older gods, god of mist, son of Tiamant and Apsu, father of Anu, wants to kill the younger gods
Who is Anshar?
One of the younger gods, son of Tiamant and Apsu, father of Anu
Who is Kshar?
One of the younger gods, daughter of Tiamant and Apsu, mother of Anu
Who is Anu?
One of the younger gods, son of Anshar and Kshar, father of Ea, god of heavens, receives Tablet of Destinies after Tiamant’s defeat.
Who is Ea?
One of the younger gods, son of Anu, father of Marduk, god of the earth, the strongest god (until Marduk), creates the circle that protects the younger gods, kills Apsu and enslaves Mummu
Who is Marduk?
Son of Ea, is a double-god, god of the sun, defeats Tiamant, creates the world/order by giving gods jobs
Who is Kingu?
Son of Tiamant and Apsu, convinces Tiamant to take revenge for her husband and father by fighting the younger gods. He is the Chief of monsters and receives the Tablet of Destines from Tiamant.
What does Anu do to disturb Tiamant?
He creates winds
After he see Tiamant’s monsters, who flees?
Ea (but Anu and Anshar are also too scared to fight her)
What does Marduk do to prepare for battle?
He has to prove himself by making a garment disappear and he puts on this magic lipstick. He plans to fight water with wind
How does Marduk defeat Tiamant?
Kingu gets distracted and runs away. Marduk convinces Tiamant to fight in hand-to-hand combat. He rips her up and kills her.
What happens after Tiamant’s death?
Marduk enslaves the monsters. Every part of Tiamant’s body becomes a part of the Earth
How are days, seasons, etc created?
Marduk gives jobs to gods, which turn into those things
Why/ how is Babylon created?
Gods needed a home
Marduk hardened the ground, humans formed
Why were humans evil?
They were made from Kingu’s blood so they were naturally evil.
What instructions were given to humans?
praise, worship, ans sacrifice to the gods. Improve their lands, build shrines, and remember the Mother Goddess
What were the three main conflicts in this myth?
Young vs. Old, Male vs. Female, and Order vs Chaos
Describe the generational conflict
The young were too loud, disturbed older gods. Marduk (youngest god) rose to the top)
Describe the gender conflict.
Marduk had confidence that he could beat Tiamant because she was a woman.
Describe the society conflict
Everything was chaotic until Marduk starting giving orders to the gods.
EGYPTIAN MYTH
;)))
Who is Ra?
The god of sun and creator of all, married to Nut
Who is Nut?
Goddess of Sky, married to Ra, Affairs with Geb and Thoth
Who is Geb?
God of earth, affair with Nut
Who is Thoth?
Lord of divine words, affair with Nut
Who is Osiris?
Son of Ra, marries Isis, King of Upper and Lower Egypt, Created civilization- farming, laws, and worship for the people,
Who is Set?
Son of Geb, marries Nepthys
Who is Isis?
Daughter of Thoth, Marries Osiris, Lady of Green Crops
Who is Nepthys?
Daughter of Geb, marries Set
Who is Horus?
Son of Ra, The Elder
Summary of the Myth:
Nut was married to Ra, but was having affairs with her brothers Geb and Thoth. Ra got jealous and cursed her so that she could not have children until the year was over. Thoth created day, months, and years. After a year, Nut gave birth to five children: Osiris, Set, Isis, Nepthys, and Horus. Set is jealous of all the power Osiris has, so he kills Osiris and ships him down the Nile. Isis (Osiris’s wife) went into grief, and searched for the box of her dead husband. The box was accidentally picked up by humans. Isis was really nice to the humans and got Osiris back . She temporarily revived him, they had a child, Horus, who was raised without the knowledge of Set. Set came across Orsis’s body and tore it into 14 pieces. Nypthys helped Isis and Horus find the pieces and put Osiris back together. Horus then rose his father from the dead. Horus then went and defeated Set, but Isis stopped Horus from killing him because she felt pity on him. Horus got mad and but Isis’s head off, but Thoth turned the head into a cow and placed it back on her body. Osiris became judge of the dead, Set was seen as a liar and Horus became ruler of the Earth,
How did Thoth create day, months, years, etc.?
He played games with the moon and won pieces of the moon. He saved the pieces and put them together to make days.
How did Set kill Osiris?
He created a box and Osiris got into the box. Set nailed the box together and suffocated Osiris.
Who convinced Isis to raise Horus in secrecy?
Thoth
What might be the deeper significance of the loyalty Nephthys had to Isis?
The stronger bond between sisters represents matriarchal societies against patriarchal societies.
What is the symbolism of the Eternal Eye?
it represents eternal life
What is the symbolism of the ladder from earth to the underworld?
Represents the close connection between the living and the dead.
When Horus was fighting Set, what form did they take?
bears
HEBREW CREATION
;)))
What does the Bible mean?
“Many books”
What is the Hebrew bible also known as?
Old Testament
What are the themes in the Bible?
There are both good and bad relationships with God of the people. individuals are called to fulfill their covenant with God, but they will make mistakes and have consequences.
What are the two creation accounts?
Creation in six days and the creation of man and woman.
What was there before creation?
God and water
What happened on day 1?
Night and day
What happened on day 2?
Separation of sky and water
What happened on day 3?
land, then vergetation
What happened on day 4?
sun, moon, stars, day, months, years
What happened on day 5?
creatures of the sky and sea
What happened on day 6?
plants, animals, humans (male and female)
What happened on day 7?
rest
THE GARDEN OF EDEN
;)))
What was Adam made out of?
Dust from the earth and the Breath of Life
Which tree in the Garden of Eden were A&E not supposed to eat of?
The Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil
Where is the Garden of Eden?
Mesopotamia
Why/how were animals created?
For companionship (didn’t quite cut it), from the ground
Why/how was women created?
For companionship (they were perfect for it), from Adam’s rib
How did A&E eat from the tree they weren’t supposed to?
The were tricked by the serpent
What were the punishments God gave to A&E and the serpent
Man: farming will be difficult, and they will return to the land they came from
Woman: childbirth will be painful
Snake: Has to slither on its belly, eat dust,and women hate them
NOAH AND THE FLOOD
;)))
Where is this?
Mesopotamia
Why is God punishing the earth?
Because it was too wicked
Who was the only good human?
Noah
What were his sons’ names?
Shem, Ham, and Japhath
What was God like before the flood?
“Humans were a mistake, they have to be killed”
What was God like after the flood?
“I will never kill all the humans, even thought they are evil” He is merciful
What preparations were given to Noah?
They were very specific. Two of each animal (and extra for sacrifices) and the dimensions of the ark
What do the sacrifices once the ark lands mean?
Death has to happen in order for rebirth (into a new society) to take place
What does the rainbow represent?
The covenant between God and man that God will never kill all of mankind again
What happens after the Ark lands?
Noah becomes drunk and naked. Ham laughs at this and gets his brothers. The brothers fix the issue with respect. Noah curses Ham’s ancestors to be slaves and blesses Shem and Japeth’s ancestors.
What does this explain?
Conflict between tribes and why some people are slaves.
YING AND YANG AND THE CREATION OF THE UNIVERSE
;)))
Why were some other creation myths destroyed?
Because they didn’t agree with the Confucius beliefs at the time
What was there before creation
Chaos, darkness, and mist
Describe Yin
Dark, heavy, earth, moon, female, square
Describe Yang
Bright, Light, heavens, sun, male, round
What do humans form out of?
“Pure Vapor”
P’AN KU, CREATOR OF THE UNIVERSE
;)))
What was there before creation? What caused creation?
An egg with everything in the universe inside of it, Pan ku decides to break the egg and he and yin and yang break out
What does Pan ku have to do? Why?
He has to hold up the heavens from the earth for 18,000 years so the heavens doesn’t come crashing on the earth.
What happens when the heavens are finally put into place?
Pan ku finally gets to rest and dies in his sleep. From his body the earth is formed. Every part of his body is used.
NU KUA, CREATOR AND PRESERVER OF HUMAN LIFE
;)))
Who is Nu Kua?
The mother goddess
How did Nu come up with the idea to create humans?
She was admiring Pan Ku’s work and thought it was missing something, so she created humans
How does she create humans?
At first he created them from clay by hand and infused them with yin (male) and yang (female). To make them quicker, she puts the clay on a rope and swings it around. These humans aren’t as good.
What did this create?
The origin of wealthy and poor/ slaves
Who comes along and fights another god? What does this do?
Kung kung. This creates natural disasters that kill humans.
What dose Nu Kua do in response to this?
She works hard to fix the earth. She raises all but one corner of the earth
THE CREATION OF THE GODS AND TITANS
;)))
What emerged from what?
Graea (mother earth), Tartarus ( underworld), and Eros (love) out of chaos
Who did Graea give birth to?
Uranus (sky), Ourea (mountains), and Pontos (sea)
Who did Graea marry? Who did she give birth to?
Uranus, thee hundred-handed giants and three cyclopses
What happened to the children? Why?
They were thrown into Tartarus by Uranus because he feared them.
Summarize the rest of the myth
Graea was outraged and gave birth to 13 titans. She wanted to use the Titan to get revenge for her other children on her husband. Cronus was the only titan to volunteer. Cronus emasculated his father and his power was gone. Cronus came to power, but did not keep hos promise to retrieve his brothers from the underworld. Graea gave Cronus a prophecy saying that one of his sons would defeat him. Because of this, he ate all of his children except for Zeus because he was tricked by his wife, Rhea, and ate a rock instead. Zeus gives Cronus a drink that makes him thrown up the children he has eaten. A war starts and lasts for 10 years. Zeus, Poseidon, and Hades go down and release the first children. They give Zeus lightening, Poseidon trident, and Hades a helmet of invisibility. The gods win and Zeus gets the sky, Poseidon gets the sea, and Hades gets the underworld.
List the children that Cronus ate.
Hestia, Demeter, Hera, Hades, and Poseidon
PROMETHEUS AND PONDORA
;)))
How are Prometheus and Epimethius related?
They are brothers and titans?
What does Prometheus mean?
Forethought, tomorrow
What does Epimethius mean?
Afterthought, yesterday
Summarize the myth.
Prometheus likes humans more than the gods. He wants to give them fire. Zeus says no because he wants to keep the power instead of giving it to humans. Prometheus gives fire anyway, and it benefits the humans. Zeus decides to punish the humans first. He creates Pandora and sends her to earth to marry Epimethius with a box. Athena said not to open it, but Pandora opens it anyway and all the diseases and care come out into the world. Pandora was able to close the box before “foreboding” got out. Prometheus was chained to a mountain forever and was in pain everyday. Io visits Prometheus as a cow, and tells her that a descendant of her’s will free him if she goes to the Nile, where she will turn into a woman and marry the king of the land.
How did humans benefit from fire?
They were warm and happy, food could be cooked, they were no longer savages, they built houses, tamed animals, grew crops, made tools and weapons.
What would have “foreboding” done to the humans?
it would have made them realize how hard life was going to be as a child
Who is Io?
She was a mistress of Zeus that Hera found out about and was stuck as a cow
THE FLOOD
:)))
Summarize the myth.
Jupiter sends a flood to wipe the humans out because they were too wicked. Prometheus tells Devcalion that the flood is coming so they were prepared with a boat. When the flood was over, vegetation came back but Devcalion and Pyrrha were sad because there were no humans. Hermes came to grant them a wish: for there to be humans again. He told them to throw rocks. Devcalion made males by throwing and Pyrrha made females.
Who are Devcalion and Pyrrha?
Devcalion was the son of Prometheus and Pyrrha was the daughter of Epimethius and Pandora. They were humans.
What did Hermes tell Devcalion and Pyrrha to do?
“Cast the bones of your mother over your shoulders behind you” - Throw rocks
THE AGES OF MAN
;)))
What themes are present in this myth?
People are being greedy, males were more powerful than females, the more technology there was in society, the worse it was
What was the first age called? What happened during it?
Golden Age, like Garden of Eden, death was peaceful, spirits stayed i=on earth to help others, no weapons are needed
What was the second age called? What happened during it?
Silver Age, Shorter, child-like, people lived with their parents so no compassion is shown for others. They had no respect for the gods so Zeus created seasons. Silvers were unhappy. Houses were built, there was less food. People died to the underworld.
What was the third age called?What happened during it?
Bronze age, lots of war, people died young, their shades went to the underworld. They loved Ares, God of War.
What was the forth age called?What happened during it?
Race of heroes, more noble, during the troy war. Those who survived went to blessed islands. Zeus freed Cronus to rule the heroes
What was the fifth age called?What happened during it?
Race of Iron, now, greedy, divided, crime, if we continue in out bad behavior, Zeus will destroy us.
DEMETER AND PERSEPHONE
;)))
What themes are present in this myth?
Matriarchal society, agriculture, death is just a part of life, mother goddess
Summarize the myth.
Eros (cupid) and Aphrodite decide to make Hades fall in loves with Persephone. Hades asks Zeus for her hand in marriage, but Zeus says that Demeter would never agree, so no, but he will secretly help him capture Persephone. Zeus created a flower, and Persephone went over to it and Hades snatched her up. When Persephone went into the underworld, Demeter could hear her daughter’s cries for help but couldn’t find her. Demeter punished Sicily by not allowing their crops to grow. Helios (the sun god) tells Demeter the truth, but he thinks the marriage is a good idea. Now Demeter is really mad, she withdraws all of her life giving gifts. Zeus sends gods to try to get her to come to Olympus to talk but then she does. They agree to let Persephone return only if she hasn’t eaten anything in the underworld. Right before Persephone leaves, Hades gives her something to eat. When Demeter finds out, Rhea (Demeter’s mom) comes and says Persephone only has to spend s third of the year in the underworld. This explains seasons- spring and summer: happy because of Persephone, Winter: sad because she is gone
What are the characteristics of Demeter?
She is the giver of life-giving gifts. She loves mortals and is super kind but will be aggressive if you mess with her because she is related to Zeus and Cronus
What are the characteristics of Persephone?
She brings what she loves into the lives of others, loves nature- especially flowers, daughter of Zeus and Demeter. BFF with Artemis (goddess of the hunt) and Athena (arts and crafts)
List the Character Archetypes
The Hero, Mentor, Threshold Guardian, Herald, Shapeshifter, Shadow, Trickster, Loyal Retainer, Friendly Beast, The Scapegoat, The Outcast, The Temptress, The Damsel in Distress, The Star-Crossed Lovers, The Creature of Nightmare
The Hero
to serve and sacrifice Central character; we often experience the Journey through the eyes of the hero. The hero must be driven by universal needs.
Mentor
to guide The mentor provides motivation, insights and training to help the hero
Threshold Guardian
to test The threshold guardian protects the special world and its secrets from the hero and provides essential test to prove a hero’s commitment and worth. The hero must overcome these obstacles. This doesn’t have to be an actual character; it can be nature, an animal, a locked door, etc. ; anything the hero has to overcome.
Herald
to warn and challenge The herald may be a separate character or a message, news flash, etc. OR it could be a role that the mentor, trickster, or other character temporarily fills.
Shapeshifter
to question and deceive The shapeshifter misleads the hero.
Shadow
to destroy The shadow is a dark reflection of the hero, the enemy or villain. Sometimes the shadow is an inner demon/obstacle the hero is trying to repress.
Trickster
to disrupt The trickster uses laughter and ridicule to make characters see the absurdity of the situation and perhaps force a change. These characters are often sidekicks who offer comic relief.
Loyal Retainer
A friend or servant, who accompanies the hero on his/her journey to provide support. These characters are heroic themselves. Their duty and role is to protect the hero.
Friendly Beast
The animal or beast keeps the hero company and joins the hero on his/her journey.
The Scapegoat
The scapegoat usually dies at the beginning of the story in a very public way and becomes an important motivating force through his/her death.
The Outcast
This character is banished for a crime against humanity
The Temptress
This character brings downfall (or tries) of hero (usually through seduction).
The Damsel in Distress
a vulnerable woman who must be rescued by the hero.
The Star-Crossed Lovers
Their love affair has disapproval of friends, family or society; it ends in tragedy.
The Creature of Nightmare
Any sort of monster, vampires, etc. that threatens the hero.
List the stages to a hero’s quest.
- Ordinary World
- Call to Adventure
- Refusal of the Call
- Meeting of the Mentor
- Crossing the Threshold
- Tests, Allies, and Enemies
- Approach to the Inmost Cave
- The Ordeal
- The Reward
- The Road Back
- The Resurrection
- Return with the Elixir
Ordinary World
“The Hero’s home, the safe haven upon which the Special World and the Journey’s outcome must be compared.”
Home is safe or boring.
Call to Adventure
starts the journey, presents a challenge or quest that must be undertaken
This is where the journey begins!
Refusal of the Call
A Hero often refuses [or is reluctant] to take on the Journey because of fears and insecurities that have surfaced from the Call to Adventure.
Sometimes refusal comes before the Call
Meeting of the Mentor
The Hero meets a Mentor to gain confidence, insight, advice, training, or magical gifts to overcome the initial fears and face the Threshold of the adventure. The Mentor may be a physical person, or an object such as a map, a logbook, or other writing.”
Can come before Refusal of Call, can have more than one mentor
Crossing the Threshold
“Crossing the threshold signifies that the Hero has finally committed to the Journey.”
A point of no return
Tests, Allies, and Enemies
Earns allies who will help him on the journey, prepares for the greater Ordeals yet to come, tests his skills and powers, seeks further training from the Mentor, comes into contact with those who work against him or his progress (enemies)
The bulk of story
Approach to the Inmost Cave
Maps may be reviewed, attacks planned, a reconnaissance launched, and possibly the enemies forces whittled down.
May be a time for some romance or a few jokes before the battle, or it may signal a ticking clock or a heightening of the stakes.
Happens before the big battle, resting
The Ordeal
The central life-or-death crisis, during which he faces his greatest fear, confronts his most difficult challenge, and experiences “death”
The Big Battle, Climax
The Reward
The Hero has survived death, overcome his greatest fear, slain the dragon, or weathered the crisis of the heart, and now earns the Reward that he has sought. The Hero’s Reward comes in many forms: a magical sword, an elixir, greater knowledge or insight, reconciliation with a lover. Whatever the treasure, the Hero has earned the right to celebrate.
The Hero, or the hero’s love is alive
The Road Back
The Hero must finally recommit to completing the Journey and accept the Road Back to the Ordinary World. Like Crossing the Threshold, The Road Back needs an event that will push the Hero through the Threshold, back into the Ordinary World. The Event should re-establish the Central Dramatic Question, pushing the Hero to action and heightening the stakes.
Usually a quick journey
The Resurrection
This final life-or-death Ordeal shows that the Hero has maintained and can apply all that he has brought back to the Ordinary World. The Hero is reborn or transformed with the attributes of the Ordinary self in addition to the lessons and insights from the characters he has met along the road.
The hero has changed
Return with the Elixir
The true Hero returns with an Elixir to share with others or heal a wounded land. The Elixir can be a great treasure or magic potion. It could be love, wisdom, or simply the experience of having survived the Special World. Even the tragic end of a Hero’s Journey can yield the best elixir of all, granting the audience greater awareness of us and our world.
How the society benefits
List the situational stereotypes
- The Quest
- The Task
- The Fall
- The Unhealable Wound
- The Magic Weapon
- Supernatural Intervention
The Quest
The quest is usually a search for someone/something to be brought back.
The Task
A hero may have to perform many tasks along the way on the Quest.
Hero might not know of the quest until the tasks start
The Fall
A loss of innocence / bliss, expulsion from paradise or descent to a lower state of being.
Hero becomes depressed or gives up
Can happen multiple times throughout the story
The Unhealable Wound
This wound can be physical or psychological but cannot be healed fully. This wound often symbolizes a loss of innocence.
The Magic Weapon
The weapon symbolizes the extraordinary quality of the hero and is usually given to the hero by the mentor. Usually only the hero is capable of using this weapon
Supernatural Intervention
gods or supernatural characters can either help or hinder the hero on his journey.
Perfectly timed situation works as well
List the symbolic Archetypes
- Death and Rebirth
- Light versus Darkness
- Nature versus the Mechanistic World
- Water versus Desert
- Haven vs Wilderness
- Innate Wisdom versus Educated Stupidity
- Fire versus Ice
- Heaven and Hell
Death and Rebirth
Morning / spring = birth or youth ; Evening / winter = old age/death
Light versus Darkness
light symbolizes goodness while dark symbolizes evil.
Literally the colors of light and dark
Nature versus the Mechanistic World
Nature is seen as good, while science and technology and society are often evil
Water versus Desert
water is necessary to life. It can take the form of rains, seas, etc. It symbolizes birth or rebirth—either literal or symbolic.
Haven vs Wilderness
a place of safety is a haven, while places of danger are the wilderness. The hero may often seek shelter in a haven to rest up for the journey ahead.
Innate Wisdom versus Educated Stupidity
Those in charge may be ignorant of many things, while servants, loyal retainers, those characters without formal education may have insights into situations.
Fire versus Ice
fire represents knowledge, light, life and rebirth. Ice is like desert; it represents ignorance, darkness, sterility, and death. A character who controls fire can control his/her destiny
Heaven and Hell
A mountain can represent heaven while a cave can represent hell.
Good guys get high places, bad guys get low places
