Mythology

Question 1

Purposes of myths

Answer 1

1.a story that people create in order to help explain why things are the way They are
2.teach a lesson or a moral
3.reflect the culture they came from

Question 2

Types of myths that exists

Answer 2

1. Origins of the Earth
   A. How was the earth made
2. Origins of Humans
   A.How humans were made
3. Origin of Evil
   A.Where does evil come from
4. Myths about Gods and Mortals
   A. Relationships between gods and mortals

Question 3

Specific Myths- Know the Culture that these myths come from and the information found here

Sumerian myth:
- Creator of world
- Source of world

Efik myth:
-creator of world

Mayan myth:
- Creator of world

Native American myth:

Beba people myth:

Answer 3

Sumerian Myth
- Creator of the World: Enlil the god of Air
- Source of the World: Nammu and Anki

Efik Myth
- Creator of the World: Abassi

Mayan Myth
- Creator of the World: Plumed Serpent and Heart of the Sky

Native American Myth
- Coyote Steals Fire for the People

Beba People Myth
- The Story of Sun and Bat

Question 4

Afterlife Myths
Greek Afterlife

Answer 4

Souls are led to the Underworld by the god Hermes
Souls are judged by their actions
Four places a soul could end up

• Fields of Elysian - a beautiful paradise.
• Asphodel Fields - most people end up here because they are neither bad nor good.
• Fields of Mourning - People who suffered great love ended here.
• Tartarus - Souls that are especially bad end up here and are punished

Question 5

Egyptian afterlife myth

Answer 5

• Souls are led to Underworld by the god Anubis
• Souls then are judged
  - Negative Confess
  - For example- I did NOT steal
  
  • Weighing of heart against Feather of Truth
• If the souls are judged poorly, souls are eaten as punishment
• If souls pass the tests, they are admitted to paradise
  
  • World has no diseases and they are able to grant wishes to living

Question 6

Chinese afterlife steps

Answer 6

• Souls are escorted by local Earth god
• Souls are then judged according to actions
• Good souls get to choose either Golden Bridge or Silver Bridge
  
  • Golden Bridge is ruled by Buddha and soul escapes from rebirth cycle
  • Silver Bridge is ruled by Jade Emperor and soul becomes a god
• Bad souls go to be punished and are eventually reincarnated

Question 7

Common connections with the myths

Answer 7

• Souls are led to afterlife by a god
• Souls are then judged in some way
• There is a place for good souls and a place for bad souls