mythology
Page 2: Definition of Mythology
Mythology: Study and interpretation of sacred tales or fables.
Origin: Greek words "mythos" (story) and "logos" (word/speech).
Explores human conditions: good vs. evil, suffering, origins, cultural values, life and death, afterlife, and deities.
Reflects beliefs and values of a culture.
Page 3: Definition of Folklore
Folklore: Collection of fictional stories, cultural myths, jokes, songs, and quotes.
Passed down orally through generations, now often in written form.
Also referred to as "folk literature" or "oral traditions."
Page 4: Course Overview
Mythology and Folklore Course: Unique literary experience.
Introduction to various genres and theories related to mythology and folklore.
Page 6-7: Influence of Greek Mythology
Enduring Influence: Over 2000 years since Ancient Greece, still relevant in Western society.
References found in science, arts, literature, language, names, and brands.
Ancient Greek thinkers laid foundations for various fields: astrology, mathematics, biology, engineering, medicine, linguistics.
Page 8-10: Brand Names from Greek Mythology
Nike: Named after the Greek Goddess of Victory.
Amazon: Named after female warriors known as the Amazons.
Pandora: Jewelry brand named after the first mortal woman in Greek mythology.
Hermès: Named after the messenger of the Greek Gods.
Dove: Personal care brand symbolizing Aphrodite, Goddess of beauty.
Apollo: US Space Program named after the God associated with archery.
Page 11-13: Names from Greek Mythology
Cerberus: Name of a training facility in the Australian Navy.
Cereal: Named after Ceres, the God of grain.
Common Names:
Jason, Troy, Damon, Helen, Rhea, Penelope, Phoebe.
Page 14: Car Brands Inspired by Greek Mythology
Examples include:
Buick Apollo
Volkswagen Eos
Honda Odyssey
Nissan Titan
Ford Taurus
Page 17-21: Greek Architecture
Influence on Modern Architecture: Columns and pillars inspired by Greek structures.
Example: The Parthenon in Athens, dedicated to Athena.
Three architectural orders: Doric, Ionic, Corinthian.
Modern buildings like the White House reflect Greek architectural styles.
Page 23-25: Greek Mythology in Pop Culture
Adaptations: Greek myths in novels, movies, TV shows, and video games.
Examples: Disney’s Hercules, Percy Jackson series, Battlestar Galactica, Frankenstein.
Page 27-31: Astronomy and Greek Mythology
Zodiac Names: Derived from Greek mythology.
Examples: Aquarius, Aries, Cancer, Capricorn, Gemini, Leo, Libra, Pisces, Sagittarius, Scorpio, Taurus, Virgo.
Page 33-45: Origins of the Months
January: Named for Janus, protector of gates.
February: From Latin "februa," meaning to cleanse.
March: Named for Mars, the god of war.
April: From Latin "aperio," meaning to open.
May: Named for Maia, goddess of growth.
June: Named for Juno, goddess of marriage.
July: Honoring Julius Caesar.
August: Honoring Augustus Caesar.
September: From Latin "septem," meaning seven.
October: From Latin "octo," meaning eight.
November: From Latin "novem," meaning nine.
December: From Latin "decem," meaning ten.
Page 47-64: Names of the Days of the Week
Cultural Mix: Weekday names in English and Danish.
Sunday and Monday named after celestial bodies; other days named after Norse gods.
Saturday named after Roman god Saturn.
Norse Influence:
Monday (Mánadagr) relates to the moon.
Tuesday (Tysdagr) named after Tyr, god of war.
Wednesday (Óðinsdagr) named after Odin.
Thursday (Þórsdagr) named after Thor.
Friday (Frjádagr) named after Frigg.
Saturday (Laugardagr) translates to "day of hot
The Birth of the World:
The world began as a vast ocean ruled by Maguayan and a sky ruled by Captan.
Their children, Lidagat and Lihangin, married and had four children: Licalibutan, Liadlao, Libulan, and Lisuga.
The Rebellion and Destruction:
Licalibutan, the eldest son, became powerful and desired more control.
He convinced his brothers to attack Captan's sky realm.
Captan defeated them and destroyed the gates of heaven.
In anger, Captan struck Licalibutan, Liadlao, and Libulan with lightning, turning them into the sun, moon, and stars.
Lisuga was also struck and became the stars.
The Creation of Humanity:
Captan and Maguayan planted a bamboo seed, from which emerged Sicalac and Sicabay, the first humans.
Their descendants spread across the earth and became the ancestors of different races.
Pandaguan, a descendant, challenged the gods and was punished, leading to the origin of black people.
The Beginning: Norse mythology
Ginnungagap: The universe began as a vast, dark void called Ginnungagap.
Niflheim and Muspelheim: To the north, Niflheim was a realm of ice and frost. To the south, Muspelheim was a realm of fire.
Ymir: The primordial giant Ymir emerged from the meeting of ice and fire in Ginnungagap.
The Creation of Life:
Audhumbla: The cow Audhumbla also emerged from the ice and fed on it.
Buri: On the third day of licking the ice, Buri, the first god, emerged.
Borr and Bestla: Buri's son Borr married Bestla and had three sons: Odin, Vili, and Ve.
The Giants: Ymir's sons and daughter became the first giants, also known as Jötnar.
The Creation of the World:
The Gods Kill Ymir: Odin, Vili, and Ve killed Ymir and used his body parts to create the world.
The World's Formation: Ymir's blood became water, flesh became land, bones became mountains, hair became vegetation, and skull became the sky.
Asgard: The gods built Asgard, their home, in the center of the world.
Midgard: The realm of humans, Midgard, was created within the world.
Jotunheim: The giants lived in Jotunheim, a realm far from Asgard.
The Creation of the Sun, Moon, and Stars:
Sparks from Muspelheim: The gods took sparks from Muspelheim and threw them into the sky.
Celestial Bodies: These sparks became the sun, moon, and stars.
The Creation of Dwarves:
Worms from Ymir: Worms emerged from Ymir's rotting body and became the dwarves.
Dwarven Homes: The dwarves lived in Svartalheim, the home of the dwarves, in rocks and caves underground.
Craftsmanship: Dwarves were skilled craftsmen, creating magical weapons and jewelry.
The Creation of Humans:
Ask and Embla: Odin, Vili, and Ve found two trees on the beach and gave them life, creating the first humans, Ask and Embla.
Human Home: Humans lived in Midgard, protected by a fence.
The Order of Creation:
Ginnungagap
Niflheim and Muspelheim
Ymir
Audhumbla
Buri
Borr and Bestla
Odin, Vili, and Ve
The Giants
The World
Asgard and Midgard
The Sun, Moon, and Stars
The Dwarves
Ask and Embla
Creation: The world was divided into heaven and earth, and three kami deities were born in the heavenly realm.
Reproduction: The first reeds sprouted, leading to the birth of two more kami deities. Subsequent generations were born in pairs.
Task: Izanagi and Izanami were given the task of bringing order to the unformed land.
Creation of Land: Using a sacred spear, they stirred the primordial mire and created the first island, Onokoro Shima.
Izanagi and Izanami, after descending to the island they created, decided to join together to give birth to the country. They married through a sacred ritual and, after a false start, successfully gave birth to the islands of Japan and numerous other kami deities. These deities represented the seas, wind, mountains, and various natural phenomena.
Izanami was gravely injured giving birth to the fire kami deity, and soon died.
Izanagi's Journey to the Underworld
Purpose: To retrieve his deceased wife, Izanami, from the land of the dead.
Obstacles: Izanami had eaten food from the underworld, making her return impossible.
Promise: Izanami agreed to ask the underworld deities for permission to leave, but requested Izanagi not follow.
Izanagi's Violation and Discovery
Disregard: Izanagi disregarded Izanami's request and entered the underworld.
Horrifying Sight: He found Izanami as a decaying corpse.
Escape: Izanagi fled in terror and placed a boulder to block Izanami's exit.
Vows of Revenge and Birth
Izanami's Vow: She vowed to kill a certain number of souls daily.
Izanagi's Vow: He vowed to ensure that more souls were born daily.
Izanagi's Burden: This duty became known as Izanagi's Burden.
Izanagi's Purification and Creation
Misogi: Izanagi performed a ritual cleansing known as misogi.
Creation of Deities: Three significant deities were born during his purification: the sun kami, the moon kami, and the kami of the seas.
Duties: These deities were given the duties of ruling the heavenly realm, the night realm, and the seas, respectively.
· Takachiho and the Creation
· According to local belief in Takachiho, the island in the center of Onokoro Pond near Takachiho Gorge is Onokoro Shima, the place where Izanami and Izanagi married, lived, and gave birth to the islands of Japan. This belief places Takachiho as the birthplace of the Japanese archipelago, both its natural formations and its inhabitants.
To this day, the Zhuang people sing a traditional song about Pangu creating the Heaven and Earth. The origin of the Pangu myth has been much debated. Many believe it originated with Xu Zheng, a Chinese author from the 3rd century AD, as he was the first writer known to record it; some propose that it originated in the mythologies of the Miao or Yao people of southern China, while others see a parallel to ancient Hindu mythology of creation.
· Creation Egg: The universe began as a chaotic egg.
· Pangu's Birth and Growth: Pangu was born within the egg and grew as he slept for 18,000 years.
· Separation of Heaven and Earth: Pangu split the egg, creating the heavens and the earth.
· Pangu's Death and Creation: After 18,000 years, Pangu died, and his body formed the earth and humans from parasites from his body.
· Variations: Different versions of the myth exist, including variations on how Pangu created the earth and humans.
· Brahma is a Hindu deity often depicted as a four-faced, four-armed figure representing the sacred knowledge of the four Vedas. As part of the Hindu trinity, he symbolizes the universal mind and intellect.
· Creation Story: Brahma created the universe by dropping a seed into the primal ocean, which became a golden egg. He emerged from the egg, and the remaining shell expanded to become the universe.
· Symbolism: Brahma is associated with the lotus, representing his rootedness in infinite reality. His wife, Saraswati, symbolizes knowledge, fertility, and prosperity.
· Worship: Despite being one of the three major gods, Brahma is not widely worshipped. Only two temples in India are dedicated to him.
Vahana: Deities in Hinduism often have animal vehicles associated with them. Brahma's vahana is a swan.
Brahma's Attributes: Brahma has four hands holding a water-pot, a manuscript, a scepter, and a rosary. He wears a black antelope hide and rides on a swan.
Significance of the Swan: The swan is an extension of Brahma's powers and symbolizes his connection to the universal mind.
Inspiration from Brahma: While less worshipped than other deities, Brahma can be a source of inspiration for those seeking greater awareness or consciousness.
Egyptian Creation Mythology
The Primal Chaos: The story begins with Nun, the primordial ocean of chaos, which contained the seeds of everything to come.
Ra's Emergence and Creation of Elements: The sun god Ra (also known as Atum) emerged from Nun and created Shu, the god of air, and Tefnut, the goddess of moisture. These two deities, in turn, created Geb, the earth god, and Nut, the sky goddess.
The Creation of Humanity: Ra, moved by tears of happiness, created humanity.
Ra's Wrath and Hathor's Massacre: As humanity grew ungrateful and plotted against Ra, he became enraged. He dispatched Hathor, the goddess of joy and love, to destroy mankind. Hathor carried out this task with devastating efficiency, killing countless people. However, Ra eventually relented and spared a small remnant of humanity.
Ra's Retirement and Shu's Reign: Disillusioned with the world, Ra retreated to the heavens, leaving Shu to rule on Earth. This marked the establishment of the present world.
Geb and Nut's Forbidden Love and Punishment: Geb, the earth god, and Nut, the sky goddess, defied Ra's orders and married. Ra, in his wrath, ordered Shu to separate them. Shu successfully raised Nut aloft, separating her from Geb forever.
Nut's Pregnancy and Thoth's Intervention: Nut was pregnant, but Ra had decreed that she could not give birth in any month of any year. Thoth, the god of learning, intervened by gambling with the moon for extra light. This allowed him to add five extra days to the Egyptian calendar, giving Nut the opportunity to give birth to her children.
The Birth of the Five Children: On these five extra days, Nut gave birth to Osiris (god of fertility), Horus the Elder, Set (god of evil), Isis (mother goddess), and Nephthys (goddess of death). This marked the establishment of the two poles of morality: good and evil.
Common Elements in Creation Myths
Lindsey Murtagh
Page 2: The Nature of Creation Myths
Humans have an innate curiosity about the unknown.
Creation myths serve as foundational narratives in cultures.
These myths shape people's understanding of the world and their place in it.
Despite geographical separations, many cultures share similar creation myth elements.
Page 3: Themes of Birth
Many myths start with the theme of birth.
Birth symbolizes new life, paralleling the creation of the world.
Often involves a mother and father figure, though not always directly responsible for creation.
Page 4: The Role of Supreme Beings
A supreme being is central to most creation myths.
This being initiates the creation process.
Some myths feature dual creators: one active and one passive.
Various cultures have different beliefs about the origin of life (e.g., above, below, or underwater).
Page 5: The Separation of Humans and Animals
Myths often depict a harmonious existence between humans and animals.
A sin, often linked to darkness or fire, leads to their separation.
Innocence can be lost through divine intervention.
Page 6: Modern Creation Theories
The 21st century continues to explore creation theories based on scientific evidence.
These modern theories can be seen as new creation myths.
Page 7: Genealogy of Creation
The first god is not always the creator; often, their children fulfill this role.
Example: Greek myth of Nyx and the creation of Earth and Sky.
Page 8: Iroquois Creation
The Iroquois Sky Woman's children created life on Earth.
The Earth was initially bare until her sons filled it with life.
Page 9: Japanese Creation Myth
Originated from a muddy ocean, leading to the creation of gods and Japan.
Izanagi and Izanami created the islands and life.
Page 10: Supreme Beings Across Cultures
Most ancient myths include a supreme being, though forms and roles vary.
Examples: Greek gods, Iroquois Sky Woman, Aborigine Father of All Spirits.
Page 12: Active vs. Passive Creators
Many myths feature both active and passive creators.
The passive creator often guides the active creator's actions.
Page 13: Greek Myth Example
Zeus as a passive creator instructs Prometheus and Epimetheus to create life.
Page 14: Aborigine Myth Example
The Father of All Spirits guides the Sun Mother in creating life.
Page 16: Creation from Above or Below
Some myths depict a world created from chaos or pre-existing realms.
Example: Bushmen's belief in a peaceful underground world.
Page 20: Diver-Myths
Many myths reference a world once covered by water.
Diver-myths involve beings retrieving earth from water to create land.
Page 24: Relationship Between Animals and Humans
Animals are often depicted as equals to humans in creation myths.
Reflects cultural attitudes towards animals.
Page 28: Instructions, Sins, and Consequences
Many myths include elements of divine instruction, sin, and resulting consequences.
Example: Greek myth of Pandora and the box.
Page 33: Night, Fear, Fire, and Sin
Darkness often symbolizes fear in creation myths.
Fear can lead to sin, as seen in the Aborigine and Bushmen myths.
Page 38: Gods Creating Suffering
Some myths attribute human suffering to divine actions or decisions.
Example: Prometheus' gift of fire leading to suffering.
Page 41: Iroquois Creation Myth
The Sky Woman's fall leads to the creation of Earth.
Water animals assist her in creating land.
Page 47: Australian Aborigine Creation Myth
The Father of All Spirits awakens the Sun Mother to create life on Earth.
Page 54: African Bushmen Creation Myth
People and animals once lived peacefully underground until fear led to disobedience.
Page 60: Hebrew/Christian Creation Myth (Genesis)
God creates the heavens and the earth, establishing order from chaos.
Page 68: The Seventh Day
God rests after completing creation, marking the sanctity of the seventh day.
This note summarizes the key themes and elements found in various