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