Chapter 3:

Myth and the Origins of the Humanities

THE ART OF BEING HUMAN

9TH EDITION

MYTHS AND MYTHOLOGYMyths –

Tales and beliefs transmitted from generation to generation containing psychological truths or fulfilling some deep-rooted need.

Mythology –

The collective myths of a specific culture or group of cultures.

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ARCHETYPES IN MYTHOLOGY

Archetypes are

mystic characters, events, symbols and buried

assumptions.

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COMMON ARCHETYPES The monomyth – the myth of the hero

David, by Donatello, 1425-1430 CE

COMMON ARCHETYPES Continued

The power of magic The power of words The power of numbers

Ictinus and Callicrates, PARTHENON, Acropolis, Athens, ca 448-432 BC (view from the northwest)

COMMON ARCHETYPES Continued

The circle The journey The garden

Wheel of Time, Tibetan sand mandala.

MYTHS AS EXPLANATIONS

Myths are ways to understand the mysteries of the universe

and pain and hardships of living in it.

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EXPLANATIONS Creation

"The Birth of Venus" Sandro Botticelli, 1482

EXPLANATIONS The natural world

Bella Coola Eagle Memorial Pole

EXPLANATIONS Human suffering

Laocoon and his sons in the Vatican1st or 2nd century BCE

EXPLANATIONSThe doomed family

Interior of an 1800’s Tlingit Chief’s home, called the “Whale House.”

MYTHS OF CHILDHOOD Reassurance of safety and love A recognition of stereotypical gender roles,

class distinctions, and the notion that good and evil are based on physical appearance

A recognition of the importance of names A recognition of the dark side

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POPULAR MYTHOLOGYPopular mythology identifies and evaluates

certain thought and emotional patterns.

Common phrases: What goes around comes around. All you need is love. It’s destiny. Isn’t that just like a man/woman?

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HOW MYTHS INFLUENCE THE HUMANITIES

A knowledge of mythology enhances our understanding and appreciation of what is

seen, heard or read.

Example:William Butler Yeats(1865-1939)

“Leda and the Swan”

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