mythos + logos
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- mythos
= any utterance by mouth, words, speech, conversation, story, and poetic
tales
- logos = thought,
reason, word, language, "study of"
- mythology = the
study of the body of stories dealing with god and heroes.
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myths
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- "what they say"
[G]; implies community
- A myth is a sacred story from the past, born out of a
primitive culture's beliefs and religion.
- Although religious in their origin and function, they
may also be the earliest form of history, science, or philosophy.
- show the relationship between humans and their gods
- attempt to interpret the world
- thematic
- enormous influence on particular cultures and the
world; Classical Mythology
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epic poems
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A long narrative poem depicting the
adventures and achievements of a mythical hero. |
Homer
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- lived around 750 or 850 BC; blind
(?)
- credited with recording ancient Greek myths
- The Iliad and The Odyssey
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