The Nature of Myth:

• go to Powell's web site (Ch. 1): click here (pay attention to the terms at the back of the chapters)

Creation Myths

• basic questions for the initial creation (not applicable to all):
  • Who are the original beings and what is the primary matter in the account?
  • How or by what mechanism does creation occur?
  • Who is the creator and what is the nature of the world that was created?
  • How are the other deities created?
  • What questions does the story answer and on what occasions is the story told or retold?
• basic questions for the creation of mortals (not applicable to all):
  • Who is the creator of humans?
  • How or by what mechanism does creation occur?
  • What material(s) is(are) used in the creation of humans?
  • Why are humans created (i.e. what role/purpose do they play in creation)?
  • What questions does the story answer?
• also know the following:
  • Dogon: Amma, Jackal, Nummo, Earth
  • Norse: Niflheim, Muspelheim, Ymer, Odin, Vili, Ve
  • Greek: go to Powell's web site for Ch 4 (click here) & Ch 5 (click here) (pay attention to the terms at the back of the chapters)
  • Iroquois: Sky woman, the sorcerer, Waterfowl, Beaver, Turtle, Sky woman's daughter, Bud, Sapling
  • Mesopotamian: go to Powell's web site for Ch 4 (click here) (pay attention to the terms at the back of the chapters)
  • Hittite: go to Powell's web site for Ch 4 (click here) (pay attention to the terms at the back of the chapters)
  • Hindu: Brahma, Narayan(a), Boar form, kalpa (term)
  • Hebrew: God, Adam, Eve, Serpent
  • Mayan: Sovereign Plumed Serpent (also associated with these divinities: Maker, Modeler, Xpiyacoc, Xmucane), Heart of Sky (also called Hurricane)
  • Big Bang: Singularity, vacuum, explosion/inflation, light (later microwaves), crystals, darkness, matter

Myths of the "Olympian" gods: Zeus, ... (Powell, Ch 6)

• Key Names & Terms: Zeus, aegis, xenia, Moerae, Graces, Ganymede, Hera, Poseidon, Hades, anthropomorphism, Qo-wi-ja, animals/powers associated with Zeus, Hera, & Poseidon
• go to Powell's web site (Ch 6): click here (pay attention to the terms at the back of the chapters)

Myths of the Olympian gods: Male Deities

• Powell, Chapter 7
  • Key Names & Terms:
    • birth: Leto, Hera, Zeus, Delos, Apollo
    • oracle: Telephusa, Delphi, Pytho, Pythia
    • loves: Cassandra, Sibyl at Cumae, Daphnê, Coronis, Asclepius
  • go to Powell's web site (Ch 7): click here

Possible Essay Questions

• Myth as Proto-Science:: Theagenes is one of the first to propose that the myths (here Greek myths) were really about natural forces. Discuss which of the following works best with his theory and which worst (Nogon, Mayan, Norse, Mesopotamian (L & M and Powell), and Iroquois). What conclusions can you draw?


• Cooperation vs Competition: Examine two of the following creation myths (Nogon, Iroquois, Mayan, Norse, Greek) with regard to cooperation vs competition. What conclusions can you draw about the two societies based on your examination.


• "Supporting" or "Following" Deities Many of the creation myths that we have studied have a "primal" or "initial" deity and "supporting" or "following" deities. In your essay compare and/or contrast the "supporting" or "following" deities for two of the following myths: Nogon, Norse, Greek, Mesopotamian (L & M and Powell), Mayan, Iroquois. In the case of the Mayan, treat Heart of Sky as the "primal" and Sovereign Plumed Serpent and the others as the "supporting."