Gorgon's head on a silver coin of Naples permission to use image granted

S12: CLA215, Mythology:   Review for Exam 1

The god Apollo on a gold coin of Syracuse image courtesy of Edgar L. Owen, #3803

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) (don't worry that the web site is for the 6th edition)
  

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?
  
• Why are humans created (i.e. what role/purpose do they play in creation)?
  
• What questions does the story answer?
  
• know the following:
  
• Dogon: Amma, clay, Jackal, Nummo
  
• Norse: Rime, Niflheim, Muspelheim, Ginnungagap, Ymir, 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
• "Sumerian:" Ulligara & Zalgarra (Leonard) & 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, Boar form, Kalpa (term)
  
• Hebrew: Who are God, the physical world (in contrast to Sumerian), Adam, Eve,  & the Serpent, and what role do they play in the myth?
• Mayan: Sovereign Plumed Serpent (also called Maker, Modeler, Bearer, Begetter), Hurricane (also called Heart of Sky)
  
• Big Bang: vacuum, inflation, light (later microwaves), crystals, darkness, matter
  

Myths of the "Olympian" gods: Zeus, Hera, Poseidon, Hades (Powell, Ch 6)

• Key Names & Terms: Zeus, aegis, xenia, Moerae, Graces, Muses, 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: Apollo (Powell, Ch 7)

• Key Names & Terms: Apollo, Delphi, Delos, Pythia, Cassandra, Sibyl at Cumae, Daphne, Asclepius, Coronis
  
• go to Powell's web site (Ch 7): click here (pay attention to the terms at the back of the chapters)

Possible Essay Questions (400-600 words long):

1. Evidence to draw from: Ch 2 from Leonard; Ch 4 & 7 from Powell
    Prompt: Compare the status and position of women in the Iroquois creation myth, the Dogon creation myth, or the Mesopotamian creation myth to that of women in the myth of Apollo in the Homeric Hymn of Apollo.

2. Evidence to draw from: Ch 2 from Leonard, Ch 4 from Powell; Norse pdf.
    Prompt: Among the Dogon, the Norse, the Mayan, and the Greek creation myths, which is most like the Iroquois creation myth and which is least like it? Make sure you give good supporting evidence for your conclusions.

3. Evidence to draw from: Ch 2 from Leonard; Ch 4 from Powell; Norse pdf; big bang pdf
    Prompt: We have seen how one can describe the big bang poetically. For two of the following (the Hindu, Hebrew, Greek, & Norse), examine ways they are similar to the poetic big bang and ways they are different.