Mythology is the study and interpretation of often sacred tales or fables of a culture known as myths or the collection of such stories which deal with various aspects of the human condition: good and evil; the meaning of suffering; human origins; the origin of place-names, animals, cultural values, and traditions; the meaning of life and death; the afterlife; and the gods or a god. Myths express the beliefs and values about these subjects held by a certain culture.
Why is Mythology Important?
Well Mythology is important because it connects all cultures together and show us that we are not so different after all. Mythology reminds us that we are humans and that we all come from similar backgrounds. Another reason mythology plays an important role is because it becomes a foundation for a lot of religions that are practiced. These particular myths are stories that tell us about battles between good and evil. I think this is funny because so many fights have happened over religion. If people truly knew where their religion stemmed from maybe there would have been less fighting. Mythology is everywhere that is why it is so important to know about, you can have background knowledge on all the things in pop culture and history in general that can connect you to it through a different lens.
Women In Mythology
In ancient Greece, the portrayal of women in mythology as deceitful, manipulative, and the downfall of men corresponded with oppressive treatment and forced seclusion, which mirrored Greek patriarchal society. Ancient Greek mythology, when it came to displays of male importance and power in the patriarchy, also upheld the prominence of men’s positions in the community over the harsh attitude towards women. Greek myths were full of double standards for men and women, with male gods clearly getting the benefit of the doubt in most situations. To show just a few examples there is Pandora who was shameful and a plague upon society as she released all pain and suffering into the world. Aphrodite who was deceitful, manipulative, and disgraceful by flaunting her sexuality in a way that would have equated to a prostitute amongst mortal women. Helen of Troy who shamed her husband and her polis by leaving her family for another man; by doing so, she caused the deaths of countless warriors as her husband fought for her return. All of these women, instead of showing them as as strong, were shown as the downfall of humanity and most importantly men.
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