Mythology in everyday life

MYTHOLOGY IN EVERYDAY LIFE

By Morgan Million

Teachers Students

AUDIENCE 9th grade All social classes Students are learning about common

phrases and words that originate from mythology.

ENVIRONMENT Students should complete individually;

no pairs or groups allowed. Students will need to be in a computer

lab.

STANDARDS AND OBJECTIVES STANDARD: EL.9.1.3 2006: Use

knowledge of mythology to understand the origin and meaning of new words.

Objectives: Given a question about gods and events,

students will be able to choose the correct phrase or cause with 80% accuracy.

Given a specific word, students will be able to explain how it relates to consumerism and the gods with 80% accuracy. Back

to Hom

e

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Mythology in

Consumerism

Mythology in

Everyday Language

QUIZ

Many companies choose to incorporate mythology into their business. They can do

this in several different ways. Click on the button below to

see a few examples.

Mythology in

Consumerism

NIKENike is the Greek goddess of victory.

Her Roman counterpart is Victoria. It’s no wonder Nike shoes chose to name

their company after this elite goddess! The famous Nike shoe “swish” actually comes from the

wings that Nike the goddess wears.

Venus is the Roman goddess of love and beauty. Her Greek counterpart is Aphrodite. The subconscious message

the consumers are supposed to receive when using a Venus razor is

that we are beautiful and goddess-like.

VENUS RAZORS

Florists’ Transworld Delivery, known by their acronym FTD, uses the

messenger god for their logo. Known for his speed, Hermes in the Greek, or Mercury in the Roman, makes a good

symbol for any delivery business.

FTD

Mount Olympus is where the gods and goddesses, both Greek and Roman,

call home. This is the best of the best. What would this say about Olympus

cameras, a popular brand among photographers?

OLYMPUS CAMERAS

The Titans were the race of gods and goddesses who ruled before the

Olympians (led by Zeus, or Jupiter) overthrew them. These elder gods

were supposedly giants. It was good thinking by the Tennessee Titans, an NFL team, to name their team after a

race of giant gods.

TENNESSEE TITANS

Watch this video

carefully before

continuing to the next

slide.

Using the myth presented in the video, what brands or products can

you invent that have ties to the myth of Persephone and Hades?

*Tip: If you’re having trouble, think of the fruit Hades gave Persephone upon

her arrival to the underworld.

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Mythology in

Everyday Language

Several sayings from mythological literature

have become common in some everyday speech.

Click the button below to take a look at a few

examples of sayings you may use in your everyday

speech.

ACHILLES’ HEELAchilles was a mighty warrior. As a

baby, Achilles was dipped in the river Styx, making him immortal—except for his heel, where his mother held

him. To have an Achilles’ heel means to have a crippling weakness, not

necessarily in the heel.

Pandora, the first woman, was given to a troublemaker’s brother as a bride. Zeus gave the couple a box and told

them never to open it. Of course, Pandora opened the box, releasing all the evil things inside onto mankind. Nowadays, this phrase means to do something seemingly insignificant,

but is actually a big deal.

OPENED PANDORA’S BOX

Hercules was the son of Zeus and a mortal woman. Hera, Zeus’ wife,

hated Hercules. She set him up to murder his two children. To atone for this act, Hercules had to complete 12 impossible tasks. In today’s language, to do a herculean task is to complete

something seemingly impossible.

HERCULEAN TASK

What are some Herculean tasks in your own life? List three to four tasks.

Keep in mind, a Herculean task is something that seems impossible.

Doing your chores when you get home does not count as a Herculean task!

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King Midas ruled the land of Phrygia. By letting Silenus, the right-hand-man

of the god Dionysus, sleep in his fields, Midas got in good with this god of wine. Dionysus granted Midas one wish. Midas asked that everything he touched be turned to gold. Nowadays, to have the Midas touch means that

everything one touches turns profitable.

MIDAS TOUCH

The original Trojan horse is used in the Trojan war. The Greeks hide in a huge wooden horse left outside of the city

of Troy. Later that night, after the Trojan citizens have brought in the horse and gone to bed, the Greeks

come out of the horse and demolish the city. The modern meaning of a Trojan horse is something appears

harmless but is actually very destructive.

TROJAN HORSE

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WARNING: You are about to enter the QUIZ portion. If

you are not prepared to take this quiz, click on me

to return to the home page. Otherwise, click on the

button below to begin the quiz!

QUIZ

QUESTION #1

The goddess of victory is

NikeA

C Hera

B Hermes

D Dionysus

INCORRECT!!

*Hint: Just do it!

CORRECT!!

Nike is the goddess of victory. Hence the Nike shoe company chose her as their namesake.

QUESTION #2

The group of people who invaded the city of Troy were the

C

A B

D

Romans

Greeks

Turks

Russians

CORRECT!!

The Greeks were battling against the Trojans over a woman, Helen of Troy. The Greek army was led by Achilles.

INCORRECT!!

*Hint: Rhymes with “Eek!”

QUESTION #3

To have the Midas Touch means that

A

C D

BAll men will bow before you

Everything you touch becomes profitable

You are an expert with vehiclesYou have a

crippling weakness

CORRECT!!

King Midas wished that everything he touched would turn to gold, a gift he thought initially would be profitable and useful.

*Hint: Wealth is the root of all evil.

INCORRECT!!

QUESTION #4

The subconscious message that Venus razors is trying to send is

A

C

B

D

Every woman deserves to shaveWe are beautiful and goddess-like

Razors are necessary for successTheir products are worth the money

Venus is the goddess of beauty, so when we use razors with her name, we are supposed to feel beautiful.

CORRECT!!

*Hint: Venus was the goddess of beauty.

INCORRECT!!

QUESTION #5‘Olympus’ means ‘luminous’ in

Greek. Why is it a good fit for both a camera company and the home of

the gods? Give three or four sentences explaining why.

Once you are finished, raise your hand so the teacher can come and check off your answer. After that, you are

free to do other homework.