wednesday_-_inspiration_powerpoint1, Exams of Literature

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Myths are traditional stories that attempt to explain the origin of someone or something. Myths were told orally in the days before written language and were passed down through generations. Many myths include fantastic creatures with unusual features or special abilities. The existence of these creatures is unproven although they remain popular in books and films to this day.

Myths

Many adventurers had tried to destroy the Hydra by cutting off one of its heads. However, every time they did, two heads would grow back in its place. Myths say that Hercules eventually killed the Hydra as one of his twelve labours. The goddess Hera is said to have placed the Hydra as a constellation of stars after Hercules killed the beast. Archaeologists have discovered pictures of the Hydra on ancient Greek pottery.

The Hydra

Cerberus was the three-headed dog who guarded the kingdom of Hades, god of the underworld. The underworld was the place where souls went after death. In some accounts, he also had a serpent for a tail. Cerberus was said to be the son of a serpent monster and the brother of the Hydra. Cerberus is mentioned in some of ancient Greece’s most well-known poems, ‘The Odyssey’ and ‘The Iliad’. Hercules was said to have captured Cerberus as one of his twelve labours although the beast was later safely returned to Hades.

Cerberus

A werewolf is sometimes called a ‘lycanthrope’. When a werewolf has transformed, it is said that they become bloodthirsty beasts, desperate to attack people. They are meant to be unaware of their usual human form. In some stories, werewolves get such a taste for blood that they choose to remain living as a werewolf all the time. Werewolves often feature in popular culture such as films, TV shows and books.

Werewolves

Leprechaun

A leprechaun is a mythical creature from Irish folklore. They are mischievous creatures who make and mend shoes and enjoy playing practical jokes on people. It is said that if a person catches a leprechaun, they will be granted three wishes. Associated with leprechauns is the myth of finding a pot of gold at the end of a rainbow.

Oedipus correctly guessed that the answer to the riddle was a human. A baby crawls on all fours, walks on two legs as an adult and walks on two legs and a walking stick in old age. In ancient Egypt, the Sphinx was usually portrayed as a man. In Egyptian culture, the Sphinx wasn’t cruel but was instead a symbol of protection. This is why a Sphinx was chosen to protect the Great Pyramids of Giza.

Sphinx

Centaur

A centaur is a creature from Greek mythology. It is a creature with the head and torso of a man, joined to the body and legs of a horse. It is thought that the stories may have originated when an ancient culture saw people riding on horseback for the first time and didn’t understand what they were seeing. Centaurs are also present in popular culture including, ‘The Chronicles of Narnia’, ‘Harry Potter’ and the ‘Percy Jackson’ series.

Think About It

• Why do you think people told stories about mythical creatures?
• Do you think people used to believe the stories?
• Which of these mythical creatures is your favourite and why?
• A centaur is half human and half horse. If you could invent a mythical creature that was a cross between two real species, what would you choose?
• If you caught a leprechaun, what three wishes would you make?