Greco-Roman Origin Myths

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Subject:

Arts, Humanities

Institution Name:

National Gallery of Art

Collection:

National Gallery of Art

Grade Level:

Secondary

Abstract:

Mythology is a powerful vehicle for teaching students about symbols and the ways people have sought to explain their relationships to nature and to each other. Teachers can use this lesson to introduce or examine the role of myths in explaining human customs, mysteries about nature, or the reasons why things exist in the world. Students will discuss works of art that illustrate ancient Greco-Roman myths and various symbols used in them. So students do not judge the "truthfulness" of another culture's belief systems, they should understand that myth is not something imaginary, unfounded, or false, but rather something that illustrates the world view of a people.
In this lesson students will: Learn about myths that explain the world; Recognize some characters of Greco-Roman mythology and their symbols; Apply critical thinking skills to consider why artists chose to depict certain episodes in a story; Make personal connections to the theme by writing and drawing a myth of their own.

Course Type:

Learning Module

Languages:

English

Material Type:

Activities and Labs, Assessments, Lesson Plans

Media Format:

Graphics/Photos, Text/HTML

Conditions of Use:

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