One of the ways scholars of mythology know so much about the beliefs of past cultures is through the artifacts that they leave behind.

One of the ways scholars of mythology know so much about the beliefs of past cultures is through the artifacts that they leave behind.

EXPLORING THE MYTHS AND SYMBOLS (THIS IS A LINK)

As you learned in the unit, cultures have a lot on common. One of the ways scholars of mythology know so much about the beliefs of past cultures is through the artifacts that they leave behind. These tell us a lot about a culture’s beliefs and values. Fortunately, a lot of museums have their collections available online at Google Arts and Culture. (this is a link) Visit the site and find representations from two different cultures that use a similar symbol, such as those that you read about in the unit, like trees, serpents, etc. Using a search term like “deity” will help you get right to artifacts that relate to mythology since gods and goddesses figure heavily in many cultures’ myths. If you have a specific culture in mind, like Vikings or Ancient Egypt, you can search for that as well. When you have found your two artifacts, imagine that you are a museum guide and create a 5-minute podcast or video that addresses the following points:

A description of each artifact, including when and where it was created as well as a physical description

A description of how the symbol is used in each artifact

A description of how the symbol meant in the culture that created it

An interpretation of both artifacts using a comparativist approach

An interpretation of both artifacts using a particularist approach

Depending on the detail provided in the description of the artifact that you have chosen, you might have to do a little more research online to correctly interpret the symbols. Be sure to turn in a list of websites you used, including a link to images of each of the artifacts, with your podcast. Also, before submitting your recording, play it back to make sure that it is audible throughout. If you made a video, make sure that any visual elements and audio are clear.