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The ancient religions of the Greeks and Romans were based on myths. Originally the word meant “spoken words” or stories. Nowadays myths refer to tales without a kernel of truth, or fantasies.
In nearly every civilization people tried to control their surroundings and the things happening around them to make them less threatening. In prehistoric cultures myths were used to explain natural phenomena. Ancient civilizations saw the earth as the goddess because of its fertility. Other phenomena like wind, lightning and thunder also were brought into connection with supernatural forces. The people felt themselves surrounded by gods and completely dependent.
The Greek myths also originated in that manner, but had more functions. They also explained the beginning of the world and the origin of man. Furthermore, the myths kept alive the memories of the foundation of important cities as well as the heroic deeds of civilizations and individuals. The tales of heroes, human beings with often supernatural capacities, gave men examples of perfection. During the whole Classical Period people believed the myths, but over time they came to be taken less and less seriously.
During the Greek Period myths were spread by word of mouth. The singing of mythical events was an important aspect of religious ritual. Many singers traveled around and sang the tales they heard on their way.
The first collection of myths was the work of Homer. He was blind, and to survive he collected traditional stories and let them been written down by others. The books of his that we know are the Iliad and the Odyssey. The first author to write about the beginning of the world and its deities was Hesiod in the 18the century.

Title: _____ of Myths
Meaning	________	They meant “spoken words” or traditional stories.
Nowadays	They meant something that people believe but which doesn’t _____ or is false.
____ and Status	Prehistoric cultures	They were used to explain aspects of the natural world and supernatural phenomena.
People felt completely dependent on _____.
Classical period	Besides explaining natural phenomena, they also ①explained how the world began and how the man came into ______; ②________ the foundation of important cities and good deeds; ③dealt with supernatural beings and heroes.
People believed in them but were not___ about them gradually.
Forms	Oral myths	They were usually sung in religious rituals or by ___ singers.
____ myths	The representative authors are Homer and Hesiod.