Steve Korté - Wonder Woman and the World of Myth

Myths are stories that explain the origins of the world and how humans came to exist. Although ancient myths may seem strange or wild to us today, the people who first told them really believed that they were true. As the myths were handed down from one to another, they became some of the most popular and powerful stories ever told.

The stories of Wonder Woman are filled with mythological monsters, villains, gods, and goddesses. From Ares to Zeus, the Amazon princess has fought against and with a staggering number of mythological characters. Along with these characters, their other-worldly and their fantastic lands have all made appearances in her legendary tales as well.

Now you can enter the world of mythology in a whole new way. Not only will you learn about the most remarkable characters, places, and artifacts of classic mythology. You will also discover how they have defined the life of one of the worlds most powerful super heroes: Wonder Woman!

FACT

Wonder Womans comic book history dates back more than 75 years. She made her first appearance in All-Star Comics #8 in December 1941.

generation a group of people born around the same time

artifact an object made or changed by human beings, especially a tool or weapon used in the past

The Amazons were a tribe of fierce warrior women in Greek mythology. It was believed that the Amazons were from the war god Ares. They had their own laws and government. They also spent most of their time hunting or training for combat. Most important of all, the Amazons did not want to be ruled or controlled by men. Although they did have male servants to perform small tasks for them, the Amazons didnt usually seek out the company of men.

THE AMAZON RIVER

The 16th century Spanish explorer Francisco de Orellana gave the Amazon River its name. He claimed to have seen tall fighting women while exploring the South American jungle. He named the river after the Amazons of Greek mythology.

In the mythology of Wonder Woman, the Amazons broke into two groups after a battle destroyed their home. The warrior queen Antiope headed one group. They moved to Egypt and became known as the Bana-Mighdall tribe of Amazons. Queen Hippolyta ruled the other group. They lived together peacefully on a remote island and were granted by the goddesses. Thousands of years later, Hippolyta sculpted a child out of clay and asked the goddesses to bring it to life. This first child born to the Amazons was named Diana. She would later become Wonder Woman.

descend to belong to a later generation of the same family

immortality the ability to live forever

Contests play an important role in many tales of Greek mythology. In fact, todays Olympic Games are based on festivals held from 776 BC to AD 393 in Olympia, Greece, to honor the gods. One example of contests in myth involves a Greek princess named Atalanta. She was left on a mountaintop to die by her father. Raised in the wilderness, she developed incredible hunting and athletic skills. Most importantly, she became famous for a series of athletic contests in which she defeated every man who to her. She won wrestling matches against the strongest male champions. She used her spears and arrows to defeat other men in hunting games.

Princess Diana became Wonder Woman after she participated in an important athletic contest on her hidden home island of Themyscira. It happened after the Amazons discovered that the war god Ares was threatening humankind. Queen Hippolyta called for a contest to choose one Amazon champion to travel to the human world to defeat Ares. Diana was to take part, but she disguised herself and easily defeated the other participants. Hippolyta had no choice but to declare her daughter the winner.

propose to ask someone to marry you

forbidden not permitted or allowed

FACT

The first modern Olympic Games were held in Athens, Greece, in 1896. Today they draw athletes from around the world to compete in both summer and winter sports.

The powerful gods and goddesses of Greek mythology lived high on Mount Olympus, where they had a wonderful view of all of Greece. Ancient Greeks believed that Olympus was the highest mountain in the world. In the myths, Olympus had many peaks, and each one was the home of a different god. Zeus, the ruler of all the gods, lived on the highest peak. In some myths, Mount Olympus was part of heaven and not attached to Earth at all.

Life on Mount Olympus was occasionally peaceful, with its residents resting and feasting. More often, though, the gods and goddesses spent their time arguing, playing tricks on each other, or plotting subjects. Unlike mortals, though, the gods caused earthquakes and other disasters when they grew angry.

In the tales of Wonder Woman, Mount Olympus was destroyed by Darkseid, an evil god who hated all of Earths heroes. A new home for the gods was created by Zeus, Hades, and Poseidon. Called New Olympus, it was a magical kingdom that floated above Earth in another dimension. For a short time, Princess Diana served as the goddess of truth and lived on Mount Olympus. She ultimately decided to return to her role as Wonder Woman.

revenge an action taken to repay harm done

mortal human, referring to a being who will eventually die

FACT

The real Mount Olympus is the highest mountain in Greece. It rises almost 10,000 feet (3,048 meters) above sea level.

After the Greek god Zeus defeated his father, he became the ruler of the gods. He then divided the universe into three parts. Zeus claimed heaven for himself, and he gave the seas to his brother Poseidon. His other brother, Hades, ruled the underworld of dead souls. Eventually, that realm would also come to be known as Hades.

All dead souls good, in-between, and bad traveled to Hades. To reach the underworld, the dead took a ferry across the River Styx. Three paths then led to their ultimate homes. Good souls traveled to the Elysian Fields, where they found blue skies, music, and feasting. Souls that were neither good nor bad took the middle path to the Meadows of Asphodel. There they wandered forever in the mist. Evil souls took the third path down to the pits of Tartarus. There they were forced to horrible punishments forever.

Princess Diana first journeyed into Hades during an Amazon contest. Queen Hippolyta tossed an apple into the depths of Hades to see if Diana could catch it before it hit the ground. Cerberus, the giant guard dog at the gates of Hades, quickly caught the apple in its mouth. Before he could drop it on the ground, Wonder Woman forcefully drew in her breath. The apple flew from the dogs mouth and into her hands. Years later, Diana rescued both the god Hermes and the Amazon warrior Artemis from Hades.