A hero in Greek mythology and folklore, was originally a demigod, the offspring of a mortal, their cult being one of the most distinctive features of ancient Greek religion. An example of a hero in this semester's curriculum is Marduk (in "The Enuma elish") when he proves himself to be the leader of the earth and defeats Tiamat's army, which was sent out to kill Marduk. He triumphantly kills the monsters Tiamat creates to kill him.

Cyclical is an adjective used to describe something that happens periodically or on a regular basis. The term cyclical relates to the story of Isis, Osiris, and Horus. Their lives continue in a cycle of birth, maturity, death, and rebirth, which never ends.

The Merriam-Webster definition of archetype is the original pattern or model of which all things of the same type are representations or copies. A true example of an archetype is Marduk in the story of "The Enuma elish." Marduk proves he is the leader of the earth by performing a task that no other god could: He makes a garment vanish and reappear at his command.

The quality or character of being twofold is the definition of duality. An example of duality in mythology is Tiamat. At first she tries to stop Ea from killing Marduk and the gods, but After Ea's death, Tiamat grows angry and sends her army of poisonous monsters to kill Marduk.

Creation is described as the beginning of something; in mythology creation is referring to the nature and origin of the universe or the earth. The creation of the sky and the ground in "The Enuma elish" is an example of creation in mythology.

The definition of matriarchal is a society in which a woman rules or dominates. Mother Earth is a great example of a woman being the dominant power in mythology. She takes care of every one of her children but can punish them and take life as well.

Patriarchal is defined as a system run by males such as Father Sky and Zeus. They watched over the earth and protected it from outside harm. They were looked at as the almighty protector of the earth and people.

Sacrifice means "to make sacred" and is commonly known as offering food, valuables, and lives to the gods. In the story of Theseus and the Minotaur it is said that Athens sent seven men and seven women to be sacrificed to the Minotaur. Back in these times sacrifice was very common.

Life from Death can mean reincarnation or saving/preserving life by death. Some gods and goddesses who bring life from death are Osiris, Odin, and Persephone.

Universal means of or relating to the universe. The creation of the heavens and sky by Father Sky and the creation of the earth by Mother Earth are universal myths.

A hero's journey is an adventure consisting of many stages such as a call to adventure, a meeting with a mentor, and many tests and battles. An example of a hero's journey in mythology is when Marduk ends up triumphant by killing Tiamat's evil, poisonous army and goes back to being the leader of the earth.

The word myth means a traditional, typically ancient story dealing with supernatural beings, ancestors, or heroes. Myths can explain how a certain culture, animal, or object of the earth or sky came to being. The Odyssey is an example of one of the most commonly known myths.