Comparison of Cultural Value Orientations in Images of Nyuwa and Athena

Abstract

Born in the fertile imagination of primitive people, mythologies are the epitome of different cultures and societies, implying value orientations and national spirit of each nation. Even after thousands of years, these old stories still have a profound influence on later generations. Therefore, this article selects Nyuwa and Athena, two of the most classic female characters in myth, to discover cultural value orientations in Chinese and Greek mythologies. Through this study, value orientations differences between East and West are embodied in human nature, relationship to natural world, and social relations.