Creation
a cavernous abyss
so dark and drear
it envelops all
like an expansive ebony fog
retracting sight from the void
so thick and cold
it muffles sound
pulling it from the lips of the darkness
before it can reach a melodious fruition
from the pitch
a spark
instantaneously
everything changes
darkness diminishes
relinquishing its grasp
over the emptiness
land and heaven
forever opposed
land, verdant and fertile
mother earth
heaven, tortuous and volatile
father sky
from them come all
diversity
vivacity
iniquity
Thursday, October 30, 2008
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
Application Project - Hero Journey
A hero is a universal archetypal individual with a unique characteristic and a major flaw who is considered the founder of something new. A hero in Greek mythology is Atalanta, “…who loved adventure as much as the most dauntless hero, and who could outshoot and outwrestle, too, the men of one of the two great ages of heroism” (180). She was the first female hero.
The hero is considered universal, which means that he or she is representative of every person. Like every person, Atalanta was once a baby, “and the baby grew up thus into an active, daring little girl” (181).
The hero is also unique, which means he or she has a characteristic that sets them apart from every other person. Bears raised Atalanta. “A she-bear took charge of her, nursed her and kept her warm” (181). Also, “she could hunt and shoot and wrestle” (184).
The hero is special, but also has a major flaw, something that makes he or she imperfect. Atalanta was a little cocky, and “declared that she would marry whoever could beat her in a foot race” (184).
The hero is given a goal or a quest in the call to adventure. Atalanta experienced her call to adventure at a young age, when her father “had the tiny creature left on a mountainside” (181).
The hero experiences initiation when he or she leaves the familiar world behind, entering the strange and unknown. Atalanta experienced her initiation when “two centaurs…caught sight of her when she was alone and pursued her…She stood still and fitted and arrow…A second arrow followed. Both centaurs fell, mortally wounded” (181). It was at this time that Atalanta realized her abilities.
The hero’s journey is the road of trials, battles and obstacles a hero encounters. Atalanta’s journey consisted of “the famous hunt of the Calydonian Bear” (181), a wrestling match where she conquered the young man who was the father of Achilles (182), and multiple foot races where she outran young men who came to marry her (184).
The hero has many companions and friends that provide support for him or her. Atalanta was friends with Meleager, “who fell in love with her at first sight. But, we may be sure, Atalanta treated him as a good comrade” (181). Another companion is her future husband, Melanion, who “used his head as well as his heels” in the foot race (184).
The supernatural guides to the hero provide information, magic, weapons, or charms. The she-bear could be considered a supernatural guide, as well as Aphrodite, who was “always on the lookout to subdue wild, young maidens who despised love” (184).
The ultimate battle is the hero’s final test. Atalanta’s final test occurred when Melanion came to race her with his enchanted golden apples. The apples caused people to chase after them. “Then the third sphere flashed across her path…she saw the gleam…and could not resist it” (184).
In the transformation, the hero is altered in some way in the final battle. Atalanta was forced to give up her life as an unmarried woman. “She was his. Her free days alone in the forest and her athletic victories were over” (184).
The hero undergoes death and rebirth in an out with the old, in with the new transformation. Atalanta and Melanion, for some undocumented reason, “are said to have been turned into lions” (184).
The boon is something a hero gives that is shared. Atalanta gave the idea that women cannot long be free of men, and “bore a son, Parthenopaeus, who was one of the seven against Thebes” (184).
The hero is considered universal, which means that he or she is representative of every person. Like every person, Atalanta was once a baby, “and the baby grew up thus into an active, daring little girl” (181).
The hero is also unique, which means he or she has a characteristic that sets them apart from every other person. Bears raised Atalanta. “A she-bear took charge of her, nursed her and kept her warm” (181). Also, “she could hunt and shoot and wrestle” (184).
The hero is special, but also has a major flaw, something that makes he or she imperfect. Atalanta was a little cocky, and “declared that she would marry whoever could beat her in a foot race” (184).
The hero is given a goal or a quest in the call to adventure. Atalanta experienced her call to adventure at a young age, when her father “had the tiny creature left on a mountainside” (181).
The hero experiences initiation when he or she leaves the familiar world behind, entering the strange and unknown. Atalanta experienced her initiation when “two centaurs…caught sight of her when she was alone and pursued her…She stood still and fitted and arrow…A second arrow followed. Both centaurs fell, mortally wounded” (181). It was at this time that Atalanta realized her abilities.
The hero’s journey is the road of trials, battles and obstacles a hero encounters. Atalanta’s journey consisted of “the famous hunt of the Calydonian Bear” (181), a wrestling match where she conquered the young man who was the father of Achilles (182), and multiple foot races where she outran young men who came to marry her (184).
The hero has many companions and friends that provide support for him or her. Atalanta was friends with Meleager, “who fell in love with her at first sight. But, we may be sure, Atalanta treated him as a good comrade” (181). Another companion is her future husband, Melanion, who “used his head as well as his heels” in the foot race (184).
The supernatural guides to the hero provide information, magic, weapons, or charms. The she-bear could be considered a supernatural guide, as well as Aphrodite, who was “always on the lookout to subdue wild, young maidens who despised love” (184).
The ultimate battle is the hero’s final test. Atalanta’s final test occurred when Melanion came to race her with his enchanted golden apples. The apples caused people to chase after them. “Then the third sphere flashed across her path…she saw the gleam…and could not resist it” (184).
In the transformation, the hero is altered in some way in the final battle. Atalanta was forced to give up her life as an unmarried woman. “She was his. Her free days alone in the forest and her athletic victories were over” (184).
The hero undergoes death and rebirth in an out with the old, in with the new transformation. Atalanta and Melanion, for some undocumented reason, “are said to have been turned into lions” (184).
The boon is something a hero gives that is shared. Atalanta gave the idea that women cannot long be free of men, and “bore a son, Parthenopaeus, who was one of the seven against Thebes” (184).
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
Mythology Academic Vocabulary
A myth is a legend or story about the beliefs, religions, desires, and other aspects of a culture. An example of a myth is the story of Alpheus and Arethusa from Greek mythology.
A hero is a universal archetypal individual with a unique characteristic and a major flaw who goes on a journey. A hero in Greek mythology is Atalanta.
The hero journey is the cyclical path a hero follows from call to adventure, through initiation, journey, and final battle, to rebirth and boon. A hero journey from Egyptian mythology is the path of Horus, the son of Isis and Osiris, who conquered the evil Set, but had to set him free.
Universal means applying to any and all persons. A universal occurrence in everyone's life is birth. A universal symbol in mythology is the sun god.
An archetype is an original model or first example of something. An archetypal being in Mesopotamian mythology is Tiamat, the mother earth, or mother goddess. There are three archetypal images of creation: the egg, the watery abyss, and darkness, or nothing. There are three archetypal heroes: the human, the trickster, and the cultural hero.
Cyclical means recurring, or a description of something whose beginning and end are equivalent. The hero journey is an example of something cyclical.
Duality refers to something having equal and opposite parts. Humanity's two genders, male and female, are examples of duality. Isis and Osiris are dual components.
Creation is the invention or making of something. An example of a creation myth is the Enuma elish from Mesopotamian mythology.
Cosmology is the study of the universe. Myths could be considered a primitive form of cosmology.
Life out of death refers to reincarnation, the circle of life, and the sacrifice of something or someone for another. Real life examples include forest fires and food. The death of Tiamat led to the creation of the earth and sky.
Matriarchal means female-based, or female-dominated, and is often used to refer to societies where the women are the most important figures in the culture and household. A matriarchal society in the Enuma elish occurs before Tiamat, the mother earth, dies.
Patriarchal means male-based, or male-dominated, and is often used to refer to societies where the men are the most important figures in the culture and household. Father Sky is a patriarchal figure. A patriarchal society from Egyptian mythology occurs when Osiris rules the Upper and Lower Kingdoms of Egypt.
A sacrifice is something given up, or forfeited, often for the good of society or a group larger than one's self. An example of sacrifice from Jewish mythology is the sacrificial lamb, a pure, perfect lamb that is sacrificed in the place of humans in the Torah.
A hero is a universal archetypal individual with a unique characteristic and a major flaw who goes on a journey. A hero in Greek mythology is Atalanta.
The hero journey is the cyclical path a hero follows from call to adventure, through initiation, journey, and final battle, to rebirth and boon. A hero journey from Egyptian mythology is the path of Horus, the son of Isis and Osiris, who conquered the evil Set, but had to set him free.
Universal means applying to any and all persons. A universal occurrence in everyone's life is birth. A universal symbol in mythology is the sun god.
An archetype is an original model or first example of something. An archetypal being in Mesopotamian mythology is Tiamat, the mother earth, or mother goddess. There are three archetypal images of creation: the egg, the watery abyss, and darkness, or nothing. There are three archetypal heroes: the human, the trickster, and the cultural hero.
Cyclical means recurring, or a description of something whose beginning and end are equivalent. The hero journey is an example of something cyclical.
Duality refers to something having equal and opposite parts. Humanity's two genders, male and female, are examples of duality. Isis and Osiris are dual components.
Creation is the invention or making of something. An example of a creation myth is the Enuma elish from Mesopotamian mythology.
Cosmology is the study of the universe. Myths could be considered a primitive form of cosmology.
Life out of death refers to reincarnation, the circle of life, and the sacrifice of something or someone for another. Real life examples include forest fires and food. The death of Tiamat led to the creation of the earth and sky.
Matriarchal means female-based, or female-dominated, and is often used to refer to societies where the women are the most important figures in the culture and household. A matriarchal society in the Enuma elish occurs before Tiamat, the mother earth, dies.
Patriarchal means male-based, or male-dominated, and is often used to refer to societies where the men are the most important figures in the culture and household. Father Sky is a patriarchal figure. A patriarchal society from Egyptian mythology occurs when Osiris rules the Upper and Lower Kingdoms of Egypt.
A sacrifice is something given up, or forfeited, often for the good of society or a group larger than one's self. An example of sacrifice from Jewish mythology is the sacrificial lamb, a pure, perfect lamb that is sacrificed in the place of humans in the Torah.
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
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