I remember during one of our final presentation in Public Speaking in college, many expect me to come up with something that has got to do with Gay Rights, Fashion or Music...I took a turn and present...MYTHOLOGY. Yeap, that's right. A part of me not many people know about but I am a Mythology Geek. Proud to say and to be one. Hell, I wanted to major in Ancient Mythologies and be a Mythologist but then in Malaysia, how far can I go? At some point of my life back then, I wanted to be a recognized Egyptologist. So, here's a boil down of what I presented, titled MYTHOLOGY: Yesterday & Today. Bare in mind that it is not an extremely detailed one because we were restricted to 8 minutes of presentation. Had it my way, I'll "educate" you bout it for the whole day.
What is mythology? Well, it derived from the word myth which in Greek is "mythos" and it means "fable" or "legend" which is why some may argue that myths are meant to be myths; stories, not true accounts. If it so, how can one explain the once-existence of the temples dedicated to the Greek deities? The Parthenon, The Temple of Zeus and many others. Mythology itself is the definition of collective myths and the study of the myths itself. Mythology brings an insight of stories from yesterdays.
Something which might looked familiar? Here's a brief detail on some of the tales you might have heard of.
The tale of Paris and Helen of Troy, sometimes also known as Helen of Sparta. One of the most beautiful women and she was burned in the pages of history on the account of her being the start of the Trojan War. Paris whom agreed that Aphrodite was the most beautiful among all goddesses received the blessings of Aphrodite herself. Aphrodite promised Paris the most beautiful woman in the World without realizing that Helen is already someone else's wife. Paris then proceed to abduct Helen.
The tale of Hercules, who don't know about it? Hercules and his 12 labors, enough said. Nemean lions, Hydra, Scylla, the Golden Fleece. If you don't know, Zeus save you :) Modern day, Hercules has been adapted into a comic superhero.
The story of Achilles which the name Achilles' Tendon came from. Men suffer from this particular illness and it was named because the famous warrior Achilles suffered and died from an injury to his heel which he could not heal, as it would take his life and if he does not, the same thing.
Medusa, Medusa. Someone ought to make a movie about her. Poor thing, all she gets is stoned or killed in modern day movies. Medusa was one of the 3 Gorgon sisters and in some literature was said to have boast to be beautiful even surpassing Athena, the Goddess of Wisdom and Warfare and therefore was cursed with snakes for hair and stares that would turn any men who lay their eyes upon Medusa to turn to stone. Forever alone chance? PLENTY.
The story of Apollo and Daphne, the nymph is indeed a tragic one. Daphne was Apollo's first love. Apollo had taunted Eros/Cupid (son of Aphrodite) for having a bow and arrow that could only struck love, not pain like Apollo's. Having being taunted, Eros strike Daphne with an arrow but not the arrow of love. Instead, Eros struck Daphne with the arrow which repels love and Apollo with the arrow which excites love. Apollo chased after Daphne day and night until one day, Daphne could not take it and begged her father, the sea nymph Peneus to turn her into something else. She was turned into the Laurel Tree and Apollo has worn a crown made of laurel twigs and leaves ever since.
The birth of Aphrodite which is said to have rose from sea-foams after Kronos' genital was cut and thrown to the sea. She was born of no man and no woman. She adores Ares but was given for marriage to Hephaestus, the God of Forge who forged her jewelries day and night and yet it was never enough. Eros is the son of Aphrodite. In the relation of Greco-Roman, Aphrodite is also known as Venus while Eros is known as Cupid.
The Olympian Gods and Goddesses weren't the first generation to rule. The first generation was the Titans. Gaia and Oranos produced 12 offsprings with the first 12 producing another 12 which overthrown them. The first generation of titans were Kronos, Oceanus, Hyperion, Crious, Rhea, Theia out of the twelve. The poem, Titanomachy: War of the Titans depict how the titans were almight and gigantic but were also overthrown by the new generation of Olympian Gods and Goddesses led by Zeus. Some of the titans were dragged into the pit of Tartarus and is said to be waiting for the right time to resurface and claim back what was theirs.
Moving on to the Olympians, Zeus is the King of all Gods and tuled the sky and heavens with his lightning bolt while his brothers, Poseidon ruled the sea and Hades took charge of the Underworld. The Olympians consists of Aphrodite, Hera, Demeter (all 3 are siblings to Zeus, Poseidon and Hades) and the other 6, Ares, Athena, Hermes, Artemis, Apollo, Hephaestus were the children Zeus and his siblings.
In the most Biblical sense, there are some stories that are quite similar to the Greek myths. Here's a look at 3 of the many others.
i. In the book of Judges, it is told that there was a man of immense strength called Samson who strangled a lion to death. In Greek myth, there's Hercules who strangled a lion to death.
ii. God asked Noah to build an ark and save his loved ones as well as animals for the upcoming killer-flood. In the Greek myth, Prometheus who had found out Zeus' plan to loose a deluge told his son, Deucalion to build a chest to save his loved ones.
iii. The son of God was born of a virgin mother and an immortal. Dionysus, the son of Zeus was also born of the same circumstance. Both died and rose on the third day and ascend to Heaven (only in different context)
Those were all content of yesterdays. So, what about today? Today, the world takes inspirations from mythologies and it can be found anywhere. The book of maps, Atlas was named after the Titan Atlas who was punished to forever carry the World and Heaven on his shoulder instead of being banished to Tartarus. There are also many corporate companies named after Atlas.
Pandora, the first woman created with Aphrodite's beauty, Hermes' persuasive skills and every femininity of Athena was sent to Earth with a box. Zeus warned her NEVER to open it but temptation got the best of Pandora and hence released the seven sins of the world. Pandora only managed to close the box with "Hope" left inside. In the current trend, there are tons of jewelry companies with the name Pandora after the infamous "Pandora's Box". One of them being Habib's chain of sister companies called Pandora Jewelry.
As the Greeks were losing the Trojan War, they sent a wooden horse as a peace offering. What the Trojans didn't know was that the wooden horse was hollow and inside, Greek soldiers waited patiently till night come upon and strike inside the capital of Troy itself. There was a anti-virus which also acted as a virus named Trojan Horse because it is installed by most thinking it is an anti-virus which it is but it is also part of a virus.
Mount Olympus which actually exist and its located in Utah, Western U.S. The dwelling place of the Olympian Gods and Goddesses, name to the Olympic games and now to the Olympus camera brand.
The marble statue of Zeus in the Temple of Zeus, although now in ruins bears a resemblance to the statue of Abraham Lincoln. Enough said.
The Caduceus, most know it as the medical symbol and Masterskill University College of Health Sciences' logo but what people don't know is that the Caduceus was the staff of Hermes, the God of Messenger long before it was commercialized and modernized. The winged staff with two snakes coiled around.
The media is VERY good at adapting something from the yesterdays and based on the mythologies, we have movies and TV shows. Below are the movies most are familiar with, just don't know much about the mythological content.
Wonder Woman, many know her as a DC Comics' superhero but do you know that she was made up of Greek myths? Wonder Woman's name, Diana is also the Roman equivalent of Artemis, the Goddess of Hunt, Virginity and Mistress of Animals. She is the twin sister to Apollo who had sworn to live free spirited with no men tying her down. Much like the oath Wonder Woman took, until she got tangled up with Batman or Superman or whichever superhero the writers decide to slut her up with. The prologue of Wonder Woman state that she received the blessings from Aphrodite for beauty and Athena for wisdom. She is also said to be blessed with the strength of Hercules.
In conclusion, I don't think it is nerdy, geeky or un-cool to know all these things. In fact, it is NOT cool to know these things. Knowledge is priceless and you'd be surprised how knowing myths can be inspiration to you. It is also fun to know things that others don't. Being a Myth Geek has helped me a lot in my taste, assignments, thinking and many others. Gotta say, if I can buy me a time machine...I would wanna go back to Ancient Greece and have a look for myself. Not only Greece. Egypt, the Norseland, bring it on! Histories of yesterdays, inspirations of tomorrow.
THE END OF A VERY MYTHOLOGiCAL BLOG POST.
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