OK, I'm starting this thread because I've always enjoyed mythology and the study of ancient religion in general. To me, it's a wonderful example of how creative and imaginative people can be, and although it may flabbergast us now that 'people actually believed that stuff', it shouldn't. It shouldn't surprise Christians, Jews, atheists, or anyone else. Mythology is alive and well in our own culture. Millions of people around the world today believe in a holy book that features talking snakes, staffs that turn into serpents, satyrs, angels, giants, and even a creature that sounds suspiciously like a dragon and/or dinosaur (Behemoth).
That being said... mythology can be fun! It can show us how incredible the human mind is, as well as how entertaining and complex. I'm sure I'm not the only one here who enjoys mythology and/or fantasy, so let's find out which creatures, gods, goddesses etc amuse you or interest you!
I'll start with:
Bastet.QuoteThe goddess Bastet was usually represented as a woman with the head of a domesticated cat. However, up until 1000 BC she was portrayed as a lioness. Bastet was the daughter of Re, the sun god. It may have been through him that she acquired her feline characteristics. When Re destroyed his enemy Apep, he was usually depicted as a cat. As portrayed as a cat, she was connected with the moon (her son Khonsu was the god of the moon). When shown as a lioness, she is associated with sunlight.
Bastet was the goddess of fire, cats, of the home and pregnant women. According to one myth, she was the personification of the soul of Isis. She was also called the "Lady of the East". As such, her counterpart as "Lady of the West" was Sekhmet.
Bastet seemed to have two sides to her personality, docile and aggressive. Her docile and gentle side was displayed in her duties as a protector of the home, and pregnant women. Her aggressive and vicious nature was exposed in the accounts of battles in which the pharaoh was said to have slaughtered the enemy as Bastet slaughtered her victims.
Read more here: http://www.egyptianmyths.net/bastet.htm
A cat goddess is right up my alley. :D
Anyone else care to share one?
I've always been a fan of Lilith.
My personal favorites are the trickster gods. Raven (http://www.godchecker.com/pantheon/native_american-mythology.php?deity=RAVEN) and Coyote (http://www.godchecker.com/pantheon/native_american-mythology.php?deity=COYOTE) in Amerind mythology, and Hermes/Mercury (http://ancienthistory.about.com/od/hermesmercurymyth/ss/Hermes122108.htm) in classical mythology. I actually used to burn cinnamon (Hermes' signature incense) on Wednesday (Hermes' day) many moons ago, and still occasionally invoke him. I'm an infidel, but in Hermes' case, I guess you could say that I'm a desultory cultural pagan.
I've always had a sneaking admiration for the old Irish deity Bhréige who could turn himself into a lady's handkerchief at a moment's notice.
Not a talent to be sneezed at.
Quote from: Ali on January 31, 2012, 11:32:43 PM
I've always been a fan of Lilith.
She liked to be on top. A girl after my own heart...so to speak.
Some years ago I loved reading about the Celtic deities. It's been a long time now and I really don't have a fav deity.
I like death, he doesn't have any skin but he's still such a nice chap.
Susan Death is quite nice too.
(https://www.happyatheistforum.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Ft3.gstatic.com%2Fimages%3Fq%3Dtbn%3AANd9GcSNMZevYTAlOWCMqqsTCNEUkELufb4u3EDqiGjO7UMA1htYCPCjg389gHU&hash=7b50a086c9508eace761014acdb4123c4e389685) (https://www.happyatheistforum.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Ft0.gstatic.com%2Fimages%3Fq%3Dtbn%3AANd9GcS2xZZeQ8vJWL2AU4LTIR0OpTANtX-qbS-wN6SQZlRwTswvFT2gaPS9Ypk&hash=79b56040bb44be19e2a4a54609c36468d617ebdd) (https://www.happyatheistforum.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Ft0.gstatic.com%2Fimages%3Fq%3Dtbn%3AANd9GcSOKeR0snNvJaR5xrDtj9fgbDBvrFDMpPtksVdGn2EKGRGwm6DUX_wZB6q7&hash=a3a6ec9d44dd7d0e1e5341b0218f671dd286d49b)
The Asmo.
Realm: Asmodea Prime
Power level: Greater
Alignment: Chaotic Evil
Domains: Plots, evil deeds, megalomania, pottery
Worshipers: Mad scientists, clones, egomaniacs, clowns
Weapon of choice: Thralls
Hands down, Satan. God casts him down to the lake of fire - he's gone from a big shot in heaven to planes of suffering that he hitherto had no awareness of, and that we cannot even imagine - and how does he react? He gets up, brushes the sulphur off his lapels and says, "Is that it? I mean sure, you're an omnipotent being and everything - I'm not stupid, I know I can't win... but jeez, if this is the worst punishment you can cook up for me I might as well fuck up your shit some more. Now where was that Eden place all those snooty angel gits were going on about..." He's just cool.
Also the ancient Egyptian Set, for similar reasons. I think I'm attracted to the underdogs.
Quote from: Asmodean on February 01, 2012, 02:39:31 AM
Weapon of choice: Thralls
I wasn't sure exactly what a thrall was, so I looked it up.
Quote
1. Also called thraldom (US), thralldom [ˈθrɔːldəm] the state or condition of being in the power of another person
2. a person who is in such a state
3. a person totally subject to some need, desire, appetite, etc.
I don't know if your weapon of choice is subjecting people to your every whim, or siccing your enthralled masses on people, but either way I'm frightened.
Quote from: Melmoth on February 01, 2012, 02:48:26 AM
Hands down, Satan. God casts him down to the lake of fire - he's gone from a big shot in heaven to planes of suffering that he hitherto had no awareness of, and that we cannot even imagine - and how does he react? He gets up, brushes the sulphur off his lapels and says, "Is that it? I mean sure, you're an omnipotent being and everything - I'm not stupid, I know I can't win... but jeez, if this is the worst punishment you can cook up for me I might as well fuck up your shit some more. Now where was that Eden place all those snooty angel gits were going on about..." He's just cool.
That's what you do when you find yourself in the lake of fire - brush off the ash and get to work building your empire.
Even when what one has seems to be nothing, one can usually work with that. Perhaps make something good for oneself in the process, like... a realm full of minions, if one is good (as opposed to "dumb fuck", not "evil"), lucky and patient.
Quote
Also the ancient Egyptian Set, for similar reasons. I think I'm attracted to the underdogs.
Sutekh was cool, but Anubis was cooler ;D
Quote from: Ecurb Noselrub on February 01, 2012, 03:10:32 AM
Quote from: Gawen on February 01, 2012, 02:06:22 AM
I've always been a fan of Lilith.
She liked to be on top.
Good. Very good.
Mine is Thor. Nordic by birth, Texan at heart.
[/quote]
I've had a thing for deers ever since I was a kid, so I gravitate towards deities who are involved with them. Cernunnos, Hern, those are my boys. I used to like Dianna too but she really does go overboard on the tomboy thing.
(https://www.happyatheistforum.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi39.tinypic.com%2F2it61zn.jpg&hash=f6dd3ae354ad3273073a653dfc6b2e0530434551)
I would prefer to identify myself with Heimdall. The gift of foresight, battle skills and connoseur of the finer things in life.
And he gets to kill Loki at Ragnarok.
Bilious
The "Oh God of Hangovers," who gets all of the bad effects of drinking even though he has never touched a drop. He has a supreme dislike of people who drink heavily, especially if they don't appear to suffer from a hangover the next day; understandably so, since the reason that they have not, in fact, suffered a hangover, is because he has suffered it instead.
He appears in "Hogfather," where he decides to drop his duties as the Oh God of Hangovers and become holiday relief for other gods. He also begins dating one of the many Tooth Fairies and still exists because of her belief in him.
Quote from: Guardian85 on February 01, 2012, 07:46:03 AM
I would prefer to identify myself with Heimdall. The gift of foresight, battle skills and connoseur of the finer things in life.
And he gets to kill Loki at Ragnarok.
Doesn't Loki get to kill him right back?
Quote from: Tank on February 01, 2012, 07:59:29 AM
Bilious
The "Oh God of Hangovers," who gets all of the bad effects of drinking even though he has never touched a drop. He has a supreme dislike of people who drink heavily, especially if they don't appear to suffer from a hangover the next day; understandably so, since the reason that they have not, in fact, suffered a hangover, is because he has suffered it instead.
He appears in "Hogfather," where he decides to drop his duties as the Oh God of Hangovers and become holiday relief for other gods. He also begins dating one of the many Tooth Fairies and still exists because of her belief in him.
LOL, I love Terry Pratchett. *grin* +1 for Tank!
I'm really enjoying your answers, everyone!
Quote from: Asmodean on February 01, 2012, 08:01:44 AM
Quote from: Guardian85 on February 01, 2012, 07:46:03 AM
I would prefer to identify myself with Heimdall. The gift of foresight, battle skills and connoseur of the finer things in life.
And he gets to kill Loki at Ragnarok.
Doesn't Loki get to kill him right back?
Details, details... 8)
Dionysos, for giving us the joys of wine, and promoting inebriation, pleasure and festivity throughout the world (not enough gods do that kind of thing!)
plus he rode a leopard, and that's quite a cool thing to do.
Athene of course.
Wisdom, courage, inspiration, civilization, law and justice, just warfare, mathematics, strength, strategy, the arts, crafts, and skill.
Hmmm, I think that covers it...!
Quote from: Too Few Lions on February 01, 2012, 12:01:26 PM
plus he rode a leopard, and that's quite a cool thing to do.
I think high level inebriation would be required to raise my enthusiasm sufficiently to undertake such an activity.
Perhaps if I'd run out of drink and I didn't want to risk the police pulling my car over, I might try riding a leopard to the bottle shop.
Quote from: The Magic Pudding on February 01, 2012, 12:34:57 PM
I think high level inebriation would be required to raise my enthusiasm sufficiently to undertake such an activity.
Perhaps if I'd run out of drink and I didn't want to risk the police pulling my car over, I might try riding a leopard to the bottle shop.
maybe that's why he did it. Dionysos was out merry-making with his maenads and satyrs one night, having had one krater too many of his favourite vino, when he saw a leopard, and thought, 'Fuck it, I can ride that baby, looks like fun!'
I still think The Asmo, the god of clowns and pottery, is the most kickass of them all. Followed closely by Ba'al from Stargate SG1. ;D
Quote from: Too Few Lions on February 01, 2012, 12:01:26 PM
Dionysos, for giving us the joys of wine, and promoting inebriation, pleasure and festivity throughout the world (not enough gods do that kind of thing!)
plus he rode a leopard, and that's quite a cool thing to do.
I rate him a close second.
There is a lady on DeviantArt who does pictures of Nordic mythology. I love the way she visualizes and describes them.
Quote from: Budhorse4 on February 01, 2012, 02:35:45 PM
There is a lady on DeviantArt who does pictures of Nordic mythology. I love the way she visualizes and describes them.
What? No link???
QuoteDionysos, for giving us the joys of wine, and promoting inebriation, pleasure and festivity throughout the world
for one week every September, we have the wine festival. Started out as a dyonisus celebration at the ancient years but now its just a festival with FREE WINE
mistake
Quote from: Traveler on February 01, 2012, 04:14:28 PM
Quote from: Budhorse4 on February 01, 2012, 02:35:45 PM
There is a lady on DeviantArt who does pictures of Nordic mythology. I love the way she visualizes and describes them.
What? No link???
http//www.humon.deviantart.com (http://http//www.humon.deviantart.com)
Should work. I had to type it from memory.
Quote from: Budhorse4 on February 01, 2012, 05:14:41 PM
Quote from: Traveler on February 01, 2012, 04:14:28 PM
Quote from: Budhorse4 on February 01, 2012, 02:35:45 PM
There is a lady on DeviantArt who does pictures of Nordic mythology. I love the way she visualizes and describes them.
What? No link???
http//www.humon.deviantart.com (http://http//www.humon.deviantart.com)
Should work. I had to type it from memory.
http://humon.deviantart.com/
That one certainly worked ;)
On related note, does anyone else read "Scandinavian and the World"?
Linkity-link: http://satwcomic.com/the-world
Also, I think I'll go with any old Finnish pagan god; Ukko, Tapio, Mielikki, Ahti, Ilmarinen.... :P
Quote from: history_geek on February 01, 2012, 08:18:48 PM
Quote from: Budhorse4 on February 01, 2012, 05:14:41 PM
Quote from: Traveler on February 01, 2012, 04:14:28 PM
Quote from: Budhorse4 on February 01, 2012, 02:35:45 PM
There is a lady on DeviantArt who does pictures of Nordic mythology. I love the way she visualizes and describes them.
What? No link???
http//www.humon.deviantart.com (http://http//www.humon.deviantart.com)
Should work. I had to type it from memory.
http://humon.deviantart.com/
That one certainly worked ;)
On related note, does anyone else read "Scandinavian and the World"?
Linkity-link: http://satwcomic.com/the-world
Also, I think I'll go with any old Finnish pagan god; Ukko, Tapio, Mielikki, Ahti, Ilmarinen.... :P
I've learned more history through SATW an Hetalia then every history class I've ever taken XD
Favourite god number 1: The Asmo.
Favourite god number 2: Athena (beat me to it, scissorlegs)
Favourite god number 3: Proteus (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Proteus)
I just think the guy is awesome. 8)
My favourite Goddess is Kali (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kali) the multi-armed Goddess of Time and Change.
Quote from: ShivaAt the dissolution of things, it is Kāla [Time] Who will devour all, and by reason of this He is called Mahākāla [an epithet of Lord Shiva], and since Thou devourest Mahākāla Himself, it is Thou who art the Supreme Primordial Kālika. Because Thou devourest Kāla, Thou art Kāli, the original form of all things, and because Thou art the Origin of and devourest all things Thou art called the Adya [the Primordial One]. Re-assuming after Dissolution Thine own form, dark and formless, Thou alone remainest as One ineffable and inconceivable. Though having a form, yet art Thou formless; though Thyself without beginning, multiform by the power of Maya, Thou art the Beginning of all, Creatrix, Protectress, and Destructress that Thou art
Quote from: xSilverPhinx on February 02, 2012, 04:37:39 AM
Favourite god number 1: The Asmo.
YES!
You see, THIS... This is good. Priceless even. :D
The Asmo may even postpone the blood sacrifice in his honour for a minute or two, so he can behold and contemplate his own greatness! 8)
Quote from: Tom62 on February 02, 2012, 05:50:39 AM
My favourite Goddess is Kali (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kali) the multi-armed Goddess of Time and Change.
Quote from: ShivaAt the dissolution of things, it is Kāla [Time] Who will devour all, and by reason of this He is called Mahākāla [an epithet of Lord Shiva], and since Thou devourest Mahākāla Himself, it is Thou who art the Supreme Primordial Kālika. Because Thou devourest Kāla, Thou art Kāli, the original form of all things, and because Thou art the Origin of and devourest all things Thou art called the Adya [the Primordial One]. Re-assuming after Dissolution Thine own form, dark and formless, Thou alone remainest as One ineffable and inconceivable. Though having a form, yet art Thou formless; though Thyself without beginning, multiform by the power of Maya, Thou art the Beginning of all, Creatrix, Protectress, and Destructress that Thou art
Ah, yes, Kali. I actually first heard about her when I read Christopher Moore's fabulous book, 'The Gospel According to Biff, Christ's Childhood Pal'. ;D In the story, without giving anything away, Biff and Joshua rescue some children from a sacrifice to Kali. It's a fun tale indeed.
Shiva and his ignorance dwarfhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nataraja (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nataraja)
orgies carnavals and intoxications http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dionysus (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dionysus)
all the egyptians as seen by this comic and by LSD in a visit there
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/La_Foire_aux_immortels (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/La_Foire_aux_immortels)
teonanacatl, peyote and yopo as "spiritual" plants
they just feel good http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ganesha (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ganesha),http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lakshmi (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lakshmi)
women geting impregnatedhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Venus_of_Willendorf (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Venus_of_Willendorf)
innana, ishtar, aphrodite, venus, the olympians,
celtic trees and white goddess
the river of the tao
the nothing of Zen
Yay, a fun thread! THere are so many.
Mainly Greek, Norse, and Shinto gods are my fav. I also love Hindu ; such as Kali and Shiva.
Obsessed with angels like Lucifer and Michael.
I read a lot about many Shinto ghosts. Let's see, Izanagi and his children are my favorites. Susanoo, Tsukiyomi, and Amaterasu.
Greek:
Aires, Artemis, Aphrodite.
<3 so many cool mythological gods.
Then there is Bishamonten, the Japanese god of war. An armoured bad-ass and one of the "seven gods of fortune".
Quote from: Guardian85 on February 03, 2012, 02:19:51 AM
Then there is Bishamonten, the Japanese god of war. An armoured bad-ass and one of the "seven gods of fortune".
Are you sure you are not the spirit of Uesugi Kenshin? XD
Reincarnation, perhaps.
Always preferred the stories of the Ten Braves of the Sanada clan, though.
Quote from: Guardian85 on February 03, 2012, 03:01:06 AM
Reincarnation, perhaps.
Always preferred the stories of the Ten Braves of the Sanada clan, though.
I'm an Oda clan type of guy. Love all the stories about him and Akechi Mitsuhide. Ahh, good times.
Know what you're talking about, The Asmo of The Asmoclan does not. ???
Quote from: Asmodean on February 03, 2012, 08:41:54 AM
Know what you're talking about, The Asmo of The Asmoclan does not. ???
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seven_Lucky_Gods
They are basically seven gods, each with their own domain, and they are seen as "good" in Japanese folklore and such.
Bishamonten is the God of Warriors.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uesugi_Kenshin
A warlord during the Sengoku Jidai, or Warring States Period, who was apparently believed to have been an Avatar of Bishamonten.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sanada_Ten_Braves
A group of ninjas from Clan Sanada, who made it into popular culture in novels written in the Edo Period (1603 to 1868)...
Sounds like an interesting bunch though...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oda_Nobunaga
Perhaps the most famous member of the Oda Clan, a successful warlord, who in the end was killed in a fire set by an old friend....(apparently most of his "friends" were people who tried to kill Nobunaga at least once....something that was turned into something of a pun in the manga "Drifters", where he is one of the main characters...)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Akechi_Mitsuhide
The afore mentioned "friend" :D
Ahhh, ancient Japan just rules ;D
Quote from: history_geek on February 03, 2012, 08:36:46 PM
Ahhh, ancient Japan just rules ;D
Hm...In the eye of the beholder, I guess...
Thanks for the info though. Now, Asmo of The Asmoclan knows and can plot against ;D
Sorry Asmo, i'm a huge Japanese history nerd. XD
Sometime we should speak on aim if you has it, Guardian.
I'm Mana Murata
Here's one I don't think anyone's mentioned yet: Prometheus, the hero who stole fire from the gods to give it to mankind.
QuoteIn Greek mythology, Prometheus (Ancient Greek: Προμηθεύς, "Forethinker")[1] is a Titan, the son of Iapetus and Themis, and brother to Atlas, Epimetheus and Menoetius. He was a champion of mankind, known for his wily intelligence, who stole fire from Zeus and gave it to mortals.[2] Zeus then punished him for his crime by having him bound to a rock while a great eagle ate his liver every day only to have it grow back to be eaten again the next day. His myth has been treated by a number of ancient sources, in which Prometheus is credited with – or blamed for – playing a pivotal role in the early history of mankind. During the Greek War of Independence, Prometheus became a figure of hope and inspiration for Greek revolutionaries and their philhellene supporters.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prometheus
Prometheus is pretty cool, that's for sure. I love that Prometheus Books, the famous publishing company, saw fit to model their name after him:
Quote(from their website's 'about' page)
Prometheus Books took its name from the courageous Greek god who gave fire to humans, lighting the way to reason, intelligence, and independence. Founded in 1969, Prometheus Books established itself immediately as a leading independent publisher, earning the prestigious endorsements of Isaac Asimov and Carl Sagan.
The leading publisher in popular science, philosophy, and critical thinking, Prometheus Books publishes intelligent nonfiction for the thoughtful lay reader, in categories such as social science, current events, true crime, business, history, philosophy, atheism, humanism, Islamic studies, religion, psychology, health and medicine, self-help, and more. Prometheus's diverse catalog also includes hundreds of established classics in literature, philosophy, and the sciences.
Quote from: Sweetdeath on February 04, 2012, 12:55:38 AM
Sorry Asmo, i'm a huge Japanese history nerd. XD
Sometime we should speak on aim if you has it, Guardian.
I'm Mana Murata
Aim? Never heard of. But feel free to shoot me your skype or msn in private.
Quote from: Guardian85 on February 04, 2012, 01:20:23 PM
Aim? Never heard of. But feel free to shoot me your skype or msn in private.
AOL Instant Messenger
Thanks Asmo. :) <3
Quote from: Amicale
Here's one I don't think anyone's mentioned yet: Prometheus, the hero who stole fire from the gods to give it to mankind.
He has inspired me when young, but then I realised he represents a very human ideal, to standard terms of humanhood
homo erectus or homo ergaster, that is the question.
anyway a cultural give-away and a carry-on for us late-arrived homo sapiens.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Control_of_fire_by_early_humans (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Control_of_fire_by_early_humans)
I'm a huge fan of Bastet and Sekhmet. Athena/Minerva is also a favorite as she's the patron of needleworkers and weavers and I'm a needleworker.
I also really like Mercury and other Roman Gods (I'm a masive Roman fan).
It's just fun to learn about all this stuff. :)
Oh and an Asmo fan too. :D
But Asmo isn't mythological. He's real ;)
Quote from: Sweetdeath on February 06, 2012, 09:30:17 PM
But Asmo isn't mythological. He's real ;)
He's both. Is a living myth, you see. :D
In that mystical God/s work in mysterious ways way. ;)
Yes. They also appear in toast, as demonstrated in some other thread.
Quote from: Asmodean on February 07, 2012, 09:04:39 PM
Yes. They also appear in toast, as demonstrated in some other thread.
They most certainly do! ;D
(https://www.happyatheistforum.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi40.tinypic.com%2F23j313q.jpg&hash=15a53b3f674ac7394f6ae307676f12f8022d958e)
I was extremely fascinated by Greek mythology for a while. I even named my snake after the Greek goddess of the blue sky, Theia.
Quote from: Budhorse4 on February 09, 2012, 01:44:25 PM
I was extremely fascinated by Greek mythology for a while. I even named my snake after the Greek goddess of the blue sky, Theia.
I agree that Greek Mythology is a rich and interesting subject. Didn't Bill & Ted go there?
Quote from: Tank on February 09, 2012, 01:51:47 PM
Quote from: Budhorse4 on February 09, 2012, 01:44:25 PM
I was extremely fascinated by Greek mythology for a while. I even named my snake after the Greek goddess of the blue sky, Theia.
I agree that Greek Mythology is a rich and interesting subject. Didn't Bill & Ted go there?
They got Plato or Socrates in one of the movies, right?
Quote from: Sweetdeath on February 10, 2012, 12:52:48 AM
Quote from: Tank on February 09, 2012, 01:51:47 PM
Quote from: Budhorse4 on February 09, 2012, 01:44:25 PM
I was extremely fascinated by Greek mythology for a while. I even named my snake after the Greek goddess of the blue sky, Theia.
I agree that Greek Mythology is a rich and interesting subject. Didn't Bill & Ted go there?
They got Plato or Socrates in one of the movies, right?
Yes. I think it was them.
Loki is certainly one of the most interesting deities. He's a prankster of sorts, but some of his pranks are pretty malevolent.
I am a non-religious Asatruar in a way. I enjoy the Mythology of the Norse and the Havamal. Of the all of the Aesir and Vanir, my favorite is Odin. It was Odin who hanged for three days on the World Tree, was pierced by a spear,(Any of that sound familiar?) and sacrificed an eye for knowledge and the secrets of the runes, a sacrifice which he hasn't thrown in our faces for 2000 years now.
It's funny you bring up. Norse mythology is suppose to be a lot older than Christian mythology.
I tried to bring the sacrafice thing up with various religious people, and they just brushed it off. :\
Quote from: Sweetdeath on February 12, 2012, 11:30:07 PM
It's funny you bring up. Norse mythology is suppose to be a lot older than Christian mythology.
I tried to bring the sacrafice thing up with various religious people, and they just brushed it off. :\
I don't know that it is older than the christian mythology, but it certainly arose indepently of christian influence. I think the time frame may actually be a couple/ few centuries later, but it definitely evolved from older Germanic beliefs. I'm not sure anyone knows when they began.
Quote from: Reprobate on February 13, 2012, 01:48:29 AM
Quote from: Sweetdeath on February 12, 2012, 11:30:07 PM
It's funny you bring up. Norse mythology is suppose to be a lot older than Christian mythology.
I tried to bring the sacrafice thing up with various religious people, and they just brushed it off. :\
I don't know that it is older than the christian mythology, but it certainly arose indepently of christian influence. I think the time frame may actually be a couple/ few centuries later, but it definitely evolved from older Germanic beliefs. I'm not sure anyone knows when they began.
From my (limited) understanding of Norse culture, the culture itself arose several centuries BCE, but it wasn't written down or recorded. What we do have from the ancient Norse culture are the statues of gods and goddesses that show us that their mythology was well developed, although perhaps not documented (or if it was, it's been lost to history). Most of what we know of Norse mythology today was developed after the spread of Judeo-Christianity developed. As you said, it definitely evolved from the older beliefs. :)
Quote from: Amicale on February 13, 2012, 02:46:41 AM
From my (limited) understanding of Norse culture, the culture itself arose several centuries BCE, but it wasn't written down or recorded. What we do have from the ancient Norse culture are the statues of gods and goddesses that show us that their mythology was well developed, although perhaps not documented (or if it was, it's been lost to history). Most of what we know of Norse mythology today was developed after the spread of Judeo-Christianity developed. As you said, it definitely evolved from the older beliefs. :)
Most of the record that remains came from Iceland, the Prose Edda by Snorri Sturluson. Whatever may have been recorded elsewhere would have been destroyed for being heretical and blasphemous when Scandanavia converted to Christianity. Some remained as oral tradition in Europe, but the conversion of Iceland came after the church had relented somewhat in the destruction of historical and cultural texts. Some of the older Anglo-Saxon beliefs are similar, but knowledge of them is sketchy as well.
Quote from: Tank on February 10, 2012, 07:11:34 AM
Quote from: Sweetdeath on February 10, 2012, 12:52:48 AM
Quote from: Tank on February 09, 2012, 01:51:47 PM
Quote from: Budhorse4 on February 09, 2012, 01:44:25 PM
I was extremely fascinated by Greek mythology for a while. I even named my snake after the Greek goddess of the blue sky, Theia.
I agree that Greek Mythology is a rich and interesting subject. Didn't Bill & Ted go there?
They got Plato or Socrates in one of the movies, right?
Yes. I think it was them.
It was Socrates...pronounced Sow Craytes. :)
Be excellent to each other.
Blanaid the goddess of punctures, defective anti-virus programmes and cancelled airflights. At least she moved with the times.And possibly to Hebden Bridge.