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Greek Mythology
Apr. 22nd, 2014 06:59 pmI think I need to have a stern word with myself. This is not helped along by extreme lack of sleep.
Self, why have you sudden become (re)enraptured with Greek Mythology?
I ask this out of sheer, idle curiosity. Why are you seriously trying to remember where you left your translation of the Homeric Hymns? Yes, self, I understand that the Greek myths were literally your bedtime stories when you were little, it's actually gotten you some strange looks in the past when you automatically assume people understand what you're talking about when you mention pomegranates and winter, or the three Gorgons (and how Gorgon does not equal Medusa. Seriously.) Self, I'm looking at you.
Yes, Self, I understand that greek myths are fabulous - they're a world, to quote a cartoon song, "of magic and mystery", with immortal gods and goddesses walking alongside men (and women) and that- well, the best survival mechanism, according to Ovid, was to try and avoid their attention altogether in order to avoid being turned into something other then human. Like cows. Or Nightengales.
But, I respond, Self, oh, the stories.
Self. Seriously. The ancient gods, to quote the same cartoon, were cruel and cold, but they were - in some inestimable way - human. They made mistakes. They could be tricked and could be bitter and cruel as only humans could be, and that's - that's fascinating.
Self. Why, exactly, have you suddenly become obsessed with the legend of Hades and Persephone? Why have you been thinking about pomegranates, and picturing all the ways six seeds could have fallen into pale hands? You've been looking up literary adaptations of the legend - fanworks, short stories, artworks. You've been thinking about Persephone, the Iron Queen, and Hades, the Unseen One, Lord of the Dead - and all the lovely ways their story is open to interpretation. About how Persephone, in some ways, is one of the few women of the ancient world to hold power in her own right. How some people envision her as a rape victim. How some hold her as an icon for female power.
Self - no! Stop! Bad self! You are not going to make a rec list of the wonderful female-empowering Persephone and Hades stories you can fine! Stop it! Now!
Self, why have you sudden become (re)enraptured with Greek Mythology?
I ask this out of sheer, idle curiosity. Why are you seriously trying to remember where you left your translation of the Homeric Hymns? Yes, self, I understand that the Greek myths were literally your bedtime stories when you were little, it's actually gotten you some strange looks in the past when you automatically assume people understand what you're talking about when you mention pomegranates and winter, or the three Gorgons (and how Gorgon does not equal Medusa. Seriously.) Self, I'm looking at you.
Yes, Self, I understand that greek myths are fabulous - they're a world, to quote a cartoon song, "of magic and mystery", with immortal gods and goddesses walking alongside men (and women) and that- well, the best survival mechanism, according to Ovid, was to try and avoid their attention altogether in order to avoid being turned into something other then human. Like cows. Or Nightengales.
But, I respond, Self, oh, the stories.
Self. Seriously. The ancient gods, to quote the same cartoon, were cruel and cold, but they were - in some inestimable way - human. They made mistakes. They could be tricked and could be bitter and cruel as only humans could be, and that's - that's fascinating.
Self. Why, exactly, have you suddenly become obsessed with the legend of Hades and Persephone? Why have you been thinking about pomegranates, and picturing all the ways six seeds could have fallen into pale hands? You've been looking up literary adaptations of the legend - fanworks, short stories, artworks. You've been thinking about Persephone, the Iron Queen, and Hades, the Unseen One, Lord of the Dead - and all the lovely ways their story is open to interpretation. About how Persephone, in some ways, is one of the few women of the ancient world to hold power in her own right. How some people envision her as a rape victim. How some hold her as an icon for female power.
Self - no! Stop! Bad self! You are not going to make a rec list of the wonderful female-empowering Persephone and Hades stories you can fine! Stop it! Now!
