One day while going through my school textbook, I suddenly came across a very interesting story, about Icarus and Daedalus. Their names intrigued me as I had not heard such types of names. Curiosity got the better of me and I read the story, it fascinated me a lot, that was my favourite story/chapter I read that year. A year later, I got interested in mythology and when I came across Icarus's story, I remembered that I had read it the previous year.
For this blog I decided to list a few myths that I have come across in the most unexpected places and you might have to. So let's begin the journey..........
Prometheus and Fire
Prometheus was a Titan in Greek mythology, He is the son of Iapetus and Themis, and brother of Atlas, Epimetheus and Minoetius. He was often referred to as a trickster in the olden times. He was called so because, he tricked Zeus, the king of Mt. Olympus, and introduced fire to humans. He is therefore remembered by mankind as a witty and cunning young lad who tricked the gods to save them. For this crime committed by him Zeus punished him by having him bound to a rock while a great eagle (in some records a vulture), ate his liver , only to have it grow back to be eaten again the following day, making it an everyday thing.
Sisyphus
Sisyphus ruled over Ephyra and was known for his deceitfulness and craftiness. He duped and opposed the gods on numerous instances with his cunning silver tongue. The gods however were enraged by his actions and decided to punish him. They condemned him to roll a large rock up a slope, as soon as it reached the top of the hill, it would tumble back down. This kept happening repeatedly, turning it into an endless cycle. This was the task devised by the Olympians for Sisyphus's haughtiness against them, thinking that he, a mere mortal, could outsmart them, the all-powerful olympians.
Perseus and Medusa
Perseus was the son of Zeus and Danae, the princess of Argos. Perseus was destined to kill his grandfather, Acrisius, the king of Argos. This led him to imprison Danae in a room built beneath the Earth. However, one day Zeus transformed himself into golden rain, and pierced through to the underground room. After hearing this news, Acrisius let his daughter and grandchild out in the open sea inside a wooden coffin. It finally washed up on the shores of Serifos island, where they're saved and adopted by a local couple, the man was the brother of the islands king, Polydectus. Polydectus wanted to make Danae his queen, but he soon realised it was not possible unless he got rid of Perseus. As soon as Perseus became of age he sent him on a dangerous and uncertain quest. Perseus was told to bring back the head of the Gorgon Medusa.
The Gorgons were 3 sisters, they all had monstrous snake hair. Two of them were immortal and had fangs filled with poison, but the youngest of them, Medusa, was mortal and was breathtakingly beautiful. She was cursed by Athena to become a monster whose snake hair petrified anyone who looked at her. Therefore, Perseus had a tough task ahead of him. He asked the Gods for help and got many useful gifts that he could use to slay Medusa. Athena provided him with a sword and a mirrored shield, Hermes gave him a pair of winged sandals, he was given a magical bag by the Nymphs and Hades gave him the Helm of Darkness. With all these tools he successfully infiltrated the cave in which the gorgons lived. Fortunately for Perseus the gorgons were sleeping when he arrived. With the Helm of Darkness, he was invisible, he was able to fly because of the winged sandals. He approached Medusa and her sisters. He looked at her reflection in the shield, cut her head off and put it in the sack/bag.
Orpheus
Orpheus was a talented musician. He was the son of Apollo and the muse Calliope. He was gifted a lyre by his father. It is said that nothing could resist the melodies played by Orpheus. Orpheus fell in love with a beautiful maiden called Eurydice. They got married and lived happily, but for a very brief time. One day, when Eurydice was with her nymph friends, a snake bit her and she instantly died. Orpheus was heartbroken and sang songs filled with grief, this moved everyones heart, be they mortal or immortal. The gods sent him to the underworld where he attracted Hades, the lord of the underworld, by his music. Hades said that he can take his wife with him as long as he does not look back at her until he is out in the mortal world. Orpheus accepted the condition. He almost made it through to the mortal world but a few feet before the exit, he looked back and saw Eurydice being pulled back into the underworld.
Scylla and Charybdis
If you know the myth of the great hero Odysseus, then you have definitely come across Scylla and Charybdis. On both sides of a narrow stretch of ocean, 2 beasts patiently wait. Scylla, a 6 headed monster on one side and Charybdis, a ferocious natural whirlpool on the other. To pass through this stretch alive was considered impossible. Odysseus and his crew were the first people to come out alive of the feared stretch, although they lost six men in the process, they accomplished something impossible.
The Chimera
There are many known mythological beasts from Greek mythology. The Chimera is one of the most intriguing beasts. It's body is a mixture of body parts from many animals. The Chimera is usually personified as a lion, with the head of a goat and a snake tail, which may or may not end with its head. It is the offspring of Typhon and Echidna and a sibling of the Cerberus and the Lernaean Hydra.
Cerberus
It is the second sibling after the chimera. It is often refer to as the 'hound of Hades'. It has 3 heads, a serpent tail, and snaked protruding from multiple parts of his body. He is the guard dog oh Hades, who guards the gates of Hell, to prevent the dead from leaving. He is known mostly because of Heracles, as one of his 12 labours, or if you're like me, you know him as Fluffy from the Harry Potter series.
Lernaean Hydra
The third monstrous sibling is the Lernaean Hydra or just simply as a Hydra. It is a serpentine monster, whose lair was the lake of Lerna in the Argolid. Lerna was a rumoured entrance to the underworld. The monsters had poisonous breath and blood so noxious, that even its scent was lethal. Its description was that it had a multitude of heads and 2 tails. If you cut off one head, two more would sprout back up. Heracles slayed it by burning the severed head to prevent it from growing back again. It was the second task task of his 12 labours.
Narcissus and Echo
Narcissus was a hunter who was known all over Greece for his beauty. He was very proud of his appearance and rejected anyone who was lesser than him, which in his eyes was everyone. He was so obsessed with his appearance that once le looked at his reflection in the water and he fell in love with himself. The nymph of that lake, Echo (since she could only say the last few words said to her), noticed him and fell instantly in love with him, but as always, Narcissus rejected her. Echo then vowed that she would look over him all his life. After his death, she was the only one who remembered him fondly.
These were the Greek myths that crossed my mind. Were any of these myths new to you? Have you come across them before? Was the journey enjoyable and informative? I will see you next time with more myths to ignite inflame your curiosity and make it a raging inferno.
Very interesting read, Naomi :-)