wonderful myths and magic

[air-bag]

The tale of Daedalus and his son Icarus


Ovid, Metamorphoses, VIII,(lines 183 to 235) translated by Frank Justus Miller

...Daedalus, hating Crete and his long exile, and longing to see his native land, was shut in by the sea. "Though he may block escape by land and water," he said, "yet the sky is open, and by that way I will go. Though Minos rules over all, he does not rule the air." So saying, he sets his mind at work upon unknown arts, and changes the laws of nature. For he lays feathers in order, beginning at the smallest, short next to long, so you would think they had grown on a slope. Just so the old-fashioned rustic pan-pipes with their unequal reeds rise one above another.Then he fastened the feathers together with twine and wax at the middle and bottom; and, thus arranged, he bent them with a gentle curve, so that they looked like real birds' wings.

His son, Icarus, was standing by and, little knowing that he was handling his own peril, with gleeful face would now catch at the feathers which some passing breeze had blown about, now mold the yellow wax with his thumb, and by his sport would hinder his father's wonderful task. When now the finishing touches had been put upon the work, the master workman himself balanced his body on two wings and hung poised on the beaten air. He taught his son also and said: "I warn you, Icarus, to fly in a middle course, lest, if you go too low, the water may weight your wings; if you go too high, the fire may burn them. Fly between the two. And I bid you not to shape your course like Bootes or Helice or the drawn sword of Orion, but fly where I shall lead." At the same time he tells him the rules of flight and fits the strange wings on his boy's shoulders. While he works and talks the old man's cheeks are wet with tears, and his fatherly hands tremble. He kisses his son, which he was destined never again to do, and rising on his wings, he flew on ahead, fearing for his companion, just like a bird which has led forth her fledglings from the high nest into the unsubstantial air.

He encourages the boy to follow, instructs him in the fatal art of flight, himself flapping his wings and looking back on his son. Now some fisherman spies them, angling for fish with his flexible rod, or a shepherd, leaning upon his crook, or a plowman, on his plow-handles--spies them and stands stupefied, and believes them to be gods that they could fly through the air. And now Juno's sacred Samos had been passed on the left, and Delos and Paros; Lebinthos was on the right and Calymne, rich in honey, when the boy began to rejoice in his bold flight and, deserting his leader, led by a desire for the open sky, directed his course to a greater height. The scorching rays of the nearer sun softened the fragrant wax which held his wings.

The wax melted; his arms were bare as he beat them up and down, but, lacking wings, they took no hold on the air. His lips, calling to the last upon his father's name, were drowned in the dark blue sea, which took its name from him. But the unhappy father, now no longer father, called: "Icarus, Icarus, where are you? In what place shall I seek you? Icarus," he called again; and then he spied the wings floating on the deep, and cursed his skill. He buried the boy in a tomb, and the land was called for the buried boy.

 

[air-bag]

Echo and Narcissus in Myth

Echo was a beautiful nymph, fond of the woods and hills, where she devoted herself to woodland sports. She was a favorite of Artemis, and attended her in the chase. But Echo had one failing; she was fond of talking, and whether in chat or argument, would have the last word. One day Hera was seeking her husband, who, she had reason to fear, was amusing himself among the nymphs. Echo by her talk contrived to detain the goddess till the nymphs made their escape. When Hera discovered it, she passed sentence upon Echo in these words: "You shall forfeit the use of that tongue with which you have cheated me, except for that one purpose you are so fond of - reply. You shall still have the last word, but no power to speak first."

This nymph saw Narcissus, a beautiful youth, as he pursued the chase upon the mountains. She loved him and followed his footsteps. O how she longed to address him in the softest accents, and win him to converse! But it was not in her power. She waited with impatience for him to speak first, and had her answer ready. One day the youth, being separated from his companions, shouted aloud, "Who's here?" Echo replied, "Here." Narcissus looked around, but seeing no one called out, "Come". Echo answered, "Come." As no one came, Narcissus called again, "Why do you shun me?" Echo, asked the same question. "Let us join one another," said the youth. The maid answered with all her heart in the same words, and hastened to the spot, ready to throw her arms about his neck. He started back, exclaiming, "Hands off! I would rather die than you should have me!" "Have me," said she; but it was all in vain. He left her, and she went to hide her blushes in the recesses of the woods. From that time forth she lived in caves till at last all her flesh shrank away. Her bones were changed into rocks and there was nothing left of her but her voice. With that she is still ready to reply to any one who calls her, and keeps up her old habit of having the last word.

Narcissus's cruelty in this case was not the only instance. He shunned all the rest of the nymphs, as he had done poor Echo. One day a maiden who had in vain endeavored to attract him uttered a prayer that he might some time or other feel what it was to love and meet no return of affection. The avenging goddess heard and granted the prayer.
There was a clear fountain, with water like silver, to which the shepherds never drove their flocks, nor the mountain goats resorted, nor any of the beasts of the forest; neither was it defaced with fallen leaves or branches; but the grass grew fresh around it, and the rocks sheltered it from the sun. Hither came one day the youth, fatigued with hunting, heated and thirsty. He stooped down to drink, and saw his own image in the water; he thought it was some beautiful water-spirit living in the fountain. He stood gazing with admiration at those bright eyes, those locks curled like the locks of Dionysos or Apollo, the rounded cheeks, the ivory neck, the parted lips, and the glow of health and exercise over all. He fell in love with himself. He brought his lips near to take a kiss; he plunged his arms in to embrace the beloved object. It fled at the touch, but returned again after a moment and renewed the fascination. He could not tear himself away; he lost all thought of food or rest, while he hovered over the brink of the fountain gazing upon his own image. He talked with the supposed spirit: "Why, beautiful being, do you shun me? Surely my face is not one to repel you. The nymphs love me, and you yourself look not indifferent upon me. When I stretch forth my arms you do the same; and you smile upon me and answer my beckonings with the like." His tears fell into the water and disturbed the image. As he saw it depart, he exclaimed, "Stay, I entreat you! Let me at least gaze upon you, if I may not touch you."

With this, and much more of the same kind, he cherished the flame that consumed him, so that by degrees he lost his color, his vigor, and the beauty which formerly had so charmed the nymph Echo. She kept near him, however, and when he exclaimed, "Alas! alas!" she answered him with the same words. He pined away and died; and when his shade passed the Stygian river, it leaned over the boat to catch a look of itself in the waters. The nymphs mourned for him, especially the water-nymphs; and when they smote their breasts Echo smote hers also. They prepared a funeral pile and would have burned the body, but it was nowhere to be found; but in its place a flower, purple within and surrounded with white leaves, which bears the name and preserves the memory of Narcissus.

from Bulfinch's Mythology

 

[air-bag]

Prometheus

….and Prometheus could not bear to see the clay mortals he had created living a half-life, without the warmth of fire.
One night, when Zeus was away, Prometheus crept to Olympus along a secret path and stole the God's precious fire, hiding it in a hollow reed, which he concealed in his cloak. This he then gave to man, teaching him how to use fire to warm, to cook, to make bricks, tools and earthenware, everything needed to give people a more comfortable life. But when Zeus returned to Olympus, so great was his rage that he ordered Prometheus to be chained forever to a lonely rock in the Caucasian Mountains. Every day, an eagle came to Prometheus and bit him in the liver, which grew again every night. There he bravely endured for thousands of years until Zeus, in admiration and pity, freed Prometheus to help and champion humanity once more through his forethought and love.

 

[Decepta-Kyle]

also

Arachne
Hephaistus and Aphrodite
Paris and Helen
Athene's birth from Zeus' skull...

The list goes on and on;


From a one time Classics Major


Kyle

 

[air-bag]

Then post!!

I have no idea who is Arachne nor what myth is associated with her... and i'd love to hear from you rather than searching the web.


Anyone who has any fascinating stories, not necessarily mythology.. just stories that once you heard them you said "wow.. this is amazing"

For example i was about to post the story of Ur-Quan from Star Control III but i doubt anyone would comprehend its beauty because of lack of appropriate context.

Also I wanted to post some histories of the elves but they were just too long...

 

[Decepta-Kyle]

more or less

Arachne

Arachne lived in a village on the Greek isle beloved of the gods. Her village was known for its beautiful embroidery as well as for the skill of its weavers. Arachne was the daughter of a prominent villager and was widely recognized as the most skilled weaver in the village. Her fame spread and she became vain and full of conceit. One day she was overheard to say that her skill surpassed even that of Pallas Athene who was patron goddess of the loom.
High on Mount Olympus Athene took note of this insolent mortal and rushed to the village. She confronted Arachne about the words that she had just spoken and Arachne, full of her own worth failed to recognize the presence of the godess in the mortal seeming woman's form. She repeated her claim and in her wrath Athene showed herself to Arachne and challenged her to a competition in which they would both weave a tapestry and let the villagers decide to whom the victory would go.
(The description of each tapestry is a little complicated and I can't remember the scenes that they each chose to render....sorry)
When they had completed their works the judging took place and though the villagers feared the displeasure of the godess they chose Arachne's because it surpassed Athene's in beauty and skill.
The godess, in her displeasure took herself away.
The next day Arachne was gathering herbs for the dyes that she needed to weave her beautiful works and as she bent to pluck a flower Athene came from behind her and sprinkled a dust over her head. Arachne's body began to shrivel and her limbs to become long until she resolved herself into the shape of what we know now to be a spiders.

Athene had rewarded her insolence with eternal weaving. No mortal being allowed to affront any of the gods in such a manner.

 

[~soulheaven~]

Weakness

You spelled 'Hephaestus' wrong you amateur! =)

Cheers!

Greg

 

[KiX]

lol omg you two are such nerds.

I shall contribute this to this thread since i read about her today and she owns.

Brigantia (also known as Brighid, Bride, and Brigindo (eastern France)) is the patroness of healing, smithcraft, and poetry, which represent the mysteries of renewal, transformation, and inspiration. She is also associated with fertility as she presides over the birthing of lambs. In Celtic mythology she is described as the daughter of the Dagda and was at one time wife to Bres, the half-Formorii ruler of the Tuatha De Danann. Later she married Tuireann and had three sons: Brian, Iochar, and Iocharba, who later gained infamy for the killing of Cian, Lugh's father. As the years went by her importance grew until she took on Danu's attributes of Great Goddess and Progenitrix of the Celtic races. Brigantia (Bride) is more commonly revered in the British Isles as St. Brigid, whose legends borrow extensively from the goddess. St. Brigid was actually an historic person, living from 450-523 c.e., and founding an abbey in Kildare in the sixth century. She is refered to as "Mary of the Gael" and the foster-mother of Christ. There are more sacred wells to her in Ireland than even St. Patrick, and her legends are many. She was born at sunrise, the house in which she was living blazing into flame which reached to heaven. A pillar of fire rose from her head when she took final vows. She was the mid-wife to the Virgin Mary and helped find the boy Jesus by using divination when he was lost in Jerusalem. She also was said to have diverted Herod's soldiers so that the Holy Family could escape into Egypt. Attributed powers include breathing life into the dead, multiplying food and drink for the needy, and turning her bath water into beer.

Any fucking chick who can raise the dead and more importantly turn bath water into beer is aces in my books.

=tina=

 

[air-bag]

Decepta-Kyle, Kix.. Tanx i luved it !!!! Post more!!

 

[HappyJR]

One of my favourites.

ORPHEUS & EURYDICE

The very earliest musicians were gods and their skill was unmatched. Gods such as Apollo, Athena and Hermes drew sounds so harmonious during their lavish banquets that their fellow deities on Mount Olympus forget all else, even their petty jealousies. Next to these gods came a few mortals who were so admirable in their art that they almost equaled the great gods.

One of these gifted mortals was Orpheus, son of the Muse Calliope and a Thracian king named Oeagrus. Orpheus was given the gift of music by his mother and that gift was nurtured in the land of Thrace where he grew up. The Thracians were the most musically inclined peoples of Greece. The great Apollo presented him with a lyre and the Muses taught him to use it, so that Orpheus was unparalleled in skill when it came to mere mortals, his only rivals were the gods.

His music was enchanting; no one and nothing could resist him. He had the ability to control both animate and inanimate objects, subduing wild beasts and making the trees and rocks move from their places in their eagerness to follow the sound of his music.

Little is known about Orpheus prior to his marriage, but it is known that after a visit to Egypt he sailed with the Greek hero Jason on the ship called the Argo. He was quite useful on this Quest for the Golden Fleece, because when the heroes were weak and weary or the rowing was immensely difficult he would play his lyre to arouse the freshness in the heroes and thus allow them to continue the voyage. Orpheus also saved the Argonauts from the Sirens, playing his lyre so exquisitely as to hypnotize the feared monsters and drive out all thoughts save the longing to hear more of his sweet music. The Argonauts than sailed off and set their course, avoiding certain death thanks to the sweet song of Orpheus.

It is not told where he met his wife and how he courted her, but surely no maiden Orpheus desired could have resisted the power of his music. The by now renowned poet and musician chose a beautiful woman named Eurydice, whom some called by the name Agriope, and they had decided to settle down and raise a family among the savage Cicones of Thrace.

Sadly immediately following the wedding as Eurydice walked in a meadow with her bridesmaids, a serpent stung her and she died. Others say that a brute named Aristaeus tried to force her near Tempe, in the valley of the river Peneius. Either way, his beloved new bride was dead and the grief of Orpheus was so great that he vowed to venture down to the Underworld and try to bring Eurydice back, a feat very few had managed.

Orpheus used the passage which opens at Aornum in Thesprotis and boldly descended into the realm of Hades. He charmed with his song the ferryman Charon and gained the other side, even though he wasn't dead. As he played his lyre, Cerberus the three-headed dog relaxed his guard and the three Judges of the Dead were mesmerized by the sound. Even the tortures of the damned were temporarily suspended: The wheel of Ixion stood motionless; Sisiphus sat at rest upon his stone; Tantalus forgot his thirst; for the first time the faces of the horrific Furies were wet with tears.

No one under his spell could refuse him. Hades and his queen Persephone granted Orpheus’ wish and summoned Eurydice and gave her to him, but upon one single condition: that he would not look back at her as she followed him, until they reached the upper world and were safely back under the light of the sun.

As they exited the Underworld, passing through the great doors of Hades to the path that would take them out of the darkness, Orpheus knew Eurydice was close behind him, following the sound of his lyre, but he longed to make sure. The moment that he joyfully stepped out of the darkness into the light he turned back, but it was too soon, for Eurydice still hadn’t exited the cavern and was still in the shadows of Hades. He saw her in the dim light, and he held out his arms to clasp her, but she slipped away from him. As Orpheus reached for the hand of his beloved wife Eurydice disappeared with one last word: "Farewell."

And she was gone forever.

Totally dismayed he attempted to rush after her, but the gods would not consent to allowing Orpheus to enter the Underworld a second time, while he was still alive. Forced to return to earth alone and overcome with grief, he forsook the company of men and wandered through the wild playing his melodious lyre. Only the creatures of nature and the rocks, rivers and trees were fortunate enough to hear the sad strains of his lyre, singing of his heartbreak.

When the god of wine Dionysus invaded Thrace, Orpheus failed to properly honor him and taught other sacred mysteries, much to the chagrin of the slighted deity. At last, a band of Maenads, who were frenzied nymphs in the service of Dionysus, came upon him, and they mutilated Orpheus, tearing him limb from limb, flinging his head into the swift river Hebrus.

The Muses discovered his intact unchanged head at the Lesbian shore, where it had floated, still singing. Tearfully they found and collected his limbs, and placed them in a tomb at the foot of Mount Olympus. To this day, the nightingales there sing more sweetly than anywhere else.

 

[KiX]

This guy has the coolest name EVER. So he gets my mention.

FINN McCOOL

Finn McCool was the the leader of the Fianna Éireann. Although Finn was not the strongest warrior, he was the wisest, kindest and most trusted of them all. Finn was a true leader of his people, a poet and magician, the pinnacle of achievement for a Celtic warrior. Finn's father Cumhal was the leader of the Baiscne Clan. In a battle with the Morna Clan over who should have the right to the leadership of the Fianna of Eire, Cumahl was killed. The Baiscne Clan were defeated and their members were dispersed throughout Ireland.

Not long after the epic battle, Cumahl's wife Muirne gave birth to the hero himself. In fear of the Morna Clan and concerned for her son's safety Muirne gave Finn into the care of two Druid women who took him to the wood of Slieve Bladhma to care for him. There he was given excellent training in the ways of the warrior and manhood. A couple of the exercises deemed to be constructive by the women were to throw him into a lake to teach him how to swim and to put him in a closed off field with some hares. They told him to always keep ahead of the hares no matter what until the day was over. However, this turned him into a fine young man, fair of appearance, supple of limb and skilled to boot. So, after spending some time with a troupe of poets being taught the way of words, he was put out on his own and went to seek his living in the service of a king.

Eventually, he came to the king who had taken his mother for his wife and fine service he gave. All was well until one day he was playing chess with the king and won seven games in a row. It was then that the king questioned this fine young man's origins and discovered that he was the son of Cumhal. This displeased him greatly and Finn, who was then called Deimne to conceal his lineage, was asked to leave. He then decided to go into Connaught to seek out his father's brother, Crimall. He was on his way there when a magical meeting took place. He came across a woman crying tears of blood. Finn asked her why she cried so and the woman answered that her only son had just been killed by a champion. Finn vowed that after seeing such a sight that he would follow the champion and slay him. Such sorrow he had not seen before. So he killed the man and it was the same man who had given his father his first wound in the battle that was to be his last.

The champion had on his person a treasure bag made of craneskin that had previously belonged to Finn's father. The bag was full of magical items that could only be used at full tide. The original owners of the bag were Manannan MacLir, god of the sea, and Lugh of the Long Hand, god of the sun. It was a precious find, marking another stage in the boy's oncoming adulthood. Finn found Crimall, now an old man, living in a lonely place with some of the other old men of the Fianna. They exchanged stories and conversation and it was here that Finn left the craneskin bag. Finn then went on to learn wisdom and poetry from a man named Finnegas who lived by the river Boyne. It is by the side of water that poets gain inspiration. The border between land and sea, neither one world or the other. It is where the goddess of poetry may be sought.

For seven years Finnegas had watched for the white, red speckled salmon of knowledge. For in eating this fish a man may have all knowledge. At last the fish did arrive and Finnegas, rejoicing, gave the fish to Finn to roast but told him not to eat any of it. However, during the cooking of the salmon, Finn noticed a blister appearing on its skin and put his thumb onto it to make it disappear. Needless to say, Finn's thumb got badly burnt and he thrust it into his mouth and onto his wisdom tooth. The boy then gave Finnegas the fish and after looking at it for a while he said to Finn: "What is your name, boy?" "It is Deimne". Finn replied. "No, it is not", said Finnegas. "It is Finn that is your name and the prophesy that someone named Finn will gain the knowledge from the salmon has been fulfilled." The boy then confessed to having inadvertently tasted the fish. From that time on Finn had the knowledge from the nuts of the nine hazels that grew beneath the sea. This is how the boy then fulfilled his destiny and became the man who would be leader of the Fianna of Eire.


Weeeeeeee!

=tina=

 

[H2Whoa]

Norse Mythology

Gifts of the Dwarves

Thor was married to Sif, the lovely goddess. Sif had beautiful, long, golden hair. It was something she took great pride of.

Loki, the mischievous fire-god, loved playing practical jokes on the gods. One night, Loki decided to cut off all Sif's hair.

What Loki didn't count on, was Thor's temper. When Thor found his wife weeping over the lost of her golden hair, the thunder-god caught Loki and threatened to beat and break every bone in Loki's body. Loki promised Thor to replaced Sif's beautiful hair with hair of gold.

Loki sought the master dwarven craftsmen, the sons of Ivaldi. The hair or wig was made out of finely spun gold. The magical property of the gold hair was that it was alive like real hair, which would grow naturally.

The sons of Ivaldi also created two other splendid gifts for the Aesir. They created the indestructible spear, called Gungnir, for Odin. They also created a magical ship for Freyr, which was called Skidbladnir. The remarkable thing about Skidbladnir was that it was a collapsible ship, which Freyr could fold up to a size smaller enough to carry in his pocket.

As Loki carried the gifts to the Aesir, Loki encountered another two dwarfs – Brokk and Eiti. Loki boasted of the gifts and craftsmanship of the sons of Ivaldi. Loki made a wager on his head that Brokk and Eiti and could not make better three gifts than those of the sons of Ivaldi. Brokk and Eiti agreed to the wagers.

First, Eiti placed a pig's hide in the forge, he told his brother to keep working on the bellows, until he completed the work. As they started working, a fly (Loki?) tried to distract Brokk from blowing air into the forge fire, by biting into Brokk's left arm. Brokk ignored the fly and continuously worked on the bellows. From the hide, bristles of gold sprout out and a live wild boar. The boar was called Gullinbursti, "battle-boar". The boar had the ability to run faster than any horse, across the sky or over water. The gold bristle ensured that it was bright enough to see where it was going, even at the darkness night.

During the second piece of work, the fly landed this time on Brokk's neck, nibbling harder than before, but Brokk ignored the fly and kept working on the bellows. Eiti made a gold ring called the Draupnir. The ring had the ability to make eight other rings of the same size, every ninth night. When they were working on a third item, the fly now landed between Brokk's eyes, and nibbled on his eyelid. Blood dripped into his eye, so Brokk quickly rubbed the blood out of his eye and swatted the fly away, before he continued to work the bellows. Eiti had placed a large piece of iron in the forge and creating hammer called Mjollnir. Eiti told Brokk that he nearly ruined this work. The only flaw of the hammer was that the handle was quite short.

The Mjollnir was the strongest weapon in the world. It would not fail to hit any target, either struck at or thrown at. If the hammer were thrown, it would always return to its hands, after striking its target.

Eiti sent his brother with the gifts to Asgard. Loki and Brokk gave the gifts to the Aesir. Odin, Thor and Freyr acted as judges over the gifts, to see which was the best of them all.

Loki gave the hair or wig of gold was given to Sif, to appease Thor's anger towards him. The collapsible ship, Skidbladnir, was given to Freyr, and Loki gave irresistible spear, (Gungnir), to Odin.

Brokk gave the boar with gold bristles (Gullinbursti) to Freyr, the gold ring (Draupnir) to Odin, and the Mjollnir to Thor.

The three judges found that the Mjollnir was the best gift, since it gave them greatest chances against the giants at Ragnarok.

Losing the wagers, Loki tried to flee, but was caught by Thor. Odin decided that Loki losing his head was a bit drastic, so Brokk decided upon a different measure. Brokk sealed Loki's mouth shut with wire.

 

[~soulheaven~]

Norse Mythology

THE RECOVERY OF THE HAMMER
Once upon a time it happened that Thor's hammer fell into the possession of the giant Thrym, who buried it eight fathoms deep under the rocks of Jotunheim. Thor sent Loki to negotiate with Thrym, but he could only prevail so far as to get the giant's promise to restore the weapon if Freya would consent to be his bride. Loki returned and reported the result of his mission, but the goddess of love was quite horrified at the idea of bestowing her charms on the king of the Frost giants. In this emergency Loki persuaded Thor to dress himself in Freya's clothes and accompany him to Jotunheim. Thrym received his veiled bride with due courtesy, but was greatly surprised at seeing her eat for her supper eight salmons and a full grown ox, besides other delicacies, washing the whole down with three tuns of mead. Loki, however, assured him that she had not tasted anything for eight long nights, so great was her desire to see her lover, the renowned ruler of Jotunheim. Thrym had at length the curiosity to peep under his bride's veil, but started back in affright and demanded why Freya's eyeballs glistened with fire. Loki repeated the same excuse and the giant was satisfied. He ordered the hammer to be brought in and laid on the maiden's lap. Thereupon Thor threw off his disguise, grasped his redoubted weapon, and slaughtered Thrym and all his followers.

Frey also possessed a wonderful weapon, a sword which would of itself spread a field with carnage whenever the owner desired it. Frey parted with this sword, but was less fortunate than Thor and never recovered it. It happened in this way: Frey once mounted Odin's throne, from whence one can see over the whole universe, and looking round saw far off in the giant's kingdom a beautiful maid, at the sight of whom he was struck with sudden sadness, insomuch that from that moment he could neither sleep, nor drink, nor speak. At last Skirnir, his messenger, drew his secret from him, and undertook to get him the maiden for his bride, if he would give him his sword as a reward. Frey consented and gave him the sword, and Skirnir set off on his journey and obtained the maiden's promise that within nine nights she would come to a certain place and there wed Frey. Skirnir having reported the success of his errand, Frey exclaimed:
"Long is one night,
Long are two nights,
But how shall I hold out three?
Shorter hath seemed
A month to me oft
Than of this longing time the half."

So Frey obtained Gerda, the most beautiful of all women, for his wife, but he lost his sword.

Greg

continue, continue..........

 

[H2Whoa]

Azteca

The Mark of the Rabbit
On a clear evening long ago, the sun was setting as Obsidian Snake sat quietly outside his home. He had eaten his maize cakes during the hottest part of the day and soon he would sleep. Inside his house, he could hear the sounds of his brother, Smoking Shield, moving about before he returned to the Telpochcalli (tail poch CAL ee), the House of Youth, for the night. Each evening Smoking Shield returned home to eat his meal only to return, after bathing, to the House of Youth where he learned to be a model citizen and warrior of the Aztec state. Obsidian Snake missed his brother, especially late at night, when he awoke from sleep on his reed mat and did not hear the sound of his brother’s breathing on the mat beside him. Right now Obsidian Snake was too young to go the House of Youth. He was taught by his father during the day—how to fish, gather sticks for the fire, and how to handle their canoe. At the House of Youth, Smoking Shield was learning how to be a good citizen, obedient and respectful, and to be a model warrior, too. Obsidian Snake knew that soon he too would sleep at the House of Youth, coming home only for his meals and to bathe.
At his back, the adobe bricks of his house were still warm even though the sun had ended its journey across the sky. It was the growing time when days were warm and dry and the maize was on its way to harvest. All the family prayed to Tlaloc, the old god of rain and the god of the farmer’s plenty, in order to be sure rain came as needed along with plenty of warmth and sunshine.

Inside, too, he could hear the sounds of his mother, Turquoise Maize Flower, as she moved around the hearth. The fire glowed quietly through the open doorway. Obsidian Snake smiled as he thought of her. In his mind he could hear the sound of her grinding the maize for their two meals. He could hear the slap slap sound as she patted maize dough into tortillas. All day his mother had worked at grinding maize between volcanic stones, preparing flour for the maize cakes and the maize porridge she sweetened for him with honey. Today, their afternoon meal had included crayfish his father and he had caught in the lake nearby their house.

His mother also spent many hours spinning cotton thread and weaving at her loom. Throughout the area, his mothers cotton cloth was known to be fine and soft. It brought a good price in cacoa beans on market day.

Obsidian Snake thought of the way his mother had smiled when he had presented her with the crayfish he had caught. He knew his mother missed him now that he was too old to stay by her side as she worked by the hearth inside or wove her fine cotton outside in the small courtyard of their house. That was why each night she found her way to him for a few moments. Tonight he heard the sound of her bare feet as she crossed the beaten earth floor and entered the darkness outside the house.

“Look, Obsidian Snake,” said Turquoise Maize Flower. “The moon is making its way across the sky. We can see the marks of the rabbit which it wears. With the next full moon, it will be time to harvest our maize.

“Why does the moon wear the mark of a rabbit, Mother?” Obsidian Snake asked.

Just as he could see the white of his mothers cueitl (kway eetl) that was wrapped around her waist and hips and fell to her ankles, in the soft darkness of the moon’s light, Obsidian Snake could see her smile as she sat down beside him, ready to answer his question.

“Four times, Obsidian Snake, the gods had tried to create our earth and our people and four times they had found their efforts wanting. Each time the world was destroyed—by great jaguar, by flood, by wind and by rain. With each destruction, too, went the sun. Finally, the gods met in Teotihuacan (tay oh tee WAH cun) and decided that one among them would be sacrificed and changed into the sun.

There were two volunteers; one god was rich and handsome, the other god was ugly and covered with sores. When the time for sacrifice came, the rich, handsome god ran to the edge of the sacrificial fire but stopped at the edge, unable to take the final step into the fire. Four times he tried and four times his courage failed him.

Next it was the turn of the poor, ugly god. Even though he was thought to be a poor second choice, with no hesitation he jumped into the middle of the fire. The handsome god, embarrassed and ashamed by his cowardice, finally jumped into the fire. He, too, was devoured. Just then the jaguar, mighty animal, jumped into the ashes of the fire. When he came out, his coat was spotted with soot and so it remains to this day.

Time passed and even though the gods had been sacrificed, there was still no sun. Suddenly, the sun appeared in the sky. Right then too, came the moon, shining as brightly as the sun. By now, the gods had lost their patience. Angered by the boldness of the moon, they slapped the moon right in the face with a rabbit. Those are the marks of that rabbit that we are looking at right now.”

“And what happened next, my mother?” asked Obsidian Snake. Did the gods succeed in making our world and our people?”

“My son, it took a lot more of the gods to be sacrificed. When they did, they created the stars. It was Quetzalcoatl though, the Plumed Serpent, who visited the gods of the underworld to get the bones of past generations to create mankind. But that, Obsidian Snake, is another story for another night. The moon, with its rabbit marks, has traveled far across the sky. Tomorrow’s sun will be here to wake us soon enough. Let us go to our mats now and sleep.”

 

[~soulheaven~]

AEGYPTUS

Osiris and Isis were at one time induced to descend to the earth to bestow gifts and blessings on its inhabitants. Isis showed them first the use of wheat and barley, and Osiris made the instruments of agriculture and taught men the use of them, as well as how to harness the ox to the plough. He then gave men laws, the institution of marriage, a civil organization, and taught them how to worship the gods. After he had thus made the valley of the Nile a happy country, he assembled a host with which he went to bestow his blessings upon the rest of the world. He conquered the nations everywhere, but not with weapons, only with music and eloquence. His brother, Typhon (Set) saw this, and filled with envy and malice sought during his absence to usurp his throne. But Isis, who held the reins of government, frustrated his plans. Still more embittered, he now resolved to kill his brother. This he did in the following manner: Having organized a conspiracy of seventy-two members, he went with them to the feast which was celebrated in honour of the king's return. He then caused a box or chest to be brought in, which had been made to fit exactly the size of Osiris, and declared that he would give that chest of precious wood to whomsoever could get into it. The rest tried in vain, but no sooner was Osiris in it than Typhon and his companions closed the lid and flung the chest into the Nile.

The Jackal-Headed God And Embalmer Of The Underwolrd: "ANUBIS"

When Isis heard of the cruel murder she wept and mourned, and then with her hair shorn, clothed in black and beating her breast, she sought diligently for the body of her husband. In this search she was materially assisted by Anubis, the son of Osiris and Nephthys. They sought in vain for some time; for when the chest, carried by the waves to the shores of Byblos, had become entangled in the reeds that grew at the edge of the water, the divine power that dwelt in the body of Osiris imparted such strength to the shrub that it grew into a mighty tree, enclosing in its trunk the coffin of the god. This tree with its sacred deposit was shortly after felled, and erected as a column in the palace of the king of Phoenicia. But at length by the aid of Anubis and the sacred birds, Isis ascertained these facts, and then went to the royal city. There she offered herself at the palace as a servant, and being admitted, threw off her disguise and appeared as the goddess, surrounded with thunder and lightning. Striking the column with her wand she caused it to split open and give up the sacred coffin. This she seized and returned with it, and concealed it in the depth of a forest, but Typhon discovered it, and cutting the body into fourteen pieces scattered them hither and thither. After a tedious search, Isis found thirteen pieces, the fishes of the Nile having eaten the other. This she replaced by an imitation of sycamore wood, and buried the body at Philoe (Philae), which became ever after the great burying place of the nation, and the spot to which pilgrimages were made from all parts of the country. A temple of surpassing magnificence was also erected there in honour of the god, and at every place where one of his limbs had been found minor temples and tombs were built to commemorate the event. Osiris became after that the tutelar deity of the Egyptians. His soul was supposed always to inhabit the body of the bull Apis, and at his death to transfer itself to his successor.


"The brutish gods of Nile as fast,
Isis and Horus and the dog Anubis haste.
Nor is Osiris seen
In Memphian grove or green
Trampling the unshowered* grass with lowings loud;
Nor can he be at rest
Within his sacred chest;
Nought but profoundest hell can be his shroud.
In vain with timbrel'd anthems dark
The sable-stoled sorcerers bear his worshipped ark."


Greg

 

[janiecakes]

how funny is it that this guy is an irish mythological figure, and this is a loyalist mural? silly loyalists.

that's the giant's causeway he's standing on, and it really does look like that.

this chick is boom. my grandmother is named after her.

 

[Temper Tantrum]

Didn't arachne try and hang herself but before she died athena turned her into a spider forever condemned to 'hang and weave'?

Or something like that..

~allie~

 

[Temper Tantrum]

The Green Knight

During the New Year's feast at King Arthur's court, a mysterious Green Knight enters and challenges the company to a game. He will allow whoever accepts the challenge to cut off his head with an ax, on the condition that he can do the same in one year's time. Sir Gawain accepts this challenge and cuts off the Green Knight's head. The Knight picks up his head and rides away, reminding Gawain to seek him in one year at the Green Chapel.

When the appointed time draws near, Gawain departs to search for the Green Chapel. On Christmas Eve, he arrives at a castle whose lord welcomes him; he stays at this castle for several days. For three days, the lord of the castle goes out hunting while Gawain stays at the castle to rest. The two men make a bargain to exchange everything they win during these days. During the day, the lord's wife comes to Gawain's room and tempts him, but he only allows her to give him a few kisses. At the end of each day, Gawain trades these kisses to the lord for the game he has captured that hunting day, in accordance with their agreement.

However, on the third day, the lord's wife convinces Gawain to accept a magic girdle, which she says will protect him from all bodily harm. Gawain keeps this girdle, thinking ahead for his appointment with the Green Knight. The next day, he meets the Green Knight. The Knight takes three swings at Gawain's neck, missing him completely the first two times but nicking him the third. He then explains that he is Bercilak, the lord of the castle in disguise, and that the three blows corresponded to the three days of their bargain. The nick was for the magic girdle that Gawain kept instead of returning to the lord, as he should have to fulfill their agreement.

Gawain is repentant and shameful, but the Knight forgives him and invites him back to his castle to celebrate, telling him that the whole thing was Morgan le Faye's plot. Gawain refuses the invitation, preferring to return at once to Arthur's court. When he arrives he tells his shameful story and explains that he will wear the girdle forever as a reminder of his sin. Arthur decrees that all knights will henceforth wear a similar girdle in tribute to Gawain

 

[air-bag]

^^ Nice! where is that from?? Never heard...