Mythology Monday: Monsters

 

Sphinx - Greek Mythology

Female monster with the body of a lion, breast and head of a woman, eagles wings and according to some stories the tail and head of a serpent.

She was sent by the gods to plague the town of Thebes for an ancient crime.

She prays on the youth, eating anyone who couldn't solve her riddle.

Oidipous accepted the challenge of the king to destroy the Sphinx for a large reward.

When he solved her riddle she threw herself off a cliff in despair as an oracle foretold.

In the spirit of the Sphinx here is a riddle for you....

I  Build Bridges of Silver and Crowns of Gold, Who Am I? 

(The answer is in the comments)

Mythology Monday: War Gods/Goddesses

 

Athena

Goddess Of: Just Warfare and Strategy, Wisdom and Courage.
Appearance: Young woman with helmet and shield. Sometimes with a small owl.
Symbol: Owl, Aegis (Shield featuring the head of Medusa)
Strengths: Great war defender but also a brilliant peacemaker. She is rational and intelligent.
Weaknesses: Rational intellect rules her leaving her little in the way of compassion and emotion. She can have favorites however.
Birthplace: Zeus' Forehead.
Parents: Zeus and Metis
Siblings: Zeus has many children therefore Athena has many siblings including Hercules and Dionysus.
Spouse: None, but she was very fond of Odysseus the hero. 
Children: None

 

Mythology Monday: Creation Myths

 

The Beginning of Life - Aboriginal Mythology

In the beginning everywhere was flat, bare and empty. However under the surface of Earth there were millions of creatures sleeping and dreaming pleasantly. One day Rainbow Serpent opened her eyes and found herself in complete darkness. She flexed out her coils and began pushing her way up to the surface. She burst out into the sunlight and set off to explore. Her strong winding body carved out valleys, heaping the land into mountains on either side. She carried this out for a long time until she had covered all of earth and returned to where she started. She rested a while as she was tired out. After her nap she realised that all the other creatures were all still asleep so she shouted with all the energy she had and many of the creatures began to stir. The frogs were first, delighted Rainbow Serpent tickled them until they laughed up the vast amounts of water stored in their bodies. Some of this water filled the grooves that Serpent had made on her travels creating streams, waterfalls, lakes and rivers. In the areas where water was absobed into the soil grass began to grow. Soon enough the land came to life. Rainbow Serpent led all the animals across the earth finding them suitable homes, she was made the mother of life and set rules to make sure the Earth remained as it was forever. The most excited animals about upholding the laws were made into humans and told to watch over  and look after the land, each with a totem pole of the tribe of animal species they came from. They were allowed to eat creatures from any totem pole other than their own, meaning there would always be enough food for everyone. Other creatures Serpent was proud of became rock to become guardians of the tribes. One man was especially wise and took great care of the earth. Rainbow Serpent did not let him die when he became old, instead turning him into a spirit to protect and watch over the tribes. Not long after he encountered evil, expelling that man from the tribe with the man soon becoming the evil spirit called Bunyip. Thus evil and fear was released into the lands.

(Due to personal reasons I am unable to have time to provide a link for this and have to post it now Instead of this morning. Its lucky I wrote this yesterday.)

Mythology Monday: Funny Stories

 

The Thunder God Gets Married - Norse Mythology

In the heavens the thunder god Thor was angry because someone had stolen his hammer. He roared and caused a great storm to erupt in the sky. Loki his troublesome brother walked over to him bringing him news that it was a giant named Thrym that had stolen his hammer. Loki states that the Giant had promised to return the hammer if he could have the most beautiful goddess Freya as his bride. The thunder god smiled and ran off to find Freya. Freya was not pleased to know that she was being traded for a hammer and she told Thor that she refuses to help him. Thor sulks back to Loki telling him of the events and attempting to come up with a new strategy. Suddenly, Heimdall who had also been helping with the planning came up with an idea. Thor and Loki were shocked by the idea but it was the only option so they planned to go ahead with the idea. That night the giant was thrilled to see a chariot turn up carrying his lovely bride to be. Thrym ordered a wedding banquet at once and was too excited to see how clumsy and big the bride and bridesmaid were. he didn't even notice their gruff voices and hairy hands or the way that Freya drunk a whole two barrels of beer and ate a whole roast ox. After they had all eaten the giant got to his feet and made a toast to his new wife saying he will now give back the hammer to the "Ugly thug of a thunder god" Thunder god. The hammer was baught in on a cushion. Thor jumped up ripping off his veil and shouted "The ugly thug of a thunder god thanks you" then he grabbed his hammer and rendered the giant and all his guests dead. All the gods were relieved Thor had his hammer back but it was a very long time before they could freely laugh about Thor and Loki in dresses.

Mythology Monday: Roman Gods

 

Neptune

God Of: Freshwater, Horses and the Sea
Appearance: Middle aged with a long, wavy beard.
Symbol: Trident and Horse
Strengths: He is very creative and controls all of the sea.
Weaknesses: Warlike, Moody and Unpredictable
Parents: Ops the earth mother and Saturn the sky god.
Wife: Salacia goddess of salt water.
Children: He had many children due to relationships with humans and with many other deities but the most well known are Atlas, Orion, Pegasus and Triton.

  

Mythology Monday: Greek Goddesses

 

Aphrodite

Goddess Of: Love, Beauty and Sexuality

Appearance: A beautiful woman forever young.

Symbol: A girdle that can compel love.

Strengths: Sexually attractive, beautiful.

Weaknesses: Vain and slightly narcissistic.

Parents: One story says she is the child of Zeus and Dione another said she is born out of the sea foam when Kronos slew Ouranos.

Birthplace: Milos

Husband: Hephaestus but she is also tied with Ares.

Children: Her Son Eros god of Love.

 

Mythology Monday: Famous Mythological Twins

Artemis and Apollo

Name: Artemis. Apollo.

God/Goddess Of: The Hunt, Forest, Hills, Moon and Archery. The Sun, Music, Poetry, Archery, Plague, Medicine, Light, Knowledge, Art and Oracles.

Appearance: Eternally young woman, short dress to leave her legs free. A young man with curly blond hair and sometimes sun rays emitting from his head.

Symbol: Bow, Her Hounds and the Moon. The Sun, The Lyre, The Chariot and the Bow.

Weakness/Flaw: Dislikes men and opposes marriage. Too eager to enjoy women and nymphs.

Strengths: Physically strong and able to defend herself, protector of all wildlife and women in childbirth.  Creative and handsome and supportive of all creative arts.

Parents: Zeus and Leto

Birthplace: The Greek island of Delos under a Palm tree.

Spouse: None she rejects men and marriage. Many encounters but no formal marriages.

Children: None she is a virgin goddess. Orpheus the semi-divine singer and Asklepios the god of healing.

Mythology Monday: Irish Folk Stories

Finn McCool and the legend of the Giants Causeway

There once was a giant called Finn McCool. He had heard stories of a competition in Scotland that battled out the biggest and fiercest giants against eachother in areas such as tree trunk throwing and bolder carrying. Finn decided this would be great fun so he decided to build a road across the sea so he could walk right over to Scotland. He flipped mountains into the ocean until the road began to take shape. A few days later one of Finn's friends walked over to him bringing a message. "There is gossip that a giant is on his way to your house, he lept over the sea from Scotland and has as much strength as ten men put together." Finn began to feel uneasy so he left his road half finished and went back home to his wife Oonagh. Oonagh laughed at Finn's fear and told him to follow what she does and leave everything to her. They first put some round flat stones on a plate with one single oatcake and they made a Giant cradle that Finn McCool laid in dressed as a baby. Shortly after a huge giant knocked on their front door asking for Finn McCool and Saying that he will "Rip him apart when I find him" Oonagh told the giant that her husband was away building his bridge but the giant is welcome to come in and have something to eat. She handed him one of the rocks disguised as oatcakes and when he bit into it all of his teeth fell out. Oonagh told the giant that these oatcakes were her babies favorites and headed over to the cot which held Finn McCool and fed him the real oatcake. The giant was shocked at the size of Finn's 'baby' as Oonagh boasted that he already had his teeth. She prompted the Giant to put his finger in Finn's mouth and see. The giant did as he was told and Finn bit down biting the end of his finger off. The Giant screamed "If this is Finn McCool's baby i don't want to meet him!" and he ran off into the day. Finn never did finish his road as he decided he would much rather stay with his clever wife instead.