In many versions of the story of Persephone and Demeter, the focus often becomes Persephone. Brutally abducted by her uncle and swept into the Underworld where she… Read more “Demeter in the Mortal Realm”
Category: Mythology
God, the Devil and Job
Where did we come from? This is probably a fair, perfunctory question before the next one: Where are we going? A projectile’s trajectory is, in a fair… Read more “God, the Devil and Job”
Mandalas: the Kali Yantra and the Sri Chakra
If you have spent any time around Eastern minded people, you may have heard of something called a mandala; these are typically geometric designs that are used… Read more “Mandalas: the Kali Yantra and the Sri Chakra”
Punished for Beauty: Shurpanakha
India has two great epic poems, comparable to the Iliad and the Odyssey. Both are tied into Avatars of Vishnu; Rama has the starring role in the… Read more “Punished for Beauty: Shurpanakha”
Hathor’s Rage, the End of the World, and Blood Red Beer
The story of Hathor’s Rage and the Destruction of Mankind perfectly illustrates the complexities of the Egyptian deities, and how they function together both in combination and separately and can also… Read more “Hathor’s Rage, the End of the World, and Blood Red Beer”
The End Is…Nigh?
Not all mythopoetic cycles come with an ending; while the term Judeo-Christianity is commonly used, it’s worth noting that the two traditions have very different accounts of… Read more “The End Is…Nigh?”
The Garden of the Hesperides.
The Ancient Greeks often anthropomorphized the natural world around them, assigning gods, goddesses, demigods and divine spirits to explain the processes witnessed before them. The sacred trees… Read more “The Garden of the Hesperides.”
Strawberries: The Fruits of Love
Strawberries and Champagne are the quintessential ingredients for any romantic night in. So how did this tiny fruit become a popular love staple? There is an obvious… Read more “Strawberries: The Fruits of Love”
Amalthea: The Goat Who Nursed Baby Zeus.
Zeus was born into a prophecy; his father Cronus had been terrified to hear that one day one of his children would overthrow him and usurp his… Read more “Amalthea: The Goat Who Nursed Baby Zeus.”
Sisyphus: Ancient Atheist?
While I was working on a seemingly unrelated post, I was struck by the final line in a dialogue by the Roman writer, priest and politician, Plutarch.… Read more “Sisyphus: Ancient Atheist?”