- Vikings--Came from Norway, Finland, and Sweden.
- Ginnungagap--Dark void.
- Nifleheim--Land of fog and ice.
- Muspellheim--Land of fire.
- Yggdrasil--World Ash Tree. Connects all three worlds.
- Asgard--Home of the gods.
- Midgard--Land of man.
- Hel--Home of the dead.
- Bifrost Bridge--(rainbow). Divine bridge that links the humans and the gods worlds.
- Ymir--Wild, fierce, evil frost giant. From his sweat, came first man and woman.
- Odin--God of gods and humans. Domains are wisdom, war, witchcraft and poetry.
- Frigg--Wife of Odin, Cloud spinner. Most powerful goddess. Domains are love, destiny and marriage.
- The Valkyries--Choosers of the Slain.
- The Norns--Fate Maidens. Past(Urd), Present (Verdandi), and Future (Skuld).
- Thor--Strongest son of Odin. Warrior son, Mjolliner(hammer). Domains are thunder, battle, fertility.
- Balder--Beloved son, god of radiance, rebirth, justice and light.
- Njord--Domains are wind and sea. Patron of sailors.
- Frey--God of fertility, prosperity, sun, rain. Married to Freya.
- Freya--Goddess of fertility, love, beauty, magic, war and death.
- Idunn--Odin's daughter in law, goddess of youth. Keeper of the golden apples(youth).
- Loki--Son of a giant, 1/2 blood god. Trickster, has magic powers. Evil.
- Fenrir--A wolf who destroys.
- Jormungandr--Home of the giants, and Juton.
- Ragnarok--"Dooms Day." Final battle. Ending of everything. Causes a new beginning.
- Runes--Pebbles-a way to communicate with others. Different designs, each meaning something different, a way to tell whats going to happen in the future.
Monday, December 1, 2008
Definitions of Norse Myth
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
Burr Woman
Burr Woman
The Assiniboine story of the Burr Woman is tale about marriage basically. There was a young man who was exceptionally handsome and every Indian maiden wanted to marry him. He was not impressed by any girl and thought himself above everyone because of his good looks. There was an old lady who wanted him to marry her granddaughter but he would not. So when he was leaving for a hunting trip, she ran up and hopped on his back. He did everything he could to get the old hag off his back but she would not budge. Finally the man’s father announced that whoever could pull the lady off his sons back, they would get married. Every woman in the village tried but failed. Finally two girls decided to team up and pull the woman off. After a couple tries, the man was released from the old hag. So he married the two women and ended up getting two wives.
This story shows that love and marriage didn’t always go hand in hand. It’s like a competition, a race, and whoever is the winner gets the prize, which is a mate for life. It is not about commitment, love, respect or emotions. It is a game.
"Burr Woman." Indian Mythology.
2006. 7 November 2008..
The Assiniboine story of the Burr Woman is tale about marriage basically. There was a young man who was exceptionally handsome and every Indian maiden wanted to marry him. He was not impressed by any girl and thought himself above everyone because of his good looks. There was an old lady who wanted him to marry her granddaughter but he would not. So when he was leaving for a hunting trip, she ran up and hopped on his back. He did everything he could to get the old hag off his back but she would not budge. Finally the man’s father announced that whoever could pull the lady off his sons back, they would get married. Every woman in the village tried but failed. Finally two girls decided to team up and pull the woman off. After a couple tries, the man was released from the old hag. So he married the two women and ended up getting two wives.
This story shows that love and marriage didn’t always go hand in hand. It’s like a competition, a race, and whoever is the winner gets the prize, which is a mate for life. It is not about commitment, love, respect or emotions. It is a game.
"Burr Woman." Indian Mythology.
2006. 7 November 2008.
Monday, October 27, 2008
Definitions
A myth is a tale of gods and goddess’, myths generally give an explanation to the world around us. Some believe mythical stories give religious support or support for certain beliefs.
A hero is the character in the story with unique characteristics that set him or her apart from others. The hero goes out into the world on a hero journey in hope of bettering society as a whole.
A hero journey is the series of events the hero goes through during the story. The hero has a call to adventure, an initiation, and many struggles; this is all involved in a cyclical pattern.
The main idea in any story is the universal relation, meaning the story relates to everything, it’s the big picture, the foundation of being.
The archetype is the original kind, the structure, or the original model.
A cyclical journey is such that the hero starts at the beginning and through all trial and error makes it back to where he or she started, changed and redefined.
Duality in any story is the quality of opposites existing in a whole.
Creation is the beginning of our world, whether it began with the egg, the void, or the watery abyss.
Cosmology is the study of the world, its beginning and its end; cosmology is universal.
The phrase life from death simply means when there is death, there is also life. Sacrifice of one’s self in a hero’s case.
A matriarchal society is a society that believes in a foundation of female power.
A patriarchal society is a society that believes in a foundation of male power.
When a hero lays down ones life for the betterment of the community this is called sacrifice. A hero could also sacrifice something in there life for this as well.
A hero is the character in the story with unique characteristics that set him or her apart from others. The hero goes out into the world on a hero journey in hope of bettering society as a whole.
A hero journey is the series of events the hero goes through during the story. The hero has a call to adventure, an initiation, and many struggles; this is all involved in a cyclical pattern.
The main idea in any story is the universal relation, meaning the story relates to everything, it’s the big picture, the foundation of being.
The archetype is the original kind, the structure, or the original model.
A cyclical journey is such that the hero starts at the beginning and through all trial and error makes it back to where he or she started, changed and redefined.
Duality in any story is the quality of opposites existing in a whole.
Creation is the beginning of our world, whether it began with the egg, the void, or the watery abyss.
Cosmology is the study of the world, its beginning and its end; cosmology is universal.
The phrase life from death simply means when there is death, there is also life. Sacrifice of one’s self in a hero’s case.
A matriarchal society is a society that believes in a foundation of female power.
A patriarchal society is a society that believes in a foundation of male power.
When a hero lays down ones life for the betterment of the community this is called sacrifice. A hero could also sacrifice something in there life for this as well.
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
Demeter and Persephone
Alex Witwer
Interpretation Essay
Mythology 2
19 September 2008
Persephone is the symbolism of youth, virginity, beauty and innocence. She’s the inner being in all of us, of what we are bound to be. As we grow up we possess these qualities, but want to rid ourselves of them. Once they are gone, we want them back. When Persephone gives into the pomegranate seed, her mother is distraught, lonely and depressed, which is where we got winter and fall.
The pomegranate seed represents a type of poison that fills the minds of everyone. It represents our lusts, desires, the loss of innocence, and temptation: When Persephone gives into her lust for the pomegranate seeds, it bounds her to the underworld, giving her a consequence for her ill thoughts. In daily life today, we experience similarities. On a night of passion with a guy, the consequence could be pregnancy which bounds you for life to this man and child you bore with him. The pomegranate seed is a part of everyday life.
The story of Demeter and Persephone goes deeper than just a mythological idea. It touches the deepest levels of the mind, civilization, society, our laws and the world. It also explains our needs, wants, desires and seasons. It shows how easy it is to give into your desires and lusts, and the consequences that can come from acting on impulse. Its not only the story of how our weather came to be, but the story of a mother and daughter and the shame of losing your innocence.
Interpretation Essay
Mythology 2
19 September 2008
Demeter and Persephone
Demeter on a physical level is known as the giver, the corn goddess and the symbol of Earth. On a social level, she is a leader who brought civilization and the gift of corn. On a broader view, she’s agriculture. She is the form of growth in the birth of people and plants. She’s a mother and a provider which are two very important things; not only on a social level but also on an individual scale. On an emotional level, she helps us grow into adults and mentors. She is emotional, caring and protective. She knows the loss of life through her plants, and her daughter Persephone. Persephone is the symbolism of youth, virginity, beauty and innocence. She’s the inner being in all of us, of what we are bound to be. As we grow up we possess these qualities, but want to rid ourselves of them. Once they are gone, we want them back. When Persephone gives into the pomegranate seed, her mother is distraught, lonely and depressed, which is where we got winter and fall.
The pomegranate seed represents a type of poison that fills the minds of everyone. It represents our lusts, desires, the loss of innocence, and temptation: When Persephone gives into her lust for the pomegranate seeds, it bounds her to the underworld, giving her a consequence for her ill thoughts. In daily life today, we experience similarities. On a night of passion with a guy, the consequence could be pregnancy which bounds you for life to this man and child you bore with him. The pomegranate seed is a part of everyday life.
The story of Demeter and Persephone goes deeper than just a mythological idea. It touches the deepest levels of the mind, civilization, society, our laws and the world. It also explains our needs, wants, desires and seasons. It shows how easy it is to give into your desires and lusts, and the consequences that can come from acting on impulse. Its not only the story of how our weather came to be, but the story of a mother and daughter and the shame of losing your innocence.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)