Mythology

Shadow

Well, before I start getting into this topic, is there anyone in here interested in Mythology besides me?

Ivan Seeking

Hey Shadow,
Please proceed! [6)]

Myth, legend, mysticism and pseudoscience can all find common ground. I feel that this is an appropriate element of the forum that has lacked respresentation. If you look at the new Myth and Mystic's Napster above, you will find that I have just added some links to myths and legends. Feel free to post to the Napster as well as here.

[:)]

Shadow

OKay, thanks Ivan. Well, first off, does anyone here know of the Titans, and Norse? I know a little on Thor and I know about how the titans were banished from Zeus but I dont know much more than that. I know quite a bit about the egyptian and greek mythology though. Such as some on the main gods and minor ones some old mythological stories...anyone else?

Sunfist

Greek Mythology (and Norse Mythology) was a hobby of mine for awhile when I was in high school. I might know something if you want to ask a question.

FZ+

Hmm... If I remember right, according to greek mythology, the titans were first, and the biggest of the titans, Chronos, had children and ate them to preserve his power. Zeus didn't get eaten, cut open his father's belly to liberate all his brother god and had a big war which they won.

megashawn

Is this thread open to Christian mythology as well?

I always got a kick out Greek mythology myself coming up. Next to dinosaurs and nintendo it was probably one of my favorite subjects.

Of course, I've forgotten most of it now. All the stories of Hercules are blurred with TV series.

How about the way astrology has survived from the mythology days to the modern era? Today, astrology is probably one of the most strongest running beliefs across all belief systems. Even christians and the sort read horoscopes often.

Another cool peice of mythology is the Necronomicon. Its a pretty scary book, interesting read though.

Shadow

hmmm true but please dont drag this into some religous thing.

Yes FZ, the titans were banished to the underworld (i believe) bye zeus and his fellow gods. I know some of the stories of greek mythology and although I would like to learnd more about htem, I'm also interested in the Egyptians and Norsemen, I know sunfist said he knew about the Norse so, sunfist, if you see this can you or someone else tell me a little that you know about the norsemen? I know thor and odin were the big ones and thor was the son of odin...that's about it.Thanks Ivan for the Mythology napster! I've used some links but I really have to find time to look at them more...between school and everything.

Lonewolf

What are you refering to here? I've seen a book entitled the Necronomicron on the net accredited to Crowley, but it doesn't appear in any bibliography of Crowley that I've seen.. The funny thing about this book is that no records of it have been found pre-Lovecraft.

megashawn

Hmm, I did not know this. But then again the story goes the original book was bound in human flesh and separated to 4 corners of the world.

I'm pretty sure it has something to do with ancient summarian, but I'm not really sure its been so long.

Wasn't Lovecraft one of the people who uncovered the ancient texts and translated it? Again, I may be mistaken.

Not really my intention, but more so to show how strong an influence mythology still has on our modern culture.

Lonewolf

I can't say for sure whether or not it was a creation of Lovecraft's, or a long-forgotten text. The myth behind the Necronomicron that I heard goes something like it was created in the eighth century A.D. in Damascus by the "Mad Arab" Abdhul Alhazred. It was later translated by John Dee, the adviser of all things occult to Elizabeth I. The book is essentially supposed to contain formulae for summoning beings from the human psyche and 'other worlds', and runs to around 800 pages. There are no doubt many variations on this.

Indeed, the necronomicron is supposed to contain references to Sumerian myth, which appears to be the root of a whole lot of mythology. Greek and Roman mythology in particular borrows heavily from Sumer.

selfAdjoint

All of that history, the "mad arab" and all was fiction in Lovecraft's stories, many of which formed a linked series called "The Cthlhu Mythos". The actual book, the Necronomicon, wasn't written till many years after Lovecraft died, to exploit the continuing fan interest in the mythos.

Other authors contributed to the mythos, I believe L. Sprague de Camp, Fritz Leiber, and I think even the keeper of the flame, August Derleth, did.

Shadow

Uh...anyone about the Norse?

Lonewolf

I'll give a basic account:

There are two branches of gods, the Aesir and the Vanir. The Aesir are the younger gods and the Vanir are the elder. At one point in time, there was a war between the two which ended in peace, and left the Aesir dominant. Both sides were glad of the peace, as they had grew tired of the fighting.

The leader of the Aesir is Odin. Other members included Balder, the bleeding god, Bragi, the god of eloquence and Forseti, the settler of quarrels. Freyr, the god of fertility was once a Vanir, but ended up as an Aesir.

The home of the Aesir was Asgard, where the wolf Fenris had been tricked into being chained. Almost all the Aesir were to be killed at the Ragnorak, the final battle between the gods and the frost giants.

I invite anyone to continue as I have to go now. If not, I'll carry on later.

Shadow

wow. very interesting! please continue

Sunfist

I'm sorry I didn't notice this thread earlier.

To whomever said it: Yes! The Necronomicon was only an invention of Lovecraft and not an actual book. It had NOTHING to do with Aleister Crowley. It was something that Lovecraft created as a way of linking some of his stories about the Ancients.

I'm a little bit of a Lovecraft fan, you must understand.

phoenixthoth

sunfist,

aliester crowley used to be my patron saint.

used to be.

he had this concept called the true will. he says that when in alignment with your true will, the entire universe assits you; otherwise, the entire universe opposes you.

this is roughly along the same lines as malai5's concept of the true self having similar properties. another term for true will and true self is SOUL.

what do you think?

i've read a book claiming to be the necronomicon. it really wasn't the same necronomicon (book of the dead) that lovecraft so romantically spoke about as a means to summon kthulu. in the necronomicon i read there were instructions for opening the gates of the abyss from which the ancient summerian gods could come forward and do something like rule this world once more. there were chapters that had the following warning: this chapter is only for the *initiated* (never were there instructions on how to go through initiation) and that all those uninitiated who read this will be forever cursed. without ever undergoing initiation, i plunged forward despite the warnings of curses and all i remember is a spell designed to kill someone once uttered. it was in a contrived langugae like klingon that was supposed to be ancient summerian. there were tales of the mad hermit (the "mad arab") who first summoned the demons from the abyss subsequently leading to his madness.

i'm also a big fan of norse mythology, probably because i'm half norse myself. nordic, at least. but my contact with my ancient culture is totally lost and all i know is that most of the days of the week are named after norse gods. not something i've pondered for at least six years. i'm a big fan of the giant horse woden rode; it reminds me of shadowfax, gandalf's horse (i hope i have that right).

my horse, or vehicle if you please, is the internet.

cheers,
phoenix