Re: The Beginning of Man P1 By: Personified / Knowledgeable
Post # 7 Oct 16, 2014
Brysing, I really don't understand what your problem is with this member using the forums as a means of providing knowledge about topics such as Greek lore. I use the forums to do the exact same thing with Norse paganism and Norse lore. That's the point of the forums: to contribute. Yes, members can ask questions and have them answer. But members are also encouraged to contribute articles they've written themselves. I do the same thing, and so do many other members. We write about lore from different cultures and we share it. There is nothing wrong with her posting this.
There's a third variant of myths on the creation of a different race of man, and it starts with the great flood. All over the Earth, men grew so wicked that Zeus decided to completely start over, and wipe Mankind out.
"To mingle storm and tempest over boundless Earth
And make an utter end of mortal man"
And the flood had began. Zeus asked his brother, Poseidon, to help him flood the lands, and the two brothers flooded the land. Only at the top of a mountain peak at Parnassus was there a little bit of dry land, that had escaped the flood. For nine days and nine nights it rained and flooded the lands. And on the waters, seemed to be a floating wooden chest. The wooden chest reached the peak at Parnassus, and out popped two living human beings. They were named Deucalion (man), and Phyrra (woman).
Prometheus had been able to predict the flood, so he had build a chest to protected his beloved Man.
Zeus was not offended by this, because the two survivors were faithful worshippers of the Gods. Once Deucalion and Phyrra walked on the lands, they were completely alone. All that covered the lands were waters. Zeus pitied the couple and drained off the flood. After this, the two began to search for a sign. They came across a molded, slimy, and moss-grown temple, and prayed in their loneliness. They were answered with, "Veil your heads and cast behind you the bones of your mother."
They were completely struck with horror, because they didn't want to throw the bones of their biological mother behind them. Phyrra stated that they dare not do this, and Deucalion agreed. But, with thought, Deucalion figured out that this was not as literal as it sounds.
"Earth is the mother of all," he told his wife, "Her bones are the stones. These we may cast behind us without doing wrong." and so they did. They were called the Stone People, and they were a hard, enduring race. They were the men who rescued the Earth from the desolation left by the flood.
Re: The Beginning of Man P1 By: Brysing Moderator / Adept
Post # 11 Oct 16, 2014
I don't have a problem! Merely that I cannot see the point in posting reams of excerpts from a book, and only one book at that. Many members post long articles from their own experience and belief. Why not just recommend the book?
Anyway, forget it. There was nothing wrong with way the post was written.
Unless it was plagiarised this is not the same as reading the book directly. Personally I enjoy reading reviews or third party takes on books and literature. It helps anyone who has read it understand the material from different perspectives. The point in doing this I would imagine is to share knowledge or at least collaborate in the learning process.
EyesofZeus, don't ever feel discouraged by people who don't share the same beliefs or interests with you even if they did somehow become a moderator. You have just as much right to share information about Graeco-paganism as anyone does about Wicca, Druidry, or any other popular topic on this website.
Anyway about the original post itself (haven't had a chance to really look at the second in depth) I appreciate someone sharing some Grecian lore, it's refreshing. I'm a big fan of it to be honest. So then, the story or stories of Prometheus are some of my favorites. It really reveals what kind of hatred Zeus and other Olympians may ba capable of. The spite they held for those who didn't worship them was astronomical. I also always found it hilarious because Zeus was described as basically the perfect being as having the greatest wisdom and the most power (probably the most coveted qualities of ancient greece besides being male) but somehow, someone would occasionally show him up. lol
Now the fun part is I have never heard of the second creation described here. I was only familiar with the first supposed creation theory. So in all I really very much enjoyed this article. Thank you Eyes.
