Greek Myth
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Greek Myth
The mountain ranges along the coast produce a cool and rainy climate during the winter season and hot and dry conditions throughout the summer. The moisture from the Aegean Sea on the right and Ionian Sea on the left of this country nourish a wide array of plants and an even more diverse animal species. Embedded underneath the land are rich deposits of metals and minerals. Without a name this part of the world seemed to inherit a selective majesty fit for things beyond mortal imagination. The country of course is Greece. Over two millennium ago, Ancient Greece was born into the worlds chronology of time. Greek thought and law influenced successive cultures even up to the Tudor dynasty in England. However, many people are more intrigued by their mythical stories composed by such legendary poets as Homer. In order to understand Greek myth we must first examine the internal factors that motivate the fantastic forces at work in the myths.
There existed a collective system of political and religious customs in Europe before the advancement of the Greek culture. This period of time, referred to as Neolithic Europe, had a homogeneous set of religious ideas based on the worshipping of mother-goddesses. The great goddess was regarded as immortal, changeless, and omnipotent. The role of fatherhood was not a practice that had any influence in a groups religious toleration. This focus on goddesses transferred into the reverence of a queen as the dominant figure amongst a people. The matriarchal structure that developed is dramatically different from the practices patriarchal cultures observe today. (Graves)
The queen chose lovers for pleasure only. The father was not an important part in providing for the children. Most men feared the power held by the matriarch, but they obeyed. In a twist of fate, mens religious status actually improved at the expense of a sacrificial young man. Over time in some tribes, a tribal nymph, or queen, choose a man to become king and then to be sacrificed by the end of the year. Instead of just being the object of erotic desire, the king became a symbol of fertility. The blood from his death served to nourish trees, crops, flocks, and the flesh from his body was eaten by the Queens other nymphs. (Graves)
The significance of the kings death was symbolic in accordance with natures role in the matriarchal mind. Early civilizations were concerned with the powers present within natural phenomena. Seasonal cycles as well as anything non-human were either worshiped or shrouded in superstitious beliefs. The sun was thought to yield precedence to the moon. This appears contrary due to the suns obvious superiority in size and strength, but not to these early people. The sun may produce scorching heat during the summer months, but its power wanes as the winter months approach. The moon, however, does not grow dimmer like the sun once the winter nears. The moon was also seen to have greater power because it was credited with granting or denying water to the fields. (Graves)
The connotation of symbolic numbers also influenced matriarchal thought. The number threes significance is derived from the moons three phases. The moons three phases corresponded to the queens three stages of life. The new stage was said to represent a queens maiden status, the full lunar stage represented the pinnacle of beauty or a nymph, and lastly the old stage signified the decline of the queens appearance, who then was called a crone. The sun also forms a triad during earths orbit around its sphere. The seasons of spring, summer, and winter all carry the same direct meaning as the moons three phases; maiden, nymph, and crone. Besides the distant solar landscapes, earth itself held non-human powers to these ancient people. Earth was given a feminine essence, and was referred to as Mother Earth. It is interesting that on every Earth Day Americans still refer to the earth as if it exhibited feminine traits. The ancients were intensely aware of the earths seasonal cycle of growth. Spring began the new cycle of growth with buds and germinating plants. Summer brought the climax of the growing season and was followed by the barren conditions during the winter months. The three cycles of life associated with the queen again matched the sun and moon. Mystical analogies such as these triads contributed to the sacred disposition of the number three. At first the three triads were independent goddesses, but during classical Greek times the three were juxtaposed into one god name Hera. (Graves)
Other important numbers include the number seven and twenty-eight. The ancients way of keeping time was observed by lunations. Every important ceremony was correlated to a specific phase of the moon during certain seasonal periods. The sacrificial