So, what exactly is a caduceus? So good that you asked! It is basically a staff decorated with two entwined serpents. I’m guessing you have seen a contemporary version of the caduceus at some point. Say, in a doctor’s office.
This strange symbol originated long ago, and yes, there is a connection to myth. Indeed, the [...]
From the category archives:
Et cetera
For the week of March 19 - 25, 2012
Here is a recap of what I am calling the blog style posts here at Mythography:
In Story of the Selkie, I muse about some compelling chapters from the book The Orphan’s Tales: In The Night Garden.
The this theme is continued in The Satyr and the Selkie, [...]
Ah, the Halcyon Days. Days of tranquility and contentment. You’ve heard of this phrase, haven’t you? Well, it has its origins in (surprise!) Greek mythology. And since it is a lovely Spring day here, I was inspired to discuss the myth behind this expression. I adore Ovid*, so I thought that I would share his [...]
“Winter relaxes its grip. West winds are a pleasant change.The spring’s here.
The windlasses haul down the dry hulls seaward;
Penned in the stable, the beasts grow fretful; the farmer loves his fire less.
The fields no longer shine with morning whiteness.
Queening the dance, with a full moon hanging above, the Cytherean
Leads, and the Nymphs and the comely [...]
Yesterday, in Story of the Selkie, I shared writer Catherynne M. Valente’s tale of a pair of mythological creatures who fall in love. This relationship was between a female Satyr a male Selkie in the book The Orphans Tales: In the Night Garden. Now, I really enjoyed Valente’s intriguing interpretation, as unconventional as it is, [...]
I am trying really hard to honor my promise of no spoilers from the book The Orphan’s Tales: In The Night Garden. Yes, I know you’re waiting for the “but”, so here it is. The one exception is the story of the Selkie. Sorry, I can’t resist sharing this tale here. It starts with “The [...]
It’s easy to find information about the legendary characters - the gods and goddesses, heroes and heroines - of Classical mythology. You know, Hercules, Athena, Aphrodite, the big standouts. How about the minor figures from myth? These little luminaries deserve some time in the spotlight too. So every so often here at Mythography, I plan [...]
“There thou shalt hear and learn the secret power
Of harmony, in tones and numbers hit
By voice or hand, and various-measured verse,
Aeolian charms and Dorian lyric odes,
And his who gave them breath, but higher sung,
Blind Melesigenes, thence Homer called,
Whose poem Phoebus challenged for his own.”
- Milton, Paradise Regained, IV. 245
First of all, let’s define what an epithet is in Classical mythology. It is basically a surname, or as I like to think of it, a poetic nickname. Epithets often reveal a role, characteristic, or even a nuance of a particular god or goddess.
Some of my favorite epithets follow:
Anadyomene – One of the many names [...]
The ancient Greek playwright Euripides specialized in creating works of tragedy and drama. He engaged his audiences with the stories of several intriguing mythological characters, composing compelling plays about such famous figures as the heroines Medea and Helen.
Euripides lived from circa 480 (or 485, according to some sources) until 406 B.C.E. and worked primarily in [...]