Browsing the blog archives for February, 2008

Is Mythology True?

It depends on what your definition of “true” is, to misquote a slippery politician in a tight place. I’ve decided to pose this as a true/false question on Wis.dom. Click here to answer: Is mythology true? Now, let me tell you a story about Joseph Campbell, which will explain why I asked the question. Warning: [...]

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The Goddess Athena

In ancient times, there was not simply Apollo or Athena. Each area, city, or shrine had its particular god, who may have evolved from an earlier local deity that later became merged with one of the popular, Olympian gods that spread throughout the Greek-speaking world. (Amazingly, the popular epics about the Trojan War composed by [...]

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Featured Storyteller: Sister Unity

Normally I mean to share my own research and retellings of world mythology, but I have stumbled across a bard who truly deserves the title. Her performances speak for themselves; so do the myths she tells. Here’s Unity’s performances of The Story of Durga Part II, The Story of Ganesh and The Rabbit and the [...]

Phaethon and the Chariot of the Sun

Photo credit: Ed BrambleyPhaethon was the son of Helios the sun-god and the ocean-goddess Klymene. She later married Merops, King of Ethiopia, who raised the boy as his own son. One day Phaethon’s best friend Epaphos, a prince from a neighboring kingdom, began to taunt him about his parentage. “Son of Helios?” Epaphos said. “A [...]

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Greek Myth: The Adventures of Perseus

Photo credit: TimDan2 on FlickrAkrisios, king of Argos, had a daughter of surpassing beauty, but no son. At last he sent a messenger to the oracle at Delphi to ask what hope he had for an heir. The oracle’s reply was grim: Akrisios would have no son, and his grandson would kill him. In the [...]

Happy Chinese New Year: Year of the Rat!

Thursday marked the beginning of the Chinese year 4706, the Year of the Rat. That means it’s time to share one of many versions of the myth about… The Rat Race Once upon a time, the Jade Emperor (or Buddha, some say) was holding a casting call for the signs of the Chinese Zodiac. The [...]

Greek Myth: Arion and the Dolphin

When I was eight, one of my favorite books was Bernard Evslin’s The Dolphin Rider. I’ve forgotten which other myths it contained, although I suspect that Oedipus’ family troubles weren’t among them. The one that I remember is the myth the book was named for, a story that’s stayed with me all my life. That’s [...]

The Goddess Brigid: Invocation

Lady Brigid, the “exalted one” as your name says, I’m afraid I’m a few days late. Your feast-day’s just past. But I’ll probably be late for my own wake, so let me start Mythprint on Imbolc — or thereabouts — with your blessing.
Caesar called you Minerva, assuming you were the same goddess worshiped under a different name. After the Romans divided Gaul, the Celts used Minerva too, or sometimes Sulis. Caesar said they worshiped you as the goddess of…

Let There Be Myth!

Welcome to Mythprint, a blog for people who love mythology. Have I got a story to tell you! Please, pull up a chair. I plan to use this blog as a place to share my love of mythology through original retellings and recordings of my favorite myths. (Playback) I’ll also be sharing related resources such as my photos of Greek art, as well as personal picks for good websites and books of interest to students and lovers of mythology…