Tuesday, September 26, 2006
"Muses" (Adobe Illustrator) #6 in the "Mythology" Sereies
The Greek goddesses who presided over the arts and sciences. They were believed to inspire all artists, especially poets, philosophers, and musicians. The Muses were the daughters of Zeus and Mnemosyne the goddess of memory. The number of Muses varies over time; initially there was but one, and later there is mention of three: Melete, Mneme, and Aoede (the Elder Muses). .
The Muses were venerated throughout Greece, but more so in those areas with many wells and springs. The area of Boeotia, near Helicon, remained the favorite place of the Muses, and there they were more venerated than elsewhere. It is also the place of two well that were sacred to them, Aganipipe and Hippocrene Also Delphi and the Parnassus were their favorite places, and it was here that Apollo became their leader (musagetes).
The Muses sat near the throne of Zeus, king of the gods, and sang of his greatness and of the origin of the world and its inhabitants and the glorious deeds of the great heroes. From their name words such as music, museum, mosaic are derived.
"Mania" (Adobe Illustrator) #5 in the "Mythology" Series
Mania may refer to two different mythological figures.
In Greek Mythology, Mania ("insanity") was the personigfication of insanity. InRoman and Estrucan mythology, Mania (or Manea) was the goddess of the dead. She, along with Mantus , ruled the underworld. She was said to be the mother of ghosts , the undead and other spirits ts of the night.
Both the Greek and Latin Mania derive from *men-, "to think". Cognates include Ancient Greek menos ("life, vigor") and Avestan mainyu, "spirit".
footnote - not sure if I like this one. I do not think it conveys the charater enough -- this may get re done
Sunday, September 24, 2006
'Selene" (Adobe Illustrator) #4 in the "Mythology" Series
Selene was the Greek goddess of the Moon. According to the poet Hesiod, Selene was the daughter of the Titans Theia and Hyperion making the goddess the sister of Helios (the Sun) andEos (the Dawn). However, other ancient sources claim that she was the child of Pallas and Euryphaessa.
Regardless of her ancestry, Selene, as the personification of the Moon, was an influential goddess. One of her best known myths involves the handsomeEndymion . The moon-goddess fell in love with this mortal, and she therefore engaged in an affair with Endymion that resulted in the birth of fifty daughters. But Endymion was, alas, human, and so susceptible to aging and eventually death. Selene could not bear the thought of this cruel fate. According to one version of the myth, she made certain that Endymion would remain eternally youthful by casting a spell that would cause him to sleep forever. In this way, Endymion would always live, sleeping through the ages.
It is also important to note that some Classical authors identified Selene with the Olympian goddess Artemis (indeed, in time Artemis was increasingly recognized as a moon goddess in her own right).
Selene was important enough to the ancient Greeks to inspire a Homeric Hymn. The Hymn to Selene describes the beauty and power of the goddess of the moon.
Homeric Hymn to Selene
"Muses, sweet-speaking daughters of Zeus Kronidesand mistresses of song, sing next of long-winged Moon!From her immortal head a heaven-sent glowenvelops the earth and great beauty arisesunder its radiance. From her golden crown the dim airis made to glitter as her rays turn night to noon,whenever bright Selene, having bathed her beautiful skinin the Ocean, put on her shining rainmentand harnessed her proud-necked and glittering steeds,swiftly drives them on as their manes playwith the evening, dividing the months. Her great orbit is fulland as she waxes a most brilliant light appearsin the sky. Thus to mortals she is a sign and a token."
Selene was called Luna in Roman mythology.
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