Mythology

[itsxpaperdoll]

Since I'm getting a bit off topic in DA's Greek hero thread, I thought lets open a more general mythology thread. To be honest, I'm amazed there isn't one already, cos there's quite a lot of mythology involved in the Buffyverse and therefore I thought it would be interesting to talk about it.

What myths do you know? Have you read anything latin or greek (or maybe viking-y) yourself (Either in the original text or in translation?) Do you know anything about African or Asian or Native American mythology? (Cos I dont, really) What's your favourite story and why? Or do you really hate everything that's been written before 1900? And what exactly ARE myths? Are they just fun stories people told eachother thousands of years ago because they didn't have tv? Or is there something more to it?

I can answer some of these questions, just to get the thread started: I like Greek mythology, basically because it is the oldest European culture. And I just love the way they treat their gods. They are basically just humans who happen to be immortal, unlike the quithe Bible talks about (No offence, but they just are no fun, the most interesting stories from the bible are the old ones, about Ester, and Samson, and whatshername, who killed her husband. And those don't involve too much divine intervention) My favourite story is the Odyssee. Don't ask me why, I don't know myself. It's just a great story, with adventures, some funny moments, some sad moments, some gratuitous violence, everything. And Ive read big parts of it in Greek. It's really hard cos it's written in like an old Ionic dialect which is very different from your standard Platoic dialect. And I suck at grammar, and Homer (or whoever wrote it) didn't know anything about grammatic standards.
About other mythical traditions: I would like to read something more of the northern european myths, like the finnish Kalevala and th Viking mythology. I used to know a lot about English and Irish stories, but I sort of forgot almost everything. Now its like, when they reference to it in Buffy I'm like "Yeah, I know that guy.. oh no, that was something else, shit." I'm actually hoping someone could refresh my memory a bit or pass me some links to usefull sites about this.
I would love to elaborate on the nature of myths but I'm getting ready to go to Uni while listening to Pink Floyd which makes me maniacally happy (the Pink Floyd part, not the going the Uni) so I'm gonna do that later. I now hand thee the talking stick. Have fun.

 

[white avenger]

The myth probably most appropriate to fans of the Buffyverse would be the story of Lilith, the (supposed) first wife of Adam, who, because she wouldn't "submit" to her husband (apparently she wanted to be on top at least part of the time) was expelled from Eden. She went out into the world and copulated with the creatures of darkness. Her children were the first demons.

Another one that, to me, always seemed somehow connected to Buffy was the story of Loki, the Norse god of mischief and evil. As punishment for killing Baldar, the Allfather Odin's favorite son, he was chained to a stone in a vast underground chamber guarded by an army of trolls, and cursed to remain there until the Ragnarok, or Apocalypse, when he would escape and join forces with Fenris the Wolf and the Midgard Serpent to bring about the deaths of the gods in Asgard and the ultimate destruction of all of mankind. (The First Evil: Loki, Fenris:The Wolf, Ram, and Hart, and the Midgard Serpent:Mayor Wilkins)

 

[Kemy]

I love the Lilith myth, I had over 20 book marks to different sites at one point trying to find out all I could lol.

I mainly stick to Vampire lore, European, New World and British, about the 11th century to modern day.

 

[Blackloliita]

We saw some myths in latin & history. I like them too, saw movies & series about some too. Like the box of Pandora is cool myth. I like the "in the end there's always hope"-part. Of course you also have odyssee and the trojan horse...

 

[white avenger]

Another favorite of mine is the one where the king's wife volunteers to die for him, but Heracles fights Death to a standstill, saving the woman's life. Sorry that I can't remember the other characters' names, or the name of the Greek play itself, but I think that I should be cut a little slack for remembering the story at all, considering that the memory is over 40 years old.

 

[Perny]

Nordic mythology.
I have always been fascinated by it, since it was the religion of my country a long time ago. I know practically everything about it.

Egyptian and greek mythology also. I just love it!

 

[Kean]

I have always be interested in Irish Mythology (no surprise there).

I always found Buffy was indebted in Irish Myths, some aspects of the show seem to take inspiration from the ancient celtic legends.

Like Angel for instance, his story really reminds of the tale "Tà­r na Nóg" (Land of the Young). It's about a man à“isà­n was was part of the bhFianna, the ancient race of warriors in Ireland. One day he meets a beautiful woman called Niamh and they fall in love and she offers him immortality if he comes with her to Tà­r na Nóg. He accpets her offer but after 300 years he begins to miss his homeland and his people so Niamh allows him to leave Tà­r na Nóg on one condition; while he is in Ireland à“isà­n must stay upon his horse, if his feet touch the soil of Eire he will die. He agrees the terms and returns home. One day he sees some men pushing a bolder up a hill and decides to help. He is a bhfianna after all, he could move it with one hand. However, while pushing to bolder he slips and falls off the horse. Instantly à“isà­n begins to age and before the mens' eyes he turns to dust and scatters across the land.

This always reminded me of Angel and how he met Darla and later how he was cursed.

There are many other stories of the Queens of Ireland that always remind me of Buffy herself. Especially Meabh and Deirdre.

 

[Lindsey McDonald]

I love finding out about ancient mythologies, Roman and Greek especially. I never really connected with the Norse mythos though; I don't really know why. Maybe it's cause Vikings have no class. At least everyone was beautiful in the Greek and Roman myths!

Ok, not actually that shallow, but Nordic mythology was always too rough and cold for me. I don't know if that's just a perception that I have, or if it's actually the case though. I should really look into it more.

Strangely enough though, the mythology that I am most interested in isn't even real. Well, not that I actually believe that people in the ancient world would every so often metamorphose into various inanimate objects, but you know what I mean. Tolkien's Valinor always held my attention the most, for some reason - perhaps because it was unreal. That, in a way, allowed it to be far more perfect than a real mythology could ever be - even in it's messy and unfinished state.

But now I'm babbling on about nonsense, so I'll shut up.

 

[itsxpaperdoll]

Here's another question I forgot to ask, has anyone ever thought about the huge similarities between some myths, without the people ever having been in contact with eachother? For example Kean's irish story, doesn't it have similarities with the Orpheus myth? I also heard of a German, or maybe even Nordic myth with more or less the same story. And I've read about several asian myths with huge similarities with Egyptian or Greek mythology. Where could this come from? Coincidence? Common subconcious? From way back when we were all living in Africa?

I also really like the Lillith myth. I forgot about it, thanks for bringing it up 😉 I read a very interesting article about it, some time ago. If I can find it again I will post the link.

 

[Kean]

Yeah I have noticed that alot. They all seem to criss cross. I think it has to do that most of these myths were passed on orally from generation to generation.

 

[ILLYRIAN]

I've looked at the myths about vampires and how they relate to specific Buffy/Angel characters, for instance the Master who is said to be similar in appearance to nosferatu. The vampire in the submarine, count Orlock (spelling?) who was meant to be Dracula.

I liked the Jewish Mythology of Lilith, who was kicked out of the garden of eden with her son;
Lilith for not tending to Adams needs, and Cain for killing his brother. There is older references to Lilith in one form or another, but I have chosen that one.

There have been many sites that deal with general Mythology and some sites that are directed to specific myths.
I have taken great enjoyment in altering characters, or what they did from some myths and including them in my fanfic. The main problem is making a story around the 'new' myth, the most successful being the Goddess Medusa, Charon, Lilith. From the bible I've used Judas Iscariot.

The so called recognised bibles are easy enough to get copies of, but other ones can be fun to track down. At present I'm trying to see a copy of The Great Grimoire which was used by Catholic priest's prior to an exorcism,
( identifying demons etc: ) but they don't seem to recognise it now.

itsxpaperdoll
When ever I want to read up on mythology, I either read a book I have for leads; Three Books of Occult Philosophy. As with Illyria, where the country was and the powers of the Illyrii.
Or I type 'mythology' in the address bar and see where that leads me.
If you want sites about specific Myths, just put a reply and I'll spend some time trying to find what you want.