Warrior Clan Cats

The future's in your paws. Shape it well.

Roleplay in a cat Clan of warriors. Based off the Warriors series by Erin Hunter. Takes place in an AU before the cats in the books existed.
 
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 Moon & Rain - Greek Mythology

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Moon

Moon


Clan/Rank : ThunderClan Kit
Scorpio Rat
Number of posts : 3521
Age : 27

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PostSubject: Moon & Rain - Greek Mythology    Moon & Rain - Greek Mythology  EmptyFri 4 Nov 2011 - 17:53

Soooooo, don't care if you hate Greek/Roman myths! I'm going to be doing an ongoing study of Greco-Roman mythologies and post them here as I go. I hope to get through as much as I can! If you like Greek mythology, you'll like this :) And YES I posted this in the right section, because I am rewording the myths and creating all of this from scratch. I will do critical information about each god/spirit/titan/etc, give backgrounds, crucial family members, and a myth that involves each. (myth may or may not happen for all of them) Some gods/spirits/etc will be paired because there is not enough information to do one for each of them. These are the mythological figures generally accepted. There are other versions of these myths, and in some versions there are more/less gods than listed. I'll try to do one a day (skip a day, two the next). This will obviously take a VERY long time, so this will probably be an almost year-long project that I will try not to give up on. This paragraph is very jumbled. Here's how it will be posted:

I. The Olympian Gods
a. Zeus
b. Hera
c. Poseidon
d. Demeter
e. Athena
f. Ares
g. Hephaestus
h. Aphrodite
i. Apollo
j. Artemis
k. Dionysus

l. Hermes

III. The Primordial Gods
a. Chaos
b. Erebus
c. Gaea
d. Nyx
e. Tartarus
f. Chronos
g. Ouranos
h. Aether
i. Hemera

IV. The Titans
a. Cronus
b. Rhea
c. Hyperion
d. Coeus
e. Crius
f. Mnemosyne
g. Oceanus
h. Phoebe
i. Themis
j. Theia
k. Tethys
l. Prometheus
m. Atlas
n. Astraeus
o. Epimetheus
p. Eos
q. Helios
r. Selene
s. Methis
t. Perses

V. Minor Gods
a. Bia
b. Cratos
c. Deimos
d. Eris
e. Phobos
f. Hades
g. Hestia
h. Persephone
i. Hecate
j. Harmonia
k. Hebe
l. Hypnos
m. Morpheus
n. Nemisis
o. Nike
p. The Moirae
q. The Muses
r. Pan
s. Iris
t. Circe
u. The Anemoi


VI. Monsters and Spirits
LIST OF MONSTERS LISTED ON INTRO TO MONSTERS: Unicorns, harpies, griffins, satyrs, types of nymphs, etc. Individual nymphs will not be listed, as the list is too extensive.
a. Typhon
b. Echidna
c. The Gorgons
d. The Furies
e. The Graeae
f. The Hekatoncheires
g. Agrius
h. Alcyoneus
i. Antaeus
j. Argus
k. The Elder Cyclopes
l. Polyphemus
m. Enceladus
n. The Gegenees
o. Geryon
p. Chimera
q. Chiron
r. The Sirens
s. The Sphinx
t. Scylla
u. Nereus & Nereids
v. Delphin
w. Charybdis
x. Silenus
y. Porphyrion
z. Talos
a2. Celedones
b2. Gold & Silver, Dogs
c2. Cretan Bull
d2. Cerberus
e2. The Hydra
f2. The Empousa
g2. Melinoe
h2. Zelos
i2. Orion
j2. Tityos
k2. Kampe
l2. Hesperian Dragon
m2. Python
n2. Hyperborean Giants
o2. The Manticore
p2. The Nemean Lion
q2. The Minotaur
r2. Pegasus
s2. The Graces
t2. Amphitrite

Heroes and other important figures may be added when/if this is ever completed.




PLEASE DO NOT POST IN THIS THREAD! PM ME IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS/COMMENTS/MAY BE INTERESTED IN HELPING OUT*.

*I'd be happy for any help. I would most likely take turns with you in posting the next figure in line, but you would have to adhere to my template.


Last edited by Moo on Fri 18 Nov 2011 - 21:44; edited 5 times in total
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Moon

Moon


Clan/Rank : ThunderClan Kit
Scorpio Rat
Number of posts : 3521
Age : 27

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PostSubject: Re: Moon & Rain - Greek Mythology    Moon & Rain - Greek Mythology  EmptyFri 4 Nov 2011 - 18:02

THE OLYMPIAN GODS

Since the beginning of Greek myths, there has always been a group that ruled the earth, skies, seas, and underworld. The group that has held the power for the last thousands of years were the Olympians, led by King Zeus and Queen Hera. The Olympians qualify as the chief gods, and control all of the most important aspects of life -- weather, food, travel, love --- and have been revered by the rest of the mythological world as the best of the best. The Olympians currently reside on Mount Olympus, or more specifically, The Empire State Building (floor 600).


Last edited by Cow on Sat 5 Nov 2011 - 15:14; edited 1 time in total
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Moon

Moon


Clan/Rank : ThunderClan Kit
Scorpio Rat
Number of posts : 3521
Age : 27

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PostSubject: Re: Moon & Rain - Greek Mythology    Moon & Rain - Greek Mythology  EmptyFri 4 Nov 2011 - 19:15

Zeus, King of Gods

Moon & Rain - Greek Mythology  200px-Jupiter_Smyrna_Louvre_Ma13

Information
Roman form: Jupiter
Symbol: Thunderbolt, Eagle, Oak, Bull
Consort: Hera
Home: Mount Olympus
Sphere of Control: Thunder, sky, mortals, rules, chief deity

Family
Siblings: Hera, Demeter, Hestia, Hades and Poseidon
Children: Ares, Athena, Apollo, Artemis, Aphrodite, Dionysus, Hebe, Hermes, Heracles, Helen of Troy, Hephaestus, Perseus, Minos, the Muses, the Graces
Parents: Cronus and Rhea
- various other Divine and mortal family members -

Overview
- Zeus was the son of the Titans Cronus and Rhea
- Zeus's favorite children were Heracles and Athena
- Although Zeus was married to Hera, he had many other romantic relations with other females, both mortal and divine
- Zeus is depicted as a middle aged man with gray hair, a full beard and mustache, and muscular arms
- Zeus keeps his bird, the Golden Eagle, by his side at all times
- It was often speculated that Zeus was the one who threw Hephaestus off of Mount Olympus, but it was actually Hera
- When Zeus became Jupiter, he became much more military-oriented, listened to his son Mars over Minerva (when it used to be vise versa), grew older, and more strict.

The Story of Zeus and Cronus

". . . Cronus learned from Gaia and Uranus that he was destined to be overcome by his own sons, just as he had overthrown his father. As a result, although he sired the gods Demeter, Hera, Hades, Hestia, and Poseidon by Rhea, he devoured them all as soon as they were born, to preempt the prophecy. When the sixth child, Zeus, was born Rhea sought Gaia to devise a plan to save them and to eventually get retribution on Cronus for his acts against his father and children. Other children Cronus is reputed to have fathered include Chiron, by Philyra.
Painting by Peter Paul Rubens of Cronus devouring one of his children, Poseidon

Rhea secretly gave birth to Zeus in Crete, and handed Cronus a stone wrapped in swaddling clothes, also known as the Omphalos Stone, which he promptly swallowed, thinking that it was his son.

Rhea kept Zeus hidden in a cave on Mount Ida, Crete. According to some versions of the story, he was then raised by a goat named Amalthea, while a company of Kouretes, armored male dancers, shouted and clapped their hands to make enough noise to mask the baby's cries from Cronus. Other versions of the myth have Zeus raised by the nymph Adamanthea, who hid Zeus by dangling him by a rope from a tree so that he was suspended between the earth, the sea, and the sky, all of which were ruled by his father, Cronus. Still other versions of the tale say that Zeus was raised by his grandmother, Gaia.

Once he had grown up, Zeus used an emetic given to him by Gaia to force Cronus to disgorge the contents of his stomach in reverse order: first the stone, which was set down at Pytho under the glens of Mount Parnassus to be a sign to mortal men, then the goat, and then his two brothers and three sisters. In other versions of the tale, Metis gave Cronus an emetic to force him to disgorge the children, or Zeus cut Cronus' stomach open. After freeing his siblings, Zeus released the Gigantes, the Hecatonchires, and the Cyclopes, who forged for him his thunderbolts, Poseidon's trident and Hades' helm of darkness. In a vast war called the Titanomachy, Zeus and his brothers and sisters, with the help of the Gigantes, Hecatonchires, and Cyclopes, overthrew Cronus and the other Titans. Afterwards, many of the Titans were confined in Tartarus. Some Titans were not banished to Tartarus. Atlas, Epimetheus, Menoetius, Oceanus and Prometheus are examples of Titans who were not imprisoned in Tartarus following the Titanomachy. Gaia bore the monster Typhon to claim revenge for the imprisoned Titans, though Zeus was victorious. . . "


excerpt from Wikipedia







Last edited by Cow on Sat 5 Nov 2011 - 15:14; edited 1 time in total
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Rainy

Rainy


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Pisces Buffalo
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PostSubject: Re: Moon & Rain - Greek Mythology    Moon & Rain - Greek Mythology  EmptySat 5 Nov 2011 - 15:11

Hera, Queen of Gods

Moon & Rain - Greek Mythology  200px-Hera_Campana_Louvre_Ma2283

Information
Roman form: Juno
Symbol: Peacock, diadem
Consort: Zeus
Home: Mount Olympus
Sphere of control: Marriage, women, birth

Family
Siblings: Poseidon, Demeter, Hades, Hestia, and Zeus
Children: Ares, Hephaestus, Eris, Enyo, Eileithyia, and Hebe
Parents: Cronus and Rhea
- various other mortal and divine members -

Overview
- Hera was the daughter of the Titans Cronus and Rhea
- Hera is often depicted with her hair drawn back and a crown of any sort on her head, wearing long robes
- Having good reason, Hera was often suspicious of Zeus. She spent time sitting in high places, keeping an eye on her husband
- Her name means "Lady"
- When Hera and Zeus' son, Hephaestus, was born, the queen thought he was too ugly, and threw him off the mountain, crippling the blacksmith
- She was the first goddess to have a Greek temple built for her
- Hera remained a faithful but jealous woman

The Judgment of Paris


". . .the wedding of Peleus and Thetis, the hero and the sea-goddess, was celebrated on Mount Pelion. All the gods and goddesses were invited, with the noted exception of Eris, the Goddess of Strife, who was hideous and disagreeable. Angered at being left out of the nuptuals she strode into the middle of the wedding feast and threw a golden apple into the assembled company. It landed between the three most powerful goddesses, Hera, Athena and Aphrodite. Picking it up, Zeus found it was inscribed ‘For the Fairest’. Wisely deciding not to judge between the three deities himself, Zeus nominated the beautiful Paris as arbiter, but first he sent Hermes to enquire whether he would be willing to act as judge. Paris agreed and so a time was set for the three goddesses to appear to him on Mount Ida.

When the day came, Paris sat himself on a boulder and waited with beating heart for the arrival of the three great deities. All at once a great light appeared which covered the entire mountain. At first Paris was blinded, but then the goddesses cloaked their light in cloud so that he was able to look at them. First Hera, the great queen, approached him and flaunted her beauty in front of him. Radiant with glory she made him a promise. If he awarded her the apple, she would grant him wealth and power. He would rule over the greatest kingdom on earth. Paris felt the excitement of this and his ambition rose up and yearned for her gift.

After that, grey-eyed Athena approached him, drawing near and bending down, so that he might look into the magical depths of her eyes. She promised him victory in all battles, together with glory and wisdom - the three most precious gifts a man could have. This time Paris felt his mind leap with excitement and with desire for the riches of knowledge and the glory of prowess.

Then it was the turn of Aphrodite. Hanging back a little, she tilted her head so that her hair fell forward, concealing a blush on her face. Then she loosened the girdle of her robe and beneath it, Paris caught sight of her perfectly formed breast, white as alabaster.

‘Paris,’ she said, and her voice seemed to sing inside his head. ‘Give me the apple and in return I will give you the gift of love. You will possess the most beautiful woman in the land, a woman equal to me in perfection of form. With her you will experience the greatest delights of love-making. Choose me, Paris, and she will be yours.’

Then Paris, overpowered by the intoxication of her words and her beauty, found himself handing her the apple without even pausing to reflect on his decision, guided only by the strength of his desire.

So it was that Paris awarded the Apple of Discord to Aphrodite, and Hera and Athena became his implacable enemies."


exerpt from Living Myths
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Rainy

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PostSubject: Re: Moon & Rain - Greek Mythology    Moon & Rain - Greek Mythology  EmptySat 5 Nov 2011 - 15:44

Poseidon, God of the Sea

Moon & Rain - Greek Mythology  35bxx1u

Information
Roman form: Neptune
Symbol: Trident, fish, dolphin, horse
Consort: Amphitrite
Home: Palace in the sea
Sphere of control: Salt-water, earthquakes

Family
Siblings: Zeus, Hades, Demeter, Hestia, Hera
Children: Theseus, Triton, Polyphemus, Belus, Agenor, Neleus
Parents: Cronus and Rhea
- various other mortal and divine members -

Overview
- Poseidon has the temperament of the sea; some days, angry, and others, calm and still
- Poseidon is usually depicted as an older man with a beard, surrounded by seashells and holding his trident
- Greek sailors often prayed to Poseidon for a safe voyage
- Poseidon’s name means “Father of the Earth”
- He was constantly trying to expand his dominion, often losing to the other Olympians
- Just as his brother Zeus, Poseidon had many affairs with both mortal and divine women
- Poseidon created an everlasting feud with Athena when he and one of his girlfriends slept in one of Athena’s holy temples

The Deity of Athens
"There once came a time in Ancient Greece when the first king of Athens, Cecrops (his name implying that he was half person and half snake) had to find a patron deity for the city state of Athens.

The two Olympian gods who were particularly interested in the patronage were Poseidon (Neptune), the god of the Seas and Athena(Minerva), the goddess of Wisdom and Skill. They presented themselves in front of Cecrops and Cecrops asked from them to offer a gift truly valuable for Athens.

Poseidon came first: he powerfully struck the earth and created a well with his trident; immediately streaming water shot forth, but water turned out to be salty and not very useful for the population.

Next, it was goddess Athena’s turn. Athena stepped forward, struck her spear in the ground and then she kneeled and planted an olive branch in it, creating this way an olive tree as a symbolization of peace and prosperity on earth.

Cecrops was very impressed by Athena’s gift- much more than that from Poseidon- so he chose Athena to lay claim of the city of Athens and Athens was named after her. God Poseidon, however, was not pleased by the decision of Cecrops and cursed the city of Athens to never have enough water from then on; after that, a major problem of water shortage started in Athens, which continues until nowadays."


exerpt from Greek Gods Info
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Moon

Moon


Clan/Rank : ThunderClan Kit
Scorpio Rat
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PostSubject: Re: Moon & Rain - Greek Mythology    Moon & Rain - Greek Mythology  EmptySat 5 Nov 2011 - 16:06

Demeter, the Earth Mother

Moon & Rain - Greek Mythology  S31demeter



Information
Roman form: Ceres
Symbol: Torch, sheaves of wheat, lioness, cornucopia
Consort: None
Home: Mount Olympus
Sphere of control: Nature, agriculture, harvest, grain, earth

Family
Siblings: Zeus, Hera, Hestia, Poseidon, Hades
Children: Persephone, Arion
Parents: Cronus and Rhea
- various other mortal and divine family members -

Overview
- Demeter is often underestimated
- Demeter is the current Mother Earth, preceded only by Gaea
- She is often depicted in very modest attire, despite not being a virgin goddess
- Demeter is very often seen holding roses and wheat
- Demeter is seen to be a middle aged, beautiful woman with a crown of flowers
- Demeter was the object of many of the gods, including her brothers, affections. Poseidon even raped her while they were in the form of horses, and she gave birth to the fastest horse, Arion
- Demeter's daughter is Persephone, who married her uncle Hades

The Story of Persephone
"It was a beautiful day like all the others in this land, the sun shone brightly in the sky, the hills were lush and green, and flowers blossomed from the earth. The lovely young maiden, Persephone, frolicked with her friends upon the hillside, as her mother Demeter sat near by, and her father Zeus peered down from the sky above. Laughter could be heard in between the young girls' whispered secrets, as they gathered handfuls of purple crocuses, royal blue irises and sweet-smelling hyacinths. Persephone thought to bring some to her mother, but was soon distracted by a vision of the most enchanting flower she had ever seen. It was a narcissus, the exact flower her father hoped that she would find. As she reached down to pluck it from its resting place, her feet began to tremble and the earth was split in two. Life for Persephone would never be the same again.

From this gaping crevice in the ground emerged the awe-inspiring God of the Underworld, Hades, and before Persephone could even think to utter a word, she was whisked off her feet onto the God's golden chariot. As the crack of the whip upon his majestic horses brought her to her senses, she realized she was about to taken into the black depths from which he'd come. The thought of this brought terror to her heart, yet any screams of protest were soon lost within the darkness, as they descended quickly into the Underworld below.

While Persephone's cries could not be heard above the ground, the pain in Demeter's heart quickly alerted her to the fact that something was terribly wrong. She searched high and low for her dear daughter, who had vanished from both the heavens and the earth. Consumed by depression over the loss of her child, she soon ceased to remember her worldly duties as Goddess of Grain and Growth. As she watched the plants wither and die all around her, she felt her own hopes begin to fade as well.

At the same time, deep down in the realm of the dead, Hades hoped to explain his actions to the sweet Persephone. Professing his love, he told her of the plan her father helped deploy and begged her to stay and be his wife. Yet, Persephone longed for something more, the comforts of her mother's home and a view of the lush green grass and blue sky up above.

Far above the darkness of the Underworld, her mother continued to wander the forlorn earth. Eventually she found her way to the town of Eleusis, where she rested by a flowing fountain. Stripped of all her vital energy, she appeared old and wrinkled beyond her years. Soon four young females found the aging Goddess, and agreed to take her home. Their parents were glad to offer the elderly woman lodging and a stable position caring for their little son. Wishing to reward the family for their kindness, Demeter attempted to offer the child the gift of immortality, by sticking him in the fire each night and removing him every morning before dawn. When the child's mother found him in the flames, she was horrified. Her mortal mind could not comprehend the actions of the Goddess, and she asked her to leave their home at once. This immediately brought back Demeter's fighting spirit, who surprised them by exposing her true self. The family begged the Goddess for forgive them and in return agreed to her demands: "A temple would be built in my honor, and you will teach the world my secret to immortality." Within no time, the town built a beautiful temple on the hillside, which the Goddess blessed before continuing on her journey.

Yet it didn't take long for Demeter's happiness to be replaced with rage, as she recalled the disappearance of her daughter. She flew to the home of Zeus and demanded that Persephone be found at once. She also questioned every immortal she could find and eventually uncovered Zeus' plot. In an attempt to appease Demeter's growing anger, he dispatched a messenger to retrieve their daughter from the depths.

Upon his entry to the Underworld, the messenger Hermes was amazed at what he found. Instead of finding a frail and fearful Persephone, he found a radiant and striking Queen of the Dead. She had adjusted well to her new position, saying she had even found her calling. The Goddess was now in charge of greeting the new arrivals and helping them adapt to their new life. While she wished to see her mother up above, she was torn by her desire to remain Hades' wife.

Hoping to comfort Persephone in her confusion, Hades came to his Queen's side. He gently kissed her forehead and urged her, "Do not fret, eat instead from this fruit I know you will like." As she pressed the red pomegranate seeds to her lips, she listened to his words. He told her he would miss her very much, but her duties as a daughter mattered too. So, she climbed into the chariot and bid her husband farewell, as Hermes sped them off to the middle realm of mother earth, the home of her devoted mother.

The flowers sang joyfully of her return, while her mother beamed with pride. Yet, the child that she had born and raised had changed while she was gone. She had grown into a goddess, one both beautiful and wise and the more that Demeter inquired about her experiences below, the more she came to worry that the life they knew was gone. She recalled a declaration Zeus had made from the heavens up above: in order for Persephone to return to the home and life she had known, the young goddess must be as pure as the day she left her mother's side. However, the ruby stain upon her lips spoke of the beauty's fate. Persephone had tasted of the fruit of life. It could not be erased.

Even so, Zeus loved his daughter too much to send her back to Hades without the hope of returning to her mother's abode above. So, each spring Persephone comes back with the flowers that pave her way, to tell the story of rebirth, hope and harmony. And each fall when she leaves again for the Underworld below, her mother mourns and winter comes, while she waits for her return. Yet, for Persephone there is no remorse. She looks forward to the time she spends as Hades' Queen and wife, and to guiding those who have lost their way to the next phase of their life."


excerpt from Mythic Arts




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Rainy

Rainy


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PostSubject: Re: Moon & Rain - Greek Mythology    Moon & Rain - Greek Mythology  EmptySun 6 Nov 2011 - 18:58

Athena, Goddess of Wisdom and War

Moon & Rain - Greek Mythology  200px-Athena_Parthenos_Altemps_Inv8622

Information
Roman form: Minerva
Symbol: Owl, olive branch, helmet
Consort: None
Home: Mount Olympus
Sphere of control: Wisdom, strategical side of war, Athens

Family
Siblings: (Half) Artemis, Apollo, Hephaestus, Hermes, Aphrodite, and Ares
Children: None
Parents: Zeus and Metis

Overview
- Athena was a virgin goddess
- Athena is a goddess of war, but more over the logical side
- Athena is the patron goddess of Athens
- Athena was born when Zeus had a splitting headache; she sprang, fully grown in armor, from his split head
- When Poseidon was caught with one of his girlfriends in a temple of Athena's, the goddess made the girl and her sisters eternally ugly
- The Parthenon in Athens, Greece was a temple dedicated to Athena

Beginning of Spiders
"There was a contest, in which a mortal dared to come in competition with Athena. That mortal was Arachne, a maiden who had attained such skill in the arts of weaving and embroidery that the nymphs themselves would leave their groves and fountains to come and gaze upon her work. It was not only beautiful when it was done, but beautiful also in the doing.

"To watch her, as she took the wool in its rude state and formed it into rolls, or separated it with her fingers and carded it till it looked as light and soft as a cloud, or twirled the spindle with skilful touch, or wove the web, or, after it was woven, adorned it with her needle, one would have said that Athena herself had taught her. But this she denied, and could not bear to be thought a pupil even of a Goddess. "Let Athena try her skill with mine," said she; "if beaten I will pay the penalty." Athena heard this and was displeased. She assumed the form of an old woman and went and gave Arachne some friendly advice. "I have had much experience, said she, and I hope you will not despise my counsel. Challenge your fellow-mortals as you will, but do not compete with a Goddess. On the contrary, I advise you to ask her forgiveness for what you have said, and as she is merciful perhaps she will pardon you." Arachne stopped her spinning and looked at the old dame with anger in her countenance. "Keep your counsel, said she, "for your daughters or handmaids; for my part I know what I say, and I stand to it. I am not afraid of the Goddess; let her try her skill, if she dare venture." "She comes," said Athena; and dropping her disguise stood confessed. The nymphs bent low in homage, and all the bystanders paid reverence.

"Arachne alone was unterrified. She blushed, indeed; a sudden color dyed her cheek, and then she grew pale. But she stood to her resolve, and with a foolish conceit of her own skill rushed on her fate. Athena forbore no longer nor interposed any further advice. They proceed to the contest. Each takes her station and attaches the web to the beam. Then the slender shuttle is passed in and out among the threads. The reed with its fine teeth strikes the woof into its place and compacts the web. Both work with speed; their skilful hands move rapidly, and the excitement of the contest makes the labor light. Wool of Tyrian dye is contrasted with that of other colors, shaded off into one another so adroitly that the joining deceives the eye. Like the bow, whose long arch tinges the heavens, formed by sunbeams reflected from the shower, in which, where the colors meet they seem as one, but a little distance from the point of contact are wholly different.

"Athena wrought on her web the scene of her contest with Poseidon. Twelve of the heavenly powers are represented, Zeus, with august gravity, sitting in the midst. Poseidon, the ruler of the sea, holds his trident, and appears to have just smitten the earth, from which a horse has leaped forth. Athena depicted herself with helmed head, her Aegis covering her breast. Such was the central circle; and in the four corners were represented incidents illustrating the displeasure of the Gods at such presumptuous mortals as had dared to contend with them. These were meant as warnings to her rival to give up the contest before it was too late.

"Arachne filled her web with subjects designedly chosen to exhibit the failings and errors of the Gods. One scene represented Leda caressing the swan, under which form Zeus had disguised himself; and another, Danae, in the brazen tower in which her father had imprisoned her, but where the God effected his entrance in the form of a golden shower. Still another depicted Europa deceived by Zeus under the disguise of a bull. Encouraged by the tameness of the animal Europa ventured to mount his back, whereupon Zeus advanced into the sea and swam with her to Crete, You would have thought it was a real bull, so naturally was it wrought, and so natural the water in which it swam. She seemed to look with longing eyes back upon the shore she was leaving, and to call to her companions for help. She appeared to shudder with terror at the sight of the heaving waves, and to draw back her feel, from the water.

"Arachne filled her canvas with similar subjects, wonderfully well done, but strongly marking her presumption and impiety. Athena could not forbear to admire, yet felt indignant at the insult. She struck the web with her shuttle and rent it in pieces; she then touched the forehead of Arachne and made her feel her guilt and shame. She could not endure it and went and hanged herself. Athena pitied her as she saw her suspended by a rope. "Live," she said, "guilty woman! and that you may preserve the memory of this lesson, continue to hang, both you and your descendants, to all future times." She sprinkled her with the juices of aconite, and immediately her hair came off, and her nose and ears likewise. Her form shrank up, and her head grew smaller yet; her fingers cleaved to her side and served for legs. All the rest of her is body, out of which she spins her thread, often hanging suspended by it, in the same attitude as when Athena touched her and transformed her into a spider."


exerpt from Goddess Athena


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Moon

Moon


Clan/Rank : ThunderClan Kit
Scorpio Rat
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PostSubject: Re: Moon & Rain - Greek Mythology    Moon & Rain - Greek Mythology  EmptyMon 7 Nov 2011 - 18:05

Ares, God of War

Moon & Rain - Greek Mythology  220px-Ares_Ludovisi_Altemps_Inv8602_n2


Information
Roman Name: Mars
Symbol: Vulture, dog, spear, chariot, helmet, boar
Consort: Unmarried, Aphrodite
Home: Mount Olympus
Sphere of control: War, bloodshed, vengeful hate


Family
Siblings: Hephaestus, [half:] Hebe, Enyo, Heracles, Eileithyia
Children: Eros, Anteros, Phobos, Deimos, Phlegyas, Harmonia, and Adrestia
Parents: Zeus & Hera


Overview
- Feared by the Greeks, Ares was must more respected by the Romans as Mars Ultor, where he was worship as second only to Jupiter (Zeus)
- Ares was Hera's favorite son
- Aphrodite cheated on Hephaestus with Ares
- The Roman goddess Bellona (Enyo, spirit of war, Ares servant) was said to be Mars' consort, but Aphrodite (Venus) was still his lover if such claims are true
- Ares was shunned by many of the Olympian gods, Zeus going as far to tell him "if you were not my son, I would cast you from the skies", causing Ares demeanor to be filled with hatred, eventually adopting the feeling into his sphere of control


Ares & Aphrodite

". . . the Sun-god Helios once spied Ares and Aphrodite enjoying each other secretly in the hall of Hephaestus, and he promptly reported the incident to Aphrodite's Olympian consort. Hephaestus contrived to catch the couple in the act, and so he fashioned a finely-knitted and nearly invisible net with which to snare the illicit lovers. At the appropriate time, this net was sprung, and trapped Ares and Aphrodite locked in very private embrace. But Hephaestus was not yet satisfied with his revenge — he invited the Olympian gods and goddesses to view the unfortunate pair. For the sake of modesty, the goddesses demurred, but the male gods went to witness the sight. Some commented on the beauty of Aphrodite, others remarked that they would eagerly trade places with Ares, but all who were present mocked the two. . . "


excerpt from Wikipedia




Last edited by Cow on Wed 9 Nov 2011 - 17:44; edited 4 times in total
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PostSubject: Re: Moon & Rain - Greek Mythology    Moon & Rain - Greek Mythology  EmptyWed 9 Nov 2011 - 16:01

Hephaestus, Lord of Blacksmiths

Moon & Rain - Greek Mythology  200px-Vulcan_Coustou_Louvre_MR1814

Information
Roman Name: Vulcan
Symbol: Hammer, anvil, and tongs
Consort: Aphrodite, later Aglaea
Home: Mount Olympus Forges
Sphere of Control: Fire, forge, blacksmiths, inventions, artisans, minerals, volcanoes

Family
Siblings: Ares, Enyo, Eileithia, and Hebe
Children: Thalia, Eucleia, Eupheme, Philophrosyne and Euthenia
Parents: Zeus & Hera

Overview
- He was the most unattractive of the gods, making him look as if an average human
- Hephaestus was lame from a "fall" at birth
- He made several automatons, including the Gold & Silver dogs
- Hephaestus is sometimes thought to have built himself a "wheel-chair", or an archaic form of one
- Hephaestus, when he became Vulcan, left Aphrodite for one of the three Charites (Graces) and had four children with her, whereas he had none with Aphrodite (Venus)

- Hephaestus is pronounced [he-fay-shtus] in English

The Crafting of Pandora
". . . After humans received the stolen gift of fire from Prometheus, an angry Zeus decides to give men a punishing gift to compensate for the boon they had been given. He commands Hephaestus to mold from earth the first woman, a "beautiful evil" whose descendants would torment the race of men. After Hephaestus does so, Athena dressed her in a silvery gown, an embroidered veil, garlands and an ornate crown of gold. This woman goes unnamed in the Theogony, but is presumably Pandora, whose myth Hesiod revisited in Works and Days. When she first appears before gods and mortals, "wonder seized them" as they looked upon her. . ."

excerpt from Wikipedia






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PostSubject: Re: Moon & Rain - Greek Mythology    Moon & Rain - Greek Mythology  EmptyWed 9 Nov 2011 - 17:17

Aphrodite, Goddess of Love


Moon & Rain - Greek Mythology  200px-NAMA_Aphrodite_Syracuse
**if you are offended by the image of half-naked statues for the sake of history,
then please do not view. Images of males with little clothing and the occasional females
bosom are inevitable.


Information
Roman Name: Venus
Symbol: Dove, dolphin, mirror, swan, sparrow, girdle
Consort: Hephaestus, lover Ares
Home: Mount Olympus
Sphere of Control: Love, passion, beauty, sex

Family
Siblings: Dryads, Furies, Gigantes
Children: Eros, Phobos, Deimos, Harmonia, The Graces, and Aeneas, others
Parents: Uranus and unnamed Nereid

Overview
- Aphrodite, ironically, was the wife of Hephaestus, the ugliest of the gods
- Aphrodite is attracted to Ares because of his violent nature
- Aphrodite had no children with her husband Hephaestus
- Aphrodite's most notable children are Eros, Phobos, Deimos, Harmonia, Aeneas, and the Graces (one of which later married Hephaestus)
- Aphrodite appeared in various myths, including that of Paris's Judgement and Adonis's story
- Aphrodite was the central cause of the Trojan war

- Aphrodite's name is pronounced [ah-fro-dye-tee] in English

Eros & Psyche
" . . . Aphrodite was jealous of the beauty of a mortal woman named Psyche. She asked Eros to use his golden arrows to cause Psyche to fall in love with the ugliest man on earth. Eros agreed, but then fell in love with Psyche on his own, by accidentally pricking himself with a golden arrow.

Meanwhile, Psyche's parents were anxious that their daughter remained unmarried. They consulted an oracle who told them she was destined for no mortal lover, but a creature that lived on top of a particular mountain, that even the gods themselves feared. Eros had arranged for the oracle to say this. Psyche was resigned to her fate and climbed to the top of the mountain. She told the townsfolk that followed her to leave and let her face her fate on her own. There, Zephyrus, the west wind, gently floated her downwards. She entered a cave on the appointed mountain, surprised to find it full of jewelry and finery. Eros visited her every night in the cave and they made passionate love; he demanded only that she never light any lamps because he did not want her to know who he was (having wings made him distinctive). Her two sisters, jealous of Psyche, convinced her that her husband was a monster, and she should strike him with a dagger. So one night she lit a lamp, but recognizing Eros instantly, she dropped her dagger. Oil spilled from the lamp onto his shoulder, awaking him, and he fled, saying "Love cannot live where there is no trust!"

When Psyche told her two jealous elder sisters what had happened, they rejoiced secretly and each separately walked to the top of the mountain and did as Psyche described her entry to the cave, hoping Eros would pick them instead. Eros was still heart broken and did not pick them and they fell to their deaths at the base of the mountain.

Psyche searched for her love across much of Greece, finally stumbling into a temple to Demeter, where the floor was covered with piles of mixed grains. She started sorting the grains into organized piles and, when she finished, Demeter spoke to her, telling her that the best way to find Eros was to find his mother, Aphrodite, and earn her blessing. Psyche found a temple to Aphrodite and entered it. Aphrodite assigned her a similar task to Demeter's temple, but gave her an impossible deadline to finish it by. Eros intervened, for he still loved her, and caused some ants to organize the grains for her. Aphrodite was outraged at her success and told her to go to a field where deadly golden sheep grazed and get some golden wool. Psyche went to the field and saw the sheep but was stopped by a river-god, whose river she had to cross to enter the field. He told her the sheep were mean and vicious and would kill her, but if she waited until noontime, the sheep would go into the shade on the other side of the field and sleep; she could pick the wool that stuck to the branches and bark of the trees. Psyche did so and Aphrodite was even more outraged at her survival and success.

Finally, Aphrodite claimed that the stress of caring for her son, depressed and ill as a result of Psyche's unfaithfulness, had caused her to lose some of her beauty. Psyche was to go to Hades and ask Persephone, the queen of the underworld, for a bit of her beauty in a black box that Aphrodite gave to Psyche. Psyche walked to a tower, deciding that the quickest way to the underworld would be to die. A voice stopped her at the last moment and told her a route that would allow her to enter and return still living, as well as telling her how to pass the three-headed dog Cerberus, Charon and the other dangers of the route. She was to not lend a hand to anyone in need. She baked two barley cakes for Cerberus, and took two coins for Charon. She pacified Cerberus with the barley cake and paid Charon to take her to Hades. On the way there, she saw hands reaching out of the water. A voice told her to toss a barley cake to them. She refused. Once there, Persephone said she would be glad to do Aphrodite a favor. She once more paid Charon, and gave the other barley cake to Cerberus.

Psyche left the underworld and decided to open the box and take a little bit of the beauty for herself, thinking that if she did so, Eros would surely love her. Inside was a "Stygian sleep," which overtook her. Eros, who had forgiven her, flew to her body and wiped the sleep from her eyes, then begged Zeus and Aphrodite for their consent to his wedding of Psyche. They agreed and Zeus made her immortal. Aphrodite danced at the wedding of Eros and Psyche, and their subsequent child was named Hedone . . . "


excerpt from Wikipedia


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PostSubject: Re: Moon & Rain - Greek Mythology    Moon & Rain - Greek Mythology  EmptyWed 9 Nov 2011 - 18:46

Artemis, Goddess of the Moon

Moon & Rain - Greek Mythology  200px-Diane_de_Versailles_Leochares

Information
Roman Name: Diana
Symbol: Moon, bow, arrow, hunting dogs, and stags
Consort: None
Home: Wilderness/Mt. Olympus
Sphere of Control: The hunt, wild, moon, young girls, animals, and virginity

Family
Siblings: Apollo
Children: None
Parents: Zeus Leto

Overview
- Artemis is often associated with the goddess Selene, who was also goddess of the moon
- Artemis has a twin brother, Apollo, who is the god of the sun
- It is said that Artemis helped Leto give birth to Apollo right after the moon goddess was born
- Artemis rarely missed
- Two of her closest friends were changed into constellations

Artemis and Orion
was the handsomest man in the world, a mighty hunter, an untiring dancer, a hearty eater. Many women loved him, and so did the men, because of his generous nature and caring heart. Orion loved the women as if he were their brother, and with the men he formed his most intimate and physically satisfying attachments. Even the gods and goddesses took notice of him, and enjoyed his company. But his favoured fortune led to his early death and legendary destiny. Such is the fate of heroes.

One day while he was hunting in the forest, he came upon a beautiful young woman who was also hunting, with a pack of the finest hounds he had ever seen. Both packs picked up the scent and they hunted together. When the deer was caught and killed, Orion saw that his companion was no mere girl, but the Virgin Goddess Artemis herself. He averted his eyes from her in respect.

"I thank thee for thy reverence, Orion," she said. "But come, let us be companions of the hunt together, thou and I."

Orion looked up at her, and foresaw many days of sport and fun together, and laughed with the pleasure of the thought. "Yes, my lady," he said. "I would be thy companion of the hunt."

"I love thy laugh," the goddess said, and they together dressed the animal and took it back to the city for distribution to the people.

Artemis and Orion passed the summer together. By day they hunted and sported, challenging each other to foot races, archery, and storytelling. In the evenings around the fire they bared their souls and told each other about their lives, their lost loves, their secrets. Orion spoke of the men he had loved and hoped to love again. Artemis spoke of the nymphs who attended her, their love affairs, and her romantic attachments to the goddesses and women of her cities. They became, in short, fast friends.

One night, when Artemis and Orion sat at their fire telling stories, Orion turned to her and said, "Artemis, my friend, my most beautiful crescent moon, I give thanks to the Fates that we are so well met. The love we share is as valuable as my life, and I am a better man for knowing you."

"I treasure our friendship also, Orion. Thou art a fine man and I bless our time together."

They shared an embrace. Then Orion jumped up and danced in celebration around the fire. Artemis followed him, and their shouts and laughter rang through the dark forest.

The next day, Apollo, the brother of Artemis, was walking through the forest. He smelled a low-burning campfire, and found the glade where Orion and Artemis lay still asleep. He saw and appreciated the beautiful Orion, but grew angry when he saw that Artemis lay with him. He assumed that Artemis also appreciated Orion in the masculine manner he himself did, and had compromised her virginity, her separateness from the sexuality of men. But he concealed his anger, put on a mask of friendliness, and whistled a bright tune until the two friends awoke. Seeing who was making the noise, they invited him to breakfast.

Later in the morning, Artemis attended to her priestesses elsewhere, and left her brother and friend to amuse themselves together.

Now Apollo is very beautiful; he is the sun; he is a god selected to sit among the twelve Olympians. He is vain, yet kind; wise, yet full of fun. Orion was immediately captivated by him, and naturally so. Apollo's heart was also caught by Orion's friendly company and gentle yet thoroughly masculine manner. Apollo took as his lovers many women and goddesses, and also men and gods. Unlike Orion, he was secretive about those male assignations, and would deny them if questioned about their exact nature.

But the attraction between Apollo and Orion took its natural course, and before the end of the afternoon the man and god had enjoyed together all the pleasures of manhood, to their mutual satisfaction. As the sun set they lay together in tender friendship murmuring in quiet conversation. Orion mentioned his happy anticipation of the return of Artemis and how the three of them might now be friends. Apollo stiffened in anger at the mention of his sister's name, for he had forgotten his mis-informed but potent jealousy.

"What incurs thine anger, my lord?" asked Orion.

"I'm surprised you would question my apprehension at the arrival of another who enjoys your favors."

Orion laughed before he could think not to. "My favors?" he exclaimed. "But Artemis is a chaste goddess. She has not known me, nor any man. We are companions, but of the hunt and the forest, not any bed or bower. Besides, I am a lover of men'as thou art."

Apollo saw the truth in what Orion said. He did not relish realizing his mistake, and he lashed out at Orion.

"You insult me--mortal," Apollo said, standing up, his face a blaze of wrath. Orion cowered at his feet, an unlikely posture for such a noble man, but he thought it prudent in the face of this capricious god. Apollo picked up Orion's head by his hair and bellowed into his face, "I am not a lover of men--like you," and he spat out the last phrase in disgust. "I take women as my lovers, as nature intended. You are nothing but a boy, to sport with."

"My lord, I did not intend any insult--how could I after the joy we have known this same day?" But Apollo did not answer, turned, and strode away without a backward glance.

Hours after Apollo left him, Orion was found by Artemis in the dark, weeping quietly. She comforted him, and hearing his story, took him to his house, and left him alone, as was his wish. She returned to her house in the forest.

During the night, a terrible dream possessed Orion. He dreamed that a scorpion rose up from the forest floor and nearly killed him before he could defend himself. He did not know it, but it was Apollo who sent this scorpion. He dreamed he could not strike through the scorpion's armor, no matter how powerful or direct his thrust. He fought the scorpion in his dream the night through, and just before he awoke, the scorpion had almost stung him directly in his heart.

He woke at dawn, drenched with sweat, and relieved that the scorpion was only a dream, for he had never met a beast he could not kill. He went out, hoping to meet Artemis and tell her of his dream, but outside his door waited the giant scorpion from his dream, more terrible in reality than even in his mind. He fought it valiantly, with arrows and his sword, but as in the dream, he could not pierce its armor. The scorpion backed him to the sea, and Orion plunged in, hoping he could swim away from it.

Meanwhile, Apollo visited his sister. She angrily told him she disapproved of his treatment of her friend. He mildly begged her to hold her tongue, for something far worse was in need of her vengeance and loyalty. He said an evil man, Candaon, had the night previous attacked and raped Opos, one of her hyperborean priestesses, and was right now swimming to a distant island, hoping to escape the wrath of Artemis.

No one escapes the vengeance of Artemis when one of her own has been ravaged. Without even pausing to first comfort Opos, she grabbed her quiver and sped down to the sea. Apollo followed her, and pointed out the speck in the distance that was Orion's head, still putting distance between himself and the scorpion. "There he is," Apollo said, standing behind her so his face could not betray his treachery. Artemis loosed her arrow with unerring aim and slew her friend. When he saw his plan had succeeded, Apollo ran away. Artemis went back to the forest and found Opos who supposedly had been raped. Opos was unharmed, and knew nothing of an attack. When Artemis saw the girl was well, she soon deduced the truth. She retrieved Orion's body, but even Asclepius could not revive him, though he applied drops of the gorgon's blood to the lifeless lips of Artemis's true friend. Orion's spirit had already descended to Asphodel Fields.

Artemis placed Orion's body among the stars as a tribute to the friendship they once shared, a reminder to all mortals that men and women enjoy friendships of every variety and degree. The scorpion she killed, and set it also in the sky, behind Orion, as a warning to everyone under heaven of the treachery of those who are false to their lovers and false to themselves."


exerpt from People (University)

There are many versions of this tale. This is merely one.
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PostSubject: Re: Moon & Rain - Greek Mythology    Moon & Rain - Greek Mythology  EmptyWed 9 Nov 2011 - 19:37

Apollo, God of the Sun

Moon & Rain - Greek Mythology  Apollo11

Information
Roman Name: Apollo
Symbol: Sun, lyre, laurel wreath, python, bow and arrows
Consort: None
Home: Mount Olympus
Sphere of Control: Music, poetry, prophecy, sun, medicine, and light

Family
Siblings: Artemis
Children: Orpheus, Asclepius, Troilus, Aristaeus
Parents: Zeus and Leto

Overview
- Apollo was often associated with Helios, another god of the sun
- The Oracle at Delphi was a prophet who was said to speak prophecies, coming straight from Apollo himself
- Artemis is Apollo's twin sister
- Apollo had many love affairs. Some got him in trouble
- His name is the same, whether referring to the Greek or Roman gods
- Apollo was seen as the 'perfect god.' He was the exact image of what every man should look and be like
- Apollo was born on the island Delos, with assistance from his sister

Apollo and Daphne
"Apollo was the god of light and also the god of unmarried men. He was as beautiful and bright as sunlight, which is why he was also known as Phoebus, which means bright and shining. Most nymphs and mortals alike found Apollo irresistible for both his bravery and his manly beauty. Apollo was full of romance, as he would court women/goddesses by singing love songs to them and treating them with respect and thoughtfulness. Apollo was a very captivating god.

"Although, most nymphs and mortals found Apollo irresistible, his first love, Daphne, did not. Apollo’s first love was actually the only one who ever resisted him. However, there are reasons for this. Aphrodite had once again been angered and requested her son, Eros, to shoot Apollo in his heart and make him in fall in love. Thus, Eros shot Apollo in the heart with one of his arrows of love and made him fall in love with the beautiful nymph named Daphne. This also pleased Eros, as Apollo had teased him earlier about carrying bows and arrows as if they were toys. Apollo had mentioned that the bows and arrows that Eros carried were nothing compared to his own. This was Eros’ chance to show him how influential his arrows truly were.

"After being struck in the heart by Eros’ shaft, Apollo saw Daphne and uncharacteristic of his character chased her through the forest. He pleaded for her to come and be his love. However, Daphne was a follower of Artemis, Apollo’s sister, and loved her freedom. Daphne knew that being married to a god like Apollo would end her freedom and also cause potential problems similar to some like Hera and Zeus had seen.

"Because of this, Daphne ran as fast as she possibly could, but Apollo ran just as swift as she did. Just as Apollo was about to catch her, Daphne, being the daughter of a river god, called out to her father for help. Suddenly her feet became rooted to the ground and her clothing turned to smooth brown bark. Her uplifted hands turned into branches from which leaves sprouted and she became a laurel tree.

"Apollo was amazed by what he saw he saw his love turn into before his eyes and was filled with sorrow. He touched the new tree’s branches as they trembled and he then hugged the trunk of the tree. He vowed that since Daphne would not be his wife that she would become his sacred tree. He would wear the leaves of Daphne’s tree as his crown and always be remembered of his first love. All the winners at his games and great heroes in the years to come would be crowned with laurel leaves. He also vowed that she, like him, would have eternal youth where her leaves would never turn brown or fall but would always stay lush and green. The nymph, Daphne, hiding safely inside her tree, was grateful for this gesture and heartbroken Apollo left her side wearing a crown of laurel leaves."


exerpt from Faculty Staff
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PostSubject: Re: Moon & Rain - Greek Mythology    Moon & Rain - Greek Mythology  EmptyMon 14 Nov 2011 - 20:08

Dionysus, Lord of Wine


Moon & Rain - Greek Mythology  Dionysus-thumb-352x416-29


Information
Roman Name: Bacchus
Symbol: grapes, goblet, thyrsus, leopard, tiger
Consort: Ariadne
Home: Mount Olympus
Sphere of Control: Wine, winemaking, grapes, madness, fertility and ecstasy

Family
Siblings: n/a, all children of Zeus
Children: The Graces, Priapus, others
Parents: Zeus & Semele

Overview
- god of booze and babies :D
- Protector of Satyrs and Dryads
- chariot drawn by beasts such as leopards and tigers
- Followers carried thrysus
- Had many children with both Ariadne (wife) and Aphrodite
- the puh-puh-puh-party god :headbang:
- Two-week festival of Dionysus condensed by Catholics into Saint Valentine's Day

- Pronounced [di-oh-ni-sos]

Ariadne

". . . Princess Ariadne, daughter of King Minos of Crete, helped Theseus slay her monstrous half-brother, known as the Minotaur, by teaching him to use a golden thread as a path within the labyrinth where the Minotaur lived. Deep within that dark maze where no man or woman had ever survived the Minotaur’s savagery, Theseus killed the monster, then followed the gold thread to freedom. When he emerged triumphant from the labyrinth, Theseus claimed Ariadne for his own. They escaped from Crete upon a waiting ship, running from crowds of citizens angered by Theseus’s murder of their half-bull/half-human prince.

As they sailed the world, Ariadne was certain she had won the heart of the hero in return for her brilliance, her loyalty, and her love. After all, she had betrayed those closest to her to save Theseus. When Theseus finally brought their ship to the faraway island of Naxos, Ariadne thought they would live there forever in bliss. Instead, he abandoned her upon the island, sailing off without an apology. Such was her thanks for saving him.

Alone, Ariadne forgot her triumph as the untangler of the labyrinth. She was Ariadne the forsaken, Ariadne the foolish, rather than Ariadne the beloved of Theseus. At first, the heartbroken princess wept. Then she thought of killing herself out of shame and sorrow. But the Muses took pity upon Ariadne. They hovered around the poor girl as soft as winds, and whispered into her ear of a worthier love and a loftier fate. This made no sense to the girl, for she could not see beyond her abandonment by Theseus.

But soon Ariadne saw a bronze chariot appear on the horizon. The Muses whispered it held a new bridegroom for Ariadne, the man she was fated to love. As the chariot drew closer, Ariadne saw it was draped in vines and clusters of ripe grapes—for this chariot was driven by Dionysus, god of divine intoxication, who loved Ariadne for her passionate bravery and loyalty.

Ariadne’s heart was immediately healed by Dionysus’s admiration and loving embrace. She soon forgot about Theseus and accepted her happy fate. Dionysus and Ariadne were wed. Made a goddess by love, Ariadne lived forever with her immortal husband in ecstatic triumph. . . "

excerpt from Museum . .


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