Mythology

So it seems to me that a few courses I have chosen to take this semester share similar themes. This course in particular has so many connections to my classical mythology course. I am currently studying Greek mythology, and so far we have been concentrating on many of the creation stories. Oedipus Rex many and these myths share the concept that the most powerful and looked up to characters committing some of the most horrific crimes known to man. Murder is considered to be one of the worst crimes in most societies. Murder in general is unforgivable, but when it is the murder of your own child or your parents is viewed as a much more heinous crime. Just like when Oedipus’ father was told that one day his son would over through him, many of the gods in Greek mythology where fearful that their children would attempt to take over. One early creation stories tells of Uranus the sky god and his wife Gaia or mother Earth. In order to keep them from over throwing him, Uranus imprisoned his and Gaia’s children in Tartrus (deep within the Earth), where they caused her great pain. Gaia in order to get revenge for her and her children forged a sickle and gave it to her youngest son Cronus to castrate Uranus. Cronus castrated his father and cast his testicles into the sea where the blood created the furies and nymphs, and out of his genitals came Aphodite the goddess of love. In keeping with tradition Uranus informs Cronus that his rule would be one day be overturned by his own son. Cronus decided that the only was he would be able to prevent this from happening would be to devour all the children he and his wife Rhea had. Rhea like Gaia and Oedipus’ mother did not agree with her husband discarding of their children, so when she had her sixth child Zeus she secretly hid him in a cave and gave Cronus a stone wrapped in swaddling clothes to swallow to fool him. Rhea hid Zeus until he was ready to fulfill his fate. Zeus splits his father open and frees all his siblings. Zeus takes over and remains the god of gods in most mythology. The image attached depicts Cronus devouring one of is children, Poseidon god of the sea. These myths have many things in common to Oedipus Rex. From the theme of kings being over thrown by their own kin, the constant of incest, to prophases that tell of such horrific events. All of the gods and goddesses are related and they constantly sleep with each other and have affairs with siblings, just as Oedipus committed incest when he sleeps with his mother. These tales also display that even the most sophisticated person is subject to Aros or the pleasure principle and may not be able to overcome it. They are also gruesome displays of moral lesions and cautionary undertones.