Myths, Culture, and Dissonance: An Analysis
Mythology is everywhere. From ancient myths to modern religion, mythology comes in all different shapes and sizes and is deeply embedded in culture. It helps to shape or promote a way of life, provides people with ideas about their place in the world, and inspires an endless amount of creative work. This paper aims to explore how mythology is reflected in society and vice versa through the examination of mythological stories and symbols and their connection to the real world. Some of these myths are derived from Myths and Legends, a compilation by Anthony Horowitz of retellings of famous stories from various mythologies. Some of the myths discussed are Greek, some are Roman, some are Hindu, and some …show more content…
In addition, Ares is the brother and/or lover of Enyo, the goddess of war and discord, and the father of two children: Phobos, the god of fear, and Deimos, the god of terror. However, despite all the negativity surrounding Ares, he personifies the bravery and courage necessary for military success; and, being one of the Twelve Olympians, he was still more or less a respected god. Either way, the character of Ares, the mythos surrounding him, and the role he plays says something about Ancient Greece’s ambivalence towards the subject of war.
Despite the major influence of Greek culture on the Romans, the stark difference in attitudes towards war and masculinity between the two societies is made clear through the views reflected in their respective mythologies surrounding Ares and Mars.
For thousands of years, the swastika had been an important symbol in many ancient religions, particularly in Buddhism and Hinduism. The word "swastika" derives from the Sanskrit word svastika, meaning "good fortune" or "marker of good". The swastika symbolizes many things – including protection, good luck, the sun, prosperity, karma, activity and motion, and the eternal cycle of life. The swastika is significant, and many modern-day Buddhists and Hindus consider the symbol to be indispensable towards their beliefs. The United States Holocaust Memorial Museum has an article on the history of the swastika in their Holocaust Encyclopedia, which has this to say about the usage of …show more content…
… The motif (a hooked cross) appears to have first been used in Neolithic Eurasia, perhaps representing the movement of the sun through the sky. To this day it is a sacred symbol in Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism. It is a common sight on temples or houses in India and Indonesia. Swastikas also have an ancient history in Europe, appearing on artifacts from pre-Christian European cultures. For centuries a symbol of good luck and auspiciousness, the swastika even found expression in Byzantine and Christian art” (“History of the Swastika”).
However, since its adoption by the Nazi Party and, by extension, Nazi Germany prior to World War II, the swastika has since been viewed as a symbol of genocide, antisemitism, racial supremacy, and Nazism, and is a source of stigma and taboo in Western culture.
The symbol was in wide use in Europe towards the beginning of the twentieth century. Nazi Party leader Adolf Hitler chose to use the swastika on the Party’s flag due to the symbol’s connection to the Aryans – a tribe of ancient Indo-European people settled in India – whom the Nazi ideology falsely equates to people of German cultural descent. Hitler wanted a striking symbol that would catch the eye of the German people and instill fear in Jews and other enemies the Party. The flag symbolizes the Nazi ideal, according to
Mythology is everywhere. From ancient myths to modern religion, mythology comes in all different shapes and sizes and is deeply embedded in culture. It helps to shape or promote a way of life, provides people with ideas about their place in the world, and inspires an endless amount of creative work. This paper aims to explore how mythology is reflected in society and vice versa through the examination of mythological stories and symbols and their connection to the real world. Some of these myths are derived from Myths and Legends, a compilation by Anthony Horowitz of retellings of famous stories from various mythologies. Some of the myths discussed are Greek, some are Roman, some are Hindu, and some …show more content…
In addition, Ares is the brother and/or lover of Enyo, the goddess of war and discord, and the father of two children: Phobos, the god of fear, and Deimos, the god of terror. However, despite all the negativity surrounding Ares, he personifies the bravery and courage necessary for military success; and, being one of the Twelve Olympians, he was still more or less a respected god. Either way, the character of Ares, the mythos surrounding him, and the role he plays says something about Ancient Greece’s ambivalence towards the subject of war.
Despite the major influence of Greek culture on the Romans, the stark difference in attitudes towards war and masculinity between the two societies is made clear through the views reflected in their respective mythologies surrounding Ares and Mars.
For thousands of years, the swastika had been an important symbol in many ancient religions, particularly in Buddhism and Hinduism. The word "swastika" derives from the Sanskrit word svastika, meaning "good fortune" or "marker of good". The swastika symbolizes many things – including protection, good luck, the sun, prosperity, karma, activity and motion, and the eternal cycle of life. The swastika is significant, and many modern-day Buddhists and Hindus consider the symbol to be indispensable towards their beliefs. The United States Holocaust Memorial Museum has an article on the history of the swastika in their Holocaust Encyclopedia, which has this to say about the usage of …show more content…
… The motif (a hooked cross) appears to have first been used in Neolithic Eurasia, perhaps representing the movement of the sun through the sky. To this day it is a sacred symbol in Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism. It is a common sight on temples or houses in India and Indonesia. Swastikas also have an ancient history in Europe, appearing on artifacts from pre-Christian European cultures. For centuries a symbol of good luck and auspiciousness, the swastika even found expression in Byzantine and Christian art” (“History of the Swastika”).
However, since its adoption by the Nazi Party and, by extension, Nazi Germany prior to World War II, the swastika has since been viewed as a symbol of genocide, antisemitism, racial supremacy, and Nazism, and is a source of stigma and taboo in Western culture.
The symbol was in wide use in Europe towards the beginning of the twentieth century. Nazi Party leader Adolf Hitler chose to use the swastika on the Party’s flag due to the symbol’s connection to the Aryans – a tribe of ancient Indo-European people settled in India – whom the Nazi ideology falsely equates to people of German cultural descent. Hitler wanted a striking symbol that would catch the eye of the German people and instill fear in Jews and other enemies the Party. The flag symbolizes the Nazi ideal, according to