Irish mythology

Mythology is “a popular belief or assumption that has grown up around someone or something” according to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary (“Mythology”). Myths are passed down from generation to generation and hold a great deal of significance for believers by giving meaning to the things that happen in life. Two groups that have deep roots in their own mythology are the Greeks and the Nordics. Both sets of mythologies share a lot of similarities in the types of gods they contain. King of the gods,…

communicating non-empirical truth in an oral culture. Furthermore, a working definition of myth is “A traditional tale with secondary, partial reference to something of collective importance.” (taken from Walter Burkert, Structure and History in Greek Mythology and Ritual [Berkeley: University of California Press, 1979] 23).I will argue the nature of the world and the role of human beings in the world is slightly justified by the myths that were passed down by generation. With that, there are…

The Irish Republican Army’s Struggle The IRA or Irish Republican Army. The IRA was founded in 1917 and their main goal was to unite Northern Ireland (which belongs to the UK) with Ireland. They tried to do this through suppression, violence and, assassinations to cause fear and panic. They usually targeted British governmental figures but have also targeted agents from British intelligence agencies like MI5 (Irish Republican Army And Censorship). In 1969, the IRA split into the Official IRA…

the gods of Olympus are not exempt from its effect and may be major parts of its existence. Homer depicts the gods as divinities that are similar to humans in that they indulge in the same practices, are subject to the abstract beings of Greek mythology, and are in constant interaction with each other. The degree of these similarities may indicate that the line distinguishing the immortals from mortals is a thin uncertain line that may be crossed. As divinities, the gods of Olympus are supposed…

Devised by mythologist Joseph Campbell, a monomyth, also known as the hero’s journey, represents “a basic pattern that… is found in many narratives from around the world” (“Mythology” 1). The monomyth consists of several stages and archetypes. Fitting into “stories of Osiris, Prometheus, Moses, Gautama Buddha, and Jesus” (1), the hero’s journey closely follows a structure of the hero on a quest being put through many tests and trials before reaching victory. Homer’s epic, The Odyssey, is…

In classic Greek and Roman mythology, Pegasus is born from the blood of Medusa. Prior to her death at the hand of Perseus, Medusa was the most beautiful woman on Earth. Poseidon was filled with lust for Medusa and he seduced her in the form of a horse. They made love in the temple of…

A hydria was a pot used for carrying water, with a handle on each side and one handle on the back. This hydria is 19 inches tall with the flat shoulder typical of the 6th century BCE. The pot was sculpted from terracotta and then black figure painted. Black figure painting is a type of pottery painting that uses black as the primary color, and red and white to accent certain aspects of the scene. Gloss was applied to the desired areas before firing the pottery, and a lack of oxygen causes…

Deception is used by both gods and humans to accomplish their goals, whether that be a sinister or positive goal. Though human’s use of deception has created noteworthy Greek myths, the god’s use of deception is more prevalent and relevant in Ancient Greek culture. When examining three examples of god’s deceptive actions, Aphrodite’s, Athena’s, and Prometheus’s, the role for which the gods use deception becomes more clear. These three myths are examples that emphasize how gods usually have…

Antigone actions against her uncle, King Creon 's edict, for burying her brother come from her religious beliefs in the laws of the gods being above all else and her inclination to protect and care for her family. Opposedly, King Creon 's actions stem from a need to maintain political stability in the kingdom of Thebes which has just suffered a trauma in the civil war between Polyneices and Eteocles, Antigone 's brothers. Though initially Antigone exhibits signs of wanting to die for her pure…

The Strong Values of Greeks Ancient Greek culture is studied all over the world due to its utmost importance in understanding the society we live in today. Historians learn of ancient Greek culture through Epic Poems that describe the ancient way of life. The Iliad, an Epic Poem, is no exception to this rule and gives an idea of how life in ancient Greece played out. The Iliad reflects the values and culture of eighth century BC Greece through the sacred bond of hospitality, the importance of…