Did you guess that the ancient Cupid and Psyche (or, 'Eros and Psyche') story is the backbone of some other well-known, well-loved pieces?
Does Psyche remind you of any more modern character?
What about the 'voices' and the treatment Psyche receives in the castle?
She is given all manner of exquisite and attractive items, foods, treatment and entertainment.
This should remind you of something that Disney has had out for almost 20 years (in 'new animation' on film - and much longer than 20 years in the Disney Classic storybooks for children)! In a Fairy Tale that most people think is quite new!
Saturday, May 19, 2007
Thursday, May 17, 2007
Cupid and Psyche (Is This Familiar?)
(Roman deity names)
It is said that long ago a particular couple of quite some status (A king and queen) had 3 daughters - of which, the youngest was breathtakingly beautiful. The two older daughters were charming and attractive enough, however, this youngest daughter's beauty was without sufficient words to describe.
Strangers from neighboring areas would flock to pay her the kind of honour usually reserved for only Venus (Greek, Aphrodite) herself - to the extent that Venus' altars were often deserted while people offered praise and song to the young maiden.
Naturally, this offended Venus, who demanded, "Am I to be eclipsed in my honors by a mortal girl?" Venus soon asserted, "[...she shall not so quietly usurp my honors. I will give her cause to repent of so unlawful a beauty."
Venus called her winged son, Cupid (Greek, Eros) - the mischievous one, and made heavy complaint to him. She pointed out Psyche, saying, "My dear son, punish that contumacious beauty; give thy mother a revenge as sweet as her injuries are great; infuse into the bosom of that haughty girl a passion for some low, mean, unworthy being, so that she may reap a mortification as great as her present exultation and triumph."
Cupid obediently filled two amber vases from each two fountains within Venus' garden - one with flowing sweet waters, and one fountain of bitter water. He rushed to the chamber that Psyche frequented, but found her asleep. He placed a few drops from the bitter fountain to Psyche's lips though the view of her sleeping in all her unaware beauty moved him to pity. Still, he touched one of his arrows to her side and at this, she awoke.
So startled was Cupid at being under Psyche's sudden, awakened gaze, that he started, jabbing himself with his own arrow.
Despite his wound, his concern was entirely for undoing the mischief he had just started with Psyche, and he poured drops of the sweet water, drops of joy, all over Psyche's silken ringlets to counteract the effects of the bitter water.
Because Psyche's beauty overpowered the instructions Venus gave to her son, Venus was additionally insulted and enraged. Psyche's parents became actuely aware of this and they feared the anger of the Goddess, so they went to consult the oracle of Apollo on this matter. The oracle gave this answer:
"The virgin is destined for the bride of no mortal lover. Her future husband awaits her on the top of the mountain. He is a monster whom neither gods nor men can resist."
The awful decree of the oracle filled everyone with dismay and her parents grieved with abandon.
Psyche asked, "Why, dear parents, do you now lament me? You should rather have grieved when the people showered upon me undeserved honors, and with one voice called me Venus. I now perceive that I am a victim to that name. I submit. Lead me to that rock to which my unhappy fate has destined me."
The people prepared a procession and the royal maid took up her place within it, though it resembled a funeral procession much more than a nuptial occasion. Together, with her parents, family and community, Psyche ascended the mountain. On the summit everyone left her alone, with sadness in their hearts and they returned home.
As Psyche stood atop the mountain consumed with fear, her eyes brimming with tears, the gentle Zephyr (Or, Zephyrus, sometimes Favonius in Roman) lifted her from the earth and carried her effortlessly into a flowery dale. Gradually, she was able to compose her mind and she lay herself down on the grassy bank to sleep. When she awoke, refreshed, she looked around, spotting a grove of tall, magnificent trees and walked toward it.
Entering the grove, she walked until she encountered a fountain which spouted crystal-clear waters. Nearby, a spectacular and impressive palace loomed, which she took to be unlike the work from any mortal hands. Drawn to the palace, she couldn't stop her urge to enter. Every object within filled her with wonder, the golden pillars supporting the vaulted roof, the carved and richly painted walls, the scenarios of beasts of the chase and rural scenes in the paintings themselves all served to charm her immeasurably.
As she walked further into the building, she perceived that other rooms would also present all manner of treasure, beautiful and precious productions of nature and
art, and so she continued on.
Finally, a voice addressed her then became many - though she could see no sources of the words:
"Sovereign lady, all that you see is yours. We whose voices you hear are your servants and shall obey all your commands with out utmost care and diligence. Retire, therefore, to your chamber and repose on your bed of down, and when you see fit repair to the bath. Supper awaits you in the adjoining alcove when it pleases you to take your seat there."
Psyche gave ear to the admonitions of her attendants, though mere voices with no form. After repost and refreshing herself with a bath, she seated herself in the alcove where a table immediately presented itself - strangely, with no aid from visible waiters or servants. It was covered with the tenderest and greatest food delicacies, including the finest wines. Music played, as well, feeding her ears from invisible sources, including a lute and the wonderful harmony of a full chorus.
[Does this remind you of another, more modern story?]
It is said that long ago a particular couple of quite some status (A king and queen) had 3 daughters - of which, the youngest was breathtakingly beautiful. The two older daughters were charming and attractive enough, however, this youngest daughter's beauty was without sufficient words to describe.
Strangers from neighboring areas would flock to pay her the kind of honour usually reserved for only Venus (Greek, Aphrodite) herself - to the extent that Venus' altars were often deserted while people offered praise and song to the young maiden.
Naturally, this offended Venus, who demanded, "Am I to be eclipsed in my honors by a mortal girl?" Venus soon asserted, "[...she shall not so quietly usurp my honors. I will give her cause to repent of so unlawful a beauty."
Venus called her winged son, Cupid (Greek, Eros) - the mischievous one, and made heavy complaint to him. She pointed out Psyche, saying, "My dear son, punish that contumacious beauty; give thy mother a revenge as sweet as her injuries are great; infuse into the bosom of that haughty girl a passion for some low, mean, unworthy being, so that she may reap a mortification as great as her present exultation and triumph."
Cupid obediently filled two amber vases from each two fountains within Venus' garden - one with flowing sweet waters, and one fountain of bitter water. He rushed to the chamber that Psyche frequented, but found her asleep. He placed a few drops from the bitter fountain to Psyche's lips though the view of her sleeping in all her unaware beauty moved him to pity. Still, he touched one of his arrows to her side and at this, she awoke.
So startled was Cupid at being under Psyche's sudden, awakened gaze, that he started, jabbing himself with his own arrow.
Despite his wound, his concern was entirely for undoing the mischief he had just started with Psyche, and he poured drops of the sweet water, drops of joy, all over Psyche's silken ringlets to counteract the effects of the bitter water.
Because Psyche's beauty overpowered the instructions Venus gave to her son, Venus was additionally insulted and enraged. Psyche's parents became actuely aware of this and they feared the anger of the Goddess, so they went to consult the oracle of Apollo on this matter. The oracle gave this answer:
"The virgin is destined for the bride of no mortal lover. Her future husband awaits her on the top of the mountain. He is a monster whom neither gods nor men can resist."
The awful decree of the oracle filled everyone with dismay and her parents grieved with abandon.
Psyche asked, "Why, dear parents, do you now lament me? You should rather have grieved when the people showered upon me undeserved honors, and with one voice called me Venus. I now perceive that I am a victim to that name. I submit. Lead me to that rock to which my unhappy fate has destined me."
The people prepared a procession and the royal maid took up her place within it, though it resembled a funeral procession much more than a nuptial occasion. Together, with her parents, family and community, Psyche ascended the mountain. On the summit everyone left her alone, with sadness in their hearts and they returned home.
As Psyche stood atop the mountain consumed with fear, her eyes brimming with tears, the gentle Zephyr (Or, Zephyrus, sometimes Favonius in Roman) lifted her from the earth and carried her effortlessly into a flowery dale. Gradually, she was able to compose her mind and she lay herself down on the grassy bank to sleep. When she awoke, refreshed, she looked around, spotting a grove of tall, magnificent trees and walked toward it.
Entering the grove, she walked until she encountered a fountain which spouted crystal-clear waters. Nearby, a spectacular and impressive palace loomed, which she took to be unlike the work from any mortal hands. Drawn to the palace, she couldn't stop her urge to enter. Every object within filled her with wonder, the golden pillars supporting the vaulted roof, the carved and richly painted walls, the scenarios of beasts of the chase and rural scenes in the paintings themselves all served to charm her immeasurably.
As she walked further into the building, she perceived that other rooms would also present all manner of treasure, beautiful and precious productions of nature and
art, and so she continued on.
Finally, a voice addressed her then became many - though she could see no sources of the words:
"Sovereign lady, all that you see is yours. We whose voices you hear are your servants and shall obey all your commands with out utmost care and diligence. Retire, therefore, to your chamber and repose on your bed of down, and when you see fit repair to the bath. Supper awaits you in the adjoining alcove when it pleases you to take your seat there."
Psyche gave ear to the admonitions of her attendants, though mere voices with no form. After repost and refreshing herself with a bath, she seated herself in the alcove where a table immediately presented itself - strangely, with no aid from visible waiters or servants. It was covered with the tenderest and greatest food delicacies, including the finest wines. Music played, as well, feeding her ears from invisible sources, including a lute and the wonderful harmony of a full chorus.
[Does this remind you of another, more modern story?]
Sunday, May 6, 2007
Goddess of Love Springs Forth Asexually
Aphrodite, the Goddess of beauty, love and sexual rapture was born, ironically 'a-sexually' out of the foam that erupted when Uranus' castrated body parts fell to the sea. Cronus usurped Uranus by taking away his manhood then declaring him unfit for Rulership. Out of the churning foam where Uranus' blood and flesh dropped into the sea, Aphrodite emerged - from the 'aphros'='sea foam.' She emerged sexually developed, beautiful and of some power.
She was so breathtakingly attractive that Zeus placed her in a marriage with Hephaestus, an unattractive but a steady, stable and strong mate - because Zeus was afraid that the other male Gods would constantly fight over Aphrodite. Hephaestus, amazed at his good fortune, and obviously as smitten with Aphrodite as anyone else, fashioned his metals into intricate jewels to compliment Aphrodite's features further, hoping to actually win her love.
This never did act to soften Aphrodite's heart for him, but instead, caused even more problems as the additional enhancements to Aphrodite's features - from the loving, expert craftmanship of Hephaestus' work - then only made Aphrodite even more irresistible to other males!
Aphrodite is often portrayed as having been prone to gaeity, a certain light-heartedness, and she had a weakness for glamour, so her pairing with the serious, hard-working, ugly, lame Hephaestus was a pretty bad match.
Consequently, Aphrodite had other lovers - one of the most well-know, being Adonis. Another, Anchises of Troy, who fathered Aeneas with her.
Other children of Aphrodite: Eros, Anteros, Hymenaios.
Some versions of myth say that the Three Graces/Charities... (Aglaea="Splendor,"Euphrosyne="Mirth," and Thalia="Good Cheer.")
...are the offspring of Aphrodite and fellow-deity, Dionysus, however many other versions of myth detail that The Graces are the products of a union between Zeus and Eurynome (an Oceanid, probably one of Poseidon's daughters). Regardless, a great deal of myth from many sources shows Aphrodite often accompanied by The Graces. Whether these three figures (The Graces) are with her often because they are her daughters or not is anyone's guess. Possibly they stay within her vicinity often because they are drawn to her beauty - and their 'spirits' are conducive to good character and beautiful parts of personality, so it would be fitting that they surround the Goddess of beauty, love, and sexual attraction.
Eros is often Aphrodite's accomplice in matters of love (Eros, Greek=Cupid, Roman), and is actually considered her 'messenger' in most versions of myth. He is supposedly the son of Aphrodite, but some myth has Eros being born in an a-sexual manner, from a silver egg or jewelled egg. This second explanation would be quite fitting, being that the one attributed as his 'mother' was also produced a-sexually. We have two of the most powerful 'love' and 'sexual' creatures in the forms of Aphrodite and Eros - in fact, they often pool their powers in working side by side but, according to some mythical accounts, both were born outside of the act of sex.
Symbols of Aphrodite are - the plant, 'myrtle,' the dove, sparrow, and swan.
She was so breathtakingly attractive that Zeus placed her in a marriage with Hephaestus, an unattractive but a steady, stable and strong mate - because Zeus was afraid that the other male Gods would constantly fight over Aphrodite. Hephaestus, amazed at his good fortune, and obviously as smitten with Aphrodite as anyone else, fashioned his metals into intricate jewels to compliment Aphrodite's features further, hoping to actually win her love.
This never did act to soften Aphrodite's heart for him, but instead, caused even more problems as the additional enhancements to Aphrodite's features - from the loving, expert craftmanship of Hephaestus' work - then only made Aphrodite even more irresistible to other males!
Aphrodite is often portrayed as having been prone to gaeity, a certain light-heartedness, and she had a weakness for glamour, so her pairing with the serious, hard-working, ugly, lame Hephaestus was a pretty bad match.
Consequently, Aphrodite had other lovers - one of the most well-know, being Adonis. Another, Anchises of Troy, who fathered Aeneas with her.
Other children of Aphrodite: Eros, Anteros, Hymenaios.
Some versions of myth say that the Three Graces/Charities... (Aglaea="Splendor,"Euphrosyne="Mirth," and Thalia="Good Cheer.")
...are the offspring of Aphrodite and fellow-deity, Dionysus, however many other versions of myth detail that The Graces are the products of a union between Zeus and Eurynome (an Oceanid, probably one of Poseidon's daughters). Regardless, a great deal of myth from many sources shows Aphrodite often accompanied by The Graces. Whether these three figures (The Graces) are with her often because they are her daughters or not is anyone's guess. Possibly they stay within her vicinity often because they are drawn to her beauty - and their 'spirits' are conducive to good character and beautiful parts of personality, so it would be fitting that they surround the Goddess of beauty, love, and sexual attraction.
Eros is often Aphrodite's accomplice in matters of love (Eros, Greek=Cupid, Roman), and is actually considered her 'messenger' in most versions of myth. He is supposedly the son of Aphrodite, but some myth has Eros being born in an a-sexual manner, from a silver egg or jewelled egg. This second explanation would be quite fitting, being that the one attributed as his 'mother' was also produced a-sexually. We have two of the most powerful 'love' and 'sexual' creatures in the forms of Aphrodite and Eros - in fact, they often pool their powers in working side by side but, according to some mythical accounts, both were born outside of the act of sex.
Symbols of Aphrodite are - the plant, 'myrtle,' the dove, sparrow, and swan.
Friday, May 4, 2007
First Generation Deities
The First Generation Deities in Greek Myth are known as the Titans!
These were the children of the Earth (Gaea/Gaia) and Sky (Uranus/Ouranos).
The Titans:
Cronus, Rhea, Iapetus, Oceanus, Hyperion, Themis, Thea, Mnemosyne, Phoebe, Coeus, Tethys, and Cruis.
The Titans paired up in various ways with siblings to produce future generations.
Decidedly 'humanoid' Titans, Cronus and Rhea paired up to give us the Olympians.
Iapetus is the father of Prometheus, and also of Atlas and Epimetheus.
Oceanus is the father of nymphs
Hyperion is considered the Sun-God, and father of moon and dawn.
Thea is Hyperion's mate.
Themis became Zeus' second consort and together, they created the Hours and the Fates.
The Muses were created by Mnemosyne and Zeus (he really got around with the women)
Phoebe and Coeus paired together, and are considered the parents of Leto and Asteria (Leto, who would mate later with - guess who? You got it - Zeus)
Oceanus and Tethys paired together
And Crius is considered father of Pallas, Astraeus, and Perses
Now these aren't the only offspring from Uranus and Gaea - these are just the ones called The Titans.
Uranus and Gaea also had other offspring that weren't necessarily 'human'-looking.
Some of these were
The Hecatoncheires or 100-Handers - and also - the Cyclopes. The non-human looking offspring were confined to the Underworld in the place known as Tartaros.
It was Uranus' decision to lock certain offspring up, and Gaea was very displeased about having her offspring confined that way so she appealed to her other children, The Titans, for help. None of them were interested in helping their mother or their different-looking 'siblings', save for Cronus. Cronus agree to act on behalf of Gaea and help liberate some of the other offspring if possible.
The only way to help the offspring stuck down in Tartaros was to usurp (un-wedge from power) Uranus. Gaea gave her son, Cronos a sickle and with this, he castrated his father, Uranus - who was then unfit to hold seat as Ruler.
The position then was given to Cronos who freed the 100-Handers and the Cyclopes.
The freedom didn't last long. Perhaps Cronos quickly began to feel the power within the 100-Handers and the Cyclopian offspring. Whatever the case, they didn't enjoy freedom for long. Cronos imprisoned them again to the Underworld just as his father had done.
From there, Cronos paired with Rhea and together they made The Olympian Gods and Goddesses.
These were the children of the Earth (Gaea/Gaia) and Sky (Uranus/Ouranos).
The Titans:
Cronus, Rhea, Iapetus, Oceanus, Hyperion, Themis, Thea, Mnemosyne, Phoebe, Coeus, Tethys, and Cruis.
The Titans paired up in various ways with siblings to produce future generations.
Decidedly 'humanoid' Titans, Cronus and Rhea paired up to give us the Olympians.
Iapetus is the father of Prometheus, and also of Atlas and Epimetheus.
Oceanus is the father of nymphs
Hyperion is considered the Sun-God, and father of moon and dawn.
Thea is Hyperion's mate.
Themis became Zeus' second consort and together, they created the Hours and the Fates.
The Muses were created by Mnemosyne and Zeus (he really got around with the women)
Phoebe and Coeus paired together, and are considered the parents of Leto and Asteria (Leto, who would mate later with - guess who? You got it - Zeus)
Oceanus and Tethys paired together
And Crius is considered father of Pallas, Astraeus, and Perses
Now these aren't the only offspring from Uranus and Gaea - these are just the ones called The Titans.
Uranus and Gaea also had other offspring that weren't necessarily 'human'-looking.
Some of these were
The Hecatoncheires or 100-Handers - and also - the Cyclopes. The non-human looking offspring were confined to the Underworld in the place known as Tartaros.
It was Uranus' decision to lock certain offspring up, and Gaea was very displeased about having her offspring confined that way so she appealed to her other children, The Titans, for help. None of them were interested in helping their mother or their different-looking 'siblings', save for Cronus. Cronus agree to act on behalf of Gaea and help liberate some of the other offspring if possible.
The only way to help the offspring stuck down in Tartaros was to usurp (un-wedge from power) Uranus. Gaea gave her son, Cronos a sickle and with this, he castrated his father, Uranus - who was then unfit to hold seat as Ruler.
The position then was given to Cronos who freed the 100-Handers and the Cyclopes.
The freedom didn't last long. Perhaps Cronos quickly began to feel the power within the 100-Handers and the Cyclopian offspring. Whatever the case, they didn't enjoy freedom for long. Cronos imprisoned them again to the Underworld just as his father had done.
From there, Cronos paired with Rhea and together they made The Olympian Gods and Goddesses.
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