After his murderous insanity induced by the goddess Hera, Hercules travelled to Delphi to atone and pray to Apollo for guidance, who directed him to serve Eurystheus as penance, leading to Hercules’ famous 12 Labours. The pattern of 12 appears often, as in the number of the Olympian gods, as well as the 12 signs … Continue reading Hercules in Hell
Mythology
Why Orpheus Failed
When Orpheus' wife Eurydice died, the grief-stricken Orpheus descended into the Underworld in order to retrieve her back again. He is allowed this on one condition: he cannot look back at her as they reascend to the world of the living. Thinking this would be easy, he agrees, and yet as the two travelled he … Continue reading Why Orpheus Failed
Symbolism: A Year and a Day
A Year in itself is a measurement of a complete cyclical process, and is a Cosmic-Cycle in miniature, a microcosm of the macrocosm, often associated with the visual symbol of the Circle or Ring, such as in the relation of the Latin words "annus" and "anus" meaning year and ring respectively. Interestingly for the etymologies … Continue reading Symbolism: A Year and a Day
Ragnarok
Ragnarok is a fairly well-known Apocalyptic event within Germanic Mythology, primarily attested within the Prose and Poetic Eddas, the Voluspa poem within the latter is its best known one and makes reference to Ragnarok from Stanzas 40 to 58. This post will first set context and summarize its events, followed by an analysis of some particular symbols within the story, and then offer an in-general commentary concluding with two ends, one mundane or physical and the other Spiritual or Metaphysical. Accents and such for words will be avoided, so as to make navigation simpler. ...