I am looking for myth that, in a symbolic way, corresponds to a story
I want to tell. It does not matter whether it stems from Greek, Roman,
Nordic og Eastern mythology, as long as it fits.
The story I want to tell is about transformation, or rather the
realisation of unexpected human skills. Imagine a person, for instance
a smith. He is used to
make hundreds of swords for the soldiers in his city that is always
under siege by the enemy. But one day he discovers that he is able to
fortify the surrounding walls of the city with iron, so that the
soldiers are safe and don't have to battle in the first place.
As you see, the development from making swords (a typical "smith's job") to
making iron fortification, is not a transformation as such, merely
another skill that is a bit surprising. Okay, this was just an example
- don't lay too much emphasis on it, as the specific story that I want
to tell is a completely different one (that I cannot disclose). But I
sincerely hope that you see what I mean, even though the task is a
bit abstract. Feel free to ask me if you need more info. |
Request for Question Clarification by
pafalafa-ga
on
22 Mar 2005 05:31 PST
Challenging question! Thanks for posting it here.
Just want to see if I'm on the right track. Let me know what you
think of this story:
----------
http://latin204.tripod.com/essays/dido_myth_before_vergil.html
A myth is attatched to the sale of Carthage to Dido. Iarbus, after
receiving money from Dido, gave her a ox hide. He told her that she
could have all the land that could fit inside of the ox hide. Rather
than fall victim to his scheming, Dido decided to trick Iarbus
himself. She cut the ox hide into very small strips and laid them out
around a large area of land. Under their agreement, Iarbus had to
give Dido all the land that fit within the ox hide. After the death
of Dido?s husband Sychaeus, Iarbus courted Dido until the time of her
unfortunate death.
----------
pafalafa-ga
|
Clarification of Question by
raw_2005-ga
on
22 Mar 2005 08:28 PST
Dear Pafalafa,
Thanks a lot for your effort. Unfortunately, I am not sure that the
Dido story is a perfect match. Is has to do with the fact that her
cutting up the oxhide is not a sign of development, merely a sign of
cleverness.
But okay, let me give you a little bit of concrete info. I am working
with a company that deals with a certain kind of work and a certain
line of products that are very typical for the branch. But soon we
will be introducing a new line of products that people normally do not
associate. These new products indicate a certain development, a new
potential, new skills that the company maybe always has had, but was
never aware of.
This is core that I am looking for, reflected in a mythological story
or maybe a fairytale. But it is important to emphasize that the
company is not transformed into something else (mythology has a lot of
such stories), but has developed itself and is showing new and maybe
unexpected sides of itself.
Hope that this has been helpful.
|
Request for Question Clarification by
hammer-ga
on
22 Mar 2005 10:13 PST
Raw_2005,
Do any of the stories below meet your needs?
1. David and Goliath
David learns to use the sling to hunt and to drive predators away fom
his herd. Later, he turns his skill to fighting Goliath and protecting
his people.
2. Bellerophon
A young master horseman whose equestrian skills with ordinary horses
allow him to tame Pegasus and defeat the Chimera.
3. Orpheus
A musician who is able to use his musical abilities to protect himself
and his friends from several monsters and even to raise the dead.
4. The secretary/hobby artist who invented Liquid Paper through a
combination of her needs as a secretary and her ability to mix paint.
Are any of these what you want, or in the right direction?
- Hammer
|
Clarification of Question by
raw_2005-ga
on
22 Mar 2005 13:20 PST
Dear Hammer,
Thanks a lot for your interesting and creative suggestions. However, I
feel that I am not quite there yet.
As for David and Bellephoron, their main "problem" is that they use
their skills to defeat or kill enemies. For my purpose, this could
send the wrong signal.
The story of the secretary Bette Graham who invented Liquid Paper is
very good, but it lacks the "grandeur" and universal power of the
myths.
Orpheus is closer, because his skill is musical genius which is a
beautiful and positive skill. But he does not use his skill in an
inventive way. He has this divine ability which he uses, and the
surrounding world reacts to it in a way that is a result of its
divinity.
Well... Sorry for being such a pest, but I do appreciate the
suggestions! :o) However, I am still in need of "the one and only"
myth - if it exists at all.
|
Request for Question Clarification by
pafalafa-ga
on
22 Mar 2005 15:22 PST
Hey...what about Perseus?
You remember Perseus, right? He had himself a nice shiny shield he
use only as a <<guess>> shield.
But when he fought Medusa -- whose face could turn a man to stone --
Perseus used his shiny shield as a mirror, thus avoiding her direct
gaze.
I know what you're thinking...this is more about being clever than
about new skills. But have you ever tried to behead a Gorgon
backwards, while looking in a curvey mirror...?
|
Request for Question Clarification by
pafalafa-ga
on
22 Mar 2005 15:28 PST
And of course, the Greek talent for carving and statuary helped them
to create a very large horse....which they gave as a gift to Troy,
and...well, you know the rest.
Beware of Greeks bearing gifts, when they have transformed their
gift-making skills into warfare.
|
Request for Question Clarification by
hammer-ga
on
22 Mar 2005 20:09 PST
raw_2005,
There is a story about why Jerry Rice, the famous football player, has
such great hands. The story goes that when Jerry Rice was young, his
father was a mason. Jerry used to work with his father. All day, his
father and brothers would throw him hot bricks which he had to catch
and put in place. Jerry Rice credits both his exceptionally reliable
hands and his much lauded work ethic to the skills he developed
working as a brick mason.
- Hammer
|
Clarification of Question by
raw_2005-ga
on
22 Mar 2005 23:59 PST
Hi Hammer,
Thanks a lot for the Jerry Rice story that is truly wonderful. I will
consider it, but it has the same downside as the Bette Graham story.
Furthermore, football is a very small sport over here in Europe, so it
will not have the same resonance as in the US.
Thanks to you, too, Pafalafa! But you are right. When the skills are
used for warfare, I am not likely to walk that path.
|
Request for Question Clarification by
hammer-ga
on
23 Mar 2005 06:10 PST
raw_2005,
Where in Europe are you?
I think that you will have to look to "human interest" stories like
the Jerry Rice story rather than classical myth. When you eliminate
divinity, monsters, battles and warrior-heroes from the mix, the
classical mythology pickings become mighty slim. Theodus the Cooper
may have discovered that barrel staves can also be used to make
fences, but Homer didn't write an epic poem about it. :)
- Hammer
|
Request for Question Clarification by
hammer-ga
on
23 Mar 2005 06:20 PST
What about The Wizard of Oz, wherein the Lion, the Tinman and the
Scarecrow arrive at the Wizard and are shown that have had what they
needed all along?
- Hammer
|
Clarification of Question by
raw_2005-ga
on
23 Mar 2005 10:51 PST
Hi Hammer,
Well, I of course see what you mean, and maybe you are right. I was
looking for some kind of development "from within" in the figures, but
often mythological characters get their strengths from the outside
world, other gods and the like.
But as a matter of fact, I gave your Orpheus suggestion some more
thought, and maybe the tale of Orpheus and the Sirenes does fit in
some sense. At least it is a rather peaceful story and I like the song
and music skill very much. To be able to use music to avoid conflict
is in itself a beautiful image.
So, maybe it is time to close this subject and accept Orpheus as an
answer, even though I don't yet know whether it will be put to use.
Maybe it will.
I am new here at Google Answers. Do I have to do something in order
for you to get credited for your efforts, Hammer?
By the way, I am from Scandinavia. :o) Why are you asking?
|
Request for Question Clarification by
hammer-ga
on
23 Mar 2005 11:11 PST
raw_2005,
Orpheus used his music for more than just protecting his shipmates
from the Sirens. He also nearly saved himself from the Maenads becuase
his music was so beautiful that the rocks and things they threw at him
refused to strike him. In addition, his music so moved Persephone that
she allowed his wife to return from the dead, although he eventually
lost her again. If you want to accept this as an answer, I'll post
some links for you to read.
<<<I am new here at Google Answers. Do I have to do something in order
for you to get credited for your efforts, Hammer?>>>
If you want to give me the $50, just post a clarification indicating
that you will accept my suggestions as an answer. If not, you can
lower the price of your question before posting that you will accept
my answer. I won't post an official answer until I hear from you.
<<<By the way, I am from Scandinavia. :o) Why are you asking?>>>
Because you mentioned that football stories would not work because of
your location. I was wondering where you were in order to focus my
efforts on stories that would make sense to someone from your country.
For what it's worth, J.R.R. Tolkien's work is dripping with
Scandanavian mythology influences. There might be something there for
you.
- Hammer
|
Clarification of Question by
raw_2005-ga
on
23 Mar 2005 15:17 PST
Hi Hammer,
thanks for even more input. I think that if I were to use Orpheus, it
would have to be in connection with the Sirens, because it was a 100%
successfull project. He NEARLY saved his wife from Hades and he NEARLY
saved himself from death. The "nearly" part is what complicate things.
But the shipmates were saved - that's an important detail.
Tolkien could be an idea, but characters from Nordic mythology would
be even better. But I am not an expert on that subject. Do you have
any suggestions?
As for the price, I was not aware that it is possible to lower the
price. That might be possibility, as I am not you that I hit bullseye
yet. On the other hand, you have been extremely helpful, so maybe I'll
just let it pass. Let's see. Maybe the Easter bunny will present you
with a genious story. :o)
Best regards.
|
Clarification of Question by
raw_2005-ga
on
23 Mar 2005 15:19 PST
Correction to the above:
"That might be possibility, as I am not you that I hit bullseye
yet."
Should be: That might be possibility, as I am not sure that I hit bullseye
yet.
|
Request for Question Clarification by
hammer-ga
on
23 Mar 2005 15:41 PST
The Norse myths have the same problem as the others. They are highly
battle-oriented. Valhalla and Valkyries and suchlike. I'll browse my
books though, and see if something jumps out at me.
- Hammer
|
Request for Question Clarification by
hammer-ga
on
23 Mar 2005 20:24 PST
raw_2005,
Well, I looked through my Norse mythology books. As I said, it's all
frost giants and ale and vengeance and battle gods and magic rings.
There are some kind and wise figures, but they tend to come to a bad
end, leading to lots of vengeance, and/or were cursed in some way.
Humans are few and far between.
The only Norse myth I see that may suit your needs is that of Lif and
Lifthrasir (Life and Eager For Life). They have no particular skills,
except their humanity and desire to live. While they are not
themselves transformed, they are the only survivors of the big final
battle (Ragnarok) and are destined to survive and repopulate the new
world which rises from the sea of the destroyed world.
Wikipedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lifthrasir
- Hammer
|
Clarification of Question by
raw_2005-ga
on
24 Mar 2005 02:20 PST
Thanks a lot, Hammer, you've been a tremendous help. The story of Lif
is probably not as good as Orpheus - he is still my favorite. What
will be the final outcome, I do not know yet, but I think that you
should pose Orpheus as the answer. I am not going to lower the price,
as you have put in a great effort.
Thanks a lot!
|
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