cross-cultural goddess myths · • myths involve fertility; explain the seasonal cycle •...

Cross-CulturalGoddessMyths

IshtarandTammuz(BabylonianMyth)

IshtarisaBabyloniangoddessofdualcharacter,associatedwithbothloveandwar.Shewasthoughttotreatherloversharshly,neverremainingpermanentlyfaithful.ThemostimportantmythassociatedwithIshtarconcernsherloveforTammuz,ayoungfertilitygod.Inawaythemythleavesunclear,herloveforhimsomehowcauseshisdeath.Shegrievesforhimceaselessly,andhergriefissymbolizedbythesummersundryingthevegetation.Shedescendsintotheunderworldtoretrievehim,andsheisimprisonedthere.AtlastEa,godofwaterandwisdom,sendsacreaturearmedwithmagicspellsagainstthequeenoftheunderworld.Herrescuerpoursoverherthewateroflife,afterwhichshereturnstoearth,bringingTammuzwithher.

AphroditeandAdonis(GreekMyth)

AdonisisalovelyboyborntoMyrrhawhensheisinspiredwithapassionforherfatheraspunishmentforscorningAphrodite(goddessoflove).Aphrodite,wholovestheboy,giveshimtoPersephone(goddessoftheunderworld)forsafe-keeping,andPersephonerefusestogivehimback.WhenZeus’mediationissought,heassignsAdonisone-thirdtimetoeachwoman,andpermitshimtospendtheremainingtimeashewill.AdonischoosestospendthetimewithAphroditeratherthanintheunderworld.HisperiodoftimewithPersephonethuscloselycoincideswiththemonthsinwhichthewinterleavestheearthwithoutvegetation.(Inavariantofthistale,AdonisiskilledbyaboarsentbyAphrodite’sjealouslover,andAphrodite’sgriefissogreatthatthegodspermitAdonistospendsixmonthsofeachyearonearth).

IsisandOsiris(EgyptianMyth)

Isisisthesister/wifewholovesherbrother/husbandOsiris,thesungod,bywhomsheconceivesHorus.Beforetheirsoncanbeborn,Osirisisslainbytheforcesofevilandhisbodysetafloatinabox.Isisseeksherbelovedand,findinghisbody,partiallyreviveshim.Heisdiscoveredagainbyhisadversary(hisevilbrotherSet),andthistimehisbodyistornapart.Isisfindsandreassemblesthepieces,andOsirislivesagainasjudgeofthedead.Horusrevengeshisfatherandreplaceshimasthesungod.Initsbareoutlines,Osiris,thesun,isovercomebySet,thenight;heisresurrectedbyIsis,theeasternsunatdawn,whogivesbirthtoHorus,sonofthenewday.

SimilaritiesinMythsandTheSunAlsoRises• Manymyths(Ishtar,Aphrodite,Isis)aretalesoflovebetweenanolderwomanandayoungerman.• Brettis34;PedroRomerois19• Manyrepresentasexuallyvoracious,butunfaithfulwoman• Mythsoftenpresentdangertotheyoungerman• SometimestheGoddesscausesthedanger;sometimesshehelpscircumventthedanger• Mythsinvolvefertility;explaintheseasonalcycle• Fertilitywhat’slackinginthenovel?(Bothinaphysicalsense—Jakes’swoundandinaspiritualsense—amodernwasteland?)

CirceAgoddessofmagicorsometimesanymph,witch,enchantressorsorceressinGreekmythology.Bymostaccounts,shewasthedaughterofthesungodHelios.Circewasreknowned forhervastknowledgeofpotionsandherbs.Throughtheuseoftheseandamagicwandorstaff,shetransformedherenemies,orthosewhooffendedher,intowildbeasts.SomesayshewasexiledtothesolitaryislandofAeaeabyhersubjectsandherfatherHeliosforkillingherhusband,theprinceofColchis.InHomer’sOdyssey,shefallsinlovewithOdysseusandturnshismenintoswine.ThemessengergodHermeswarnsOdysseustobecarefulwheninvitedintoCirce’sbed.Shewouldtakehismanhoodunlesshehadherswearbythenamesofthegodsthatshewouldnot.