The Reoccurring Theme Of Death In Greek Mythology
From ancient times, man has always been perplexed and frighten about death. For the most part the origin of death or also known as the grim reaper is a theme in the myths throughout the world. Moreover, Death seems to be a form of considered cosmological myth for it is believed to be an early form of humanity’s attempt to fathom the obscure which entails their fragile and fleeting existence. There is not a universal type for theses myth; however, every culture has their own description of Death. Meanwhile, a reoccurring theme of death is among several myths around the world and an examination of myths from the Greek, African, and Eskimo cultures demonstrates an overly exaggerated vision of the gods.
The Grim Reaper or Death is a supernatural force personified in many approaches across many cultures. Moreover, the skeletal depictions of death carrying a scythe first arose in the 14th century England, while the term “Grim …show more content…
Reaper” was first attested in the 19th century England (Merriam webster ). For instance, there are cultural myths about the Grim Reaper being a soul collector; although, the Greeks believe Death was psuchopompos (guide of souls) (Liddell & Scott web). Psuchopompos are described as creatures, spirits, angels, or deities in many religions whose only purpose is to safely escort the recently deceased souls from the terrestrial sphere to the afterlife (Gardenstone 27). Often the psychopomps have been depicted in numerous times and in different cultures as animals such as “horses, deer, dogs, ravens, crows, owls, and sparrows” (Gardenstone 27). In addition, in many cultures Death is often anthropomorphized as a male entity while in others Death can also be depicted as a female entity (Persephone in Greek mythology).
Likewise, ancient Greeks represented Thanatos (Death) not as a pure evil entity but also as gentle and just entity for they knew death was inevitable. Often Thanatos was depicted as a winged man with a beard or as a young man plus he was also the obverse of life which death was illustrated as a male and life as a female. Furthermore, his sole purpose was to escort the recently departed to Hades (the underworld) where he would deliver them to the ferryman, Charon, whom in exchange of a payment he would cross them through the river Styx. If the soul did not have some sort of payment, Charon would not deliver the soul to Hades and would be by the riverside for eternity. Thanatos' sisters, the Keres, were the spirits of violent death. They were associated with deaths from battle, disease, accident, and murder. In fact, Thanatos had a sister, Keres, who delivered the spirits of violent deaths associated with battles, murder or disease; however, she was depicted as an evil entity who often feed on the blood of the body once she had escorted the soul to Hades. Keres was often portrayed with fangs and talons with bloody outfit (Beekes 533).
Perhaps the myth of Aeneas descent to the underworld is an illustration of the magnificent domain Greek culture had become and the inherited moral values such as monogamy, chastity, and virtue.
“Subsequently, in the myth, Aeneas’ humanity is again emphasized by his response to the myriad horrors of the Underworld. Even this hero is struck by fear and panic at the sight of the monsters that guard the entrance: "Aeneas, shaken suddenly/ by terror, grips his sword . Had not/ his wise companion warned him they were only/ thin lives that glide without a body in/ the hollow semblance of a form, he would/ in vain have torn the shadows with his blade" . Moments later, Aeneas is pained by the sight of unburied souls swarming the shores of the River Styx, and he is horror-struck at the sight of Tartarus. His reunion with Anchises is particularly poignant, as Aeneas throws his arms around his father's shade in vain not merely once, but three times, again revealing the deep and meaningful relationship shared between the generations.” (Needs to be
paraphrased)
Next is the disobedient daughter who married a skull, these Nigerian myth regarding a defiant daughter named Afiong who through vanity ended up marrying death. Initially, Afiong declined to marry the man in her village of Calabar since she did not find them attractive; in conjunction, she would only marry the most attractive man in the country; her wish was granted for one day, Skull, from the spirit world found her appealing. Meanwhile, Skull attained body part from his acquaintances to transfigure into the alluring man Afiong wanted and proceeded to the village of Calabar to sway Afiong. When Afiong saw him, she fell in love with Skull at first sight. After three days and against her parent’s wishes, Afiong decided to marry Skull without knowing who he was and where he came from. It was unbeknownst to her that Skull was taking her to the spirit world where his true self was revealed. In the spirit world, Skull’s mother took a liking towards Afiong; consequently, the opportunity to go back home was given to her under the agreement of never to disobey her parents again. (Powell 533-535). The Igbo valued obedience to their parents and modesty above anything else. The Igbo myth and the digital image above depict such values for to disobey one’s parents can lead into dangerous situations and beautiful stranger’s deceit can also lead to difficulty times. Afiong’s vanity and disobedience lead her to be deceived by death’s false beauty and almost be devoured by cannibal spirits of the underworld.
Lastly, the Inuit myth of Sedna, mistress of the underworld tells the story of a father and daughter who lived in a solitary shore. The daughter Sedna grew up to be beautiful woman; however, she had a proud heart which no man can touch. Until one day a fulmar flew by and wooed her with his song. Once they had arrived at the country of her spouse, Sedna realized that she had been deceived for his home was covered in fish skins, was full of holes, her bed hard and survived just on fish which was brought by the birds. After a year her father came to visit and too realized the misery in which her daughter lived in. Full with rage he decapitated her husband and headed back home. Unfortunately, on their home, they were caught in a storm; the father decided to offer Sedna to the birds and threw her over board. Sedna hung for dear life from the boat while the father cut her finger away. Every time the father cut a portion of her finger a sea animal sprung to life. Once the storm had subsided, her father allowed her to come back into the boat. As a result of her father’s cruel treatment, Sedna called her dogs and lets them feed on her father’s limbs while he sleeps. Angry for the transgression Sedna has done to him, he curses himself, his daughter and the dogs; at this moment, the earth opens and takes them into the underworld where Sedna becomes the mistress (Powell 487-88).
Also, in this myth, the cultural values of the Inuit are present. The cultural values in which mutual respect for one another is precious and at no point in life should ever be falter or taken advantage of. Additionally, Sedna also teaches the value of vanity, proudest and material interest. A person should not be interested in another just based on what the person can provide for them. Sedna passed the opportunity to live a well off life when she rejected the Inuit youth and realized how miserable her life had become for being so proud. In other hand, one can argue that Sedna also provides the lesson not to be afraid to dive into the darkest and fear places to achieve what one wants and it also serves as remainder that it does not matter the mistakes a person has done in their lives and spite indispositions a person still deemed of love and respect.
Thus, the similarities between these three myths are quite obvious for in all three myths the theme of death is present. Also, in the disobedient daughter who married a skull myth and Sedna, mistress of the underworld, both myths have defiant, vain, and materialistic daughters whom choosing the man that was the most handsome and was the richest ended up being miserable in their married lives. Once both daughters had realized of the mistakes they had made, both wanted to go home to their families. Afiong was quite fortunate to have a welcoming family one the mother of Death gave her a safe passage back home. In the other hand, Sedna was not so fortunate, for her father was cruel and decided to curse her daughter for the revenge she had taken upon him. Lastly, the similarities between in the myth of Aeneas’ Decent into the underworld, is that there is a regretful son at the end of his journey through Hades. When Aeneas saw his father he threw his arms around his father's shadow in vain three times to reveal the meaningful relationship they once shared.
The Grim Reaper or Death is a supernatural force personified in many approaches across many cultures. Moreover, the skeletal depictions of death carrying a scythe first arose in the 14th century England, while the term “Grim …show more content…
Reaper” was first attested in the 19th century England (Merriam webster ). For instance, there are cultural myths about the Grim Reaper being a soul collector; although, the Greeks believe Death was psuchopompos (guide of souls) (Liddell & Scott web). Psuchopompos are described as creatures, spirits, angels, or deities in many religions whose only purpose is to safely escort the recently deceased souls from the terrestrial sphere to the afterlife (Gardenstone 27). Often the psychopomps have been depicted in numerous times and in different cultures as animals such as “horses, deer, dogs, ravens, crows, owls, and sparrows” (Gardenstone 27). In addition, in many cultures Death is often anthropomorphized as a male entity while in others Death can also be depicted as a female entity (Persephone in Greek mythology).
Likewise, ancient Greeks represented Thanatos (Death) not as a pure evil entity but also as gentle and just entity for they knew death was inevitable. Often Thanatos was depicted as a winged man with a beard or as a young man plus he was also the obverse of life which death was illustrated as a male and life as a female. Furthermore, his sole purpose was to escort the recently departed to Hades (the underworld) where he would deliver them to the ferryman, Charon, whom in exchange of a payment he would cross them through the river Styx. If the soul did not have some sort of payment, Charon would not deliver the soul to Hades and would be by the riverside for eternity. Thanatos' sisters, the Keres, were the spirits of violent death. They were associated with deaths from battle, disease, accident, and murder. In fact, Thanatos had a sister, Keres, who delivered the spirits of violent deaths associated with battles, murder or disease; however, she was depicted as an evil entity who often feed on the blood of the body once she had escorted the soul to Hades. Keres was often portrayed with fangs and talons with bloody outfit (Beekes 533).
Perhaps the myth of Aeneas descent to the underworld is an illustration of the magnificent domain Greek culture had become and the inherited moral values such as monogamy, chastity, and virtue.
“Subsequently, in the myth, Aeneas’ humanity is again emphasized by his response to the myriad horrors of the Underworld. Even this hero is struck by fear and panic at the sight of the monsters that guard the entrance: "Aeneas, shaken suddenly/ by terror, grips his sword . Had not/ his wise companion warned him they were only/ thin lives that glide without a body in/ the hollow semblance of a form, he would/ in vain have torn the shadows with his blade" . Moments later, Aeneas is pained by the sight of unburied souls swarming the shores of the River Styx, and he is horror-struck at the sight of Tartarus. His reunion with Anchises is particularly poignant, as Aeneas throws his arms around his father's shade in vain not merely once, but three times, again revealing the deep and meaningful relationship shared between the generations.” (Needs to be
paraphrased)
Next is the disobedient daughter who married a skull, these Nigerian myth regarding a defiant daughter named Afiong who through vanity ended up marrying death. Initially, Afiong declined to marry the man in her village of Calabar since she did not find them attractive; in conjunction, she would only marry the most attractive man in the country; her wish was granted for one day, Skull, from the spirit world found her appealing. Meanwhile, Skull attained body part from his acquaintances to transfigure into the alluring man Afiong wanted and proceeded to the village of Calabar to sway Afiong. When Afiong saw him, she fell in love with Skull at first sight. After three days and against her parent’s wishes, Afiong decided to marry Skull without knowing who he was and where he came from. It was unbeknownst to her that Skull was taking her to the spirit world where his true self was revealed. In the spirit world, Skull’s mother took a liking towards Afiong; consequently, the opportunity to go back home was given to her under the agreement of never to disobey her parents again. (Powell 533-535). The Igbo valued obedience to their parents and modesty above anything else. The Igbo myth and the digital image above depict such values for to disobey one’s parents can lead into dangerous situations and beautiful stranger’s deceit can also lead to difficulty times. Afiong’s vanity and disobedience lead her to be deceived by death’s false beauty and almost be devoured by cannibal spirits of the underworld.
Lastly, the Inuit myth of Sedna, mistress of the underworld tells the story of a father and daughter who lived in a solitary shore. The daughter Sedna grew up to be beautiful woman; however, she had a proud heart which no man can touch. Until one day a fulmar flew by and wooed her with his song. Once they had arrived at the country of her spouse, Sedna realized that she had been deceived for his home was covered in fish skins, was full of holes, her bed hard and survived just on fish which was brought by the birds. After a year her father came to visit and too realized the misery in which her daughter lived in. Full with rage he decapitated her husband and headed back home. Unfortunately, on their home, they were caught in a storm; the father decided to offer Sedna to the birds and threw her over board. Sedna hung for dear life from the boat while the father cut her finger away. Every time the father cut a portion of her finger a sea animal sprung to life. Once the storm had subsided, her father allowed her to come back into the boat. As a result of her father’s cruel treatment, Sedna called her dogs and lets them feed on her father’s limbs while he sleeps. Angry for the transgression Sedna has done to him, he curses himself, his daughter and the dogs; at this moment, the earth opens and takes them into the underworld where Sedna becomes the mistress (Powell 487-88).
Also, in this myth, the cultural values of the Inuit are present. The cultural values in which mutual respect for one another is precious and at no point in life should ever be falter or taken advantage of. Additionally, Sedna also teaches the value of vanity, proudest and material interest. A person should not be interested in another just based on what the person can provide for them. Sedna passed the opportunity to live a well off life when she rejected the Inuit youth and realized how miserable her life had become for being so proud. In other hand, one can argue that Sedna also provides the lesson not to be afraid to dive into the darkest and fear places to achieve what one wants and it also serves as remainder that it does not matter the mistakes a person has done in their lives and spite indispositions a person still deemed of love and respect.
Thus, the similarities between these three myths are quite obvious for in all three myths the theme of death is present. Also, in the disobedient daughter who married a skull myth and Sedna, mistress of the underworld, both myths have defiant, vain, and materialistic daughters whom choosing the man that was the most handsome and was the richest ended up being miserable in their married lives. Once both daughters had realized of the mistakes they had made, both wanted to go home to their families. Afiong was quite fortunate to have a welcoming family one the mother of Death gave her a safe passage back home. In the other hand, Sedna was not so fortunate, for her father was cruel and decided to curse her daughter for the revenge she had taken upon him. Lastly, the similarities between in the myth of Aeneas’ Decent into the underworld, is that there is a regretful son at the end of his journey through Hades. When Aeneas saw his father he threw his arms around his father's shadow in vain three times to reveal the meaningful relationship they once shared.