Do you know the Gods and Goddesses beginning?
Do you know who they are?
Do you want to explore Greek Mythology?
Then this book is the right place
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Trivias and facts about Greek Mythology. GOTG Camp wants to offer you. Enjoy and hope you'll learn s...
In ancient times, people considered fire one of the basic elements of the universe, along with water, air, and earth. Fire can be a friendly, comforting thing, a source of heat and light, as anyone who has ever sat by a campfire in the dark of night knows. Yet fire can also be dangerous and deadly, racing and leaping like a living thing to consume all in its path. In mythology, fire appears both as a creative, cleansing force and as a destructive, punishing one, although positive aspects of fire generally outweigh negative ones.
Symbols and Themes. People in all parts of the world tell myths and legends about fire. Numerous stories explain how people first acquired fire, either through their own daring or as a gift from an animal, god, or hero.
The ability to make and control fire—which is necessary for cooking, making pottery and glass, and metalworking—sets people apart from the animals. The Admiralty Islanders of the Pacific Ocean have a myth in which a snake asks his human children to cook some fish. The children simply heat the fish in the sun and eat it raw, so the snake gives them fire and teaches them to use it to cook their food.
Because fire warms and gives off light like the sun, it often represents the sun or a sun god in mythology. In some tales, it is linked with the idea of the hearth, the center of a household. Fire can also be a symbol of new life, as in the case of the phoenix, the mythical bird that is periodically destroyed by flames to rise reborn from its own ashes.
Fire's energy is not always a good thing. Flames can bring punishment and suffering, as in the Christian image of hell as a place of fiery torment. Some myths ofapocalypsepredict that the world will end in fire—but it may be a purifying, cleansing fire that will allow the birth of a fresh new world.
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Many cultures have myths and rituals involving fire. Here, Australian Aborigines with complex designs painted on their bodies dance in front of a fire.
Because fire can be treacherous and destructive, mythical figures associated with it may betricksters,not always to be trusted. The Norse god Loki's shifty and malicious character may have been based on the characteristics of a forest fire. Anotherdeityassociated with fire is the Greek Hephaestus (Vulcan), god of metalworking, who is usually portrayed as deformed and sullen.
Rituals. In many cultures, people practiceritualsrelated to fire. These rituals are often based on myths and legends about fire or fire gods. In ancient Rome, a sacred flame associated with the goddess Vesta represented national well-being. Women called the Vestal Virgins had the holy duty of keeping that flame alive. The Aztecs of ancient Mexico believed that the fire god Huehueteotl kept earth and heaven in place. At the end of each cycle of 52 years, they extinguished all fires, and Huehueteotl's priests lit a new flame for the people to use. In northern Europe, which has long, dark, cold winters, fire was especially honored. Paganfire festivals such as lighting bonfires on May 1 have continued into modern times in European communities.
