Mythological Figures Research Articles

Mythological Figures in Garo Lores

Oral literature can be considered the earliest form of literature in any literary tradition, preceding the written form. It signifies originality, adaptability, and fluidity, thereby contributing to the evolution of literature. The Garos possess a diverse collection of oral narratives that have been passed down through generations. This oral tradition is deeply ingrained in the communal consciousness, serving as a reflection of the community's ethos. Within these oral compositions lie ancient and authentic lexicons that are meticulously preserved in their traditional sayings, songs, legends, proverbs, rituals, and incantations. This paper endeavors to examine the mythological entities present in Garo folklore, meticulously preserved through oral traditions by the ancestors. Myths, as repositories of communal history, chronicle the vicissitudes of kingdoms and encapsulate the essence of a community's past. They not only mirror the people but also foster unity, continuity, and coherence within a cultural milieu.

Representations of the image of Peter the Great as exemplified by “The Bronze Horseman” by É. Falconet and A. S. Pushkin in the context of social memory: From artistic image to mythological figure

Representations of the image of Peter the Great as exemplified by “The Bronze Horseman” by É. Falconet and A. S. Pushkin in the context of social memory: From artistic image to mythological figure

A Literature Review of the Integration of Ancient Indian Mythology in Clinical Medicine: A Holistic Approach to Health and Healing.

The fusion of mythology and ancient Indian medicine, particularly Ayurveda, is a fascinating synthesis of cultural heritage and scientific endeavor. Ayurveda encompasses a wide range of practices, including pharmacology, anatomy, physiology, surgery, and obstetrics, and integrates the rich tapestry of Hindu mythology, providing a comprehensive understanding of health and disease. The inclusion of mythological figures and narratives in the discourse of ancient Indian medicine offers a unique perspective on the integration of spiritual and empirical knowledge, highlighting the role of mythology in shaping the foundational principles of clinical medicine. The discourse explores the profound impact of Ayurveda and its mythological underpinnings on contemporary clinical practices, underscoring the timeless wisdom embedded in ancient narratives. These stories represent the bedrock of holistic medical practices, emphasizing the parity between mind, body, and spirit that is increasingly validated in modern therapeutic paradigms. The philosophy and methods detailed in the age-old texts of Sushruta and Charaka, coupled with the allegorical tales of Dhanvantari and Bharadwaja, contribute significantly to the foundational principles underpinning today's holistic medical approaches. The enduring legacy of Ayurveda and its mythological narratives continues to influence and inspire a holistic approach to health care, underscoring the indelible connection between ancient wisdom and modern medical practices.

Beyond body and gravity: hybridity and technology in S.B. Divya’s Machinehood

ABSTRACT Donna Haraway views being a cyborg rather than a ‘goddess’ desirable. This feminist slogan can be seen in terms of the democratising power of a hybrid identity facilitated by technology as a substantial alternative to traditional notions of gendered identity. This paper aims to study S. B. Divya’s 2021 novel Machinehood to analyse how technology and identity are tied up in the context of the novel. The paper benefits from the insights from critical posthumanism by analysing how the transformation into a cyborg is problematised by the moral and ethical overtones facilitated by dakinis (mythological figures in Buddhism). While providing tactical advantage, cyborg may become the negation of one’s gender and flesh. The cyborg has been viewed as a capitalist desire. Thus, a cyborg society benefits from the transformative acts that resist such erasure and preserve one’s sense of identity rooted in their body.

ABAKADEMY: An Online Strategic Intervention Material for Independent Remediation in English for Grade 10 Learners

Despite the greatest efforts to supply the students with the Most Essential Learning Competencies (MELCs) through well-evaluated teaching and learning modalities, it is still somewhat evident that a handful of learners are still experiencing difficulty in coping with the lessons and activities. This provoked the researchers to utilize the use of Strategic Intervention Materials (SIM) and convert its traditional and physical attributions into a web-based online platform. Thus, ABAKADEMY, an online strategic intervention material aimed to determine its effectiveness for independent remediation in English, particularly in Literary Genres, Figures of Speech, and Greek and Roman Mythology. Forty (40) grade 10 students were gathered and divided into control and experimental groups. Through t-test, the researchers were able to describe the level of performance and significant difference of the groups’ pre-test and post-test results. Given that there was a practical significance measured through Cohen’s d, it is concluded that ABAKADEMY, an online strategic intervention material is effective for independent remediation in English for the grade 10 students. It stimulated better cognitive retention and fostered creativity and critical thinking among the learners.

Was Kore/Persephone's journey to the afterworld as a path to infertility?

AbstractAs mythological figures, Demeter and Kore stand together as timeless symbols of this moment of transition between maidenhood, wifehood, and then motherhood. While contemplating these goddesses, historically situated and embodied women surely remembered — or learned soon enough — that pregnancies and babies would follow their marriage. The mythological narrative, however, focuses on this crucial transition rather than on the effective beginning of motherhood through pregnancy and childbirth. Kore is the maiden, the new bride, and the mother-to-be. She never becomes a mother.The absence of offspring can be explained by the functional reading we just mentioned: she is a mother-to-be, not a mother. Demeter, in the Eleusinian myth, plays the role of the mother. There is, however, another way that can be explored in this regard and that is not necessarily in contrast with the first one: Kore/Persephone's marriage is sterile since it takes place in the underworld. There is no life in the afterworld; therefore, she can not give birth to a child. This paper will explore if the journey of Kore/Persephone to the Hades can be seen as a path to infertility.

Protean Forms in Humphry Davy's Notebooks

In this essay I argue that Humphry Davy uses the figure of Proteus to illustrate his conception of a world in a state of perpetual change. Over the past four years, 11 417 pages of Davy's notebooks have been transcribed by more than 3500 volunteers from around the world. These have revealed the extent of Davy's poetic output and confirmed his world view that matter is constantly being made, unmade, and made again in new forms. For Davy, atoms are drawn dynamically towards and away from each other, forging new entities through the power of heat, cold, and other chemical interventions. Here, I look at specific instances where Davy's poetry and science are in close proximity to each other, on the same notebook page or in the same notebook, paying attention to Davy's interest in the so-called ‘proteus' fish, which was thought to be able to adapt to life on land or sea at will. Davy saw the mythological figure Proteus as a symbol for chemical change and for the changes that all matter goes through. I will also use this trope to discuss the development of Davy’s ideas from notebook to lecture and published page.

GLASS BEAKER WITH MYTHOLOGICAL FIGURES FROM THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA IN ISAURIA

Built in the region of Isauria - Cilicia Trachea, the ancient city of Philadelphia is located today in the north of the Gökçeseki village in the Ermenek district of the Karaman province. In 2015, a rescue excavation was conducted in this ancient city’s necropolis. During the excavations, sarcophagi that were raised on podiums were discovered. Also, a large number of archaeological finds were unearthed in an area of 10x10 m just west of these sarcophagi. The subject of this study is a glass beaker with mythological figures found in this area. There are very few beakers with mythological figures in the literature. These are a special group of glass bearing high relief decorations, produced through mould-blowing, a technique that was discovered some seventy years after the free-blowing technique of Roman glassmaking. The body of this glass type features four male figures standing between columns joined by garlands of ivy. The identities of the figures are a matter of debate. There seems to be a consensus on the identity of two of them as Poseidon (Weinberg's Figure A) and Dionysus (Weinberg's Figure C), based on the attributes they hold in their hands. Various suggestions exist for the identities of the other two figures. Six fragments belonging to the rim and body of the Philadelphia beaker were discovered. The vessel that has been partially preserved is identical in form and decorative scheme to the glasses that have been published so far. The glass beakers of this type were found in both the eastern and western provinces of the Roman empire. Their origin is a matter of controversy. They were generally dated to the 2nd half of the 1st century AD. For the Philadelphia beaker, it can be suggested that it also dates back to the second half of the 1st century AD, taking into consideration the other finds from the area, in which the highest concentration of the artifacts point to the 1st-3rd centuries AD. There is no evidence of glass production in Philadelphia or its vicinity. Therefore, the Philadelphia find must have been imported to the city. The fact that the fragmentary glass was found in the necropolis of the city suggests that these beakers might have been used during funeral rituals.

Unveiling Koro’s diverse conceptualizations across cultures

IntroductionKoro, also known in Cantonese as Shook Yang, which literally translates to “shrinking penis”, has its roots in a cultural belief that a mythological figure would steal the penis of his victims. Predominantly reported in Southeast Asia, it involves an acute fear of genital retraction, often accompanied by the belief that this retraction may lead to death. Over the last two centuries, Koro has undergone several attempts to establish its definition and classification, without a true consensus having been reached.ObjectivesThis study aims to explore the cultural nuances surrounding Koro and reflect on the various conceptualizations that modulated its definition and nosological classification, from Ancient China until the present.MethodsA non-systematic literature review with the keywords “koro” and “culture” was conducted.ResultsKoro was only introduced to the Western world during colonial expansion, drawing the attention of several psychiatrists who, in Asian territory, reported numerous cases in natives, making the very first attempts at a nosological classification, whether as an anxiety neurosis, or as an obsessive-compulsive disorder. The literature reveals significant cultural variations in the manifestation of Koro, challenging the traditional psychiatric understanding rooted in Western diagnostic categories. Cultural factors, including societal beliefs, religious practices, and regional variations, emerged as influential contributors to the prevalence and presentation of Koro. Additionally, the study identified instances of Koro evolving in response to cultural shifts and globalization, emphasizing the dynamic nature of this syndrome.ConclusionsThis review underscores the need for a comprehensive understanding of Koro that acknowledges its diverse conceptualizations across cultures. Its occurrence, not only in multiple parts of the world, but also in close relation with various comorbidities, has contributed to the dissolution of its primary identity as a culture-bound syndrome, turning Koro into a moving target.Disclosure of InterestNone Declared

The image of dog in Kazakh traditions and folk beliefs

The dog, one of the first domesticated animals, played an important role in all epochs of history and found its place in every culture. Among the Kazakhs, the dog was considered one of the seven treasures, such as a faithful friend of man, a keeper of the house, a guard of four types of domestic animals, a shepherd and a hunter. In addition, the dog has become a part of social and cultural life and takes an important place in the traditions, beliefs, art and vocabulary of the Kazakh people. This study aims to define the origins of positive and negative attitudes towards dogs in Kazakh society and to identify their basic expressions in traditions and folk beliefs. In this article Kazakh traditions and folk beliefs are carefully considered, as well as a number of crafts in which superstitions and customs are associated with the concept of a dog.The results of this study show that in Kazakh culture a dog is not only a pet, but also a cultural symbol and mythological figure. Therefore, dogs have both positive and negative meanings in the collective consciousness of Kazakh society, as well as practical, ritual and mythological significance.

Ovidian Phaeton in Dante’s Commedia: Alter Ego and Oppositio

As a major mythological source and literary model, Ovid exerts a significant influence on Dante’s mythological narratives in the Commedia. Dante’s reworking of classical narratives exemplifies Ovid’s conception of mythological figures and more. Dante’s dissolution of any doubt about the dominant role of the Divinity and his underlining of the Christian faith are out of the question. However, unlike other Christian poets who focus on the moralization of Ovid’s tales, Dante is more “faithful” to the classical originals. Dante does not, for instance, exclusively read Ovid’s tales in a way that is analogous to those who produce the ordinary didactic moralizations of Ovidian myth in this period. Moreover, having freed himself from the limits of the pervasive moralizing use of Ovid, Dante better preserves the original beauty of Ovid’s writing and also, in a certain sense, its compassion for humans.

The Evolution of Female Characters From Antiquity to Modernity: An Examination of Marinna Carr's and Carol Lashof's Adaptations of Classical Mythology

Literature relies heavily on mythology. Myths are stories of deities, monsters or immortals which are transformed from one generation to the other. In addition to documenting the religious and cultural experiences of a specific community, myths also outline the consequent literary, artistic and dramatic customs. Some Greek myths have survived for thousands of years because they accurately depict historical events, cultural values, and trends. Among the most famous classical myths are the myths of Medusa and Medea. As for the myth of Medusa, the earliest known record was found in Theogony (700BC) by Hesiod (8 th-7th century BC). A later version of the Medusa myth was made by the Roman poet Ovid (43BC –17/18AD), in his “Metamorphoses” (3-8 AD). Then again, Medea is a tragedy produced in 431 BC by the Greek playwright Euripides(480–406BC) based on the myth of Jason and Medea. Both Medusa and Medea are among the most fascinating and complex female protagonists in Greek mythology which have captivated many writers and playwrights for ages. In the twentieth century, there were many adaptations of both mythological figures; among these adaptations were those made by contemporary American and Irish women playwrights like Carol Lashof (1956-) and Marinna Carr (1964-). This paper examines the myths of Medusa and Medea and analyses the ways these myths are borrowed, refashioned and exploited in Lashof’s Medusa’s Tale (1991) and Carr’s By the Bog of Cats (1998). Both playwrights explore hidden dimensions of the traditional myths, combining elements from the old and modern worlds.

GREEK MYTHOLOGY IN THE PERCY JACKSON SERIES BY RICK RIORDAN

This article examines the depiction of characters in the Percy Jackson series by Rick Riordan, with a focus on both gender and Greek mythology. The analyses aim to find out how Riordan portrays his characters regarding gender stereotypes, and how he has adapted Greek mythological figures to fit into a narrative in the 21st century. It has been identified how The Percy Jackson books take place in a world where Greek mythology is real. By using gender theory and discussing women’s role in Ancient Greek society, the analyses and discussion can provide a broader view of the representation shown in Riordan’s books.

Трансформация и синтез мифологических сюжетов и образов в современной чувашской драматической сказке

The research aims to identify changes in mythological plots and images in modern Chuvash fairy-tale plays for children. The paper analyzes fairy-tale plays by Iosif Trer, Olga Turgay, and Elen Narby. As the genre background, the plots of fairy tales by Konstantin Ivanov, Efim Nikitin, and Mikhail Yukhma are considered. The paper is novel in that it is the first in Chuvash literary studies to analyze the characters and plots of modern stage fairy tales the heroes of which are mythological figures and which include story-lines from national folklore. The research findings showed that folklore is a rich cultural source for modern Chuvash literature. Ancient mythological plots and images, transforming and adapting to modern realities, receive a new interpretation, retain their relevance and acquire a different meaning. Using the motif of the hero’s disappearance and of his loved ones (bride, wife, father, etc.) looking for him, the authors created dozens of stage fairy tales. They present the ancient Chuvash mythological images of Pyulekhse, Esrel, Kiremet, etc., which are close to today’s life. Mythological plots, having received a new literary manifestation, are being revived on the modern stage.

“Lesbian nation is Amazon culture: Lesbian separatism and the uses of Amazons”

In this article, Amazon imagery serves as a case study for the complicated relationship of lesbian separatist movements of the 1970s and the classical Greek tradition. I consider how the use of mythological figures allowed lesbian feminists to rewrite and subvert dominant patriarchal narratives in ways that furthered their revolutionary projects. I argue that the nature of mythology is fundamentally fluid, collaborative, and open to queer reinterpretations and appropriations in ways that are rich with symbolic potential. Furthermore, the creation of separatist communities approximates an act of nation-building, and it is useful to consider other attempts to construct and theorize nations, ranging from Homi Bhabha on post-/anticolonial resistance to Berlant and Freeman on Queer Nationality. In particular, when considering a lesbian movement, we should remember that queer theory is messy because queerness itself is messy and resists boundaries and classification. Furthermore, what Ward frames as “dyke methods” (or dyke-centric queer methods) insist on categories that are fluid, messy, and shifting in their classifications and drawn toward as-yet-unknown queer possibilities. To study lesbian separatists with dyke methods is to embark on “an antiessentialist and interdisciplinary project” without necessarily “making a commitment to balanced ideas” (pp. 82–83). It is my hope that a messy, queer analysis of Amazonian symbolism in the construction of a lesbian nationalism will ultimately offer intriguing, if at times contradictory, possibilities.

KAIKEYI: BEYOND MYTH AND MODERNITY IN AMISH TRIPATHI'S RAMCHANDRA SERIES

The present research paper focuses on one of the most controversial figures in Hindu mythology: Kaikeyi. Traditionally depicted as a naïve and notorious mother in Indian folklore, this study re-examines her character through a postmodern lens, aiming to establish her as a truly powerful woman. Kaikeyi emerges as an unconquerable and dignified figure of her time. One key concept in postmodernism is the idea of the metanarrative. Metanarratives offer a fascinating lens for literary analysis. Rooted in postmodern philosophy, this concept challenges definitive absolutes—such as Truth—suggesting they are either highly elusive or non-existent. Consequently, postmodernism it resists clear definitions, embracing ambiguity and complexity. This paper attempts to re-envision the myth of Kaikeyi through the lens of Amish Tripathi’s Ram Chandra Series. By doing so, it sheds new light on her character, presenting Kaikeyi not as a villain but as a figure of immense strength and dignity. This reinterpretation challenges traditional narratives and offers a fresh perspective on her role in Hindu mythology.

The Potomac Ploy: George Washington’s Secret Scheme That Shaped the Nation’s Capital

For over 200 years, historians have glossed over blemishes on George Washington’s reputation, transforming the president into an almost mythological figure of the United States’ national identity. This paper brings into focus one of the more overlooked narratives about the president, revealing that his choice of Washington DC and the Potomac River as the location for the national capital was driven by financial self-interest and not by a prescient vision of future national unity. Overwhelming evidence demonstrates that Washington knew the Potomac River could not serve as a national waterway; he was well aware of impassible rapids, sudden drops that totaled 874 feet, and large mountains that completely obstructed the river. Despite this, Washington continued to pursue development along the Potomac for personal financial gain. By the early 1790s, the country had sent thousands of dollars to his private river company, promoted settlement in areas near Washington’s land holdings, and begun the creation of a major city within walking distance of Mount Vernon. The revelation of Washington’s true motivations for choosing this location for the national capital complicates the myth of this founding father as the epitome of a perfect leader. It calls into question the legitimacy of the political, racial, and economic hierarchies that have transformed a self-interested slaveholder into a centerpiece of modern democracy.

Examining Animal Figures in Turkish Mythology in Terms of Veterinary Medicine History

Turks have believed in many religions/beliefs in a long historical process. Among these religions/beliefs, the belief in Shamanism/Sky God has been a priority. This belief, which places nature in its centre, has significantly affected the life and philosophy of life of the Turks. Animals have found their place in the mythology, culture, art, concept of time, literature, and many other subjects of the Turks. The Turks attributed holiness to the horse, the eagle, the deer, and many other animals, especially wolves, and placed them at the centre of their lives. In this study, various important animals for the Turks are discussed in the context of Turkish Mythology and culture; besides the characteristics of the animals, the Turkish Calendar with Twelve Animals and the animals mentioned in the main Turkish Legends (Legend of the Creation, Legend of the Origins, Legend of Oğuz Kağan, Legend of Şu, Legend of Alp Er Tunga, Legend of Satuk Buğra Han) were examined and their importance in terms of the place of animals in the lives of the Turks and the history of veterinary medicine was emphasized.

Indra-kaví

The paper aims at illustrating the possible interconnection between Ṛgvedic poetry and the bovine environment in relation to which the proto-Vedic clan-based society ensured its own subsistence. Given that the protection of livestock was one of the functions attributed to chieftainship, especially during the phase of clan mobility (yóga), and that the figure of the proto-Vedic kaví, the so-called ‗sage poet,‘ is correlated to the milieu of the lordship, it is most likely that the bovine imagery and rhetorical devices, particularly connected to sonority, stemmed precisely from that environment where the human and animal dimensions were symbiotically associated to ensure clan‘s prosperity. Therefore, Ṛgvedic poetical expressions are not only the artful means to mark the liturgical language, but also a direct output of the expertise of the warrior-cowherd, identified especially with the mythological figure of Indra, who could, by way of sonorous enchanting of both, the livestock and the enemies, yoke the former and keep away the latter, guaranteeing subsistence to his own clan.

Modern Humanities and the Ancient Book: Karl Kerényi’s Media Theory

Abstract Karl Kerényi is now mostly remembered for his monographs on Greek mythological figures in the Bollingen Series and for his collaboration with Carl Gustav Jung from the 1940s on. The radical approach to mythology reflected in this work was Kerényi’s solution to what he perceived as a crisis of the humanities: a disciplinary fragmentation combined with the growing influence of the social sciences in the study of culture. Before he would have turned to the study of myth, Kerényi proposed media history as the foundation for the renewal of classical studies and the humanities in general. In a series of essays written in the 1930s, Kerényi theorized the media of ancient texts as central to cultural hermeneutics. His understanding of textual media as expressive of the essential characteristics of a culture was underpinned by a conservative-humanist critique of modernity. It shows strong affinities with the work of such figures as the cultural theorist Oswald Spengler. Offered as an alternative to what Kerényi considered the scientistic preoccupations rampant in modern academe, this vision is also clearly at odds with most later media-historical research and its interest in the affordances and social ramifications of the materiality of communication technologies.