In our field, we are so often delving into impressive legends of long ago - myths about men who once lived and wrought deeds so mighty that they seem frankly 'incredible' (in the old sense of the term) today. And that can leave one quite jaded about the modern era for reasons that ought be … Continue reading The Ganesha Of Kabul – And His Custodian Guard [ Arte-Facts #14 ]
Myth in History
The Sword Of The King – On Bhavani And The Famed Bhavani Tulwar Of ShivaJi
[Author's Note: I wrote this some four years ago yesterday. So, as ever, our understandings have grown and evolved in certain areas … including the rather intriguing potential that the Excalibur myth of Britain, wherein a certain female figure associated with The Waters bestows an empowered sword to a leader in order to unify things … Continue reading The Sword Of The King – On Bhavani And The Famed Bhavani Tulwar Of ShivaJi
The Near-Dioscuri Experience Of Simonides The Pious Poet
I found this rather amusing. Per Cicero, there is a tale of the Greek poet Simonides having a near-death experience. Or, we should say - a Near Dioscuri experience ! Simonides had been commissioned to eulogize the sporting victory of Scopas at a banquet held by the latter. In the course of doing so, the … Continue reading The Near-Dioscuri Experience Of Simonides The Pious Poet
On Adopting The Mantle of Myth – And Pakistan’s Perilously Pained Pretensions To Same
One of my favourite concepts from the field of 20th century comparative mythography has to be Eliade's notion of the Eternal Return. That idea that many rituals are, in effect, 're-enactments' of prior and supernal Mythic Events; which not only carry their more overt (and often quite ornate) beneficial purpose for the participants, but which … Continue reading On Adopting The Mantle of Myth – And Pakistan’s Perilously Pained Pretensions To Same
arya-akasha 