Norse Vocabulary

Vikings- Norse sailors

Ginnungagap-Dark blackness before creation

Nifleheim- land of fog and ice

Muspellheim-land of fire

Yggdrasil-tree that connects the three worlds

Asgard- home of the gods above the clouds

Midgard-land of man in the middle

Hel- goddess of dead and land of the dead beneath Midgard

Bifrost Bridge-bridge that connects Midgard to Asgard

Ymir-the first ice giant

Odin-father of gods and humans

Frigg-wife of Odin and most important goddess

The Valkyries- Odin’s daughters and selectors for Valhalla

The Norns-the three maidens of fate

Thor-son of Odin and god of thunder

Balder- son of Odin and most loved god

Njord-god of wind and sea

Frey-god of fertility, sun and rain

Freya-wife of Frey and goddess of love

Idunn- goddess of youth and keeper of golden apples

Loki-son of a giant, trickster god

Fenrir-son of Loki that will eat the sun

Jormungandr-son of Loki, and world serpent

Ragnarok-ending of the world

Runes-gift from Odin, magic stones that predict past, present, and future

Native American Myth

Andrew Hartofilax
Mythology 1st
November 11, 2008

The Lakota Peace Pipe

Long ago two Lakota men were hunting for buffalo. During the hunt they saw a woman walking towards them with a stick in a bundle of sagebrush. The woman told the Lakota men that she wanted to speak to their chief, Bull Sitting Upright. She instructed them to go back to their village and make camp in a circle with the opening facing north. The woman came and revealed to Bull Sitting Upright a red stone pipe. The woman taught him prayers and ceremonies and told him to teach his tribe and said as long as his people used the pipe before their ceremonies and when making treaties their tribe would be happy and buffalo would come however when they stop they will perish. As the woman left she collapsed and rose a new color buffalo four times in black, red, brown and white. This myth is important to the Lakota because it is a major part of their religion on how to perform ceremonies and prayers it is also to be thankful for all life.

“Origin of the Lakota Peace Pipe” 1996. indigenouspeople.net 2 Nov 2008.
www.indigenouspeople.net/peacepip.htm

Wynne, CaMary. “Buffalo Woman.” Legend of the Buffalo Woman. 11 November 2008.
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Hero's Journey

Call to Adventure- The hero is given a goal or quest.
Initiation- Hero enter strange new world and leaving familiar.
Journey- Road of trials or obstacles hero must face.
Companions- Hero's sidekick, partner or support.
Supernatural Guide- Provides information, charms or weapons.
Ultimate Battle- Hero's final battle or test.
Transformation- Hero is altered from journey in some way.
Death/Rebirth- Hero's journey is done and something new is gained.
Boon- Gift of renewal to be shared.

Definitions

A myth is a tale or story describing natural, cultural or godly events.
An example of a myth is the story of Demeter Persephone and Hades.

A hero is a founder of something new who is unique and imperfect.
An example of a hero is Theseus.

A hero's journey is a series of trials to reach rebirth.
An example of a hero's journey is the 12 tasks of Hercules.

Universal means something common worldwide.
An example of something universal is a hero.

An archetype is the original or first model.
An example of archetype is the watery abyss, the void, and the Pan Gu egg.

Cyclical means a series of events that starts and ends at the same spot.
An example of cyclical is a hero's journey.

Duality means a quality of opposites or two existing as a whole.
An example of duality is yin and yang.

Creation is the beginning of something new.
An example of creation is the myth of Pan Gu.

Life from death means a new beginning from something ending.
An example of life from death is Chronos dying and cyclopes coming from his blood.

Matriarchal means the foundation of female power, mother rules.
An example of matriarchal power is Tiamet being mother of the gods.

Patriarchal means the foundation of male power, father rules.
An example of patriarchal power is Cronus being the father of the greek gods.

Sacrifice means to give up something high of value for the greater good.
An example of sacrifice is Dionysus dieing each year and returning for man.

Persephone's Kidnapping

Demeter, Persephone and Hades

The myth of Demeter, Persephone and Hades can be looked at in a few different ways naturally,socially, and psychological. It is a story of romance and woe, the changing seasons and innocence. It takes place in Greece when Persephone the goddess of spring strays from her companions and is kidnapped by the awestruck Hades. Her mother Demeter, full of grief, withholds from the earth her gifts of bounty. Man would soon die of famine if the gods did not act fast. Soon a pact was made, Demeter would be able to keep her daughter for eight months of the year and Hades would keep her for the last four.


The view of this myth in the natural way can explain the changing seasons of the year. The earth becomes a barren frozen land until she can get Persephone back. Demeter while with her daughter would represent summer and spring and when Hades takes Persephone to the underworld winter would start.


The view towards Demeter being a woman and mother like figure to Greek society is because the woman was the one that tended the fields while the men were away. Also Persephone is seen as a young lady and youth were innocent but also not very smart. Hades can represent man. Taking what he wants with almost no repercussions.


Finally come the psychological view of these gods. Demeter is mother of man because she gives him the means to settle. She is kind and peaceful but also scornful. Persephone is young, beautiful and innocent, representing virginity. Hades is the bad guy of this myth representing evil, taking the innocence and virginity away from Persephone like man.


The myth of Demeter and the kidnapping of her daughter by the god of the underworld could be seen in many different perspectives but to the ancient Greeks it was not a myth but a understanding of the world around them in a natural, social and psychological way.