Using your answer to question 1 above (cosmos creation), create a piece for use in ritual that describes the process of cosmos creation through sacrifice. (no min. word count) From a Norse perspective: In the beginning the world was ice and fire. When the fire and ice of the world collided, a great thaw began, […]
Category: Indo-European Myth 2
This course is a further study of mythical themes and events in several Indo-European cultures. The goal is to deepen a student’s knowledge and understanding of I-E cultures’ mythologies such that s/he can understand elements and themes beyond the basic level, as well as usefully compare and contrast them. Some application of knowledge learned is required in this course.
Indo European Myth 2: Citations
Puhvel, Jaan. “Creation Myth in the Ancient Near East.” Comparative Mythology. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins UP, 1987. 27. Print. Lincoln, Bruce. “The Indo-European Myth of Creation.” History of Religions 15.2 (1975): 128. Web. 1 Sept. 2014. Kondratiev, Alexei. “Drawing the Circle.” The Apple Branch: A Path to Celtic Ritual. New York: Citadel, 2003. 59. Print. Gundarsson, Kveldulf. “Soul and Afterlife.” Teutonic […]
Indo European Myth 2: #6
Explain the monomyth (aka “hero cycle”) and show how it applies to a single hero from the IE culture of your choice. (150 words min.) A monomyth, put simply, is the “Hero’s Journey”. The development of the hero from the plane mundane world into an epic adventure that builds him up to become the hero […]
Indo European Myth 2: #5
Show two examples in one IE culture of a deity engaging in actions that are unethical or unvirtuous, and speculate on why the deities sometimes engage in this type of behavior. (min. 100 words per example) Joseph McKinnel has an entire chapter on Odin and his various sundries he has participated in within Norse lore […]
Indo European Myth 2: #4
Describe instances of “freeing” or “winning” the waters in two different IE cultures. How can this theme be used to reinforce our current practices and cosmology? (300 words min.) In Celtic lore, the story of Nechtan of the Tuatha De Danann and the secret well that only he and his cupbearers could approach is fairly […]
Indo European Myth 2: Application #2
Using your answer to question 4 above (winning the waters), create a piece for use in ritual that describes the winning of the waters. (no min. word count) For our Imbolc High Rite in 2014, I invoked Boann for our bardic inspiration, focusing on the story of her betrayl of Nechtan to approach the secret […]
Indo European Myth 2: #3
Describe the raiding of cattle by warriors (or divine reflexes of this action) in two cultures. How does this theme reflect the culture of the ancient Indo-European peoples, and is this theme relevant to modern Pagans? (300 words min.) Lincoln discusses an example of a cattle-raiding story between Cacus and Hercules in Roman mythology, where […]
Indo European Myth 2: #2
Describe the image of the Otherworld and/or afterlife in three different IE cultures. How may these images impact your understanding of your own afterlife beliefs and those of Neo-Pagans in general? (400 words min.) The Norse image of the afterlife is one of the most interesting concepts to me. They have a very strong theme […]
Indo European Myth 2: #1
Describe and compare how the cosmos is created through sacrifice in two different IE cultures. (150 words min. each culture) In Norse culture, which is what I am most accustomed to these days, there is the creation story of Ymir the giant. The story starts with fire and ice from Niflheim and Muspellheim. The cataclysmic […]