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(The Book of the Earth Gods) by MERKVRIVS THE YOUNGER version 1.0 3-15-98 |
The Tao begot one,
One begot two,
Two begot three.
The three begot the ten thousand things.
The ten thousand things embrace Yin and express Yang.
Harmony is achieved by combining these forces.
-Ch. 42 Tao Te Ching by Lao Tsu
Introduction
This is an early release (version 1.0 3-15-98) of an on-going project of a collection of myths and legends that I have pieced together with some various comments of my own focusing primarily on those elements of cosmogony and anthopogony. In some future version I intend to include various charts of chronology of the writing of these texts and of certain correspondences between select deities and concepts within the materials found here.
As to the question of what was the basis for these myths? It is possible that these various myths describe events that occurred in ancient times that were incomprehensible to men even though they felt compelled to write these stories and give them some meaning as all men are want to do. What these events were, if such occurred, we could only hazard to guess. As to the nature and origins of the entities described they have been deemed variously by others as being proto-humans, neighboring tribes, alien visitors from other outer space or others planes, and/or fallen spirits who once and perhaps still roam the Earth.
However, on a more academic note the consistency of the motif found in these myths and legends should not be to overwhelming nor be used to argue the necessary validity. The motifs found in many of these myths were passed down from one culture to the next. Of course each culture had to personalize the myths by, among other things, citing the supremacy of their god(s) thus adding, deleting and/or altering with each telling the overall tale and even history as best suited them. For example in the majority of the older polytheistic myths (e.g. Sumerian, Babylonian, Egyptian, Greco-Roman) the elder generation of gods were usurped by a younger generation of gods whether by force or merely by being pushed to the into the background and possibly forgotten. However, in the more modern retellings (e.g. Brahmanism, Zoroasterian, Judeo-Christian, et al) the eldest of the gods (i.e. the 'one true god') maintains power throughout any and all such revolts thus demonstrating the supremacy of his being. One exceptional example included here is Lebor Gabala Erren (The Invasions of Ireland) which is an apparently Christianized revision of earlier Celtic legends of traditional history which traces all of the countries and languages back to the Tower of Babel and the three sons of Noah who were on the Ark with him. However, in spite of the flights of fancy that the Christian revisionist(s) took in an atempt to reconcile the Celtic myths with the Judeo-Christian the text is still intact enough to gleam something of the original myths. This is by no means the only text presented here that suffers from such revisioning which is in part why the Judeo-Christian and Sumer-Babylonian categories are not given seperate headings. (See also Sigurdur Nordal's commentary in the intro to the Prose Edda on the clash of Nordic and Christian beliefs as another example.)
I should point out that I have not restrained myself entirely to historically traditional myths but have included such things as the Lovecraft's Cthulu mythos and some of the works that he has inspired (such as the Necronomicon) and selected magickal writings as part of this collection as modern mythological systems in development. Let me make it plain that I do not believe the Necronomicon to be historically valid other than as a modern retelling of certian Sumer-Babylonian myths. However, I do believe that there are certain insights to be gained from the study of these motifs regardless of or perhaps because of their modern standing. As to the actual significance of the continued re-emergence of these motifs I will leave to your own intellect and imagination to determine for yourself.
Of the certain key motifs of the myths and legends to be found within this collection are the following:
Certain post deluge myths and legends may also be included in so far as they pertain to the above motifs. Other legends such as the ascent into Heaven (e.g. Enoch) and descent into Hell (e.g. Inanna, Ishtar, et al).
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This collection of works is for personal and educational purposes only and may not be packaged or sold in part or in whole. Other copyright laws and stipulations may apply to individual works. |
The Collection
Celtic
Cthulu Mythos
Gnostic
Judeo-Christian
Magick
Nordic
Sumer-Babylonian The majority of these selections may be found at Twin Rivers Rising Homepage and BABYLONIACA
Tibetan