Unit 4: Mythology & Folklore - The Roles of Animals

Personification

A common element in myths and legends.

Shapeshifting

A common theme in mythology and legends. The lines between humans and animals are often blurred in these types of tales. In Greek mythology gods and goddesses had the ability to turn themselves and mortals into animals. Athena, the goddess of wisdom, is pictured with an owl. The owl symbolized wisdom, and Athena is often pictured in her owl form. Shape shifting isn't always a good thing. Arachne was turned into a spider after boasting that she was a better weaver than the Greek goddess Athena. The Norse god Odin turned the brave hero Svipdag into a dragon after he angered him. Often shapeshifting is the result of a curse or a spell. - Think the Princess and The Frog or Beauty and the Beast.

Guardian Animals

Animals are often portrayed as guardians in myths and legends. Many guard any number of things: gods, knowledge, treasure, heaven, hell, etc. In Greek Mythology the entrance to the underworld was guarded by a three headed hound Cerberus. - He prevented the dead from escaping Hades According the Chinese legends, the dragon Tianlong guards the palace of heaven and the dragon Fucanglong guards buried hidden treasures.

Roles Animals Play

Creatures often play a central role, and in many myths and legends the beast is the antagonist that ultimately be defeated by the hero. They often have dualistic natures. They may be helpful, harmful, or fluctuate between the two. They're often portrayed as supersized monsters. Represent the enormity of many obstacles of life and the fear of things we don't understand. Sometimes the animals are portrayed as a faithful companion. Usually a source of comfort for their owners and often help to protect them.

Animals represent Concepts

Death is often symbolized as the black horse, dragon, owl, dragonfly, raven, and the vulture. Because vultures eat dead creatures they're said to transport bodies to the afterlife in many myths. Monkeys are often used to symbolically represent mischief. Bee's are synonymous with immortality. Lions are synonymous with courage and nobility.

Zodiac SIgns

Each of the twelve Zodiac signs represent Greek myths or legends. Of the twelve, eight of the signs are animals. Cancer: The crab is the gigantic creature Hercules battled and crushed. After it's death Hera set it in the stars. Scorpio: Hera also placed Scorpio in the Zodiac to reward him for killing Orion.

World's Beginning with Animals

In Native American Haida mythology Raven found the first humans hiding in a clam shell and released them into the world.

Mediators

In many myths and legends animals are mediators between humans and the gods, or the natural and supernatural. In Indian legend each god has an animal they use as a vehicle. - Lord Genesha is carried around by a mouse. - Durga rides a lion. - Garucia rides a peacock. Often birds, because of their ability to fly, are cast as mediators. - The enormous Thunderbird of many Native American cultures is said to act as a messenger to the Great Spirit in the sky. In Japanese mythology a three legged crow call the Yatagarasu represents Heaven, Human, and Earth.

Skin-Walkers of Native American

Native Americans can transform themselves into animals but they must be wearing the pelts of the animal.

Trickster Tales

Often passed down orally from generation to generation and often teach a lesson. Usually have animals as the main characters. Some common tricksters are the coyote, hare, snake, and monkey. Trickster animals are amoral (neither good or bad) and their loyalties are often opportunistic. Often scoff at societal rules and bend them. Antics are often foolish and make us laugh.

Gods Taking the Form of Animals

Often the gods have the features of animals or take the shape of these animals. Zeus took the shape of animals to hide his identity while he pursued beautiful women. Odin could change his shape at will. Cernunno's, the Celtic lord of all animals, had the body of a man and the horns of a stag. In Ancient Egypt the crocodile Sobek was the god of fertility and strength. Indian deity Ganesh has the head of an elephant. Aztec god Quetzalcoatl is described as a feathered serpent. Nanook, the god of bears, takes the shape of a great polar bear and is said to curse dishonest hunters.

Role Snakes Play

Plays a role in many creation stories. Lord Vishnu of Hindu mythology slept in the coils of a gigantic cobra. -When Lord Vishnu woke up he told the god Brahma that it was time to create the world. The Aboriginal people in Australia tell of a great rainbow serpent that emerged from the ground and drew out all the other animals. Some African creation myths are also centered around a great python like rainbow snake that lies coiled beneath the world and keeps it from falling. Jarmungandr, the serpent of Norse mythology, is said to be wrapped around earth with his tail in his mouth. - Legend says that if he ever releases his tail the world will be destroyed. The creation myth of the Japanese Ainu people describes the world as a great swamp with nothing but a enormous trout in it. God placed the earth on the back of the great trout and he became the foundation. - As the trout breaths water in and out the tides ebb and flow. - If he takes to much water in it causes a tsunami when he exhales. - If he flops about to much he causes and earthquake.

Transformers

Sometimes they prey on humans. The werewolf is the best known transformer of this type and can be found in legends of many cultures. One of the oldest written versions of the werewolf tale appears in the Metamorphoses written by Ovid 3,000 years ago in Ancient Greece. Story tells of King Lycaeon who is visited by the gods. He decides to test to see if they are really gods or if they are mortals and serves them human flesh at a banquet in their honor to see if the gods would notice. - Cannibalism is completely taboo in their society, and they became enraged when they discover what he has done. -As punishment they change him into a werewolf forcing him to eat human flesh while in this form.

Totems

Totems are sacred animals believed to be ancestors or protectors of their clan. The Native Americans of the Northwest often display these animals on totem poles. In other cultures they're displayed as family crests and a picture of the animal is often drawn on their shields so it can accompany them into battle.

Myths of Animals Playing the Role of Adoptive Mother

Twin brothers Romulus and Remus, the founders of Rome, were ordered to be murdered by their Uncle who wanted no competition for the throne. Legend says they were left in a basket and found by a she-wolf who cared for them until they were discovered by a shepherd who brought them home. Paris, the destroyer of Troy, was raised by a she-bear after his father abandoned him to die, fearing an omen surrounding the boy's birth. The warrior poet Oisin's mother was transformed into a deer, but still managed to raise her infant son until she was killed by the same Druid who had cursed her. -His father, the Irish hero Finn Mac Cumnal, found him and raised him. The Roman emperor Octavian banished his wife and twin boys mistakenly believing they were not his. - A lioness took one twin, Octavian, and raised him as if he was her own cub.