#pythiansociety

[dumbbitch39]

some surprisingly good hat pics

[dumbbitch39]

will i ever stop doing peace signs in photos? i doubt it

[beholdingslut]

hi! i was wondering if you could tell me about the recurrence or the image of golden apples in greek mythology? i've heard much about them in various myths and i'm a tad confused. i hope this doesn't bother you, but your knowledge of greek myths seems to be superior to my own. :)

Yes, of course! I actually love all the myths associated with golden apples, so I’d be happy to, no bother at all. Under the cut, I’ll be talking about Atalanta, The Garden of Hesperides and the Judgement of Paris / The Apple of Discord, which are the major myths including the golden apple in Greek mythology. 

The golden apple is an element that appears in myth to depict themes concerning heroes  or as divine food and the source of immortality. This stands true for both the myths of Atalanta and the Garden of Hesperides (with the heroes being Hippomenes and Heracles, respectively, as well as the apple grove given to Hera being a source of immortality) but differs in the Judgement of Paris, perhaps because a goddess of chaos was using it. 

Atalanta: Atalanta was a virgin huntress, unwilling to marry. She was abadoned by her father at birth and was suckled by a she-bear. She was an incredible huntress and came to fame with the Calydonian boar hunt, after which her father found her. Her father then wanted her to marry (typical greek dad) but Atalanta was unwilling so she agreed that she would only marry if her suitor could beat her in a footrace.

She claimed the goddess [Artemis] as her model both in this and in her wish to remain a virgin. She was very fleet of foot, and no wild animal or man with designs on her could have escaped her; and when she wanted to escape, no one could have caught her. It was not just those who saw her that fell in love with her; by now her reputation won her lovers. (source)

Sshe won against countless suitors and they were all put to death, until Hippomenese (also called Melanion) pleaded with Aphrodite to help him win. Aphrodite presented him with three golden apples to cast before Atalanta during the race, and essentially distract her. When Atalanta stopped to retrieve each apple, it gave him enough time to overtake her and emerge victorious. 

The Garden of Hesperides: The Hesperides were the goddesses of the evening and golden light of sunset, and were the daughters of the Titan Atlas, who carried the heavens on his shoulders. They were entrusted with the care of the tree of golden apples which was first presented to the goddess Hera by Gaia on her wedding day. They were also guarded by a serpent named Lakdon.

As Heracles’ 11th Labour, he was sent to steal the fruit. In one myth, he slayed the serpent and stole the fruit, but Athena later returned it to the Hesperides. In another myth, he asks Atlas to steal the apples for him, and in return, he would hold up the sky for him. When Atlas returned with the apples, he refused to hold up the world once again; Heracles tricked him into holding it “temporarily” while he made a pad of the lion skin for himself and then ran away. 

The Judgement of Paris/The Apple of Discord: A banquet was held to celebrate the marriage of Peleus and Thetis (Achilles’ parents). Eris, the goddess of chaos and discord, was not invited because of her tendency to cause chaos and discord; she showed up anyway and threw a golden apple into the ceremony inscribed with TO THE FAIREST / ΤΗΙ ΚΑΛΛΙΣΤΗΙ.

Three goddesses claimed the apple: Hera, Aphrodite and Athena. They decided that the beautiful Trojan mortal, Paris, would decide the issue. The three goddesses appeared before him and offered him gifts of favour, but he was swayed by Aphrodite and her promise to bestow upon him Helen, the most beautiful woman in the world (despite the fact she was already married to Menelaus of Sparta).

Paris’ belief that he could claim Helen because he had the goddess of love’s favour led to the Trojan War and the fall of Troy. Essentially, in not inviting Eris, the gods were served with chaos and discord galore.

[beholdingslut]

I finally updated my mythology masterpage to include an exhaustive list of all the mythologies I've blogged about (forty-three at my last count) so you can check that out here!

[beholdingslut]

P E R S E P H O N E  S P E A K S 

a collection of poetry written for persephone, the goddess of the spring who bit a god in the wrist and descended to the underworld to rule hell and hades and devoured the pomegranate and those who stood in her way to maintain her throne there

part i. PERSEPHONE by UltimateOutlaw

She, who in the hell-halls of Hades feasts— Who ate from these, three pomegranate seeds, Maiden of Spring, became the Iron Queen.

part ii. PERSEPHONE'S RETURN by A.M.

Mother, you don’t understand; I made Hades run to me He saw my bones beneath and offered me half his kingdom. Do you really think I ate the fruit unwillingly?

part iii. PERSEPHONE THE WANDERER by Louise Gluck

Persephone is having sex in hell. Unlike the rest of us, she doesn’t know what winter is, only that she is what causes it.

part iiii. PERSEPHONE'S CONFESSION by H.C.R.

You asked me, mother, why I only ate six seeds, then and I didn’t know what to say, way back when. 

part v. PERSEPHONE by Emily Palermo

they’ve kept the truth about persephone a secret burying it deep below

part vi. PERSEPHONE SPEAKS by A.C.

he calls me his lady but he knows i am a queen

part vii. I AM NOT MEANT TO SERVE by S.A.

one month to pluck your heartstrings, two months to seize your kingdom, and the third to rule it

part viii. PERSEPHONE by D.S.

she swallowed the seeds as   willingly as she will one day swallow the w o r l d  

[beholdingslut]

poetry blog urls

so i'm making a secondary blog to serve as a sort of archive/place to keep all my poetry and i need help choosing as per usual

odyssos

vespairs

medaea

so tell me what you think?

[iliacl]

r a g e : a mix for antigone 

i. naive // the kooks ii. the ghost inside // the broken bells iii. a world alone // lorde iv. troubled mind // marina and the diamonds v. small hands // keaton henson vi. angels and angles // the decembrists vii. youth // daughter vii. andvari // sigur ros

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