fandomhigh | World Mythology -- Third Period -- Monday

Current Mood: optimistic

Entry tags:

world myth

World Mythology -- Third Period -- Monday

When students arrived for class today, they'd find various teapots set out around the room, each one with a neatly-printed card saying what type of tea was in it, and enough cups for everyone to have two or three different types.

"Amaterasu, Amaterasu-ōmikami, or Ōhiru-menomuchi-no-kami, is a sun goddess and one of the principal Shinto deities or kami," Ghanima said once the class had assembled, sipping her own tea serenely. "Her name, Amaterasu, means literally "that which illuminates Heaven". She was born from the left eye of Izanagi as he purified himself in a river and went on to become the ruler of the Higher Celestial Plain, or Takamagahara. She is also said to be directly linked in lineage to the Imperial Household of Japan and the Emperor, who are considered descendants of the kami themselves."

"Amaterasu, the powerful sun goddess of Japan, is the most well-known deity of Japanese mythology. Her feuding with her uncontrollable brother Susanoo, however, is equally infamous and appears in several tales. One story tells of Susanoo's wicked behavior toward Izanagi. Izanagi, tired of Susanoo's repeated complaints, banished him to Yomi. Susanoo grudgingly acquiesced, but had to attend to some unfinished business first. He went to Takamagahara ("heaven") to bid farewell to his sister, Amaterasu. Amaterasu knew her unpredictable brother did not have any good intentions in mind and prepared for battle. "For what purpose do you come here?", asked Amaterasu. "To say farewell", answered Susanoo. But she did not believe him and requested a contest for proof of his good faith. A challenge was set as to who could bring forth more noble and divine children. Amaterasu made three women from Susanoo's sword, while Susanoo made five men from Amaterasu's ornament chain. Amaterasu claimed the title to the five men made from her belongings. Therefore, the three women were attributed to Susanoo."

"Both gods declared themselves to be victorious. Amaterasu's insistence in her claim drove Susanoo to violent campaigns. He trampled Amaterasu Omikami's rice fields, filled all of her irrigation ditches and threw excrement into her palace and her shrines. The Omikami asked her brother to stop but he ignored her and even went so far as to throw the corpse of a skinned horse at her hand-maidens who were weaving at the time. The women were killed by the splintered wood from the looms piercing their bodies. Amaterasu, angered by the display, fled and hid in the cave called Iwayado. As the sun goddess disappeared into the cave, darkness covered the world

"Without her, everything began to wither and die. Countless Kami gathered in front of her cave and devised a way to lure her out. All the gods and goddesses in their turn strove to coax Amaterasu out of the cave, but she ignored them all. Finally, the kami of merriment, Ame-no-Uzume, hatched a plan. She placed a large bronze mirror on a tree, facing Amaterasu's cave. Then, Uzume clothed herself in flowers and leaves, overturned a washtub and began to dance on it, drumming the tub with her feet. Finally, Uzume shed the leaves and flowers and danced naked. All the male gods roared with laughter, and Amaterasu became curious. Amaterasu peeked out to see what the noise was about. She asked the nearest god what was going on and he replied that there was a new goddess. When Amaterasu asked where she was, he pointed to the mirror.

The Omikami had never seen herself before and when she caught her reflection, she stared at the radiance of her own form. She was so surprised she said "omo-shiroi", which means both "white face", which the Omikami had, and "fascinating". When she was out of the way, Tajikara-O shut the rock behind her. Having lured her out of the cave, the gods convinced her to go back into the Celestial Plain and all life began to grow again and become strong in her light. Once back in the Celestial Plain, she made sure that she was ready for her brother's harsh actions again by having a bow and quiver at her side."

"Eventually, Susanoo would apologize by gifting Amaterasu with the Ama-no-Murakumo-no-Tsurugi, a powerful sword that he found in the body of a eight-headed dragon. The sword would later be renamed the Kusanagi-no-Tsurugi, and become one of the three Imperial Regalia of Japan."

[OOC: ~~Wait for the OCD to rise like the sun!~~ The OCD has risen!]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

As if you are waiting for the sun to rise!

Annja Creed

Jaina Solo

Tahiri Veila

Ben Skywalker

Raven (who feels odd not being a jedi in this conga line)

Edited 2010-02-08 16:44 (UTC)

Jo Harvelle

Karla

Spock

Hoshi Sato

Jacob Black

Menolly

Naomi Wildman

Leda

Joolushko Tunai Fenta Hovalis

Drink tea (it won't paralyze you, I promise), take notes, pass notes, etc...

Annja was drinking tea as she took notes on the lecture.

Oh, don't think Jaina wasn't eying her tea warily. Just in case.

Tahiri was, for the most part, enjoying the hell out of the fact that she felt a lot less on edge in Ghanima's class than she had in over a year.

She was not drinking the tea, no -- nothing Ghanima had said indicated that it might paralyze them, but . . . she was starting to realize she had a touch more of an innate sense of paranoia now. That was the Yuuzhan Vong part of her -- interesting, and something to take note of. And work on.

Blind Seer could not help but notice the shift in Tahiri's sent. He had to point it out to Firekeeper, whose nose was not as talented as his own, and she was reminded of last night's conversation with Ben. Which is why- well, the lack of writing skills meant passing notes was out of the question, but that didn't mean she couldn't glance over at Tahiri with an expression that was curiousity, pride, and relief all mixed in to one.

Tahiri caught the glance and grinned back at Firekeeper with what might be -- for someone who knew her well enough -- a notably improved amount of ease.

Does it show or something? she mouthed.

Firekeeper considered the question, and then touched her nose briefly. Given what Tahiri knew about how they'd kind-of-sort-of been aware of Riina back when they'd first met, she figured that would be an adequate answer.

The corner of Tahiri's mouth twitched. Figures. Wolves, she replied, with a quick, affectionate eyeroll to convey the teasing that was otherwise pretty difficult to get across when you were just mouthing words.

Raven would drink the tea. After watching what happened to everyone else when they drank it first. She remembered the last time, thank you very much.

Karla was drinking the tea. After probing it first with Craft. Had nothing to do with Ghanima; it was just habit.

Also, taking notes. Of course.

Ben was drinking the tea as he took notes.

Tea?

Sure, sure. That was supposed to be relaxing or something, right? He probably could use it.

Menolly drank the tea slowly as she listened, still a mix of interested and confused by all these stories of Gods when Pern had none.

Beauty, however, decided that the teapots looked like a nice warm nesting place, and the hottest became a throne of a miniature gold dragon.

She was being stubborn about coming back at Menolly's mental call.

Even though Naomi preferred coffee, she still drank the tea as she took down notes during the lecture.

It never actually occurred to Leda that the tea would paralyze her. She tried a bit of all three.

Having no reason to suspect that her teacher might be serving paralyzing tea, Joolushko was contentedly sipping while taking notes.

"The missing sun is a theme in the myths of many cultures, sometimes including the themes of imprisonment, exile, or death. The missing sun is often used to explain various natural phenomena, including the disappearance of the sun at night, shorter days during the winter, and solar eclipses. Even the Greek myth of Gaia as Demeter and her daughter, Persephone or Kore, imply that the latter was a sun goddess who went missing, bringing on winter when her mother failed to keep the earth bountiful as she searched for her missing daughter."

"Some other tales are similar, such as the Sumerian story of the goddess, Inanna's descent into the underworld. These may have parallel themes, but do not fit in this motif unless they concern a solar deity. In late Egyptian mythology, Ra passes through Duat (the underworld) every night. Apep has to be defeated in the darkness hours for Ra and his solar barge to emerge in the east each morning. In Norse mythology, the gods Odin and Tyr both have attributes of a sky father, and they are doomed to be devoured by wolves at Ragnarok. Sól, the Norse sun goddess, will be devoured by the wolf Skoll."

"What 'missing sun' type of stories are you familiar with? Are you willing to share them with the class? Why do you think myths like these came into being across a number of cultures?"

Karla raised her hand. "Does it count if it's not a myth, but something that really happened?" she asked.

"If it's a significant part of your culture, I don't see why not," Ghanima answered, bemused.

Karla thought about that for a moment. "It isn't," she said, shaking her head a bit. "I mean, it was surprising and kind of awesome, but I don't think it's gained the kind of importance that you mean. It's more of a...current event?"

Once they tag in!

Jaina was here. Distracted, but here. And still not drinking tea.

Menolly (and Beauty) were there. Menolly was drinking the tea, but Beauty had pecked at it and decided it wasn't for her. Maybe if it was meat-scented.

She's around, before and after class.

"Hey, sorry I missed the last few classes. I was a cat."

SOMEONE sent me the snowpocalypse, so I retaliate with stories about sunshine!

Ender won't be in class today on accounts of Wigginishness and political intrigue.

Also, coffee.

So you're saying that coffee has the ability to end the world? Or at least distract a Wiggin?

Ask Ben and find out!

~~The answer is totally yes.~~

I shouldn't be so amused at how much trouble the snow is causing my company right now, should I?

Nope! Not so long as I can curse it if it cancels my bus down to Chicago this week. DO NOT WANT transit issues.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

World Mythology -- Third Period -- Monday

Sign-In

Re: Sign-In

Re: Sign-In

Re: Sign-In

Re: Sign-In

Re: Sign-In

Re: Sign-In

Re: Sign-In

Re: Sign-In

Re: Sign-In

Re: Sign-In

Re: Sign-In

Re: Sign-In

Re: Sign-In

Re: Sign-In

Re: Sign-In

During the Lecture

Re: During the Lecture

Re: During the Lecture

Re: During the Lecture

Re: During the Lecture

Re: During the Lecture

Re: During the Lecture

Re: During the Lecture

Re: During the Lecture

Re: During the Lecture

Re: During the Lecture

Re: During the Lecture

Re: During the Lecture

Re: During the Lecture

Re: During the Lecture

Re: During the Lecture

Class Discussion

Re: Class Discussion

Re: Class Discussion

Re: Class Discussion

Talk to the TAs

Re: Talk to the TAs

Re: Talk to the TAs

Talk to Ghanima

Re: Talk to Ghanima

OOC

Re: OOC

Re: OOC

Re: OOC

Re: OOC

Re: OOC