Collection of Ancient Myths
This project brings to life the myths that came from the pagan religions of the ancient world. many of the ancient myths were created to explain how things came to be, and why certain events would happen on Earth. These stories shaped the people’s understanding of the world they live in; not unlike many modern religions today.
When I break down the meaning of this project, I want to show that at the root of all religions is just a collection of stories.
Naiads - Greek Mythology
Naiad, the Greek word naiein, “to flow”, these nymphs lived inflowing waters - springs, rivers, fountains and lakes. They were described as being beautiful, lighthearted, and beneficent. Although these creatures were considered to be deities and the daughters of Potamoi the god of rivers they were not immortal. It is said that if a water source were to dry up, it would kill all the nymphs that lived there.
Nymphs where a very important part of the normal Greek people, since the Naiads where protectors of the water element, the people would go to where the waters flowed and leave offering to them to keep the nymphs in good spirits. At the same time, many prominent individuals and families would have their own fountain for one or more naiad(s).
The Tales:
Many of the gods would chase after the Naiads in the hopes of bedding them.
Halyas and the Naiads:
Probably the most famous tale of the Naiads concerns the Mysian Naiads of the spring of Pegae in Bithynia. The Argo stopped off in Bithynia when the Argonauts made their way to Colchis. The three Naiads, Euneica, Malis and Nycheia, observed Hylas amongst the Argonauts and kidnapped him. The Argo would sail on without him, and the ship would also leave behind Heracles who vowed to search for his friend Hylas. Heracles did not find Hylas, but whether Hylas wanted to be found is questionable. Some say he had fallen in love with the Naiads, and stayed with them forever more.
The Darker Side:
An example of the vengeful nature of the Naiads comes from the story of Daphnis and Nomia. Daphnis was a shepherd on Sicily, and the Naiad Nomia fell in love with him. She was faithful to him, but Daphnis was deliberately intoxicated by a princess on Sicily, so that she could seduce him. When Nomia found out, she blinded Daphnis.
Sekhmet - Egyptain Mythology
Sekhmet, the lion-headed goddess of ancient Egypt, stands as a figure of unparalleled power and duality. Her name, meaning "The Powerful One," reflects her role as both a fierce protector and a force of renewal. Born from the fiery gaze of Ra, the sun god, she embodies the scorching heat of the desert and the relentless energy of the sun.
Clad in her lioness form, she is the guardian of ma’at, the cosmic balance, punishing chaos and defending the order of creation. Yet, Sekhmet is not solely a destroyer; she is also a healer, her touch capable of warding off disease and restoring vitality. Adorned with the solar disk and the serpent of wisdom, she bridges the realms of ferocity and compassion, embodying the transformative power of destruction that births renewal.
Sekhmet's essence reminds us of the delicate balance between creation and annihilation, a force as vital and eternal as the sun that warms and burns in equal measure.
The Tales:
The Destruction of Mankind - Book of Heavenly Cow:
Sekhmet descended to Earth as a lioness, unleashing her devastating power upon the rebels. She slaughtered them mercilessly, her ferocity so great that the rivers ran red with blood. Her thirst for vengeance became insatiable, and soon, her rage threatened to destroy all of humanity.
Seeing the havoc she was wreaking, Ra grew alarmed. He devised a plan to stop her and save the remnants of mankind. Ra ordered his priests to prepare a large quantity of beer and dye it red with ochre to resemble blood. The mixture was poured across the fields where Sekhmet rampaged.
Believing it to be blood, Sekhmet drank deeply until she became intoxicated. Her anger subsided, and she fell into a deep sleep. When she awoke, her bloodlust had passed, and humanity was spared. From that day forward, Sekhmet was both feared and revered, her power seen as essential for maintaining order but always tempered by the wisdom of balance.
Sekhmet’s connection to the Eye of Ra:
Once, when Ra, the golden lord of creation, grew weary of the weight of his crown,
He gazed upon the earth and saw mankind’s hearts had turned away,
Their whispers of rebelion rising like smoke to taint the heavens.
In his sorrow and anger, Ra summoned his council of gods,
And from the depths of the primordial waters, Nun spoke:
“Unleash your Eye, the fiery of beaconof justice, to restore the balance lost.”
Thus, from the depths of Ra’s divine , Sekhmet was born,
The lioness of blazing wrath, the Eye of Ra given form.
Her steps shook the earth as she descended,
And her roar tore through the skies,
A harbinger of to cleanse the wickedness below.
With unbridled ferocity, she strick, Her claws carving rivers of red into the sands,
Her vengeance unyielding, her purpose relentless.
But as the days passed, her thirst for retribution grew insatiable,
A storm untamed, devouring all in her path.
The gods, alarmed by her boundless wrath,
Pleaded with Ra to reclaim his Eye.
But Sekhmet, wild and free,
Refused the call of restraint.
Ra, wise and cunning, devised a plan to soothe her rage.
He commanded vast vats of to be brewed,
Tinged with ochre to the Mirror of Blood she craved.
Poured across the fields, it shimmered under the sun,
A crimson pool to tempt the lioness.
Sekhmet, consumed by her thirst, drank deeply of the false blood.
The intoxicating brew dulled her fury;
She staggered, and then she slept,
Her anger subsiding into dreams.
When she awoke, Ra offered her a new path,
A role that honored her power yet tempered her flame.
No longer just the hand of destruction,
Sekhmet became the healer, the guardian of life,
Her claws now symbols of protection,
Her fiery gaze a light to guide and renew.
Thus, Sekhmet, the fierce and radiant one,
Became the bridge between and creation,