Princeps 0 Report post Posted December 27, 2005 A good place to read mythology- http://www.pantheon.org/ Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
FLavius Valerius Constantinus 1 Report post Posted December 27, 2005 It amazes me how the Greeks thought of such monsters, but then one day I saw a history documentary that had strong finds and reasons for such mythical beings. The answer was that the Greek imagination came from the fossils and bones of extinct animals whom roamed the land of Graecus long ago( dinosaurs, prehistoric animals, etc.). The bones of dinosaurs happened to be bountiful in Graecus and many areas had the kind of soft terrain so that bones belong to the dinosaurs became exposed or protrude out of the sound ground and exposed sides of hills resulting from landslides. were a common site. Inevitably, someone's gotta notice it and be perplexed by it. What explanation would they give, thus the creation of mythical beasts. For example, a skull of one extinct organism a had huge nasal cavity, and from it resulted the creation of the cyclopes because they thought the nose are was the eye. There are other explanations for the mythical beasts using the bones of extinct animals. I can't seem to remember the name of the documentary, but it appears on the discovery channel once in awhile. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Pantagathus 0 Report post Posted December 27, 2005 (edited) I can't seem to remember the name of the documentary, but it appears on the discovery channel once in awhile. It was based on this book: The First Fossil Hunters: Paleontology in Greek and Roman Times It started with the finding of fossil bones in an excavation of a Greek temple I believe. They used to think these large bones were that of their ancient Heroes. Edited December 27, 2005 by Pantagathus Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
FLavius Valerius Constantinus 1 Report post Posted December 27, 2005 Ah, I didn't know it came from a book. Well anyways, the person doing the documentary was just re-examining the stuff and trying to legitimize it. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Emperor Goblinus 0 Report post Posted January 3, 2006 My favorite is the Hydra which Hercules killed. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Neos Dionysos 0 Report post Posted January 14, 2006 You say beast/monster... I am adding creature and saying the "Pegasus". Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Honorius 0 Report post Posted January 14, 2006 I would say the Pegasus or Cereberus Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Pantagathus 0 Report post Posted June 26, 2007 I love pagasai. LW, a necro response just for you... After pouring through fascicule after fascicule in the Corpus Vasorum Antiquorum I have to add one to the list that may (according to some scholars) have a bearing on what (Archaic era) artistic depiction Pegasus may have evolved from: The Hippalektryon! or the "Cock-Horse" They were depicted on archaic Attic black figure ware often enough that they must have had some mythological importance but the ancient sources on mythology are mute. The only person who ever wrote about them was Aristophanes (5th-4th Century BC), but their significance to the by-gone Archaic was lost even to him... "Aye, by the Powers, and full many a sleepless night have spent in anxious thought, because I'd find the tawny Hippalektryon out, what sort of bird it was!" - Frogs, 929 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Lost_Warrior 0 Report post Posted June 26, 2007 What a strange animal!! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ingsoc 0 Report post Posted June 26, 2007 Medusa, because I just love what she done with her hair Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Pantagathus 0 Report post Posted June 27, 2007 Nephele, For you and your lovely poem: Hippocamus & Rider Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Nephele 4 Report post Posted June 27, 2007 (edited) Nephele, For you and your lovely poem: Hippocamus & Rider Thank you, Pan! The hippocamp really is my favorite beastie, and it's no coincidence that my favorite Nephele from ancient legend is the Nephele of Ovid's Metamorphoses (Book III), an Oceanid and attendant of the goddess Diana. As the Oceanid Nephele, I should have had a hippocamp of my very own to ride. -- Nephele Edited June 27, 2007 by Nephele Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
M. Porcius Cato 2 Report post Posted June 27, 2007 .... Charming Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
G-Manicus 0 Report post Posted September 20, 2007 All my faves are actually from Norse mythology ... Fenris Wolf, Midgard Serpent, Garm. For purposes of the topic at hand I'll go with Medusa. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites