In the session we continued Dragons. We looked at folklore stories and legends from various parts of the country concerning dragons and their preferred habitat of woods, pools, wells, and hills. We considered the theory that originally the dragons could have been pagan gods or spirits that were venerated at these various natural sacred places. On a similar… Read More »
In the session we completed Plant Lore and started Dragons. 1/. Plant Lore i/. Fern/Bracken Has protective powers against evil, storms. Protective amulets could be made from the dried and treated root of the Male Fern dug up on Midsummer Eve, a ritual had to be properly followed. These looked like hands. This led us to a rather… Read More »
In the session we covered the Green Man. There are traditions relating to the Green Man in France. Switzerland, Germany and across continental Europe as well as Britain. They are mostly in religious settings such as churches and cathedrals and spread between late 1100’s – early 1500’s. They were located in all parts of the church, the choir,… Read More »
We continued the topic of trees in Irish Celtic Mythology under trees and plants in the landscape. In the previous session we had covered under the Chieftain Trees oak, hazel, holly and apple trees, leaving ash, yew, rowan, birch and elder to be covered in this session. i/. The Ash Tree The tree was powerful and magical, Yggdrasil… Read More »
We broadened the topic of the landscape by looking a trees and plants starting with trees. 1/. Trees live for a long time, are big, strong with a lifespan beyond those of humans. They move and make noises with the winds Most ancient civilisations would have sacred trees, they were venerated. We have a love for trees now… Read More »
We continued the topic of hill figures in the landscape. 1/. We discussed the possible link between hill figures and folk legends concerning giants The Long Man of Wilmington was said to be the outline of a giant who was killed in battle. A figure that was once at Plymouth Hoe was said portray the giant Gogmagog, who… Read More »
1/. We continued the topic of features associated with the British Landscape. We completed our discussion of folklore associated with inland water, and legends that connect Celtic goddesses to rivers as the sprits of the water. We questioned if there was a connection between these, the waters are dangerous, there are obvious warnings contained. It is possible that… Read More »
We continued the topic of features associated with the British Landscape. In the session we carried on with our discussion of folklore associated with stone circles, standing stones, burial chambers etc; petrification legends, stones that are impossible to count, stones that have the ability to move. Many standing stones and stone circles are said to be able to… Read More »
We continued the topic of features associated with the British Landscape. In the previous session we had broken the topic into three parts and completed the first section of rocks and rock formations with healing properties. i/. Natural Rocks and Rock Formations & Stones with Healing Powers ii/. Natural Rock Formations & Stones with Powers of Fertility iii/. … Read More »
In the sessions we the completed the topic of Odysseus, and started themes associated with the British Landscape. 1/. Odysseus Odysseus was part of the Greek Army which besieged Troy for 10 years. After Troy fell Odysseus set off for Ithaca, however there was a prophecy that it would take him another 10 years to return. He fell… Read More »
In the session we the completed the topic of Heracles and started on Odysseus, who is the last Greek hero we shall cover. 1/. Heracles Heracles’ twelve labours were a way of atoning for his madness (imposed by Hera) for breaking the code by killing the defeated King of the Euboeans and desecrating his body. Whilst in the… Read More »
In the session we continued our topic of heroes from Greek mythology by looking at Heracles. The Greek myths credit Heracles as being the greatest of all the heroes. His famous Twelve Labours showcase his many hero attributes. Heracles used his hero qualities of superhuman strength, courage, and supreme skill as a warrior to accomplish a series of… Read More »
In the session we continued our topic of heroes from Greek mythology. We completed the story Theseus. We did a recap of his origins and how he became the accepted heir to the throne of Athens. His story was as deliberate amalgamation of three characters and how his story was deliberately used to promote an image of a… Read More »
In the session we continued our topic of heroes from Greek mythology. 1/. We completed the story of Jason and Medea. Including Jason and Medea’s ruling of Corinth. He had a close association with the gods with Hera, Atheni and Aphrodite who intervened in his life. We again looked at where Jason shared characteristics in common with the… Read More »
In the session we continued our topic of heroes from Greek mythology with Diomedes (also known as Jason- which means healer). He had a close association with the goddesses Hera, Atheni and Aphrodite who intervened in his life. We looked at his origins, and why he was brought up by Cheiron a centaur; he grew up to be… Read More »
In the session we began our discussion of the heroes from Greek mythology with Perseus and his role in killing the Gorgon Medusa and in rescuing Andromeda from a sea monster. We noted that Perseus shared many characteristics in common with the heroes from Celtic, Germanic and Scandinavian myths and legends – strength, courage, a skilled warrior but… Read More »
No meeting held, next sub topic will be Perseus and Andromeda.
No meeting held, next sub topic will be Perseus and Andromeda.
In this session, we carried on from the last session to say more about the sky god Zeus. He was a the strong, powerful, dangerous guardian of the universe and leader of the gods. We reinforced the view that Zeus was not portrayed as a remote god, mysterious and unknowable. On the contrary he was given a very… Read More »
In this session, we started Greek Mythology by returning to creation mythology. This involved Zeus and the Olympian gods’ take over of the universe from the Titans. We made the point that the Greeks portrayed their gods and goddesses as powerful figures but also with ‘human’ failings such as jealousy, vindictiveness, lustfulness etc. We looked at two contrasting… Read More »
The session completed the topic of the Devil in British Folklore by finishing the sub-topic of the Devil making pacts with humans. In return for worldly gain, the Devil could claim the souls of his victims. We covered the ways in which the Devil could be outwitted and the human prey escape his clutches. He was foiled by… Read More »
In this session, we started with the legend of Faust and then traced the same theme of the Devil capturing human souls into British folklore. There is a common theme of the Devil capturing human souls by exploiting human weaknesses and sins: Being disrespectful of the Sabbath; A love of gambling; Greed; An obsession with hunting and other… Read More »
In the session we continued the topic of the Devil in British Folklore in the context of the other world creatures we have been looking at. We had previously grouped the topic, for convenience, loosely into 3 categories Legends and tales linked to unusual landscape features, very similar to features attributed to giants. Attacks on Christianity The devil… Read More »
This session we continued the topic of the Devil in British Folklore in the context of the other world creatures we have been looking at. In the previous session, for convenience, the topic was loosely grouped into 3 categories, though there was some overlapping Legends and tales linked to unusual landscape features, very similar to features attributed to… Read More »
In the session we started a new topic of the Devil in British Folklore in the context of the other world creatures we have been looking at. The devil in this context is different from the biblical one, he is not a fallen angel, nor is he Lucifer. There are different origins and a vast collection of stories… Read More »
In the session we discussed the role of the mythological heroes taking over from the gods in their constant battle against the giants. Gilgamesh from Sumerian and Babylonian myths fought the giant Humbaba, the guardian of the cedar forest. Humbaba was friendly with the gods and was installed as forest guardian by Enlil (the father of the gods).… Read More »
The meeting continued looking at how giants connect to the natural world and feature in the landscape in British folklore. The Role of the Giants in Folklore:- 1/. So far in the topic the giants we have looked at have been relatively benign and involved in engineering type projects, providing an explanation for the landscape and large buildings… Read More »
The meeting considered how giants connect to the natural world and feature in the landscape in British mythology and folklore. We started by looking at creation myths and then how they featured in folklore. 1/. The Role of Giants in Creation Mythology:- 1.1/. Irish Book of Invasions:- We started by looking at Irish Celtic creation myths. In Celtic… Read More »
The session completed the topic looking at Seal People (Selkies), Sea Trows, Water Cattle and Kelpies. 1/. Seal people’s (Selkies):- In tales from the West of Ireland and Scotland their normal environment is the sea, they can shed their skin and take on human form. This happens at dawn and dusk and on special days. People used to claim… Read More »
The session looked at mermaids and church bells and then other creatures. 1/. Legends Concerning Mermaids & Church Bells:- Examples Llyn Cerig Bach, Anglesey:- around 140 Iron Age metal objects discovered in the lake in 1943 Llyn Fawr, Rhondda Valley:- Bronze & Iron Age metal objects found in the lake in 1911. Bosham, Sussex:- church bell said to… Read More »
The session started looking at a selection of creatures associated with the natural world covering mermaids, water spirits, seal people, kelpies, all with watery connections. Mermaids in Inland Water:- By late C12th in western art the mermaid had acquired all her familiar features. In western Christian imagery she was a symbol of lust & desire. In British folklore,… Read More »
The sessions continued and completed the subject of the Fairy Folk/Good People: For ease of discussion we grouped the tales into 4 categories:- 1/. Stories where they benefit from human kindness and offer a reward. 2/. React to unkindness and disrespect. 3/. Changelings, fairy left in place of a human baby 4/. Adult humans wander into their Fairy… Read More »
The session: Followed on the theme of Black Dogs and Boggy beasts with other similar beasts by completing the flitting with the boggart and starting with the Good Folk and the Fairy Folk. 1/. Flitting with the Boggart . Sometimes the helpful or mischievous boggart would become so troublesome a family would seek to move . We followed… Read More »
The session: Followed on the theme of Black Dogs and Boggy beasts with other similar beasts. Completing mischievous creatures and then looking at helpful ones. 1/. We finished off the Hedley Kow. Kow being the North Country name for a Boggart/Boggle. This was known for playing tricks, could shape shift and would cause torment. It could appear at… Read More »
The session: Followed on the theme of Black Dogs and Boggy beasts with other similar beasts. 1/. These occur all over the country and vary from being extremely scary and dangerous, through mischievous, to being helpful. Although they have similar features to black dogs they are considered as different creatures and occur in the same areas. They tend… Read More »
The session: Continued the topic of the black dog in Folklore. 1/. Black Dogs as Guardians We looked at many examples across the country. Guiding people across difficult terrain, protecting from thieves, saving them from cars. They appear and disappear mysteriously. 2/. In Classical and Celtic Mythology Dogs acted as hunting companions to the gods and were also… Read More »
The session: Started the topic of the black dog in Folklore, these occur all over Britain and Continental Europe. Some just have sightings and some have stories added. 1/. Black Dogs as Portents of Death and Disaster We looked at many examples including Formby Merseyside, Bunbury Cheshire, Portland Dorset, Norfolk, Ely and more. The common themes for these were… Read More »
Reconvened remotely after a long break due to Covid-19. The session: Completed the topic of Scandinavian Mythology 1/. Recapped the last topic from March covering the origins of Thor and his accessibility to both the gods and ordinary people. 2/. Freya the Bride – Another battle of wits with the Frost Giants which started with the Mjollnir (Thor’s… Read More »
The session: Continued the topic of Frey and Freya the twin gods of fertility in Germanic and Scandinavian mythology. 1/. Frey – means lord According to Snorri Sturluson he was good, gentle, beautiful to look at, had power over sunshine and rain. He had a boar which pulled his chariot. Frey was venerated particularly in Uppsala in Sweden… Read More »
The session: Continued the topic of Odin and Frig in Germanic and Scandinavian mythology. 1/. Odin – We covered the tale of The Lay of Grimnir in more detail. In this story Odin visited the world of men under one of his many disguise. Odin and his wife Frig were very competitive and Frig warned Gerrod, King of… Read More »
The session: We agreed an earlier start time of 9:50 to avoid congestion in the car park, with an earlier finish. Continued Norse Mythology covering Germanic and Scandinavian mythology with the topic of Odin. 1/. Odin – Odin became the Sky God, creator of the Universe, King of the gods. He provided rules which had to be followed… Read More »
The session: Completed the Saga of Gisli and started Norse Mythology. 1/. The Saga of Gisli In the final part of the story Gisli became a warrior hero, honourable and true. He would have been seen as a popular hero at the time the story originated. Not all his killings would have been seen as good now but… Read More »
The session: Looked at Icelandic Sagas 1/. Around 700 survived in manuscript form. Some are based on family history, others covered leaders and battles, early Viking exploration and heroes. A mix of fact with storytelling. 2/. The Saga of Gisli – this is a settler saga based on historical records from around 800-1000 AD. It was written sometime… Read More »
The session: Covered the Siegfried legend featured in the epic poem the Nibelungenlied (the “Song of the Nibelungs”) that was written in the High German language c1200 AD. 1/. The Nibelungs were a Germanic tribe who lived along the northern reaches of the River Rhine, who possessed a fabulous treasure that was guarded by a dragon. 2/. It… Read More »
The Session: Continued the legend of Sigurd the Volsung 1/. Sigurd disguised himself as his blood brother Gunnar, rode through the magic fire surrounding Brnyhild’s tower, and claimed Brynhild as Gunnar’s wife. Back in King Gjuki’s kingdom, a fierce rivalry grew up between Brynhild and Sigurd’s wife Gudrun, over the question of hierarchy and which of them had… Read More »
The session: Looked at Sigurd and compared him with Beowulf the ideal Germanic Hero. 1/. The legend of Sigurd started with the Franks in Eastern Germany and by the Rhine and by the late C5th had moved across Europe and would have been in Britain. By C8th it was in Scandinavia and the Vikings would have brought it… Read More »
The session: Started a new topic considering some of the heroes who belonged to the Germanic and Scandinavian people who lived in Britain alongside the Celts. This will include Beowulf, Sigurd, Siegfried and some of the characters from the Icelandic sagas. 1/ Beowulf as the model for the Germanic warrior hero. Beowulf, the young warrior from Sweden is… Read More »
The session: Completed the loose ends from the Arthurian Legends looking at Merlin 1/. We finished off the story of how Merlin brought the stones of Stonehenge to Salisbury Plain from Ireland, to act as Aurelius’ war memorial to the British warriors who died fighting against the Saxons. When Aurelius was killed, Merlin transferred his services to Uther… Read More »
The session: Started tying up the loose ends from the Arthurian Legends by looking at the origins of Merlin 1/. Merlin seems to be a composite figure whose story was added to over time. We covered Llallogen/Lailoken, Merlin/Myrddin, Ambros/Emrys and Merlin Ambrosius. 2/. In the North of England, Llallogen/Lailoken, was the bard poet to the King of Carlisle… Read More »
The session: Continued Sir Thomas Malory’s “Le Morte D’Arthur” 1/. Despite previous events the relationship between Guinevere and Lancelot developed and Arthur heard that Guinevere had committed adultery with Lancelot. Arthur was bound to sentence Guinevere to death and condemned her to be burnt at the stake. Lancelot got to hear of this and rescued Guinevere just as… Read More »
The session: Continued Sir Thomas Malory’s “Le Morte D’Arthur” 1/. The story continued and it was interesting to see the impact on the story of the life and times of Malory, there was a bitter civil war. Although he used the existing stories as sources he added in his own interpretation and elements to the story. One particular… Read More »
The session: Continued Sir Thomas Malory’s “Le Morte DArthur” 1/. This was finished in 1469 or 1470 and was printed by Caxton in 1485 (the first of our sources to make it into print). The setting of the tale is fifteenth century, and Arthur is portrayed very much as a fifteenth century figure. 2/. Malory lived at the… Read More »
The session: 1/. Completed looking at Chretien de Troyes French Romances (Romance is an old version of the French language). He produced five Arthurian Romances. He was influenced by the earlier writers and stories and was under aristocratic patronage rather than working in an ecclesiastical environment so could write a different type of book and add his own… Read More »
The session: 1/. Completed looking at Geoffrey of Monmouth’s “History of the Kings of Britain” including: Arthur’s exploits in Gaul where he killed a giant on Mont St Michel, subdued most of Gaul. Arthur set off towards Rome but returned home to fight his nephew Mordred who had seized his crown. Guinevere had broken the vows of… Read More »
The session covered: Continued looking at Geoffrey of Monmouth’s “History of the Kings of Britain”. It was only in the Middle Ages that the story of Arthur started to take off. Geoffrey of Monmouth wrote the “History of the Kings of Britain” c 1136. He was a well read clergyman. He would have been familiar with early sources… Read More »
The session covered: Making a start on Geoffrey of Monmouth’s “History of the Kings of Britain”. In writing his book, Geoffrey used most of the early Welsh sources that we have also covered, plus Welsh folklore and legends that were current in his own time, plus the Classical writers for his Roman history, plus his own imagination. He… Read More »
The session covered: A number of theories which support the argument that an historical Arthur did exist. We looked at seven of them 1/. John Morris/Leslie Alcock Arthur was a late C5th/early C6th Romano British war leader from the Celtic Gododdin people who fought the Picts and Scots in the north and later moved south west to fight… Read More »
The session covered: The continuation of our search for references to King Arthur in the early Welsh source material. In the Welsh battle poem “Y Gododdin”( attributed to the poet Aneirin and composed sometime in the early 600s) it is said of one Gododdin warrior that ” He glutted black ravens on the walls of the fort/ Although… Read More »
The session covered: looking at the early Welsh “Saints’ Lives” that were written by monks at Llancarfan in Glamorgan, in the C12th (although the saints in question lived c500AD), so again a large time difference between when the events happened and when they were actually put in a written record. Arthur is mentioned in the Lives of St… Read More »
The session covered: A summary of the previous session where we discussed the suggestion he was a British or Romano leader from the north. There was not a lot of evidence for his existence, no mention of him in the 540’s documents by Gildas nor by the Venerable Bede in 730ish. The earliest mention is 800-900 AD (around… Read More »
The session covered: The historical context and where he would fit in to what is known of the people, social and political structures and the geographical location of people and tribes of the time. There are no surviving early written references to Arthur at a time when the Romans and others kept good records. When looking at historical… Read More »
The session covered: Culchulainn’s links to the supernatural and the gods. Tales of him show his ability to move between one world and another, so showing god-like characteristics. Some tales show him to be descended from the sun god and there are references in the Phantom Chariot to him sailing west for many days. The three tales in… Read More »
The session covered: More exploits of the Irish Celtic warrior hero Cuchulainn, the greatest hero the world has ever known. This session carried on with the story of the Champion’s Portion. After many trials of their strength and courage, Cuchulainn won the contest and claimed the Champion’s Portion. Consistently, Cuchulainn showed greater strength and courage than the other… Read More »
The session covered: More exploits of the Irish Celtic warrior hero Cuchulainn, the greatest hero the world has ever known. Cuchulainn was called Setanta when he was born and given the warrior name of Cuchulainn when he was nearly seven years old after he killed a guard hound in self-defence and replaced the hound by defending its owner’s… Read More »
The session covered: The exploits of the Irish Celtic warrior hero Conall Caernach, including the story of the Boar of Mac Dathro, in which Conall got the better of the Connacht champion Caet Mag Macha. There was also a discussion on the part hero/part fertility god aspects of Conall’s character, and the suggestion that he started his mythological… Read More »
The session covered: The cattle raid of Cooley involving Queen Medb of Connacht, her consort Aillil, a young Cuculainn, Ferghus Mac Rioch, Cormac and Conall Caernach. There are recurring themes of betrayal, loyalty and honour. Symbolism such as running water at a ford which is linked to magic, wizards could not cross, a crossing point from this world… Read More »
June was away, this was a free group session. The session covered: A discussion driven by selecting heroes, this covered Beowulf, King Arthur/Lancelot and Robin Hood, and tying up their characteristics with the list provided. It was interesting to see how many different legends had evolved around each one. It was a short high level session and it… Read More »
The session covered: A recap of some of the information about hero Conor Mac Nessa – the mythological King of Ulster. Conor possessed all the most desirable qualities in a king- skilled warrior and wise and fair in his judgements, but there was also another less positive side to his character. The legend of Deirdre and the Sons… Read More »
The session covered: The introduction of the topic – Heroes from Celtic myths & legends with some general information on the aristocratic warrior society that forms the background to the Hero myths. Characteristics of the mythological hero – a warrior, handsome, brave, strong, skilled fighter, superhuman with unusual origins, strong sense of honour and loyalty and playing by… Read More »
June was away this session so the group did some research and had a discussion. The session covered: Maya – This starts with a watery void with grandfather and grandmother deities. These deities gave birth to twin brothers one of whom was known as the Maize God who married and fathered two sons. Following a ball game the… Read More »
The session covered: North America- The myths of the people of the First Nations, this was an oral tradition so information was transcribed. In the previous session we covered the Huron and Iroquois myths, they were located north of Lake Erie, around the USA/Canada Border. The Maidu people were located in what is now known as California. If… Read More »
Useful Reference – A. W. Reed Aboriginal Myths, Legends and Fables, 1982, Reed New Holland, Sydney, 2000. This can be found by searching on the internet and may be available second hand book shops. The session covered: Australian creation myths continued- Great Spirit Father – this was a belief in the south east of Australia, he was known… Read More »