Writing Prompt Alternative mythology

[Cortavar]

Hi folks!

Here's my writing prompt for today :

"In a few paragraphs (min 300 words, no maximum), explain how the traditional retelling of a mythology you are familiar with is wrong."

Alternative character interpretations, twists in the tales, everything is fair game!

PS: I have my own twist on Norse mythology that I'll post later...

 

[CharlesEBrown]

Do fictional mythologies like The Cthulhu Mythos (which is part of the Game of Thrones setting, by the way, and a few others) count for this? If so, then chapter 21 of "Strange Awakening" goes into this a bit... If not, might be able to come up with something.

 

[Kay_Ship]

In the chapter I just scheduled i reference Odin being a necromancer and his whole multiple name thing being to gain power from other peoples confusion

 

[Cortavar]

Do fictional mythologies like The Cthulhu Mythos (which is part of the Game of Thrones setting, by the way, and a few others) count for this? If so, then chapter 21 of "Strange Awakening" goes into this a bit... If not, might be able to come up with something.

What mythology isn't fictional??

But yeah, go ahead, Cthulhu mythos are fair game! (And I'm listening to any other idea you might come up with!)

In the chapter I just scheduled i reference Odin being a necromancer and his whole multiple name thing being to gain power from other peoples confusion

Odin as a necromancer? I'm in! He's already a canonical sorcerer, and has had to deal with death to gain his knowledge of magic.
Outright necromancy is a believable stretch!


Ok, here's my own spin on Norse mythology. I've had it in my head for a while...

Spoiler: The Wingman

Here is a secret the Aesir and the Vanir never ever knew. It is the fulcrum upon which Ragnarok will happen, the real reason behind a lot of the best remembered stories.

And yet, it is a simple tale, a tale of love, of pride, of shame and of mischief. It is a tale of a goddess of love, a tale of giants and the tale of a trickster. But most importantly, it is the tale of the best kept secret in all of Asgard. A secret shared between the most unlikely duo, Freya and Loki.

Have you ever wondered why so many giants have tried to obtain the hand of Freya? Why would they vie for a loveless mariage? Would she even accompany them to their bed, or would she shun them?

Well, as only her and Loki know, she definitively would, and rather enthusiastically. The beautiful, loving and fierce Freya is really turned on by giants. That's her thing, and that's why she hasn't married any Aesir nor Vanir.

It is a terrible prospect to Odin, the All-Father, who cannot fathom his own daughter in the hands of his brutish sworn enemies, and it would bring terrible shame on Freya should any of the other gods know of her proclivities.

And Loki, shady Loki, Loki the Betrayer has never betrayed that secret. How he came to know is shrouded in mystery, but he has wowed to Freya to help her achieve her dream of marrying a giant.

This is why he promised her hand to the builder of the walls of Asgard. This is why he stole Mjolnir to be ransomed against Freya's hand. This is the reason of his slow descent as a betrayer of gods.

And the worst thing is that Loki will never be praised, always vilified, for his dedication to finding the perfect husband for Freya, one the goddess of Love could truly love. He even has to help the rest of the pantheon foil his own schemes in order for the secret to be kept.

 

[CharlesEBrown]

What mythology isn't fictional??

There are theories that several mythologies were based on actual people or events.

For example, some historians believe the original core of the Egyptian mythology was when a real king, Osiris, was betrayed and murdered by his brother Set, who was brought to justice by Osiris's son, Horus - and the rest of it was built up from word of mouth (though there is no evidence that Osiris, Isis and Set lived, there IS evidence that Horus might have been real).

The Epic of Gilgamesh may have been based on (wildly exaggerated) deeds of one man (or a group of men) - and this is also believed of the epic of Beowulf.

A lot of the Norse myths were also suspected to be highly embellished stories told by the Skald but based on real events.

 

[Kay_Ship]

Odin as a necromancer? I'm in! He's already a canonical sorcerer, and has had to deal with death to gain his knowledge of magic.
Outright necromancy is a believable stretch!

Passing reference at most. He isn't even an introduced character at this point. Lol

 

[Cortavar]

There are theories that several mythologies were based on actual people or events.

For example, some historians believe the original core of the Egyptian mythology was when a real king, Osiris, was betrayed and murdered by his brother Set, who was brought to justice by Osiris's son, Horus - and the rest of it was built up from word of mouth (though there is no evidence that Osiris, Isis and Set lived, there IS evidence that Horus might have been real).

The Epic of Gilgamesh may have been based on (wildly exaggerated) deeds of one man (or a group of men) - and this is also believed of the epic of Beowulf.

A lot of the Norse myths were also suspected to be highly embellished stories told by the Skald but based on real events.

1) Theseus' ship:

If in the next millennia, Napoleon gets remembered as a fire-breathing demon bent on conquest that only the deepest cold of Russia could, and eventually would, quell, how much of it would be a bona fide myth and how much of it would be based on real events?

2) The historical exaggeration hypothesis:

While some myths may be based in reality, downplaying them as exaggerations of real life events or people is a very old strategy to hinder belief in the particular religion they are attached to. Greek philosophers were already doing it with their own mythos, and Christian monks used and abused of the technique every time they encountered another religion in order to downplay it.

But what makes a myth a myth are the fantastical elements. Even the higly plausible story of Budha (rich guy abruptly discovers suffering, dumps everything, achieves illumination) has fantastical elements mixed in to give it a mystical aura (animals (and a dragon for good measure) greeting him being given dominion over the Zodiac for exemple).

So, to me, even when based in reality, myths are essentially fiction. Can we try to uncover the real events that led to myth? Sure, and it's really interesting, but reducing a myth to those events feels wrong to me. The final (or current) tale in itself is way more interesting.

Passing reference at most. He isn't even an introduced character at this point. Lol

If you are playing with Norse gods in your story, feel free to use my take above (posts got fused) as inspiration if you like it...

 

[Kay_Ship]

If you are playing with Norse gods in your story, feel free to use my take above (posts got fused) as inspiration if you like it...

Thanks! I'll keep it on mind

 

[CharlesEBrown]

But what makes a myth a myth are the fantastical elements. Even the higly plausible story of Budha (rich guy abruptly discovers suffering, dumps everything, achieves illumination) has fantastical elements mixed in to give it a mystical aura (animals (and a dragon for good measure) greeting him being given dominion over the Zodiac for exemple).



Gautama Siddhartha is an actual historical figure. The level of mystical stuff attached to his quest for enlightenment varies by tradition, though. I would say myths, folklore and legend are a separate category from fiction or history though.