Howardism: Greek and Nordic Mythology

Comment

i love greek myhtology and want to be a greek mythologist, how do I become one?

PostScript-I am 12 years old.

—bridget fee

Comment

I have actually had that same dream, and wish I had the guts to actually give it a go. Definitely follow your bliss. I believe that doing a lot of reading and a lot of listening at your age would help. A healthy dose of poetry is also good for the soul. I'd recommend the book, Women Who Run With the Wolves by Clarissa Pinkola Estes.

Eventually you'll want to go to college and study it more there. Not very many universities have a "Mythology" program, but I hear that Pacifica University has graduate studies in Mythology (but you'd go there after you receive your Bachelor's Degree somewhere else).

Hope that helps, and I look forward to reading your first book on the subject.

—the author

Comment

I love Greek Mythology and I'm looking at it as a career option. Do you know what sorts of careers i could have that would involve greek mythology?

—Sarah

Comment

Another good question. I believe that most careers in mythology revolve around professors at a university or authors of books (usually both).

Even if you don't choose mythology and literature as a career, it can always be a passion. I'm a computer programmer, but love to read some of the old stories.

Good luck!

—the author

Greek and Nordic Mythology

I received the following email the other day, and thought I would log my response…

I'm Ivo, a 16 jear old student and Im working on a essay about the relation between Greek and Norse gods and their evolution over time and I was wondering from where you gained the information necessary for this "thought".

Nice to meet you. I assume you are referring to my thoughts about my article, Is Zeus either Odhinn or Thor? Usually I state where I get my resources… however, I don't have any good references of a direct comparison between Nordic and Greek gods, and my comments were mostly speculative. I think that most mythologist feel that Nordic gods (which are very similar to the Teutonic or German gods) were derivative from the Greek gods (by way of the Roman influence).

Personally, I think that they were both dervied from a common culture, however, my only evidence is the related concept from its Indo-European language roots. Since all European languages and some Indian (not Native American) languages came from an original, common language, why wouldn't religion and stories come with it? However, I am not an authority on this subject… I'm just impressed with Nordic mythology to wish that it could be elevated from its comic-book status in our own culture.

From what I understand, one major evolutionary step in Nordic mythology, was the change to Odin worship. According to some scholars, pre-Odin worship was a more feminine, nature worship. Odin brought in more masculine changes. This is shown in the big war between the Aesir (Odin's group) and the Vanir (original nature gods). For details, see this Wikipedia entry.

In true integration fashion, some of the original nature gods were kept around --notably Freyr and Freyja-- probably because they were too popular to simply wipe away. Similar to the integration of Celtic pagan gods becoming "saints" when Catholicism came to town.

Some scholars point to Odin arrival in Scandinavia to prove Greek influence (since Odin is similar to Zeus… or is he more similar to Hermes?).

However, Zeus was a late comer to Greek culture, too. Perhaps, the arrival of the Zeus/Odin was brought by the same folks who brought the common Indo-European language? But you better not quote me, as I am not an authority on this subject. However, take this idea and run with it, and if you find more evidence, let me know.

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	Is Zeus either Odhinn or Thor? Maybe Good, Maybe Bad The Mythology of Rebirth Letter to the Creationists A Tale of Two Masks Gotta Love that Villian Happily Ever After? Life Begins, The Dream Faustian Fascination Read other entries in Mythology...	Comment i love greek myhtology and want to be a greek mythologist, how do I become one? PostScript-I am 12 years old. —bridget fee Comment I have actually had that same dream, and wish I had the guts to actually give it a go. Definitely follow your bliss. I believe that doing a lot of reading and a lot of listening at your age would help. A healthy dose of poetry is also good for the soul. I'd recommend the book, Women Who Run With the Wolves by Clarissa Pinkola Estes. Eventually you'll want to go to college and study it more there. Not very many universities have a "Mythology" program, but I hear that Pacifica University has graduate studies in Mythology (but you'd go there after you receive your Bachelor's Degree somewhere else). Hope that helps, and I look forward to reading your first book on the subject. —the author Comment I love Greek Mythology and I'm looking at it as a career option. Do you know what sorts of careers i could have that would involve greek mythology? —Sarah Comment Another good question. I believe that most careers in mythology revolve around professors at a university or authors of books (usually both). Even if you don't choose mythology and literature as a career, it can always be a passion. I'm a computer programmer, but love to read some of the old stories. Good luck! —the author Greek and Nordic Mythology I received the following email the other day, and thought I would log my response… I'm Ivo, a 16 jear old student and Im working on a essay about the relation between Greek and Norse gods and their evolution over time and I was wondering from where you gained the information necessary for this "thought". Nice to meet you. I assume you are referring to my thoughts about my article, Is Zeus either Odhinn or Thor? Usually I state where I get my resources… however, I don't have any good references of a direct comparison between Nordic and Greek gods, and my comments were mostly speculative. I think that most mythologist feel that Nordic gods (which are very similar to the Teutonic or German gods) were derivative from the Greek gods (by way of the Roman influence). Personally, I think that they were both dervied from a common culture, however, my only evidence is the related concept from its Indo-European language roots. Since all European languages and some Indian (not Native American) languages came from an original, common language, why wouldn't religion and stories come with it? However, I am not an authority on this subject… I'm just impressed with Nordic mythology to wish that it could be elevated from its comic-book status in our own culture. From what I understand, one major evolutionary step in Nordic mythology, was the change to Odin worship. According to some scholars, pre-Odin worship was a more feminine, nature worship. Odin brought in more masculine changes. This is shown in the big war between the Aesir (Odin's group) and the Vanir (original nature gods). For details, see this Wikipedia entry. In true integration fashion, some of the original nature gods were kept around --notably Freyr and Freyja-- probably because they were too popular to simply wipe away. Similar to the integration of Celtic pagan gods becoming "saints" when Catholicism came to town. Some scholars point to Odin arrival in Scandinavia to prove Greek influence (since Odin is similar to Zeus… or is he more similar to Hermes?). However, Zeus was a late comer to Greek culture, too. Perhaps, the arrival of the Zeus/Odin was brought by the same folks who brought the common Indo-European language? But you better not quote me, as I am not an authority on this subject. However, take this idea and run with it, and if you find more evidence, let me know. Tell others about this article:
	2014, Howard Abrams Some rights reserved	Originally written on 7 August 2002. Updated on 8 February 2014.