In which I ramble a bit about parallel mythology
So, not having a sub job today, I decided to watch some Takarazuka. Which then led to the minor dilemma of 'what can I watch without m'lady getting too mad at me'. Decided on Susano-o in the end, also because it is short, thus allowing me to watch and still be able to be back on the computer in time to chat with m'lady at lunch.
It got me thinking. The plot of Susano-o deals a lot with Yamato having been plunged into darkness because Amaterasu has sealed herself away in a cave. In the mythology that the play's based on, she's tricked out of the cave by the sound of a huge party being thrown by Amenouzume and the other gods. Depending on the version of the myth, they're either just hoping the sound of the good time will lure Amaterasu out, or they're pretending to have found a new sun. Either way, she comes out of the cave and catches sight of her reflection in a mirror the other gods have conveniently placed right there and being a vain little thing decides to return to the world. Well, that and the fact that the other gods sealed the cave, but you get the point.
The interesting thing is, I'm pretty sure there's a Native American myth that is almost exactly the same, except the sun is male, and I think it's Raven who tricks the sun into coming out again. With clever use of a mirror.
And then, yesterday, I was subing for a history class, and the kids were watching a documentry on the Inca. Apparently Ican myth tells of a 'time of great darkness' out of which came the father of the sun who then brough the sun and warmth into the world. Since coming out of caves = birth is a pretty standard bit of symbolism, the parallels are interesting.
I know there is a lot of parallel mythology out there if you know where to look. It fascinates me, even though I know so very little about it. Seriously, why do schools never teach anything other that Greek & Roman mythology (okay, with a tiny sprinkle of Egyptian, maybe)?
It got me thinking. The plot of Susano-o deals a lot with Yamato having been plunged into darkness because Amaterasu has sealed herself away in a cave. In the mythology that the play's based on, she's tricked out of the cave by the sound of a huge party being thrown by Amenouzume and the other gods. Depending on the version of the myth, they're either just hoping the sound of the good time will lure Amaterasu out, or they're pretending to have found a new sun. Either way, she comes out of the cave and catches sight of her reflection in a mirror the other gods have conveniently placed right there and being a vain little thing decides to return to the world. Well, that and the fact that the other gods sealed the cave, but you get the point.
The interesting thing is, I'm pretty sure there's a Native American myth that is almost exactly the same, except the sun is male, and I think it's Raven who tricks the sun into coming out again. With clever use of a mirror.
And then, yesterday, I was subing for a history class, and the kids were watching a documentry on the Inca. Apparently Ican myth tells of a 'time of great darkness' out of which came the father of the sun who then brough the sun and warmth into the world. Since coming out of caves = birth is a pretty standard bit of symbolism, the parallels are interesting.
I know there is a lot of parallel mythology out there if you know where to look. It fascinates me, even though I know so very little about it. Seriously, why do schools never teach anything other that Greek & Roman mythology (okay, with a tiny sprinkle of Egyptian, maybe)?