Of Gods and Humans: A Comparison

[chronarchy]

Continuing thoughts spawned from an article on sacrifice (called, appropriately enough, "'Sacrifice' in Proto-Indo-European,") by Stefan Zimmer in last year's Journal of Indo-European Studies. . .

In Indo-European polytheism, there are really only two differences between deities and humans. As with the living fire and the flowing waters mentioned

Comments

[prophet_maid]

Interesting, and I've had rather similar thoughts, especially after reading Artful Universe (I think I'm remembering the title correctly). Yes, humanity and deity are similar, but still the Gods are more skilled than us. Is it something inherent in their nature that makes them more powerful, or is it that we simply haven't bothered to attain the powers of the Gods?

[chronarchy]

I think it might be the association with the celestial realm that brings on that additional power. They are associated with the things that control our lives: the sun, which marks our days; the rains, which bring us fertile fields; and the "cosmic order" that defines our lives.

It may very well be that these things naturally fall into their realm of powers, much like tending sheep (which, interestingly, we're always bringing to the sacrificial feast, so that's something we do that they don't) is a terrestrial "power." It might be more that we have different sets of blessings to bestow on one another, and perhaps the exchange isn't as uneven as we have always thought.

[drum2heal]

I really like that last point about the evenness of exchanging blessings. I think our world has been deprived of any confirmation of personal power for so long that people have just accepted that we don't have any inherent power.

Most of my personal practice is about understanding that as a human we do have gifts unique to our species. Shamans study animals for their magic, why would humans blessed with the gift of ritual not have any inherent powers as well?

[prophet_maid]

I too like that idea, and it jives with my UPG. In every encounter with a God that I've had, they've approached me as a peer, not as a servant. I wasn't sure what to make of that.

[wcm]

Interesting post. I've often wondered about Gods dying in myths and what that really means... It's difficult to wrap my mind around at times.

What you say about Gods being similar to us in other ways makes sense. I do see the Gods as, generally, being more powerful than us in terms of their understanding of creative and destructive forces (magic). That doesn't necessarily mean humans can't reach their level, but the Gods, undying, have more than enough time to master the arts without interruption. They learn and master what we don't have time for.

Peace,
Grey Catsidhe

[chronarchy]

Indeed, a deity of smithcraft who has been practicing for more than the normal lifespan of a human might be a pretty darn good smith, now that you mention it. :) It might also explain why they tend to be good at multiple things :)

[chronarchy]

Yes, I think that the window washer is an apt observation. An interesting thing: the reason that Greek daimônes were thought to be able to aid in divination is because they could fly; they weren't provided any special "power of sight," but they could get to a place really fast, see what was going on, and then report back.

Btw, and completely off-topic, have you ever read Philip K. Dick's novel, Eye In the Sky? I think you might enjoy it.

[chronarchy]

Indeed. You gotta tell them what's up :) After all, the Greeks could sail for Troy because Poseidon was "Away in Ethiopia" and thus unable to be aware of what was going on, if I remember right.

[kargach]

Close - At the beginning of the Odyssey, Athena tells Zeus that, because Poseidon is in Ethiopia attending their festival for him, that now is the only safe time for Odysseus to leave Calypso's island. A great primary source to cite when people think the ancients thought the gods were omniscient!

[ext_767082]

Although there were many who were. Raffaele Pettazzoni treats the subject in his book "The All-Knowing God" (which has aged quite well, in my opinion)

[ext_767082]

Hmmm... Given that gods (at least many of them)are in part personifications of the natural world, they are bound to die when the world itself dies (and is usually subsequently renewed). This is, of course, unless it's a god (usually a Sky God) that orders the destruction of the world. Mircea Eliade wrote a great deal about this subject