The Making of a Myth

[scheherazade_79]

I’m not a big fan of fairy stories, but I often like to wonder how these tales of mystical creatures came about. I have my ideas. Do you have yours? I’ve drawn up a list of as many such ‘beings’ as I can think of, along with some of my own explanations about how they came into existence. Feel free to add to it, or disagree with some of my interpretations.


Witches
According to folklore, a witch is always a single woman, who belongs to a coven, keeps a black cat and rides around on a broomstick. I’m going to put forward that these women were actually lesbians. I once read that there were women, who used to brew up hallucinogenic mixes, smear them over the end of a broom, and then literally ‘ride’ it. Because they’d ingested the drug, they really felt as though they were flying. The covens were groups of like-minded females, and the cat? I dunnow, maybe I’m a strange lesbian, because I’m more of a dog person myself. But there seem to be a LOT of lesbians out there who love cats…

Dragons
Dragons are always reported as living in the mountains. They’re gargantuan fire-breathing creatures that fairytale characters usually make the mistake of walking over before realising the danger they’re in. My explanation? Dragons were actually active volcanoes.

Giants
This one’s easy. Giantism – the disorder that causes people to grow to unnatural proportions. The bone growth isn’t even and eventually gives them a malformed appearance. People suffering from this disorder have deep and often thundering voices. And let’s face it – when have any of us heard of a giant who spoke softly?

Dwarves
Another easy one. People who suffer from Dwarfism can be as small as 3ft.

Pixies
There are definitely people out there who have the oddest ears you could ever imagine. I’m talking about little ones with almost a Mr Spock point at the top. Possibly, way, way back, this was a feature of a particular race that’s filtered through society and mixed with all the other racial characteristics. Just a theory.

Werewolves
Ok… people who become hairy like a wolf when the moon is full. This one’s harder, but I once heard of some brothers from Brazil, who were acrobats and made a name for themselves because of their excessive body hair. I’ve seen photos of them, and they were literally covered from head to toe. Now there’s no reason why someone suffering from this disorder should go mad at a full moon, because underneath all that hair they’re no different from anyone else. But – I had a friend who once worked at a mental hospital, and he claimed that a full moon definitely affected the state of some of the long-term inmates, making them quite agitated. What if, somewhere in the world, there was once someone who suffered from both disorders – excessive hair and a tendency to become extremely agitated at the full moon. What if they were kept indoors all the time, but became unmanageable whenever the moon was full and got out? It’s a long shot, but it would definitely be the stuff of stories.

Well, I’m all magical-creatured out. My thinking is that people will always try and find reasons for things they don’t understand.

Your turn now!

 

[impressive]

My thinking is that people will always try and find reasons for things they don’t understand.

Hence religion. (Sorry!)

 

[scheherazade_79]

Hence religion. (Sorry!)

I think I agree with you, Imp. The biggest fear is always that of the unknown, and death is the biggest unknown of all - hence the need to explain it in some way that makes it more palatable and less scary to people.

 

[ABSTRUSE]

I think I agree with you, Imp. The biggest fear is always that of the unknown, and death is the biggest unknown of all - hence the need to explain it in some way that makes it more palatable and less scary to people.

I agree that you agree.

If you trace things back to the very essence of religion it's all seemingly mythical.

 

[R. Richard]

Witches
According to folklore, a witch is always a single woman, who belongs to a coven, keeps a black cat and rides around on a broomstick. I’m going to put forward that these women were actually lesbians. I once read that there were women, who used to brew up hallucinogenic mixes, smear them over the end of a broom, and then literally ‘ride’ it. Because they’d ingested the drug, they really felt as though they were flying. The covens were groups of like-minded females, and the cat? I dunnow, maybe I’m a strange lesbian, because I’m more of a dog person myself. But there seem to be a LOT of lesbians out there who love cats…

Actually the witches that are read about in old time tales were mostly older women who commited an unpardonable sin. The older women had become herbal doctors and were very tough competition for the doctors of the time. Thus, the witches had to be vilified as they were not good for business.

 

[tolyk]

You forgot Unicorns I have no theories as to how they came to be though... probably someone hallucinating

Not to mention Big Foot, Loch Ness Monster, etc etc etc

 

[Liar]

Hence religion. (Sorry!)

Or hence scientific research.

I think I said it before, but I'll say it again. Enigmas are just shit that the eggheads haven't figured out yet.

 

[impressive]

Enigmas are just shit that the eggheads haven't figured out yet.

Of course, then you have the stuff that the eggheads HAVE figured out -- that some choose to continue to believe are enigmas.

 

[dr_mabeuse]

I don't know why people are always putting down the human imagination as if it's some sort of disease state, as if we couldn't invent things but had to mistake one thing for another, as if everyone in history's been totally stupid except us.

This is the same kind of thing that can't admit that the Pyramids were built as expression of a religious impulse, simply because we don't feel that impulse today. So now they have to be built by aliens or Atlanteans or something.

Every kid knows what a giant is without being told: it's someone bigger and stronger than you. A witch is some old lady who scares you, who seems to have some weird sort of personal power. It's natural to weave these characters into stories and myths. they're archetypes, expressions of feelings we all have.

Nah, I don't buy any of it. The human imagination is a great and wonderful thing, It doesn't need any apologies or excuses.

 

[Guest]

Dragons
Dragons are always reported as living in the mountains. They’re gargantuan fire-breathing creatures that fairytale characters usually make the mistake of walking over before realising the danger they’re in. My explanation? Dragons were actually active volcanoes.

Your turn now!

I beg to differ, young lady. Dragons were, and are still, very real.

Dragons are real.

 

[NoJo]

I’m not a big fan of fairy stories, but I often like to wonder how these tales of mystical creatures came about. I have my ideas. Do you have yours? I’ve drawn up a list of as many such ‘beings’ as I can think of, along with some of my own explanations about how they came into existence. Feel free to add to it, or disagree with some of my interpretations.

Witches were often, for one reason or another, single, older, wise ("cunning") women. They were well respected and cared for by the community on the whole, until their persecution by the Church, (along with wizards) as their magic practices were seen by it, correctly, as a threat to its power.

Witches were often called upon as midwives. The midwife who helped deiver my second son at home was a practicing witch. I was pleased that she also had a mobile phone in case she needed to call the hospital, and a supply of pain relieving drugs.