#myth retelling

[tuurverheydepoetryandprose]

I don’t know if it’s cultural/latent Christianity or just standard media illiteracy, but people need to seriously read up on the nature of mythology in ancient cultures. Like seriously.

So many people treat myths as factual accounts of events. I have never seen any literary scholar, anthropologist or historian make the claim that this was the way the ancients viewed their myths. It’s metaphor. It’s allegory. It’s symbolism. It’s a narrativised ritual. It’s artistic social, political, cultural commentary, instruction or expression. The claim that a myth should be interpreted literally is never made by serious researchers, because it

1) is inherently unprovable and unarguable, which renders it scientifically irrelevant.

2) it blocks off many more salient interpretations that can co-exist with other contradictory non-literal interpretations.

3) it does not seem consistent with the way myth was treated by storytellers and scholars of the time.

Myth is an inherently flexible medium. It’s beautiful and elegant in its manifold meanings. Stop trying to make it a literal account. It isn’t. Never has been. Do your research about the culture, the medium and the traditions you discuss, before making wild statements, before writing ahistorical retellings, or trying to cancel gods or the people who follow them, based on texts that were written (and before that orally handed down) thousands of years ago in a cultural tradition entirely different than ours.

STOP PROJECTING YOUR OWN LITERALISM AND REJECTION OF COMPLEXITY ON OTHER CULTURES.

It’s ignorant, it’s incurious, it’s incorrect and frankly disrespectful, racist and colonialist to insert your misunderstood notion of mythology in a culture that you have barely researched.

Some people need to be a bit less concerned with being seen as perfect paragons of moral righteousness, and a bit more with not spreading misinformation, cultural ignorance and media illiteracy.

#mythology #polytheism #myth #myths #media literacy #reading comprehension #problematic gods #culture #history #hellenism #religion #spirituality #Zeus #Apollo #Hades #retelling #myth retelling

[rs-hawk]

Icarus making sure to always save the best of anything he has to give as an offering to Apollo. He burns everything in a golden bowl. Icarus begging Daedalus to craft him a lyre so he can learn to play it because it makes him feel closer to Apollo. Icarus trying to raise bees so he always has fresh honey to offer Apollo.

Apollo receiving all these offerings and getting bullied by Artemis because he can’t stop blushing because what is this human boy doing?? Fuck it’s so cute though and he starts lingering above where they’re being held bc he wants to be closer to him for a second.

#fantasy romance #writers on tumblr #writing #author #myth #mythology retelling #myth retelling #mythology #mythology and folklore #greek mythology #my writing #my thoughts #Icarus #Icarus x Apollo #Apollo #ancient greek #greek posts #greek gods

[genericpuff]

Is there a real difference between something being a reimagining of Greek myths and something being inspired by it?

I mean, it's a difference that's kind of subjective IMO but the way I personally see it, it comes down to what the story itself is trying to be. Is it trying to be a retelling, or is it trying to be its own story that just happens to take elements from the myths for the fun of it?

A myth retelling will typically be doing just that, retelling a mythical story with its characters with maybe some aesthetic changes, artistic liberties, or tweaks to fit a new generation. Example: Stray Gods, Hades, Hadestown, Lore Olympus, etc. All these stories are retelling myths and tales while putting more modern or subversive twists on them. Hadestown may feature a version of the Underworld that's built on coal mines, but it's still the story of Orpheus and Eurydice. Hades may feature a version of Hades and Persephone who genuinely fell in love (Persephone was born to Demeter and a mortal man instead of Zeus which also removes the incest, and Persephone genuinely wanted to leave Olympus and saw marrying Hades as her way out), but they still gave Demeter her affiliations with winter and grieving the loss of her daughter.

Something that's simply myth inspired isn't necessarily trying to be accurate to the myths or retell them, they're just yoinking elements out of myths either directly or indirectly for the sake of fun and creativity. A recent example is Attack on Titan which is clearly referencing a lot of Norse mythology by the end with Ymir. Though an even bigger example of this is JRPG's, a lot of them tend to reference Greek and Norse myth in obvious or subtle ways, but aren't necessarily retelling those stories. Persona 3 uses a lot of Greek myth as the foundation for its story. The Ascians in Final Fantasy XIV go by Greek myth aliases such as Hermes and Hades, while there are raids in the game with Greek naming conventions (there's literally a raid boss in the newest set of Asphodelos raids named "Athena"). Tales of Symphonia is WWII meets Norse mythology, featuring subplots that tackle deep topics like discrimination, segregation and genocide (the "human ranches" are literally concentration camps) while also taking artistic inspiration from the Norse myths featuring the Great Kharlan Tree (the tree of life, Yggdrasil) and even the final boss' name is Yggdrasil, in the game's final cutscene Lloyd is given the opportunity to name the new reborn tree and while the audio fades out before you can hear what he names it, when you learn of Norse myth and how it inspired the game you just know he named it Yggdrasil (unfortunately they played it safer with the name "World Tree" in the game's sequel Dawn of the New World, but we don't talk about DotNW lmao). There are also a lot of religious allegories in JRPG's, particularly with Christianity, but that's another topic.

Point is, something that's simply taking inspiration from Greek myth or other mythologies isn't necessarily trying to retell those stories directly or even at all. Sometimes a piece of work is simply referencing them or enjoys the naming conventions or messaging of those original stories that it makes for a good parallel.

Not every story inspired by mythologies are attempting to retell them, but every retelling is inspired by the mythologies upon which they're based.

#greek myth retellings #myth retelling #ama #ask me anything #anon ama #anon ask me anything

[flowerprose]

okay. it's a teeny tiny little excerpt i just!!!! i have so many feelings about this wip and im in love with this rewrite so far!!!!!

#she speaks #writeblr #greek gods #hades and persephone #myth retelling #namesake:writing #my writing

[lena-in-a-red-dress]

I wonder what it would be like to have an Orpheus/Eurydice story where Eurydice starts out as this innocent and naive young bride who has zero real world experience and it's never occurred to her to get some until she dies.

As soon as she hits the underworld, she's exposed to all sorts of people from all walks of life, and her character is enriched by it and she becomes this robust, fully formed character in her own right, rather than as the wife of a famous musician.

Meanwhile Orpheus remains kind of flat and one-note in his sensitive heroic artist persona, even as he's helped through the underworld after Eurydice by kind souls who came to like her-- only to be treated as a sort of requisite stepping stone by him. Of *course* they're supposed to help him, he's a *hero* for coming down here after the love of his life.

When he strikes the deal with Hades, he starts leading the way out, with Eurydice trailing behind. Part of her wants to go home, yes, but she doesn't want to go back to how she was. She's shed her old skin, and she can't climb back into it.

She's asking Orpheus questions, pushing about how he truly feels about her, how he truly sees and treats the world around him, and this is where his entitlement and subtle misogyny rears its ugly head.

He gets more and more terse with her, and he finally snaps and whirls to shout at her, only for her to blink out of sight as she's banished back to the underworld.

For him, the outcome is the same as the original myth-- he's mourned as this tremendous artist with a sensitive soul who did his best to save his wife but in his desperation to see her again, loses her forever.

But the AUDIENCE knows the truth. That Eurydice's tale is a cautionary one about a man's anger, how quick he might turn if his perception of you is challenged in any way. How even the most sensitive and tender of souls can be and are shaped by the society around them, to the deteriment of themselves and those around them. How entitlement and ego can sour if they're not appropriately fed.

How a single moment of anger can undo an epic's worth of work, and end a story before it can even start.

#eurydice #orpheus #myth retelling #i would like to read this #just dont have the time to write it myself

[teawiththegods]

There’s remixes of Hades and Persephone and Theseus and the Minotaur! I might check this book out!

#books #myth retelling #support your local library

[lastfinalgirls]

Every book I read in 2023

Comfort Me With Apples by Catherynne M. Valente

★★★★★ / 5

#litedit #comfort me with apples #catherynne m. valente #horroredit #mythedit #myth retelling #religious horror #horror booklr #booktok #booklr #bookstagram #book moodboard #moodboard #horror aes #aes #2023 books* #*bookshelf

[sarafangirlart]

Bad Greek mythology retellings exist but I hate criticism that boils down to “you didn’t adapt the version of the myth I like or portrayed that character in a way I think is correct therefore your story is bad” like use actual critiques, was it badly written or not?

Like preferences are fine but this is not actual criticism. A piece of media can be good on its own while being a bad adaptation I just wish ppl talked about it properly.

While we are at it there is no such thing as “the original myth” bc even the Ancient Greeks didn’t stay consistent with how the stories/ characters are like so why should we?

#circe goddess #iris goddess #hera #heracles #hercules #greek pantheon #greek mythology #greek myth retellings #myth retelling #the iliad #the odyssey #odysseus #helen of sparta #helen of troy

[dani-musings]

ANNOUNCEMENT: ✨I’m so happy to announce that my short story inspired by the Norse Myths has been accepted for publication in The Mythic Circle by The Mythopoeic Society! 🤩

This tale about Loki and Sigyn that I wrote is really special to my heart and I can’t wait to share it with the world! ☺️♥️

Here’s a moodboard that I made to capture the story’s aesthetic and aura and here’s a short blurb:

the story’s blurb: Sigyn, the wife of Loki & goddess of mercy & loyalty, considers whether she is being admirably loyal or foolish for staying by her husband’s side. If she stays, she loses the future of her eternal life. If she leaves Loki, she risks losing him forever.💔✨

I’ll keep everyone posted about this publication and when & where you can get your copy! 📚

Thank you all for your support! 🥰 My (published) author adventures are just beginning! 🌟

~Danielle🪽

#Loki #short story #norse gods #norse mythology #norse myths #loki x sigyn #sigyn #loki and sigyn #reimagining #retelling #author #publication #literary magazine #fairy tales #writers on tumblr #writing #mythology and folklore #loki ragnarok #loyalty #lovers #tragedy #myth retelling #stories #god of mischief #trickster

[swansongofalyre]

Cover Reveal + Preorder!

Don't look back.

Did Eurydice want to return from the underworld? Did anybody ask?

Weaving together Greek mythology, neuroscience, and memories inherited from her Korean grandparents, the narrator grapples with death by telling stories to her younger brother that ask what life means for him, for her, and for their family.

Recasting the myths of Eurydice, Orpheus, Persephone, and Hades through the lens of a Korean American family, Eunice Hong's debut novel explores the grief and love of a woman coming to terms with trauma, memory, and the inescapability of death.

Release Date: August 13, 2024

Preorder at Bookshop, Target, and Barnes & Noble, among other places!

#memento mori #cover reveal #preorder #eurydice #orpheus #greek mythology #korean-american #grief #mourning #novel #literature #greek myth #underworld #writing #writeblr #books #bookblr #myth retelling #sort of

[crazycatsiren]

"Wild and barren, tossed between wave and wind, the homeless island welcomed me gladly. And there, without a friend to my name, I gave birth to my raven-haired daughter, my Artemis." ~ Leto

Medusa's Sisters by Lauren J. A. Bear

#artemis devotee #artemis #leto #greek mythology #greek goddesses #hellenic pantheon #myth retelling

[afoolandathief]

Calling all Myth-retelling/Mythology-inspired Writeblrs!

So, I said previously I would try to start a list of writeblrs with myth-retelling/myth-inspired WIPS, and I did end up starting a list — but I came across the issue of whether I was properly describing others' WIPs or including those who may not want to be listed.

So, though it might be a little lazy on my part, I decided to create a form for anyone interested in being included in a myth-retelling/mythology-inspired writeblr masterpost. You can find the link below ↓

Tagging some folks I thought of for this below the cut, in case you're interested!

@maguayans, @fearofahumanplanet, @abookishdreamer, @nikkywrites, @flowerprose, @andromedatalksaboutstuff, @asablehart

#writing #writeblr #writblr #writers of tumblr #mythology #myths and legends #myth retelling

[rs-hawk]

Me going feral over the idea of Mishipeshu x his human lover. He lurks in the lake, waiting for her to come back. He only attacks boats and anyone passing over now because he’s trying to find her. He knows that she was taken from him as a punishment for him daring to try to be more than what he is-a monster. Just because a human saw beyond his appearance doesn’t mean that at his core- that isn’t what he is. He’s a monster. That’s why he’s confined to the lake, only able to slip out through tunnels hidden from humans view for short periods of time. Eventually he has to come home, defeated and deflated. No matter how much human magic he learns, he can’t turn back time, and he can’t regain even a smidgen of the humanoid form he had when she was able to do it for him.

#monster fuqqer #monster fudger #monster k!nk #monsterfucking cw #monster boyfriend #monsterfucking nsft #monster fluff #monster bf #monster husband #monster kink #monster fucker #monster romance #monster lover #tw monsterfucking #myth retelling #mythology retelling #my writing #writers on tumblr #writing #author

[uno-gang]

One of the most obvious arguments in favor of a romantic relationship between Achilles and Patroclus is simply that it makes sense from a writers perspective. Want to absolutely destroy your main character? Bring them to their breaking point? Punch your reader in the gut? Kill the love interest.

I mean, come on, the greeks were the inventors of the tragedy for a reason. What's more tragic? The death of cousin/comrade or the death of the person you are irrevocably and maddly in love with?

#achilles #patroclus #patrochilles #the iliad #odyssey #homer's iliad #homer #ancient greek #greek mythology #literature #lgbtq #song of achilles #troy 2004 #myth retelling

[flowerprose]

NAMESAKE 🌷💀🌿

a hades and persephone myth retelling

NANOWRIMO '23 WRAP-UP

When I saw these mood boards aligned on my Instagram, I knew I wanted to post them together at the end of the month.

My personal goal was to reach 30,000 words by the end of NaNo. Despite numerous days off, I achieved that. Now I strive to finish the rest of the manuscript by the end of January '24. Thank you to everyone who left kind encouragement this month! I've never felt more assured with this story than I do in its latest rendition. 😊 Someday soon I'm going to hold this book in my arms and squeeze it tight. And truthfully, I'm excited to wrap this up and move forward with something new.

With that said, this will also be the final excerpt I share of NAMESAKE! The next time I reach out, it will be to announce that the story is complete!!

EXCERPT

His brother descends upon the forest floor, blistering and sudden, much like the bolts sheathed at his side. How many mortal years have spanned since the last time the two of them stood, face to face? Zeus meets him with a weathered look, not nearly as boyish as he once was. Fucking across the countryside has clearly taken its toll on him.  “Zeus,” Hades says, his hands casually spinning the helm precariously between his palms.  “Hades, what brings you to the surface? My daughter?”  “So she’s yours,” he feigns. Zeus’s stormlike eyes shine as he nods. “She is,” he says solemnly. “Demeter… for all I know, she’s sunken into the earth. She never left Kore’s side. She cannot part from her grave-plot.” Hades nurses a condolence on his tongue, but Demeter marked him with her burning ire long ago, and such customs will not soothe her anguish. Least of all when he’s partly to blame for her suffering even now. He glosses over it instead. “Let her mourn however she needs to. I’m curious, though, how a God can perish. Have you looked into this?” “It’s all we’ve done.” He eyes the helm spinning between Hades’s hands before glancing towards the silent woods, cautious of his next words. “My children, my wife, every God within this world is investigating what caused this. Kore may only be the first of us to go.”  Hades doesn’t react to such news, though Hera seems the least likely to care about another spawn of Zeus dusted from her realm.  “Assure me that she’s safe. She belongs in your domain now.”  “She belongs to me,” Hades says, firmer than his brother-king would like.

taglist:

@mr-writes, @afoolandathief, @sapphic-story, @megarywrites, @blushroomx, @ozzie-scribe, @theskeletonprior, @muddshadow, @thepixiediaries, @nikkywrites, @bebewrites, @jhellfiregirls, @pinespittinink, @pink-prose-n-wiriters-woe, @phantomnations, @queenslayerbee, @antihell, @monstrousfreedom, @perasperaadastrawriting, @andromedaexists, @thebluesthourcommunity, @fearofahumanplanet, @bloodlessheirbyjacques, @stephwriteswords, @cljordan-imperium, @carminasolis, @kaatiba, @moondust-bard, @macabremoons, @lena-rambles, @beforethepen.

#namesake:writing #hades and persephone #myth retelling #greek gods #nanowrimo #my writing

[w1tchytr1als]

Retelling the Myth of Achilles-

if i am immortalized today, then

let it be with summer and your taste in my

mouth.

the intimate rituals between us,

each night i spent curled on your stomach

//like it was a womb//

apologizing for the story i'll tell of us with

my body.

i wanted to have some artifact of yours,

//nail marks running across the small of my

back fingers around the hollow of my

throat, sunsets etched where my hip meets

thigh//

mostly, i wanted to have you.

mostly, i wanted to kiss you,

trace over you with the reverence

of a maiden in athena's temple;

mostly, i wanted to prophesize heaven-

call it your name on my tongue.

//when i was dipped into the river styx

it was a curse; the perpetual longing

to have your hands as fists against my ribs.

how desperately i want to be hurt by you.//

if i die today, let it be with the memory of

you

splayed out in the thrush like a god.

#lgbtq #lgbtqia #lgbt #queer #poetry #queer poetry #trans poetry #gay poetry #poems on tumblr #poems and poetry #greek mythology #greek myth art #achilles #patroclus #patrochilles #nblnb #nonbinary poet #tw: sex mention #words words words #words #poem #trans poets on tumblr #queer poets on tumblr #queer pagan #queer christian #myth retelling #greek myth retellings #mythology and folklore #from the pov of achilles to be clear #achilles wants to be hurt so bad haha gayass /j