Hello everyone! This is Casimir with The Skald’s Circle again. Today we’ll be talking about the strange relationship between humans and animals in myths.
When it comes to animals in myths and stories there is a… strange relationship with them and humans. Namely, the veneration of animals. There are Gods and powerful being with animalistic features: Bast, Sobek, Anubis, Cernunnos, Echidna, Dagon, and Pan are just a few examples. Not to mention, there are many myths and legends of people, and deities, who have the ability to change into animals. This veneration of animals is interesting, given common themes in many myths can be boiled down to combat against nature. Time, and time again, there are cases where animalistic features, people raised in nature, and other such people or beings are venerated above those who represent humanity and civilization. Enkidu in the Epic of Gilgamesh stands out to me, having been raised by beasts in the woods. These are just a few examples though; there are almost uncountable examples of animals being put on a pedestal in myths.
Personally, if I had to put a finger on the issue, we as humans have always put things, people, and yes, animals, into archetypes. We tie animals with strong feelings that we have for specific ideals. The stag is associated with virility and honor, the wolf with power and fury, the dog with loyalty, and bear with strength, the bull with endurance — I could go on forever. So, when we look at the roles that these gods or other beings play, they can be mostly, if not entirely fit with the ideal or role that we tie with the particular animal. Bast is cunning and wily. Anubis is associated with death, like the jackal. Odin has the cunning of the raven and the fury of the wolf. As with before, the list goes on. We use animals as guides of what we consider to be ideals in human society; it can be seen in heraldry, art, and animals that people consider their “spirit animal”. I know I’m one to talk as someone who has a stag head tattooed on their arm. We identify with these animals, who have no idea of the concepts that we’re even talking about, let alone that we tie those concepts to them. I for one find that fascinating, and will always tie the honorable stoicism to the stag as I have for many years.
I admit, I am curious, tell us in the comments what you consider to be your “spirit animal” and why. I think it would be absolutely fascinating to find out. I will start just to show that it is safe. I consider the stag to be my animal for it represents a non-predatory non-violent kind of strength, and willingness to defend and find, but not be the first to strike, all wrapped up in a stoicism that I have always admired.
I hope you have enjoyed our discussion of mythology folklore, and history on History with The Skald’s Circle. If you’d like to know more, or perhaps discuss it with me I’m always more than willing. Also, if you have something you would like us to research, please let us know! Also if you learned something new, give us a like, and let us know, we really appreciate being noticed… Until then, I’ll be back next week with another fascinating topic. This is Casimir, signing off, and remember, always check your sources!
Sources:
- Poetic Edda
- Prose Edda
- The Epic of Gilgamesh