There are many similarities between Greco-Roman Mythology and Nordic Mythology. The Greeks had a concept of Katabasis, a spiritually transformative journey to the underworld, the myth of Orpheus being the prime example.
Is there an anology to this in your beliefs? What is it called?
2007-04-05 03:11:19 · 8 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
William1 - Huh? I know that and it has nothing to do with my question.
LabGrrl - Okay. I guess I'm thinking about Nordic Mythology.
2007-04-05 03:33:58 · update #1
The most famous story in which he figures is that of his wife Eurydice (also known as Agriope). While fleeing from Aristaeus (son of Apollo), she strode on a serpent and was bitten, which brought her to her death. Distraught, Orpheus played such sad songs and sang so mournfully that all the nymphs and gods wept and gave him advice. Orpheus went down to the lower world and by his music softened the hearts of Hades and Persephone (the only person to ever do so), who agreed to allow Eurydice to return with him to earth.
2007-04-05 06:04:19 · update #2
those ARE pagan beliefs
2007-04-05 03:14:07 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Of course there is, as I'm Neo-Hellenic. Orpheus is but one example. Heracles did it, Odysseus did it, just about everyone in the old tales. It was probably also a part of the Eleusinian mysteries. It was/is necessary to obtain true wisdom. We even have Gods (Psychopomps) whose job it is to help us out with this part of our path. But this exists in nearly all belief systems. (including Christianity) Many initiations include a symbolic death and rebirth, sometimes requiring an actual physical journey into darkness to complete a task and then out again into the light.
2007-04-05 15:57:29 · answer #2 · answered by kaplah 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There's some similar items within the Nordic beliefs; some of the elements of oracular seidh can have the shamanistic-type death/rebirth initiations.
There's some speculation that the Celts had something similar (though their shamanic elements seemed somewhat more vestigial than seidh's elements are). Unfortunately, so much has been lost that this is still under serious reconstruction.
2007-04-06 13:51:10 · answer #3 · answered by ArcadianStormcrow 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Some of us call that "the dark jouney of the soul", and it's part of the work one must do on the path to initiation.
It isn't just a story, it is something we do - a journey to face our own darkest self, and to face death, and to be transformed.
2007-04-05 12:08:49 · answer #4 · answered by Praise Singer 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Well, as my civicus is Classical Reconstructionism (the polyglot civic religion of the port town my family lived in for at least 900 years) there is no analog.... we've got the bloody katabasis, and the anabasis, too.
2007-04-05 10:21:31 · answer #5 · answered by LabGrrl 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Sounds like just "journeying", which also translates over to various Shamanic beliefs too. Is that what you're asking about?
_()_
2007-04-05 11:41:44 · answer #6 · answered by vinslave 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There are recurring themes to be found across MULTIPLE cultures, religions, and mythologies...
2007-04-05 10:20:40 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
do some research......chrisianity originated from pagan beliefs
2007-04-05 10:14:45 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 3⤋