antheiialikestogeekout - Tumblr blog

antheiialikestogeekout · 2 years ago

Text

People who look at the Rape of Persephone/the Hymn to Demeter and go ‘this needs to center men’ need to take a step back tbh. I don’t know why we need to take a myth about a mothers grief over her daughters forced marriage and rape and switch it around so that the rapist is sympathetic and soft hearted, and then disguise the product of that as a ‘feminist retelling’. So often Demeter is torn apart in these retellings too - like what part of feminism is it to take a mother with overwhelming sorrow and love for her daughter, and turn her into an abusive bitch. What part of feminism is it for a young woman to ‘change’, ‘fix’, or become some sort of live in sexual partner and caregiver for a much older, much more powerful man.

Like perhaps the Hymn to Demeter is one of the only Greek myths to center the feelings and anguishes of women, which were so common in old Greek society and still common today. Perhaps Demeter creating winter to force the hands of the gods and titans that loom over her into giving her her daughter back is a powerful thing to hold on to.

3K notes · View notes

antheiialikestogeekout · 2 years ago

Text

Imagine that your only argument to contradict scholars (translators, commentators, and etc) who have studied the the Hymn to Demeter for decades is: "since the text says "biâ" therefore Hades is a violent villain.

But seriously, let's cancel whole Greek mythology. Because, except for Hera and Zeus, no Ancient Greek marriage is consensual. They were all agreements that excluded the bride's consent (and sometimes even the groom's consent). Basically most marriages were done for its usefulness (political alliances, procreation and etc.) and not for "love".

And please, besides canceling Hades and Persephone, let's cancel Penelope and Odysseus, because she was given as a prize to him, therefore it's obvious their marriage was doomed to be unhappy (no matter what the Odyssey says). Same for Helen and Menelaus and any other Greek marriage. Since consent did not exist, let's cancel everything please.

Let's ignore centuries of religious cult evidence, and iconography that hints happy and sacred marriage, right? So your modern minds can feel at peace.

8 notes · View notes

antheiialikestogeekout · 2 years ago

Text

Misconceptions about Demeter and the Homeric Hymn to Demeter that tumblr needs to understand.

Persephone’s name wasn’t originally “Kore”. And she did not take on the name “Persephone” after she was married!! All “kore” means is “maiden” or “girl” and many other unmarried goddesses had that same name attached to their names because it is an epithet. “An epithet is an attachment to the name of a God or Goddess, used to indicate either a specific domain of the Deity, a specific origin myth or region from which the Deity came, or an entirely different entity, through either domain or origin.” (Source) !! Persephone also had epithets other than kore, like “Karpophoros-Persephone”. And because of her connection to Demeter as daughter of an earth goddess, and hades as queen of the underworld, she also has the epithet “Chthonia-Persephone”. Persephone’s name was always Persephone. Her name could be Persephone, Kore, Karpophoros, or even Kore-Persephone , just like Athena’s name could be Pallas-Athena or Apollo’s name could be Phoebus-Apollo. It’s an epithet. Not her birth name.

Persephone and Demeter are not necessarily confirmed “black” oh lord. Idk where the OP of that one viral post got that from but I’m a black woman so y’all better listen to me when I say this. I love representation as much as the next person but this is unfortunately misinformation. Greek gods and goddesses are gods… they don’t have specific races. And the pantheon has historically been open to a wide range of cultures, so you can imagine them as you please.

Demeter is not Elsa. Demeter did NOT cause snow and cold weather. That was APOLLO. Demeter is ONLY responsible for the famine and the cycle of plant life as the seasons change. She has NOTHING to do with the air, snow, or any of y’all damn blizzards so stop automatically assuming she’s “upset” or “Persephone is visiting hades” when there’s a little chill in the air, ya funky hoes. Demeter is doing fine. hahah

Demeter didn’t truly have animosity towards Hades, rather she was more angry at Zeus. she wanted consent in her daughter’s marriage arrangements, which at the one was only done by the father figure. Zeus marrying Persephone off was probably a big slap in the face to Demeter as she likely raised Persephone on her own. And Demeter demanding Persephone’s return is strong symbolism of challenging the social norms of the time.

Demeter was not being “overprotective” or “bitchy”. She was upset because Persephone’s abduction to her felt like her daughter was in a sense “passing away”. That is why she grieved so much. In Ancient Greece, when daughters were married off, mothers often never saw them again. Demeter was not allowed to enter the gates of the underworld, so to her, it was as if Persephone had died and that she would never see her again. The story of Persephone’s abduction was symbolism for this type of situation that Mediterranean mothers went through during the ancient times. Newer versions of the Homeric Hymn to Demeter where Demeter is portrayed as more of a villain role are not to be taken as fact. They are an author’s interpretation of very old writing.

Hades did not rape Persephone. There is actually literally no mythological proof of this other than the fact that he kidnapped her and people reasonably would assume that rape would go along with it. However, my stance on that will be... if it’s not written, why let things be disturbing or twisted? Kidnappings were an unfortunate marriage tradition in Ancient Greece. The father usually arranged this without the mother’s consent (which yes is fucked up, which is why Demeter challenged this) It’s messed up but it doesn’t necessarily make Hades “evil” for something that was a the societal norm for that time in history.

According to the Eleusinian Mysteries there were more reasons that led to demeter’s rage other than Persephone’s kidnapping. Persephone’s kidnapping was first, then it was her false attempt at immortalizing kind Keleus’s son, and then she was raped. Her rage was more built up than you realize.

Unfortunately, there is no original version where Persephone walked into the underworld herself. This is the biggest misconception that has gone around to date and honestly shocks me how successful it was. I can’t really say much more for this one other than that.. it just doesn’t exist.

55 notes · View notes

antheiialikestogeekout · 2 years ago

Text

the abduction of Persephone

The abduction of Persephone is one of the greatest love stories ever told. It also happens to be a tragedy. One of the greatest, untold tragedy’s of them all.

The myth has been told and retold a thousand times. And almost always the focus is on Hades. Hades and Persephone, life and death, so called power couple of the underworld. But that is not the love story I’m talking about.

The love I mean is the love from a mother to her daughter. A mother who would move heaven and earth and anything in between to get her daughter back. A mother who had her greatest joy stolen away against both of their wills.

A mother who loses her daughter. What is half a year when they could’ve had forever?

…

Kore knew very little about the wider world, but these three things at least she accepted as truth.

First, that the sun always rose in the mornings.

Second, that plants always flourished next to the river.

And third, the most important, that her mother would always love her.

Those three things were all she needed at first, and even as she grew and learned more of the world around her it was those three things she clung to.

Demeter, on the other hand, was more cynical than her daughter. Her truths were harsher, less whimsical and uncomfortably real.

First, you will never be able to trust in everyone you wish you could.

Second, that gods are selfish.

And third, the softest of them, she would always love Kore.

The titanomachy had hardened Demeter in ways no person should ever know. Her daughter was a rare glowing light in an otherwise dark universe, and she swore to herself to keep it that way. She would not allow Kore to become hard like she was, would protect her from the traumas of Demeter’s youth.

…

Hades, in all his underworldy might, was like nothing Kore had ever seen. He was tall, far taller then her, and his skin was pale - compared to the warm brown of her skin, he seemed to have been bleached. His hair was long and dark, and it seemed lifeless, much different to her mother’s neat braids, or even to Poseidon’s flowing curls that he could never quite tame. Everything about him was strange to Kore, and yet, she couldn’t look away. Something about him called to her, a deep, primal ache that pulled at her heart and eventually sent her tiptoeing closer.

When he reached out his arm, she froze. They were so close - she didn’t remember getting so near but here she was. Everything went quiet, and an eerie cold wrapped itself around her. When he spoke, his voice seemed to echo, like the clashing of rocks in some cave.

“Come with me.”

Kore released a breath. A tiny voice in the back of her head screamed at her to run. To get out now before she was lost. But the ache had sunk into her heart, drowning out any form of reason, begging her to join him, to help him to-

“Alright.”

And she was gone.

…

As she stepped out onto the beach, Demeter instantly felt calmer. She and Poseidon had always been close, briefly even as lovers. Even after that flame had died, he remained the one person she went to when she felt overwhelmed. And now, as her whole world came crashing down, he was the only person she could bare to see.

(and he’s close to Hades) her mind whispered (if anyone knows what’s going on down there it’s him)

The second he stepped out of the water however, all thoughts of manipulation left her head. Before she knew what she was doing, she was crashing into him with tears spilling down her cheeks. She faintly felt him wrap his arms around her, and whisper something soothing into her ear. All she could do was bury her face in his shoulder and sob.

She stayed like that for a while, finally releasing the emotions she’d kept pent up inside for so long. When Demeter eventually calmed down, the sun was just setting behind the ocean, basking the pair in a wash of pinks and golds.

They sat together on the sand, watching the first stars appear in the sky as Demeter explained what had happened to her daughter. Poseidon was quiet, he seemed to be thinking deeply, calling on whatever reserves of wisdom he managed to dig out during situations like these. Demeter didn’t mind the silence, it gave her a chance to reflect. What would she do after this? She couldn’t march down to the underworld, Hades would never let her in. Maybe she could sneak in? Plans and ideas whirled around in her head until Poseidon finally spoke.

“Sounds like a nightmare Dem.” he said, he spoke slowly, like he was weighing each word before speaking. “I really don’t know what you can do. Especially if she went down willingly.”

“She was tricked” Demeter cut him off. “She would never make such a rash decision.”

“And yet, she did.” Poseidon’s response killed any argument sitting on her tongue. “The way I see it, the only thing we should concern ourselves with now is if she wants to stay.”

“How? You know he won’t let me in.”

Poseidon sighed, “there must be some way to contact her?”

“Only one that I can think of.” Demeter shifted in the sand so that she could look him in the eyes.

“No. No no no I know what you’re thinking I can’t-”

“Please Sei. You’re the only chance I’ve got.” Poseidon stared at her, and for the thousandth time she wished she could read him like he could her. He looked down, then back at her, then down again, biting his lip as of he was agonizing over something. Then, he looked back at her.

“Fine. I will try to speak to her. But nothing else,” his eyes turned cloudy, “I refuse to get stuck between you and Hades. I’m not choosing sides.”

Demeter smiled, of course he’d say that. Poseidon was the only one who Hestia’s attitude about family had affected. But he’d agreed to help her, and that was all she needed.

“Thanks Sei” she murmured, before leaning back into him. The two sat like that all night. Saying nothing, just watching the stars.

24 notes · View notes

antheiialikestogeekout · 2 years ago

Text

i just think that sometimes, instead of writing an adaptation/retelling that seeks out to subvert and resist the story that has been filtered through two thousand years of classical reception, perhaps you should go and actually look at the source text or earliest surviving example of this story and think about whether the text is actually consistent with the version of the story that has become popular in our collective imagination

278 notes · View notes

antheiialikestogeekout · 2 years ago

Text

You have invented a new kind of stupid

A 'damage you can never undo' kind of stupid

An 'open all the cages in the zoo' kind of stupid

'Truly, you didn't think this through?' kind of stupid

Let's review-

245 notes · View notes

antheiialikestogeekout · 2 years ago

Text

god i love reading about stupid drama in ancient greece. like there was an athlete named theagenes who was so good at every kind of athletic contest that when he died, one of his opponents would go to beat the shit out of a statue of him out of spite, but then one day the statue fell on the guy and killed him so the greeks took the statue to court for murder, convicted it, and threw it into the sea

120K notes · View notes

antheiialikestogeekout · 2 years ago

Link

I'm not okay anymore.

#uquiz

0 notes