The Three Myths 14

Dyrope

This myth was about a woman called Dyrope, who one day, takes a walk in the woods with her sister and her child. She accidentally rips a flower off of its stem. She did not know though, that it was a nymph who had shape shifted into it. As a punishment, Dyrope was turned into a tree and separated from her family forever. This myth makes me think that the Greeks and Romans must have been big environmentalists. Unlike us, they should have respected nature, nurture it, and let it live freely. It may have been of fear of having the same faith as Dyrope, but soon we´ll also have that same fear. When human´s see that nature is slowly disappearing, then we´ll be afraid of loosing the resources that keep us alive. Soon, the myth will represent us much more.

Venus and Adonis

While reading this myth, I found a very interesting quote: ¨Be brave towards the timid,¨ she said ¨Courage against the courageous is not safe.¨ (P. 53). I hate to agree with this, but I also believe that it´s braver and more admirable to confront someone just as or even more courageous than you are. In my opinion, a coward would be the type who challenges a person, and knows he/she is inferior or more timid. I remember hearing somewhere that courage is not the absence of fear, it is that presence of fear yet the will to go on. The two quotes completely contradict themselves, but I choose to stand more on the side which states that courage only comes with fear. If you are not afraid of your challenge, then how can you be brave while confronting it?

Apollo and Hyacinthus

Hyacinthus was a good friend of Apollo. The myth states that one day, they were playing a game of quoits together. Apollo throws the discus filled with strength and skill, but when Hyacinthus when over to catch it, it hit his head and he died. The God felt so bad that he even wrote a song in memory of his friend. There is not much to say about this story. I believe it´s bad enough to loose a friend, but to be his killer too would be too much to take. Maybe the myth is just trying to tell that with a stupid and silly mistake, you can end up loosing a friend. Maybe not like Apollo did, but by doing things that a real friend wouldn´t do. Take care of those close to you, because any day, you can end up loosing them.