Interesting. So Olympus and the Underworld have some sort of psychocosmic parallel (places that are affected by someone's emotional state). Interesting concept. It makes me reflect on a couple of things that I would like to leave here as curious things to chat about, not wanting to "correct" anything.
It makes me think of the Greek mythology thing about a kind of "reduction in divinity," or the gods becoming closer to mortals, with each generation. Originally there was only Khaos, the incomprehensible primordial entity whose body is the entire cosmos (it is not known if he even thinks or if he even has motivations or if he was once awake and is now simply asleep (I have read ideas that perhaps Khaos has cycles of awakening, devouring all of existence down to almost himself and then going back to sleep/hibernating)). From "him", Khaos, spontaneously emerged other primordial entities over unimaginable amounts of years, such as Nyx. Later, Gaia, Uranus, and Tartarus were born. Note that all of these gods were also primordial deities, their bodies were at the same time places or components of reality. Gaia was the entire planet Earth, that was her body, just as Uranus was the sky and Tartarus was a cavern part of what would later become Hades' Underworld. But these deities were already beginning to have motivations, or a will that was more understandable for mortal minds... but they were still halfway between being cosmic entities that spent their time dozing... and being people having personalities. I'm not sure but I think that Tartarus and Uranus, perhaps Gaia too, could choose to take a physical form as an avatar to interact with others. Their children were the Titans, most of which were no longer a place or element of reality (although they were very given to abandoning their forms to transform into things and places, it seems that at the moment of making that decision they could no longer turn back... like several who decided to transform into trees, reeds or an island (I guess it depends on the power or how close they were generationally to the primordial deities) to avoid being captured/raped, for example) but the Titans did claim Dominions that they took for themselves, and I think it was the Titans who formed the first pantheon, with Cronus as king... but the Titans were much more capricious and insensitive or disinterested in mortals, for example. But with the Olympian gods, the generation descended from the Titans that replaced them, they had extremely human personalities and in fact chose to be quite interested in mortals. And it was from them that hybrid demigods with mortals began to appear.
I think it was common for people to say that when the sea was rough it was because Poseidon was not in their favor or was angry with the sailors (because they hadn't made offerings before setting sail, or some other "offense"). Or that when there was a thunderstorm it was Zeus who was angry... but I think those expressions had the idea that this god was controlling the weather on purpose as a way to attack/punish those people, I think they didn't see it as something involuntary of "he must be just in a bad mood". I would see something like that much more appropriate for those primordial gods like Uranus, Oceanus and Gaia, I mean... since for example the sky and the earth were literally them, their true bodies, it would make quite a bit of sense that if one was upset there would be earthquakes or a cloudy sky in the same way that someone's face turns red or their stomach hurts.
Interesting. So Olympus and the Underworld have some sort of psychocosmic parallel (places that are
The story of the seasons suggest that while gods can control there elements by choice it can also be the result of there emotional state. Winter comes not as a punishment for mortals but because Demeter is sad. It ends when her daughter returns to her. Zeus can toss a lighting bolt at one guy in particular. The Iliad suggest that only Poseidon’s anger is enough to make waves but it could also be aimed at one boat if he wished. Mostly I think that having to control the weather by waving a magic object around would bore the gods after a bit. And seems an over reduction of there powers versus the idea that the generator weather and magic without even giving it much consciousness. Zeus for his part would see no point in controlling his outbursts mortals and lesser gods can just deal with his drama turned into random storms or gentle rain . Hades I feel suffers from depression and lives in a dark place that gets darker when his depression gets the best of him.
The story of the seasons suggest that while gods can control there elements by choice it can also be
You're right, the story of Demeter and Persephone, with the origin of the seasons, seems to fit with the poetics of associating winter with sadness and summer with happiness. Of course, since it was one of the three great gods who divided the world among themselves, it seems that Demeter perhaps did not see a better way to pressure for Persephone's release than to deny the growth of plants, or that she created a curse or spell, and in the end a negotiation was reached with Hades since he did not want to lose Persephone either, reaching those periods of 6 months with each of them. Personally, I like this interpretation a little more because it gives Demeter a little more power since she is not reduced to a helpless woman crying and to be pitied, but someone who clenched her fist to pressure and manage to force the others (there is something similar to interpret with Persephone, I mean, being that she was simply kidnapped by Hades and all the time she was just a disputed woman without will or power of action/decision... or interpreting that she had some feelings for Hades and that is why she did not put up much resistance and that she felt torn between two loves). But probably yours is the original interpretation taking into account that the society of Ancient Greece was quite sexist; and I see the poetics of winter with sadness.
You're right, the story of Demeter and Persephone, with the origin of the seasons, seems to fit with
Demeter shows her choice of action by refusing the gods efforts to cheer her up avoiding the gods by changing her form.. making a random baby almost immortal by dipping him in a fire. Plotting with the goddess of witchcraft to find and get revenge. Persephone for her part is a goddess known for putting curses on people so not really a helpless girl. later stories show her to be something of a romantic getting Hades to do things like let someone fetch there girlfriend back from the dead because it would be romantic. The first chapter of the story where Zeus raped Persephone in the form of a dragon and gets her pregnant is not often included in collecting. I feel it changes the story showing both a motive for Zeus to cover up what he did blame The Hades for it. And a reason for Persephone to fl ee to a place Zeus wouldn't follow. I hope the Herculaneum papyri get translated and we get more myths and stories . I make being a god a job you can inherit. It helps explain gods that have several origin stories. That was just the last guy that had the job the new guy as a new story. Which means I can recast them to tell new stories.
Demeter shows her choice of action by refusing the gods efforts to cheer her up avoiding the gods by
