The Lotus Eaters Forum EX#15: Local Myths

I have just finished reading Hesiod's Theogony, in which he writes of the Greek deities and demi-gods. Some of them, according to the translator's notes, are deities local to Hesiod. He also uses the locale for the mythology, such as the Muses live on Mount Helicon, a small mountain in the area that Hesiod lives in.

One of the great uses of online posting and communication is that writings are posted from around the world. Write something of a local mythology, one that you create yourself. And I mean old mythology, such as Tolkien wrote in the 20th century, using largely Anglo Saxon mythology.

Mythology usually arises around something natural that is so grand or sublime that a supernatural cause is given to it. What is in the area that you live in that could have been caused by supernatural forces? You do not need to write a whole panorama of deities, but choose at least one natural phenomena to write of.

It might be a bit tacky of me, but I could site my poem Maribel as an example. It is the fairy tale story behind a local cave. I suppose I could write about the Muses that live on the huge pile of coal that sits on the Fox River.

Oh, this is going to be fun. A friend of mine tells the children Cherokee stories when we go to 18th century events. Red fruit, first man, first woman, lots of drama. . . now if I didn't have to get any work done today.

This is like a hanging curveball in my wheelhouse....

I didn't even think about it. w.k. kortas has got to be the king of local myths and legends. Hey, the one about the wedding dress! That's my favorite.