This sort of vilianizing of gods had always seem to me a bit ridiculous. You put it much better than I ever could. On a similar note, the same sort of thing seems to be happening with the treatment of Greek gods in popular culture as well. Go to any forum dedicated to Greek myths on the Internet and half of its content seems to be memes about Zeus being horny or something with no clue about what role these myths played in the actual rituals of ancient peoples or their daily lives and so on. Of course, people are free to create any sort of art they like as well as to discuss them. It wouldn’t be so frustrating were it not so ubiquitous.
This is a good argument for monsters being monsters. I've always wanted to know, though, if "great evil was to be expected [from Loki’s children]," then why is Sleipnir described as the greatest horse in the same text? Why does Odin ride Sleipnir, and why is Grani, Sigurd's horse, descended from Sleipnir and by extension descended from Loki?
This is a really good question and I can only give you a theory as a response, in lieu of just saying “myths aren’t always logically consistent.” My suspicion is that it’s because Loki is the mother in this scenario and Sleipnir, as a son, is inheriting his father’s nature. He is thus more alike with Svaðilfari than he is alike with Loki.
"We are all foreigners to ancient culture" is such a beautiful quote that will most definitely stay with me. This is a beautifully impassioned dissection of modern storytellers' use of myth.
Great article !
This sort of vilianizing of gods had always seem to me a bit ridiculous. You put it much better than I ever could. On a similar note, the same sort of thing seems to be happening with the treatment of Greek gods in popular culture as well. Go to any forum dedicated to Greek myths on the Internet and half of its content seems to be memes about Zeus being horny or something with no clue about what role these myths played in the actual rituals of ancient peoples or their daily lives and so on. Of course, people are free to create any sort of art they like as well as to discuss them. It wouldn’t be so frustrating were it not so ubiquitous.
This is a good argument for monsters being monsters. I've always wanted to know, though, if "great evil was to be expected [from Loki’s children]," then why is Sleipnir described as the greatest horse in the same text? Why does Odin ride Sleipnir, and why is Grani, Sigurd's horse, descended from Sleipnir and by extension descended from Loki?
This is a really good question and I can only give you a theory as a response, in lieu of just saying “myths aren’t always logically consistent.” My suspicion is that it’s because Loki is the mother in this scenario and Sleipnir, as a son, is inheriting his father’s nature. He is thus more alike with Svaðilfari than he is alike with Loki.
what a treat to have come across your work through this article - wonderfully written & thought provoking
That Twilight of the Gods "mess" seemed to me the exact same online proselytizing we see from Christians in regards to Reconstructionists:
"cOnVeRt LiKe YuR aNcEStOrS"
Zack Snyder out here ruining more properties, as usual.
"We are all foreigners to ancient culture" is such a beautiful quote that will most definitely stay with me. This is a beautifully impassioned dissection of modern storytellers' use of myth.