Mythological Origins: Gods, Humanity, and Structuralist Interpretations

Structuralism and Semiotics in Myth Analysis

Key Figures and Concepts

Claude Lévi-Strauss studied the internal structure of myth. He proposed that language consists of minimal units of significance (phonemes), and similarly, myths are composed of minimal units of significance, which he termed mythemes.

The Circles of Paris, including scholars like M. Detienne and J.P. Vernant, also contributed significantly to these fields.

Semiotic Analysis, notably by Roland Barthes, examines how myths often use a different language than usual, composed of these minimal units.

Origin of the Gods: Theogonies

The concept of theogony refers to the origin and genealogy of the gods. Hesiod's Theogony, dating from the 8th century BCE, is a foundational text for Greek mythology.

Other Theogonies

• Hurrian Peoples (Anatolia): Their mythology, influenced by Siberian traditions, describes four generations of gods:
  • Alalu
  • Anu
  • Kumarbi: He castrated Anu and ate his genitals, leading to the prophecy, "your child will dethrone you."
  • Teshub

  The "Song of Ullikummi" tells of Kumarbi's son with a monster rock. Upelluri, a giant, supports the world and cannot be separated from it. Ishtar, the Eastern goddess of love, fails to gain love. The monster is eventually separated with a sickle. The dragon Illuyanka fights another monster, which Teshub ultimately defeats.

• Babylonian Theogony: Enuma Elish

  This epic poem, inspired by Sumerian theogonies, describes the origin of the cosmos from two primordial gods:

  • Tiamat (salt water)
  • Apsu (sweet water)

  Their great-grandchildren, Anu and Ea, cause disturbance. Ea kills Apsu. In response, Tiamat creates monsters to fight Marduk (son of Ea). Marduk defeats Tiamat, dividing her into two: her smooth body forms the sky, and her other parts form the earth.

Hesiod's Theogony: Cosmic Origins

Hesiod's account begins with the primordial entities:

• Chaos
• Gaia (Earth)
• Tartarus
• Eros

From Chaos, formless cosmic principles emerge: Erebus and Night. Gaia (Earth) gives form to the cosmos, bringing forth Pontus (Sea), Uranus (Sky), Mountains, and Nymphs. From Erebus and Night come Aether and Day.

Uranus and Gaia beget 12 Titans, 3 Cyclopes, and 3 Hekatoncheires. Uranus prevents his children from being born. Cronus castrates him: from Uranus's blood on the ground come the Giants, Meliae, and Erinyes. From his severed genitals in the sea, Aphrodite is born.

Cronus and Rhea have six children: Hestia, Demeter, Hera, Hades, Poseidon, and Zeus. Cronus devours them all except Zeus, who is suckled by Amalthea. Eventually, Cronus is made to vomit them up.

Hecate, Cronus, binds, and cycles.

Origin of Man: Anthropogonies

Anthropogony refers to the origin of humanity. Various types of origin myths include:

• Emersion: Humanity arises or emerges directly from the earth.
• Formation or Creation: A god or divine being creates humanity.
• Slaughter-Blood: Humanity originates from contact with the blood or remains of a slain god or other entity.

Hesiod's Account: Pandora

Hesiod describes the origin of women through Pandora, the first woman, created by the gods.

Flood Myths: Pyrrha and Deucalion

The Flood myth features Pyrrha and Deucalion, who repopulate the earth by throwing stones (interpreted as the bones of their grandparents). This is a form of emersion.

Autochthony: Indigenous Origins

Autochthony refers to origin myths where people are said to have sprung from the earth of a specific place. Examples include:

• The Myrmidons (said to have originated from ants, associated with Aeacus).
• Erichthonius (born from Hephaestus's semen on Athena's leg, then raised by Athena).

Orphic Vision of Human Origin

The Orphic vision of human origin states that Dionysus was deceived and eaten by the Titans. Zeus then struck the Titans with lightning, and from their ashes, humanity arose.

Hesiod's Five Ages of Man

Hesiod describes five distinct ages of humanity:

1. Golden Age: Humans lived without toil or sorrow, like gods, and did not age or die.
2. Silver Age: Humans were proud and inferior, living long childhoods and refusing to honor the gods.
3. Bronze Age: A terrible and violent race, they annihilated themselves through warfare.
4. Heroic Age: A noble and brave race of heroes, including those of the Trojan War.
5. Iron Age: The current age, characterized by toil, sorrow, and moral decay.