Ah! To Forget!
9May 10, 2018 by petrujviljoen
a genie from the lamp of Mnemosyne looming – large, terrible –
a-whimpering I’m a-wishing for the granting of the three wishes:
forgiveness, forgetfulness – peace.
Mnemosyne by Rosetti
Researching an idea for the prompt for this week’s Ink in Thirds, I was dismayed at what seems like a dreadful bruise (perhaps the marks Zeus left after their nine nights together?) in the shadows in the neck of this painting of Mnemosyne by Rosetti – which reminded me of Shiva who drank the poisoned chalise to save the Universe, which reminded of Jesus on the cross to save the people on earth and so on. So many similarities in stories and myths from many cultures.
No, I wouldn’t do that. The story of Mnemosyne exists, using it as metaphor is not endorsing it or saying you believe it. Most mythologies like most religions, I imagine were invented by men to suit the status quo and consolidate the power of the believers. I’m not sure how much comes from our deep psyches. Women mainly not being asked to contribute…
True!!
🙂
The idea of self-sacrifice is common to a lot of mythologies, but the sacrifice is common to all of them. The Greeks were great at sacrificing women and girls…
They were most certainly not the only ones!
No, but they’re the myths we’re supposed to know and love, and I’m afraid I just don’t like them at all.
Neither do I! Terrifying stuff and Psychology expects me to accept mythology, any mythology, as archetype. I really, really, don’t think so!
If you tell me I did by using Mnemosyne as a topic I’ll argue the point.
Except that Jesus’ story is not a myth. 🙂
I wish for peace too.