Anatolian Culture Part 7
Mythology of Turkey

Anatolian Mythology

Poseidon is the creator of thunder but more often the wild horse. In the time of Homer he was called earth-shaker and this name may be related to the sound of horses' hooves. Several stories tell of Poseidon's mating with goddesses in the form of mares.

Dionysus is probably Phrygian in origin as the god and his cult were widely spread. The myth of his birth suggests that his mother was Semele and that he was fathered by Zeus. When Hera, Zeus's wife, learned of Zeus's infidelity and the approaching birth, she disguised herself as Semele's nurse and convinced Semele to demand that Zeus reveal himself in the totality of his godliness to her. Zeus appeared to Semele in the fullness of his thunder and lightning. The appearance struck Semele dead, but just before her death Zeus snatched Dionysus from her womb, cut open his thigh and placed the child therein. Nine months later Dionysus was born from the thigh of Zeus. Dionysus was the so-called "twice-born" from the womb of Semele and the thigh of Zeus.

Dionysus's appearances always seemed to be accompanied by some violent activity that presented a threat to conventional order. As the center of an orgiastic mystical cult, he tended to break the bonds of social life.

Apollo stands in contrast to Dionysus. Whereas Dionysus oriented his devotees to wild orgiastic rites, Apollo was the god of moderation and represented the legal or statutory meaning of religion. Apollo was foremost a god of law in being the source of law. In his role as provider of law, Apollo is to be referred to as the precedents for the gods and laws of the city.

Apollo, like Dionysus, was related to the oracle of Delphi and his devotees there were enthusiastic and ecstatically possessed. W. K. C. Guthrie, in The Greeks and Their Gods, suggests that Apollo originated in Siberia and that the ecstatic powers attached to his cult were derived from the tribal shamanism of that area rather than from the Dionysian cult at Delphi.

Copyright © 1997-2011 Serif Yenen All rights reserved. NO part of the information and materials in this web site may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including copying, recording and storing in any information storage and retrieval system without written permission from Serif Yenen

Disclaimer
While every effort has been made to make this web site as complete and as accurate as possible, this text should only be used as a general guide and not as an original source of information. Comments, suggestions or corrections relating to possible errors both typographical and in terms of content would be much appreciated.
The author shall have neither liability nor responsibility to any person or entity with respect to any loss or damage caused, or alleged to be caused, directly or indirectly by the information contained in this web site.

For more information write to info@turkishodyssey.com
For your advertisements write to ads@turkishodyssey.com