Guest Author - Elizabeth Bissette

THIS WEEK'S NEWSLETTER

CREATURE FEATURE: The Chimera of Ancient Greece

A Chimera is a creature that combines characteristics of several different animals. In ancient Greece, Homer and Hesiod describe these as a lion, goat, and snake. Sometimes they have multiple heads.

Though the qualities aren't as clear in the Greek version than in the Ancient Near East, in the Chimera we see the four elements: earth, (goat), air, (wings, which they have in other cultures), fire, (lion) and water, (snake) represented. The Chimera is therefore often depicted as an embodiment of the Zodiac. (Astrology was central to the mythologies and religions of many ancient peoples.)

The Chimera is described by the above-named bestselling authors of the ancient world as female and of divine origin. Her father was Typhon, a giant, and her mother was a half-serpant woman named Echinda. Completing the somewhat gruesome family were her brothers, Cerberus and Orthus, multi-headed dogs, (Cerebrus was the hound of Hell), and Hydra the nine-headed snake.

A hero named Bellerophon killed the Chimera. He flew over her on Pegasus, (who I know you've heard of even if you didn't know who Bellerphron was till now), so avoided her flaming breath. Bellerphron is also said to have defeated Amazons, (a bit of a misogynist I'm thinking). He died blind, lame and cursed. Moral of the story: Don't mess with a Chimera

HOT OFF THE PRESS: "Innana, Lady of the Largest Heart: Poems of the Sumerian
High Priestess, Enheduanna" by Betty De Shong Meador

This is the first translation ever of the very first writer we know of, AND, Olympia Dukakis has performed in a CA staged reading based on the poems. Myth and modern times meet.

The book is a fantastic, contemporary translation that communicates ancient ideas clearly and beautifully without being archaic in the least bit. I've just started reading it and already the myth of the temple prostitute is being dismissed in a most intelligent way. It's about timet. Too bad it's taken us 3,000 years, but better late than never. Check back for a review and an interview with Ms. Meador.

SITE OF THE WEEK: Sacred Texts.com http://www.sacred-texts.com/index.htm

This site, an on-line sacred text archive, features every imaginable religion and mythology in the world. The full text of the sacred works of each are linked to on-site. One of the best resources on the web for mythology enthusiasts.

THE ARMCHAIR SCHOLAR: mythology, archaeology & antiquities related t.v. listings coming soon!

SOUNDS GOOD: links to new recordings of the fantastic songs featured in the American Mythology series, coming soon!

ARCHAEOLOGY & ANTIQUITIES NEWS:

The lawyer who prosecuted Puff Daddy is now prosecuting those who have stolen antiquities in Iraq: http://www.philly.com/mld/inquirer/news/magazine/daily/13977604.htm

Meanwhile, U.S. museums are under fire for the way they have obtained antiquities from Greece, Rome and Peru: http://www.chinapost.com.tw/art/detail.asp?onNews=&GRP=H&id=78396

The existance of the lost land of Punt, a fabled trading center, has been proven. Archaeologists have found the oldest remains of ships in the world, along with boxes of cargo from the mythic place. The ships were sent by Egypt's Queen Hatshepsut, I believe the mother of Nefertitti: http://www.physorg.com/news11247.html

Scientists have found that Neanderthals became extinct more quickly than we thought: http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/asection/la-sci-neanderthal25feb25,1,2015889.story?coll=la-news-a_section

Speaking of which, archaeologists have found tools that may be 250,000 years old: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/hampshire/4782012.stm