Similarities of Different World Mythologies
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Different mythologies from different regions of the world have similar patterns which seem to indicate that the idea of the hero is one with a universal message and that derives from a universal impetus in human beings to have someone to look up to, some to serve as a champion, and someone on whom to base a certain philosophical view of life and how to direct it. Yet often these mythologies offer more than similar patterns and have even closer agreement in terms of specific aspects of the stories and lives of heroes. An examination of the Roman version of the story of Hercules and the Celtic myth of Cuchulain shows a number of areas of agreement indicating similar patterns. The agreement is not so close as to imply borrowing, but rather it shows different ways of expressing certain human needs, attitudes, and desires which go into shaping mythology in every society. One of these elements is the simple need for a hero, for someone who is stronger, more powerful, and more daring than the average human being and who serves as a model for the mass of human beings, as a potential savior for a society, as the explanation for various natural phenomena that have been given mythic origins or causes, and so on. The hero is often of divine or semi-divine origin, and the latter is true of both Hercules and Cuchulain. Hercules is the Roman name for the Greek hero Heracles, and his story is told by a number of Roman writers, including Ovid. However, Ovid
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hulain was the chief figure in the court of Conchobar, said to have been the King of Ulster at the beginning of the Christian era. the heroes of this court were members of the Red Branch, called this after a room in Conchobar's palace at Emain Macha. Three of these champions were more prominent and were occasionally rivals--Cuchulain, Conall the victorious, and Loegaire the Triumphant. Cuchulain was the son of the god Lugh, so his origin is semi-divine, like that of Hercules in Roman myth. Also like Hercules, Cuchulain was strong and performed great feats. Cuchulain is also a handsome figure and very attractive to women, which caused Conchobar's warriors to be concerned for their wives (MacCulloch 139-143).
The story of the birth of Cuchulain has actually been confused, for there is more than one version, though in both Cuchulain is of semi-divine origin. His mother was Dechtine, Conchobar's daughter, and interestingly she is also Conchobar's charioteer. She is seduced by the sun god, Lugh, at a remote and mysterious home to which she and her party have been led by the song of a bird. Dechtine learns later through a vision that she is pregnant by Lugh, and this is a matter of considerable embarrassment as she is betrothed
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Some common words found in the essay are:
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Approximate Word count = 3335
Approximate Pages = 13 (250 words per page)
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