An Easter poem

I would actually like to do this. I do enjoy longer poems too, like The Hunting of the Snark, The Rime of the Ancient Mariner, and The Lay of Leithian (a book long poem Tolkien did of one of his Silmarilian stories). I'll try read it over the holidays.

Thanks Cinnabar Wing, I'm not usually a poetry fan, but there are a few I like, apart from the Anglo-Saxon ones, which interest me more from an historical perspective about how they thought about the world.

I'm also a big fan of The Emporors Babe, by Bernadine Evaristo and Sekhment by Margaret Attwood..

Back from walking the kids and being made to scramble up muddy banks in the wood, so a sit down with a cuppa and reading it was just right. 

I'm not religious, so I hope I don't offend anyone, but know it all from school. I found it really interesting that the poem centers around the tree, the cross and it's part in the crucifixion story. The melding of the differing views of it, from the gilded and jewel bedecked to the simple bloodied base wood of the tree. The idea and symbolism of the tree itself was an interesting take on a story people have heard many times and gives space for different ways of thinking about it I think.

TheCatWoman said:

whats the difference between a god and an immortal?

The idea of Tuatha Dé Danann as immortal humans with super human powers rather than gods with supernatural powers is mainly because the medieval texts don’t call them gods and the same texts also refer to similar tribes of people with similar powers.

It’s very difficult to find credible academic resources on Tuatha Dé Danann. I found this which looks ok for starters, even if the conclusion wouldn’t be accepted by everyone.  The references look worth checking out. https://ansionnachfionn.com/seanchas-mythology/tuatha-de-danann

TheCatWoman said:

I wonder if the motivations weren't because they were so popular and writing them down and putting a Christian gloss on them was a way of stopping people believing in magic and paganism?

I think that’s possible. The author in the linked article argues that the original name was Tuath Dé which meant “People of the Gods”. This name conflicted with the literal title of the Hebrew Bible’s “People of God”.

I’m open to believing the origin myths first began in Ireland but I am reluctant to commit one way or the other without evidence.

I don’t think the myths originated in Greece either. It’s possible, but I haven’t seen any evidence of it. People took it for granted until recently that Greece and Rome were responsible for making the western world the society it is. The people who lived in what is now Greece were influenced by other cultures such as the Sumerians, Egyptians, Scythians and Thracians. Trade routes were busy with people coming and going places. Some of those cultures bypassed the land that is now Greece to reach Ireland. We are a real mishmash.

TheCatWoman said:

whats the difference between a god and an immortal?

The idea of Tuatha Dé Danann as immortal humans with super human powers rather than gods with supernatural powers is mainly because the medieval texts don’t call them gods and the same texts also refer to similar tribes of people with similar powers.

It’s very difficult to find credible academic resources on Tuatha Dé Danann. I found this which looks ok for starters, even if the conclusion wouldn’t be accepted by everyone.  The references look worth checking out. https://ansionnachfionn.com/seanchas-mythology/tuatha-de-danann

TheCatWoman said:

I wonder if the motivations weren't because they were so popular and writing them down and putting a Christian gloss on them was a way of stopping people believing in magic and paganism?

I think that’s possible. The author in the linked article argues that the original name was Tuath Dé which meant “People of the Gods”. This name conflicted with the literal title of the Hebrew Bible’s “People of God”.

I’m open to believing the origin myths first began in Ireland but I am reluctant to commit one way or the other without evidence.

I don’t think the myths originated in Greece either. It’s possible, but I haven’t seen any evidence of it. People took it for granted until recently that Greece and Rome were responsible for making the western world the society it is. The people who lived in what is now Greece were influenced by other cultures such as the Sumerians, Egyptians, Scythians and Thracians. Trade routes were busy with people coming and going places. Some of those cultures bypassed the land that is now Greece to reach Ireland. We are a real mishmash.