Tales Of Old: Ancient Rome And Its Myths
Centuries ago, before any investments were made on things such as the first automobile and technology, people already had a knack for being quite innovative and imaginative. Of course, this resourceful and creative nature has undoubtedly helped us survive, but it has also introduced us to other things. With that said, one such notable example would be the art of storytelling.
Especially in the earlier years of man, almost every occurrence and object in the world was unknown. We didn’t know why thunder and lightning came to be only until more recent years, all thanks to science. Even so, that didn’t stop people from explaining these interesting events through tales and legends. Besides the world’s origins, however, these myths were also made with the intention of entertaining and, of course, inspiring anyone who learns about them. Now, without further ado, let’s take a look at some of these accounts that withstood the winds of time.
Apollo And Cassandra
Among the many tales and legends told throughout history, it’s safe to say that Roman mythology takes credit for being one of the most popular. With that said, one such story most of us have heard of at least once would be the Trojan War, where the infamous Trojan Horse was also introduced. The thing is that war probably would’ve gone differently if Apollo and Cassandra’s relationship ended on good terms.
Cassandra was the princess of Troy and the daughter of King Priam. Being the most beautiful among Priam’s daughters, it’s no surprise that she had numerous suitors throughout her time, one of whom was the god of light and music, Apollo. To claim her love, Apollo offered to give Cassandra the power to see the future. Although she happily accepted the gift, the Trojan king’s daughter still rejected the god. Furious, Apollo then placed a curse on Cassandra. Her power to see the future remained, but what good is it if no one believed her prophecies? Well, as fate would have it, one of her predictions was the Trojan War and, of course, the Fall of Troy.
Romulus And Remus
People have always had a high degree of creativity and imagination. Thanks to that, we now have access to hundreds of tales, including this story about the twin brothers Romulus and Remus.
Romulus and Remus were raised by a she-wolf and a woodpecker during their infant years before they were found by a herdsman named Faustulus. As time went on, the twins discovered that their true parents were the god of war, Mars, and Rhea Silvia, the latter being the daughter of Alba Longa’s former king, Numitor. Amulius, Numitor’s younger brother, dethroned him of his seat as the true king. Knowing this, the brothers sided with their grandfather and removed Amulius’ kingship – and along with it, his life. Not long after, they decided to build a city. However, the two couldn’t agree on where it shall stand, which soon led to Remus’ demise by his brother’s hand. With Romulus now being its sole founder, this city was then appropriately named “Rome.”
Pluto, Charon, And The River Styx
Before the first cities were supplied with electricity, people already wondered so much about numerous things. It wasn’t always about the things that can be seen, touched, heard, or smelled. Sometimes, it’s about the things that are beyond what we, as humans, can comprehend. One such example would be the afterlife, the supposed place we go to when we leave the realm of the living. For this subject, the Greeks and the Romans believed in the River Styx, Charon the ferryman, and, of course, Pluto.
Besides being the Roman god of the dead, Pluto was also the ruler of the underworld, where souls reside after they depart from the living. Before entering, though, a soul must pay Charon for safe passage through the River Styx. This payment is often a coin that was placed in the corpse’s mouth before its burial. If Charon doesn’t receive any coin upon arrival, the soul is then left to remain adrift on the river for a hundred years.
Hercules
Of course, it would be a shame if we don’t mention the famous demigod himself, Hercules. Ever since his birth, Hercules already possessed a tremendous degree of strength. In fact, he was even strong enough to strangle two serpents who were sent to kill him – and at that point, he was just a toddler! Since then, he has made numerous achievements throughout his journey, such as slaying the Nemean lion, bringing back the golden apples from the world’s end, and of course, the slaying of the nine-headed Hydra.