While reading, Metamorphoses,I noticed several different key archetypes that were included throughout the story. It starts out by putting a lot of emphasis on the role of nature throughout the beginning of creation. The archetypes in this story seem to focus much more on archetypes relating to the mind. Ovid makes an example stating, "When whichever god it was had ordered and divided the mass, and collected it into separate parts, he first gathered the earth into a great ball so it was uniform on both sides. Then he ordered the seas to spread and rise in waves in the flowing winds and pour around the costs of the encircled land (p.728)."
I noticed that this particular story seemed to be much more chaotic, and seemed to have destruction taking place before humankind is even made. I know this definitely differs from my beliefs on creation. I've always viewed the creation of the earth and mankind as a delicate and peaceful event. I have quite a bit of friends and peers who seem to have that same belief as well. Jupiter invoking the floodwaters reminded me of the flood in Genesis. "In answer the king of the gods calmed their anxiety, the rest would be his concern, and the promised them a people different from the first, of a marvelous creation." This specific quote reminded me of when God makes the promise to Noah for his work on the arc. The mind is a major archetype in our everyday lives and it seems to have walkways been that way, especially for the gods.
Archetypes, of course, come from the mind which seeks patterns in everything. And Chaos seems to be an archetypal pattern, though it has no pattern itself.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the posts, and please remember to number them: Post 1 ... Post 2 ... etc.