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Comment
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Carrie
Unregistered User
(2/10/03 8:08:55 am)
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Moths -- And Other Animals Associated with Death
I can't find the thread, but I recall a post on moths and I happened to come across this little tidbit -- also from Lorie.
Death's Head Hawk Moth
Sometimes a superstition arose from the principle of like-makes-like. In this case the strange, skull-like pattern on the back of the Hawk moth lent credence to a belief that it was a damned soul returned to the scene of its past. From Moses Harris's The Aurelian 1766, Natural History Museum Library, London.
I find this interesting as a topic in itself. I know Owls are thought to be dead warriors in Native American traditions and I believe I once heard that bears hold the souls of the Apache. Comments?
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Jess
Unregistered User
(2/10/03 8:38:34 am)
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Death-watch beetles
From Borror and White, "A Field Guide to the Insects of American North of Mexico", pg. 188:
Nearly all anobiids feed exclusively on plant materials as larvae and adults. Many bore into seasoned wood; some are found indoors after having emerged from furniture, woodwork, flooring, or timbers. Some species produce a ticking sound in their burrows. Superstitious people, thinking this a portent of death, have called these insects "death-watch" beetles.
Jess
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Carrie
Unregistered User
(2/10/03 9:33:35 am)
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death watch
Jess,
Is that what was being alluded to in Practical Magic? Where did you find this? Any other insects you know of that have these kinds of connotations?
I have this info -- these are excerpts from a story I wrote on butterfly myths for Arizona Highways magazine:
The butterfly has symbolized the human soul since antiquity. The Russian name for these colorful creatures is babochka and the Ancient Greeks called them psyche – both words for the soul. The common name of the butterfly comes from the Anglo Saxon word buterfleoge for “butter” and “flying creature,” which linguists believe was the way of identifying Europe’s common yellow brimstone butterfly...
However, the butterfly assumed a more menacing aspect to the Aztecs in Mexico. The goddess Itzpapálotl, or Obsidian Butterfly, was represented as a strong ferocious goddess with butterfly wings and big claws on her hands and feet. In Mexico, many people still believe that a black butterfly at the door portends an impending death...
In the spring, the Apache sing the sorrowful song of the Flower Maiden, which also details the creation of the butterfly:
In the first days of the people, many warriors sought the favor of the beautiful Flower Maiden. But of them all, she loved only two – Hidden Love and Iron Courage. They each contended for her love, but not even the Sky Father could help her make the choice. Then fate stepped in and both warriors were called to a great battle against invaders coming from the north. Flower Maiden bid them each good-bye with a heavy heart. Many months passed as she waited for her warriors to return, but when the war party rode back into camp, neither of her loved ones returned with the victorious.
Flower Maiden, who had lost any chance of happiness, took her tears and set out to find the bodies of the warriors she still loved even in death. She searched the hills and plains for years, sundered from herself in her grief. When she could find neither of her beloved warriors, she pleaded with the Sky Father. “Please help me find their resting place,” she cried. “Please help me find their lost souls.”
“It was not my wish that your promised ones should die,” said the Sky Father. “But with them I also touched many others and in sorrow, I covered all of their bloodied bodies with soil and grass.”
The Flower Maiden lamented. “Then I shall never find them.”
Her sorrow grieved the Sky Father so, he ordered the ground to yield flowers in the colors and patterns of each fallen warrior’s shield to aid Flower Maiden in her lonely search. And when he realized she could not find the battlefield on which her beloved warriors had died in a single lifetime, he turned her into a beautiful butterfly so that each spring her spirit could wander among the flowers in search of her loved ones. And perhaps one day she will find them.
Carrie
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tlchang37
Registered User
(2/10/03 10:39:54 am)
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more moths...
Not a fairy tale contextually, but I recently read Carlos Castenada's "Tales of Power" which features a moth (guardian spirit) fairly prominently. A whole different approach to this topic...
Tara
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Jess
Unregistered User
(2/10/03 11:19:39 am)
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I love the butterfly myths
Carrie,
As my mother is an entomologist by training and profession, we talked insects a lot at home. I am not sure when I first came to know about death-watch beetles. I am sure there are other insects with death myths attached to them. I will ask my mother if she knows any (although she collects cicada myths, I don't think any have to do with death).
The source for my quote is provided, except I made a slight error "American" should read "America". Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Company Boston (1970).
I love the butterfly/moth myths. They are beautiful stories.
Jess
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Carrie
Unregistered User
(2/10/03 3:27:30 pm)
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Cicadas
Jess,
I was unaware that there were cicada myths. What kind of stories are these?
Carrie
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Jess
Unregistered User
(2/10/03 8:18:26 pm)
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Cicada myths
There are several that I know vaguely. The Greek myth involves a
woman with a beautiful voice. One of the goddesses got mad at her
(sound familiar) and changed her into a cicada. There is a S.W.
Native tale about a coyote breaking his teeth on a cicada which
is why his grin is so jagged. I think the Chinese have a few too.
I need to ask my mother. She's the expert.
Jess
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GailS
Unregistered User
(2/10/03 8:45:15 pm)
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Cicada Myths
Weren’t cicadas mentioned in Greek Mythology? Didn’t somebody wish for immortality, but neglect to wish for eternal youth, so the gods changed them into a cicada? Or was it one of the oracles that was changed into a cicada, and kept in a wicker cage to call out their unrecognizable prophecies throughout eternity?
GailS
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Carrie
Unregistered User
(2/11/03 7:35:21 am)
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Cicadas
Jess,
Can you get details on cicada myths - especially in the Southwest?
Carrie
carrie.miner@cox.net
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Jess
Unregistered User
(2/11/03 7:55:24 am)
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I'll see what I can do
Carrie,
I will do my best. I have your email!
Jess
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Ys
Unregistered User
(2/11/03 10:15:44 am)
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Cicada in Greek myths
GailS,
One Greek myth I remember about cicada is the one about Eos and Tithonos: Eos, the Goddess of Dawn, asked Zeus for immortality for the mortal Tithonos, but forgot to ask for eternal youth as well. One of the endings of the myth is that she turned him into a cicada when he became too old.
Hope it helps
Ys
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