Universal Edition 40: Mythology

EDITION 40

FREE

MYTHOLOGY

UNIVERSAL

From The Editor Welcome to another edition of Universal, produced by a team of under 25s who live and work in the City of Kingston, and are just trying our best.

Here at Universal we love nothing better than being able to be creative and what better theme than Mythology to show off our talent! We loved this theme for the story telling, discussions and vibrant illustrations we could create to bring the theme alive.

Edition 40 explores some great stories from Norse mythology and Greek mythology.

We also look in to what mythology actually is and why is it important. We have included some amazing work of arts depicting Medusa and a Yokai Tea Party. You can also check out our article on popular mythology names and maybe learn a few!

Here at Universal we love creating exciting and interesting magazines for you all to enjoy.

This edition really allowed us to go big and bring some mythology stories to life. If you have any themes or ideas for the magazine feel free to let us know or get on board yourself!

Or looking to submit some work?

Please contact Courtney on P: 1300 369 436 E: courtney.mcgill@kingston.vic.gov.au

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UNIVERSAL

EDITION 40

FREE

The Universal Team

MYTHOLOGY

The world can be a crazy place sometimes so we hope this edition allows you to take some time for yourself and enjoy our creation.

Interested in joining the team?

Cover Design by Zoe Alexiades Kingston Youth Services and the Universal team acknowledge the support of the Victorian Government

Contents

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What is mythology?

James Milne

Norse mythology Sarah Montzi

Design Kelly Zheng

Design Bernie Lacognata

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Learning the alphabet with H.P Lovecraft

Is it okay to name your child after Greek gods / goddesses?

Aaliyah Zaph

Writing / Design Sammar Bassal

Design Bernie Lacognata

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Medusa

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Mythological pets vs mundane pets Rochelle Leslie

Illustration Lila Ni

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Myths around the world Zheirraly Bondad Design Bernie Lacognata

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Why is mythology important?

Zheirraly Bondad Design Sammar Bassal

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Design Sammar Bassal

Tefnut

Illustration Sammar Bassal

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Yokai tea party

Illustration Sammar Bassal

WHAT IS MYTHOLOGY? Mythology is a series of myths and stories.

Generally the myth and folktale varies from the different cultures around the globe. For example in China there is Chinese mythology, and in Turkey there is Anatolian mythology etc.

The stories from the mythology are usually based around their gods and have a moral.

In some places, religion has connections with their myths. "Roman religion, also called Roman mythology" -Google. Mythology and religion also influence ways of living and guidelines to the people of that religion.

Myths and religion has also influenced people to make monumental structures known as shrines, temples, or churches; to go and pray and/or pay respects to their gods or leaders. Myths and folktale are not only inspired by natural landmarks or are exaggerated real stories. Some myths are from pictures in the night sky made by stars.

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Written by James Milnes Designed & Illustrated by Kelly Zheng

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A is for...

Arkham House. A publishing firm founded by two of Lovecraft’s closest friends, August Derleth and Donald Wandrei for the sake of publishing Lovecraft’s works 1.

B is for....

Book of Thoth. A scripture mentioned within Lovecraft’s works derive from Egyptian legend 2.

C is for...

Cthulhu. One of Lovecraft’s most iconic creations featured in his best known and loved tale, ‘The call of the Cthulhu’1 .

Sammar Bassal

Learning the alphabet with H.P. Lovecraft When thinking about myths and legends our minds would travel to ancient times and civilisations. However instead of drawing your attention to the myths of Egypt or the tales from Japan, I wanted to draw your attention the existence of the stories written H.P. Lovecraft.

For those who aren’t familiar with the works of H.P Lovecraft, they delve into the dark world of horror and the occult and explore existing as well as self-created mythologies, legends and beliefs.

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While I can’t do justice and explore Lovecraft’s vast amount of writings. I can give you an idea of some of his creations, experiences and influences through something many of us learn as kids. So, here is an introduction to Lovecraft through the alphabet.

D is for...

Dagon. Father god of the Deep Ones. Another Lovecraft invention inspired by fish people 2.

E is for...

Edgar Allan Poe. One of Lovecraft’s inspirations growing up 3.

F is for...

Fans. 40 years after his death Lovecraft received a headstone for his grave through the funding of his fans. However the headstone does not stand where Lovecraft is actually buried7.

G is for...

Gugs. Hairy and Gigantic beings, twenty feet in height who were exiled from an enchanted wood due to their own practices. They are mentioned in his stories ‘Lurker’ and ‘Whippoorwills’ 2.

H is for...

Howard Phillip Lovecraft.

The full name of H.P Lovecraft. 1 I is for...

Innsmouth. One of the many locations included in Lovecraft’s stories.

Others include Dunwich, Arkham and Kingsport 2.

J is for...

Jack Manly. A protagonist in Lovecrafts minor attempts at a romantic comedy titled ‘Sweet Ermengarde’7.

K is for...

Kalem Club. A literary circle formed by Lovecraft with fellow writers and other intellectuals 2.

L is for...

Lewis Theobald. One of Lovecrafts many pen names.

Others included Percy Simple, Edward Softly, Ward Phillips and Humphrey Littlewit7.

R is for...

Racist. While Lovecraft gained recognition for his works, he also gained some for his flaws. Leslie Klinger delivered a speech in Brown University’s Hay Library stating his intense beliefs contributed to the power in his stories, however that is not to say they have created conflict with his fanbase 5.

S is for...

Swan Point Cemetery. Where Lovecraft was buried after his battle with intestinal cancer.

He was buried on March 18 1.

M is for...

Most famous works.

‘The Dunwich Horrow’, ‘The Colour Out of Space’, ‘The Lurking Fear’, ‘At the Mountains of Madness’, ‘The Shadow Out of Time’ and ‘The Call of Cthulhu’ 1.

T is for...

Tsathoggua. A creation of Clark Ashton Smith that makes appearances in some of Lovecraft’s tales such as ‘The Mound’, ‘The Whisperer in Darkness’ and ‘The Horror in the Museum’ 1.

N is for...

Necromicon. An occult manuscript Lovecraft created under his pseudonym Abdul Alhazred 1.

U is for...

Umr at-Tawil. A being who lives in the First Gateway, at the extension of earth which is outside time, and serves as a Guide to the next, or Ultimate Gate. It is heavily cloaked, apparently shaped something like a man, but changeable in shape and half again as large; it moves by gliding or floating 2.

O is for...

Occult. The occult appears throughout Lovecrafts work.

P is for...

Poem of Ulysses (1897).

Lovecraft’s earliest surviving literary work, a paraphrase of the Odyssey in 88 lines of internally rhyming verse 1.

Q is for...

Quotes, see the following.

“The oldest and strongest emotion of mankind is fear, and the oldest and strongest kind of fear is fear of the unknown”. (“Supernatural Horror in Literature”, November 1925 to May 1927) 1.

W is for...

World Fantasy Convention Trophy. Designed by cartoonist Gahan Wilson, the trophy was initially a caricature of Lovecraft 4. The trophy was remodeled in 20166.

X is...not applicable.

Y is for...

Yog Sothoth. Another one of Lovecrafts creations with its own cult following 2.

Z is for...

Zoogs. A race of beings in the world or dream. They are furtive and secretive beings 2.

Bibliography 1www.hplovecraft.com 2www.cthulhufiles.com 3https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/H._P._Lovecraft 4https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Fantasy_Award 5https://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/ archive/2015/08/hp-lovecraft-125/401471/ 6https://lithub.com/we-cant-ignore-h-p-lovecraftswhite-supremacy/ 7https://www.factinate.com/people/lovecraft/

V is for...

Von Junzt. A character in Lovecraft’s stories describes as a German eccentric who lived curiously and died in a grisly and mysterious manner 2.

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Mythology. It’s a word that most people know and upon hearing the word, our minds immediately think of the stories we’ve heard of or learnt.

From the most popular or widespread ones such as greek mythology to the ones specific to our culture (unless you’re Greek). There are many reasons why mythology is still important today, even if some of these stories have been passed down from thousands of years ago.

In general, it plays a significant role in making up each person or groups’ heritage, and for many of us, it reminds us of who we are and where we came from. They tell stories of different cultures and beliefs, in which they address the big questions that humans often ask such as where did we come from, how did we get here, how did it all begin, questions about life and death, and many more. Myths are important in understanding these different cultures and even if you don’t believe in these stories, it’s good to appreciate them for the role they play in other people’s lives.

For the most part, myths are also a good way to teach moral lessons as there’s often an underlying message behind a story. Many would describe a fight between good and evil where the hero tries their best to defeat the villain, and in their journey, the hero learns morals and values that are important and essential in winning the fight. In turn, it gives the listener or reader some wisdom and these morals and values show the right way in leading life as a decent human being. Similarly, on stories with tragic endings, it shows the consequences and eventual fate of the characters who chose the bad decisions, encouraging the listener or reader to avoid making the same mistakes.

In the words of Linda Seger, “A myth is a story that is more than true. Many stories are true because one person, somewhere, at some time, lived it. But a myth is more than true because it is lived by all of us, at some level. It’s a story that connects all of us.”

Why is mythology important?

Zheirraly Bondad

Sources http://www.davidkabraham.com/OldWeb/Beliefs/ Education/mythology.htm http://www.parmaobserver.com/read/2013/02/01/ why-mythology-is-still-important-today http://www.prepublica.com/blog/significancemythology-todays-world/

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Rochelle Leslie

Mythological Pets Vs Mundane Pets Surely everyone’s had the debate at some point about “Cats vs Dogs” but have you ever stopped to have a debate about Mythological vs the Mundane?

All sorts of monsters have appeared throughout Greek mythology and most of the time they’re actually just someone’s oversized pet.

The Cerberus is the world’s most intimidating guard dog and the hydra too, is a giant guard-lizard for the underworld.

It makes you wonder doesn’t it? What would it be like to have your own mythological pet?

This is a great new conversation starter to break out of the “Cats vs Dogs” mould andto help you out we’ve even prepared some comparisons of similar mythological and household pets. This table is just to get you started of course. You’ll have to decide which pet’s better on your own. Happy debating!

CERBERUS

Pros

DOG

Pros

1. Really good guard dog.

2. Probably doesn’t shed much fur.

3. Can be ridden into battle.

4. Will destroy enemies with a single swipe of its paw.

5. 3 dogs in one.

1. Really good guard dog.

2. Probably doesn’t shed much fur.

3. Can be ridden into battle.

4. Will destroy enemies with a single swipe of its paw.

5. 3 dogs in one.

Cons 1. Eats souls of the damned. Hard to source.

2. May accidentally eat your friends.

3. Not a good lap dog.

Too big for proper cuddles.

4. Also not suitable for a small studio apartment.

5. Has trouble playing fetch.

Cons 1. Eats souls of the damned. Hard to source.

2. May accidentally eat your friends.

3. Not a good lap dog.

Too big for proper cuddles.

4. Also not suitable for a small studio apartment.

5. Has trouble playing fetch.

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HYDRA HYDRA

REPTILE REPTILE

HARPIES HARPIES

Pros Pros 1. Good pet to have if 1. Good pet to have if you plan on world you plan on world domination. domination.

2. If not, then it’s just 2. If not, then it’s just really damn cool. really damn cool.

3. Can breathe fire.

3. Can breathe fire.

Very helpful if the Very helpful if the stoves not working. stoves not working.

4. Easy to look after.

4. Easy to look after.

Can find its own Can find its own food. food.

5. It’s basically 5. It’s basically impossible to kill impossible to kill too, so it’s good for too, so it’s good for those who need a those who need a first-time pet. first-time pet.

6. 6. Many pets in one.

6. 6. Many pets in one.

Pros Pros 1. Small and 1. Small and manageable… Unless manageable… Unless it’s a crocodile. it’s a crocodile.

2. Content to sleep all 2. Content to sleep all day under a heat day under a heat lamp. lamp.

3. Can own and take 3. Can own and take care of multiple at care of multiple at once. once.

4. Can be picked up 4. Can be picked up and handled by and handled by children. children.

5. Easy to take to show 5. Easy to take to show and tell. and tell.

Pros Pros 1. Will fly you wherever 1. Will fly you wherever you want to go. you want to go.

2. Can be kept in 2. Can be kept in groups. groups.

3. Will scare away other 3. Will scare away other annoying birds. annoying birds.

4. Will not escape 4. Will not escape through small cracks through small cracks in the window. in the window.

Cons Cons 1. May accidentally 1. May accidentally barbecue you. barbecue you.

2. Requires expensive 2. Requires expensive pet insurance. pet insurance.

3. You may one day 3. You may one day find out what or who find out what or who it’s been eating. it’s been eating.

4. Its blood is 4. Its blood is poisonous. poisonous.

5. Requires a large 5. Requires a large lair or lake to be lair or lake to be installed in back installed in back yard. yard.

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Cons Cons 1. Cannot find its own 1. Cannot find its own food. May require food. May require you to feed it rats or you to feed it rats or insects. insects.

2. Doesn’t breathe fire.

2. Doesn’t breathe fire.

3. Tank requires 3. Tank requires lots of set up and lots of set up and maintenance. maintenance.

4. May actually be 4. May actually be venomous. venomous.

5. Not as cool as a 5. Not as cool as a hydra. hydra.

Cons Cons 1. They don’t stay small 1. They don’t stay small and cute for long. and cute for long.

2. Singing voice is 2. Singing voice is probably terrifying. probably terrifying.

3. May freak out the 3. May freak out the neighbours. neighbours.

4. May also eat the 4. May also eat the neighbours if they neighbours if they escape. escape.

BUDGIES BUDGIES

CHARYBDIS CHARYBDIS

TROPICAL TROPICAL FISH FISH

Pros Pros 1. Small and cute.

1. Small and cute.

2. Can easily keep 2. Can easily keep many at a time. many at a time.

3. Have good singing 3. Have good singing voices. voices.

4. Easily fed bird seed.

4. Easily fed bird seed.

5. Will not eat people if 5. Will not eat people if they escape. they escape.

Pros Pros 1. Is a very interesting 1. Is a very interesting pet. pet.

2. Always a good topic 2. Always a good topic of conversation. of conversation.

3. Can help you hijack 3. Can help you hijack any ship you want. any ship you want.

4. Probably knows all 4. Probably knows all the best wrecks to the best wrecks to snorkel at. (probably snorkel at. (probably also caused them) also caused them) 5. Will help you 5. Will help you conquer the seven conquer the seven seas. seas.

6. Underwater stealth 6. Underwater stealth master. master.

Pros Pros 1. Can be contained in 1. Can be contained in a fishbowl. a fishbowl.

2. Happily cohabitates 2. Happily cohabitates with other fish. with other fish.

3. Only needs a spoon 3. Only needs a spoon of fish food twice a of fish food twice a week. week.

4. Will not leave you 4. Will not leave you liable for property liable for property damage. damage.

5. Come in fresh and 5. Come in fresh and salt-water varieties. salt-water varieties.

6. Very bright colourful.

6. Very bright colourful.

Cons Cons 1. Easy target for cats.

1. Easy target for cats.

2. May easily die of 2. May easily die of shock. shock.

3. Could escape out of 3. Could escape out of open windows and open windows and small spaces. small spaces.

4. Very noisy at times.

4. Very noisy at times.

Cons Cons 1. Will not fit in a 1. Will not fit in a fishbowl. fishbowl.

2. In fact, it cannot be 2. In fact, it cannot be kept at home unless kept at home unless you own an Olympic you own an Olympic sized swimming sized swimming pool. pool.

3. Is a big eater of 3. Is a big eater of everything. everything.

4. May leave you liable 4. May leave you liable for marine property for marine property damage. damage.

5. Will scare other fish 5. Will scare other fish away. away.

6. Salt water only.

6. Salt water only.

Cons Cons 1. Are sometimes very 1. Are sometimes very boring. boring.

2. Will not leave their 2. Will not leave their fish tank to help you fish tank to help you become the next become the next Davey Jones.

Davey Jones.

3. A large tank and 3. A large tank and filter need constant filter need constant maintenance. maintenance.

4. Can be very sensitive 4. Can be very sensitive to changes in water to changes in water temperature. temperature.

5. May eat one another, 5. May eat one another, so choose your fish so choose your fish carefully. carefully.

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HORSE HORSE

Pros Pros 1. Is a horse that can 1. Is a horse that can fly. fly.

2. Extremely magical.

2. Extremely magical.

Probably farts gold Probably farts gold and rainbows. and rainbows.

3. Can be ridden into 3. Can be ridden into battle or around battle or around town. town.

4. Cooler than any 4. Cooler than any normal horse. normal horse.

5. Can carry lightning 5. Can carry lightning bolts. bolts.

6. Symbol of wisdom 6. Symbol of wisdom and fame. and fame.

Cons Cons 1. Usually only comes 1. Usually only comes in one colour. in one colour.

2. May fly away in a 2. May fly away in a thunderstorm. thunderstorm.

3. Will definitely end in 3. Will definitely end in death if you fall off death if you fall off mid-flight. mid-flight.

4. May use its 4. May use its wings to cheat wings to cheat in show jumping in show jumping competitions. competitions.

5. You cannot hold its 5. You cannot hold its lightning bolts. lightning bolts.

6. Very appealing to 6. Very appealing to kidnappers and kidnappers and paparazzi. paparazzi.

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UNICORN UNICORN

Pros Pros 1. There are many 1. There are many varieties of horse to varieties of horse to choose from. choose from.

2. Good for casual joy 2. Good for casual joy rides and dressage rides and dressage events. events.

3. Cannot fly away 3. Cannot fly away when left in a field. when left in a field.

4. Will not be 4. Will not be accused of accused of cheating at equine cheating at equine competitions. competitions.

5. Does not have to 5. Does not have to worry about being worry about being hit by planes. hit by planes.

Cons Cons 1. Cannot fly.

1. Cannot fly.

2. Can be ridden 2. Can be ridden into battle but not into battle but not advised. advised.

3. Does not carry 3. Does not carry lightning bolts. lightning bolts.

4. May get you the 4. May get you the nickname “the horse nickname “the horse person” person” 5. Is probably very high 5. Is probably very high maintenance. maintenance.

T

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GYPTIAN MYTHOLOGY

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Tefnut is a deity of moisture, moist air, dew and rain in Ancient Egyptian religion. She is a leonine deity, and appears as a human with a lioness head.

She was known as Tphenis to the ancient Greeks.

Alongside her father, brother, children, grandchildren, and great-grandchild, she is a member of the Ennead of Heliopolis.

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YOKAI TEA PARTY

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SAMMAR BASSAL