59-Greek Myths: The Violence of Our Ancestors

The story of Faust and his infamous deal is one that has survived for hundreds of years. Beginning as whispers in Germany in the 1500s, it grew to plays and, most famously, a play by the German writer Goethe, largely considered to be one of the greatest works of German literature.  The story has been done and redone, and the phase Faustian bargain is still in use to this day. In today's episode, we're getting back to the very beginning - to the legends behind the masterpieces, and the story of a doctor who just wanted every question answered and desire granted. Was that too much to ask? If you don't mind trading your soul, apparently it's not too much to ask.  The creature this week is the onocentaur...a sad donkey centaur that needs to put down whatever he's carrying in order to run like a weird little bug.  --  Music: "Cover Letter" by Blue Dot Sessions "The 49th Street Galleria" by Chris Zabriskie Support the show: https://www.mythpodcast.com/membership

14 Aug 201932min

From the end of the world to the underworld and Armageddon itself, Kalevipoeg does way too many things.  The creature will throw acres of caustic feces in your direction.  Support the show: https://www.mythpodcast.com/membership

7 Aug 201933min

From the Estonian epic, the Kalevipoeg, comes the story of, well, Kalevipoeg, the son of a giant who battles sorcerers who are trying to get with his mom and throws rocks the size of Volkswagens to win the kingship, all while trying to carve out a place in the world for his people and his homeland.  The creature this week is an annoying piggyback ride from a stranger in the dark forest and why you should go along with that. - --  Music: “Light Filtering Canopy” by Chad Crouch “The Pond” by Chad Crouch “Li Fonte” by Blue Dot Sessions “Palladian” by Blue Dot Sessions “Rainday” by Blue Dot Sessions “Daymaze” by Blue Dot Sessions Support the show: https://www.mythpodcast.com/membership

31 Juli 201928min

Why you absolutely should take the biggest peach you can find in the supermarket and sing to it. It might just hatch a baby! Unfortunately your fairy tale baby will do what fairy tale babies do: grow up and hear that call to adventure, going out to seek their fortune, taking no more than a plucky attitude and an angry dog to battle the evils of the world.  The creature this time is Batman...if Batman was a literal bat who turned into an old man.  —  Music  “Adventure” by Chad Crouch “Coin Op” by Chad Crouch “Periwinkle” by Chad Crouch “Chyrsalis” by Podington Bear “Gambrel” by Blue Dot Sessions “Holding Hands” by Podington Bear

17 Juli 201939min

The monkey king has done it all: he was immortal, he had allied with all the mythological creatures he could find, and he controlled an army 40,000 strong...but heaven didn't care about any of that. They were coming for him, whether or not it was legal, and there was nothing he could do to stop them.  The creature this week is a big, angry, hairy unicorn with a...weird surprise.  --  Music: “Cicle Desert” by Blue Dot Sessions “Wide Eyes” by Chad Crouch “Illustrated Novel” by Chad Crouch “Pythagoras” by Podington Bear “Crosswire” by Blue Dot Sessions “Lunette (interlude)” by Blue Dot Sessions Support the show: https://www.mythpodcast.com/membership

10 Juli 201937min

Sun Wukong, the (Handsome) Monkey King, is both an actual monkey and an actual king…and presumably handsome according to whatever standard that is judged. One of the most famous anti-heroes of Chinese literature, we start his story, and the story of the extremely famous “Journey to the West” at the beginning, with the story of the monkey’s rock mom on the Flower-Fruit mountain.  The creature this week is the ningyo, the human fish. It’s neither human nor a fish, but it is a tired introvert who just wants some me time.  -- Music: “Rice” by Chad Crouch “Peanut Shells” by Chad Crouch “Dim” by Chad Crouch “City Lights” by Chad Crouch “B-Roll” by Chad Crouch “The Gloaming” by Chad Crouch “Lunette” by Blue Dot Sessions Support the show: https://www.mythpodcast.com/membership

3 Juli 201935min

A dark story gets darker as Antigone battles an authoritarian state in the form of her uncle Creon.  --  All music by Blue Dot Sessions Support the show: https://www.mythpodcast.com/membership

26 Juni 201931min

When we last left the Oedipus family, they all found out they were more related than they ever thought possible. It's somehow about to get even worse.  -- Music: "An Unknown Visitor" by Blue Dot Sessions "Daisy" by Chad Crouch "Lilac" by Chad Crouch "Seafoam" by Chad Crouch "Trailrunner" by Blue Dot Sessions "Dasher" by Blue Dot Sessions Support the show: https://www.mythpodcast.com/membership

19 Juni 201935min