The Aztec and Mayan Civilizations in the Americas Ashley M. Carpenter Western Civilization II National University June 2, 2012 Abstract From 250 A.D. to the late 1500’s A.D. the Mayans and the Aztecs controlled Central and South America. Each was unique, but still shared a few of the same traits. Both had their own calendar system, counting system, and Polytheistic religious beliefs along with similar temples built to worship their deities. While the Aztecs were the most prominent users of human sacrifice, the Mayans also participated in such rituals. A few differences between these civilizations were the social structure, natural resources, and differing cultural strengths.
But she has so many faces, personalities and versions that readers can not really know what is the real and original Morgan. Maybe, there is no right or wrong version. Probably, Morgan was made of a blend of Welsh and Celtics deities and changed by Roman Christians. Marion Zimmer Bradley, in the Mists of Avalon, showed us a Morgan returned to its origins. Morgan, in this version of Arthur’s legend, is again a person that represents the Goddess (not an evil witch).
Meghan Bohles January 11, 2015 Formal Essay Greek mythology and Native American myths are more connected then people may think they are. For one they are polytheist, the belief in, or woship of more then one god. They both make sacrifices to these gods, and they both got run over by other groups of people. These three points are the connection between Atala and Odyssey. In Atala the Native Americans worshiped more than one god, and they are very closely related to the Greek gods.
The Old Norse Religion or Norse Paganism were practised traditions by the Norsemen prior to the Christianization of Scandinavia, dating as far back to roughly 793-1066 CE. This religion was separated, and categorized into three different families; the Æsir, Vanir and Jotnar; these were all polytheistic groups. The Æsir tribe contained some of the best-known Norse Gods and goddesses such as Odin, Thor, Frigg, Tyr, Loki, Baldur, Heimdall, Idun, and Bragi1. These Gods represented kingship, order, craft, etc. The Vanir were Gods and Goddesses such as Freya, Freyr, Njord and the Germanic Goddess Nerthus.
They shared their culture with the Achaens and Dorians of Ancient Greece and Rome but adapted their ways to those of the Indus River valley. The culture that developed as a result of this convergence of cultural beliefs was very different from that of their ancestors. Modern-day Indian spirituality is based on the foundations of Indo-Aryan texts such as the Rig Veda, “one of the oldest Indo-European literary/philosophical works,” and the Upanishads. The focus of the Rig Veda is “rituals and prayers that lead to acceptance of earthly life.” The gods featured in the Rig Veda are “personifications of natural forces” just as the gods of early Greece. The Upanishads takes a turn away from the phenomena of natural forces and focuses on the “inner life and transcendental
Besides their highly decorated shields, daggers, spears, helmets and sword, they also produced superb mirrors, toilet articles, drinking vessels and personal jewelry of exquisite form and decoration. The Celts in Britain used a language derived from a branch of Celtic known as either Brythonic, which gave rise to Welsh, Cornish and Breton; or Goidelic, giving rise to Irish, Scots Gaelic and Manx. At the same time, they brought their religion to Britain, particularly that of the Druids, the guardians of traditions and learning. They believed in “Druids, “the Druids glorified the pursuits of war, feasting and horsemanship. They controlled the calendar and the planting of crops and presided over the religious festivals and rituals that honored local deities.
Halloween is a holiday that most of Europe and North America celebrates to this day. It's original origins can be traced back to Roman times. Even though the etymology of the word, Halloween, is Christian, it is generally thought of to have pagan roots. Halloween is influenced heavily by the Celtic holiday Samhain, meaning “the end of summer”. In both Ireland and Scotland it was a belief that this physical world and the supernatural world were closest during this time, so magical things can happen.
The most common idea associated with the Gundestup Cauldron consists of resurrection. (The re-uniting of the spirit and body of an individual, or the raising of a person from death.) As the piece of European Iron Age silver work, the Gundestup Cauldron has especially high quality workmanship and iconographic variety. So far, scholastic opinions are largely divided into two groups: those who argue for the Goulash origin (Celtic west) and those who argue for the Thracian origin (Lower Danube in southeastern
The beginnings of Arthur as king are an interesting juxtaposition of pagan symbolism and Christian allegory. His removal of Excalibur from the stone reflects heavily on the pagan practice of icon worship, with the sword seen as the ultimate source of magical powers and associated with sovereignty of Great Britain. It is also in this scene of the movie, or excerpt of the legend, that the viewer or reader is simultaneously presented with the idea of Arthur as the “Chosen One”, an almost Christ-like figure with humble beginnings who is destined to be an important part of his world. Just as God had chosen Jesus Christ to spread his good news in the New Testament, to be the dynamic change that brought controversy and contradiction to the Jewish people, it seems there is an external source of power that has deemed Arthur the fated leader of his people; the king that, following the corruption and controversy of his father’s rule, will bring peace and glory to the people of his kingdom. In ascending to the throne, Arthur builds Camelot, his prized castle and fantastic
Today's Halloween customs are thought to have been influenced by folk customs and beliefs from the Celtic-speaking countries, some of which have pagan roots, and others which may be rooted in Celtic Christianity. [32][33] Indeed, Jack Santino, a folklorist, writes that "the sacred and the religious are a fundamental context for understanding Halloween in Northern Ireland, but there was throughout Ireland an uneasy truce existing between customs and beliefs associated with Christianity and those associated with religions that were Irish before Christianity arrived". [34] Historian Nicholas Rogers, exploring the origins of Halloween, notes that while "some folklorists have detected its origins in the Roman feast of Pomona, the goddess of fruits and seeds, or in the festival of the dead called Parentalia, it is more typically linked to the Celtic festival of Samhain", which comes from the Old Irish for "summer's end". [32] Samhain (pronounced SAH-win or SOW-in) was the first and most important of the four quarter days in the medieval Gaelic calendar and was celebrated in Ireland, Scotland and the Isle of Man. [35][36] It was held on or about 31 October – 1 November and kindred festivals were held at the same time of year by the Brittonic Celts; for example Calan Gaeaf (in Wales), Kalan Gwav (in Cornwall) and Kalan Goañv (in Brittany).