Original Myth: the Last Female Satyr02:13 Aug 20 2006
Times Read: 708
Long ago, in the days when the gods still walked on the Earth, a satyr and a nymph fell in love. Not surprisingly, a short nine months later a child was born to them. It had the hind legs of a goat, and the upper body of a human. Short goat horns grew from its head. In fact, it was a satyr in every way but one. The child was a girl. Her parents named her Tyra, and raised her with love and affection.
When she reached her fifteenth year, she left her parents, and began her life as a wild satyr. She loved the woods, and could spend hours just walking through the trees. She lived a rather solitary existence in the woods, but did not truly care. She loved to feel the power which being alone brought her. However, a female satyr was such an oddity that she soon attracted the attention of certain Olympians.
Bacchus was the first to approach her with an offer. "Join my wild band of satyrs and Maenads, Tyra. We shall travel the world, teaching men to cultivate vines and to worship me. With me, Tyra, you shall have freedom. As a wild satyr, you belong in my group of followers.
Tyra sneered. "I do not wish to spend my life drinking and reveling with you, Bacchus. If I followed you, I would have the freedom of a drunk, bound forever to the wine that you serve. I am sorry, Loud-Roaring Bacchus, but I decline your offer." And Bacchus was forced to accept her decision as the next offering was made by the wood's mistress, Diana.
"Your love of freedom is admirable, Tyra. I invite you to join my band of young virgins, free to hunt the forests forever. I know that you have never fallen prey to Venus’s power, so you should fit right in with us."
Tyra could not help but laugh. "Hah! Diana, what you see as freedom, I see as just another trap. Your untouched hunters are trapped by their refusal to enjoy men. Although you say that no man can own you, you have all allowed yourselves to be owned by your hatred of men. I decline your offer as well, huntress."
Minerva pushed past her sister, certain that this oddity would be swayed by her words. "Tyra, you are taken in neither by the love of drink, nor the love of hunting. Your arguments to the other immortals are wise beyond your years. Perhaps you could become a follower of me. You could use your wisdom to help men, and make their lives better; you could help me to advance civilization."
But Tyra had an argument for even this goddess. "Grey-eyed Minerva, your offer does not interest me either. The city will deprive me of my freedom faster than joining either Bacchus or Diana. Civilization can only force me to relinquish my sovereignty. With all of your wisdom, I am surprised that you did not see this coming."
Tyra was growing tired of what she saw as attempts to restrict her freedom, and she did not notice Minerva’s anger at her curt refusal. But she could not punish Tyra, because Tyra was still being propositioned by the gods.
Mars had been listening closely to Tyra's refusal to the other gods, and had his plan ready. "You may have whatever freedom you wish, Tyra. I am the god of war. If you follow me, you shall be in control of your own life, and if anyone tries to quash your freedom, you can kill them."
The mention of killing that would have put off a proper woman only seemed to ignite a spark in Tyra's eye. "Mars, you have won me to your worship. Teach me the ways of war, and I shall follow you."
Mars taught Tyra to fight, and had Vulcan make a suit of armor for her before he unleashed her upon the world. She gathered together an army of satyrs, centaurs, and mortal men, and she began an attack on some of the great cities of the ancient world. She eventually brought her army to Athens, Greece, and settled herself to the systematic destruction of its people. Mars enjoyed Tyra’s exploits, because he was so hated by the Greeks. They called him Aries, and characterized him as a coward, a bully, and a hateful god. Mars was glad to see the Greek people crushed beneath the heels of his favorite disciple. But Minerva, who had held her anger at Tyra inside, not wanting to anger Mars or to seem jealous that Tyra had rejected her, could not take the destruction of her people. She went to see her father.
"Jove! Father! I need to talk to you!"
Jove smiled indulgently at his favorite child. "Yes, Minerva? What’s wrong?"
"Father, as you know, I am the goddess of the city Athens. The Greek people know me as Athena, and named their great city after me. But the follower of your son Mars is destroying my city! Daddy, help me! Don’t let Tyra continue to destroy my people!"
Jove did not care much for Mars, his only son with Juno, so he sided with Minerva. He flung his lightning down to Tyra, and sent her to the Underworld. She was enraged with her death, and did not follow the path that all mortal souls must travel in order to be judged. She instead turned back to the world of the living. Mars met her at the entrance to the world.
"Tyra, I am so sorry. Jove destroyed you because you were upsetting Minerva. Although you have returned from the world of the dead, your body was destroyed by Jove’s lightning. There are few options left to you. You can travel the world of the dead as a soul, you can wander the world of the living as a ghost, or . . . you can return to Olympus with me, on two conditions."
Tyra saw no real choice but to hear those conditions. She was not ready to die. "I regret being unable to continue my rewarding relationship with you as your student. I will return with you to Olympus, if you tell me what the conditions are."
"Jove has decreed that women are unable to contain the love of freedom and capacity for violence that resides within satyrs. No more satyrs will ever be born female. Also, on Olympus, you will be deified. You will represent the times that women are full of violence and will not allow themselves to be controlled." Mars could not help but smile at the second of the conditions, even as Tyra nodded her acceptance.
Tyra went to Olympus, where she was deified, and became the goddess of PMS. Every month, women remember the freedom and violence of Tyra, beloved disciple of Mars, god of war.
Please note: this is an original myth that I created for a class. I fully illustrated it in anime style; the pictures I drew are located in my portfolio.
COMMENTS
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Serebro
02:20 Jan 13 2008
I love this myth so much that I've put it on the Coven's Shamelessly Bragging page under Stories, with a note that it is under your copyright and a link back to your profile.