On the Creation of man

I am reminded of a myth that I never heard before.

Once, Zeus the King of the Gods, conceived in his mind the idea to create man, and behold, man appeared in his primal form, like unto a chunk of potter’s clay. Aphrodite beheld the clay and said, “Man should be beautiful in form, shapely, proportionate, elegant, a perfect mixture of male and female.” And behold, the man came to resemble the deathless Gods in form. Athene said, “Man should be cunning, able to discern right from wrong, and to think up new solutions to problems.” And the man began to think. Ares said, “The man will need to be courageous and fearless, for we have already made many beasts stronger and more terrible than him.” “But not too fearless,” replied Apollo, “lest he become prideful and contend against us, his makers. Let him ever know his mortal place – but strive to attain the best portion of that place.” And it was so, the man changing as each God spoke a different part of him into being. Hera said, “Let him be just, abiding by his promises, and honoring his commitments all of the days of his life.” Hephaistos said, “With his curiosity and ingenuity, let him be a maker like us, using his hands to build new things.” Hestia said, “The man should make for himself a fine dwelling place, and keep it dutifully and with utmost care, for this will be the center of his world.” Artemis said, “But the man also should feel a kinship with all of the other creatures, and feel joy in the wild places.” Dionysos said, “Let him feel with great intensity, that he might participate in the world around him and not remain aloof.” Eris said, “May there be a great hunger in his belly, which drives him ever onward.” Demeter said, “But may he also find consolation for his suffering.” And Hermes said, “One way that he shall do so is through laughter, as he of all the animals shall be keenly aware of the absurdity of things.” And so it went, each God or Goddess who dwells upon Olympos speaking a blessing which shaped the nature of man.

When finally each had had their say, the Gods beheld man, and saw that he was the measure of all things, the greatest of their creations. But Eros, the child of Aphrodite, came running into the room, chasing a ball that had been tossed for him by Peitho, and in his haste he knocked into the table upon which the man was standing, and he tumbled to the marble floor and shattered into countless pieces. Eros picked up the pieces and tried to fit them together again, but it was no use: they had been broken apart too well. Whereas man had originally been one, now he was many, both male and female, and each piece contained an unequal measure of the blessings of the Gods. So it is that some men are more cunning and creative than others, while some have a greater affinity with Ares and his cruel ways.

And there is another mystery here, for just as Eros was the cause of man’s fall, so too is he the source of man’s desire for unity and wholeness, and it is only through him that we feel a measure of that primal state, wherein our broken pieces are temporarily fitted back together again.

If you like this piece or the work I’m doing here at the House of Vines please consider donating to Rhyd Wildermuth so that he can attend the Polytheist Leadership Conference in July.