The Mythological Pantheon of Ancient Islands: Cosmic Sharks and Whale Riders

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Gods Forgotten Mount Sea Mountain Frozen Ocean

The Mythological Pantheon of Ancient Islands: Cosmic Sharks and Whale Riders

Complicated words and pictures printed on parents’ newspapers mean absolutely nothing in the imaginative realm of children; however magical beings, fantastic creatures and obscure landscapes featuring in myths and folklore, all make perfect sense. Children all over the world are read stories of heroes following winding rivers and venturing to mystical islands where they battle bizarre oceanic creatures and while the protagonists’ characters and personalities lead the charge in these myths, water is a primordial mythological symbol of life, cleansing and rebirth. In myths and folklore, water represents the mystery, infinity, transitional and eternal nature of creation, thus, the hero’s voyage to a magical island becomes the pioneering journey of inner space and cosmic time.

Part of an old sea chart made by Albino de Canepa, showing the mythological islands Antillia and Roillo. (Public Domain)

Part of an old sea chart made by Albino de Canepa, showing the mythological islands Antillia and Roillo. (Public Domain)

Archetype of the Hero’s Journey

Mythologists, historians, archaeologists and anthropologists discover archetypes such as; the hero, the sage, the god, the trickster and the child in the mythological corpus of cultures all over the world. These characters are usually featured clashing with giant serpents, enduring floods, being seduced by treasures and demons disguised as virginal maidens; all the way living what has been defined as ‘the hero’s journey’ from birth, through life and to completion in death. Essentially, the mythological hero goes on an adventure and is victorious in a decisive crisis before coming home transformed and bringing the gifts of his new wisdom.


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