Anton Yanaky, Period 6, 1/4/24

Anton Yanaky
Period 6
1/4/24
Modern Mythology 2024
Literacy & Learning


I’m interested in observing and learning how our environment influences our cultures and affects our collective consciousness. Recently, we started our unit on Norse mythology and I can’t help but compare it to Greek mythology, specifically how the climate where they originated from may have shaped them.

Winter and the cold were the bane of ancient societies, there was no technology available to stay warm and food was more difficult to come by. This was less of an issue in Ancient Greece, the mild Mediterranean climate staved off any fear of the winter seasons. Greek art, such as vases and statues, are numerous, suggesting that the absence of harsh weather allowed for a culture that could worry less about death and could afford to pursue intellectual and artistic endeavors. In tandem with that, Greek myth mostly focused on heroics and the exploits of man. A prominent example is Odysseus’ journey and trials on his way from Troy back to his home. In addition, there was also an absence of an apocalypse myth.

In comparison, the Vikings were situated in the far North, where winter was not only crueler but also lasted longer, in addition, that that, being so far north meant that there was less sun throughout the year and in some places, the sun never rose. I believe that these factors shaped Norse mythology to be darker and somber. In contrast to the Greeks, the Norse did have an apocalypse myth, Ragnarok, in which an eternal winter befalls Earth and all of humanity dies. This myth reveals the prevailing anxiousness and uncertainty that the Vikings held during winter, a particular harsh cold spell could have prompted the Norse to think, “What if it won’t ever end?”. The cruel environment that the Vikings endured was reflected in their myths and culture.

To conclude, our environment not only shapes who we are but our culture as a whole. Shared experiences and fears are embedded within our collective consciousnesses.