SISYPHUS CHEATS DEATH

 

                                                                          

 Death is a recurring theme in legends and folklore all round the world. All cultures have tales of great heroes returning from the Underworld or even defying Death itself. These stories remind us to never give in, not even when we face the greatest obstacles.

Sometimes, the protagonist is not a hero and the story has a much darker moral. Le a look at the story of Sisyphus, the man who cheated Death and was punished for it.

ROBIN REDBREAST: MYTH AND REALITY

On the 21st of December winter begins and here the redbreast makes its appearance in the countryside and  gardens becoming the symbol of the cold season. Its colored body stands out on the white of the snow, permitting us to note its presence. Protagonist of legends, myths, anecdotes, poems and standard traditions, the Redbreast is a symbol full of charm and meanings.

THE ARGONAUTS AND THE GOLDEN FLEECE

This month I'd like to share with all of you one of the myths and legends I'm fascinated by, especially because it is connected to one of the constellations, Carina, and its origin. Are you ready for an incredible adventure?

THE LEGEND OF PERCIVAL

Arthur Hacker, Percival with the Grail Cup

Every country, every nation has its own legends and ancient tales and the UK, of course, it’s not an exception.  The Matter of Britain is their legendary epic.

The legend of King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table is not only a worldwide known tale, but also an important part of English literary  heritage. I’d like to talk about one of the most prominent characters of the legend, Sir Percival, in a sort of short story. But, before we start, it’s important to note that there isn’t a single version of the story of Percival. There are lots of them  and they are also contrasting, so, to create a story as coherent and enjoyable as possible, I will use as a basis the story narrated in Perceval, the Story of the Grail, by Chrétienne de Troyes, adding to it, at the same time, some elements from other stories, mainly Parzival by Wolfram von Eschenbach and Le Morte d'Arthur by Sir Thomas Malory.

And now, let’s start.