Mythology Story Time #2

We've been discussing mythology and exploring mythological creatures quite a bit.  One thing that we learned together was that mythology is not just about monsters and creatures, but "Myths are stories that have been told over hundreds of years to help explain why the world works the way it does" (Introduction to Mythology for Kids by Zachary Hamby) and how "things" were created. In order to explore this concept a bit more, I have been searching for different versions of some stories we had already read (e.g. Finn MacCool/Benandonner and the Giant's Causeway, Anansi the Spider, centaurs, etc.).  I also wanted to find stories that might be represented in a variety of cultures.  Myths are rooted in oral story telling traditions and have been passed down through many generations, and also vary depending on location/culture.  How incredible that we can find so many cultures represented in stories about so many things (e.g. the creation of the universe, the origins and inner workings of volcanoes, etc.). 

​Giacomo, who is particularly interested in big concepts, how things work, the history of the world/universe, and discussing the factual origins/fantasy of these things, inspired some of my research.  I was thrilled to find two new books for our story time calls.  

1. Introduction to Mythology for Kids: Legendary Stories from Around the World by Zachary Hamby ​

2. Chinese Myths and Legends: The Monkey King and Other Adventure, Retold by Shelley Fu

Finn MacCool Faces a Giant - A Celtic Myth

We started with a different version of one of our favorite Scottish Mythological Creatures.  Our first version is from a Scottish collection of mythological creatures. 

These four images are from our "original" version of the story of the giants.

I wanted to remind you of our first story about the giants. Do you remember our giants, Finn MacCool and Benandonner? They were in our book, “Scottish Mythical Creatures”. I found a different version of the story, and we’ll read that one. - Elyse 
[We read the new story]
“I don’t think that’s how it worked.” - Giacomo, 4.4 years
You know, that was a different version of the story, and can I tell you what I noticed? This is the Celtic version; the Irish version.  The one that we read here is the Scottish version. So I think it’s from two different perspectives. - Elyse
“Wait. Those are where both of the giants lived. The very spooked one is the one called Benandonner.  And that one is Finn McCool.” - Giacomo, 4.4 years 
I think this one is told from the Irish perspective, and I think Finn McCool is more of the hero in the Irish version.  In the Scottish version, Benandonner is more of the hero. That’s the thing about mythology though, there can be similar stories from different cultures. - Elyse

Maui Slows the Sun - A Polynesian Myth

Giacomo, have you seen Moana? The Disney movie with Maui? - Elyse
“We’ve watched the one with the coral reef. I think it was number two or number one. Yeah, yeah, we’ve seen the movie Moana.” - Giacomo, 4.4 years
Well, the new mythology book also has a story about [the same character] Maui from Moana. - Elyse
Saul shared the next day that he had also seen "Moana".  

​“Is that him?” - Giacomo 
This is the illustration of Maui in this book. - Elyse
“But in the movie, he is bigger.” - Giacomo 
I think different illustrators have chosen different ways to draw him. - Elyse
“Have they ever seen him?” - Giacomo
Well, it’s hard to say because Maui is what they call a ‘demi-god’ and he’s part of mythology. - Elyse

Pan Gu and the Creation of the World - A Chinese Myth

In Chinese Myths and Legends, I found a myth about the beginning of the universe, and I remember that you were talking about the universe. - Elyse
“Yeah, but I know how we started tiny, and it grew and grew, and grew until we were human.  Then we started again.” - Giacomo
 So, you were explaining one way that the universe was created, and in our Chinese myths and legends, they have another way to explain it. - Elyse

[right] still shot of Giacomo's reaction to a story about the universe.

​I had to include this short video of Giacomo's reaction because it was so sweet, and I was so glad that he was excited about this find. Since January, Giacomo has discussed what he knows about the size of the universe, what's in it, how it works, how it started, and more.  It was such a joy to be able to share this story with Giacomo and Saul. 

“Elyse? Is this Pan Gu?” - Saul, 3.8 years

“Is Pan Gu still alive?” - Giacomo
Well, it says that his right eye is the sun and his left eye is the moon so that he can look down on his creation. - Elyse
“He was so big that huge drops fell into big holes onto the Earth (to make the oceans), and then they formed the oceans.” - Giacomo
According to this myth, a Chinese myth, this was how the universe was created.  There are myths from other cultures about how the earth was created.  There are some African myths; there are some Greek myths about how the world was created.  A lot of different cultures have stories about these things. - Elyse 

Anansi the Spider - A myth from the Ashanti (West Africa)

In the Chinese myth of Pan Gu, it says that one of his eyes becomes the sun, and the other eye becomes the moon.  This reminded me of the book we read about Anansi the spider, a story from the Ashanti in Africa.  In this story, a globe of light becomes the moon with the help of Nyame, the Ashanti people's God of All Things. 

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“Elyse which book did you brought?” - Saul, 3.8 years 
Well, I was wondering if you remember when we read about ‘Anansi’ the spider and they had the…I forget what they called it. - Elyse
“A globe.” - Saul 
Oh yes, a globe.  You have a good memory.  Do you remember what the globe became in the story? - Elyse
“A moon!” - Saul 
So this was an African story about how the moon came into the sky.  And the one that we just read, the Chinese myth, said that the moon is the eyeball of Pan Gu.
“Can you read it for me because I kind of like it.” - Saul ​

If this is supposed to be the moon, what do you think this is supposed to be? - Elyse
“It’s supposed to be a tree.” - Giacomo 
When I looked at it, I wondered if it was a representation of the Earth with trees on it? - Elyse
“Yeah.” - Saul

“Anansi is not the only spider.  There are all those kid spiders.” - Saul [recalling the story]
“It’s like RIver drinker drank all of the water in the ocean.” - Giacomo 
“So, he was so soft that Anansi didn’t get hurt?” - Giacomo
I think his head lands on top of Cushion, his sixth son. - Elyse
In the Ashanti culture, Nyame is like Pan Gu from the Chinese culture; or I think that’s what I understand. - Elyse 

​We didn't read this one, but the new book also has a different story about Anansi. 

We finished off our last virtual day with Giacomo by watching a new Loch Ness Monster video.  It was the perfect bookend, as Giacomo's interest in the Loch Ness Monster is what sparked our journey through mythology these past 4 months.  As Giacomo returns to campus, and his Rainey Room B pod, Saul and I will continue to explore different mythological stories/creatures.

Giacomo, we will miss you SO much, and we hope to check in with you soon!