Mother-echidna. Echidna: mythology, animal

Myths of Ancient Greece - this is not just a fairy tale for children, which were read for the night by the little Hellenes. It's not just fantasies that people had fun in the old days in the absence of television and the Internet. This is a whole system of knowledge that could tell how the world works, explain the essence of different phenomena, teach the wisdom of previous generations. Myths taught lives, ridiculed vices, bold heroes and their kindness.

But in these legends there was a place for monsters that could harm not only the person, but also the immortal gods. The activity of the ancient monsters explained many negative situations (for example, the sea and the loss of livestock, the death of travelers and so on). And among these characters honorable (we will not be afraid of this word) the place is occupied by mother Echidna. Who is this and what is it remarkable, read in our article.

Ancestry of an Ancient Behemoth

It is known what Echidna looked like. Mythology paints such a portrait of her: a woman of great stature, who had a beautiful face. Her body was snake-covered with spots. This creature combined in itself both feminine charms and fierce disposition. Sometimes it was called a hundred-headed, but perhaps it was an epithet reflecting different traits of its character (women are impermanent). Some authors claimed that Echidna had gnawed into the light from the womb of her mother, and, having grown up, abducted travelers.

The female guise of evil

It is known what Echidna looked like. Mythology paints such a portrait of her: a woman of great stature, who had a beautiful face. Her body was snake-covered with spots. This creature combined in itself both feminine charms and ferocious temper. Sometimes it was called a hundred-headed, but perhaps it was an epithet reflecting different traits of its character (women are impermanent!). Some authors claimed that Echidna had gnawed into the light from the womb of her mother, and, having grown up, abducted travelers.

Some more facts

Echidna dwelt far from people and gods in the Cilician Arima (Arima), lying in her underground cave. Such an "address" of the being was pointed out by Homer.

According to one version, she was immortal. Zeus left her on Earth after his victory over the Titans, so that she and her descendants could challenge the heroes (according to Hesiod). However, there are myths that describe the death of Echidna at the hands of Hercules, Bellerophon, Argus or Oedipus.

A number of researchers consider Echidna a chthonic deity whose power is embodied in his descendants. Therefore, when the heroes killed the monsters that were born to her, the mother also gradually died. This state of things marked the victory of heroic mythology over the fear of the surrounding world.

Mother of monsters in other cultures

Such a terrible and beautiful character at the same time existed not only in the imagination of the ancient Greeks. The Gauls conquered by the Roman legions took over their belief in the terrible Echidna and spread them to the territory of Europe. In southern France, for example, there were legends about a fiery serpent (monster Vuivre). To the waist, it resembled a girl, and from the waist - a crocodile. On the forehead the creature wore the precious stone of the carbuncle, which it took off while bathing. If a person could manage to get hold of this mineral, he could find out where the treasures are buried. But only Vuivre ran very fast, so no mortal could boast of such prey: everyone was overtaken and killed.

The Birth of Echidna

Echidna was a mother of many children, and all her children terrified mortals. She had many husbands, she gave birth to some legends even from her son. Among the descendants of snake women appear:

• Dog Orff with two heads;
• Three-headed dog Cerberus;
• Lernaean hydra;
• Sphinx;
• Chimera;
• The Nemean lion;
• The Colchis Dragon, killed by Jason;
• Efon (the eagle Zeus sent to peck the liver of Prometheus).

Each of these characters is found in the pages of ancient Greek myths. Almost all the children of Echidna were killed by earthly heroes (demigods), but some served the gods. For example, Cerberus protected the underworld of Hades. The Nemean lion and the Lernaean hydra were killed by Hercules (two of the hero's twelve feats). True, in the case of the polyhydric hydra, the son of Zeus was assisted by a friend of Iolaus and the patroness of Athena.

Modern interpretation

Today the name mother Echidna means not only a mythical creature with terrible features. It has other interpretations, some of them are positive. For example, the so-called Russian company, founded in 2006. Her specialization is sewing of high-quality slings, clothes for pregnant and lactating women, children's things. Agree that there is no room for negativity or all sorts of fears.

What does "mother Echidna" mean? Often referred to as a combination of women with a special attitude to the child. Bad or good, we'll figure it out. So, this mother brings up the child in conditions that are as close as possible to the natural. Firstly, she does not wash her children several times a day, does not wash excessively the floor in the nursery, does not sterilize the toys and chest before each feeding. She will not change the pampers in two hours, if he does not get dirty, he will not walk five hours a day. Many people will say that this is a bad and lazy mother, but let's look at it from the other side. Now many medical luminaries consider excessive infatuation with cleanliness harmful. Therefore, Echidna has exactly the approach that best suits children.

According to mythology, the mother of Echidna had very difficult children. For example, the Sphinx girl puzzled people with riddles, and if they did not find the answer, she killed (maybe why did she just want to know what's inside?). Cerberus was aggressive, but if he had not been put on a chain, he might not have rushed at all. Chimera suffered from colic and heartburn - typical childhood troubles. Many of the descendants of Echidna had a vivid individuality. And the mother herself was beautiful, that is, she managed to watch herself.

Animal world

In the animal kingdom there is also such a small animal, which is called malicious. This amazing creature lives in Australia. It unpretentious, sleeps, burying itself in the ground, prettied with paws and eats small living organisms (ants, worms). Having carried the egg, the animal carries it in the bag until the baby hatches. The baby echidna feeds her own milk and then carries it in a bag until needles appear on his back. That is, until he needs it. Then the mother sends the child to an independent life, and he is ready for all sorts of tests.

It is also known that before the nineteenth century snake called poisonous snakes. On the same Green Continent still lives a species of reptiles, which are called malicious. But such snakes do not attack people themselves, they only become aggressive if they offend children or step on its tail. Then they can bite, but then, as they say, the person is to blame.

Summarize

So, Echidna is portrayed as a mother of many monsters by mythology. Nevertheless, she loves her children, cares for them and brings them up special. Perhaps, in myths, this individuality of man was opposed to the society. To be different from everyone is bad, so the children of Echidna were considered monsters and monsters. Such monsters were a minority, and they were defeated by the majority, that is, by heroes and ordinary people. But this is exclusively the opinion of the author, which may not coincide with the point of view of the reader. However, any reasoned opinion has the right to exist.