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Vangelis

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So recently I have been really enjoying watching videos from Professor Fransesca Stavracopoulou and I wanted to share one of my favourite videos on youtube. She is a professor of Hebrew Bible and Ancient Religion at the University of Exeter. She examines the bible from a professional archaeological point of view, showing how many of the bible stories are not historically verifiable or even misrepresent the actual historical accounts. My personal realisation is that the current Greek religion is just another mythology just as the 12 Greek gods were.

 
So recently I have been really enjoying watching videos from Professor Fransesca Stavracopoulou and I wanted to share one of my favourite videos on youtube. She is a professor of Hebrew Bible and Ancient Religion at the University of Exeter. She examines the bible from a professional archaeological point of view, showing how many of the bible stories are not historically verifiable or even misrepresent the actual historical accounts. My personal realisation is that the current Greek religion is just another mythology just as the 12 Greek gods were.

love the archaeological stories around the bible. Have you read anything by James Tabor, the Jesus Dynasty is fascinating
So recently I have been really enjoying watching videos from Professor Fransesca Stavracopoulou and I wanted to share one of my favourite videos on youtube. She is a professor of Hebrew Bible and Ancient Religion at the University of Exeter. She examines the bible from a professional archaeological point of view, showing how many of the bible stories are not historically verifiable or even misrepresent the actual historical accounts. My personal realisation is that the current Greek religion is just another mythology just as the 12 Greek gods were.

I love the archaeological stories around the bible. Have you read anything by James Tabor? The Jesus Dynasty is a fascinating read, though I’m not knowledgeable enough to have an opinion about how viable the hypotheses are.
 
I love the archaeological stories around the bible. Have you read anything by James Tabor? The Jesus Dynasty is a fascinating read, though I’m not knowledgeable enough to have an opinion about how viable the hypotheses are.

No, I haven't read anything by James Tabor but I have read the New Testament 3 times and large swathes of the Old Testament. Many of the stories in them are apocryphal and to Professor Stavrakopoulou's point, they actually are not archaeologically verifiable. Many of the "scholars" in this field appear to have an agenda to try to prove the stories in the bible actually transpired but the archaeological evidence just isn't there. It is good to see hard investigation in this field rather than those that are trying to make the existing evidence fit the stories. There is no doubt that the xtian bible stories therefore constitute a mythology no different to the Egyptian and Greek mythologies.

What do you think, Laura?
 
No, I haven't read anything by James Tabor but I have read the New Testament 3 times and large swathes of the Old Testament. Many of the stories in them are apocryphal and to Professor Stavrakopoulou's point, they actually are not archaeologically verifiable. Many of the "scholars" in this field appear to have an agenda to try to prove the stories in the bible actually transpired but the archaeological evidence just isn't there. It is good to see hard investigation in this field rather than those that are trying to make the existing evidence fit the stories. There is no doubt that the xtian bible stories therefore constitute a mythology no different to the Egyptian and Greek mythologies.

What do you think, Laura?
In principle, archaeology and other fields of investigation cannot prove much of what is written in the Testaments; they are irrelevant to human deeds/events of the past. For instance, WHAT could prove that Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a donkey? Or that he founded his own church? Probable evidence could be supplied by eye/ear witnesses or photo/sono-graphs. The real ancient existence of Jerusalem and donkeys prove nothing. Rather, text logical analysis shows that many statements/claims cannot be true; they are mythical in nature.
 
In principle, archaeology and other fields of investigation cannot prove much of what is written in the Testaments; they are irrelevant to human deeds/events of the past. For instance, WHAT could prove that Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a donkey? Or that he founded his own church? Probable evidence could be supplied by eye/ear witnesses or photo/sono-graphs. The real ancient existence of Jerusalem and donkeys prove nothing. Rather, text logical analysis shows that many statements/claims cannot be true; they are mythical in nature.
It's true that small events such as a person riding into a town on a donkey or even what that person did and said at various stages of their lives cannot be archaeologically verified. The bible, however, mentions many events such as the Jews working as slaves in Egypt and the subsequent mass exodus and the "great flood" both of which have zero archaeological evidence to support them. The vast majority of the bible is basically apocryphal.
 
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So recently I have been really enjoying watching videos from Professor Fransesca Stavracopoulou and I wanted to share one of my favourite videos on youtube. She is a professor of Hebrew Bible and Ancient Religion at the University of Exeter. She examines the bible from a professional archaeological point of view, showing how many of the bible stories are not historically verifiable or even misrepresent the actual historical accounts. My personal realisation is that the current Greek religion is just another mythology just as the 12 Greek gods were.

I really like this perspective. I think that the more approaches we can take to religion, the better we will be able to analyze it and understand it at face value. It's always good to critically think about the information presented to us before we make conclusions.
 
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Apollo and Artemis Personality Contrasts

I’ve always been fascinated by Apollo and Artemis, especially the contrast between them as twins. On the surface they share so much, archery, associations with youth, strong connections to nature, but symbolically they seem almost like opposites in some ways. Apollo often represents order, reason, light, music, and prophecy, while Artemis feels more wild, instinctive, independent, and tied to the untamed natural world.

I’m curious how others interpret their relationship and balance. Do you see them as complementary forces, like civilization and wilderness, or more as two expressions of similar divine energy? And are there specific myths that you think best highlight their differences or similarities?

I’d love to hear perspectives, especially from people who study mythology more deeply or look at the symbolic meanings behind the gods.

Athena and the Story of Athens

I’m planning a trip to Athens later this year, and I realized I’d love to refresh my memory on the story behind the city, especially how it’s connected to Athena.

I remember that there was some kind of contest between Athena and Poseidon for control of the city, but I’m a little fuzzy on the details. I think it had something to do with gifts they offered, but I’d love a clearer version of the story.

For those who know Greek mythology well, how does the myth actually go, and what’s the significance behind it? Does it still show up in the city today in any meaningful way?

Would love to hear a simple breakdown or any insights before I go!

Favorite Greek hero and why?

I’ve been spending more time lately reading Greek mythology, and I keep coming back to how different the heroes are from one another. Some rely on strength, others on intelligence, and some seem almost defined by their flaws as much as their accomplishments. It makes the stories feel more human than I expected.

Personally, I find characters like Odysseus interesting because of the strategy and endurance involved, but I can also see the appeal of someone like Heracles with the raw physical trials. Achilles is another one who’s hard to ignore because of the intensity and tragedy built into his story.

I’m curious which Greek hero stands out most to others and what draws you to them. Is it their personality, their achievements, or the story itself?

Was Corfu Really Homer's Scheria?

I'm hoping to visit Corfu in late summer or early fall, so I've been reading more about the island's mythology before I go. One thing that keeps coming up is the idea that Corfu was Homer's Scheria, home of the Phaeacians in the Odyssey. The more I read, the more fascinated I become.

I know there are different theories, and not everyone agrees that Scheria was actually Corfu. Still, it's fun to imagine Odysseus washing ashore there and meeting Nausicaa before finally returning to Ithaca. It certainly adds another layer to visiting the island.

What do you all think? Do you believe Corfu really inspired Homer's Scheria, or do you think Scheria was meant to be an entirely mythical place? I'd also love recommendations for any sites on Corfu with strong connections to these myths that are worth visiting.

How do I fix an automated workout plan that keeps misaligning progress?

Been trying to stick to this automated workout plan, but the thing keeps throwing my progress all outta whack. One week it thinks I’m superhuman, the next it treats me like I’ve never touched a dumbbell. I’m trying to stay consistent, but the constant misalignment’s messing with my motivation big time. I don’t wanna ditch the whole setup, ’cause when it works, it actually helps me stay on track. Anyone been through this or know how to get these apps to stop freaking out and actually track progress like a normal person? I just want the thing to make sense again.
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