Hi Bob,
Let me know when you change your views.<g>
Not much changes....atleast not quickly. Let me know if there really was/is a dragon to be slain? Or did we just slay this beast and the markets are going up on the good news?
here's some history:<g>
Praise and thanksgiving to the mountain’s gods and nymphs they gave, and to the prophetess, Themis, then guardian of the oracle [at Delphoi on Mt Parnassos] …
They [Deukalion & Pyrrha] wept together [at the desolation of the world destroyed by the deluge]; then resolved to pray to Powers above and heavenly guidance seek in oracles; and quickly, hand in hand, went to Cephisus’ stream, whose current ran not limpid yet but in his wonted course, and there, in ritual due with holy water sprinkling their heads and clothes, they turned their steps towards the holy shrine (a pale scum fouled its roofs; the altars stood without a flame). They reached the temple steps and then, prostrate with timid lips both kissed the cold wet stone and said: ‘If righteous prayers may move and soften the Powers divine, may turn their wrath away, tell, holy Themis, by what art our race, now lost, may be restored: in thy great mercy hear and grant succour to a world submerged.’
The goddess, pitying, gave her answer: ‘Leave my temple, veil your heads, loosen your robes, and cast behind you your great mother’s bones.’
Long did they wait bewildered, until Pyrrha, breaking the silence first, refused assent and asked the goddess’ pardon, not daring to offend her mother’s ghost by violence to her bones. In vain they sought the hidden meaning, searching to and for the baffling words’ blind coverts. Then at last Prometheus’ son [Deukalion] calmed Epimetheus’ daughter [Pyrrha] with words of cheer: ‘Either my reasoning misleads me or in truth (since oracles are holy and will never counsel crime) the earth is our great mother and the stones within earth’s body surely are the bones the oracle intends. These we must throw over our shoulders as Themis directs.' [They then cast stones over their shoulders which transformed into men and women].” -Metamorphoses 1.321-394
“The giant [Atlas when Herakles was visiting in search of the golden apples of the Hesperides] tgrecalled the oracle which on Parnassus Themis had given: ‘Atlas, a time shall come when from your tree the gold shall be despoiled, and of that spoil a son of Jove [Zeus] shall boast.’ In fear he had walled his orchards all around with massive ramparts and for guardian set an enormous dragon.” –Metamorphoses 4.643f
....etc. the saga continues....we'll know soon?
~j |
