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Competition in Mythology

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Submitted By mrunc50
Words 2566
Pages 11
World Mythology
LIT 229
Dennis Flanders
Professor Lee

When we think of competition the first thought that comes to mind ids sports. Competition is relevant in many things. Spirts is not the only thing. Competition is engrained in our DNA from the day we are born and we all have a different competitive spirit within. Competition has no racial or gender bias. Competition within has bene around for ages. Competition has shaped many cultures and is an important social building block. Competition is defined as “a contest for some prize, honor, or advantage.” There is no real historical background on competition as it is ingrained within our DNA the day we are born. We are taught at a young age to win, not lose. This is echoed within every culture and seems to be a main similarity within all cultures. Learning the word competition and how to “win” a young age is not always a good thing. Teaching children that winning is the only way is not as helpful to their future as parents may be lead to believe. Competition is prevalent in many situations from test taking to elections. A debatable quote that one may hear is “If you aren’t first, you are last.” Obviously, this isn’t the most accurate picture we should be painting about competition and teaching children but it is what it is and is throughout all cultures. One glaring similarity in regards to competition throughout several cultures is that parents want their children to succeed at any cost and to be the best at everything they do. What we are a culture are not realizing is that the high standards parents set on children at a young age hurts them more than helps. Competition is always going to play a factor in a person’s life ion one aspect or another. It is something we cannot run from. How a culture embraces competition is another thing. The Olympic Games is the biggest competition there is that pits countries against one another and shows who the best is. The rewards of being victorious at the Games is much different nowadays than when the Games were originally set. The stage is also quite different as well. Some say the games were associated with funeral rituals. At Olympia, in particular, some myths credit Zeus with beginning the Games to celebrate a victory over Kronos. Other myths state the hero Pelops began them in honor of Oinomaos. Whichever is the truth, it is known that a large party of Greek education was sport, a healthy body and a competitive spirit. With those three elements present, the Games were bound to be created sooner rather than later. (Cartwright 2013) Sports today are very similar to those played in Ancient Egypt. Inscriptions on monuments depict that the Egyptians took much pleasure in sports and therefore competition. Egyptian sports were peaceful in nature, their intention was physical fitness, as well as pleasure and recreation. While competition may not be present in Egyptian sports, the fire inside the participants was there as it is in all of us, for leisure or not. The general population, including nobles participated on sports. The oldest inscriptions depict Zoser himself participating in the running marathon of the Heb Sed festival. Many organized sports games were confrontational. Some of the favored sports were wrestling, boxing and fencing with sticks, and of these, wrestling was probably favored. However, the early Egyptians seemed to have their own early Olympics, with competition including an early form of hockey, handball, Gymnastics, spear throwing (javelin), weightlifting, various equestrian sports, high jump, swimming competition, boating competitions, archery, long distance running, tug of war and others. There is currently an effort in Luxor to revive some of these old games into a national event. (Binder 2011) The Egyptians were known to partake in such events as fishing, boxing and running. Marathons were recorded in a number of ancient scripts. The running contests played a part in the coronation festivals of Pharaohs. The new king used to run in these ceremonies to reveal his physical strength to the public. Another culture that competition was prominent in was the Romans. While the events the Romans partake in are similar to those of the Egyptians, the level of competition is very different. While the Egyptians took pleasure in the sole fact of getting exercise, the Romans got pleasure out of promoting violence amongst others as a true sign of not just masculinity but their right as a human being. Professional gladiators, slaves and convicted criminals were the main contestants in the brutal sports events which often ended in death. A special school that offered training for the gladiators gave them the advantage in the events. The Amphitheatre was the center of Gladiator fights. (Comp. between AE and Roman sports) As mentioned before, competition does not discriminate. Competition is within us whether we are male or female. To get an advantage at whatever we are doing is a skill we only get better at as we grow. To keep out eye on the prize is important and taught to us at a young age, boy or girl. A myth that represents competition between genders is the myth of the quick footed Atalanta. She was faster than any other human being. The question surrounding Atalanta was whether she should get more praise for her beauty or her quick feet. Atalanta consulted with the oracle and feared for her future, so decided to never marry. Atalanta came up with a plan that prohibited any man from marrying her. The sole way a man could marry her is if they beat her in a foot race. If the man lost, he would be executed. The spirit of competition drew wild throughout many men as they all came to face the steep challenge. To no surprise, Atalanta won every race. There was one sole survivor, by the name of Hippomenes. Hippomenes was smitten with Atalanta and begged the goddess of love, Aphrodite to show him the way to win. Hippomenes was given three golden applies by Aphrodite prior to his race with Atalanta. After taking the lead on several occasions, Hippomenes tossed the first apple. This caused Atalanta to pause and in turn allowing Hippomenes to take the lead. The third and final apple was made extra heavy by Aphrodite and it caused Hippomenes to win the race. Atlanta was smitten by Hippomenes and was happy he won the race. Hippomenes failed to thank Aphrodite for her help. While walking through the forest, the two lovebirds upset another god, Mother Earth. With some encouragement from Aphrodite, Mother Earth turned the two into lions. Ironically, Atalanta’s marriage to Hippomenes did ultimately cause her doom. (Atalanta and Hippomenes) Atalanta loved the feeling of knowing that men would be competing for her affection even though she knew she could never be beaten. The news of Atalanta seeking a husband made every red blooded man come to try their hand at defeating her in a race. Even with odds stacked against people, it is clear that the feeling of winning something and competition in general, leads us to face the most daunting tasks.
The most relevant thought of competition between a man and woman nowadays and in the past is the idea of marriage. Dating can be seen by some as a sport. Finding that one to be yours is a task many will do whatever it takes to accomplish. While marriage rituals are slightly different today than in ancient times, the basic blocks are the same. One myth that comes to mind regarding marriage is Odysseus in Book XXI. Book XXI is the book of the bow. The myth depicts Penelope allowing suitors to try their best to string a bow. If successful, the suitor will have her as his wife. It begins with Penelope setting out the axes and bow of Odysseus to test the skill of the suitors. Odysseus is in disguise at this gathering and after finally revealing himself to the others. The other suitors, unaware of Odysseus’ true identity yet feel it unlawful for riffraff to attempt to claim Penelope as his. Odysseus finally attempts the bow and with ease strings it and shows the arrow through all 12 axes in a row. (Gill, n.d.) While competition was depicted in the myth masculinity was present as well. As in many cases of fighting for the one to wed, men will go to the end of the world to be the prized suitor for a lady’s hand. They say love makes us do strange things and this is a good example. Penelope knew Odysseus was the only one to string the bow successfully. The myth of Baldur’s death shows the bad side of competition. While we all have the competitive edge in us, we also have loyalty genes. Competition can rear its ugly head between friends. Baldur was liked by all the other gods so it seems odd that they would find it a pastime to try and harm him. Baldur, The most handsome of the gods was born to Frigg and Odin. He was a god of truth and light. Baldur was also knowledgeable in healing herbs and runes, which made him a favorite among the people of Midgard. Balder lived with his wife Nanna in a palace named Breidablik. It is said to be believed that no lie could pass through the walls of Breidablik, home of the god of truth. Coincidentally, Balder started having frightening nightmares about his own demise which caused concern from the other Aesir gods. Norse gods were not immortal, unlike other mythical gods. The other gods set forth to recognize everything that might harm Balder. Balder’s mother set out to exact assurances from everything in the nine worlds not to harm Balder. This wasn't hard because he was so universally loved. When she had completed her mission, Frigg returned to Gladsheim, the gods' meeting hall, for a celebration. After the gods were done celebrating, they decided to test Balder's invulnerability. Items from pebbles to even Thor’s axes refused to do any harm to Balder. Loki, known as the trickster god didn’t like that things were going well so he decided to do something about it. Disguised as an old hag, he asked Frigg what was going on. She said it was a celebration for the god Balder. Loki-in-disguise asked why, then, were people throwing weapons at him? Frigg explained about her completed mission. Loki kept at her asking questions until she finally revealed that there was one thing she hadn't asked because she thought it too small and inconsequential. That one thing was mistletoe. Loki went to the forest to get some mistletoe. Loki came upon Balder’s blind brother Hodur, who was in a corner because he couldn't aim and therefore couldn't participate in the test of Balder’s invulnerability. Loki told Hodur he would help him take aim and handed Hodur a piece mistletoe to throw. Grateful, Hodur launched the mistletoe towards Balder, with Loki’s assistance. The branch caught Balder in the chest and Balder died instantly. The gods looked towards Hodur and saw Loki beside him. Before they could do anything, Loki fled away. Celebration turned to mourning since the most beloved god was dead. It was now feared that the end of the world was near due to the loss of light and truth. The gods needed to ask the help of the giants since the funeral for Balder was so big. The gods gave forth their most valuable worldly possessions as gifts. Stricken with so much grief, Balder’s wife died. She was buried next to Balder. (The death of Balder) |
Taking a look at another culture, competition is still present. A ball game played by many Mesoamericans in the early 1500’s gives an insight on how relevant it was to that culture and to it nowadays. During the Spanish Conquest, a ballgame was played with a rubber ball throughout the Americas. The Spanish conquerors admired the skill of the players and took this game to Europe. The Europeans became very interested in the game and the rubber material the ball was made out of and used it to introduce the game there. (Miller 2008) While some may see a simple ball game as just that, some say Mesoamericans saw the game as a metaphor for movement of the heavenly bodies. Some say the ball courts as passages to the Underworld. A young Maya nobleman wrote the story of two pairs of brothers going to the Underworld to play the ballgame against the Underworld gods.
The Hero Twins are famous Mayan semi-gods called Hunahpu and Xbalanque whose story is narrated in the Popol Vuh, “The Book of Council”. The Popul Vuh dates to the Early Colonial period. The names of the Hero Twins have been translated as “Jaguar-Sun”, or “Jaguar-Deer”, and “One Blowgunner”. According to the myth, Hunahpu and Xbalanque were the sons of Hun Hunahpu and Xquic, a goddess or maiden of the lords of the Maya underworld. Xquic was impregnated by the severed head of Hun Hunahpu, hanging from a gourd tree. Hun Hunahpu and his twin brother Vucub Hunahpu had been defeated at the ball game by the lords of the Maya underworld, and sacrificed. It is believed that Hunahpuh and Xbalanque managed to defeat the underworld lord and revive their father. In the Popol Vuh myth, before revenging their fates, the two brothers have to kill a bird-demon, who raised himself as false sun and moon, called Vucub-Caquix Although the Popol Vuh dates to the Colonial period, the Hero Twins have been identified on painted vessels, monuments, and cave walls dating to the Classic and Pre-classic period. The names of the Hero Twins are also present in the Maya calendar as day signs. This further indicates the importance and antiquity of the myth of the Hero Twins, whose origins date back to the earliest period of Maya history. People will do whatever it takes to fight for their family and the myth of the hero twins is a symbol of this. It also shows the importance of carrying forth a family legend. (The Maya Hero Twins)
Competition is present in more than just sports. It is derived from sporting events but competition is in all of our beings and we will do whatever it takes to have that advantage in whatever trial or task we endeavor.

Works Cited
Comparison between Ancient Egyptian and Roman sports. N.p. N.d. Web. 23 Nov 2014
<http://www.aldokkan.com/society/sports.htm>
Atalanta and Hippomenes. N.p. N.d. Web. 23 Nov 2014.
<http://atalantaandhippomenes.weebly.com/>
Binder, Raymond. Games of the Ancient Egyptians. 2011. 23 Nov 2014. Web.
<http://www.touregypt.net/featurestories/games.htm>
Gill, N.S. Summary of Odyssey Book XXI. N.d. Web. 23 Nov 2014.
<http://ancienthistory.about.com/od/trojanwarinlit/a/OdysseyXXI.htm>
Gill, N.S. The Death of Balder. N.d. Web. 23 Nov 2014.
<http://ancienthistory.about.com/cs/norsegodspictures/a/baldersdeath.htm>
Miller, Mary Ellen. The Ballgame. N.p. N.d. Web. 23 Nov 2014.
<http://matrix.msu.edu/hst/hst324/media/millermayaballgame.pdf>
Olympics. Np. Nd. Web. 23 Nov 2014..
<http://www.ancientgreece.com/s/Olympics/>

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