Sunday 19 May 2013

Myths of our Solar System (33): Eris has a think and makes a decision

Eris looked about the world and despaired at the treatment of her fellow women.  She
saw a long line of women screwed over by men all over the place- among them tales
of abandonment, imprisonment, sacrifice and self-destruction.  While in others were
women pursued against their will and only able to escape through suicide or permanent
transformation.  And all women (and some men to be fair…) were in danger of becoming
the plaything of Zeus (even if they transformed themselves), further forcing the hand of
Hera to cause further distress.

Elsewhere she saw Eos, in the same role as Helios but lowlier than he; the barbarian
Amazons, an inversion of how men desired their women to be; Cassandra, who was
cursed and raped; various monsters of danger to men; Antigone, pure as pure could be
and yet still driven to the same fate as her mother.  And Pandora- of course it would be a
woman who would bring all bad things to the world- nobody ever blamed the Gods who
gave her the vase rather than keep it safe in the heart of Mount Olympus.  Eris didn’t even
want to think about the potential sexual meaning in that tale.

And yes there was wisdom, love, self-sacrifice and adoration that did not cost.  There
were the Fates who ultimately held the power; the Furies, the ultimate judge, jury and
executioner; and the Muses, who brought so much joy.  Though they do not create art
themselves, and women could not even enjoy the output, anyhow.  That was the domain
of men because the whole reality that Eris was seeing was that the cities of men were
run entirely by men, for men.  Women were kept hidden away upstairs at home and
were veiled when allowed outside, taking no part in the democracies, monarchies and
oligarchies.  Sent away into marriage with money to sweeten the deal, they were nought
but property for breeding, most of their daughters being exposed to escape later expense.

Eris saw all this and decided to take matters into her own hands.  She would do all she
could to upset the male monster.  She would move among them, much like Euranos,
and whisper and spread dissent, chaos and strife.  She would teach them a thing or two.

Although few of the pig-headed bastards would actually learn.

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