We all know about the Heroes of Greek mythology, but what do you know about the monsters?
The dark and thrilling world of Greek mythology was full of terrifying monstrosities. Let's see the tales of the most horrifying of them, that shaped myths and created heroes.
Typhon
Description: The "Father of All Monsters," Typhon was a monstrous giant with a hundred dragon heads and was said to be the deadliest creature in Greek mythology. He challenged Zeus for control of the cosmos.
Echidna
Known as the "Mother of Monsters," Echidna was half-woman, half-snake, and gave birth to many of the most fearsome creatures in Greek myths, including the Nemean Lion and Cerberus.
Cerberus
The three-headed dog that guarded the entrance to the Underworld, preventing the dead from leaving and the living from entering without permission.
The Hydra
A serpent-like water monster with multiple heads (usually nine), and when one head was cut off, two more would grow back. Hercules famously defeated it as one of his Twelve Labors.
The Minotaur
A creature with the body of a man and the head of a bull. It lived in the Labyrinth on the island of Crete and was eventually killed by the hero Theseus
Medusa
Once a beautiful woman, Medusa was transformed into a Gorgon with snakes for hair and a gaze that turned people to stone. Perseus beheaded her with the help of the gods.
Charybdis
A sea monster that created a massive whirlpool capable of swallowing entire ships. She lived on one side of a narrow strait, opposite the monster Scylla.
Scylla
A monstrous creature with twelve legs and six heads, each with three rows of sharp teeth. She snatched sailors from ships that passed too close to her lair.
The Chimera
A fire-breathing creature with the body of a lion, the head of a goat arising from its back, and a tail that ended in a snake's head. It was slain by the hero Bellerophon.
The Sphinx
A creature with the body of a lion, the wings of an eagle, and the head of a woman. The Sphinx posed a deadly riddle to travelers and devoured those who could not answer.
The Harpies
Winged spirits with the body of a bird and the face of a woman. Known for stealing food and tormenting people, they were agents of punishment for Zeus.
The Sirens
Beautiful but dangerous creatures whose enchanting voices lured sailors to their deaths on rocky shores. They were often depicted as part woman, part bird.
The Furies (Erinyes)
Vengeful spirits of justice and retribution, often depicted as three sisters with snake hair, dog heads, and bat wings. They pursued and punished criminals, especially those guilty of familial crimes.
The Gorgons
Aside from Medusa, the Gorgons included Stheno and Euryale, who were also terrifying with their snake hair and deadly gazes. Unlike Medusa, they were immortal.
The Cyclopes
One-eyed giants known for their strength and skill in blacksmithing. Famous Cyclopes include Polyphemus, who was blinded by Odysseus during his journey home from Troy.
The Graeae
Also known as the Grey Sisters, these three old witches shared one eye and one tooth among them. They were sisters of the Gorgons and helped Perseus locate Medusa.
The Nemean Lion
A monstrous lion with impenetrable skin that could not be pierced by mortal weapons. Hercules killed it as his first Labor by strangling it with his bare hands.
The Stymphalian Birds
Man-eating birds with metallic feathers that they could launch as weapons. Hercules defeated them as one of his Twelve Labors by using a rattle given to him by Athena to scare them away and then shooting them down with arrows.
The Python
A giant serpent that guarded the Oracle of Delphi. Apollo killed it to claim the oracle for himself, establishing his dominance over the site.
Centaurs
Creatures with the upper body of a human and the lower body of a horse. They were known for their wild and unruly behavior, often causing trouble and chaos. Notable centaurs include Chiron, who was wise and kind, and taught many Greek heroes.
These terrifying monsters of Greek mythology have inspired countless stories and legends, embodying the fears and challenges faced by heroes and mortals alike. Remember: without the monsters, there would be no heroes.
Did you know any of them? Which one is the most terrifying?
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Everybody knows about the Power of Rome and its armies; but did you know Rome went to war against a whale?
Here’s the story of Porphyrios, the badass whale that terrorized Byzantium for almost half a century!
Porphyrios (Greek: Πορφύριος) was a large whale that harassed and sank ships in the waters near Constantinople in the sixth century.
Active for over fifty years, Porphyrios caused great concern for Byzantine seafarers. Emperor Justinian I made it an important matter to capture it, though he could not come up with a way to do so.
Have you ever imagined state-sponsored prostitution for “research purposes”? LSD-crazed soldiers being interrogated over psychic powers? A psychic superpower “arms-race”?
Julian Assange is probably going to be freed soon and many claim his suffering came as a result of pissing off the American Deep-State and its long arm: The Agency.
The CIA has been involved in numerous unbelievable operations and experiments, some of which have sparked significant controversy. Here's a thread with some of the most infamous ones:
Operation Midnight Climax (1950s-1960s):
As a part of MKUltra, the CIA set up safe houses in San Francisco and New York City where prostitutes, hired by the agency, would lure men to the locations. Once there, the men were secretly dosed with LSD, and their behavior was observed through one-way mirrors.
The goal was to study the effects of the drug on unwitting subjects and to find ways to use it for coercion and interrogation.
MKUltra (1953-1973):
MKUltra was a series of mind control experiments conducted by the CIA, aiming to develop techniques for interrogation and brainwashing. The experiments included administering LSD, electroshock therapy, hypnosis, and other forms of psychological manipulation, often without the subjects' consent.
Many of the participants suffered long-term psychological damage as a result of these experiments.
I had dreams of Venice lately; and dreams are messages from the deep.
That’s why I came to Venice to see the remnants of a State that even though it advertised itself as “serene”, it was all but it. A romantic thread by a Byzantine:
The Republic of Venice,traditionally known as La Serenissima, was a sovereign state and maritime republic with its capital in Venice. The whole main city was built on canals.
Over the course of its 1,100 years of history it established itself as one of the major European commercial and naval powers. It regularly came in conflict with other naval powers over conflict for maritime trade. One of them was Byzantium.
Throughout the ages, there have been examples of legendary figures that honored their nation, their family, their legacy. Some of them excelled in battle; others excelled in tactics while some were distinguished for their strategies. But I cannot think many that excelled in all aspects; this is why the legend called Miyamoto Musashi is a Colossus.
In the annals of history, few figures loom as large as Miyamoto Musashi, a name synonymous with the epitome of the samurai spirit and martial prowess. Born in 1584, Musashi's life spanned a transformative period in Japan, as it shifted from the warring states of Sengoku Jidai to the more stable and culturally rich Edo period. While Japan was transforming, Miyamoto was also evolving into a legend.
A master swordsman, philosopher, and artist, Musashi's legacy is immortalized in his treatise "The Book of Five Rings," a work that transcends mere martial instruction to encompass a profound philosophy of life.
Follow me down this deep-dive thread as I take you back in time, in the midst of turbulent changes in Japan, to explore the life of a legend, as his personality evolved and his skills unfolded, on his way to immortality.
The Early Years: Birth of a Warrior
Not much is very clear about his early life but we do have some clues. Miyamoto Musashi was born in Harima Province (modern-day Hyogo Prefecture), the son of a samurai named Shinmen Munisai. Musashi gives his full name and title in The Book of Five Rings as Shinmen Musashi-no-Kami Fujiwara no Harunobu (新免武蔵守藤原玄信).
From an early age, he probably was scared by eczema, which affected his appearance; it developed in his infancy, and later legends were born out of it. One of them said that he never bathed himself because he did not want to be surprised unarmed.
Musashi started training very early; he was immersed in the world of martial arts, learning the rudiments of swordsmanship from his father. Obviously, apart from the eczema, he suffered from a serious case of BallsOfSteel-iasis because legend has it that Musashi fought his first duel at the tender age of 13, defeating a well-known samurai named Arima Kihei, showcasing his burgeoning talent and indomitable spirit.
So, let’s pause our story for a moment; do you remember yourself around 13? Because I think I was watching Pokémon or trying to imagine how girls smelled like (because no female being would come near me) or play ball with ma boys out in the street. But Miyamoto dueled with Katanas with grown-up dude – who happened to be a samurai – and destroyed him (literally, ended his career and life).
The Unbeaten Warrior: A Path of Combat
He left his village soon after to wonder throughout Japan and hone his skills; what a life it must have been! His early years were marked by a series of duels that would etch his name into the chronicles of martial history. His combat style, known as Niten Ichi-ryū (Two Heavens as One), was revolutionary, utilizing two swords simultaneously—a katana in one hand and a shorter wakizashi in the other. This dual-wielding technique gave him a significant advantage over opponents who were accustomed to traditional single-sword techniques.
The second duel happened when Musashi was 16 years old, when he won another victory against a swordsman named Tadashima Akiyama, a native of Tajima Province. His third duel came when he was aged 21, in Kyoto, where he defeated several students of a famous sword fighting school.
The two-handed movements of temple drummers may have inspired him, although it could be that the technique was forged through Musashi's combat experience.
This happens when you connect dots and see the Way in everything. Nevertheless, Jitte techniques were taught to him by his father—the jitte was often used in battle paired with a sword; the jitte would parry and neutralize the weapon of the enemy while the sword struck or the practitioner grappled with the enemy. Today Musashi's style of swordsmanship is known as Hyōhō Niten Ichi-ryū.
Does the world around us make sense to you? Do words count? Is the “Truth”, true? Are the “Bad Guys”, bad indeed? And if they are not the bad guys, what does that make us? Who are we? Did Orwell write novels or a manual for today’s totalitarian regimes?
It’s been a while since the last time I wrote such a piece; but the global geopolitical conditions are compelling indeed and I cannot help but contemplate upon the dystopian present that will define our future, sooner than expected.
George Orwell’s work, particularly his novels "1984" and "Animal Farm," remains profoundly relevant in analyzing contemporary global events.
Orwell's exploration of themes such as totalitarianism, propaganda, surveillance, and the manipulation of truth provides a framework for understanding the political and social dynamics in today's world. Let’s dive deeper into his work, our present and maybe ask a few questions about our future.
Totalitarianism and Authoritarianism
Orwell's "1984" is a grim portrayal of a totalitarian regime where the government exerts absolute control over every aspect of life, from public actions to private thoughts. This dystopian vision is echoed in various modern authoritarian regimes that employ similar tactics to maintain power.
Orwellian characteristics impose extensive state surveillance, censorship, and the suppression of dissent. Does that ring any bells? To be surveilled by your own state “for your protection”? Are you really free to express your opinion?
Have you ever imagined accessing some of Humanity’s greatest minds? Tapping into millennia-old wisdom?
I did the work and concentrated some of the greatest quotes of Greek and Roman philosophers, with their sources. This thread contains thoughts that shaped Western philosophy.
Socrates
"The unexamined life is not worth living."
Source: Plato's "Apology," 38a.
Plato
"The first and greatest victory is to conquer yourself."