Myths and Legends of the World

To usher in a great year for I call upon the Great Goddess Tyche to gamblers everywhere she is Lady Luck. Tyche is the Goddess of Fortune and Fate. She is known as Tyche of the Greeks and Fortuna of the Romans. Her name Tyche comes from the word tynchano which means “made to happen”. She is from the time of the Titans who ruled long before the Olympians came to be power. Her parents Tethys and Oceanus, she is an Oceanid and she draw upon the wisdom of the waters. She is all three of the Fates, Klotho, Atropos, and Lachesis, for all three make her, Tyche. It is funny for compared to most Goddesses of mythology she have not great story, no myth, but yet had one of the largest cult followings among the Greeks, Romans, and gamblers. For her existence is based upon a concept. A concept that is both intrigued and inspired the ancient Greek poets and philosophers. It’s statement that represented not only fortune, but also luck, success and chance. It is said that the Theban Lyric poe...

I wish everyone a Happy Holidays I 

I wish you a happy birthday Ray

 The solstice itself may have been a special moment of the annual cycle of the year even during Neolithic times. Astronomical events, which during ancient times controlled the mating of animals, sowing of crops, for example, show how various cultural mythologies and traditions have arisen. The winter solstice may have been immensely important because communities were not certain of living through the winter, and had to be prepared during the previous nine months.  Starvation was common in winter between January and April, also known as the famine months. In temperate climates, the midwinter festival was the last feast celebration, before deep winter began. Most cattle were slaughtered so they would not have to be fed during the winter, so it was almost the only time of year when a supply of fresh meat was available. The majority of wine and beer made during the year was finally fermented and ready for drinking at...

A big thank you to Ray's cowboy for remembering me that Hanukkah starts today not tomorrow. Hanukkah is a Jewish holiday celebrated for eight days and nights. It starts on the 25th of the Jewish month of Kislev, which coincides with late November through late December on the secular calendar. In Hebrew, the word "hanukkah" means “dedication.” The name reminds us that this holiday commemorates the re-dedication of the holy Temple in Jerusalem following the Jewish victory over the Syrian-Greeks in 165 B.C.E. In 168 B.C.E. the Jewish Temple was seized by Syrian-Greek soldiers and dedicated to the worship of the God Zeus. This upset the Jewish people, but many were afraid to fight back for fear of revenge. Then in 167 B.C.E. the Syrian-Greek emperor Antiochus made the observance of Judaism an offense punishable by death. He also ordered all Jews to worship Greek gods. Jewish resistance began in the village of Modiin, near Jerusalem. Greek soldiers forcibly gathe...

As we move toward the cold darkness of winter, we enter the dark Goddess Skadi’s realm. Skadi is the Viking Goddess of winter. Her name is said to mean shadow or shade. She is the Queen of the shades. She is a huntress, a dark magician, a giantess Goddess, ruling especially over mountains, wilderness, winter, revenge, knowledge, damage, justice, and independence. It is said that she gifted hunters with the bow and the skill to use it. The scythe, wolves and venomous snakes are sacred to her. Also sacred to her are skates, skis and snowshoes. She often did her hunting while on skis. All of Scandinavia is named after the Goddess Skadi, and she is said to dwell in the high snow-covered mountains there. Skadi is the daughter of the giant Thiazi. Her father Thiazi kidnapped the Idunn, Goddess of youth, and then was killed by the Aesir who came to rescue the Youth Goddess. At the news of his death, Skadi was full of rage. She put on her shining armor and her weapons and strode acro...