Population by Giants

The myth that I am about to share with you is long and must be broken into two posts. Although it may be long it is well worth the reading to see a different kind of population myth. I hope you enjoy it.

Every country has at least one myth as to how it was inhabited. This myth takes many different forms. Some cultures believe they are born of gods and other that they were made of mud. Very few cultures accredit their lives to that of another country. This is what makes the inhabitation of the British Isles stand out. Instead, of being born of clay they attribute their population to that of the a Greek king and Giants born of his daughters.

The story starts out in Greece at a time when a most powerful king was ruling over every other king that existed in the world. This king had some thirty daughters and when each daughter came of age he married them to one of the kings he ruled over. His daughters however did not like the idea of being ruled over by their husbands since no one had ruled over them before, so they got together for a secret meeting. At this secret meeting they all plotted together to kill their kings on the same day and rule in their stead, all save for the youngest that is.

Upon returning home the youngest daughter wept at her lords feet, for she loved him and did not want him dead, and told him of her sisters plot. Her lord told her not to worry and on the next day they rode out to see her father. The great king was sickened by what his youngest old him that he summoned his remaining daughters to him. Once they arrived he accused them of treason and had them thrown into jail. The judges decided that rather then kill them and put their families to shame they would exile the girls instead. A few days later the daughters were put on a ship with no food and shoved off to sea.

To be continued…

(photo credit: homeofbastian)

April 8th, 2009 by admin | Posted in Myths | (0)