Parallel Myths

by J. F. Bierlein

  … thus gives the recipe for the absurd victory. Ancient wisdom confirms modern heroism.

  One does not discover the absurd without being tempted to write a manual of happiness. “What! by such narrow ways—” There is but one world, however. Happiness and the absurd are two sons of the same earth. They are inseparable. It would be a mistake to say that happiness necessarily springs from the absurd discovery. It happens as well that the feeling of the absurd springs from happiness. “I conclude that all is well,” says Oedipus, and that remark is sacred. It echoes in the wild and limited universe of man. It teaches that all is not, has not been, exhausted. It drives out of this world a god who had come into it with dissatisfaction and a preference for futile sufferings. It makes of fate a human matter, which must be settled among men.

  All Sisyphus’ silent joy is contained therein. His fate belongs to him. His rock is his thing. Likewise the absurd man when he contemplates his torment, silences all the idols. In the universe suddenly restored to its silence, the myriad wondering little voices of the earth rise up. Unconscious, secret calls, invitations from all the faces, they are the necessary reverse and price of victory. There is no sun without shadow, and it is essential to know the night. The absurd man says yes and his effort will henceforth be unceasing. If there is a personal fate, there is no higher destiny, or at least there is but one which he concludes is inevitable and despicable. For the rest, he knows himself to be the master of his days. At that subtle moment when man glances backward over his life, Sisyphus returning toward his rock, in that slight pivoting he contemplates that series of unrelated actions which becomes his fate, created by him, combined under his memory’s eye and soon sealed by his death. Thus convinced of the wholly human origin of all that is human, a blind man eager to see who knows that the night has no end, he is still on the go. The rock is still rolling.

  I leave Sisyphus at the foot of the mountain! One always finds one’s burden again. But Sisyphus teaches the higher fidelity that negates the gods and raises rocks. He too concludes that all is well. This universe henceforth without a master seems to him neither sterile nor futile. Each atom of that stone, each mineral flake of that night-filled mountain, in itself forms a world. The struggle itself toward the heights is enough to fill a man’s heart. One must imagine Sisyphus happy.

  * The basis of Richard Strauss’s opera Ariadne Auf Naxos.

  * In Greek, this means “without breasts.” The Greeks believed that the Amazons removed one breast in order to enable them to draw their bows in battle. The Amazon River of South America is so named because early explorers saw women warriors on its banks.

  * Mississippi is an Algonquin, probably Chippewa, word meaning “great water.”

  * You will recall that Zeus was the wielder of thunderbolts.

  * Gethsemane: A garden where Jesus Christ underwent a prayerful ordeal prior to trial and crucifixion.

  10. The Journey to the Underworld and the Path of Death

  The only religious way to think of death is as part

  and parcel of life; to regard it, with the

  understanding and the emotions, as the inviolable

  condition of life.

  —Thomas Mann, The Magic Mountain

  Now what is history? It is the centuries of

  systematic explorations of the riddle of death, with

  a view toward overcoming death. That’s why people

  discover mathematical infinity and electromagnetic

  waves, that’s why they write symphonies.

  —Boris Pasternak (1890-1960), Doctor Zhivago

  ISHTAR IN THE UNDERWORLD

  (Babylonia)

  NOTE: In the most common version of this story, Ishtar, the goddess of love, beauty, and fertility, visits the Underworld in search of her lover, Tammuz. This is also an agricultural myth; while Ishtar is in the Underworld, no crops grow—a mythic depiction of the winter months.

  Ishtar, the goddess of love, was restless. She had never visited the land of the dead, where her evil sister, Ereshkigal, ruled. She asked the permission of the other gods to go there and they consented only after the greatest reluctance. She started on the road to the Underworld.

  She arrived at the first gate of the Underworld and said,

  O gatekeeper, open thy gate

  Open thy gate that I may enter

  If thou openest not the gate so that I cannot enter

  I will smash the gate down

  I will raise up the dead, eating the living

  So that the dead outnumber the living!

  The gatekeeper went to his queen, Ereshkigal, to inform her that Ishtar was at the gate. Ereshkigal was not pleased to learn that her beautiful sister had arrived, and she turned pale, saying,

  Who drove her heart to me?

  What impelled her spirit here?

  Should I eat clay for bread?

  Shall I drink muddy water in place of beer?

  Should I mourn for the men who left their wives behind?

  Should I mourn for the girls who leave their lovers’ laps?

  Should I mourn for the little ones who die before their time?

  Ereshkigal then told the gatekeeper that Ishtar would be permitted to enter only if she observed the laws of the Underworld. The dead must leave all signs of their earthly station, all wealth, and all privilege behind them, including their jewels and clothing; for in death all are equal. In the Underworld there is no light; the souls there must eat dust and clay.

  At the first gate, in compliance with this law, Ishtar was obliged to remove her crown. At the second gate, she had to take off her earrings; at the third, her necklace; at the fourth, her breast ornaments; at the fifth, her belt; at the sixth, her hand and leg bracelets; and at the seventh, she removed her waistcloth, leaving her naked.

  As soon as Ishtar had entered the last gate, Ereshkigal burst out at her, “What do you want here? Do you want to know what it is like for the dead?” Ereshkigal ordered her assistants to unleash sixty miseries on Ishtar, afflicting each part of the beautiful goddess’s body with one of the pains that are used to punish the dead for their sins.

  Meanwhile the other gods watched this from their thrones in the sky and became quite concerned. With Ishtar in the land of the dead, all reproduction on earth came to a halt. Men no longer made love to women, nor bulls to cows, nor stallions to mares; nothing. The plants stopped bearing fruit for the people to eat; famine threatened. Papsukkal, the god of agriculture, ran to Sin, the moon god, and reported that all creation would die if Ishtar remained in the Underworld much longer.

  So Ishtar’s brother, Ea, the god of water, created the eunuch Asushunamir, making him far more beautiful than any “male” on earth. Ea’s plan was to send Asushunamir to the Underworld to divert Ereshkigal, allowing the beautiful Ishtar to leave. When Asushunamir arrived at the first gate into the Underworld, the gatekeeper reported to his queen that the most handsome man on earth was on his way to her. Ereshkigal was so excited that she forgot all about Ishtar.

  As Ishtar left via the seventh gate, the first gate out of the Underworld, her waistcloth was returned to her; Asushunamir simultaneously entered the first gate into Ereshkigal’s realm. As Ishtar passed through the sixth gate, her hand and leg bracelets were returned to her; the eunuch entered the second gate. At the fifth gate, Ishtar’s magic belt was given back to her; Asushunamir came through the third gate. As Ishtar left through the fourth gate, her breast ornaments were returned; Asushunamir entered the fourth gate. At the third gate, Ishtar’s necklace was returned to her; Asushanamir moved through the fifth gate. As Ishtar left the second gate, her earrings were returned to her; Asushunamir stepped through the sixth gate.

  As Ishtar was leaving the first gate, the last gate out of the Underworld, she received her crown—and was free. Asushunamir was wearing only a waistcloth, and when he entered the seventh and last gate into the Underworld, and removed the cloth, Ereshikigal saw that he was not the lover she had hoped for—he was a eunuch
! The queen of the Underworld was furious: Her brother and sister gods had tricked her.

  When Ishtar returned to the world above the ground, all life began to flourish once again.

  MARWE IN THE UNDERWORLD

  (Kenya)

  There was once a girl named Marwe. She and her brother were responsible for keeping the monkeys from raiding the family bean fields. One day they had faithfully done their duty when both of them became very thirsty. They turned their backs on the fields and went to a pool to take a drink. When they returned to the fields, the monkeys had eaten all the beans. Marwe so feared the wrath of her parents that she drowned herself; her brother rushed home with the terrible news. Her parents were so shocked and grieved that they forgot about the bean field.

  Marwe sank to the bottom of the pool until she entered the land of the dead. She first came to a house where an old woman lived with her children. The old woman identified herself as Marwe’s guide in the land of the dead. For many years Marwe lived with the old woman and helped with the chores. After a time Marwe became very homesick and began to think of her parents and brother. The old woman was able to read the girl’s heart, and she knew that Marwe wished to rejoin the living. So one day the old woman asked Marwe if she preferred the hot or the cold. Marwe didn’t understand and the woman repeated the question. Finally Marwe answered that she preferred the cold, not knowing what this meant.

  The old woman had Marwe dip her hands into a clay jar of cold water, and when she pulled her hands out, they were covered with jewels. She put her feet and legs into the jar, pulled them out, and they too were covered with jewels. Smiling, the old woman dressed Marwe in the finest robes and sent her home. The old woman also had the gift of prophecy, and told Marwe that she would soon marry the finest man in the world, a man named Sawoye.

  When Marwe arrived home in her fine robes and jewels, her family was overjoyed. They had given her up for dead long before. They marveled at her fine clothing and their newfound wealth. Word spread quickly through the countryside that there was a rich, eligible young woman in the territory, and Marwe’s home was visited by hundreds of suitors. Marwe ignored all of the men, including the most handsome, except for a man named Sawoye who suffered from a terrible skin disease that made him look ugly. But, having been to the land of the dead, Marwe was able to read the hearts of men and knew that Sawoye was best.

  Sawoye and Marwe were married with great feasting, and after their wedding night, when the marriage was consummated, Sawoye’s skin disease disappeared, showing his face to be the most handsome of all. As Marwe had plenty of fine jewels to spare, they bought a herd of cattle. Soon Marwe and Sawoye were the wealthiest people in the land.

  One might expect that they would now live in happiness, but the many suitors of Marwe were envious of Sawoye. All of their friends and neighbors changed, resenting the wealthy young couple. The hostility grew more bitter with each day until a group of neighbors attacked Sawoye and killed him.

  But Marwe had herself already died, and knew the secrets of the Underworld, including how to revive the dead. She took her husband’s body inside their home and recited magic incantations that she had learned from the old woman in the land of the dead. Sawoye revived, stronger than ever. When their enemies returned to divide up the wealth, Sawoye slew them all. Marwe and Sawoye lived in prosperity and happiness for the rest of their lives, and since both had died, they met their ends without fear.

  SAVITRI

  (India)

  In ancient India there was a beautiful, pious, and uncommonly wise princess named Savitri. As she grew into a woman, her father, King Ashvapati, despaired that she would never marry and produce an heir. For Savitri was more interested in philosophical questions than in any of the young princes who visited her as suitors. Her interest was not in wealth, jewels, or power, but in spiritual things. At that time kings usually chose husbands for their daughters, but Savitri was so wise that the king decided to allow her to choose her own husband.

  To her father’s surprise Savitri asked to choose her husband from among the holy men, not the wealthy princes. Her father was at first very shocked. But then Savitri explained that her choice would be a holy man of princely rank. Ashvapati was so relieved that his daughter at last was interested in a husband that he readily gave his consent.

  Savitri donned the costume of a holy hermit, a sadhu, and traveled throughout the land. Everywhere that she went people were moved by her beauty of face and soul, her charity, piety, and great wisdom. Indeed, she was absent so long that her father was growing worried about her. But the reports of Savitri’s good deeds poured in from throughout the realm. Even the holy hermits were impressed by her wisdom for one so young.

  When Savitri finally returned to her father’s palace, she gave alms to the poor gathered at the gate. There was much excitement in the palace as Ashvapati and his adviser, the sage Narada, went to greet her at the gate. This was contrary to custom; the king never met any visitor at the gate.

  Savitri announced that she had chosen a husband. There was a king who was completely blind and who had lost his kingdom, having been deposed by an evil usurper who took advantage of the king’s blindness. This king had a son named Satyavant (“Truth-seeker”) who had gone to live among the sadhus until the throne was restored. Savitri explained that only Satyavant, who had lived as a holy hermit, could rule wisely and understand the plight of the poor. Having lived a life of poverty, Satyavant alone could see through the illusions and judge the people fairly. But even as she spoke of Satyavant, Narada grew sad. The sage turned to her and said, “My child, all that you say is true, but you cannot marry him. It is ordained that Satyavant will die within a year of your wedding.”

  King Ashvapati, hitherto thrilled that Savitri was about to marry, was distraught. Satyavant certainly sounded like a perfect son-in-law, but he could not bear to see his beloved daughter widowed so young. Moreover, Satyavant might die before Savitri could produce an heir. With a deep sigh Ashvapati told Savitri that she must not marry her chosen prince.

  But Savitri was wise and persuaded her father to give his blessing; it was better to be married for love even if just for one year. Whether or not Satyavant was to die, she was in love with him and no other. Savitri said that she was prepared for whatever the gods had ordained. Ashvapati granted her wish.

  Ashvapati had just begun to plan a royal wedding with great feasts, but Savitri insisted that she marry in the style of the holy hermits, not of wealthy rulers. Luxury, she pointed out, was only an illusion. Again, Ashvapati granted her request.

  Savitri went out into the forest among the sadhus and there she and Satyavant were married, clad in the robes of simple hermits. She shared her husband’s contemplative life on the edge of the great forest, the deepest, darkest forest in the world. She never told Satyavant of his foretold death. As she gave alms to the poor, people would say, “May you never know widowhood,” and the tears would stream down Savitri’s face. As the first year of their marriage drew to a close, Savitri prayed to the gods to give her the strength to protect her husband.

  On the very eve of their first anniversary, Satyavant asked Savitri to accompany him into the deep forest to cut wood. As they walked into the ever-thickening woods, the animals knew of Satyavant’s imminent death, and fled. The little birds sang their best songs, thinking that this might be the last sound Satyavant heard. They proceeded farther and farther into the forest, where it was so thick that one could not see the sunlight. They walked on, Satyavant with his ax over his shoulder and Savitri at his side.

  Then Satyavant began to chop down a great tree. Suddenly he dropped his ax and turned white. He was in horrible pain and he told Savitri that it felt as if his head were being pierced by a thousand needles [a cerebral hemorrhage?]. Darkness clouded his eyes and he fell to the ground barely breathing.

  At that moment Savitri heard the footsteps of a stranger approaching. This stranger had dark blue skin and red eyes—he was no stranger; it was Yama, the lor
d of the dead. Nonetheless Savitri asked the “stranger” to identify himself. “You know who I am,” said Yama. “You also know why I am here.” Yama took his cord and wrenched the soul of Satyavant from the body. As Yama turned around to take the soul to his kingdom, Savitri fell on the ground in his path.

  Yama told her that it was useless; Satyavant’s time had come as the gods had ordained. But Savitri pleaded with him, and Yama asked her politely to get out of his way. Then Savitri rose to her feet and began to follow Yama to the Underworld.

  Yama told her to turn back; this was the land of the dead, not the living. It was now Savitri’s duty to be a good wife and see to it that the funeral rites were properly performed, not to detain Yama from his mission. Yama, who is often thought of as heartless and cruel, can be compassionate. Often he will take the souls of very sick people to free them from their suffering. The lord of the dead was touched by Savitri’s insistence.

  Yama said, “Your love for your husband is very great and so is your courage; I will grant you one wish.” Savitri replied, “Restore the kingdom to Satyavant’s father.” Yama told her, “It is done. Now return to the living, Savitri.”

  But Savitri would not turn back. She was so close to the gates of Yama’s kingdom that the sky was now black and she could hear the snarling of the four-headed dog that guards the gate to the dead.* No mortal had ever come this close to the land of Yama.

  “Please turn back now!” ordered Yama. “No living mortal can ever enter my kingdom!” Savitri told Yama that she would not leave her husband for any reason. Yama begged her once more to turn back, but she refused. Yama then said that no man had ever entered his kingdom; Savitri, always wise, responded that she was no man, but a woman. Yama was now as impressed by her wisdom as by her courage, and he offered her a second wish. “Restore the life of my husband.” Yama granted this wish, saying, “It is already done—now go back and you will find Satyavant, not dead but sleeping.”