Gigantomachy, war of the giants, is my new favourite word.
Originating from Greek mythology, the idea that in primeval days great battles were fought against Titans and Giants is common to both Classical and Norse myth - but it also occurs in the Biblical tradition.
The Bible has a three-fold tension with giants, recurring at three key moments in the history of Israel - Gen 6 that discusses the Prediluvian Giants (pre-flood and another of my favourite words), Numbers - Deuteronomy, that deals with the giants of the land, and the story of King David and his followers in Samuel, Kings and Chronicles, that show his great warriors slaying the last of these foes.
But there is a key difference between our wars with the giants and those of other mythologies. The Greek Titans were defeated by Zeus, the Frost Giants were constantly fought by Thor and Odin. Yet in our stories, the giants are fought by normal human beings.
Or were they also giants?
Where science-fiction and fantasy, religion and mythology, blend together. Rabbi Roni Tabick delves into the mythic dimensions of Judaism and writes fantasy from a religious perspective.
Showing posts with label dvar torah. Show all posts
Showing posts with label dvar torah. Show all posts
Wednesday, 29 May 2013
Sleeping Giants - Reflections on Parashat Shelach Lecha
Labels:
Anakim,
Baba Batra,
dvar torah,
giants,
Greek,
Menachot,
Moses,
myth,
mythology,
Nephilim,
norse,
parasha,
Rabba bar bar Hanna,
shelach lecha,
spies,
talmud,
torah,
Tzitzit
Friday, 17 May 2013
Parashat Naso - Limmud Dvar Torah (with bonus material!)
I have a dvar torah up on Limmud on One Leg's blog today for parashat Naso - check it out here and then come back for some exclusive extra bonus material.
Finished? Don't worry, I'll wait.
Finished? Don't worry, I'll wait.
Labels:
baal,
canaanite,
dvar torah,
Leviathan,
Limmud,
Limmud on One Leg,
myth,
mythology,
Naso,
Numbers,
sanctuary,
tabernacle,
temple,
torah,
yam
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