Second-Hand Stories
Myth: n. a traditional story serving to explain some phenomenon, custom, etc.
Mythology: n. the study of myths
As the definitions suggest, myths help explain the unexplained. We all know that Greek myths were explained and at times mirrored by the Romans. We also know that the Romans were mythological magpies, that is to say whenever they encountered a new culture they had a habit of taking some of its mythology for their own. It helped that most cultures at the time were polytheistic and embraced a myriad of pantheons. Problems arose with the monotheistic traditions collided with the polytheistic, such as Judaism, because it challenged the idea of sharing pantheons. It also challenged the power of the priesthoods, but that’s not what this post is about.
When the reverse happened--monotheistic cultures coming into contact with polytheistic cultures in later centuries--it was notably messy. Whole civilizations were converted violently, and their traditions and stories were recorded by people who were at best dismissive of their ideas and at worst hostile. So, the stories we learned about Greek, Roman, Egyptian, or Norse mythology were told by the people who previously revered them. Indigenous cultures that were conquered by European powers rarely shared or passed down their beliefs. They shared them with a priest, who by profession couldn’t give credence to other mythologies. This is the problem I’m facing writing a Taino mythology book. My information is oral tradition given by an outside entity who barely respected the fact that they were documenting an endangered culture. What’s a writer to do? Read between the lines, I suppose and hope that I’m more sensitive to the responsibility of writing a second-hand story. Maybe knowing that I’m looking at these stories through a modern lens and acknowledging it is a start.
On the other hand, I'd like to think that at least part of the desire to write these stories and find new insights into them is being divinely inspired. A girl can dream!