Iris' Myth Debate!

Everyone has a favourite Classical myth. Maybe it's the story of Achilles in the Trojan War, because you like his darkly brooding character; perhaps you prefer the tale of Persephone, a fable of loss, regeneration, and of course pomegranate seeds. Whatever it is, Iris would love for you to answer two questions:

Which myth? And why?

And email your answers to us HERE

We will be publishing the results in the forthcoming issues of Iris magazine and on the website.

Here are some of the responses we have had so far... Keep them coming!

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'Icarus flying too close to the sun. It's a kind of tale for the ages, father meddling with nature, and son not listening to father and the combination bringing about his downfall. And I like the idea of using wax to stick wings to your back!' - Duncan, computer programmer.

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'Echo & Narcissus is one of the myths I know well and remember it being read to us at school when I was quite young - I thought it was amazing and I used to show off to everyone that I knew the meaning of narcissistic at the age of 11! Also I used to be into Bob Dylan and his song License to Kill refers to Narcissus and I used his lyric in a play- 'Now he worships at an altar of a stagnant pool/And when he sees his reflection, he's fulfilled' - I thought this was really cool! I love Carravaggio's Narcissus.' - Rebecca, drama education officer.

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'Orpheus and Eurydice. Don't know why, though', Neil, student.

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'Favourite myth: Theseus and the Minotaur - it was the first one I ever read when young. It combines courages and loss. Very moving (even when I was at school).' - Graham, playwright.

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'Orpheus, because it represents how determined and creative humans can be in the face of the cruelties and suffering life (or the gods) throws at them. I love how even the grim, nasty ghosts of the underworld cry when he sings to them. But especially I feel moved by the way he nearly makes it back out, almost gets out to the upper world, but he gives in to his fears at the last minute and loses what he fought so hard for' – Lorna, The Iris Project.

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'The one that fascinated me was Demeter and Persephone, because I liked the idea of the seasons being tied to the daughter in the underworld, and being hidden away from the light. It's an interesting one.' - Sophie, teacher.

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'I like the story of Circe because it's about a powerful independent woman who engages with Odysseus on her own terms. Sure she's a bit capricious, but she's also gracious when outwitted, rather than going nuts like most other gods!' – Jo, programmer.

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'The Twelve Tasks of Heracles. It's pure pulpy, two-fisted,
monster-fightin' action. It's got a bullet-proof lion, metal birds and man-eating horses! What's not to like? At the end, Heracles goes to hell and beats people up until Pluto, god of the underworld, gives him what he wants just to get him to leave them in peace. You know that the only reason there isn't an exploding helicopter involved as well is because they hadn't been invented yet...' - Alex, IT consultant.

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'Who goes down to the river Styx and tries to get his wife back and fails? Orpheus... I like that one best because it says so much about human nature.' - Ellen, nursery teacher.

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'I always like the Persephone one, but it makes me really sad. It always makes me wonder if she ate the pomegranate seeds because she'd given up or because she'd changed her mind. It's really ambiguous.' - Helen, geologist.

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I think Prometheus - who challenged the ruling status quo (Zeus) by stealing and distributing the means of production (fire) to the masses (us) - Stanley, businessman

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"I'd have to go for the Greek god Pan, mainly because people use the word 'panic' every day without knowing they're referring to the cheeky deity. He also invented Pan Pipes and it was his fault Midas getting those donkey ears." - Alex Horne, comedian

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"Favourite myth is very difficult indeed... I think it has to be Odysseus's voyages - the return home to Penelope is one of the only passages in literature that consistently leaves me in tears, alongside Leopold Bloom's return home to Molly Bloom in 'Ulysses'! Her relief when she sees him is like a sailor whose
ship has been wrecked by Poseidon and finally reaches the shore. It's a myth that shows every facet of the human character and imagination. And he's basically James Bond with monsters." - James, student.

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"The Trojan War- I think because of the range of human frailties the myth contains: Agamemnon's arrogance, Achilles' pride, the self-absorption of Paris and Helen, and the avalanche of destruction and suffering that ensues as a result of them." - Neil, Social worker.

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"Morpheus. How you can not love the 'bringer of dreams'!" - Dylan, Penguin Army.

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