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Immortality Myths
 | Mistletoe was considered sacred by virtue of its
occurrence on oak trees (a rare occurrence in Europe), a sacred tree and a symbol of
strength and immortality. |
| In many ancient Chinese tales and legends, the toad is a trickster
and a magician, a master of escapes and spells. But he is also the keeper of the real,
powerful secrets of the world, such as the secret of immortality. |
| "Adapa and the South
Wind." Adapa journeys to Heaven and loses a chance to obtain immortality by refusing
to consume the food and drink which would confer it on him, on the advice of the jealous
god he serves, Enki.
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| Enkidu's death devastates Gilgamesh, who bitterly
mourns. Gilgamesh leaves Uruk and wanders the wilderness, going unkempt and unclothed,
searching for the immortal Uta-napishti and the secret to eternal life. Eventually,
Gilgamesh arrives at the edge of the world, where he meets the goddess Shiduri and the
ferryman Ur-Shanabi. He tells them the story of Enkidu's death and of his own quest for
immortality.
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| Maui Seeking Immortality.
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| The Phoenix symbolizes immortality, resurrection
and life after death. Depictions of a Phoenix have appeared in Egyptian, Greek, Hindu and
Chinese art and writings for a very long time. It also later appeared in medieval
Christian writings as a symbol of death and resurrection. It's flight has been said to
represent the capacity to leave the world and its problems behind, flying towards the sun
in clear pure skies.
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| Fans(Bantu):
In the beginning there was nothing but Nzame. This god is really three: Nzame, Mebere, and
Nkwa. It was the Nzame part of the god that created the universe and the earth, and
brought life to it. Whle the three parts of Nzame were admiring this creation, it was
decided to create a ruler for the earth. So was created the elephant, the leopard, and the
monkey, but it was decided that something better had to be created. Between the three of
them they made a new creature in their image, and called him Fam (power), and told him to
rule the earth. Before long, Fam grew arrogant, he mistreated the animals and stopped
worshipping Nzame. Nzame, angered, brought forth thunder and lightning and destroyed
everything that was, except Fam, who had been promised immortality. Nzame, in his three
aspects, decided to renew the earth and try again. He applied a new layer of earth to the
planet, and a tree grew upon it. The tree dropped seeds which grew into more trees. Leaves
that dropped from them into the water became fish, those that dropped on land became
animals. The old parched earth still lies below this new one, and if one digs deep enough
it can be found in the form of coal. Nzame made a new man, one who would know death, and
called him Sekume. Sekume fashioned a woman, Mbongwe, from a tree. These people were made
with both Gnoul (body) and Nissim (soul). Nissim gives life to Gnoul. When Gnoul dies,
Nissim lives on. They produced many children and prospered.
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