Tag Archives: Kerenyi

Between Hermes and Mnemosyne: Jung and Warburg

Posted on July 16, 2022 by Symbol Reader

In the part of Homeric Hymn to Hermes, in which Hermes and Apollo exchange gifts, Hermes sings about the origins of the gods: “And the first of the gods that he commemorated with his song was Mnemosyne, Mother of Muses, … Continue reading →

Posted in Aby Warburg | Tagged Aby Warburg, archetypes, C.G. Jung, Hermes, image, Kerenyi, Mnemosyne, Mnemosyne Atlas, psyche, Soul, symbolism, symbols | Leave a comment

The Sirens as Psychopomps and Muses of the Underworld

Posted on May 1, 2021 by Symbol Reader

I came across this beautiful description of the Sirens in Karl Kerenyi’s Gods of the Greeks (first published in 1951). It seems that far form being the evil seductresses often portrayed in literature, they were in fact guides of the … Continue reading →

Posted in sirens | Tagged Acheloos, archetypes, death, Greek myth, Greek mythology, guide, Kerenyi, muse, music, psychopomp, sirens, Soul, sphinx, symbolism, symbols, Underworld | 6 Comments

The Secrets of the Odyssey (13): Journeying on Snakelike Wet Paths

Posted on January 28, 2015 by Symbol Reader

While reading Hermes Guide of Souls: The Mythologem of the Masculine Source of Life by Karl Kerènyi I came across the following passage describing the nature of Odysseus’s journeying and the special patronage of Hermes over Odysseus: “We previously called the … Continue reading →

Posted in The Odyssey | Tagged archetypes, Greek myth, Greek mythology, guide of souls, Hermes, Homer, journey, journeying, Kerenyi, messenger, Odysseus, Odyssey, psychopomp, symbolism, symbols, travelling, Zeus | 31 Comments

The Modern Need of Oracles

Posted on September 6, 2013 by Symbol Reader

Neo: But if you already know, how can I make a choice? The Oracle: Because you didn’t come here to make the choice, you’ve already made it. You’re here to try to understand *why* you made it. I thought you’d … Continue reading →