Jesus Christ: Frequently associated with the Sun (as the light of the world) or Aries, the ram/lamb, signifying the sacrificial lamb and the beginning of the Age of Pisces.
The Four Evangelists (Fixed Signs): Traditionally, the four faces of the cherubim (Ezekiel) and the Gospels are linked to the four fixed signs:
Matthew: Aquarius (The Man/Angel)
Mark: Leo (The Lion)
Luke: Taurus (The Bull)
John: Scorpio/Aquila (The Eagle)
The Twelve Apostles: Various traditions assign signs to apostles based on personality or the 12 tribes:
Peter: Often linked to Leo (the leader) or Aries.
Thomas: Frequently paired with Gemini ("the twin").
Judas Iscariot: Commonly associated with Scorpio, representing betrayal.
Benjamin: Sometimes linked to Pisces
Greek
Zeus
Hera
Apollo
Artemis
Athena (war wisdom
Aphrodite
Hades
Poseidon
Demeter
Persophone
Eris
Ares
Hermes
Eileithyia (midwifery
Hephaestus
Hebe
Herakles
Nemean Lion
Pan
Castor and Pollox
Gaia
Dionysus
Achilles
Prometheus
Odysseus
Asclepius
Roman
Jupiter
Juno
APOLLO - Sol - Phoebus (bright one)
Diana
Minerva (wisdom, crafts, and arts)
Venus
Pluto
Neptune
Ceres
Libera & Horea
Discordia
Mars
Mercury
Lucina (childbirth)
Vulcan
Juventas
Aquarius
Hercules
Leo Nemeaeus
Faunus
(Romulus and Remus)
Terra
Bachaus
Achilleus
"Pagan"
EL Elyon/Shadai
Asherah (mother)
Baal (Apollo) (Sun)
Anath (Moon)
Anat
Asarte
MOT
YAM
Isis
Ishtar
Mithra
Tishtrya/Tir
Anahita
Kothar-wa-Hasis
Asherah and Hebat
Mithra
Rostram
Mithra
__________________
________________
Ahura Mazda
YAHWEH
Gilgamesh
Mithra
Urshanabi
Old Testament
Moses
Rebekah
David
Deborah/Jael
Tribe of Reuben
Esther
Tribe of Dan Ezekiel
Noah
Sarah
Judith
Abimelech
Isaac (ram)
Joshua
Eve
Elijah
Eve
Eoch
Samson &Moses
Tribe of Judah
Se'irim
Aaron and Moses
Tribe of Ephraim
Melchizedek -Salem
Esau
Cain
Jacob Moses Joseph
Jacob
New Testament
God
Mary
Jesus
Matthew
Solomon
Andrew
John
Jesus
Mary
Lilith
Satan
Peter
Paul
Mary
_________________
________________
________________
Jesus
Mark
Satan
James
John
John the Baptist
Judas
Jesus and Serpent
Paul
Luke
Adonis and Aphrodite = Attis and Cybele = Baal and Astarte (Ashtoreth) = EL and Asherah = Adam and Eve
Aries (March 21 – April 19): Judas Iscariot (often associated with the spring equinox, or at times Peter).
Taurus (April 20 – May 20): Jude Thaddeus (attributed to the steadfast nature of the sign).
Gemini (May 21 – June 20): James, son of Zebedee (Gemini represents twins/brothers, often linked to the "Sons of Thunder").
Cancer (June 21 – July 22): Peter (or sometimes James the Less).
Leo (July 23 – August 22): Thomas (associated with the "backbiter" energy of the Scorpion or the roar of Leo).
Virgo (August 23 – September 22): Philip (associated with the disciple who was a meticulous witness).
Libra (September 23 – October 22): Andrew (linked to the "Fisherman" tradition of early Pisces/Libra concepts).
Scorpio (October 23 – November 21): Judas Iscariot (sometimes attributed to this sign representing betrayal/death).
Sagittarius (November 22 – December 21): Simon the Zealot (representing the ardent/passionate warrior spirit).
Capricorn (December 22 – January 19): Matthew (associated with the responsible, disciplined tax collector role).
Aquarius (January 20 – February 18): James the Less (linked to the "Water Bearer" that pours wisdom).
Pisces (February 19 – March 20): John the Beloved (Pisces is the sign of the fish, associated with the disciple "fisher of men"
The Four Evangelists- Gospels
The Lion (Leo): Associated with the Tribe of Judah (Revelation 5:5, "the Lion of the tribe of Judah") and the Evangelist Mark.
The Ox/Bull (Taurus): Associated with the Tribe of Ephraim and the Evangelist Luke.
The Man (Aquarius): Associated with the Tribe of Reuben and the Evangelist Matthew.
The Eagle (Scorpio/Aquila): Associated with the Tribe of Dan and the Evangelist John.
Old Testament figures and their associated symbols:
Aaron: A rod or staff (symbolizing priestly authority/judgment).
Abraham: An altar (faith/obedience), stars (descendants), and a ram (substitutionary sacrifice).
Daniel: A lion (courage/faith) and a signet ring (authority).
David: A harp (worship/psalms), shepherd’s staff (leadership), and sling (victory).
Elijah: A chariot of fire or a raven (provision/power).
Esther: A crown or scepter (royalty/saving the nation).
Ezekiel: Dry bones (spiritual resurrection).
Isaac: A ram (substitutionary sacrifice).
Jacob: A ladder or stairway (connection to heaven).
Jonah: A large fish or ship (repentance/symbol of death and resurrection).
Joseph: A coat of many colors (sonship) or a wheat sheaf (provision).
Joshua: A sword or trumpet (military leadership).
Melchizedek: A loaf of bread and a chalice (foreshadowing priesthood).
Moses: The staff (authority), serpent (healing), or tablets of law.
Noah: A rainbow (covenant of peace) and an ark.
Samson: Long hair (Nazirite vow/ strength).
Symbolic Elements & Types
The Shepherd: Used for Moses and David to symbolize caring for God's people. (Later early Jesus is depicted as the "Good Shepherd" as a young boy oftening holding a Crook- resembled repurposed asherah poles of healing. (Herding)
The Pillar of Cloud/Fire: Symbolizes God's protection and guidance, notably with Moses.
The Tabernacle/Laver: Used by priests for cleansing, symbolizing purity.
Key Old Testament women and their associated symbols:
Eve: The first woman, often associated with the forbidden fruit (apple/fig), the serpent, and maternal imagery.
Sarah: Wife of Abraham, associated with laughter (as she laughed at God’s promise of a child) and stars/sand, representing her role as "mother of nations".
Hagar: Slave of Sarah, often depicted with a water skin in the wilderness, representing her encounter with "The God Who Sees" (El-Roi).
Miriam: Prophetess and sister of Moses, symbolized by a tambourine or drum for leading the women in victory songs after crossing the Red Sea.
Jael: Known for driving a tent peg through the skull of Sisera, she is associated with a tent peg and mallet, symbolizing victory, bravery, and empowerment.
Deborah: A prophetess and judge who ruled Israel, associated with a palm tree, where she sat to judge.
Ruth: Known for her loyalty, she is often depicted with wheat stalks, representing her work in the fields to support her mother-in-law, Naomi.
Hannah: Mother of Samuel, symbolized by a lamp or a small garment (robe), representing her faithfulness in prayer and her annual making of a robe for her son.
Esther: Queen of Persia, associated with a crown or royal robes, symbolizing her bravery in saving the Jewish people from genocide.
Judith: Known for her courage, often portrayed holding a sword and the head of Holofernes, symbolizing the defense of Israel
Christian symbol for Saint Luke
BULLS Symbolizing strength, fertility, sacrifice, or divine power.
Greek mythology Gods & Deities linked to BullsZeus – Famously transformed into a white bull to abduct Europa.Poseidon – Sent the Cretan Bull and was associated with bull symbolism and earthquakes.Dionysus – Sometimes depicted with horns or in bull form; associated with ecstatic rituals and sacrifice.Hades – Occasionally associated with black bulls in sacrificial rites to the underworld.Christian symbol for Saint Mark
LIONS Symbolizing power, kingship, danger, and heroic conquest.
Greek mythology Gods & Deities linked to LionsNemean Lion – An invulnerable lion slain by Heracles as his First Labor.
Cithaeronian Lion – Killed by Heracles before his famous labors.
Sphinx – Lion-bodied creature with a human head; posed riddles at Thebes.
Chimera – A fire-breathing hybrid with a lion’s body, goat head, and serpent tail.
Heracles – Wore the skin of the Nemean Lion as armor.
Atalanta – Took part in the Calydonian Boar Hunt; sometimes associated with lion hunts and wild beasts.
Oedipus – Defeated the Sphinx (lion-bodied).
Bellerophon – Slew the Chimera, which had a lion’s body.
Cybele – Often depicted riding a chariot pulled by lions (adopted into Greek tradition).
Rhea – Sometimes associated with lions in later iconography similar to Cybele.
Dionysus – Occasionally depicted with lions or riding in a chariot drawn by them.
Leucippe – In some versions of myths, transformed into a lion.
Hippomenes and Atalanta – Transformed into lions by the gods (often attributed to Cybele) as punishment.
Lions were associated with:
Heroic conquest (Heracles)
Guardianship and riddles (Sphinx)
Divine power and wild nature (Dionysus, Cybele)
Punishment and transformation (Atalanta & Hippomenes)
Christian symbol for Saint John
EAGLES Symbolizing power, kingship, danger, and heroic conquest.
Zeus – The eagle is his primary sacred animal and emblem; often depicted with or as an eagle.
Aetos Dios – The divine eagle that serves Zeus, carrying his thunderbolts and acting as his messenger.
Ganymede – Abducted by Zeus in the form of an eagle (or carried by one) to Olympus.
Punishment and Mythic Suffering
Prometheus – Punished by Zeus; an eagle was sent daily to eat his liver.
Tityos – A giant punished in the underworld; vultures or eagles fed on his liver.
Heroes and Epic Connections
Heracles – Shot and killed the eagle tormenting Prometheus, freeing him.
Odysseus – Eagles appear as omens in his story, especially in the Odyssey.
Agamemnon – An eagle omen appears before the Trojan War, interpreted as a sign from Zeus.
Seers and Omens
Calchas – Interpreted eagle omens for the Greek army in the Trojan War.
Teiresias – Though not tied to a single eagle myth, part of a tradition where birds (especially eagles) carry divine messages.
Symbolic and Mythic Themes
Eagles represent:
Divine authority and kingship (Zeus)
Justice and punishment (Prometheus, Tityos)
Ascension and divine favor (Ganymede)
Omens and prophecy (Odysseus, Agamemnon)
Several Old Testament figures share symbolic or thematic elements with Greek mythology, often representing similar archetypes or narratives.
Common links include flood narratives, strength, and divine conflict
Old Testament Figures and Shared Symbols/Archetypes
Noah (Genesis) & Deucalion (Greek Myth): Both are central figures in a Great Flood, tasked by the divine with building a vessel (chest/ark) to survive a watery destruction meant to end human wickedness.
Samson (Judges) & Heracles (Heracles/Hercules): Both are characterized by immense, divinely given strength, killing a lion with bare hands, and suffering downfall due to women.
Eve (Genesis) & Pandora (Hesiod's Theogony): Both are the first women, both are tempted/disobedient, and both are blamed for releasing misery, plagues, or death into the world.
Jonah (Jonah) & Perseus (Greek Myth): Both stories are linked by the setting of Joppa and involve a sea monster/large fish used to save or swallow the figure, notes a Reddit user.
Lucifer/Satan (Isaiah/Ezekiel) & Titans/Prometheus (Greek Myth): The fall of angelic beings and rebellion against the supreme God shares themes with the Titans rebelling against Zeus or Prometheus challenging Zeus.
Solomon & Ashtoreth worshippers: 1 Kings 11:5 links Solomon and Israelite lapses to Astarte/Ashtoreth, which was often identified by Greeks as Aphrodit
Several figures from the Old Testament/Hebrew Bible have been connected to the Greek god Hermes or his syncretized form, Hermes Trismegistus, primarily through themes of wisdom, mediation, and divine translation.
Enoch is the most prominent biblical figure linked to Hermes.
Association with Thoth/Hermes: Early Christian and Jewish traditions connected Enoch with the Egyptian god Thoth (who the Greeks associated with Hermes) because both were considered divine scribes, inventors of writing, and keepers of secrets.
The "Twice-Great": Enoch was often identified with Hermes Trismegistus, as both were described as having learned the secrets of heaven and earth and having passed them on to humanity,
Divine Ascent: Like Hermes, who acts as a messenger between divine and mortal realms, Enoch was taken up by God while still alive, a form of ultimate translation
ElijahElijah is often compared to Hermes regarding his role as a messenger and a "psychopomp" (guide of souls).
Messenger of God: Elijah functioned as a prophet and divine messenger who often appeared unexpectedly and disappeared quickly, similar to the Greek messenger god
Miracles and Translation: Elijah performed miracles that paralleled divine, almost trickster-like interventions (such as providing endless oil), and like Hermes, he was a traveler who moved between earthly realms and the divine
.
Association with Myrtilus: Some scholars have argued that specific Jewish traditions about Elijah are re-interpretations of, or reactions to, the myth of the Greek figure Myrtilus, who was known as a "son of Hermes",
Moses is sometimes connected to Hermes as a mediator and guide.
Messenger/Leader: Like Hermes (the messenger of the gods), Moses was sent by God to convey messages and deliver his people
"Psychopomp" Role: Hermes was a "Psychopompus" (leader of souls/guide of travelers), a role that mirrors Moses leading the Israelites to the promised land
.
Serpent Stick: Moses carried a staff, and at one point elevated a bronze serpent, which shares symbolic resonance with the caduceus carried by Hermes,
Other Associations
Esdras/Ezra: Some Islamic tradition suggests that the Qur'anic prophet Idris—often equated with Hermes—is more closely related to the biblical figure of Ezra,
The Serpent in Eden: While not a "person," some esoteric interpretations connect the serpent in Eden to the trickster aspect of Hermes, as suggested in
Deucalion is a figure in Greek mythology, often likened to Noah, who survived a great flood sent by Zeus to destroy humanity. As the righteous son of Prometheus and King of Phthia, he and his wife, Pyrrha, built a chest (ark) to escape the deluge, later repopulating the earth by throwing stones (the "bones of their mother") behind them. Parents: Son of the Titan Prometheus and generally considered the son of Clymene, Hesione, or Pronoia.
Wife: Pyrrha, the daughter of Epimetheus and Pandora.
The Flood: Zeus, angered by the greed and disobedience of the Bronze Age humans, sent a deluge to destroy them. Prometheus warned his son, advising him to build a boat
.
The Survival: Deucalion and Pyrrha rode out the flood for nine days and nights, landing on Mount Parnassus.
Repopulation: To restore humanity, they were instructed to throw the bones of their mother behind them. Interpreting this as their mother earth, the stones Deucalion threw became men, and those thrown by Pyrrha became women.
Offspring: They were the parents of Hellen, the mythical ancestor of the Hellenic race (Greeks), along with Protogeneia and Amphictyon
These figures represent the mythical dawn of the Greek civilization (Hellenes) in Thessaly, establishing the foundational genealogies and religious structures of Ancient Greece.
Hellen Known as the patriarch of the Greeks (Hellenes). He was the son of Deucalion and Pyrrha and father to Dorus, Xuthus, and Aeolus.
Protogeneia : A daughter of Deucalion and Pyrrha, she was a princess of Phthia. She had children with Zeus, including Opus, Aethlius, and Aetolus.
Amphictyon : Often identified as a son of Deucalion (or in some traditions, an autochthonous, or earth-born, figure). He was an early king of Athens who married the daughter of Cranaus (or in some accounts, Cranaus himself) and is strongly associated with the establishment of the Delphi religious council.
Family Connections:
Parents: Deucalion and Pyrrha (son of Prometheus and daughter of Epimetheus/Pandora, respectively).
Siblings: Besides Hellen, Protogeneia, and Amphictyon, other frequently mentioned siblings include Thyia, Pandora II, and Melantho.
The Moon- The Woman of Revelation (Mary/Church): Revelation 12:1 depicts a woman with the moon under her feet and a crown of twelve stars. Many commentators interpret this woman as the Virgin Mary or as a symbol of the Church.
Jesus Christ (Prophetic Context): The moon is connected to the End Times, where it is prophesied to turn into blood and be darkened (Matthew 24:29, Acts 2:20).
The "Moonstruck" People: In Matthew 4:24 and 17:15, Jesus heals people described in some translations as "lunatick" or "moonstruck" (from the Greek selēniazomai), referring to seizures or ailments traditionally associated with lunar cycles.
The New Testament figure most functionally similar to the Greek goddess Athena—who represents divine wisdom, strategy, and strength—is Sophia (Holy Wisdom), often personified as a divine feminine aspect of God. Other comparisons include Deborah (a strategic leader) and Priscilla (a knowledgeable teacher), representing wise and authoritative women.
Sophia/Holy Wisdom (Wisdom): In Hellenistic Jewish literature and early Christian thought, wisdom is often personified as a female figure, acting as the intelligent, guiding force of God, echoing Athena’s role as the goddess of wisdom, strategic warfare, and crafts.
The Proverbial Woman (Proverbs 31 / Female Authority): The description of the woman of valor in Proverbs 31—who is savvy, manages a household (crafts), and handles affairs with competence—offers a practical, earthly parallel to Athena's role as a divine influencer of civilization.
Deborah (Strategic Leadership): While in the Old Testament, the prophetess Deborah is a strong, authoritative, strategic leader who commands armies and imparts wisdom, sharing characteristics with Athena as a strategic, non-brute-force warrior.
Priscilla (Knowledge and Teaching): As a skilled teacher who instructed Apollos (Acts 18:26), Priscilla reflects the intellectual authority and mentorship role associated with Athena.
Contextual Note: In Acts 17, when Paul addresses the Areopagus—a council established, according to mythology, by Athena—he is engaging with the very seat of her worshi
Translation/Assumption into Heaven: Similar to how Enoch ("God took him," Genesis 5:24) or Elijah (taken to heaven in a whirlwind, 2 Kings 2:11) are removed from the earthly realm by God, Ganymede is taken by Zeus to Olympus to live among the gods.
"Sons of God" and Human Women (Genesis 6): The tale of Zeus, as an eagle, snatching a mortal reflects the mythological theme of higher divine beings interacting physically with humanity, paralleling the "sons of God" taking the "daughters of men" in Genesis 6:1-4.
Divine Favor/Service: Ganymede’s elevation from a shepherd to a divine servant mirrors Joseph’s rapid elevation in Egypt,
or Daniel in Babylon, though Ganymede’s elevation is based on beauty and romantic/erotic affection, whereas the others are based on wisdom and divine favor.
ANIKETOS (Anicetus) and ALEXIARES (Sons of Herakles and Heba) two Olympian demigods, presided over the defence and fortification of towns and citadels.
Their names mean "the unconquerable one" from the Greek anikêtos and "he who wards off war" from alexis and arês.
Sons of Herakles (Heracles) and Hebe who were born after the hero's ascension to Olympos. The pair were gatekeepers of Olympos, a role which was also assigned to their immortal father.
Aniketos and Alexiares were the "Princes"--two boy-god sons of Herakles worshipped in Thebes.
In Greek mythology, Polynices was the son of Oedipus and either Jocasta or Euryganeia, and the brother of Eteocles, Antigone, and Ismene. When Oedipus discovered that he had killed his father and married his mother, he blinded himself and left Thebes, leaving Polynices and Eteocles to rule jointly.
Sibling Conflict (Cain and Abel/Jacob and Esau): The story of Polynices and his brother Eteocles—who fought for the throne of Thebes and killed each other—parallels biblical stories of intense sibling rivalry, such as Cain and Abel (Genesis 4) or Jacob and Esau (Genesis 25, 27).
The Traitor/Outcast Paradigm (Absalom or Cain): Polynices is exiled and returns with a foreign army to attack his own city, making him a traitor in the eyes of Thebes, a role that echoes figures like Absalom, who rebelled against his father, King David, or Cain, who was exiled for his actions.
The Curse Motif: Polynices and Eteocles are cursed by their father, Oedipus, to die at each other's hands, which is a common trope in Greek mythology. This can be compared to the curses found in the Old Testament, such as the curse on Canaan or prophetic curses brought about by familial dysfunction.
Burial Defiance (Antigone and Biblical Law): The main story surrounding Polynices involves his sister, Antigone, defying a king's decree to bury her brother, which touches on themes of divine law vs. human law. This is thematically similar to biblical accounts where proper burial is paramount and defiance of it is seen as a severe transgression (e.g., the burial of Moses or the condemnation of Jezebel).
There are several connections between the Greek tragic figure Oedipus and various figures and narratives in the Bible.
Judas Iscariot (Medieval Legend): The strongest direct narrative connection comes from medieval legends, which significantly reframed the story of Judas Iscariot to mirror Oedipus. In these tales, Judas is prophesied to kill his father and marry his mother, is exposed as an infant, and later unknowingly fulfills the prophecy before becoming a disciple.
King David (Thematic Parallels): Analysts often compare Oedipus to King David as both are powerful, respected kings who become "polluted" or guilty of great sins (incest/murder for Oedipus; adultery/murder for David) that bring a plague or divine judgment upon their kingdoms. Both also function as "scapegoats" or figures who bear the consequences of their actions to bring restoration, a theme explored by René Girard.
Joseph (Structural Similarities): Both Oedipus and Joseph receive prophecies that involve hardship followed by elevated authority. Both stories feature attempted murder by family members, and both characters end up ruling over their kin.
Lot and His Daughters: The incestuous aspect of Oedipus unknowingly marrying his mother has a parallel in Genesis, where Lot’s daughters, believing they are the only people left on earth, get their father drunk and conceive children by him.
Paul the Apostle (Sight and Blindness): The conversion of Paul in Acts 9 is sometimes compared to Oedipus in terms of the "paradox of sight." Both are individuals who are "blind" to the truth while having physical sight, and both are struck with physical blindness before achieving true spiritual or higher insight.
Fate vs. Grace: Oedipus is caught in a trap of inevitable fate with no hope, leading to his self-blinding. Biblical figures, however, operate within a framework of divine providence, sin, and potential repentance, redemption, and forgiveness.
Ignorance vs. Knowledge: Oedipus acts in ignorance of his parents' identity, while biblical sinners often know their actions are wrong but choose them anyway, yet they are granted mercy, whereas Oedipus is punished.
In Aiskhylos' (Aeschylus') play the Seven Against Thebes, Zeus is invoked as Alexeterios by the defending Thebans.
"Seven Against Thebes" is a Greek mythological tale and a tragedy by Aeschylus (467 BCE) about seven champions who besieged Thebes to restore Polynices, who was banished by his brother Eteocles, to the throne. The conflict stemmed from their father Oedipus's curse, resulting in a failed siege where both brothers killed each other.
Polynices and Eteocles agreed to alternate the kingship of Thebes annually, but Eteocles refused to step down, forcing his brother into exile. (Jacob and Esau)
The Seven Leaders: To regain the throne, Polynices sought help from Adrastus of Argos. The seven champions leading the attack on Thebes' seven gates were typically cited as: Polynices, Adrastus, Amphiaraus, Capaneus, Hippomedon, Tydeus, and Parthenopaeus
.
The Outcome: The attack fails. Eteocles and Polynices kill one another in single combat, and all Seven leaders perish except for Adrastus.
Aeschylus's Tragedy: The play, as explored in the Aeschylus's Seven Against Thebes summary on Wikipedia, focuses on Eteocles' role as a responsible commander managing the defense of the city and preparing for the fatal confrontation
Fratricidal Conflict and Curses
The Story: Polynices and his brother Eteocles (sons of Oedipus) are cursed to kill each other over the throne of Thebes.
Biblical Parallel: Similar themes of brotherly strife, curses, and broken legacies appear throughout the Old Testament, most notably in the conflict between Cain and Abel (Genesis 4) and the familial strife of David's sons, such as Absalom's revolt against David (2 Samuel). The curse of a father affecting the next generation is a strong link.
The Failed Expedition (War and Judgment)
The Story: The expedition of the Seven is a disastrous, hubristic attempt to take Thebes by force. The gods, particularly Zeus, favor the defenders, and almost all the attackers die as punishment for their pride, specifically Capaneus, who is struck down for boasting.
Biblical Parallel: The story of the Tower of Babel (Genesis 11) portrays a similar theme of human pride (hubris) resulting in divine intervention and punishment. Furthermore, the Israelites' failed attempt to enter the Promised Land without God’s blessing, resulting in military disaster and a 40-year punishment, mirrors the "doomed expedition" narrative.
The Seer and Hidden Truths
The Story: Amphiaraus is a seer who knows the expedition will fail but is forced to go. He is eventually swallowed by the earth, a divine action.
Biblical Parallel: The story of Balaam (Numbers 22-24) involves a prophet who is aware of divine intent yet struggles with the desires of leaders, featuring supernatural warnings and interventions, similar to the Greek seers' struggle with fate.
4. Burials and Forbidden Rites
The Story: Creon, king of Thebes, forbids the burial of Polynices, treating him as a traitor. Antigone, his sister, risks death to bury her brother, arguing for higher divine law over state law.
Biblical Parallel: The tension between burial rites and state orders, along with the sanctity of the body, is found in the Bible, particularly in the story of Rizpah, who guards the bodies of her executed sons, allowing them to be buried properly, echoing the theme of proper burial as a religious duty (2 Samuel 21).
Divine Disfavor of the "Beast"
The Story: Tydeus and Polynices are compared to "wild beasts" for their violence, a description that leads to their demise.
Biblical Parallel: Nebuchadnezzar being driven to act as a beast (Daniel 4) is a direct parallel of a leader losing his human status as a result of divine punishment, similar to the moral failings of the seven heroes
Hebe is the Goddess of Youth and the Cupbearer of the Gods. She is the youngest child of Zeus and Hera, the younger sister of Eris, Ares, Eileithyia, and Hephaestus, and the younger half-sister of Athena, Artemis, and Apollo.
Astarte as a goddess of love/fertility, and Anath as a fierce virgin warrior companion to Baal
Zeus
God
EL
Dionysus
Jesus
Asherah
Apollo
Holy Spirit
YAHWEH