h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I know about Narcissus (and Echo). I know about Psyche and Eros (to some extent). I know the story of Apollo and Daphne. I know of Demeter and Persephone, and how Hades took Persephone down to Tartarus. I know of young Hermes, the entertaining story of when he was born and stole Apollo's cows; I know the story of Orpheus (and its many different incarnations), the mortal who was son to Calliope of the nine Muses, and journeyed with the Argonauts and journeyed down to Hades to gain back his wife and lost her to mistrust.

Basically, if you need something, and you tell me what on earth I'm doing, I can come up with something to do... I know the history of Zeus and his siblings (the pattern of youngest son overthrowing father) and why Zeus swallowed his first wife, Metis, and why Athena not only sprang from his head but why she is so wise; I know of Achaeon (I think that was his name) - a hunter for whom Artemis had little patience. I know that Paris gave the golden apple to Aphrodite and why.

In short, I know many many bits and pieces; Greek mythology has long been my specialty. Need some help?

Another volunteer..hooray

Some help would be great, and you certainly know your stuff. Well, you can see what we're all working on at the moment, but there's lots we haven't covered so you've got loads of choices.

There's a list of things at the bottom for other people to do, but really you can do anything you like as long as it hasn't been done by someone else yet- and, of course, it has a passing relationship to Greek mythology. An article on buses probably won't be much use to us at this particular moment

If you wanted to work on specific stories then please check with theantrope that you're not both doing the same ones.

Just so I know ahead of time, what's the deadline? I suppose I should warn you that I have a nasty reputation for selectively not noticing them... I believe Douglas Adams had written something about them, what was it.. Oh, yes: "I love deadlines. I especially love the whooshing sound they make as they fly by."

Hopefully not too long, as it'll take me a week to get my footing as to what's going on and what the other entries are like (haven't done an actual edited-type entry yet). When they are written, if I am correct, we do NOT put them through the Peer Review, yes? (Not that I'd know how anyway...) So would I (after checking with the other involved) type up an entry, and then tell you about it and what the number is so you can link to it on the page there?

I'm already beginning to feel like a rather odd breed of bumblebee.....

An index to Greek Mythology wouldn't be complete without the input of a Greek God Count me in!

Well yes Apollo, a Greek project without you dazzling presence would be rather diminished. Welcome aboard.

And , the deadline is sort of December 4th, but it can be extended- that's when they'll want to see what we've done so far anyway.

As for procedure, you write an entry, I put it on my index page and when it's finished I notify Chris the italic. Then he puts a handy little button on it that only Isaac (our subeditor) can see, and Isaac does his magic and edits it.

(But if you'd notify me beforehand about what you think you might write I would appreciate it, because I can mention it on the page and it looks like I'm organised.)

You're right- it can't go into Peer Review. But it wil go into the guide provided it's good enough- but that won't be a problem I'm sure, since you know what you're talking about.

I'll go and add you both to the list

Umm... I think I'd make my specialty history-stories. You know, the myths created to explain things, or upon which customs are based?

There was someone else that was doing a whole slew of myths that you wanted me to talk to to make sure we weren't doing the same ones... Who was it again?

Lesse.... the story of Io and how Argus died (it explains why the Greeks built cairns when travelling and also explains the peacock); Daphne and Apollo (the history of the laurel wreath); Hermes as a young babe creating the first lyre..... I could come up with others; I need to refresh my memory.

And if the deadline could be extended a bit, that would be cool, as it may very well take me a week to dig up my sources.... But I'll do what I can in the meantime.

Sorry I took ages to reply No manners

History stories would be great I fully intend to get the deadline extended, it's waaay too big a project to be finished in two days from now. But it should look pretty good soonish.



Apollo, did you want to write something? Or were you intending to bring us luck with your presence?

Hehe... sorry, my apologies Dastardly

I was considering an auto-biography, but someone else has done a great job on it ... so how does an article on the Delphic Oracle sound?

Oh, good, as I have my only major paper due this Thing, and I'd rather like to focus on that till it is done and away....

And after that I can go nuts with the research, making sure my stories aren't totally out of wack, and taking a look at what other people have done so far, and locating two very important sources. (Those being D'Aulaies' Book of Greek Myths and Ovid's Metamorphoses....)

Anyway, when there's a deadline stretch to a known point, let me know...

I think I need to put a link up to this space so I can get to it without having to try to remember what conversation forum this is...

All clear!

Apollo- that would be great. I didn't mean to nag you though

March Hare- I got the extension, and I'm going for a deadline of December the 20th- but I don't really want this one to rush by aswell.

Okay, I'm going to start, and find my sources and refine later, so I at least have something down to push my butt along the right path (get me off my duff to actually do something).

Should I put a link here to the page when I start and know the number? I think I will either way.... I'm going off to start something. I hope I rememebr my GuideML. I haven't been around much lately... (Sorry 'bout that)

Okay, I want to mention that I could do the bit on Narcissus in my entry, as it is an explanation of the Narcissus flower (and he wasn't really a "hero", was he? I think the flower just sprang up by itself, it wasn't placed there by the gods, was it?) Anyway, so if you wish, I would be happy to add what I know - it also ties in with the story of Echo, if anyone's doing that... (I've noticed that about Greek mythology... everything ties in nicely..)

I can't remember if the story of Hermaphroditus goes anywhere (explains anything), or if it is just a story.

Anyway, here's my page so far, as my great little contribution down there on the list somewhere:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/h2g2/guide/A670907

That should work... At any rate, the number's right, so have a look.