Phaedrus - The mountain giving birth

The mountain was giving birth; it was shouting immensely and there was a great expectation on the earth.
But it gave birth to a mouse. This is written for you, who promise great things, but do not bring forth anything.

[Mons parturibat, gemitus immanes ciens,
Eratque in terris maxima exspectatio.
At ille murem peperit. Hoc scriptum est tibi,
Qui, magna cum minaris, extricas nihil.]
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KleinesSinchen
At least a mouse. Better than nothing. I like mice.
Nowadays I would refer to that with the term Vaporware. Sadly pretty common – especially together with collecting money in advance.
 
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C
What is your interpretation? Is the story about the expected forming of a earth demon/golem/Adam, but instead a mouse gets born?
 
Nikokaro
Creamu said:
What is your interpretation?
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The moral of the story is that often, when we expect too much, we are greatly disappointed when the result is insignificant. It is reminiscent of Shakespeare's play "Much ado about nothing".
 
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Nikokaro said:
The moral of the story is that often, when we expect too much, we are greatly disappointed when the result is insignificant. It is reminiscent of Shakespeare's play "Much ado about nothing".
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Yes, if there is a deeper esoteric meaning, I am not getting it. You understand the original version. What is meant by expectation? Were they hoping to get something or were they fearful of things to come?
 
Nikokaro
Creamu said:
Were they hoping to get something or were they fearful of things to come?
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Given the loud cries from the mountain, the people expected (and hoped) a great result, a great birth (proportionate to the mother). Instead, only a mouse is born: hence the disappointment.
 
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Nikokaro said:
Given the loud cries from the mountain, the people expected (and hoped) a great result, a great birth (proportionate to the mother). Instead, only a mouse is born: hence the disappointment.
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Very intersting story, I dont know what the esoteric meaning is, but I highly suspect there is one.
 
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Nikokaro
@Creamu I noticed with regret that I cannot access your full profile. How come? Why the distrust? What do you fear? Do you perhaps dislike me? 😭This is in contradiction to your sociability usually shown in the various forums. I was curious to know what nationality you are, what culture you belong to.
Anyway, no big deal: everyone is free to do as they see fit....😉
 
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I have had bad experiences with another user, because of these functions.

I am not italian as you are, but I try to understand the symbolic language of the romans. I think it is important to understand it on a deeper level. The stories you present here have odd elements. There must be a deeper meaning. (Why is the moutnain birthing a mouse. Wouldnt a little stone be the more intuitive choice? Why a mouse then?)

I can only guess, and in most cases I have no clue at all.
 
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Nikokaro
Creamu said:
Why is the moutnain birthing a mouse.
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I can assume that the mountain represents something imposing, showy, important while the mouse something insignificant, annoying, even despicable.
So, to increase the contrast between the two, and thus the disappointment.
 
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Nikokaro said:
I can assume that the mountain represents something imposing, showy, important while the mouse something insignificant, annoying, even despicable.
So, to increase the contrast between the two, and thus the disappointment.
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Does it suggest disappointment in the mountain for putting out a despicable mouse?
 
Nikokaro
Creamu said:
Does it suggest disappointment in the mountain for putting out a despicable mouse?
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Obviously. Because from something imposing you assume that something equally imposing will be born, that is, that the child will be proportionate to the mother. But if a little thing is born, you are surprised and disappointed.
 
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Nikokaro said:
Obviously. Because from something imposing you assume that something equally imposing will be born, that is, that the child will be proportionate to the mother. But if a little thing is born, you are surprised and disappointed.
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Interesting. I'm trying to make connections to mythology but it's all to far fetched. If you come across a piece where you see a esoteric layer let me know.
 
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Nikokaro
If you are interested in Roman wisdom, I recommend the "Letters to Lucilius"(epistulae ad Lucilium) by Seneca, my favorite latin author.
In addition to life wisdom, he also covers everyday life, characters, events, and roman culture in general. You can find it translated into all languages.
 
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Nikokaro said:
If you are interested in Roman wisdom, I recommend the "Letters to Lucilius"(epistulae ad Lucilium) by Seneca, my favorite latin author.
In addition to life wisdom, he also covers everyday life, characters, events, and roman culture in general. You can find it translated into all languages.
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I will take a look at it. Thanks.

I am particulary interested in the main mythological figures and how they are cryptically represented in other works. They are often represented by many different things but here some simple examples.

Apollo - Sun
Jupiter - Thunder
Vulcan - Hammer, Fire, Architecture
Venus - Figs, Water
Adonis - Roses, dying and rising, the chosen
Saturn - devouering humans(/children), harvest, seasons
Mars - War, agriculture
Diana - Moon

etc.
 
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Nikokaro
Then I recommend "The Gods and Heroes of Greece" by K. Kerenyi, which treats the subject from the perspective of cultural symbolism and psychological interpretation.
 
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Nikokaro said:
Then I recommend "The Gods and Heroes of Greece" by K. Kerenyi, which treats the subject from the perspective of cultural symbolism and psychological interpretation.
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That sound promising. How come you are so interested in this subject?
 
Nikokaro
Roman mythology derives directly from Greek mythology, with a few exceptions. So I recommend that book.
I studied at the classical high school, and then majored in philosophy, and took an exam on Roman culture and philosophy, as well as Greek and Oriental (Indian) philosophy.
 
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Nikokaro said:
Roman mythology derives directly from Greek mythology, with a few exceptions. So I recommend that book.
I studied at the classical high school, and then majored in philosophy, and took an exam on Roman culture and philosophy, as well as Greek and Oriental (Indian) philosophy.
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We must uncover the esoteric truths of rome to return to roman glory!
 
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There seems to be a devide on mount olympus. There are the celestial gods, Apollo, Jupiter, Mars, Venus and the gods of the underworld, Vulcan, Saturn, Mercury, Bacchus(, Adonis). Have you located this devide as well?
 

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