Grey Eyed Athena

As we were discussing the issue of Helen of Troy that made me think back to Oral Traditions and the idea that all people are given titles or monikers.

The name is such a central part of Myth. We are not just Bob, George, Fred, or Bill, but that is all we are called. In myth, however, our names have meaning. There is Wise Athena. Helen of Troy. Mighty Heracles. Odin the One Eyed, the Grey Wanderer.

Names once told us something about those who hold them. Today, names mean little more (unless one is readying fiction, particularly fantasy) then something the parent chose to call their kids. No longer do we have Elrond Halfelven unless we give that name to ourselves.

Even Shakespeare is not immune. We speak of the Bard when we love Shakespeare, for to give him a unique title is to give him reverence. If there were three Queens of Enland, a half dozen Presidents of the United States, or ten Popes, their title would no longer hold such great importance. By calling him the Bard, we give to Shakespeare reverance.