Silver Myths and Legends - By: Catherine Darcy

Silver in all it’s forms from weapons to Jewellery has been seen as a valuable and beautiful substance, favoured by the gods since the beginning of time. As a result a huge number of myths and legends have sprung up over the centuries referring to and including silver. Here are a few:

Greek and Roman Myths

Within Greek myth and legend, the God Apollo (god of prophesy, music and healing) had a Silver bow and his sister Artemis (virgin Goddess of the hunt), Silver arrows.

The doors of Apollo's great palace on Mount Olympus were silver, as were the columns said to hold held up the grotto through which flowed the River Styx.

In Roman mythology, the story of creation and man's development is described by 4 ages:

First came the golden age, during which men did what was right without laws and without the threat of punishment. Everyone lived at peace, and the earth gave up its fruits without human labour. Rivers flowed with milk and nectar, and honey dripped from the trees. Springtime was the only season.

When Saturn lost his rule to Jove this golden age on earth gave way to a silver age. Jove, the sky god, shortened springtime and added the seasons of summer, winter and autumn. The earth now yielded its bounty from cultivation by human hand.

Then came an age of bronze. Men were now more disposed toward warfare

Finally came an age of iron, a metal baser and harder than gold, silver, or bronze. Now the natural virtues of man gave way to baser, harsher qualities. Modesty, truth, and loyalty were replaced by treachery, deceit, and greed.

Norse Mythology

Freya was the wife of Odin and goddess of love, fertility, war, and wealth. Originally one of the Wind Gods, she the daughter of Njord, and the sister of Frey. Freya was the feminine counterpart of Odin, the Lady of the Battlefield, a being of magical power who rides the sky, clad in silver mail, and leads the spirits of the slain to a spiritual resting place.

The Valkyrie were the handmaidens of Odin. They were immortal and invulnerable as long as they obeyed the gods and remained a virgin. They were young and beautiful with white arms and long flowing golden hair. They wore gold or silver helmets, with a blood red corselet, carrying spears and shields that glittered. Their role was to ride to the battlefield and choose the fallen heroes of the battlefield.

Asgard was the home of the Norse gods. This magical place, reached by crossing the Rainbow Bridge, was said to be full of the Gold and Silver palaces of the gods.

Silver, with all it's beauty and mystery has always played a major role in ancient myth and legend, here are a few of them.

Catherine D’Arcy is the founder of Corazon Latino, an online retailer specializing in handmade silver jewellery. To see their exclusive range of unusual silver jewellery, visit www.corazonlatino.com