More than Stories

People in ancient times loved hearing stories just as much as we do today, and like today, their stories were not just idle entertainment. Many ancient myths and legends also taught important lessons, or tried to explain how things work.

For example, the ancient Greeks told stories of people whose overconfidence, or hubris, led to their downfall. One mythical character, Arachne, was so proud she challenged the goddess Athena to a weaving contest. This disrespectful boast made Athena furious, and she turned Arachne into a spider so she could weave thread forever.

Other ancient tales helped people understand the world around them, in times before scientific explanations were well-known. The Māori people shared stories of Rūaumoko, who lived in the belly of the Earth Mother, Papatūānuku. According to legend, earthquakes and volcanos happened whenever Rūaumoko kicked and moved around in his mother’s womb.

In the following legend from the ancient Hebrew text, the Torah, we find a story that both teaches a lesson on hubris and tries to explain why people speak so many different languages. As you read, imagine what it would be like if everyone around you suddenly started “babbling” a bunch of nonsense words you didn’t understand, and how hard that would make it for you to work together.