MMW Stories
From SEDSWiki
Moon Mars Workshop Story Project
There are stories about the Moon, the planets and the stars in every culture. It would be fascinating to collect and compare stories as well as ancient astronomical discoveries from all over the world. These stories could be anything from historical facts or even childhood stories.
The goals of this project:
Create a collection of “space stories” from around the world
Find similarities and differences between stories from all over the world
Publish a collection of stories and background information
The outcome of this project could be a book or a website or probably an educational game…
How can you get involved?
Collect stories related to the Moon from your own culture. Stories about the rest of the solar system and beyond can also be added.
Collect background information about these stories. Are the stories used somewhere in modern life, eg do they somehow appear in space exploration? Are there special occasions to tell these stories? Do the stories have a meaning in religion, music, or literature? Why is the story told in your culture?
Discuss the origin, similarities and relevance of the stories online with other participants from all over the world
Subscribe to the mailing list for this project. Just go to the following website and click on “stories”:
http://lists.spacegeneration.org
Some Stories
“The Hare in the Moon” (India)
While Buddha the great god sojourned upon earth as a hermit, he one day lost his way in a wood. He had wandered long, when a hare accosted him: “Cannot I help you? Strike into the path on your right. I will guide you out of the wilderness.“ Buddha replied: “Thank you, but I am poor and hungry, and unable to repay your kindness.“ “If you are hungry,“ said the hare, “light a fire, and kill, roast, and eat me.“ Buddha made a fire, and the hare immediately jumped in. Then did Buddha manifest his divine power. He snatched the beast out of the flames, and set him in the moon, where he may be seen to this day.
“The Man in the Moon” (central Europe)
Ages ago, a man went into the wood to hew sticks on a Sunday morning. He cut a faggot, slung it on a stout staff and cast it over his shoulder. On his way home, he met a handsome man in Sunday suit, who was on his way to church. “Don't you know that it is Sunday, when all good Christians should be resting from their labours?" said the stranger. “Sunday on earth, or Monday in heaven, it's all the same to me!" laughed the old man. "Then bear your bundle forever, and as you value not Sunday on earth yours shall be a perpetual moon day in heaven; and you shall stand for eternity in the moon.” answered the stranger, who was God. From that time on, the old man can be seen in the moon, still carrying his bundle.
Resources, Links, Literature
http://www.sacred-texts.com/astro/ml/index.htm
http://www.planetfusion.co.uk/~pignut/
http://www.astronomy.pomona.edu/archeo/outside/aneastro.html
http://www.astro.uni-bonn.de/~pbrosche/hist_astr/ha_obs.html
Geoffrey Cornelius, Paul Devereux: “The Language of Stars and Planets: A Visual Key to Celestial Mysteries”
Jürgen Blunck: „Wie die Teufel den Mond schwärzten. Der Mond in Mythen und Sagen“ (in german)
