Wind is a part of many cultures. The gods have used wind’s supernatural powers to influence and punish Earth heroes. In works from around the globe, such as the Epic of Gilgamesh & Hong Gildong, wind’s supernatural power can be seen. In many of these tales, wind has the role as God. In these stories, the wind may have supernatural powers but the way in which the heroes deal with it will determine whether they reach true divinity or heaven. In these works, the heroes either follow a way of righteousness like Hong Gildong or an ungodly path like Gilgamesh. It depends on how the characters behave towards the Gods and the loyalty they have to the spiritual forces of Earth. The wind is a guide to the spiritual world in the works of Gilgamesh, Hong Gildong and other authors. It also serves as a protector for the righteous and a punisher for the ungodly. These acts of justice allow the wind to bring the heroes into contact with a greater entity, such as the gods or God.
The wind, as we can see in The Epic of Gilgamesh is also a punisher. The characters of The Epic of Gilgamesh did not believe that the divine could be acknowledged by the characters. The characters of the Epic of Gilgamesh knew they were divine beings but believed that their own divinity was equal to that. Gilgamesh’s and Ekidu’s journey was not undertaken to become divinities, but to seize the divine domain. The punishment they will receive if the turn on their gods is harsh. The “heroes”, to prove dominance, steal from the Gods. But a deity stands in their path. Gilgamesh’s and Ekidu’s decision to fight Humbaba as the divine protector of the forest enchanted is a mistake. They do not know the supernatural forces who will stand against them. Ekidu tells Gilgamesh and Ekidu that they will fight Humbaba. They are unaware of the supernatural forces that will be against them. We will receive a positive sign the next day from Sun God. (Georgia 31). Ekidu & Gilgamesh are convinced that they have the strength of gods & are more favored than all men. They are not only willing to murder, but also commit heresy. Humbaba acknowledges that the gods are present and also follows their commands. Ekidu & Gilgamesh do not want to live the same way as Humbaba. They are also unwilling to acknowledge the gods and their power. The Sun God honors his proteges when he sends the 13 winds against Humbaba. However, this does not protect the heroes. Instead, it seals their punishment.
Ekidu thought he was above supernatural power, but when he fought Humbaba he seemed to be a match for it. Shamash – the Sun God – was unable to kill them before the powerful gale of wind swept in. Ekidu & Gilgamesh thus killed a god-serving being. Winds represent the heroes’ disloyalty to the gods. Ekidu, Gilgamesh and Humbaba’s disrespect and disloyalty to the Gods made them useless. In this case, the wind was the protector for Ekidu & Gilgamesh. However, it is a sign of the chaos and desolation they will experience due to the lack of spirituality. The gods punish the heroes with more than the wind after they kill a divine creature. Shamash recognizes Ekidu as a god-like being, while the other gods who have seen their intentions to use supernatural elements like wind on Earth, make it a harsh reality. Heaven’s mighty bull is the first event to bring havoc to Ekidu and Gilgamesh. Gilgamesh’s unwillingness to accept a lover was the cause of this supernatural event. Gilgamesh doesn’t just refuse to accept Ishtar, he also rejects her as a woman. Ishtar made a love proposal to Gilgamesh, and he rejected it with contempt. He said that she was an awful lover who wasn’t worth his time. He rejects her love offer, saying that she is a terrible lover and not worth it. Ishtar, after being rejected by her lover, has her father send the Bull to Heaven down to their home. “The Bull of Heaven” snorted when it entered Uruk. 100 men of Uruk then fell down the pit. It snorted again and a second pit appeared. Two hundred Urukites fell in. Ekidu, Gilgamesh and the Bull were able kill it after the Bull destroyed half of the city. The gods are even more furious when they see their supernatural being killed by heretics. Ekidu and Gilgamesh are still not free of their shame. When Ishtar arrives, Ekidu declares, “Had I gotten you, I would’ve treated you the same, I’d’ve draped you in guts.” (George 52). Again, it’s the heroes’ refusal to obey the gods which leads to their downfall. Ekidu, who believes that he belongs among the gods with Gilgamesh, dies a horrible death as a result of their belief. Ekidu’s separation from Gilgamesh is a symbol of their separation from the spiritual and divine. Gilgamesh decides to become a god after his equal dies. He is superior to humans. Gilgamesh’s only chance of immortality is lost when he tries to achieve it. The supernatural might have helped him on his path to immortality had he honored them, rather than thwarting it. Gilgamesh hoped to become divine by ignoring and not committing, but instead the supernatural punishes him repeatedly.
In Dante’s Inferno the punishments of supernatural nature continue. Inferno’s entire theme is divine punishment by the supernatural powers in the spiritual realm. The wind is now present in the second circle. The wind is a powerful force that lashes and whips sinners who have committed lust. This prevents them from finding rest and peace. Winds are a symbol of restlessness in lust for physical pleasures. Lust could be for immortality or power like Ekidu, Gilgamesh, or it could be for a man. The unforgiving wind of insatiable desire is used to punish sinners for their transgressions. Dante described the sinners’ turmoil as “like a sea that is racked with a tempest when two winds are attacking it simultaneously”. The infernal winds, in their eternal rage, drive and sweep the spirits. They are whirled, punished with punishment. The wind of the infernal storm, which never stops, hurtles and drives spirits. It smite, molests, and spins them around. Dante is sympathetic to these sinners but does not realize the power of God until he enters Hell. As a punishment, wind does not appear to be a supernatural being. Dante and Ekidu were not able to see the wind as a sign of utter suffering. Gilgamesh is one example of a sinner who didn’t repent of his acts against God. This means that the wind will beat him and other sinners for eternity.
The wind also plays a role as a guide in the story about Hong Gildong. Hong Gildong’s struggle over his own identity fuels the search for divinity. He said: A human being is most precious of all the things Heaven created. In this sense, it’s the best thing to have been born in this life as a person. To be a male is more fortunate than being a woman. Being born a human, it’s the best thing to be a man. Along with these three blessings, I also inherited Your Ladyship’s spirit and strength. I grew to be an imposing man. (Kang 5). Hong, who feels as if his relationship with his parents has changed, is still loyal to them. Hong’s desire for power in the family leads to his pursuit of knowledge. Hong, who is denied a father by the High-Minister, devotes himself to learning military treatises such as the Six Teachings or the Three Summaries. He also masters astrology and geomancy. He had assimilated this knowledge in such a way that he could do any task (Kang 11). His studies of religion and supernatural phenomena are included. Hong, in his quest for divinity, is able overcome the wind’s power. When faced with death, he uses the wind to punish the killer. Hong created a magic spell before the man arrived. Hong, by using his magic, “unleashed his spell and attached the triangle of southwards direction on the northwards direction. The water trigram was then attached to the northwards direction. Hong, through his devotion to the spiritual and divine, was not only able recognize the supernatural. He also used it to benefit himself. Hong used the supernatural to defend himself because of his dedication to the gods. Hong saves himself and his family’s lives by using winds as protection. He also assassinated his enemies with the help of the wind. Hong’s devotion to the divine helped him prove his loyalty to family and country. Hong’s loyalty to the divine enabled him to prove his loyalty to his family and nation. The wind helped Hong Gildong to be transported and also to hide him from his enemies. Hong’s gift is from the Divine when he finally dies. He is made to look young and flies into heaven on the wind. Hong becomes closer to divinity through his devotion to the superstitious.
The Golden Ass has the wind as protector, not a guide. The Golden Ass story is filled with magic and supernatural elements, but the story in the book Cupid & Psyche is what truly represents the relationship between man & the divine. The Golden Ass teaches us that the wind is a savior in the Cupid-Psyche story. The wind carries Psyche and Cupid together. Zephyr, the wind that carries her down the mountain’s slope on a calm breath, “laid her gently to rest in the valley below on the flowery grass” (Apuleius 75). In this flowery valley, she meets Cupid. Psyche’s devotion to Cupid, while pure, exemplifies the ideal spiritual walk; she cannot see the divine yet believes in it. Cupid transforms her life but her evil, religiously doubting sisters cause Psyche not to feel connected with God. Cupid warns the girl about her evil and cruel sister but she’s too curious and easy to influence that she refuses to obey his orders and ultimately breaks their ties. Her sisters are trying to convince her of the freedom she, like Gilgamesh had hoped for from supernatural forces and divine beings. They say to Psyche: Remember the Pythian Oracle that said you were destined for marriage with a horrendous and terrible monster. They say your husband is an enormous and horrible serpent that feeds you dainties so that he can eventually devour you. Our advice is to take it. If you want to know if they are telling the truth, get a light and a sharp blade. Put them away so your husband won’t find them. Then, when your husband is asleep, go out and take your light. If so, do not hesitate to remove the head of the monster and thus regain your freedom. (Apuleius 86). Psyche was tempted by her sisters’ words as Eve was tempted by the serpent. Psyche could not resist and betrayed all her promises and devotion to Cupid. She watched him burn with the wax. Cupid’s Mother tests Psyche’s devotion when she accidentally hurts Cupid. Psyche’s mother, Venus, asks her to do a number of tasks that will prove to Cupid how much she loves him. She didn’t complete all of them by herself. Psyche decides, while on her path to Venus, to clean up a mess. By separating the grains, Psyche’s pious nature also helped honor other gods. Ceres was impressed by her religious devotion and told her to “Oh Psyche. You deserve our pity. Although I cannot protect you against Venus’ frowns but I can help you to appease her.” If you want to regain the love of your lost husband, try to gain her forgiveness with modesty and submission. Psyche’s infidelity may have earned her a punishment, but her devotion to God and her piety has protected her from it. Psyche was convinced she would never see her spouse again when she saw the first assignment set by Venus. The grains were all mixed up. Psyche needed help separating the grains. Magical ants appeared to assist her. Venus had told Psyche she would have to retrieve a sample golden fleece. Psyche obeyed her goddess’s command, but the river god came to her rescue. The god replied through the murmurs coming from the reeds. After the noontide Sun has pushed the cattle out of the sun and the calm spirit has brought them to rest, it is safe to cross. And you will see the golden wool on the trunks and bushes of trees. Psyche went back to Venus after he gave her the instruction. She returned with a slew of golden fur.
Venus gave Psyche one last task: to travel to Proserpine’s Underworld in order to recover beauty. Psyche was aware that the task she had undertaken would be fatal, but she still went. She is rendered comatose when she gazes into the box. Cupid brings her to life, giving her immortality. Her selfless acts throughout her human tasks are similar to Christ’s, who died for his loved ones and yet came back again as Savior. Psyche’s selfless actions throughout her tasks as a human are similar to Christ, dying for her loved ones but yet coming back again as savior. Both characters had pure hearts and rose to the divine level with the aid of wind and other supernatural elements. Some characters did not follow the straight-and-narrow path. The Golden Ass also shows punishments through supernatural means. Psyche can escape death when she jumps off a cliff because of her connection to God. Zephyr carries her safely to the lover’s residence. Psyche’s sisters, greedy for the blessing of the gods, tried to cheat themselves into it. They believe they can now control the supernatural after destroying their sister’s relationship to the divine. They think they will be loved more by Cupid because Psyche didn’t love Cupid. The sisters are happy that their sister has been condemned to a sacrist life by her sister’s heresy. Each sister ascended Cupid’s holy mountain and asked Zephyr for help. Zephyr’s powers could not support either sister. They wished to live a perfect, happy life but their evilness and imperfections prevented them from finding it. Upon learning about Psyche’s deception, the sisters were enraged. They cried to Cupid: “Receive a wife for you worthy of your love, Zephyr. Bear up the mistress you have chosen” and with a mighty leap, threw themselves off. She did not reach her destination, even when she died. As she fell, she was torn from limb to limb and as a result, she provided a feast of her mangled meat for wild animals and birds. Second revenge was soon to follow. Psyche was once again wandering when she reached a city where her sister lived. She was equally as easily deceived by the ruse of her sister and, eager to succeed her in this unholy marriage, she fled to the rocks and died a similar death. In a harsh punishment for their unfaithfulness, the wind lets the sisters fall to their deaths when they try to jump to Cupid from the cliff. As Psyche is comatose in death, the sisters’ death has not been redeemed by supernatural forces. It appears that they have been condemned to an eternity suffering and pain in the Underworld because of their unfaithfulness.
In The Epic of Gilgamesh, Inferno, Hong Gildong, and The Golden Ass, the supernatural powers of wind play a key role in determining how each hero’s life will be after death. The wind plays a role in these stories that is similar to God. It can be a spiritual guide, protector or even retribution. The wind often decides to punish or to protect an individual based on their character and their actions. Through the interaction with the winds, the relationship between the hero and spirituality is determined. The wind represents the divine justice. Through justice, heroes are either brought to true divinity by the wind or they fall into the pits.
Works Cited
The citation style used would depend on the type of source being cited. For example, if citing a book, you would use a specific style such as MLA or APA.
Alighieri Dante Mark Musa Inferno. New York, NY: Penguin, 2003. Print. Apuleius, E. J. Kenney. The Golden Ass is a novel written by Apuleius that tells the story of a man who is turned into an ass. London: Penguin, 2006. Print. George, Andrew. The epic of Gilgamesh. London: Penguin, 2003. Print. Kang, Minsoo. Hong Gildong’s story NY, NY: Penguin, 2016. Print.
