Silver and Myth

No culture in the world would be quite as colorful without the layers of myth and legend that brighten and deepen human history. In fact, human history is based as much in legend as fact, and upon examination, one can easily find elements within those myths that are common to nearly every culture in recorded history. Divine intervention, brave heroes, virtuous maidens and legendary weapons are all common elements found in the mythology of every nation. One of the most prevalent characteristics linking the mythologies of the world is the presence and symbolism of precious metals. Silver, in particular, seems to appear consistently, in various forms and with a number of purposes.

Silver, in almost every case, seems representative of some form of divine intervention, while items made of silver usually possess magical or divine powers. In Norse mythology, the castles and temples of the gods in Asgard (the home of the Nordic gods), are made of silver and gold. Ancient Egyptians frequently made reference to silver artifacts such as amulets and charms as being of divine origin, or being imbued with the powers of the gods.

Though silver is traditionally considered slightly less 'divine' that gold, it is often mentioned as being a gift from the gods to special mortals on Earth. Also, as opposed to gold, which is usually representative of wealth, opulence or holiness, silver is generally assumed to be more useful, in both weaponry and as a tool, while still maintaining the aura of magic and divinity. It is most likely the more mundane characteristics of durability and strength that lend credence to this aspect of the myths surrounding the precious metal. For instance, the Celtic hero Nuada was wounded in battle, losing his hand. The Irish god of healing, Dian Cecht, rewarded him by giving him a hand fashioned out of pure silver.

Silver is also featured prominently in Greek and Roman mythology, perhaps more so than any other culture. The pantheon of Greek gods are said to have employed the metal for any number of divine uses. Apollo, the god of the sun, rode a chariot made of gold across the skies, while his weapon of choice was a bow made of silver. His sister Artemis, goddess of the moon and the hunt (known as Diana to the Romans) hunted with silver arrows. The hero Ulysses (more commonly known as Odysseus) is said to have carried a bag that held the four winds, with ties made of silver ' the only thing strong enough to keep them contained.

The mythical aspects of this precious metal are not limited to ancient legends. A recent resurgence in popularity of movies, books and television surrounding supernatural beings (mostly those of a nocturnal persuasion) serve as a reminder that the divine attributes commonly associated with silver haven't faded with age. The purity of the metal and it's sometimes holy association are generally attributed to the belief that it can provide protection and defense from all manner of supernatural attacks. Old superstitions die hard, and pop culture is doing its part to remind the modern of that fact. So, while modern culture seem to have outgrown countless aspects of ancient faith and folklore, the divine nature associated with silver still gleams brightly down through the ages.

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