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The Myths Behind Ivan & Alex

In order to make the fantasy aspect of Ivan & Alex more based in reality, I decided as soon as I started writing it that I would build the story upon already existing myths. The majority of the plot is centralized around Greek mythology, but I didn't want to stop at one. It was my goal to include as many myths, legends, and belief systems from around the globe as I could, and tie them together into one, resonating story. This was surprisingly easy, as many of the myths and religions that have arisen from different backgrounds over the course of our history have so many similarities that one could spend an entire lifetime making a study of them. As I have not lived an entire lifetime on this earth yet, I studied as much as I could, and tied many of them into the story of Ivan and Alex. It was my hope to show the interconnectivity of all our belief systems on this great earth, a theme that resonates in the interconnectivity of the crew of the Sea Nymph, as well.

 

Here is a sample of some of the myths and legends that were mentioned throughout Ivan and Alex's travels. Click the links, and they will bring you to the stories that inspired Ivan & Alex.

Endymion & Selene

The Greek myth that tells of Selene, goddess of the moon, and Endymion, a mortal shepherd boy, is central to Ivan & Alex. I built upon this myth and took it one step further, to what happens next when Endymion awakes from his eternal sleep...

Raven Steals the Sun

Raven was a central figure in the legends of several Native American tribes of the Pacific Northwest. The story of how Raven steals the sun varies slightly from tribe to tribe, but the essentials are very similar, as was told by Ilisapie, a Native American in eastern Canada, to the besotted Ivan.

Mink and the Sun

The story of Mink and the Sun was another told by several Native American tribes of the Pacific Northwest, that would have also varied slightly depending on the tribe. Ilisapie tells Ivan this tale, as well, during their time together in the woods.

Ten Suns

The story of the Ten Suns was one of Chinese mythology that struck a significant cord with Alexandra, after the tale was told by their Chinese companion, Satri, in Borneo.

The Stars' Road

​The Stars and the Stars' Road was a story of African folklore that was told to members of the crew by Badru, their companion through Africa. It told of how the Milky Way was formed in the sky.

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Copyright © 2014 by TJ Laverne.

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