Caburus
Active Member
I'm familiar with the Hebrew god of the Old Testament smiting down disbelievers and punishing those who didn't worship him properly, but I'm curious to know if this idea existed in other mythologies.
In Greek myth, Lycurgus and Pentheus, on separate occasions, refused to worship Dionysus and banned his cult. Both were severely punished by Dionysus - Lycurgus is driven insane and kills his own son, and Pentheus is torn apart by Bacchants. Women of Argos were also driven mad for not believing in his divinity, and the daughters of Minyas were turned into bats for not worshiping him.
In another story Lycaon doubted Zeus' omniscience, and served him human flesh to test whether he would notice. Zeus turned him into a wolf for doing this.
Another story tells how Eumelus of Kos, and his children, only worshiped Gaia, refusing to honour the other gods. When Hermes, Athene and Artemis visited his household, they were met with scorn and ridicule, causing them to turn him and his children into various types of birds.
Are there any other myths, Greek or otherwise, where mortals have doubted a god's divinity, and been punished for either not accepting it, or for not worshiping them.
In Greek myth, Lycurgus and Pentheus, on separate occasions, refused to worship Dionysus and banned his cult. Both were severely punished by Dionysus - Lycurgus is driven insane and kills his own son, and Pentheus is torn apart by Bacchants. Women of Argos were also driven mad for not believing in his divinity, and the daughters of Minyas were turned into bats for not worshiping him.
In another story Lycaon doubted Zeus' omniscience, and served him human flesh to test whether he would notice. Zeus turned him into a wolf for doing this.
Another story tells how Eumelus of Kos, and his children, only worshiped Gaia, refusing to honour the other gods. When Hermes, Athene and Artemis visited his household, they were met with scorn and ridicule, causing them to turn him and his children into various types of birds.
Are there any other myths, Greek or otherwise, where mortals have doubted a god's divinity, and been punished for either not accepting it, or for not worshiping them.