Hopewell Valley Student Podcasting Network

Show Name: Unraveling the Unknown

Episode Title: Finale- Dragons

Hello curious people and welcome to a world of mystery,

You are listening to Unraveling the Unknown with your hosts Lily and Tessa.

In this episode of Unraveling the Unknown, the Podcast we will discuss: Dragons.

In ancient Mesopotamia, dark forests spread wide across the hilly landscape, dipped in the moonlit glow from far above. A great warrior roamed the land. Looking for adventure and glory in times of peace. The warrior walked along the edges of the forest,

As he spotted a small gold coin gleaming in the moonlight. He picked it up and looked further into the darkness of the moon-crested forest, spotting an extravagant necklace of gold and jewels. Traveling further in, he followed the trail of misplaced gold, leading to a huge carved-out opening in the side of the mountain.

The warrior had found it! Treasure! Something good for his tribe he could bring back to them.

Soon the warrior noticed something- a ginormous winged beast splayed out on a mountain of gold the warrior thought could encompass the ocean. A dragon. It was sleeping but far less soundly than a few minutes prior, it's breathing was less smooth and slow, becoming jagged like the walls of the cave.

The warrior dropped down and grabbed whatever gold was within grasp, scooping it up and then rushing as quietly as possible back home.

The next morning, the warrior woke up to the sounds of screaming and terror. Outside, people ran for their lives and cried in pain and disbelief as a dragon- the likes of which most had only heard stories- spit tsunamis of flame over the kingdom.

Most were destroyed and many were killed, although some were able to find refuge in the dark lapses of the surrounding forest.

No one had defeated a dragon and learned to tell the tale- not even in legends-

So, the kingdom abandoned their home, fleeing to the woods and other settlements, never to see their home or their lost loved ones again.

• Next, we will discuss the origins of a dragon. Dragons have appeared in mythology throughout every Country. The main theory of Dragons is derived from the discovery of dinosaur bones. The first dragon myths appear with the Sumerian(soo-meh-ree-uhn) legends of the god-mother Tiamat. Dragons appear in Chinese and Indian Legends in about 2700 B.C.
• In 1335, a huge skull was found in...

Hopewell Valley Student Podcasting Network

Show Name: Unraveling the Unknown

Episode Title: Wailing Banshee

Hello curious people and welcome to a world of mystery,

You are listening to Unraveling the Unknown with your hosts Lily and Tessa.

In this episode of Unraveling the Unknown, the Podcast we will discuss: Banshees.

On one grassy town hill in Ireland, a family house sat, brick and stone, under the soft sun of the falling afternoon. The wind blew into welcoming windows, infusing the smell of grass and earth into the house. A mother and father began to cook in the kitchen while three kids ran around the house, breaking through the calm noise outside. Unexpectedly, a loud screaming wail, like a mother losing her love, faced with death and despair, rang through the house and hillside. The family was shocked still, with the children running to the kitchen questioning the noise. The mother and father slowly looked at each other, horrified by the meaning of the scream. A banshee. Their children were not yet old enough to have heard of the legends- a haunted woman- an Irish folktale who screams and shrieks to warn families of a coming death. Many see her as a bad omen and curse, while others believe she is trying to protect the family. The mother rushed to check on her children and husband, and they began to get ready to leave the house when a storm began, soon rain and lighting were beating down on their roof, until one lighting strike hit a tree that teetered and crashed into the side of their home. One of the children, a 4-year-old boy was crushed under the tree, breathing his last breath as rain began to cover his face. Is she a curse? Or a protector?

• Banshee, known as “Women of the Fairies”, or the Irish angel of death is a supernatural female spirit in Irish and Scottish folklore.
• Banshees are normally depicted as evil, as they enjoy wailing out to their victims until they either commit suicide or go insane.
• These Banshees were described as frightening old witches who emit howls that shatter glass and torment the living and are filled with such hatred that direct eye contact with one would cause immediate death.
• Not all Banshees need to be feared. In an Irish household, many believed every family had its own Banshee, and this spirit would watch over the family members in life and death.
• The family Banshee has the power to safely pass deceased family members to the other side.
• People assumed Banshees appeared as beautiful young women, and they would sing a mournful song filled with love and concern for their families.

Hopewell Valley Student Podcasting Network

Show Name: Unraveling the Unknown

Episode Title: Triple Threat; Cerberus

Hello curious people and welcome to a world of mystery,

You are listening to Unraveling the Unknown with your hosts Lily and Tessa.

In this episode of Unraveling the Unknown, the Podcast we will discuss: Cerberus and other multiheaded creatures.

This podcast will be a little special. In this week's episode, we have not one but two special guests. We are here with…

Guests

Seamus- he used to be a big fan of the Percy Jackson series

Zoe-

Segment 1: Q/A

-What do you think Cerberus symbolizes in Greek mythology? Is it just a guardian, or is there a deeper meaning to his role?

He has been a symbol of protection in many stories even to this day including Percy Jackson and Harry Potter.

His name literally means flesh devouring, he is an important part of a system like the cerberus molecules in the human body that build the heart, head, and help create left-right symmetry. He is also often related to the military and war, using its name as a military protocol.

I think it is really important how he prevents the living from entering the underworld and devours those who try to leave. He kind of protects life.

Cerberus is often seen as the complexity of Death. With his multiple heads, he might symbolize the multifaceted nature of death.

I think Cerberus could represent a lot of different things, and it is up to the mind's interpretation that makes him such a unique mythological figure.

-Cerberus is often depicted as a fearsome beast with three heads. What do you think the multiple heads represent? Could they symbolize anything beyond just being intimidating?

I feel like they probably relate to the three parts of the underworld:

Elysium, where the righteous and heroes go

Tartarus, where the evil go, pretty much a dark pit

Asphodel Meadows, where ordinary souls go who did nothing with their lives, their minds were numbed.

I also agree with zoe, I think the three heads could represent the three parts of the underworld. I think the three heads could also represent the past, the present and the future.

Since Cerberus guards the underworld, the heads may represent the different phases of human existence, meaning Cerberus overs those who have died but also the flow of souls and in inevitable passage of time.

-Cerberus guards the gates of the Underworld, preventing souls from leaving. Do you see him as a symbol of the inevitability of death or something more complex?

Some myths describe Cerberus being tamed or subdued by certain heroes, like Heracles or Orpheus. What do these interactions tell us about human nature and our relationship with death or fear?

Death is inescapable in real life for normal people and stories of heroes are used to cope with this idea that people cannot escape death. Heros give people hope and inspiration

Hesiod

-What do you personally find most fascinating about Cerberus? Is it his loyalty to Hades, his terrifying appearance, or something else entirely?

-If you were tasked with designing a modern version of Cerberus for a film or game, how would you change his appearance, abilities, or personality to make him resonate with today's audience?

-If Cerberus had a human counterpart or a voice, what kind of personality do you imagine he would have? Would he be more philosophical, menacing, or indifferent?

Quick overview of Cerberus/ three headed beasts-

Cerberus is known as the watchdog of the underworld and hound of Hades, god of the...