Turtle in Ancient Greek Myth

In Greek mythology, the Nymphe Chelone, who lived happily by a running river, decided not to attend Zeus' wedding. Zeus invited all humans, animals, and gods to his wedding, but Chelone didn’t attend. When Zeus asked her why she hadn’t attended, she answered that she preferred her home. Vexed, Zeus made her carry her house until the end of her life as a punishment. Hermes allegedly invented the lyre using a turtle shell and the entrails of a sacred cow. The story goes that he stole one of Apollo’s sacred cows, offered her body to the gods, and kept its entrails to create seven cords that he then attached to a turtle shell. Apollo, initially furious, fell in love with the beautiful sound of the lyre and demanded the instrument as reparation.

Turtle inspirations

While in the Greek myth of Chelone, the turtle shell is seen as a punishment, one could wonder if it was not the best gift she ever received. She portrayed the positive aspects of feeling connected to her environment and happy with her surroundings. Though we are not in her mind, we can’t really know if it was because that was where she felt happy or safe. Your shell can serve as a protective barrier against the harshness of the external world. While it is needed at times, it can also prevent you from discovering that the external world also has beauty and love to offer. The sea turtle is a very ancient species; the most ancient trace of their existence dates back 260 million years. Of course, just like human, they evolved throughout millennia, even if their appearance didn’t change much. As a result, in many minds, the turtle represents longevity, resilience, and perseverance. The turtle also symbolises ancient wisdom, reminding you that all the resources you need to evolve in your life already exist within you. You carry them since birth, yet it is up to you to go within and look for them. It does not mean you have to do everything on your own; turtles are sociable, but you need to validate your inner truth and stop giving away your power to others' truth, affirmation, or techniques. You can be inspired, but you need to grow your own style.