[[gods]] # God in Disguise - Widespread - It has to do with divine perception. - It has a sub form, the [[god-as-guest]], which also incorporates the notion of [[hospitality-strangers]]. #### Greece - Gods had to disguise themselves to appear to mortals - Gods can easily recognize other gods, but humans cannot > [HO-13.312-313] "*It is hard, goddess, for a mere mortal to know you when he meets you even if he's very intelligent, for you take whatever shape you desire.*" > Book 13 Odysseus fails to recognize Athena, but he did earlier. This shows how as a hero he is close to the gods, but not equal with them (when it comes to divine perception). > [Hymn To Demeter] Demeter gets angry with Metaneira for not recognizing her. She says that it is the foolishness and ignorance of mortals that prevents them from knowing their fates. > All of Ovid's Metamorphoses. Improper action and [[hospitality-strangers]] led to punishment (usually by being turned into a animal). #### India - Krishna's various forms in the BG