Which Greek god is your Myers-Briggs type? - II

As this is a continuation of an earlier post, click here for an intro and the relevant links to the Myers-Briggs personality test.

This time I'll do only four divinities, since I had an email from a reader saying that my previous one with six  was something of a laborious slog.

Athena, INTJ. I admire INTJ's. They are highly intelligent and proud of their learning. They are also sure of themselves and can be know-it-alls. They are the opposite of the neurotic self-doubter. They work relentlessly for practical good. They can make excellent mentors and-- hey, wait a minute. The goddess Athena is all these things. She turns theory into practice. As mistress of the cash economy (olive oil, textiles) and military strategy, and inspirer of heroes, Athena uses her intelligence to make civilization better. Of course, if she were to read this, she would think this was all a bunch of psychobabbling hooey.

The negative INTJ is a "Crackpot."  "Ever been kissed? Ever been on a date?" [No!] says the Brutally Honest Myers-Briggs test. Check. Athena is a virgin.

Apollo, INTP. The INTP is a know-it-all who tortures himself with the possibility that he doesn't quite know it all or totally measure up. He is an absent-minded professor with a neurotic streak. He is logical boy strikes again. Apollo is the master of many intellectual and theoretical arts-- music, mathematics, prophecy, medical diagnosis (which is a kind of prophecy), and religious purification. He is not so concerned as Athena with the practical world and making it better. His love life is a disaster. He never marries, and his human lovers often meet a terrible end.

The negative INTP is a "Loser," which seems strange for Apollo, apparently the Ideal of Ancient Greek Humanism and God of the Sun. But if you look at Apollo's actual myths, you find a set of mostly unhappy endings, brutality, and lonerism.

Artemis, ISFP. The major trait that Artemis shares with the ISFP is love of nature and animals. Artemis is a great protector of the wild, and a shy being who "sees much but shares little." Artemis' nature as a hunter and taker of revenge on transgressors leans away from the ISFP type, however, which does not have a need to control. Artemis thus has a kind of split personality that is more like nature-- which both protects and destroys-- than a human being.

ISFP on the negative side = Loner, with a hint perhaps of the revenge factor: "And woe and behold if it betrayed your intense values system!"

Hephaestus, INFP. The INFP's major traits are creativity and a desire for harmony in relationships. INFP's are extremely imaginative and sometimes seem to live in a world of their own creation. They are the original neurotic artist and writer type. They also hate conflict and want to maintain harmony at all costs, except when they've been pushed past their limit. Hephaestus is one of the only Greek gods who does not inflict pain and suffering on human beings. Just the opposite-- he was thrown out of heaven by Hera and smashed his leg on the ground, permanently disabling him. In the Iliad, he is the god who attempts to restore harmony by clowning.

And his inventions and creations made of metal are legendary. He creates a set of metal robots as helpers, is an crafter of exquisite metal weapons (the shield of Achilles is his handiwork), and he also creates an intricate trap with near-invisible wires that trusses up his wife Aphrodite and her lover Ares, catching them in the act of adultery. Hephaestus is less hung-up and more accomplished than the usual INFP, and good for him.

Hephaestus is not just handy, like the village blacksmith. He is a true artist, and is celebrated along with Athena as a patron of Athens, the original city of artisans and creative people.

The Brutally Honest test calls INFP's pollyannas, which makes sense for Hephaestus. Peacemakers always get a raw deal.

Comments

[Iulia]

These Myers-Briggs posts have been wonderfully entertaining to read! Thank you!

[Todd Granger]

As Iulia writes, wonderfully entertaining.

[DF]

And thank you guys for reading .

[Sam Keyes]

I meant to say earlier, these are great. Although I am not sure if I can describe myself as "the mistress of the cash economy." But I do think this is all psychobabbly hooey. Which is why I may have to temporarily take advantage that the I was always borderline J/P. I've always wanted to be Apollo. He lived in the air conditioning vent in the ceiling of my first Latin classroom, and got blamed for all manner of thing.

[moominpapa]

This is me. I always felt something special for Hephaestus, not quite "in" that wild crowd on Olympus, not getting a fair shake, but not taking the usual Greek-divine measure of revenge about it. And I totally understand the clowning to get people to get along, or reduce the tension in a room. Been there many times. I've gotta get people emotionally comfortable, or I can't rest.

[DF]

Sam, too bad there's not a god for INTX. Maybe in a different culture from the Greek!

And MoomPa, it is grand to be Hephaestus somehow, although that crippled foot thing is annoying. Still, I'd endure it for the ability to make the Shield of Achilles.

[jdv]

Very interesting. I have always wondered why someone hasn't done this before. But what about the INFJ?

[DF]

INFJ and ENFJ are coming soon, and they will not be divinities. Think of the most famous (functional rather than dysfunctional) couple in Greek Mythology.

[R Wenner]

I wish you'd write something about Epthimeus, the Greek god of absent-mindedness.