How to Write your own National Epic (Iliad, Gilgamesh, Mahābhārata, the Bible)

What is this, Overly Sarcastic Productions? HelloFutureMe? NO! Today we're looking at the world building of Natinoal Epics (like the Odyssey, Iliad, Beowulf, Old Norse Sagas, etc.), and how to make a real story into a larger, broader story that represents your group or culture.
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MUSIC IN THIS VIDEO:
This content is made for teens and adults

[@Stoneworks]

At some point I want to make a more in depth dissection of some of these Epics, as well as a whole video about sacred texts. Thanks for watching 🙏 Here's a list of resources and summary videos for Epic stories around the world: docs.google.com/document/d/1CDUD06feV_vlSsCQpkmgKYehJM6JecBtktVTNyIsFXI/edit?usp=sharing

[@thenationalist8845]

Mahabharat!! Bhagvad Gita Bhagwan Shri Krishna 🙏🙏 Aum Namo Bhagvate Vasudevay|

[@Stoneworks]

@@thenationalist8845 I'm currently reading an abridged version of it now, and it's still 900 pages long lmao. I love these stories

[@not_the_useless_cake856]

Sneeb is the one true God.

[@thenationalist8845]

@@Stoneworks Experts have collected some of proofs confirming that it really happened ☠️ Legend says it really rendered down the population of the Indian subcontinent to 30%

[@thenationalist8845]

@@Stoneworks longest version has 200000 Verse lines in it 😅

[@raymondmassenburgii902]

This is one of the most interesting channels on yt because on one hand its a public minecraft server, and then it also talks about ways to start and maintain a cult and how to write the bible.

[@Stoneworks]

I'm getting ready for the final event

[@technicallynothinginterest5134]

@@StoneworksStoney is ok if I become a false profit and start a cult?

[@JazzyWaffles]

I was here 5 years ago, before the server, so hearing the channel described like that is both funny and telling of how much the focus changed...

[@not_the_useless_cake856]

Sneeb bless

[@hjumn]

I loved the video on starting a cult, genuinely souch a funny and informative video.

[@isaac2499]

as Mr Jalapeño once said: "But when does a comet become a meteor? When does a candle become a blaze? When does a man become a monster? When does a ripple become a tidal wave? When does the reason become the blame? When does a man become a monster?"

[@shork416]

Woah, a Mr. Jay “Jimbo Pimbo” Herrans quote, Epic indeed

[@Randomposts-yt5ey]

What an EPIC quote

[@shork416]

@@Randomposts-yt5ey what can I say, he’s Just a Man

[@Shtephen]

Jimbo pimbo

[@retinazer7652]

Captain? ..I have to see her

[@agentpapayatree]

Omw to dehumanize my enemies:

[@not_the_useless_cake856]

Blessings of Sneeb upon you.

[@joundii3100]

Based

[@epiccrusadr8583]

Based

[@M.Stronkowski]

You explained the Illyad in like 2 minutes better than my literature teacher in several hours

[@HelotOnWheels]

Epics shape and define the very language they are written in. Poets will write in the style of your epic for centuries to come. Children are likely to be named after characters in the epic, often in the hope that they will have the same qualities, while the names of villains may become taboo; a lot more children are named Arthur or Deborah than Mordred orJezebel. Phrases from the epic may become so common that people forget their origin, like “the writing on the wall” or “a rose by any other name.” While epic characters may stand around preaching cultural values, like Krishna in Mahabharata, epics are at their best when they teach by example. In my D&D world’s Dwarven Empire, the dwarves have typical dwarven values of stubbornness, teamwork, and courage. Thus, their national epic, Tas Halgangsriese, tells the story of the dwarven warrior Halgang making a series of expeditions into the lair of the dragon Hanerhorn to rescue his wife Brethe. Each expedition but the last fails, but his courage wins him such honor and renown that after each failure another legendary hero joins his cause, until on the sixth assault the dragon is finally slain and Brethe is rescued. This is why Imperial dwarves call any person distinguished by a determined, never-quit attitude “a real Halgang.”

[@shivanshjadhav8068]

I don't think you've read Mahabharat

[@HelotOnWheels]

@@shivanshjadhav8068 You are right about that. I’ve only read a little of the Bhagavad Gita section. What I have read does match the descriptions of it as a long conversation between Arjun and Krishna before the battle of Kurukshetra, though.

[@shivanshjadhav8068]

@@HelotOnWheels Yeah but Bhagvad Geeta is only a part of the epic Mahabharata. There is a lot of lore behind it. It has drama, battles, betrayals, heartbreaks and a lot more. You should check it out, it may spark your inspiration.

[@JayAlcala23]

Props for pronouncing Huitzilopochtli correctly! 🤘 Tezcatl Ipoca is my patron, but I love hearing any of their names said well.

[@kajadaw]

How many hearts have you sacrificed this month?

[@omargerardolopez3294]

@@kajadaw About 4, I was one of them

[@emanuelosorio9610]

​@@kajadaw Breaking hearts count, so yeah, the gods are not hungry

[@Orpheus5812]

The Mahabharata is my favorite epic

[@stubbornducky]

Hey, Stoney, just wanted to say that you're nationally epic to me! :)

[@Stoneworks]

Thank you, Duck

[@toxictric5ter155]

Hail Lord Stoneworks, i ve a request. Can you explain how to make a creation myth. Like a tale that might explain how a group of people came to be or a certain religion or the world in general. I know you've already made a video on religions but i think creation myths are an important aspect of a religion that you don't talk about a lot. Like does all religion need it? I think there should be different video to explain this further. But ya know no pressure. This video was a huge help on a worldbuilding that im doing! You're probably best youtuber on the history of youtube to ever have been on this subject. So, Please consider the topic of creation myths if you can, thank you

[@katakesh8566]

There's is compositional structure known as chiasmus. Apparently its a favorite of the ancients. I've been noticing it in stuff like Star Wars and Dune. Makes going through both so much fun

[@questionablecontent563]

I am in love with your channel, friend. I myself have been creating my own minecraft server with lore and civilizations for some years now. Just last month I was inspired by Virgil's Aeneid to write an epic for my own faction. Keep cranking out the good lore and worldbuilding videos! ❤

[@solarisNT-v4j]

just remembered this was coming out today, checked and it was uploaded 7 minutes ago ahaha

[@roxsy470]

This reminds me of my the Five Terondons of Vorta. Basically the Vortich are obsessed with record keeping, and so have many original copies of these ancient stories. The Terondon is an epic about seeking truth and achieving enlightenment, but each all the stories where compiled people will start writing their own versions based off of that, from deeply spiritual texts, to literal interpretations of the instructions. Then after a hundred years these new versions would need to be compiled again, creating a new Terondon. So as of the present the Terondons are basically the sudo-religious text of the Vorta, with normal religions taking second place.

[@Owen88-bt2hl]

Now I know how to write the Bible 2, thanks Stoneworks!

[@MerkhVision]

Bible 2: Return of the Jew (Electric Jewgaloo)

[@fireythedragon9554]

wtf stoney sounds classy now what happend

[@Phroggols]

classyworks

[@catnaut9035]

Your summary of the Illiad is the most beautiful thing I have ever heard coming out of a minecraft youtuber's mouth.

[@Sticklemako]

Civilizational epic... nations are temporary, civilizations are legendary

[@iambored2006]

The Jewish nation is eternal.

[@speedwagon1824]

Civilisations and nations are kinda the same thing

[@Sticklemako]

@@speedwagon1824 nope

[@haydenrobbie7368]

a minecraft under empire would be fun... they can only make above lands that are under the sun as vassels...

[@LesNouvelle-Angleterreur]

1:22 I was a can counselor at Yawgoog, Camp Medicine Bow

[@Katekyoh]

This genuinely one of the greatest and most helpful videos I've watched man. Thank you!

[@Stoneworks]

Thank you Katekyoh, I’m glad it was helpful!

[@derhuhu3375]

How would the bible, more specifically the New Testament, fit into the overall picture of national epics? Without a doubt, it has changed culture and society in many places considering its religious relevance. However, it is almost unchanged compared to the original texts that were already written between ~30-100 years (there's a scholarly dispute about this) after the death of Jesus. Thus, there was most likely not enough time for the culture and community around it to properly mystify at least the core elements of these events, people and stories. Wouldn't this disqualify it as a "proper" national epic? PS: Great video as always, love the minecraft server. If you're interested, I'd recommend joining it ^^

[@Stoneworks]

I'm using the term "epic" very loosely, because the Christian Epic is actually split among the 4 gospels. But, there is absolutely mystification and creative myth-making that was done between the death of Jesus and the writing of the Gospels. That + the direct preaching and parables of Jesus form both a cultural representation of greek-speaking gentiles, and the foundation of the culture that sprung out of it. The character of Jesus and how he's portrayed has a lot A LOT of parallels to the hagiographies of Greek cult heroes. If you wanna read about this specifically, I recommend the book Who Wrote the New Testament by Burton Mack. Fantastic secular and in-depth explanation about how we went from the historical Jesus to his portrayal in Paul and the Gospels.

[@SirLofHearthaven]

@@Stoneworks I personally disagree. 30 - 100 years is not a long time for myths to develop, especially since people would still be alive. To be fair though, this DID happen years later, but the Council of Nicaea researched and looked into who and when wrote the gospels to determine if they were valid. We also have 24,000 additional manuscripts to back the New Testament up, while the Iliad only has around 650 and was written hundreds of years after the event. I'd recommend the Case for Christ by Lee Strobel, as it goes over this topic. I don't want to start an argument, but I just wanted to say that. God Bless :)

[@Stoneworks]

30 - 100 years is easily enough time for a mythos to develop, especially around a figure who supposedly did miracles and had a dramatic execution. Julius Caesar was deified and had his cult established within 20 years of his death (although that was much more politically influenced) Also, the council of Nicaea didn't concern itself much with the new testament canon or its validity. The canon was largely created and assumed valid at that time, with exception to the fringe books like Hermas and Revelation. The tradition of which gospels were authored by which apostles was also in place by that time due to the early church fathers' attributions. The underlying assumption of your argument, I think, is that the claims of the New Testament are true because we have evidence for them and 30-100 years isn't enough time for myth making. I dispute both these claims and ask you to read some secular scholarship that isn't starting at the point of making the case for Christianity's truth, but trying to analytically understand the religion's origins from the ground up. Have a good day tho fam, thanks for the points

[@SirLofHearthaven]

@@Stoneworks First off, I just wanted to say that I was wrong about the Council of Nicaea. I misremembered and that was my fault. However, mystification was an issue with Christianity centuries after Jesus' death with the Gnostic gospels, but they were eventually disproven and de-canonized. Also, 30-100 years is still a very short time for a mythos to develop. It's closer to Jesus' death than the biographies of Alexander the Great after his death as they came centuries after. Tbf, you're right about the assumption of my argument, partly cause I'm Christian. But I could also say that the underlying assumption of your argument is that the New Testament claims aren't true because of the seemingly impossible elements about Jesus, and I dispute that. I will actually read Who Wrote the New Testament, but I still ask that you read the Case for Christ. Look, we probably won't convince each other, and I don't want to start a fight. I just wanted to address my mistakes and reinforce my claims. Again, this was an amazing video, and I hope that Stoneworks only flourishes, man. Have a great day and may the Lord bless you :)

[@federationprime]

I dont think the New Testament is a good example of a “national epic” as its more of a direct record (similar to the Quran), but the Old Testament certainly would be for the Hebrews/Israelites.

[@VincentEdelstein]

This is exactly the kinda video I’ve been looking for

[@alonchboye5538]

Man I should've tried to do a national epic on the GWI

[@Stoneworks]

Yes, you should've, you would've won first place!

[@5567-s7s]

To be fair, i said i would do it and i never did lmao. (Im 5567)

[@tannerm2706]

@@5567-s7s regulus

[@SAPTHESUS]

ive been waiting for this!!!!!!

[@Leonarnon]

History 🔛🔝

[@NamelessEditorr]

🗿🍷

[@Т1000-м1и]

This was just a nice video to watch in general. A pretty rare experience

[@Alred.von.Krause]

My story would be like "The one who ate the French" it's about how I went to France and ate a frog and French people are called frogs for yk funnies.

[@rko2016]

Theres something poeticly funny seeing the thumbnail and then cutting straight to minecraft

[@TisOsha]

lets fucking go najer mentioned 🔥

[@devinmedina9611]

I nearly jumped out of my seat when I heard yawgoog get mentioned. That's where my old troop went too!!

[@JRock2007]

Should stories become more realistic and believable the more recent in your world’s timeline they are?

[@garvinanders2355]

So first off, great video and your summary of the Ilaid is fantastic. That said I'm going to be an utter nerd and point something out. All those scenes we are missing in the Ilaid? Are missing because they're part of their own epics, the Ilaid and the Odyssey are the only 2 out of 8 Trojan war epics to survive in their entirety (imagine if only Empire Strikes Back and Revenage of the Sith survived out of the Star Wars movies for example). We know about these scenes because the Romans left summaries of these stories in books like the Chrestomathia and Bibliothēkē. The Ilaid and Odyssey survived because they were the most popular so people wrote more copies of them than anything else (remember that back then every book was hand written and there was no mass publishing industry).

[@SuperLeosid]

I'm so glad you included the Mahabharat in this.

[@deadgolett5289]

This can't be true.... Exactly today I was thinking of writing an epic story for abexilas, and you JUST uploaded this? Perfect timing stoney, please never stop making content.

[@thegamingteen44mc5]

Stoney, im thinking you should do a video on sironia, its history, lore, random events involving it and its continuation into the new world

[@tannerm2706]

I SEND THE COMMENTS ON THE WIND THUS AS THE WORLD HAS NEVER SEEN ON EVERY POST ON EVERY VIDEO UNTILL THERES NOTHING LEFT OF CLEAN

[@joundii3100]

Stoneworks dropping this 6 hours after Peter Pringle dropped a new video on the Epic of Gilgamesh.

[@TakruTori]

I appreciate your effort. I appropriate your knowledge and wisdom.

[@milt_i]

Will surely do for the crusaders kingdom, including the event of crusadon in the lore

[@Jacobulous]

very good, crusadon needs lore

[@mandarin420]

to be more accurate about the illiad, while yes the mycanean greeks probably did sack a coastal city on the coasts of anatolia in the edges of the hittie sphere of influence at the late bronze age, the sheer diversity of the epic cycle was conceived in the greek dark ages after the bronze collapse. due to the greeks widespread illiteracy following the collapse, it was the oral story tellers that expanded, divided and synchronized this simple aquatic expedition with other epics & heroic tales taken from desperate sources that would have been preserved in the conscious memory of dark age greece(mesopotamian,hittie ect...) and combine them into this fine mush that would become our beloved troy story. nerding done, carry on.

[@scoutgaming737]

Can write an epic about the legendary battle I just had on the throne of porcelain?

[@junkinacart]

I'm early stoney, you a G and I love you fr

[@ChrisLeeW00]

I think given enough time, Dagonashibal would be known as clever, who made his adversaries reveal their foolishness.

[@Pyrotechn1cs]

Yo the Bible 2: electric boogaloo is comin out pretty soon!

[@Secondt2none]

Interesting video I would like to at that I think that the national epic of china would definitely be The journey to the west.

[@hummussapien7.6billion68]

The reason you don't see the other important parts of the Trojan war is it's a 7 book story and the Iliad and odessey are parts 6 and 7

[@HillCronin]

2:23 What site do u use to make timelines like these?

[@Stoneworks]

This is made in photoshop, but here's a tutorial on an easier method: kzbin.info/www/bejne/j3PYnWBmn82Gfac

[@HillCronin]

@@Stoneworks yo thanks

[@basilacis5661]

What's the music you use? (Especially at 7:00)

[@flambr]

this video is brought to you by the muses

[@HlootooThunderhammer]

What’s this? Stoneworks has blessed my feed once again?! _And_ it’s with more worldbuilding cultural stuff as well? AMAZING. What a time to be alive.

[@Sir_Gallant]

EXCLUSIVE VIDEOHHHHHHH

[@Auroral_Anomaly]

Hell yeah!

[@tannerm2706]

i riot here once more in the land of my fallen comrads from the first video riot

[@gaintlime4118]

You forgot the one thing of story written Victor always

[@videogamemusicguy4208]

stoney should do a video on worldbuilding with music mhm

[@Vrutix_23]

Stoneworks seems to look amazing. ive recently seen it and im guessing its a Really good RP server but is it still alive?

[@Stoneworks]

It is still alive. There's great RP on it, but don't get involved in politics unless you want to spend all your time doing it.

[@moshiria1]

Shahname>>

[@redeyespaladin296]

Hi, i was wondering about these kind of stories for a dnd setting, where some groups get to live for centuries or still present gods that could live for milenia

[@astrobookwormsinger]

Mahabharatha mentioned, I'm here

[@carythacker8049]

YEEEAAAAAAHHHHH OSP MENTIONED

[@avalongamer8897]

Can you make a tutorial on how to install your servers resource pack im on 1.21.2 and it doesnt work

[@speedwagon1824]

14:45 there could be some cultural phenomenon that is referring to that we don't know about

[@mryes413]

If I join the Minecraft server and ise the correct login, how do I spawn in a new kingdom?

[@milliegomnl]

where can i find the nation map

[@catnaut9035]

ima write this abt my crusader kings character

[@dragontiger624]

2 things about the discord servers - do i need to play minecraft/should i play minecraft to join the minecraft server - the worldbuilding server link isnt working

[@dragontiger624]

What link does doublecounter give for me to verify? (And is it better on phone or computer)

[@XZelectro]

Sad I cant play Stoneworks because I cant afford minecraft :(

[@disguysaysda4708]

understood, sir.

[@RichardTheBunny-05]

how can i join the games

[@gamertube7848]

Is your server available on pe?

[@TheSecondKingdomofPrussia]

how long is it gonna be night?

[@Sanatani28]

jai shree krishna jai mahabharat

[@subbyskaldon]

about the epic contest, how much of it mustve happened?

[@Hiiro576]

[@ruiafonso1282]

How do I join your server?

[@nikkiehoke8559]

Is it available on mobile?

[@isaacthewebcomiccreator9750]

First of all, I live in Maryland, USA, so that tells you something about my nationality. Secondly, I normally prefer science fiction and occasionally fantasy, but it helps to assume that my personal epic story is one about Love as the core theme, not entirely dissimilar from Stardust or The Princess Bride, except instead set in a space opera setting, like Star Wars. In real life, I’ve dated 4 different women, but haven’t officially gotten a decent girlfriend just yet. Additionally, I like the concepts of prophecy and baptism, as depicted in the movie O Brother, Where Art Thou?, which is based loosely on The Odyssey. Do you have any suggestions on how to write this kind of epic story?

[@amacsizbirkisi]

You know what, study and research about remote cultures. Guineans of Papua, Yeniseians of Siberia, Tupi people of Amazon, Khoe-khoe of African Bushlands &c. Shatter your monocultural thought process Then learn about their mythology, their customs Borrow, improvise, think a lot about your would-be conworld and conmythos. Evaluate and expand on your ideas for the myth, pen and paper - no text - it is simply better for this And then you"ll be ready to write.

[@RussianSoldier]

free lebadboi he did nun wrong ✊

[@mainaccount1284]

It’s time to write the epoch of Stoney Stoner Gubey Guber

[@Ιωαννίδης_Μιχα]

Hey any way to join the discord server every link i have found so far is expired

[@Stoneworks]

try this- discord.com/servers/stoneworks-750726239723061338

[@Ιωαννίδης_Μιχα]

@@Stoneworks it says invalid or has expired

[@Ιωαννίδης_Μιχα]

@@Stoneworks is there a chance that i am banned from the server?? I used to be on the server but i dont remember getting banned

[@Player456-k1b]

Ww1-2 enough to make historical epic

[@somethingcraft3148]

Captain America the first avenger, rail road tigers.

[@Robotron-wd9em]

No way he just talked about the homeric question in a minecraft video

[@lifeintheseven1603]

btw, not to bash Stoneworks, but one of the images he showed, 17:30 was from Overly Sarcastic Productions, and i’m pretty sure he didn’t show that so… Again not to bash Stoneworks but you know

[@Stoneworks]

It’s credited at the bottom left. Maybe I should’ve made it more noticeable

[@lifeintheseven1603]

@ ok, thank you for telling me, sorry for the inconvenience

[@jeffeej]

Kartek mentioned 🥇🥇🥇

[@BillyPeter-c9e]

Cant wait to write dehumanizing literature against my fictional blockgame enemies (they dont deserve their existence)

[@Valdicunion]

I fucking love the valdic union

[@YokaK80]

Are we talking about Stoney?

[@MOBILEPIG]

Is it on bedrock

[@SirLofHearthaven]

W video

[@VaderViktor]

Hey guys, are we talking about Stony?!

[@mercianthane2503]

Look, I can write this, a story so long with short and medium and long chapters in the sense of a national epic, but I don't think any publisher might be interested.

[@CaptainBreadTheThird]

Make your next video bout me

[@Best_Cowboy4]

rizz

[@bonkaorme]

Can I join from mcpe?

[@waitingforwonderland6036]

Can we just enjoy these stories 😞

[@acrab7722]

PANTS HES WEARING PANTS

[@tannerm2706]

I SEND MY SCOURGE I SEND MY COMMENTS THUS SAITH THE GOAT LORD

[@jeropod5089]

plagos mentioned