Most of us have at least a passing familiarity with the Greek pantheon and the rich web of stories that tell of the lives, loves, battles and adventures of Greek gods and goddesses. These tales have inspired millennia of writers and poets, and even prophets of later religions. They also served to entertain everyone else […]
Mythology
Norse Gods and Goddesses – Norse Mythology Pantheon
The pantheon and mythology of the Norse gods is somewhat similar to the Roman and Greek ones with which the average person is more familiar. There is Creation, Heaven and Hell, and a rich tapestry of gods, goddesses and other magical beings who live, love and fight with each other. A less common feature of […]
Mjolnir/Mjölnir, The Hammer of Thor: Meaning and Symbolism in Norse Mythology
Mjolnir, the Hammer of Thor is undeniably one of the most popular fictional objects in popular culture today. It has been helped in no small part to that position by the spectacular success of the Avengers movie series and especially the popularity of Thor, the Norse god who wields it. However, as is all too […]
What is a Chimera?
Chimera (Chimaera or Khimaira) is a mythical creature which is believed to be formed of three different animals; a lioness, a goat and a snake. Chimera’s head was that of a lioness while she had a goat’s head on her back and a snake’s head at the tip of her tail. According to the belief, […]
Fenrir
Fenrir is the giant wolf in Norse mythology born from the union of the god Loki and the giantess Angrboða. He is therefore the brother of Hel, the goddess of the underworld and the serpent Jörmungandr. The name Fenrir literally means “the one that dwells in the marshes” in the Old Norse language. According to […]
The Furies (Erinyes)
The Furies are the three chthonic female deities of vengeance in Greek mythology. They are also called Erinyes (Erinys) which means “the avengers” in Greek language. The counterpart of the Furies is “Dirae” in Roman mythology. There are several myths regarding the birth and parentage of the Furies. The most common belief is that they were […]
Griffins/Gryphons, Winged Mythical Creatures of Ancient Times
Griffins or gryphons are winged mythical creatures with a lion’s body, an eagle’s head and ears resembling a horse’s ears. Rest of the physical features differs between the myths, i.e. they are sometimes depicted without wings. Griffins are most commonly mentioned in Greek mythology, however, the myth regarding Griffins originated from Ancient India. It is […]
What is a manticore?
Manticores are mythical creatures in Persian mythology that lived in India according to the accounts of the ancient times. The name “manticore” is considered to be a derivation of the word “mardkhora” meaning “man-eater” in Persian language of early ages, “marthikoras” being the counterpart of this word in Hindi language. As is understood from the […]
Arachne, the First Spider
Arachne is a figure in Greek mythology known for her challenge against the goddess Athena. According to the myth, she was the first spider of the world who was originally a young daughter of a shepherd known for his beautiful wools. Arachne was very talented in weaving and studied with Athena, the goddess that is […]
Mormo (Mythology)
Mormo was a spirit in Greek and Roman mythology that was said to bite children. Caretakers used to scare children with stories about Mormo trying to convince them not to misbehave or Mormo would come and bite them. Mostly Mormo was referred as a female figure resembling a vampire and the concept of Mormo seems […]