Dedicated to the weird, gross and always amazing stories of bygone times. This blog covers myths, folklore and legends from around the world. Except Antarctica. (Links are under the header, just fyi)
I love a nice summer rain, which I was lucky enough to experience today. Which leads me into today’s figure, Raijin! It’s nice to talk about the gods of Japanese mythology; I haven’t featured any in a while. So let’s do it!
![tillwedrown:
literature meme | epic [1/1]
The Ramayana is one of the great epics of India. It is ascribed to the Hindu sage Valmiki and forms an important part of the Hindu canon (smṛti), considered to be itihāasa. The Ramayana is one of the two great epics of India, the other being the Mahabharata. It depicts the duties of relationships, portraying ideal characters like the ideal father, ideal servant, the ideal brother, the ideal wife and the ideal king. The name Ramayana is a tatpurusha compound of Rāma and ayana (“going, advancing”), translating to “Rama’s Journey”.
The Ramayana consists of 24,000 verses in seven books (kāṇḍas) and 500 cantos (sargas), and tells the story of Rama (an avatar of the Hindu Supreme-God Vishnu), whose wife Sita is abducted by the king of Sri Lanka, Ravan. Thematically, the Ramayana explores human values and the concept of dharma.
The story’s original version in Sanskrit is known as Valmiki Ramayana, dating to approximately the 5th to 4th century BCE. [+more]](http://25.media.tumblr.com/c196ae9a4ee2d74586b30c5319d8a6f1/tumblr_mn4vhj6ZQO1roybrco1_500.png)
literature meme | epic [1/1]
The Ramayana is one of the great epics of India. It is ascribed to the Hindu sage Valmiki and forms an important part of the Hindu canon (smṛti), considered to be itihāasa. The Ramayana is one of the two great epics of India, the other being the Mahabharata. It depicts the duties of relationships, portraying ideal characters like the ideal father, ideal servant, the ideal brother, the ideal wife and the ideal king. The name Ramayana is a tatpurusha compound of Rāma and ayana (“going, advancing”), translating to “Rama’s Journey”.
The Ramayana consists of 24,000 verses in seven books (kāṇḍas) and 500 cantos (sargas), and tells the story of Rama (an avatar of the Hindu Supreme-God Vishnu), whose wife Sita is abducted by the king of Sri Lanka, Ravan. Thematically, the Ramayana explores human values and the concept of dharma.
The story’s original version in Sanskrit is known as Valmiki Ramayana, dating to approximately the 5th to 4th century BCE. [+more]
Random Creature Feature:
A Selkie is creature from mythology who can transform from seal to human, and is most widely associated with tragic tales.A selkie can choose to transform into a human form, and in many tales, upon seeing this form, a human falls in love with them. In one tale, the human hides the selkies skin so she can not transform, and they live together as a good couple until the day where she finds her skin and goes back to the sea, taking all the kids they had with her. The husband, broken hearted, dies alone.
This image is from yaamas on Deviantart. Please give them a visit!
Naga is the Sanskrit word for a class of entity that takes the shape of a great snake, specifically akin to the king cobra, with a varying degree of human characteristics. They are found prominently in Buddhism and Hinduism, and are still very much a part of contemporary cultural traditions in both belief systems. A female naga is a nagi, or nagini.
In Hinduism, Naga are snakes that can take a human’s form. They tend to be very curious, and traditionally only act malevolently toward humans when they are mistreated. They are susceptible to destructive and disrespectful actions taken against the environment, and are associated with bodies of water, from as large as seas, to small wells. Naga are sometimes regarded as guardians of great treasures, and are often depicted together with cintimani, wish-fulfilling gems not unlike the Philosopher’s Stone in western folklore.
They are held in high regard in some parts of Southern India, where they are revered as bringers of fertility and prosperity. Additionally, they are believed to be carriers of the elixirs of life and immortality. Certain communities known as Nagavanshi consider themselves descendants of Naga.
Buddhist views of Naga, describe them as a cobra-like skane with a human head, and sometimes with many heads. Some have magical capabilities that allow them to take a fully human form. In Buddhist art, naga are often depicted as humans with a snake, or dragon like creature overhead.
Notable Naga are Varuna, the Vedic god of storms and King of the Nagas, and Mucalinda, protector of the Buddha.
Bacchus and Ariadne
Ariadne, the daughter of King Minos, after helping Theseus to escape from the labyrinth, was carried by him to the island of Naxos and was left there asleep,while the ungrateful Theseus ( men will be men) pursued his way home without her. Ariadne, on waking and finding herself deserted, abandoned herself to grief. But Venus took pity on her, and consoled her with the promise that she should have an immortal lover, instead of the mortal one she had lost.
The island where Ariadne was left was the favourite island of Bacchus, the same that he wished the Tyrrhenian mariners to carry him to, when they so treacherously attempted to make prize of him. As Ariadne sat lamenting her fate, Bacchus found her, consoled her, and made her his wife. As a marriage present he gave her a golden crown, enriched with gems, and when she died, he took her crown and threw it up into the sky.
Rose Quartz
Light pink.Encourages the qualities of forgiveness, tolerance, patience, and understanding.
It is the most important crystal for the heart and the heart chakra, teaching the
true essence of love.
It purifies and opens the heart at all levels, and brings deep inner healing and self-love.
Attracts love. Placed by your bed, or in the relationship corner of your home, it is effective in drawing love and relationships toward you.
In existing relationships, it restores trust and harmony, and encourages unconditional love.
Teaches you to love yourself and others.
Ala - Igbo
Ala is the female Alusi (deity) of the earth, morality, fertility and creativity in Odinani. She is the most important Alusi in the Igbo pantheon. In Odinani, Ala rules over the underworld which holds the deceased ancestors in her womb. Her name literally translates to ‘Ground’ in the Igbo language, denoting her powers over the earth and her status as the ground itself. Ala is considered the highest Alusi in the Igbo pantheon. Ala’s husband is Amadioha, the sky deity.
As the goddess of morality, Ala is involved in judging human actions and is in charge of Igbo law and customs known as ‘Omenala’. Taboos and crimes among Igbo communities that are against the standard of Ala are called nsọ Ala. All ground is considered ‘Holy land’ as it is Ala herself. With human fertility, Ala is credited for the productivity of the land. Ala’s messenger and living agent on earth is the python (Igbo: éké), which is especially revered in many Igbo communities. In art, Ala is often represented as a regal figure seated on a throne, surrounded by her family. In the past, such figures took the form of life-size mud sculptures in special festive shrines dedicated to the deity and known as Mbari.
Interior of the tomb of Nefertari, showing the God Khepri (center left, with the Scarab Beetle as head), with Osiris (far left), Ra Horakhty (with the Sun Disk), and the Goddess Neith (far right). (647k)
Khepri was associated with the scarab beetle. He was a very ancient God, worshiped since at least the 5th Dynasty. Objects resembling scarabs have been found from as early as the Neolithic period (7000 - 5000 BCE). The scarab is associated with life and rebirth, since it rolls balls of dung, from which later young scarabs emerge. Ancient lore has it that Khepri, in the form of a large scarab, rolls the large ball of the Sun along the sky.
if you ever think mythology is boring or serious business or whatever shit
just remember that cerberus, the hell-hound and guard dog of the underworld, comes from the root indo-european word ḱerberos, which evolved into the greek word kerberos, which got changed to cerberus when it went from greek to latin
ḱerberos means “spotted”
that’s right
hades, lord of the dead, literally fucking named his pet dog spot
My tenth piece is of Bast, the cat goddess of Egyptian mythology. She is commonly referred to as the protector of Pharaohs. She is also the goddess who is locked in struggle with the snake, Apophis (the enemy of Ra) the glowing hieroglyphs are her name.
My eleventh piece is a Jackalope… I had to… ‘nuff said XD
The final piece of my concentration is of the Billyo of Australia. It is pretty much an antelope that runs through the desert/scrub area and at night (normally on the nights of full moons) They have glowing blue streaks following them as they run.
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Conchamarka (“cooking stove spot”) tambo along Inca Trail to the archaeological site of Machu Picchu, Peru.
Photo courtesy & taken by D. Gordon E. Robertson
Latin American Legends | Mapinguari
In South American Amazonian forest many fear the Mapinguari it is slow but ferocious and very dangerous as it moves without noise in the thick vegetation. accounts state that it gave off a putrid stench and emitted a frightening shriek, that weapons such as arrows and bullets can’t penetrate the his alligator-like hide. He protects forests and animals from hunters, others say he preys on humans to eat. Today many believe the extinct giant sloth inspired this tale.
