Myths and Legends

Little tidbits of information from legends and myths all over the world. Feel free to request posts on certain myths, Gods, or creatures. If you think any of the information in my posts is wrong, just let me know and I'll verify it if I can :)

[mythsies]

Creature Profile - Faerie Dogs

The faerie dogs come from English Mythology, although are also seen in Scottish and Irish folklore, and are also known as the Cù Sìth. In some tales they are the guardians to crossroads which are a door to the world of the faeries. They have green fur and are roughly the size of a large calf, although some tales describe them as being bull sized. If encountered, they will bark once or twice as a warning, yet if they bark a third time the listener is doomed to die. Link to the drawing here: http://www.deviantart.com/art/Cu-Sith-306844474

[lawreen-blog]

mythology meme  ─  [3/9] greek gods/goddesses

Nyx (Ancient Greek: Νύξ, “night”) is the Greek goddess (or personification) of the night. A shadowy figure, Nyx stood at or near the beginning of creation, and was the mother of other personified gods such as Hypnos (sleep) and Thánatos (death). Her appearances in mythology are sparse, but reveal her as a figure of exceptional power and beauty. She is found in the shadows of the world and only ever seen in glimpses.

[doyouspeakwerewolf]

Were-hyena is a neologism coined in analogy to werewolf for therianthropy involving hyenas. It is common in the folklore of North Africa, the Horn of Africa and the Near East, as well as some adjacent territories. Unlike werewolves and other therianthropes, which are usually portrayed as being originally human, some werehyena lore tells of how they can also be hyenas disguised as humans.

In the Kanuri language of the former Bornu Empire in the Lake Chad region, werehyenas are referred to as bultungin which translates into “I change myself into a hyena”. It was once traditionally believed that one or two of the villages in the region was populated entirely by werehyenas, such as Kabultiloa.

In the folklore of western Sudanic peoples, there is a hybrid creature, a human who is nightly transformed into a cannibalistic monster that terrorizes people, especially lovers. The creature is often portrayed as a magically powerful healer, blacksmith, or woodcutter in its human form, but recognizable through signs like a hairy body, red and gleaming eyes and a nasal voice.

Al-Doumairy, in his Hawayan Al-Koubra (1406), wrote that hyenas are vampiric creatures that attack people at night and suck the blood from their necks. Arab folklore tells of how hyenas can mesmerise victims with their eyes or sometimes with their pheromones.

A Persian medical treatise written in 1376 tells how to cure people known as kaftar, who are said to be “half-man, half-hyena,” who have the habit of slaughtering children.

The Greeks, until the end of the 19th century, believed that the bodies of werewolves, if not destroyed, would haunt battlefields as vampiric hyenas which drank the blood of dying soldiers.

An episode of Buffy the Vampire Slayer called The Pack, featured creatures similar to the werehyena

image 1: http://bpuig.deviantart.com/art/Human-to-hyena-353198779

image 2: A hyena, as depicted in a medieval bestiary

image 3: Engraving of a spotted hyena fromThomas Pennant's History of Quadrupeds, one of the first authentic depictions of the species

[nimblesnotebook-blog]

Another Halloween themed post.

Part I: Superstitions

GHOSTS AND SPIRITS

Iron and Ghosts

The Early Ghost

Guide to Ghosts

Ghosts

Gravestone Symbolism

10 Little Known Mysterious Ghost Types

Ghost Types

The Different Types of Ghosts

Haunted Places

Cemetery Folklore

Writing a Ghost Story

Tips for Writing Ghost Stories

Ghost Cliches

Horror Cliches

ZOMBIES

The Science of Zombies

Zombie Biology

Zombie Sociology

Zombie Myths

Stage II and Stage III Zombies (pictures)

Vampires vs Zombies

Undead Creatures

Zombies

Guide on Zombies

SHAPE SHIFTERS AND HOMINIDS

Werewolves and other were-beasts

The Shape Shifting Process

Shape Shifters

Hominids of the World

Werewolf Myths

Science of Werewolves

Werewolf Behavior

Werewolves vs Vampires vs Zombies

Werewolf Anatomy

Wolf Body Language

Lycanthropy

Werewolf Myths and Truths

History of the Werewolf Legend

SEA CREATURES

The Mermaid

Sea Creatures

Books About Mermaids and Sea Folklore

Sea Creatures: Books

YA Mermaid Novels

Best Mermaid Books

Awesome Mermaid Books

Mermaid Anatomy

A Dissection of Mermaid Anatomy

VAMPIRES

African Vampires

Writing the A-Typical Vampire

So You Want to Write a Vampire Novel

Avoiding Vampire Cliches

Vampire Cliches

Vampire Burial

Vampire Mythology

Vampire Biology

Vampire Virology

Vampire Sociology

Vampires in Folklore and Literature

AVIAN CREATURES

Underused Bird Mythologies

FAIRIES AND FAE

Types of Faeries A-Z

A Guide to Fairies

Other Names for Fairies

Books About Faery

Best YA Fairy Books

Best YA Fantasy Series About the Fae

ANGELS AND DEMONS

A Glory of Angels

Angels and Demons Resource Post

Do You Give Angels Flaws or Not?

Unusual Angels

More:

Creating Creepy Creatures

Mythology Meme

Master Post of World Mythology, Creatures, and Folklore

Figures of Norse Mythology

Those Who Haunt the Earth

Writing Horror, Paranormal, and Supernatural

Genre: YA Supernatural

List of Mythical Creatures

Mythological Creature Picture Spam

How to Make Your Supernatural Characters Unique

Supernatural Theme Story

Myths and Urban Legends Masterpost

Original Gods, Goddesses, and Myths

World Building Basics: Myths and Legends

Mythical Creatures and Beings

Symbols by Word

Mythology Meme

Writing Paranormal Characters into the Real World

[mythsies]

Reblogging for references :3

[mythsies]

Creature Profile - Domovoi (or Domovik)

A domovoi is a creature from Slavic folklore similar to a brownie. They will do all the chores in a house, as long as they are paid with either milk or bread. They can take on the shape of the master of the house, but are generally friendly and helpful. They can also be seen as good omens at times if they are seen doing specific things - such as playing music on a comb to fortell a wedding, or pulling a woman's hair to warn of an abusive man.

However, they take offence at poor housekeeping and profanities, and when upset take on qualities of a poltergeist. 

If infuriated with a specific individual, they may resort to murdering them by sitting on their face while the individual sleeps. 

[mythsies]

Artist’s impressions of Athena - the Greek goddess of wisdom, courage, and warfare.

[mythsies]

God profile - Coyote

Coyote is widely known as the trickster from Native American mythology. There is a lot of lore about him, way too much to go into detail, although I'll try dig up some stories and leave links to them. He reportedly created the Milky Way and is responsible for the diversity of human kind, and has a reputation for annoying the other Native American Gods, such as Raven. There is also lore suggesting that he introduced death among humans, and that is the reason we die as everything else does.

Here are some links to stories related to and about the things Coyote supposedly got up to: http://www.sacred-texts.com/nam/nav/itb/itb08.htm

http://www.indigenouspeople.net/coyote.htm

http://www.native-languages.org/legends-coyote.htm

The last two links especially should have some interesting stories on them, feel free to check them out.

[mythsies]

There's not going to be any posts for a little while, I fell over and cracked the screen on my laptop, so I have nothing to research stuff on. Posts should resume in a week or so though!

[mythsies]

Creature profile - Were-Tiger

The were-tiger is seen in myths from India, Malaysia, Borneo, China and Japan. There are two slightly different versions of the myth.

In one version, the were-tiger is a person who possesses a miniature sarong. When they put this on, it grows larger and changes colour, and changes the person into a tiger. To change back, they must find a victim to devour to release their soul.

In another version, the Were-tiger can change at will, and has a penchant for chickens, although they eat other livestock. If you vomit feathers, you are definitely a weretiger.

[mythsies]

Artists impressions of the Griffin - a half bird, half big cat creature from Greek mythology, although they've been seen in both Ancient Persian and Ancient Egyptian mythology as well. Although they traditionally have the hindquarters of a lion and the head, wings and chest of an eagle, some of the artists featured have paired different birds and large cats. The penguin one is a personal favourite which I included purely because I like penguins. Links below:

http://www.deviantart.com/art/griffin-158174033

http://www.deviantart.com/art/Griffin-88624705

http://www.deviantart.com/art/Penguin-Griffin-50868926

http://www.deviantart.com/art/Griffin-180955962

http://www.deviantart.com/art/Griffin-182381681

http://www.deviantart.com/art/Griffin-174249549

http://www.deviantart.com/art/the-white-griffin-292349175

http://www.deviantart.com/art/Griffin-tattoo-commission-101478047

[mythsies]

God profile - Pontos

Pontos was one of the pre-olympian Greek deities, and was the personification of the sea. He was the son of Gaia, but apparently had no father. He fathered many beings with his own mother, chiefly Nereus, Thaumas, Phorcys, Ceto and Eurybia. With another sea goddess named Thalassa, he sired the Telchines and all sea life.

[mythsies]

I have quite a few new followers now... Welcome! While I'm saying hi, if there's any myth, creature or god you'd like me to post about, just let me know. :)

[mythsies]

Creature Profile - The Locapala Elephants

The Locopala Elephants bear a surprising resemblance to the elephants in Terry Pratchett's Discworld. They are from Hindu mythology, and consist of 8 elephants stood upon the back of a giant turtle (Akupara), supporting the world on their backs. Each elephant faces a different direction, and also supports a rider on their back. These riders are supposed to protect Hindu believers, and prevent their beliefs becoming corrupted. A list of the elephants and their riders is below.

East - Airavata, ridden by Indra South East - Pundarika, ridden by Agni South - Vamana, ridden by Yama South West - Kumunda, ridden by Surya West - Anjana, ridden by Varuna North West - Pushpa-danta, ridden by Vayu North - Sarva-bhauma, ridden by Kubera North East - Supratika, ridden by Soma

[mythsies]

Artist's impressions of Sleipnir - A mythical horse from Norse mythology, said to be created by Odin and Loki.

Links below:

http://www.deviantart.com/art/Sleipnir-115065165

http://www.deviantart.com/art/Sleipnir-41293180

http://www.deviantart.com/art/Sleipnir-214038885

http://www.deviantart.com/art/Loki-and-Sleipnir-340141595

http://www.deviantart.com/art/Odin-and-Sleipnir-71782694

http://www.deviantart.com/art/Sleipnir-381542612

http://www.deviantart.com/art/Mother-of-Sleipnir-393457834

http://www.deviantart.com/art/Artistik-Sleipnir-379587271

[mythsies]

God profile - Bast

Bast, also known as Bastet, was an Egyptian Goddess who was worshipped from as early as the Second Dynasty. She is known as the goddess of cats, Lower Egypt (Before cultures unified to become Ancient Egypt), the sun and the moon. She was originally portrayed as a wild desert cat or a lioness (much like Sekhmet), but is now more commonly associated with domestic cat, and is portrayed as a woman with a cats head. 

Bast was known for being both docile and aggressive. As the protector goddess of Lower Egypt, she was seen as the defender of the Pharaoh (and therefore Ra), earning her the titles Lady of Flame and Eye of Ra.

When Sekhmet became more prominent in Ancient Egyptian beliefs, Bast was no longer seen as a lioness, but instead took on the form more commonly associated with her today. She became associated more with protection of the home rather than protector of the Pharaoh, although she still had that role.

[mythsies]

Sorry for the relative quietness, been busy obtaining a job and doing school. Back on track now though!

[mythsies]

Creature profile - Draco

Draco is a dragon from Greco-Roman times. It has a small mouth and a crested head, and has a more snakelike body than dragons typically found in folklore. It preyed on travellers in the woods, and often would illuminate its body to dazzle its victims.