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Myths & Legends

Club Myths & Legends
Total Entries 165
Representative Circe
Myth is a genre of folklore consisting primarily of narratives that play a fundamental role in a society. For scholars, this is very different from the vernacular usage of the term “myth” that refers to a belief that is not true. Instead, the veracity of a myth is not a defining criterion. Myths are often endorsed by religious (when they are closely linked to religion or spirituality) and secular authorities. Many societies group their myths, legends, and history together, considering myths and legends to be factual accounts of their remote past. In particular, creation myths take place in a primordial age when the world had not achieved its later form. Origin myths explain how a society’s customs, institutions, and taboos were established and sanctified. National myths are narratives about a nation’s past that symbolize the nation’s values. There is a complex relationship between recital of myths and the enactment of rituals. ~ Myth – Wikipedia
Circe Offering the Cup to Ulysses (1891) | John William Waterhouse
Circe Offering the Cup to Ulysses (1891) | John William Waterhouse

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Achilles

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Category Achilles
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In Greek mythology, Achilles or Achilleus was a hero of the Trojan War who was known as being the greatest of all the Greek warriors. The central character in Homer’s Iliad, he was the son […]

Entry Achilles
Description 

In Greek mythology, Achilles or Achilleus was a hero of the Trojan War who was known as being the greatest of all the Greek warriors. The central character in Homer’s Iliad, he was the son […]

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Aegeus (Folklore)

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Aegeus was one of the kings of Athens in Greek mythology, who gave his name to the Aegean Sea, was the father of Theseus, and founded Athenian institutions. While visiting in Athens, King Minos’ son, […]

Entry Aegeus (Folklore)
Description 

Aegeus was one of the kings of Athens in Greek mythology, who gave his name to the Aegean Sea, was the father of Theseus, and founded Athenian institutions. While visiting in Athens, King Minos’ son, […]

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Aeneas

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In Greco-Roman mythology, Aeneas was a Trojan hero, the son of the Trojan prince Anchises and the Greek goddess Aphrodite (equivalent to the Roman Venus). His father was a first cousin of King Priam of […]

Entry Aeneas
Description 

In Greco-Roman mythology, Aeneas was a Trojan hero, the son of the Trojan prince Anchises and the Greek goddess Aphrodite (equivalent to the Roman Venus). His father was a first cousin of King Priam of […]

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Aeolus

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In Greek mythology, Aeolus, the son of Hippotes, was the ruler of the winds encountered by Odysseus in Homer’s Odyssey. Aeolus was the king of the island of Aeolia, where he lived with his wife […]

Entry Aeolus
Description 

In Greek mythology, Aeolus, the son of Hippotes, was the ruler of the winds encountered by Odysseus in Homer’s Odyssey. Aeolus was the king of the island of Aeolia, where he lived with his wife […]

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Agamemnon

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In Greek mythology, Agamemnon was a king of Mycenae who commanded the Achaeans during the Trojan War. Legends make him the king of Mycenae or Argos, thought to be different names for the same area. […]

Entry Agamemnon
Description 

In Greek mythology, Agamemnon was a king of Mycenae who commanded the Achaeans during the Trojan War. Legends make him the king of Mycenae or Argos, thought to be different names for the same area. […]

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Ajax

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Ajax is a Greek mythological hero, the son of King Telamon and Periboea, and the half-brother of Teucer. He plays an important role in the Trojan War, and is portrayed as a towering figure and […]

Entry Ajax
Description 

Ajax is a Greek mythological hero, the son of King Telamon and Periboea, and the half-brother of Teucer. He plays an important role in the Trojan War, and is portrayed as a towering figure and […]

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Amaterasu

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Amaterasu Ōmikami (天照大(御)神), often called Amaterasu for short, also known as Amateru Kami (天照神) and Ōhirume no Muchi (大日孁貴), is the goddess of the sun in Japanese mythology. Often considered the chief deity (kami) of […]

Entry Amaterasu
Description 

Amaterasu Ōmikami (天照大(御)神), often called Amaterasu for short, also known as Amateru Kami (天照神) and Ōhirume no Muchi (大日孁貴), is the goddess of the sun in Japanese mythology. Often considered the chief deity (kami) of […]

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Andromache

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In Greek mythology, Andromache was the wife of Hector, daughter of Eetion, and sister to Podes. She was born and raised in the city of Cilician Thebe, over which her father ruled. Following the Trojan […]

Entry Andromache
Description 

In Greek mythology, Andromache was the wife of Hector, daughter of Eetion, and sister to Podes. She was born and raised in the city of Cilician Thebe, over which her father ruled. Following the Trojan […]

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Apollo

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Apollo was known as the Greek/Roman deity of light and the sun; truth and prophecy; archery; medicine and healing; music, poetry, and the arts. He was the child of Zeus and Leto making him one […]

Entry Apollo
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Apollo was known as the Greek/Roman deity of light and the sun; truth and prophecy; archery; medicine and healing; music, poetry, and the arts. He was the child of Zeus and Leto making him one […]

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Ares

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Ares is the Greek god of war and courage. Ares was one of the Twelve Olympians in the archaic tradition represented by the Iliad and Odyssey. In Greek literature, Ares often represents the physical or […]

Entry Ares
Description 

Ares is the Greek god of war and courage. Ares was one of the Twelve Olympians in the archaic tradition represented by the Iliad and Odyssey. In Greek literature, Ares often represents the physical or […]

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Argonauts (Folklore)

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The Argonauts were a band of heroes in Greek mythology, who in the years before the Trojan War, accompanied Jason to Colchis in his quest to find the Golden Fleece. Their name comes from their […]

Entry Argonauts (Folklore)
Description 

The Argonauts were a band of heroes in Greek mythology, who in the years before the Trojan War, accompanied Jason to Colchis in his quest to find the Golden Fleece. Their name comes from their […]

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Argos

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In Homer’s Odyssey, Argos, sometimes referred to as Argus, is the legendary faithful dog of Odysseus. Bred to be a hunting dog before Odysseus leaves for the Trojan War, Argos is neglected after Odysseus is […]

Entry Argos
Description 

In Homer’s Odyssey, Argos, sometimes referred to as Argus, is the legendary faithful dog of Odysseus. Bred to be a hunting dog before Odysseus leaves for the Trojan War, Argos is neglected after Odysseus is […]

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Ariadne

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Category Ariadne
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Ariadne was a Cretan princess in Greek mythology. Often called the “Mistress of the Labyrinth”, she was mostly associated with mazes and labyrinths because of her involvement in the myths of the Minotaur and Theseus. […]

Entry Ariadne
Description 

Ariadne was a Cretan princess in Greek mythology. Often called the “Mistress of the Labyrinth”, she was mostly associated with mazes and labyrinths because of her involvement in the myths of the Minotaur and Theseus. […]

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Athena (Folklore)

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Category Athena (Folklore)
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Athena (or Minerva in Roman myth) was the goddess of wisdom, courage, inspiration, civilization, law and justice, just warfare, mathematics, strength, strategy, the arts, crafts, and skill. She was also a member of the Twelve […]

Entry Athena (Folklore)
Description 

Athena (or Minerva in Roman myth) was the goddess of wisdom, courage, inspiration, civilization, law and justice, just warfare, mathematics, strength, strategy, the arts, crafts, and skill. She was also a member of the Twelve […]

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Atlantis

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Atlantis (lit. “island of Atlas”) is a fictional island mentioned in an allegory on the hubris of nations in Plato’s works Timaeus and Critias, wherein it represents the antagonist naval power that besieges “Ancient Athens”, […]

Entry Atlantis
Description 

Atlantis (lit. “island of Atlas”) is a fictional island mentioned in an allegory on the hubris of nations in Plato’s works Timaeus and Critias, wherein it represents the antagonist naval power that besieges “Ancient Athens”, […]

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Atlas (Folklore)

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Category Atlas (Folklore)
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Atlas was one of the Titans, a race of primordial gods who ruled the cosmos before being overthrown by the Olympian gods led by Zeus. The Titans waged war against the Olympians for ten years […]

Entry Atlas (Folklore)
Description 

Atlas was one of the Titans, a race of primordial gods who ruled the cosmos before being overthrown by the Olympian gods led by Zeus. The Titans waged war against the Olympians for ten years […]

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Baal Berith

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Baʿal Berith and El Berith are two gods, worshiped in Shechem, in ancient Canaan, according to the Bible. The term for “covenant” appears also in Ugaritic texts (second millennium BCE), in connection with Baʿal, and […]

Entry Baal Berith
Description 

Baʿal Berith and El Berith are two gods, worshiped in Shechem, in ancient Canaan, according to the Bible. The term for “covenant” appears also in Ugaritic texts (second millennium BCE), in connection with Baʿal, and […]

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Baba Yaga

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Baba-Yaga was a witch in Slavic folklore who would fly around on a giant mortar/silver birch broomstick. She was famous for kidnapping and (most likely) eating small children. The witch lived in a walking house […]

Entry Baba Yaga
Description 

Baba-Yaga was a witch in Slavic folklore who would fly around on a giant mortar/silver birch broomstick. She was famous for kidnapping and (most likely) eating small children. The witch lived in a walking house […]

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Baldur (Folklore)

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Baldr (Old Norse also Balder, Baldur) is a god in Germanic mythology. In Norse mythology, he is a son of the god Odin and the goddess Frigg, and has numerous brothers, such as Thor and […]

Entry Baldur (Folklore)
Description 

Baldr (Old Norse also Balder, Baldur) is a god in Germanic mythology. In Norse mythology, he is a son of the god Odin and the goddess Frigg, and has numerous brothers, such as Thor and […]

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Bean Nighe

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The bean-nighe (Scottish Gaelic for “washerwoman” or “laundress”) is a female spirit in Scottish folklore, regarded as an omen of death and a messenger from the Otherworld. Also known as the Washing Woman or Washer […]

Entry Bean Nighe
Description 

The bean-nighe (Scottish Gaelic for “washerwoman” or “laundress”) is a female spirit in Scottish folklore, regarded as an omen of death and a messenger from the Otherworld. Also known as the Washing Woman or Washer […]

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Bellerophon

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Category Bellerophon
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Bellerophon or Bellerophontes or Hipponous, was a divine Corinthian hero of Greek mythology, the son of Poseidon and Eurynome, and the foster son of Glaukos. He was “the greatest hero and slayer of monsters, alongside […]

Entry Bellerophon
Description 

Bellerophon or Bellerophontes or Hipponous, was a divine Corinthian hero of Greek mythology, the son of Poseidon and Eurynome, and the foster son of Glaukos. He was “the greatest hero and slayer of monsters, alongside […]

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Bigfoot

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Bigfoot, also commonly referred to as Sasquatch, is a purported ape-like creature said to inhabit the forests of North America. Many dubious articles have been offered in attempts to prove the existence of Bigfoot, including […]

Entry Bigfoot
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Bigfoot, also commonly referred to as Sasquatch, is a purported ape-like creature said to inhabit the forests of North America. Many dubious articles have been offered in attempts to prove the existence of Bigfoot, including […]

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Brunhild

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Brunhild is a powerful female figure from Germanic heroic legend. She may have her origins in the Visigothic princess Brunhilda of Austrasia. In the Norse tradition, Brunhild is a shieldmaiden or valkyrie, who appears as […]

Entry Brunhild
Description 

Brunhild is a powerful female figure from Germanic heroic legend. She may have her origins in the Visigothic princess Brunhilda of Austrasia. In the Norse tradition, Brunhild is a shieldmaiden or valkyrie, who appears as […]

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Bull of Heaven

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The Bull of Heaven is a mythical beast fought by the hero Gilgamesh. The story of the Bull of Heaven is known from two different versions: one recorded in an earlier Sumerian poem and a […]

Entry Bull of Heaven
Description 

The Bull of Heaven is a mythical beast fought by the hero Gilgamesh. The story of the Bull of Heaven is known from two different versions: one recorded in an earlier Sumerian poem and a […]

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Calypso

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In Greek mythology, Calypso was a nymph who lived on the island of Ogygia, where, according to Homer’s Odyssey, she detained Odysseus for seven years against his will. She promised Odysseus immortality if he would […]

Entry Calypso
Description 

In Greek mythology, Calypso was a nymph who lived on the island of Ogygia, where, according to Homer’s Odyssey, she detained Odysseus for seven years against his will. She promised Odysseus immortality if he would […]

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Chang’e

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Category Chang’e
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Chang’e (嫦娥), originally known as Heng’e (姮娥), is the goddess of the Moon and wife of Hou Yi, the great archer. Renowned for her beauty, Chang’e is also known for her ascending to the Moon […]

Entry Chang’e
Description 

Chang’e (嫦娥), originally known as Heng’e (姮娥), is the goddess of the Moon and wife of Hou Yi, the great archer. Renowned for her beauty, Chang’e is also known for her ascending to the Moon […]

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Chiron

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In Greek mythology, Chiron was held to be the superlative centaur amongst his brethren since he was called the “wisest and justest of all the centaurs”. Chiron was notable throughout Greek mythology for his youth-nurturing […]

Entry Chiron
Description 

In Greek mythology, Chiron was held to be the superlative centaur amongst his brethren since he was called the “wisest and justest of all the centaurs”. Chiron was notable throughout Greek mythology for his youth-nurturing […]

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Circe

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Category Circe
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Circe is an enchantress and a minor goddess in Greek mythology. She is either a daughter of the god Helios and the Oceanid nymph Perse or the goddess Hecate and Aeetes. Circe was renowned for […]

Entry Circe
Description 

Circe is an enchantress and a minor goddess in Greek mythology. She is either a daughter of the god Helios and the Oceanid nymph Perse or the goddess Hecate and Aeetes. Circe was renowned for […]

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Clytemnestra

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Category Clytemnestra
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Clytemnestra, in Greek mythology, was the wife of Agamemnon, king of Mycenae, and the half-sister of Helen of Sparta. In Aeschylus’ Oresteia, she murders Agamemnon – said by Euripides to be her second husband – […]

Entry Clytemnestra
Description 

Clytemnestra, in Greek mythology, was the wife of Agamemnon, king of Mycenae, and the half-sister of Helen of Sparta. In Aeschylus’ Oresteia, she murders Agamemnon – said by Euripides to be her second husband – […]

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Cú Chulainn

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Cú Chulainn, is an Irish warrior hero and demigod in the Ulster Cycle of Irish mythology, as well as in Scottish and Manx folklore. He is believed to be an incarnation of the Irish god […]

Entry Cú Chulainn
Description 

Cú Chulainn, is an Irish warrior hero and demigod in the Ulster Cycle of Irish mythology, as well as in Scottish and Manx folklore. He is believed to be an incarnation of the Irish god […]

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Cyclops

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Category Cyclops
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Polyphemus is the one-eyed giant son of Poseidon and Thoosa in Greek mythology, one of the Cyclopes described in Homer’s Odyssey. His name means “abounding in songs and legends”, “many-voiced” or “very famous”. Polyphemus first […]

Entry Cyclops
Description 

Polyphemus is the one-eyed giant son of Poseidon and Thoosa in Greek mythology, one of the Cyclopes described in Homer’s Odyssey. His name means “abounding in songs and legends”, “many-voiced” or “very famous”. Polyphemus first […]

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Deidre (Folklore)

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“Longes mac n-Uislenn” (“The Exile of the Sons of Uisliu”) is a tragic tale from the Ulster Cycle of Irish mythology. It tells the story of Deirdre, a beautiful woman prophesied at birth to bring […]

Entry Deidre (Folklore)
Description 

“Longes mac n-Uislenn” (“The Exile of the Sons of Uisliu”) is a tragic tale from the Ulster Cycle of Irish mythology. It tells the story of Deirdre, a beautiful woman prophesied at birth to bring […]

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Demodocus

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In the Odyssey by Homer, Demodocus is a poet who often visits the court of Alcinous, king of the Phaeacians on the island of Scherie. During Odysseus’ stay on Scherie, Demodocus performs three narrative songs. […]

Entry Demodocus
Description 

In the Odyssey by Homer, Demodocus is a poet who often visits the court of Alcinous, king of the Phaeacians on the island of Scherie. During Odysseus’ stay on Scherie, Demodocus performs three narrative songs. […]

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Demon Omatsu

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Originating from a 14th-century legend, the samurai Shirosaburo suffers treachery at the hands of the beauty Kishin (lit. devil) Omatsu who he carries on his back across a swiftly flowing river. Shirosaburo is based on […]

Entry Demon Omatsu
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Originating from a 14th-century legend, the samurai Shirosaburo suffers treachery at the hands of the beauty Kishin (lit. devil) Omatsu who he carries on his back across a swiftly flowing river. Shirosaburo is based on […]

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Diana (Folklore)

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Category Diana (Folklore)
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Diana is a goddess in Roman religion, primarily considered a patroness of the countryside and nature, hunters, wildlife, childbirth, crossroads, the night, and the Moon. She is equated with the Greek goddess Artemis, and absorbed […]

Entry Diana (Folklore)
Description 

Diana is a goddess in Roman religion, primarily considered a patroness of the countryside and nature, hunters, wildlife, childbirth, crossroads, the night, and the Moon. She is equated with the Greek goddess Artemis, and absorbed […]

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Diomedes

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Diomedes is a hero in Greek mythology, known for his participation in the Trojan War. He was born to Tydeus and Deipyle and later became King of Argos, succeeding his maternal grandfather, Adrastus. In Homer’s […]

Entry Diomedes
Description 

Diomedes is a hero in Greek mythology, known for his participation in the Trojan War. He was born to Tydeus and Deipyle and later became King of Argos, succeeding his maternal grandfather, Adrastus. In Homer’s […]

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Dragon (Folklore)

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A dragon is a large magical legendary creature that appears in the folklore of multiple cultures worldwide. Beliefs about dragons vary considerably through regions, but dragons in western cultures since the High Middle Ages have […]

Entry Dragon (Folklore)
Description 

A dragon is a large magical legendary creature that appears in the folklore of multiple cultures worldwide. Beliefs about dragons vary considerably through regions, but dragons in western cultures since the High Middle Ages have […]

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Dragon (Japanese)

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Like these other East Asian dragons, most Japanese dragons are water deities or kami, associated with rainfall and bodies of water, and are typically depicted as large, wingless, serpentine creatures with clawed feet. The c. […]

Entry Dragon (Japanese)
Description 

Like these other East Asian dragons, most Japanese dragons are water deities or kami, associated with rainfall and bodies of water, and are typically depicted as large, wingless, serpentine creatures with clawed feet. The c. […]

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Dragon King

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Category Dragon King
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The Dragon King, also known as the Dragon God, is a Chinese water and weather god. He is regarded as the dispenser of rain, commanding over all bodies of water. He is the collective personification […]

Entry Dragon King
Description 

The Dragon King, also known as the Dragon God, is a Chinese water and weather god. He is regarded as the dispenser of rain, commanding over all bodies of water. He is the collective personification […]

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Enkidu

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Category Enkidu
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Gilgamesh, Enkidu, Shamhat, and Humbaba were characters in ancient Mesopotamian mythology and the Epic of Gilgamesh, an epic poem written in Akkadian during the late 2nd millennium BC. Gilgamesh was possibly a historical king of […]

Entry Enkidu
Description 

Gilgamesh, Enkidu, Shamhat, and Humbaba were characters in ancient Mesopotamian mythology and the Epic of Gilgamesh, an epic poem written in Akkadian during the late 2nd millennium BC. Gilgamesh was possibly a historical king of […]

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Father Time

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Category Father Time
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Father Time is usually depicted as an elderly bearded man, dressed in a robe and carrying a scythe and an hourglass or other timekeeping devices (which represent time’s constant one-way movement, and more generally and […]

Entry Father Time
Description 

Father Time is usually depicted as an elderly bearded man, dressed in a robe and carrying a scythe and an hourglass or other timekeeping devices (which represent time’s constant one-way movement, and more generally and […]

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Flying Dutchman (Folklore)

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The Flying Dutchman (Dutch: De Vliegende Hollander) is a legendary ghost ship, allegedly never able to make port, but doomed to sail the seven seas forever. The myth is likely to have originated from the […]

Entry Flying Dutchman (Folklore)
Description 

The Flying Dutchman (Dutch: De Vliegende Hollander) is a legendary ghost ship, allegedly never able to make port, but doomed to sail the seven seas forever. The myth is likely to have originated from the […]

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Foxfire

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In the play Honcho Nijushiko, or Twenty-four Examples of Filial Piety (1766), “Princess Yaegaki learned of her lover’s danger but was prevented from warning him by an icy lake outside her father’s castle that she […]

Entry Foxfire
Description 

In the play Honcho Nijushiko, or Twenty-four Examples of Filial Piety (1766), “Princess Yaegaki learned of her lover’s danger but was prevented from warning him by an icy lake outside her father’s castle that she […]

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Freya (Folklore)

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In Norse mythology, Freyja is a goddess associated with love, beauty, fertility, sex, war, gold, and seiðr (magic for seeing and influencing the future). Freyja is the owner of the necklace Brísingamen, rides a chariot […]

Entry Freya (Folklore)
Description 

In Norse mythology, Freyja is a goddess associated with love, beauty, fertility, sex, war, gold, and seiðr (magic for seeing and influencing the future). Freyja is the owner of the necklace Brísingamen, rides a chariot […]

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Frost King

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The Frost King, the Frost-King, or King Frost, is a personification of Autumn frost, or of cold, frosty weather in general, who is portrayed as a king. Beyond this basic description, public domain stories are […]

Entry Frost King
Description 

The Frost King, the Frost-King, or King Frost, is a personification of Autumn frost, or of cold, frosty weather in general, who is portrayed as a king. Beyond this basic description, public domain stories are […]

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Fujiwara no Hidesato

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Fujiwara no Hidesato was a Japanese aristocrat, courtier, folk hero and samurai lord of the tenth century in the Heian period. He is famous for his military exploits and courage, and is regarded as the […]

Entry Fujiwara no Hidesato
Description 

Fujiwara no Hidesato was a Japanese aristocrat, courtier, folk hero and samurai lord of the tenth century in the Heian period. He is famous for his military exploits and courage, and is regarded as the […]

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Garuda

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Garuda is a Hindu demigod and divine creature mentioned in the Hindu, Buddhist and Jain faiths. He is primarily depicted as the mount (vahana) of the Hindu god Vishnu. Garuda is described as the king […]

Entry Garuda
Description 

Garuda is a Hindu demigod and divine creature mentioned in the Hindu, Buddhist and Jain faiths. He is primarily depicted as the mount (vahana) of the Hindu god Vishnu. Garuda is described as the king […]

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Ghost of Kiyotaka

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The ghost of Kiyotaka (a traitor to the emperor who had been ordered to commit seppuku) haunted the Imperial Palace at Yoshino. He terrorized the courtiers until the lady-in-waiting Iga-no Tsubone faced the ghost and […]

Entry Ghost of Kiyotaka
Description 

The ghost of Kiyotaka (a traitor to the emperor who had been ordered to commit seppuku) haunted the Imperial Palace at Yoshino. He terrorized the courtiers until the lady-in-waiting Iga-no Tsubone faced the ghost and […]

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Gilgamesh

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Category Gilgamesh
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Gilgamesh, Enkidu, Shamhat, and Humbaba were characters in ancient Mesopotamian mythology and the Epic of Gilgamesh, an epic poem written in Akkadian during the late 2nd millennium BC. Gilgamesh was possibly a historical king of […]

Entry Gilgamesh
Description 

Gilgamesh, Enkidu, Shamhat, and Humbaba were characters in ancient Mesopotamian mythology and the Epic of Gilgamesh, an epic poem written in Akkadian during the late 2nd millennium BC. Gilgamesh was possibly a historical king of […]

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Grim Reaper (Folklore)

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Death is frequently imagined as a personified force. In some mythologies, a character known as the Grim Reaper (usually depicted as a berobed skeleton wielding a scythe) causes the victim’s death by coming to collect […]

Entry Grim Reaper (Folklore)
Description 

Death is frequently imagined as a personified force. In some mythologies, a character known as the Grim Reaper (usually depicted as a berobed skeleton wielding a scythe) causes the victim’s death by coming to collect […]

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Gróa

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In Norse mythology, Gróa is a völva (seeress) and practitioner of seiðr, a type of magic. She is the wife of Aurvandil the Bold. Groa was also the goddess of knowledge. Gróa appears in the […]

Entry Gróa
Description 

In Norse mythology, Gróa is a völva (seeress) and practitioner of seiðr, a type of magic. She is the wife of Aurvandil the Bold. Groa was also the goddess of knowledge. Gróa appears in the […]

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Guanyin

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Category Guanyin
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Guanyin (觀音) is a common Chinese name of the bodhisattva associated with compassion known as Avalokiteśvara (Sanskrit: अवलोकितेश्वर). Guanyin is short for Guanshiyin, which means “[The One Who] Perceives the Sounds of the World”. Originally […]

Entry Guanyin
Description 

Guanyin (觀音) is a common Chinese name of the bodhisattva associated with compassion known as Avalokiteśvara (Sanskrit: अवलोकितेश्वर). Guanyin is short for Guanshiyin, which means “[The One Who] Perceives the Sounds of the World”. Originally […]

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Halcyone and Ceyx (Folklore)

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Category Halcyone and Ceyx (Folklore)
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In Greek mythology, Alcyone (or dubiously Halcyone) and Ceyx were a wife and husband who incurred the wrath of the god Zeus for their romantic hubris. Alcyone became the queen of Trachis after marrying King […]

Entry Halcyone and Ceyx (Folklore)
Description 

In Greek mythology, Alcyone (or dubiously Halcyone) and Ceyx were a wife and husband who incurred the wrath of the god Zeus for their romantic hubris. Alcyone became the queen of Trachis after marrying King […]

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Hector

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Category Hector
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In Greek mythology, Hector was a Trojan prince, a hero and the greatest warrior for Troy during the Trojan War. He is a major character in Homer’s Iliad, where he leads the Trojans and their […]

Entry Hector
Description 

In Greek mythology, Hector was a Trojan prince, a hero and the greatest warrior for Troy during the Trojan War. He is a major character in Homer’s Iliad, where he leads the Trojans and their […]

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Helen of Troy

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Category Helen of Troy
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Helen, also known as Helen of Troy, or Helen of Sparta, and in Latin as Helena, was a figure in Greek mythology said to have been the most beautiful woman in the world. She was […]

Entry Helen of Troy
Description 

Helen, also known as Helen of Troy, or Helen of Sparta, and in Latin as Helena, was a figure in Greek mythology said to have been the most beautiful woman in the world. She was […]

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Hell Courtesan

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Category Hell Courtesan
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The Hell Courtesan is usually depicted in a dress with the images of hell, the souls of those she condemned, Emma-Ō (one of the kings of hell), horned demons, and bodhissatvas. Kawanabe Kyōsai is depicted […]

Entry Hell Courtesan
Description 

The Hell Courtesan is usually depicted in a dress with the images of hell, the souls of those she condemned, Emma-Ō (one of the kings of hell), horned demons, and bodhissatvas. Kawanabe Kyōsai is depicted […]

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Hephaestus

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Category Hephaestus
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Hephaestus (or Vulcan in Roman myth) was the god of technology, blacksmiths, craftsmen, artisans, sculptors, metals, metallurgy, fire and volcanoes in Greco-Roman mythology. He was the son of Hera and Zeus, and the only member […]

Entry Hephaestus
Description 

Hephaestus (or Vulcan in Roman myth) was the god of technology, blacksmiths, craftsmen, artisans, sculptors, metals, metallurgy, fire and volcanoes in Greco-Roman mythology. He was the son of Hera and Zeus, and the only member […]

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Hera

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Category Hera
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In ancient Greek religion, Hera is the goddess of marriage, women, and family, and the protector of women during childbirth. In Greek mythology, she is queen of the twelve Olympians and Mount Olympus, sister and […]

Entry Hera
Description 

In ancient Greek religion, Hera is the goddess of marriage, women, and family, and the protector of women during childbirth. In Greek mythology, she is queen of the twelve Olympians and Mount Olympus, sister and […]

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Hercules (Folklore)

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Category Hercules (Folklore)
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Hercules is the Roman equivalent of the Greek divine hero Heracles, son of Jupiter and the mortal Alcmene. In classical mythology, Hercules is famous for his strength and for his numerous far-ranging adventures. The Romans […]

Entry Hercules (Folklore)
Description 

Hercules is the Roman equivalent of the Greek divine hero Heracles, son of Jupiter and the mortal Alcmene. In classical mythology, Hercules is famous for his strength and for his numerous far-ranging adventures. The Romans […]

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Hermes

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Category Hermes
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Hermes is an Olympian deity in ancient Greek religion and mythology considered the herald of the gods. He is also widely considered the protector of human heralds, travelers, thieves, merchants, and orators. He is able […]

Entry Hermes
Description 

Hermes is an Olympian deity in ancient Greek religion and mythology considered the herald of the gods. He is also widely considered the protector of human heralds, travelers, thieves, merchants, and orators. He is able […]

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Heron Maiden

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The sweet visage of the Heron Maiden is emphasized by the radiating spires of the umbrella that she carries against the falling snow. She reaches out in greeting towards two herons that cross in front […]

Entry Heron Maiden
Description 

The sweet visage of the Heron Maiden is emphasized by the radiating spires of the umbrella that she carries against the falling snow. She reaches out in greeting towards two herons that cross in front […]

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Hippolyta

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Category Hippolyta
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In Classical Greek mythology, Hippolyta, or Hippolyte, was a daughter of Ares and Otrera, queen of the Amazons, and a sister of Antiope and Melanippe. She wore her father Ares’ zoster, the Greek word found […]

Entry Hippolyta
Description 

In Classical Greek mythology, Hippolyta, or Hippolyte, was a daughter of Ares and Otrera, queen of the Amazons, and a sister of Antiope and Melanippe. She wore her father Ares’ zoster, the Greek word found […]

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Humbaba

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Category Humbaba
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Gilgamesh, Enkidu, Shamhat, and Humbaba were characters in ancient Mesopotamian mythology and the Epic of Gilgamesh, an epic poem written in Akkadian during the late 2nd millennium BC. Gilgamesh was possibly a historical king of […]

Entry Humbaba
Description 

Gilgamesh, Enkidu, Shamhat, and Humbaba were characters in ancient Mesopotamian mythology and the Epic of Gilgamesh, an epic poem written in Akkadian during the late 2nd millennium BC. Gilgamesh was possibly a historical king of […]

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Ibaraki-doji

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Category Ibaraki-doji
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Ibaraki-dōji is an oni (demon or ogre) featured in tales of the Heian period. In the tales, Ibaraki-dōji is based on Mount Ōe, and once went on a rampage in Kyoto. The “Ibaraki” in his […]

Entry Ibaraki-doji
Description 

Ibaraki-dōji is an oni (demon or ogre) featured in tales of the Heian period. In the tales, Ibaraki-dōji is based on Mount Ōe, and once went on a rampage in Kyoto. The “Ibaraki” in his […]

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Icarus

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Category Icarus
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Icarus was a boy who’s father, a master craftsman named Daedalus, created a pair of artificial wings that allowed him to fly. The wings were made of feathers held together by wax, and Daedalus warned […]

Entry Icarus
Description 

Icarus was a boy who’s father, a master craftsman named Daedalus, created a pair of artificial wings that allowed him to fly. The wings were made of feathers held together by wax, and Daedalus warned […]

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Incubus

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Category Incubus
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An incubus is a demon in male form in folklore that seeks to have sexual intercourse with sleeping women; the corresponding spirit in female form is called a succubus. In medieval Europe, union with an […]

Entry Incubus
Description 

An incubus is a demon in male form in folklore that seeks to have sexual intercourse with sleeping women; the corresponding spirit in female form is called a succubus. In medieval Europe, union with an […]

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Ivan Tsarevitch

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Category Ivan Tsarevitch
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Ivan Tsarevitch is a hero with royal blood, who is seen in a number of Russian fairy tales. He is the son of Nastasya the Golden Braid and has three sisters, Anna, Maria, and Olga. […]

Entry Ivan Tsarevitch
Description 

Ivan Tsarevitch is a hero with royal blood, who is seen in a number of Russian fairy tales. He is the son of Nastasya the Golden Braid and has three sisters, Anna, Maria, and Olga. […]

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Izanagi

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Category Izanagi
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Izanagi (イザナギ/伊邪那岐/伊弉諾) or Izanaki (イザナキ), formally referred to with a divine honorific as Izanagi-no-Mikoto (伊邪那岐命/伊弉諾尊, meaning “He-who-invites” or the “Male-who-invites”), is the creator deity (kami) of both creation and life in Japanese mythology. He and […]

Entry Izanagi
Description 

Izanagi (イザナギ/伊邪那岐/伊弉諾) or Izanaki (イザナキ), formally referred to with a divine honorific as Izanagi-no-Mikoto (伊邪那岐命/伊弉諾尊, meaning “He-who-invites” or the “Male-who-invites”), is the creator deity (kami) of both creation and life in Japanese mythology. He and […]

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Izanami

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Category Izanami
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Izanami (イザナミ), formally referred to with the honorific Izanami-no-Mikoto (伊弉冉尊/伊邪那美命, meaning “She-who-invites” or the “Female-who-invites”), is the creator deity of both creation and death in Japanese mythology, as well as the Shinto mother goddess. She […]

Entry Izanami
Description 

Izanami (イザナミ), formally referred to with the honorific Izanami-no-Mikoto (伊弉冉尊/伊邪那美命, meaning “She-who-invites” or the “Female-who-invites”), is the creator deity of both creation and death in Japanese mythology, as well as the Shinto mother goddess. She […]

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Jenny Greenteeth

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Category Jenny Greenteeth
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Jenny Greenteeth a.k.a. Wicked Jenny or Ginny Greenteeth is a figure in English folklore. A river-hag, similar to Peg Powler or a grindylow, she would pull children or the elderly into the water and drown […]

Entry Jenny Greenteeth
Description 

Jenny Greenteeth a.k.a. Wicked Jenny or Ginny Greenteeth is a figure in English folklore. A river-hag, similar to Peg Powler or a grindylow, she would pull children or the elderly into the water and drown […]

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John Henry

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Category John Henry
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John Henry is an American folk hero. An African American, he is said to have worked as a “steel-driving man”—a man tasked with hammering a steel drill into rock to make holes for explosives to […]

Entry John Henry
Description 

John Henry is an American folk hero. An African American, he is said to have worked as a “steel-driving man”—a man tasked with hammering a steel drill into rock to make holes for explosives to […]

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Kidomaru

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Category Kidomaru
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Kidōmaru is an “oni”, a kind of yōkai, demon, orc, ogre, or troll in Japanese folklore. As described in the Kokon Chomonjū, Minamoto no Yorimitsu is known for the slaying of Shuten-dōji. When he went […]

Entry Kidomaru
Description 

Kidōmaru is an “oni”, a kind of yōkai, demon, orc, ogre, or troll in Japanese folklore. As described in the Kokon Chomonjū, Minamoto no Yorimitsu is known for the slaying of Shuten-dōji. When he went […]

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Kijo

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Category Kijo
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In Japanese lore, shadows and reflections show the true nature of a supernatural creature. In this design, a beautiful princess is revealed to be a hideous demon. Alias Kijo, Demon of Mount Togakushi Real Names/Alt […]

Entry Kijo
Description 

In Japanese lore, shadows and reflections show the true nature of a supernatural creature. In this design, a beautiful princess is revealed to be a hideous demon. Alias Kijo, Demon of Mount Togakushi Real Names/Alt […]

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Kitsune

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Category Kitsune
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The kitsune (狐, きつね) in popular Japanese tradition, are foxes or fox spirits that possess paranormal abilities such as shapeshifting, and capable of bewitching people. Kitsune, though literally a “fox”, becomes in folklore a “fox […]

Entry Kitsune
Description 

The kitsune (狐, きつね) in popular Japanese tradition, are foxes or fox spirits that possess paranormal abilities such as shapeshifting, and capable of bewitching people. Kitsune, though literally a “fox”, becomes in folklore a “fox […]

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Koschei the Deathless

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Category Koschei the Deathless
Includes 

Koschei (Russian: Коще́й, tr. Koshchey, IPA: [kɐˈɕːej]), often given the epithet “the Immortal”, or “the Deathless” (Russian: Коще́й Бессме́ртный), is an archetypal male antagonist in Russian folklore. The most common feature of tales involving Koschei […]

Entry Koschei the Deathless
Description 

Koschei (Russian: Коще́й, tr. Koshchey, IPA: [kɐˈɕːej]), often given the epithet “the Immortal”, or “the Deathless” (Russian: Коще́й Бессме́ртный), is an archetypal male antagonist in Russian folklore. The most common feature of tales involving Koschei […]

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Krampus

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Category Krampus
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The Krampus is a horned, anthropomorphic figure in Central and Eastern Alpine folklore who, during the Christmas season, scares children who have misbehaved. Assisting Saint Nicholas, the pair visit children on the night of 5 […]

Entry Krampus
Description 

The Krampus is a horned, anthropomorphic figure in Central and Eastern Alpine folklore who, during the Christmas season, scares children who have misbehaved. Assisting Saint Nicholas, the pair visit children on the night of 5 […]

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Kurozome

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Category Kurozome
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The evil Lord Kuronushi had a plan to usurp the power of the emperor. In order to ensure the success of his plan, he decided to build a shrine from the wood of an ancient […]

Entry Kurozome
Description 

The evil Lord Kuronushi had a plan to usurp the power of the emperor. In order to ensure the success of his plan, he decided to build a shrine from the wood of an ancient […]

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Kuzunoha

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Category Kuzunoha
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Kuzunoha is the name of a popular kitsune character in Japanese folklore. Her name means leaf of arrowroot. Legend states that she is the mother of Abe no Seimei, the famous onmyōji. A young nobleman, […]

Entry Kuzunoha
Description 

Kuzunoha is the name of a popular kitsune character in Japanese folklore. Her name means leaf of arrowroot. Legend states that she is the mother of Abe no Seimei, the famous onmyōji. A young nobleman, […]

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Laestrygonians

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Category Laestrygonians
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In Greek mythology, the Laestrygonians were a tribe of man-eating giants. They were said to have sprung from Laestrygon, son of Poseidon. Odysseus, the main character of Homer’s Odyssey, visited them during his journey back […]

Entry Laestrygonians
Description 

In Greek mythology, the Laestrygonians were a tribe of man-eating giants. They were said to have sprung from Laestrygon, son of Poseidon. Odysseus, the main character of Homer’s Odyssey, visited them during his journey back […]

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Loki (Norse Mythology)

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Category Loki (Norse Mythology)
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Loki is a god in Norse mythology. According to some sources, Loki is the son of Fárbauti (a jötunn) and Laufey (mentioned as a goddess), and the brother of Helblindi and Býleistr. Loki is married […]

Entry Loki (Norse Mythology)
Description 

Loki is a god in Norse mythology. According to some sources, Loki is the son of Fárbauti (a jötunn) and Laufey (mentioned as a goddess), and the brother of Helblindi and Býleistr. Loki is married […]

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Lorelei (Folklore)

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Category Lorelei (Folklore)
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The Lorelei is a 132-metre-high (433 ft) steep slate rock on the right bank of the River Rhine in the Rhine Gorge (or Middle Rhine) at Sankt Goarshausen in Germany… The name comes from the […]

Entry Lorelei (Folklore)
Description 

The Lorelei is a 132-metre-high (433 ft) steep slate rock on the right bank of the River Rhine in the Rhine Gorge (or Middle Rhine) at Sankt Goarshausen in Germany… The name comes from the […]

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Lotus-eaters

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Category Lotus-eaters
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In Greek mythology, lotophages or the lotus-eaters were a race of people living on an island dominated by the lotus tree off coastal Tunisia (Island of Djerba), a plant whose botanical identity is uncertain. The […]

Entry Lotus-eaters
Description 

In Greek mythology, lotophages or the lotus-eaters were a race of people living on an island dominated by the lotus tree off coastal Tunisia (Island of Djerba), a plant whose botanical identity is uncertain. The […]

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Marpessa (Folklore)

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Category Marpessa (Folklore)
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When Idas came from Messenia to ask for the hand of Marpessa, daughter of Evenus, the maiden’s father refused his request because he wanted his daughter to remain a virgin. Idas went to his father […]

Entry Marpessa (Folklore)
Description 

When Idas came from Messenia to ask for the hand of Marpessa, daughter of Evenus, the maiden’s father refused his request because he wanted his daughter to remain a virgin. Idas went to his father […]

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Mars (Folklore)

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Category Mars (Folklore)
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In ancient Roman religion and myth, Mars was the god of war and also an agricultural guardian, a combination characteristic of early Rome. He was the son of Jupiter and Juno, and was pre-eminent among […]

Entry Mars (Folklore)
Description 

In ancient Roman religion and myth, Mars was the god of war and also an agricultural guardian, a combination characteristic of early Rome. He was the son of Jupiter and Juno, and was pre-eminent among […]

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Marya Morevna

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Category Marya Morevna
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Marya was a warrior queen who ruled a small kingdom and, for some 10 years, kept Koschei the Deathless a captive in her castle’s tower. She fell in love with Ivan Tsarevitch, and while she […]

Entry Marya Morevna
Description 

Marya was a warrior queen who ruled a small kingdom and, for some 10 years, kept Koschei the Deathless a captive in her castle’s tower. She fell in love with Ivan Tsarevitch, and while she […]

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Medea

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Category Medea
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In Greek mythology, Medea (perhaps implying “planner / schemer”) is the daughter of King Aeëtes of Colchis, a niece of Circe and the granddaughter of the sun god Helios. Medea figures in the myth of […]

Entry Medea
Description 

In Greek mythology, Medea (perhaps implying “planner / schemer”) is the daughter of King Aeëtes of Colchis, a niece of Circe and the granddaughter of the sun god Helios. Medea figures in the myth of […]

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Medusa

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Category Medusa
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In Greek mythology, Medusa, also called Gorgo, was one of the three monstrous Gorgons — Medusa, Stheno, and Euryale — generally described as winged human females with living venomous snakes in place of hair. Those […]

Entry Medusa
Description 

In Greek mythology, Medusa, also called Gorgo, was one of the three monstrous Gorgons — Medusa, Stheno, and Euryale — generally described as winged human females with living venomous snakes in place of hair. Those […]

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Mercury (Folklore)

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Category Mercury (Folklore)
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Mercury is a major god in Roman religion and mythology, being one of the 12 Dii Consentes within the ancient Roman pantheon. He is the god of financial gain, commerce, eloquence, messages, communication (including divination), […]

Entry Mercury (Folklore)
Description 

Mercury is a major god in Roman religion and mythology, being one of the 12 Dii Consentes within the ancient Roman pantheon. He is the god of financial gain, commerce, eloquence, messages, communication (including divination), […]

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Minerva (Folklore)

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Category Minerva (Folklore)
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Minerva is the Roman goddess of wisdom, justice, law, victory, and the sponsor of arts, trade, and strategy. She is also a goddess of warfare, though with a focus on strategic warfare, rather than the […]

Entry Minerva (Folklore)
Description 

Minerva is the Roman goddess of wisdom, justice, law, victory, and the sponsor of arts, trade, and strategy. She is also a goddess of warfare, though with a focus on strategic warfare, rather than the […]

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Minotaur

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Category Minotaur
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In Greek mythology, the Minotaur is a mythical creature portrayed during classical antiquity with the head and tail of a bull and the body of a man or, as described by Roman poet Ovid, a […]

Entry Minotaur
Description 

In Greek mythology, the Minotaur is a mythical creature portrayed during classical antiquity with the head and tail of a bull and the body of a man or, as described by Roman poet Ovid, a […]

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Mithras

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Category Mithras
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Mithraism, also known as the Mithraic mysteries or the Cult of Mithras, was a Roman mystery religion centered on the god Mithras. Although inspired by Iranian worship of the Zoroastrian divinity (yazata) Mithra, the Roman […]

Entry Mithras
Description 

Mithraism, also known as the Mithraic mysteries or the Cult of Mithras, was a Roman mystery religion centered on the god Mithras. Although inspired by Iranian worship of the Zoroastrian divinity (yazata) Mithra, the Roman […]

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Morpheus (Folklore)

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Category Morpheus (Folklore)
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Morpheus, or “Fashioner”, derived from the Ancient Greek meaning “form, shape”, is a god associated with sleep and dreams. In Ovid’s Metamorphoses he is the son of Somnus and appears in dreams in human form. […]

Entry Morpheus (Folklore)
Description 

Morpheus, or “Fashioner”, derived from the Ancient Greek meaning “form, shape”, is a god associated with sleep and dreams. In Ovid’s Metamorphoses he is the son of Somnus and appears in dreams in human form. […]

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Morrígan

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Category Morrígan
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The Morrígan or Mórrígan, also known as Morrígu, is a figure from Irish mythology. It has been translated as “great queen” or “phantom queen”. The Morrígan is mainly associated with war and fate, especially with […]

Entry Morrígan
Description 

The Morrígan or Mórrígan, also known as Morrígu, is a figure from Irish mythology. It has been translated as “great queen” or “phantom queen”. The Morrígan is mainly associated with war and fate, especially with […]

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Mu

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Category Mu
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Mu is a mythical lost continent introduced by Augustus Le Plongeon (1825–1908), who identified the “Land of Mu” with Atlantis. The name was subsequently identified with the hypothetical land of Lemuria by James Churchward (1851–1936), […]

Entry Mu
Description 

Mu is a mythical lost continent introduced by Augustus Le Plongeon (1825–1908), who identified the “Land of Mu” with Atlantis. The name was subsequently identified with the hypothetical land of Lemuria by James Churchward (1851–1936), […]

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Nausicaa

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Category Nausicaa
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Nausicaa, also spelled Nausicaä or Nausikaa, is a character in Homer’s Odyssey. She is the daughter of King Alcinous and Queen Arete of Phaeacia. Her name means “burner of ships”. In Book Six of the […]

Entry Nausicaa
Description 

Nausicaa, also spelled Nausicaä or Nausikaa, is a character in Homer’s Odyssey. She is the daughter of King Alcinous and Queen Arete of Phaeacia. Her name means “burner of ships”. In Book Six of the […]

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Neptune

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Category Neptune
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Neptune is the god of freshwater and the sea in Roman religion. He is the counterpart of the Greek god Poseidon. In the Greek tradition, he is a brother of Jupiter and Pluto; the brothers […]

Entry Neptune
Description 

Neptune is the god of freshwater and the sea in Roman religion. He is the counterpart of the Greek god Poseidon. In the Greek tradition, he is a brother of Jupiter and Pluto; the brothers […]

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Nestor

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Category Nestor
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In Greek mythology, Nestor of Gerenia was a legendary king of Pylos. He is a prominent secondary character in Homer’s Iliad and Odyssey, where he appears as an elderly warrior who frequently offers advice to […]

Entry Nestor
Description 

In Greek mythology, Nestor of Gerenia was a legendary king of Pylos. He is a prominent secondary character in Homer’s Iliad and Odyssey, where he appears as an elderly warrior who frequently offers advice to […]

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Norns

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Category Norns
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The Norns are deities in Norse mythology responsible for shaping the course of human destinies. In the Völuspá, the three primary Norns Urðr (Wyrd), Verðandi, and Skuld draw water from Urðarbrunnr to nourish Yggdrasill, the […]

Entry Norns
Description 

The Norns are deities in Norse mythology responsible for shaping the course of human destinies. In the Völuspá, the three primary Norns Urðr (Wyrd), Verðandi, and Skuld draw water from Urðarbrunnr to nourish Yggdrasill, the […]

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Nyx

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Category Nyx
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Nyx (“Night”) is the Greek goddess and personification of night. A shadowy figure, Nyx stood at or near the beginning of creation and mothered other personified deities, such as Hypnos (Sleep) and Thanatos (Death), with […]

Entry Nyx
Description 

Nyx (“Night”) is the Greek goddess and personification of night. A shadowy figure, Nyx stood at or near the beginning of creation and mothered other personified deities, such as Hypnos (Sleep) and Thanatos (Death), with […]

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Odin

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Category Odin
Includes 

Odin is a widely revered god in Germanic paganism. Norse mythology, the source of most surviving information about him, associates him with wisdom, healing, death, royalty, the gallows, knowledge, war, battle, victory, sorcery, poetry, frenzy, […]

Entry Odin
Description 

Odin is a widely revered god in Germanic paganism. Norse mythology, the source of most surviving information about him, associates him with wisdom, healing, death, royalty, the gallows, knowledge, war, battle, victory, sorcery, poetry, frenzy, […]

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Odysseus

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Category Odysseus
Includes 

In Greek and Roman mythology, Odysseus, also known by the Latin variant Ulysses, is a legendary Greek king of Ithaca and the hero of Homer’s epic poem, the Odyssey. Odysseus also plays a key role […]

Entry Odysseus
Description 

In Greek and Roman mythology, Odysseus, also known by the Latin variant Ulysses, is a legendary Greek king of Ithaca and the hero of Homer’s epic poem, the Odyssey. Odysseus also plays a key role […]

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Old Man Winter

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Category Old Man Winter
Includes 

Old Man Winter is a personification of winter. The name is a colloquialism for the winter season derived from ancient Greek mythology and Old World pagan beliefs evolving into modern characters in both literature and […]

Entry Old Man Winter
Description 

Old Man Winter is a personification of winter. The name is a colloquialism for the winter season derived from ancient Greek mythology and Old World pagan beliefs evolving into modern characters in both literature and […]

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Orpheus (Folklore)

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Category Orpheus (Folklore)
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In Greek mythology, Orpheus was a Thracian bard, legendary musician and prophet. He was also a renowned poet and, according to legend, travelled with Jason and the Argonauts in search of the Golden Fleece, and […]

Entry Orpheus (Folklore)
Description 

In Greek mythology, Orpheus was a Thracian bard, legendary musician and prophet. He was also a renowned poet and, according to legend, travelled with Jason and the Argonauts in search of the Golden Fleece, and […]

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Otsuji

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Category Otsuji
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In the Kabuki version of the story, Gentazaemon arranged for Botaro to be sent to a remote temple where he intended to have him killed. Botaro’s nurse, Otsuji, was aware of the danger but could […]

Entry Otsuji
Description 

In the Kabuki version of the story, Gentazaemon arranged for Botaro to be sent to a remote temple where he intended to have him killed. Botaro’s nurse, Otsuji, was aware of the danger but could […]

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Otsuyu

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Category Otsuyu
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In the Kabuki version of a Japanese ghost story (kaidan), a young student named Saburo falls in love with a beautiful woman named Otsuyu, the daughter of his father’s best friend. They meet secretly, and […]

Entry Otsuyu
Description 

In the Kabuki version of a Japanese ghost story (kaidan), a young student named Saburo falls in love with a beautiful woman named Otsuyu, the daughter of his father’s best friend. They meet secretly, and […]

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Pan (Folklore)

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Category Pan (Folklore)
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In ancient Greek religion and mythology, Pan is the god of the wild, shepherds and flocks, rustic music and impromptus, and companion of the nymphs. He has the hindquarters, legs, and horns of a goat, […]

Entry Pan (Folklore)
Description 

In ancient Greek religion and mythology, Pan is the god of the wild, shepherds and flocks, rustic music and impromptus, and companion of the nymphs. He has the hindquarters, legs, and horns of a goat, […]

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Pandora (Folklore)

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Category Pandora (Folklore)
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In Greek mythology, Pandora was the first human woman created by Hephaestus on the instructions of Zeus. As Hesiod related it, each god cooperated by giving her unique gifts. Her other name—inscribed against her figure […]

Entry Pandora (Folklore)
Description 

In Greek mythology, Pandora was the first human woman created by Hephaestus on the instructions of Zeus. As Hesiod related it, each god cooperated by giving her unique gifts. Her other name—inscribed against her figure […]

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Paris of Troy

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Category Paris of Troy
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Paris of Troy is a mythological figure in the story of the Trojan War. He appears in numerous Greek legends and works of Ancient Greek literature such as the Iliad. In myth, he is prince […]

Entry Paris of Troy
Description 

Paris of Troy is a mythological figure in the story of the Trojan War. He appears in numerous Greek legends and works of Ancient Greek literature such as the Iliad. In myth, he is prince […]

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Paul Bunyan and Babe the Blue Ox (Folk Legend)

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Category Paul Bunyan and Babe the Blue Ox (Folk Legend)
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Paul Bunyan is a giant lumberjack and folk hero in American and Canadian folklore. His exploits revolve around the tall tales of his superhuman labors, and he is customarily accompanied by Babe the Blue Ox. […]

Entry Paul Bunyan and Babe the Blue Ox (Folk Legend)
Description 

Paul Bunyan is a giant lumberjack and folk hero in American and Canadian folklore. His exploits revolve around the tall tales of his superhuman labors, and he is customarily accompanied by Babe the Blue Ox. […]

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Pele

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Category Pele
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In Hawaiian religion, Pele (pronounced [ˈpɛlɛ]) is the goddess of volcanoes and fire and the creator of the Hawaiian Islands. Often referred to as “Madame Pele” or “Tūtū Pele” as a sign of respect, she […]

Entry Pele
Description 

In Hawaiian religion, Pele (pronounced [ˈpɛlɛ]) is the goddess of volcanoes and fire and the creator of the Hawaiian Islands. Often referred to as “Madame Pele” or “Tūtū Pele” as a sign of respect, she […]

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Penelope

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Category Penelope
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Penelope is a character in Homer’s Odyssey. She was the queen of Ithaca and was the daughter of Spartan king Icarius and Asterodia. Penelope is known for her fidelity to her husband Odysseus, despite the […]

Entry Penelope
Description 

Penelope is a character in Homer’s Odyssey. She was the queen of Ithaca and was the daughter of Spartan king Icarius and Asterodia. Penelope is known for her fidelity to her husband Odysseus, despite the […]

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Père Fouettard

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Category Père Fouettard
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Père Fouettard, French for “Father Whipper” or “Old Man Whipper”, is a character who accompanies Saint Nicholas on his rounds during Saint Nicholas Day (6 December) dispensing lumps of coal and/or beatings to naughty children […]

Entry Père Fouettard
Description 

Père Fouettard, French for “Father Whipper” or “Old Man Whipper”, is a character who accompanies Saint Nicholas on his rounds during Saint Nicholas Day (6 December) dispensing lumps of coal and/or beatings to naughty children […]

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Persephone (Folklore)

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Category Persephone (Folklore)
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In ancient Greek mythology and religion, Persephone, also called Kore or Cora, is the daughter of Zeus and Demeter. She became the queen of the underworld after her abduction by her uncle Hades, the king […]

Entry Persephone (Folklore)
Description 

In ancient Greek mythology and religion, Persephone, also called Kore or Cora, is the daughter of Zeus and Demeter. She became the queen of the underworld after her abduction by her uncle Hades, the king […]

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Perseus (Folklore)

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Category Perseus (Folklore)
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In Greek mythology, Perseus is the legendary founder of the Perseid dynasty. He was, alongside Cadmus and Bellerophon, the greatest Greek hero and slayer of monsters before the days of Heracles. He beheaded the Gorgon […]

Entry Perseus (Folklore)
Description 

In Greek mythology, Perseus is the legendary founder of the Perseid dynasty. He was, alongside Cadmus and Bellerophon, the greatest Greek hero and slayer of monsters before the days of Heracles. He beheaded the Gorgon […]

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Pied Piper (Legend)

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Category Pied Piper (Legend)
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The Pied Piper of Hamelin (also known as the Pan Piper or the Rat-Catcher of Hamelin) is the title character of a legend from the town of Hamelin (Hameln), Lower Saxony, Germany. The legend dates […]

Entry Pied Piper (Legend)
Description 

The Pied Piper of Hamelin (also known as the Pan Piper or the Rat-Catcher of Hamelin) is the title character of a legend from the town of Hamelin (Hameln), Lower Saxony, Germany. The legend dates […]

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Pluto (Folklore)

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Category Pluto (Folklore)
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In ancient Greek religion and mythology, Pluto was the ruler of the Greek underworld. The earlier name for the god was Hades, which became more common as the name of the underworld itself. Pluto represents […]

Entry Pluto (Folklore)
Description 

In ancient Greek religion and mythology, Pluto was the ruler of the Greek underworld. The earlier name for the god was Hades, which became more common as the name of the underworld itself. Pluto represents […]

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Poseidon

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Category Poseidon
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Poseidon is one of the twelve Olympians in ancient Greek religion and mythology, presiding over the sea, storms, earthquakes and horses. He was the protector of seafarers and the guardian of many Hellenic cities and […]

Entry Poseidon
Description 

Poseidon is one of the twelve Olympians in ancient Greek religion and mythology, presiding over the sea, storms, earthquakes and horses. He was the protector of seafarers and the guardian of many Hellenic cities and […]

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Prometheus (Folklore)

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Category Prometheus (Folklore)
Includes 

In Greek mythology, Prometheus is a Titan. He is best known for defying the Olympian gods by taking fire from them and giving it to humanity in the form of technology, knowledge and, more generally, […]

Entry Prometheus (Folklore)
Description 

In Greek mythology, Prometheus is a Titan. He is best known for defying the Olympian gods by taking fire from them and giving it to humanity in the form of technology, knowledge and, more generally, […]

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Proteus

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Category Proteus
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In Greek mythology, Proteus is an early prophetic sea god or god of rivers and oceanic bodies of water, one of several deities whom Homer calls the “Old Man of the Sea” (hálios gérôn). Some […]

Entry Proteus
Description 

In Greek mythology, Proteus is an early prophetic sea god or god of rivers and oceanic bodies of water, one of several deities whom Homer calls the “Old Man of the Sea” (hálios gérôn). Some […]

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Psyche (Folklore)

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Category Psyche (Folklore)
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Psyche is the Greek goddess of the soul and often represented as a beautiful woman with butterfly wings. The name Psyche means “soul” in Greek and was commonly referred to as such in Roman mythology […]

Entry Psyche (Folklore)
Description 

Psyche is the Greek goddess of the soul and often represented as a beautiful woman with butterfly wings. The name Psyche means “soul” in Greek and was commonly referred to as such in Roman mythology […]

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Puck (Folklore)

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Category Puck (Folklore)
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In English folklore, Puck, sometimes known as Robin Goodfellow, is a domestic and nature sprite, demon, or fairy. According to Brewer’s Dictionary of Phrase and Fable (1898), “[Robin Goodfellow is a] ‘drudging fiend’, and merry […]

Entry Puck (Folklore)
Description 

In English folklore, Puck, sometimes known as Robin Goodfellow, is a domestic and nature sprite, demon, or fairy. According to Brewer’s Dictionary of Phrase and Fable (1898), “[Robin Goodfellow is a] ‘drudging fiend’, and merry […]

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Pygmalion (Folklore)

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Category Pygmalion (Folklore)
Includes 

In Greek mythology, Pygmalion was a legendary figure of Cyprus. In book 10 of Ovid’s Metamorphoses, Pygmalion was a Cypriot sculptor who carved a woman out of ivory alabaster. Post-classical sources name her Galatea. According […]

Entry Pygmalion (Folklore)
Description 

In Greek mythology, Pygmalion was a legendary figure of Cyprus. In book 10 of Ovid’s Metamorphoses, Pygmalion was a Cypriot sculptor who carved a woman out of ivory alabaster. Post-classical sources name her Galatea. According […]

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Pythia

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Category Pythia
Includes 

Pythia was the name of the high priestess of the Temple of Apollo at Delphi. She specifically served as its oracle and was known as the Oracle of Delphi. Her title was also historically glossed […]

Entry Pythia
Description 

Pythia was the name of the high priestess of the Temple of Apollo at Delphi. She specifically served as its oracle and was known as the Oracle of Delphi. Her title was also historically glossed […]

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Quetzalcoatl

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Category Quetzalcoatl
Includes 

The Feathered Serpent was a prominent supernatural entity or deity, found in many Mesoamerican religions. It is still called Quetzalcoatl among the Aztecs, Kukulkan among the Yucatec Maya, and Q’uq’umatz and Tohil among the K’iche’ […]

Entry Quetzalcoatl
Description 

The Feathered Serpent was a prominent supernatural entity or deity, found in many Mesoamerican religions. It is still called Quetzalcoatl among the Aztecs, Kukulkan among the Yucatec Maya, and Q’uq’umatz and Tohil among the K’iche’ […]

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Raijin

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Category Raijin
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Raijin is a god of lightning, thunder, and storms in Japanese mythology and the Shinto and buddhism religion. He is typically depicted with fierce and aggressive facial expressions, standing atop a cloud, beating on den-den […]

Entry Raijin
Description 

Raijin is a god of lightning, thunder, and storms in Japanese mythology and the Shinto and buddhism religion. He is typically depicted with fierce and aggressive facial expressions, standing atop a cloud, beating on den-den […]

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Raven (Folklore)

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Category Raven (Folklore)
Includes 

Many references to ravens exist in world lore and literature. Most depictions allude to the appearance and behavior of the wide-ranging common raven (Corvus corax). Because of its black plumage, croaking call, and diet of […]

Entry Raven (Folklore)
Description 

Many references to ravens exist in world lore and literature. Most depictions allude to the appearance and behavior of the wide-ranging common raven (Corvus corax). Because of its black plumage, croaking call, and diet of […]

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Sand Man

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Category Sand Man
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The Sandman is a mythical character in European folklore who puts people to sleep and encourages and inspires beautiful dreams by sprinkling magical sand onto their eyes. The grit or “sleep” (rheum) in one’s eyes […]

Entry Sand Man
Description 

The Sandman is a mythical character in European folklore who puts people to sleep and encourages and inspires beautiful dreams by sprinkling magical sand onto their eyes. The grit or “sleep” (rheum) in one’s eyes […]

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Sarpedon

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Category Sarpedon
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In Greek mythology, Sarpedon was a son of Zeus, who fought on the side of Troy in the Trojan War. Although in the Iliad, he was the son of Zeus and Laodamia, the daughter of […]

Entry Sarpedon
Description 

In Greek mythology, Sarpedon was a son of Zeus, who fought on the side of Troy in the Trojan War. Although in the Iliad, he was the son of Zeus and Laodamia, the daughter of […]

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Shamhat

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Category Shamhat
Includes 

Gilgamesh, Enkidu, Shamhat, and Humbaba were characters in ancient Mesopotamian mythology and the Epic of Gilgamesh, an epic poem written in Akkadian during the late 2nd millennium BC. Gilgamesh was possibly a historical king of […]

Entry Shamhat
Description 

Gilgamesh, Enkidu, Shamhat, and Humbaba were characters in ancient Mesopotamian mythology and the Epic of Gilgamesh, an epic poem written in Akkadian during the late 2nd millennium BC. Gilgamesh was possibly a historical king of […]

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Shoki, The Demon Queller

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Category Shoki, The Demon Queller
Includes 

Zhong Kui is a Taoist deity in Chinese mythology, traditionally regarded as a vanquisher of ghosts and evil beings. He is depicted as a large man with a big black beard, bulging eyes, and a […]

Entry Shoki, The Demon Queller
Description 

Zhong Kui is a Taoist deity in Chinese mythology, traditionally regarded as a vanquisher of ghosts and evil beings. He is depicted as a large man with a big black beard, bulging eyes, and a […]

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Sigurd

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Category Sigurd
Includes 

Sigurd or Siegfried is a legendary hero of Germanic heroic legend, who killed a dragon and was later murdered. The so-called Prose Edda of Snorri Sturluson is the earliest non-pictorial attestation of the Scandinavian version […]

Entry Sigurd
Description 

Sigurd or Siegfried is a legendary hero of Germanic heroic legend, who killed a dragon and was later murdered. The so-called Prose Edda of Snorri Sturluson is the earliest non-pictorial attestation of the Scandinavian version […]

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Siren

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Category Siren
Includes 

In Greek mythology, the sirens were human-like beings with alluring voices; they appear in a scene in the Odyssey in which Odysseus saves his crew’s lives. Roman poets placed them on some small islands called […]

Entry Siren
Description 

In Greek mythology, the sirens were human-like beings with alluring voices; they appear in a scene in the Odyssey in which Odysseus saves his crew’s lives. Roman poets placed them on some small islands called […]

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Skinwalker

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Category Skinwalker
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In Navajo culture, a skin-walker (Navajo: yee naaldlooshii) is a type of harmful witch who has the ability to turn into, possess, or disguise themselves as an animal. The term is never used for healers. […]

Entry Skinwalker
Description 

In Navajo culture, a skin-walker (Navajo: yee naaldlooshii) is a type of harmful witch who has the ability to turn into, possess, or disguise themselves as an animal. The term is never used for healers. […]

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Sphinx

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Category Sphinx
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A sphinx is a mythical creature with the head of a human, the body of a lion, and the wings of a falcon. In Greek tradition, she is mythicized as treacherous and merciless, and will […]

Entry Sphinx
Description 

A sphinx is a mythical creature with the head of a human, the body of a lion, and the wings of a falcon. In Greek tradition, she is mythicized as treacherous and merciless, and will […]

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Succubus

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Category Succubus
Includes 

A succubus is a demon or supernatural entity in folklore, in female form, that appears in dreams to seduce men, usually through sexual activity. According to religious tradition, a succubus needs male semen to survive; […]

Entry Succubus
Description 

A succubus is a demon or supernatural entity in folklore, in female form, that appears in dreams to seduce men, usually through sexual activity. According to religious tradition, a succubus needs male semen to survive; […]

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Susanoo-no-Mikoto

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Category Susanoo-no-Mikoto
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Susanoo, often referred to by the honorific title Susanoo-no-Mikoto, is a kami in Japanese mythology. The younger brother of Amaterasu, goddess of the sun and mythical ancestress of the Japanese imperial line, he is a […]

Entry Susanoo-no-Mikoto
Description 

Susanoo, often referred to by the honorific title Susanoo-no-Mikoto, is a kami in Japanese mythology. The younger brother of Amaterasu, goddess of the sun and mythical ancestress of the Japanese imperial line, he is a […]

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Tai Sui Gods

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Category Tai Sui Gods
Includes 

The classic Chinese novel Investiture of the Gods (also commonly known as Fengshen Yanyi) contains a register of deities. According to Fengshen Yanyi, Yuanshi Tianzun (“Primeval Lord of Heaven”) bestows upon Jiang Ziya the Fengshen […]

Entry Tai Sui Gods
Description 

The classic Chinese novel Investiture of the Gods (also commonly known as Fengshen Yanyi) contains a register of deities. According to Fengshen Yanyi, Yuanshi Tianzun (“Primeval Lord of Heaven”) bestows upon Jiang Ziya the Fengshen […]

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Talos

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Category Talos
Includes 

As Adrienne Mayor, a classicist at Stanford University, argues in her 2018 book Gods and Robots: Myths, Machines and Ancient Dreams of Technology, “Long before the clockwork contraptions of the Middle Ages and the [automatons] […]

Entry Talos
Description 

As Adrienne Mayor, a classicist at Stanford University, argues in her 2018 book Gods and Robots: Myths, Machines and Ancient Dreams of Technology, “Long before the clockwork contraptions of the Middle Ages and the [automatons] […]

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Tamamo no Mae

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Category Tamamo no Mae
Includes 

Stories of Tamamo-no-Mae being a legendary kitsune fox spirit appear during the Muromachi period as otogizōshi (prose narratives), and were also mentioned by Toriyama Sekien in Konjaku Hyakki Shūi. Edo period folklore then conflated the […]

Entry Tamamo no Mae
Description 

Stories of Tamamo-no-Mae being a legendary kitsune fox spirit appear during the Muromachi period as otogizōshi (prose narratives), and were also mentioned by Toriyama Sekien in Konjaku Hyakki Shūi. Edo period folklore then conflated the […]

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Telemachus

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Category Telemachus
Includes 

In Greek mythology, Telemachus is the son of Odysseus and Penelope, who are central characters in Homer’s Odyssey. When Telemachus reached manhood, he visited Pylos and Sparta in search of his wandering father. On his […]

Entry Telemachus
Description 

In Greek mythology, Telemachus is the son of Odysseus and Penelope, who are central characters in Homer’s Odyssey. When Telemachus reached manhood, he visited Pylos and Sparta in search of his wandering father. On his […]

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Tengu of Mount Hiko

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Category Tengu of Mount Hiko
Includes 

The tengu in art appears in a variety of shapes. It usually falls somewhere in between a large, monstrous bird and a wholly anthropomorphized being, often with a red face or an unusually large or […]

Entry Tengu of Mount Hiko
Description 

The tengu in art appears in a variety of shapes. It usually falls somewhere in between a large, monstrous bird and a wholly anthropomorphized being, often with a red face or an unusually large or […]

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Theseus

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Category Theseus
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Theseus was the mythical king and founder-hero of Athens. The myths surrounding Theseus, his journeys, exploits, and friends, have provided material for fiction throughout the ages. Theseus is sometimes described as the son of Aegeus, […]

Entry Theseus
Description 

Theseus was the mythical king and founder-hero of Athens. The myths surrounding Theseus, his journeys, exploits, and friends, have provided material for fiction throughout the ages. Theseus is sometimes described as the son of Aegeus, […]

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Thetis

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Category Thetis
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Thetis is a figure from Greek mythology with varying mythological roles. She mainly appears as a sea nymph, a goddess of water, and one of the 50 Nereids, daughters of the ancient sea god Nereus. […]

Entry Thetis
Description 

Thetis is a figure from Greek mythology with varying mythological roles. She mainly appears as a sea nymph, a goddess of water, and one of the 50 Nereids, daughters of the ancient sea god Nereus. […]

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Thor (Norse God)

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Category Thor (Norse God)
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Thor is a prominent god in Germanic paganism. In Norse mythology, he is a hammer-wielding god associated with lightning, thunder, storms, sacred groves and trees, strength, the protection of humankind, hallowing, and fertility. Thor is […]

Entry Thor (Norse God)
Description 

Thor is a prominent god in Germanic paganism. In Norse mythology, he is a hammer-wielding god associated with lightning, thunder, storms, sacred groves and trees, strength, the protection of humankind, hallowing, and fertility. Thor is […]

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Trojan Horse

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Category Trojan Horse
Includes 

In Greek mythology, the Trojan Horse was a wooden horse said to have been used by the Greeks during the Trojan War to enter the city of Troy and win the war. The Trojan Horse […]

Entry Trojan Horse
Description 

In Greek mythology, the Trojan Horse was a wooden horse said to have been used by the Greeks during the Trojan War to enter the city of Troy and win the war. The Trojan Horse […]

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Twelve Olympians

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Category Twelve Olympians
Includes 

In ancient Greek religion and mythology, the twelve Olympians are the major deities of the Greek pantheon, commonly considered to be Zeus, Poseidon, Hera, Demeter, Aphrodite, Athena, Artemis, Apollo, Ares, Hephaestus, Hermes, and either Hestia […]

Entry Twelve Olympians
Description 

In ancient Greek religion and mythology, the twelve Olympians are the major deities of the Greek pantheon, commonly considered to be Zeus, Poseidon, Hera, Demeter, Aphrodite, Athena, Artemis, Apollo, Ares, Hephaestus, Hermes, and either Hestia […]

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Unicorn

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Category Unicorn
Includes 

The unicorn is a legendary creature that has been described since antiquity as a beast with a single large, pointed, spiraling horn projecting from its forehead. In European literature and art, the unicorn has for […]

Entry Unicorn
Description 

The unicorn is a legendary creature that has been described since antiquity as a beast with a single large, pointed, spiraling horn projecting from its forehead. In European literature and art, the unicorn has for […]

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Ushi-oni

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Category Ushi-oni
Includes 

The ushi-oni (牛鬼, ox oni; ox demon), or gyūki, is a yōkai from the folklore of western Japan.[1] The folklore describes more than one kind of ushi-oni, but the depiction of a bovine-headed monster occurs […]

Entry Ushi-oni
Description 

The ushi-oni (牛鬼, ox oni; ox demon), or gyūki, is a yōkai from the folklore of western Japan.[1] The folklore describes more than one kind of ushi-oni, but the depiction of a bovine-headed monster occurs […]

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Utnapishtim

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Category Utnapishtim
Includes 

Uta-napishtim or Utnapishtim (Akkadian: “he has found life”) was a legendary king of the ancient city of Shuruppak in southern Iraq, who, according to the Gilgamesh flood myth, one of several similar narratives, survived the […]

Entry Utnapishtim
Description 

Uta-napishtim or Utnapishtim (Akkadian: “he has found life”) was a legendary king of the ancient city of Shuruppak in southern Iraq, who, according to the Gilgamesh flood myth, one of several similar narratives, survived the […]

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Vampires

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Category Vampires
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A vampire is a mythical creature that subsists by feeding on the vital essence (generally in the form of blood) of the living. In European folklore, vampires are undead humanoid creatures that often visited loved […]

Entry Vampires
Description 

A vampire is a mythical creature that subsists by feeding on the vital essence (generally in the form of blood) of the living. In European folklore, vampires are undead humanoid creatures that often visited loved […]

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Vasilisa the Beautiful

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Category Vasilisa the Beautiful
Includes 

Vasilisa the Beautiful, or Vasilisa the Fair, is a Russian fairy tale collected by Alexander Afanasyev in Narodnye russkie skazki. Before she died, the mother of Vasilisa gave her daughter a magical Montaka doll. Whatever […]

Entry Vasilisa the Beautiful
Description 

Vasilisa the Beautiful, or Vasilisa the Fair, is a Russian fairy tale collected by Alexander Afanasyev in Narodnye russkie skazki. Before she died, the mother of Vasilisa gave her daughter a magical Montaka doll. Whatever […]

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Venus (Folklore)

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Category Venus (Folklore)
Includes 

Venus is a Roman goddess, whose functions encompass love, beauty, desire, sex, fertility, prosperity, and victory. In Roman mythology, she was the ancestor of the Roman people through her son, Aeneas, who survived the fall […]

Entry Venus (Folklore)
Description 

Venus is a Roman goddess, whose functions encompass love, beauty, desire, sex, fertility, prosperity, and victory. In Roman mythology, she was the ancestor of the Roman people through her son, Aeneas, who survived the fall […]

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Wandering Jew

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Category Wandering Jew
Includes 

The Wandering Jew is a mythical immortal man whose legend began to spread in Europe in the 13th century. In the original legend, a Jew who taunted Jesus on the way to the Crucifixion was […]

Entry Wandering Jew
Description 

The Wandering Jew is a mythical immortal man whose legend began to spread in Europe in the 13th century. In the original legend, a Jew who taunted Jesus on the way to the Crucifixion was […]

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Weaver Maiden

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Category Weaver Maiden
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The Cowherd and the Weaver Girl are characters found in Chinese mythology and appear eponymously in a romantic Chinese folk tale. The story tells of the romance between Zhinü (織女; the weaver girl, symbolized by […]

Entry Weaver Maiden
Description 

The Cowherd and the Weaver Girl are characters found in Chinese mythology and appear eponymously in a romantic Chinese folk tale. The story tells of the romance between Zhinü (織女; the weaver girl, symbolized by […]

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Wotan

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Category Wotan
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Wotan is the King of the Gods in Richard Wagner’s opera Der Ring des Nibelungen (The Ring of the Nibelung), a cycle of four German-language epic music dramas: Das Rheingold (The Rhinegold), Die Walküre (The […]

Entry Wotan
Description 

Wotan is the King of the Gods in Richard Wagner’s opera Der Ring des Nibelungen (The Ring of the Nibelung), a cycle of four German-language epic music dramas: Das Rheingold (The Rhinegold), Die Walküre (The […]

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Xanthos

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Category Xanthos
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Balius and Xanthus were, according to Greek mythology, two immortal horses, the offspring of the harpy Podarge and the West wind, Zephyrus. Book 16 of the Iliad tells us that Achilles had a third horse, […]

Entry Xanthos
Description 

Balius and Xanthus were, according to Greek mythology, two immortal horses, the offspring of the harpy Podarge and the West wind, Zephyrus. Book 16 of the Iliad tells us that Achilles had a third horse, […]

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Yeti

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Category Yeti
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The Yeti is an ape-like creature purported to inhabit the Himalayan mountain range in Asia. In western popular culture, the creature is commonly referred to as the Abominable Snowman. Many dubious articles have been offered […]

Entry Yeti
Description 

The Yeti is an ape-like creature purported to inhabit the Himalayan mountain range in Asia. In western popular culture, the creature is commonly referred to as the Abominable Snowman. Many dubious articles have been offered […]

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Yokai (Folklore)

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Category Yokai (Folklore)
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Yōkai (“strange apparition”) are a class of supernatural entities and spirits in Japanese folklore. The word yōkai is composed of the kanji for “attractive; calamity” and “apparition; mystery; suspicious.” Yōkai are also referred to as […]

Entry Yokai (Folklore)
Description 

Yōkai (“strange apparition”) are a class of supernatural entities and spirits in Japanese folklore. The word yōkai is composed of the kanji for “attractive; calamity” and “apparition; mystery; suspicious.” Yōkai are also referred to as […]

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Yugao

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Category Yugao
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Yugao is a Noh play, sometimes attributed to Zeami, based on the story of Yūgao (Lady Moonflower) from the Tale of Genji. A travelling priest is drawn to the decayed villa where Yūgao had died. […]

Entry Yugao
Description 

Yugao is a Noh play, sometimes attributed to Zeami, based on the story of Yūgao (Lady Moonflower) from the Tale of Genji. A travelling priest is drawn to the decayed villa where Yūgao had died. […]

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Zeus

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Category Zeus
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Zeus is the sky and thunder god in ancient Greek religion, who rules as king of the gods on Mount Olympus. His name is cognate with the first element of his Roman equivalent Jupiter. His […]

Entry Zeus
Description 

Zeus is the sky and thunder god in ancient Greek religion, who rules as king of the gods on Mount Olympus. His name is cognate with the first element of his Roman equivalent Jupiter. His […]