An introduction to some of the most interesting characters, creatures, and monsters from Welsh folklore and mythology.

Overview. The Khasi people live primarily in Meghalaya state in India and also in the neighboring nation of Bangladesh. The stories in Folktales of the Khasis were collected in the early 20th century and cover a wide range of topics. You will find animal legends here about tigers, monkeys, lynxes, and more, and there are also origin stories about the animals such as how the dog and the cat came to live with man, and how the ox and the goat were domesticated. There are tales of cosmic creation that explain what makes the lightning and where the dark spots on the moon come from, and you will also get to meet some of the gods and goddesses of the Khasi religion, including the twin goddesses Ka Ngot and Ka Iam who give their names to the river Ngot and the river Iam, and the mysterious culture-hero U Biskurom who, long ago, dwelt with the people of the earth and taught them wisdom. Language. These folktales are told in contemporary English, so the language used should not pose any problems. Story Length. This unit contains only single-page stories. Navigation. You will find the table of contents below, and you can also use this link to see the story posts displayed on a single page: Khasi Folktales. READING A: The Tiger and the Monkeys The Legend of the Iei Tree Hunting the Stag Lapalang The Goddesses Ka Ngot and Ka Iam U Biskurom How the Dog Came to live with Man The Stag and the Snail READING B: The Leap of Ka Likai What caused the Shadows on the Moon U Ksuid Tynjang What makes the Lightning Ka Panshandi, the Lazy Tortoise How the Cat came to live with Man How the Tiger got his Strength Why the Goat lives with Mankind How the Ox came to be the Servant of Man (Khasi musician)

We know that for everything good that God puts forth on the earth and in the heavens, the Enemy has a counterfeit to entice and deceive God's people. We see the symbolism of various gods in our everyday life, that have become normal and routine, but the spiritual nature of these symbols, and the ungodly element that created them is still at their core. So, when we promote this symbolism through what we allow into our homes and lives, we are in essence promoting the Enemy, and giving him status above anything Godly that we have. This is a simple comparison of the Roman/Greek gods that were hindrances to God's people all throughout Scripture, and continues to do the same today. Apollo/Apollo god of music, poetry, art, oracles, archery, plague, medicine, the sun, light and knowledge symbols lyre, laurel wreath, python, raven, bow and arrows Scriptural equivalent Lucifer/Satan Scriptural attributes a god who could bring ill-health and deadly plague, dominion over colonists (ancient colonists: city-states founded from a mother-city (its "metropolis"), patron defender of herds and flocks, director of their choir, patron god of music and poetry chapter/verse Isaiah 14/Ezek 28/Job 1&2 Bacchus, Liber/Dionysus god of the grape harvest, wine making, wine, ritual madness, religious ecstasy, fertility and theatre. symbols thyrsus ( a wand or staff of giant fennel covered with ivy vines and leaves, sometimes wound with taeniae(ribbon or headband) and always topped with a pine cone), grapevine, leopard skin, panther,cheetah Scriptural equivalent Yeshua HaMashiach Scriptural attributes only god to have a mortal mother; a dying-and-rising god refers to a deity which returns, is resurrected or is reborn, i.e. death-rebirth-deity Ceres/Demeter goddess of agriculture, fertility, sacred law and the harvest, and the cycle of life and death symbols cornucopia, wheat, torch, bread Scriptural equivalent Moses Scriptural attributes divine order, unwritten law; “Law Bringer" Caelus/Uranus primordial god of the sky symbols none Scriptural equivalent fallen angels / watchers / prince of the power of the air Scriptural attributes Uranus was a parent of the first generation of Titans (giants/Nephilim), and the ancestors of most of the Greek gods. Represents the earth, sky and Styx/Hades (hell) chapter/verse Gen 10:8-10, Eph 2:2 Cupid/Eros god of sexual desire and attraction, god of romantic love (emphasis on roman) symbols bow, arrows, candles, hearts, cupids, wings and kisses/adult male who embodies sexual power Scriptural equivalent the actions of fallen angels Scriptural attributes mischievous interventions in the affairs of gods and mortals cause bonds of love to form, often illicitly chapter/verse Gen 6:2,4 Diana/Artemis (mentioned in Acts 19:35) goddess of the hunt, forests and hills, the moon, archery symbols bow, arrows, stags, hunting dog and moon Scriptural equivalent Mary, mother of Jesus/the Hebrew people as a whole Scriptural attributes Hellenic goddess of the hunt, wild animals, wilderness, childbirth, virginity and protector of young girls, bringing and relieving disease in women; she often was depicted as a huntress carrying a bow and arrows. The deer and the cypress were sacred to her; aided childbirth. Worshiped as Mother Nature. chapter/verse Luke 1 Hercules/Heracles god of heroes, sports, athletes, health, agriculture, fertility, trade, oracles and divine protector of mankind, gatekeeper of Olympus (heaven/garden of Eden) symbols Club, Nemean Lion (a vicious monster in Greek mythology, could not be killed with mortals' weapons) bow and arrows Scriptural equivalent King David Scriptural attributes greatest of the Greek heroes, a paragon of masculinity, extraordinary strength, courage, ingenuity, and sexual prowess with both males and females; used his wits on several occasions when his strength did not suffice, such as when laboring for the king, wrestling the giant, or tricking Atlas into taking the sky back onto his shoulders; regarded as a playful figure who used games to relax from his labors and played a great deal with children. By conquering dangerous archaic forces he is said to have "made the world safe for mankind" and to be its benefactor chapter/verse:1 Sam 18:25, 1 Sam 24:4, 1 Sam 17:49, 1 Sam 16:1, 1 Sam 13:14, 2 Sam 21:17, 2 Sam 11:2 Juno/Hera goddess of women, marriage, birth; queen of the gods, known as the matron goddess symbols pomegranate, peacock feather, diadem (a type of crown), cow, lily, lotus, cuckoo, panther, scepter, throne, lion Scriptural equivalent attribute of Yahweh, being Jealous Scriptural attributes known for her jealous and vengeful nature chapter/verse Ex 34:14 Jupiter/Zeus (mentioned in Acts 14:12-13, 19:35) god of the daytime sky, father of gods and men, god of the sky, lightning, thunder, law, order, justice symbols thunderbolt, eagle, bull, and oak Scriptural equivalent Elohim, creator, sovereignty Scriptural attributes the king of the gods, who oversaw the universe, king in heaven chapter/verse Acts 14:12-13, 19:35 Latona/Leto symbols none Scriptural equivalent Eve Scriptural attributes mother goddess; her name means lotus (the fruit that brings oblivion to those who eat it) remains a dim and benevolent matronly figure upon Olympus, her part already played chapter/verse Gen 3:6,12,17,20 Mars/Ares (mentioned in Acts 17:22) Greek god of war, represents the physical or violent and untamed aspect of war symbols spear, helmet, dog, chariot, boar, vulture, flaming torch Scriptural equivalent oppressor, taskmaster, slave master Scriptural attributes living in fear, under the oppressor, the enemy chapter/verse Ex 1:11 Mercury/Hermes god of transitions and boundaries; quick and cunning, and moves freely between the worlds of the mortal and divine, as emissary and messenger; intercessor between mortals and the divine, and conductor of souls into the afterlife; protector and patron of travelers, herdsmen, thieves, orators and wit, literature and poets, athletics and sports, invention and trade symbols talaria (winged sandals), caduceus (a staff was also borne by heralds), tortoise, lyre, rooster Scriptural equivalent The Holy Spirit Scriptural attributes gifts of the Holy Spirit chapter/verse Hebrews 2:4 Neptune/Poseidon god of the sea, earthquakes, storms, and horses; name literally means Husband/Lord of the Earth; king of the underworld symbols trident, fish, dolphin, horse and bull Scriptural equivalent the god Dagon Scriptural attributes worshippers of other gods chapter/verse 1 Sam 5:5 Zeph 1:9 Minerva/Athena goddess of wisdom symbols owls, olive trees, snakes, aegis (an animal skin or shield), armor, helmets, spears, gorgoneion (a pendant showing Gorgon’s head/the use of magic against evil) Scriptural equivalent wicca, white witchery Scriptural attributes diviners chapter/verse 1 Sam 28:7, Acts 16:16 Pluto/Hades king of the underworld, god of the dead and riches symbols cerberus (a multi-headed dog, or hell hound) drinking horn, scepter, cypress, narcissus, key Scriptural equivalent Abaddon/Apollyon Scriptural attributes angel of the Abyss chapter/verse Rev. 1:18, 9:11 Proserpina/Persephone goddess of vegetation, queen of the underworld, carries into effect the curses of men upon the souls of the dead symbols pomegranate, bats Scriptural equivalent the curses of God Scriptural attributes the delivery of the curses on those that don’t follow God chapter/verse Deuteronomy 28:15-60 Saturn/Cronus the leader and the youngest of the first generation of Titans symbols sickle, scythe & harp Scriptural equivalent the Nephilim Scriptural attributes the result of the union between the sons of God & the sons of men chapter/verse Gen 6:2,4 Venus/Aphrodite goddess of love, beauty and sexuality; love, beauty, pleasure, and procreation symbols dolphin, rose, scallop shell, myrtle, dove, sparrow, girdle, mirror, and swan Scriptural equivalent ritual temple prostitution Scriptural attributes the nation of Israel succumbing to these practices chapter/verse Hosea 6:10, Micah 1:7 Vulcan/Hephaestus god of fire, metalworking, stone masonry, forges and the art of sculpture; made all the weapons of the gods symbols hammer, anvil, tongs, and/or quail Scriptural equivalent descendants of Cain, in particular Tubal-cain Scriptural attributes the use of these abilities and skills to wage war against God’s people chapter/verse Gen 4:22, 2 Kings 24:16

Click images to enlarge! Details: Huldra (or Skogsrå as she’s called here in southern Sweden) appears in old Scandinavian folklore as a seductive forest creature, the Lady and ruler of the …

Photographer Charles Freger has traveled through 19 European nations to gather pictures of impressive costumes from pagan rituals that have survived to this day. The series, entitled “Wilder Mann,”...

Overview. This remarkable collection of stories — Folklore of the Holy Land: Moslem, Christian and Jewish — is centered on the city that is called Al-Quds in Arabic, Jerusalem in English. Most of the folktales are from the Muslim tradition, but there are also parallels included from Jewish and Christian sources; if you read the Adam and Eve, Noah or Jewish Fairy Tales last week, you will see a lot of overlap between the Jewish and Islamic legends. There are stories here about Adam, Eve, and Adam's first wife, Karineh (the Lilith of Jewish legend); you will read about Ibrahim (Abraham), also known as Khalil-Allah, the "friend of God," and there are also legends of Musa (Moses), Ayub (Job), and King Daud (David) along with his son Suleyman (Solomon). In addition, the selection includes a series of stories about El-Khidr, the mysterious "Green Man" of Islamic legend. Connecting Units. If you read any of the extra-Biblical legends and stories in the first module (Adam and Eve, Noah, Infancy Gospels, Jewish Fairy Tales), you might really enjoy this unit! Language. This book consists of retellings of the different religious legends, not direct translations of the ancient religious texts, so the language used should not cause any difficulties. Story Length. This unit contains mostly single-page stories, including a long series of stories about Ibrahim (Abraham). Navigation. You will find the table of contents below, and you can also use this link to see the story posts displayed on two pages total: Folklore of the Holy Land. Click "Older Posts" at the bottom of that page to see the second page. READING A: Moslem Cosmogony Moslem Cosmogony (cont.) Our Father Adam Noah Job and His Family Lokman Abraham, the Friend of God Abraham and Nimrod Abraham: Mecca and Hebron Abraham's Hospitality Abraham's Resting Place READING B: Lot and the Tree of the Cross The Deaths of Moses and Aaron David Solomon El Khudr the Evergreen Legends of El Khudr Elijah and Saint George El Khudr and Moses (Islamic art: Adam and Eve)

An early Celtic-Druid chief of the gods is Dagda,

One of my paintings depicting the Germanic gods and goddesses. This is Holda the goddess of textile crafts, winter and fertility. She is recorded in Germanic and Dutch folklore. For more information see the notes on the image.

Overview. Stith Thompson's anthology, Tales of the North American Indians, was a pioneering work in comparative studies of Native American storytelling. This reading selection contains Thompson's collection of hero tales from many different tribal traditions including Hupa, Apache, Crow, Cree, and more. Some of the stories are about human heroes, like the boy who challenges "Unnatural Uncle" and defeats him with the help of the Eagle people. Other heroes are the children who come from the gods, like Jonayaíyin, who is sent to the Apache in order to rescue them from the deadly predations of Giant Elk and Great Eagle. There are also animal heroes, like Bluejay and his companions who find themselves swept out to sea and facing many challenges in their long journey back to their home. Language. Thompson's book is an anthology of stories takes from various anthropological sources, written in a variety of styles. Some of the stories are told in a more traditional oral style, while other stories are edited in a style more like literary prose. Story Length. Most of the stories in this unit are two or three pages long. Navigation. You will find the table of contents below, and you can also use this link to see the story posts displayed on two pages total: Native American Hero Tales. Click "Older Posts" at the bottom of that page to see the second page. READING A: The Jealous Uncle The Jealous Uncle (cont.) The Jealous Uncle (end) Bluejay and His Companions Bluejay and His Companions (cont.) Dug-From-Ground Dug-From-Ground (cont.) The Attack on the Giant Elk and the Great Eagle The Attack on the Giant Elk and the Great Eagle (cont.) READING B: Lodge-Boy and Thrown-Away Lodge-Boy and Thrown-Away (cont.) The Son-in-Law Tests The Jealous Father The Jealous Father (cont.) Dirty-Boy Dirty-Boy (cont.) (Crow horsemen, photo by E. Curtis)

Overview. Although Egypt is located in Africa, it becomes such an influential center of Arabic culture later on that I decided to include Ancient Egypt here in the Middle Eastern module. This selection of stories from Mackenzie's Egyptian Myth and Legend includes both mythology and folklore. You will read the story of the world's creation, along with the adventures of the gods and goddesses such as Ra, the sun-god; Hathor, the cow-goddess; and Thoth, the god of magic and the inventor of writing. The unit also includes the famous cycle of tales about the divine family of Osiris, Isis and Horus that explains how Osiris himself died and then became the ruler of the realm of the dead. The folktales, meanwhile, focus on stories of magic and the supernatural, including the story of the deadly rivalry between the two brothers, Anpu and Bata, and how they were finally reconciled. Language. This book consists of retellings of Egyptian legends, not direct translations of the ancient Egyptian texts, so the language used should not cause any difficulties. Story Length. This unit contains mostly single-page stories with a few longer stories. Navigation. You will find the table of contents below, and you can also use this link to see the story posts displayed on two pages total: Ancient Egyptian Myths. Click "Older Posts" at the bottom of that page to see the second page. READING A: Creation The Secret Name of Ra Ra and Hathor The Sun's Journey Osiris The Death of Osiris The Journey of Isis King of the Dead The Wax Crocodile The Green Jewel READING B: The Two Brothers: Part One The Two Brothers: Part Two The Two Brothers: Part Three The Two Brothers: Part Four The Book of Thoth: Part One The Book of Thoth: Part Two The Book of Thoth: Part Three The Tale of King Rhampsinitus (Barque of the Sun-God, Ra)

Overview Eithne was the beautiful daughter of Balor of the Evil Eye who lived in fear of the prophesy of a Druid that said; he would die at the hand of his own grandson. Stories of Eithne Balor lived in a shining tower of glass on an island off the coast of Ireland. Beside this, […]

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(Photo: 豊瀬源一)Scholar Nicholas S. Anderson writes that in Japanese folklore, household objects become ensouled upon reaching the age of 100. The older a tool is, the more spirit is endowed within it. One result of this belief is an annual funerary ritual called Hari-Kuyo. On February 8 of every year, Japanese women gather at temples and place their broken or worn-out needles into tofu: At the end of the New Year’s festivities, just as the hard work of the coming year is to begin on...

“Damara’s themes are fertility, health, luck, kindness, abundance. Her symbols are flowers and green items. Throughout England, Damara is celebrated as being intimately connected with…

To celebrate the release of Aphrodite , the sixth book in George O'Connor's Olympians series of graphic novels, he is on a massive...