The killer whale, God ruler of the deep sea. As a young boy he was mischievous and unruly, and his sister, who was raising him, punished him for that. They went out to hunt whales, and the sister, after harpooning her own whale, came to the young god’s assistance. Finally they filled their house with …
Repun Kamuy: Ainu Sea God (Portrait, Powers, Role) Read More »
Konohana-sakuya-hime is one of the most famous and important Japanese goddesses, and played a crucial part in Japanese mythology. Konohanasakuya-hime is the Japanese Goddess of Volcanoes, easy childbirth and wife of Ninigi, Amaterasu’s son. Ninigi married Konohana instead of her ugly sister, and as punishment he and all his descendants lost their immortality. According to …
All about Konohana-sakuya-hime: Japanese Goddess of Mount Fuji Read More »
“Korean dogs.” The Koma-inu, similar to amulets that protect the wearer against demons, guard most shrines and many temple entrances from the evil. One male and one female sit on either side of the entrance. Most are made of stone, although examples can also be found made of bronze, iron, wood, or ceramics and some …
Koma-inu: Lion-Dog Protecting Temples and Shrines Read More »
The bear god. Also known as Metotush Kamui and as Nuparikor Kamui (Mountain God). An Ainu myth recounts how one day a beautiful young woman went with her baby on her back to collect forest bulbs. While washing them in a river, she started singing a song, and her sweet voice attracted a bear. Frightened, …
God of rivers. Larger rivers have their own gods, but all waterways are under Kawa-no-kami’s authority. When rivers flooded in archaic times, the gods were sometimes appeased with human sacrifices. The introduction of Buddhism meant the end of this practice. Instead, dolls made of straw or flowers were substituted and offered to the Kawa-no-kami. This …
All about Kawa-no-Kami: Japanese Mythology River God Read More »
Admete, daughter of King Eurystheus Admete (or Admeta) is the daughter of Eurystheus and Antimache. Heracles was obliged by her father King Eurystheus to fetch for her the girdle of Ares, which was worn by Hippolyte, queen of the Amazons. (Apollod. 2.5.9.) According to Tzetzes (ad Lycophr. 1327), she accompanied Heracles on this expedition. There was …
(or Akrisios), a son of Abas, king of Argos and of Ocaleia. He was grandson of Lynceus and great-grandson of Danaus. His twin-brother was Proetus, with whom he is said to have quarrelled even in the womb of his mother. When Abas died and Acrisius had grown up, he expelled Proetus from his inheritance; but, …
Acoetes（Ἀκοίτης), according to Ovid (Ov. Met. 3.582, &c.) was the son of a poor fisherman in Maeonia, who served as pilot in a ship. After landing at the island of Naxos, some of the sailors brought with them on board a beautiful sleeping boy, whom they had found in the island and whom they wished …
Acontius (sometimes Akontius) was a beautiful youth of the island of Ceos. On one occasion he came to Delos to celebrate the annual festival of Artemis (or Diana), and fell in love with Cydippe, the daughter of a noble Athenian. When he saw her sitting in the temple attending to the sacrifice she was offering, …
Acontius and Cyddipe: Marriage Vow Enforced by Artemis Read More »
Achelois is the surname of the Ancient Greek mythological Sirens, the daughters of Achelous and a muse, or Asterope. Any account of the Sirens must include a mention of Achelous, the most revered of our river-gods, to whom, (and sometimes to Phorkys), is said to be the father of the Sirens. Herakles fought with this …