Category Archives: Mythology

October 11, 2011 · 12:08 am

MYTHOLOGY: INTER-CULTURAL INFLUENCE

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Balladeer’s Blog

Recently one of my favorite bloggers, Sara from Midaeval Maiden and Life With 4 Cats, asked me a question about Egyptian mythology being influenced by other cultures. I provided an answer where the words just flowed along nicely and so, since I get occassional e-mails asking me similar questions I figured I would post my answer to Sara in the spirit of a FAQ. All in all, it saves me from coming up with a totally new post today     …     I think you’ll agree.

My Answer:  This sort of inter-cultural influence is pretty standard in mythology. No belief system springs from a vacuum. It springs from previous belief systems in the region and also from appropriating elements of belief systems of other cultures they come into contact with. The process is called syncretism.

Even the big three religions have done it. Zoroastrianism predates Christianity, Islam and Judaism and all three of those Continue reading →

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September 26, 2011 · 11:51 pm

MYTHOLOGY – THE EGYPTIAN GOD BES

"If Danny DeVito was an Egyptian god"

BES – This diminutive Egyptian god presents a perfect opportunity for me to point out how the concepts that a deity is supposedly the patron of can change over time. During his centuries- long period of worship Bes was at various times  considered a lion god (his oddly shaped hairdo/beard combo is meant to be reminiscent of a lion’s mane), a patron of art and music, a protector of women in childbirth, a god who could cure infertility and a household god. In that last mentioned role Bes not only looked after children and their mothers, but he would safeguard the household by driving off evil spirits and by strangling potential dangers like snakes, lions and bears. (Oh my!) Because of his short stature and the fact that he was often depicted sporting an enormous erection he was sometimes called “the Egyptian Pan”,  but given his benevolent and constructive nature I would say he has more in common with the dwarfish Shinto deity Sukuna-Biko, the friend of Okuninushi. Bes wore a loincloth made of lionskin with the lion’s tail hanging down behind him (though originally he was presented as Continue reading →

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September 14, 2011 · 9:47 pm

MYTHOLOGY: THE AZTEC CORN TRINITY

CINTEOTL – Just as XILONEN was the god of young, tender corn and ILAMATECUHTLI was the deity of old, overripe and dry corn, Cinteotl was the lord of mature corn ripe for the harvest. Their mother was the goddess Tlazolteotl and this three-in- one trio of deities provides an Continue reading →

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September 8, 2011 · 9:23 pm

MYTHOLOGY: THE EGYPTIAN GOD SOPED

SOPED – This deity was the hawk-headed god who guarded the roadway that connected Lower Egypt and Upper Egypt. At the road’s beginning in Lower Egypt stood a temple devoted to Soped, and at its terminus in Upper Egypt stood a temple to Continue reading →

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August 30, 2011 · 12:45 am

INUIT MYTH PAGE – KANAJUK

For more Inuit deities click here: https://glitternight.com/inuit-myth/

KANAJUK – This god was the giant sea scorpion who was the husband Sedna shared with her armless mother, Isarrataitsoq. Kanajuk often Continue reading →

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August 21, 2011 · 5:29 pm

INUIT MYTH PAGE: THE GODDESS KADLU AND HER SISTERS

For more Inuit deities click here: https://glitternight.com/inuit-myth/

KADLU- The goddess who makes lightning by rubbing pieces of dry seal skin together. She dwells in Sedna’s subaquatic realm along with her sisters, Ignirtoq and Kweetoo. Inuit women would make offerings of Continue reading →

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August 15, 2011 · 12:03 am

THE ELEVEN MOST NEGLECTED DEITIES IN EGYPTIAN MYTHOLOGY

 When it comes to Egyptian mythology the bulk of the attention always goes to Isis, Osiris, Set, Horus and that god of a thousand names, Ra AKA Amen Ra, etc. Balladeer’s Blog will, as usual, take a look at some of the unjustly overlooked gods and goddesses in a profoundly intriguing pantheon.

Naturally, anybody who’s into Egyptian myths will be VERY familiar with the following deities so this list is intended for people who are only familiar with the five figures mentioned above. For some of my other articles on mythology see these links:

KOREAN MYTH – https://glitternight.com/2011/03/24/the-top-11-deities-in-korean-mythology/ 

SHINTO MYTH – https://glitternight.com/shinto-myth/

HAWAIIAN MYTH – https://glitternight.com/2011/02/20/the-top-eleven-deities-in-hawaiian-mythology/

HAWAIIAN MYTH PART 2 – https://glitternight.com/2011/03/02/eleven-more-deities-from-hawaiian-mythology-2/

NORSE MYTHS – https://glitternight.com/2011/04/10/the-eleven-most-neglected-deities-in-teutono-norse-mythology/

AZTEC MYTHS – https://glitternight.com/2011/05/10/the-top-eleven-deities-in-aztec-mythology/

INUIT MYTHS – https://glitternight.com/2011/06/06/the-top-12-deities-from-inuit-mythology-2/

HINDU MYTHS – https://glitternight.com/2011/07/05/the-eleven-most-neglected-deities-in-hindu-mythology/

Plus see my pages on Navajo, Vietnamese, Inuit and Bunyoro myths.

11. SEBEK – The crocodile god. In some traditions Sebek was a son of the serpent god Set, but in others Set is sterile and incapable of siring offspring. Possessing the head of one of the creatures he was the lord of and a humanoid body, Sebek was often depicted traversing the Continue reading →

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August 8, 2011 · 10:08 pm

INUIT MYTH PAGE – ISITOQ

For more Inuit deities click here: https://glitternight.com/inuit-myth/

ISITOQ – This god was depicted as a giant winged eye, constantly flying through the sky and observing every violation of a Continue reading →

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July 26, 2011 · 12:13 am

INUIT MYTH PAGE: THE NARWHAL GODDESS

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A look at my detailed entry on the Inuit goddess who ruled over narwhals. For more Inuit deities click here: https://glitternight.com/inuit-myth/

ATUQTUQARNAQ – The narwhal goddess, who had the form of a whale-sized mermaid with her hair sculpted into the traditional horn/tusk of the narwhals she ruled over. Before Sedna transformed her into the narwhal  deity she was an abusive mother to  Continue reading →

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July 16, 2011 · 10:32 pm

INUIT MYTH PAGE: THE SALMON GOD

An extended entry on the salmon-creating god. For more gods and goddesses from Inuit mythology click here: https://glitternight.com/inuit-myth/ 

EQATLEJOQ – The salmon god. He dwelt in the supercelestial land of Udlormiut which was also inhabited by Tatqim, Seqinek and Tapasuma. Eqatlejoq was depicted creating salmon by Continue reading →

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