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Aziza is a word deeply rooted in West African mythology, and denotes a supernatural creature renowned for its benevolence. In African mythology, these fuzzy little spirits dwell within the depths of the forest, and were revered for their proficiency in bestowing positive magic, especially to hunters. The accounts of the Aziza existence first arise in the folklore of the Dahomey tribes in West Africa, where they are described as benevolent spirits having a fortunate guidance and forest wisdom. In most Dahomey Folklore, the Aziza for all intents and purposes are often portrayed as little creatures that look to be the African version of the fairy known in Europe. While a singular portrayal remains elusive, diverse accounts present the Aziza fairy as little humans scarcely taller than children and possessing remarkable beauty glowing with magical light. Contrary to European Fairies who are usually notorious for being chaotic and mischievous at best, spiteful and vindictive at worst, the Aziza spirits are mostly seen as benevolent creatures of the forest. The mythology says that the Aziza were leading hunters and guiding lost travelers to safety, they own profound magical abilities that were bestowed upon humans for generations.Video available on here https://youtu.be/WWSGi6wF_jg
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As the maidens of the all father and often referred to as beacons of strength, the Valkyries of Norse mythology were women of vast prestige and power, one of the few factions of warriors having a certain influence over the world of men. Upon the backs of their ethereal horses, they came from Valhalla with guttural screams at the back of their throats. According to the Norse mythology, Prose Edda and Poetic Edda, it is not the duty of Valkyries to interfere in the conflicts of men nor to have any role in the physical or mental acts of battle. But rather to choose from the fallen warriors who was worthy enough to ascend to the halls of Odin, and who was benign enough to be sent to the fields of the goddess Freyja. The name Valkyrie means “chooser of the slain,” and once chosen the warriors would be flown on to Valhalla. The Valkyries feature in the stories from the Prose and Poetic Edda, both are the collections of Norse tales as well as Germanic works. It's important to understand that Norse Mythology was passed down orally for generations until the region was converted to Christianity, which introduced literacy. It’s unknown when the concept of the Valkyrie was first mentioned, but in Norse mythology, they were originally seen as bloodthirsty spirits feasting on the bodies of the slain across the battlefields, and took their souls to a generic afterlife. Much like the Greek Keres that we have in Greek mythology. It was only because of the influence of women who fought as men during the Viking age that the Valkyries were more romanticized, and the descriptions of beautiful Valkyries taking the braves up to a glorious afterlife replaced this unpleasant image. Video available on https://youtu.be/T-Uc-pIcO4g
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Cats and their reputations have often swayed from good to evil, for they have been both worshiped and feared like what we’ve seen in ancient Egypt. One of the most malevolent associations cats have is with witchcraft, but another connection comes from Japan through Japanese mythology, in the form of the legendary Bakeneko. The demonic cat is at the origin of many legends, behind the peculiar appearance of the animal hides a monster capable of mischievous deeds. The origins of the Bakeneko stem from the 17th century, an era where cats were greatly valued for protecting the silkworm industry and the sutras from rodents when Buddhism came to Japan. Originating from Japanese folklore, this ordinary looking cat is a member of the Yokai family, and the term Bakeneko could be translated as the shape-shifting cat. Making a difference between a Bakeneko and a domestic cat might not be an easy task, for the reason that they change as they get older. When the tail of a Bakeneko splits in two, you're dealing with a Nekomata which is a more malevolent cat, and with almost no difference between them the Nekomata are essentially powered up Bakeneko, they are the oldest and have two tails allowing them to create double the trouble. Although not all Bakeneko are nefarious, all Nekomata are known to be because they always find great pleasure in creating chaos in humans’ lives. Based on Japanese Folklore and mythology, not every cat could turn into a Bakeneko as it should meet certain criteria. There are plenty of urban legends featuring a Bakeneko in various parts of Japan, and one of them is related to the vampire cat from the Nabeshima Bakeneko.Video on https://youtu.be/y50a9Ehye14
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The Irish god of nobility and the former king of the Tuatha Dé Danann, Lugh is was one of the most important Celtic divinities particularly in Ireland. Lugh of the long arms was more accurately portrayed as a master of all crafts and a cunning warrior, a prominent figure in many stories of Irish mythology, especially where he leads the Tuatha Dé Danann at the second battle of Moy Tura. Despite the popularity of his name in the Celtic world, the meaning behind it has been the source of significant debate causing differences in its pronunciation, often changing from Lug, Lughr and Lugh depending on the account. In a context of Indo-European languages, Lugh is thought to be connected to the Proto-Indo-European word Leuk-, which means brightness or light. This further strengthens his association to the sun, as the deity is often considered a solar figure in Celtic mythology. Lugh was also a trickster who was willing to cheat to overcome his opponents, so the Irish god was in this manner similar to Lugus, a trickster entity pictured by the Romans as the Gaulish Mercury. Lugh went by numerous epithets including the common Lugh Lámfhada, meaning Lugh of the long arms. What seem interesting is that he was given this epithet not because his arms dragged on the ground, but because his weapons extended his reach beyond other warriors’ abilities.
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Nephthys was one of the original gods in the genealogy of Egyptian divinities defined by the priests of Heliopolis. Born from Geb and Nut she was the fourth one after Osiris, Isis, Seth and was the older sister of blind Horus. The goddess Nephthys features in the narratives as the devoted companion of her sister Isis, but she was also a protective deity in funerary rituals who attended mummies on their mortuary biers. In Egyptian mythology, Nephthys was usually pictured as a kite or as a woman with outstretched falcon wings, a symbol of protection, and the meaning of her Egyptian name is mistress of the house or Lady of the temple enclosure. Being the sister of Isis and especially Osiris, Nephthys is a deity who symbolizes the death experience just like Isis represented the birth experience. Alongside Isis, Neith and the scorpion goddess Selket, Nephthys guarded the remains of the dead, for they are mentioned in the Pyramid scriptures as the four goddesses watching over the pharaoh’s mummified body and organs, and their images were found inside the tomb of Tutankhamun as the guardians of his canopic vessels. Though she doesn’t appear in many stories, the goddess Nephthys is best known for the part she played in the Osiris myth as we cannot talk about it without mentioning her and Isis.
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In ancient Egypt, women were treated the same way as men because the Egyptian cosmology was made of both male and female divinities.Throughout the Egyptian religion, female divinities were mostly seen as nurturers and protectors of the pharaoh and his people. But unlike mainstream goddesses like Sekhmet or Isis, there are two others who are rarely talked about when discussing the Egyptian mythology, so today we are going to discuss the legend surrounding the entities closely related to the pharaoh’s sovereignty, the goddesses Nekhbet and Wadjet representing the Upper and Lower domains of Egypt. According to the ancient Egyptian scriptures, the "Two Ladies" was a religious epithet for the goddesses Nekhbet and Wadjet, the two deities worship by all after the unification of Lower and Upper Egypt. When the two kingdoms were joined together, a lot of similar deities from different cities were combined to form a unique entity, but this was not the case of Wadjet and Nekhbet as they were simply kept separated. From the early dynastic period, the Two Ladies were the divine protectors of the king and were featured on royal headdresses, jewelries and furniture. Nekhbet whose name signifies She of Nekheb was a local mother goddess identified with the crown of Upper Egypt, equating to Wadjet, the snake-goddess of royal authority whose name stands for the green one or She of the Papyrus.
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Yemaya was a primordial spiritual entity charged by the supreme deity to assist Obatala with the creation of humanity. She is mainly venerated by women as the giver of life within the Yoruba spirituality.In traditional Yoruba culture, Yemaya is seen as the queen of the sea, she first appeared in Yorubaland in modern day Nigeria where she is known as the Orisha of the Ogun River. Yemoja is frequently portrayed as the wife of various male Orisha and was perceived to be at the root of numerous ancient goddesses. The Orisha Yemaya is often depicted as a beautiful, queenly-looking mermaid wearing a dress with seven skirts symbolizing the seven great oceans. Yemaya went by many other names including Yemoja and Iemanja, the etymology of her name reveals that Yemaya is a contraction of the Yoruba words Iye meaning mother, Omo meaning children and Eja meaning fish, when put together and translated roughly means Mother whose children are the fish. Originally, Yemaya was a river entity who had nothing to do with the ocean nor the seas. Her worship spread beyond African borders, and was notable in Cuba and Brazil where she came to be called Yemaya, which is in fact the Spanish variant of the Yoruba Yemoja. Some stories describe Yemaya as the most nurturing Yoruba deity whose motherly presence was crucial for the beginning of all life, She is viewed in a way as the protector of women and children, and as such Yemaya governs everything pertaining to a mother’s relationship to their offspring. Yemaya also played an important role in another myth involving her counterpart, Olokun, the Orisha representing the unknown and deep bottom of the seas while she represents all superficial waters.
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The Haitian people believe that the first man buried in a cemetery becomes the manifestation of its guardian who is reality the Baron, an entity considered to hold knowledge of the dead and the underworld. Baron Samedi often comes into the world as a beggar with a unique presence, but he is depicted as a tall black man wearing a formal attire which includes a black tuxedo and a top hat. Along with his iconic cane, the baron often appears with his face painted to resemble that of a skull, no wonder why in some cases he is depicted as having a skull instead of a human face. The Baron is represented by phallic symbols and noted for obscenities and debauchery, with a particular fondness for tobacco and alcohol. There are few symbols associated with the Baron as well and these include coffins, black goats, roosters and skeletons. Even the colours black and purple which appear in his clothing have become to be related with this powerful Lwa. To understand the Baron and his powers, we must first understand the religion that he was born into. Voodoo is a monotheistic religion originated from French colonies and common in Haiti and New Orleans, Voodoo brings together Catholic and African beliefs to form a unique set of rituals including dolls and symbolic drawings.
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As the central figure of the Shinto religion, the heaven-shining Amaterasu is the ancestress by of the imperial family of Japan, she has always been an important Kami in the Japanese spiritual life. Amaterasu is a glorious goddess and the personification of the rising sun, the queen of Shinto divinities. based on Japanese mythology, the sun represents order and purity, two important concepts in Shintoism. Amaterasu symbolizes not just order but the justice that maintains it as well. The sun goddess is often depicted as a beautiful woman holding a mirror, the raven Yata Garasu is believed to be the messenger of the goddess. The name Amaterasu comes from the verb Amateru which can be translated as to shine from heaven, and this is the shorthand for Amaterasu ōmikami.
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Brigid was a pre-Christian Irish goddess of fertility and life. As a member of the Tuatha Dé Danann, she was the master of healing sharing similarities with the Catholic St. Brigid of Kildare. Originating from the word Briganti, meaning the Exalted One, the name Brigid has been anglicized from the old Irish Brig becoming the term for Bride. Brigid refers to the goddess’ connection to sunlight and fire, but may also be related to dawn goddesses across the Indo-European world. Some mention Brigid as a triple goddess, but unlike most triple goddesses in Ireland, all of her aspects were named Brigid and had dominion over Smithcraft, healing and poetry. Brigid is associated with healing, fertility, motherhood, and inspired many writers and poets, Irish novelists credited Brigid as their inspiration. Her epithet, the Exalted One reflected her connection to crafting and wisdom. The Lebor Gabála Érenn established Brigid as the daughter of the Dagda, chief of the Tuatha Dé Danann, and her mother was the namesake mother-goddess of the Tuatha Dé Danann.
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The Legend of Krampus, the demon of Christmas from German folklore is a creature that accompanies Saint Nicholas during the Yuletide season, and who contrarily to Saint Nicholas, punishes children who have been naughty throughout the year. Some may know Krampus as the counterpart of Santa Claus, while others know him as the Christmas devil, Krampus roams the streets during the night of December 5th, kown as Krampusnacht or Krampus night, to find the misbehaved children in company of Saint Nicholas, or sometimes on his own.
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Valhalla, also known as the hall of the slain is believed to be the Norse afterlife for fallen heroes in Scandinavian Mythology. In Norse mythology, it is said that warriors who lost their lives defending a cause would go to Valhalla, where they will feast with other heroes and Odin himself until Ragnarok comes. Valhalla was believed to be located in the grove of Glasir in Asgard, the real of the Aesir gods. The Einherjar was the name given to these brave warriors who went to Valhalla. According to Norse mythology, it's believed that upon their death, the ancient Vikings were chosen by Odin's Valkyries to become an army that will combat the forces of chaos at Ragnarok. Each day, the warriors would practice the art of Combat, slaying and being slain, only to recover by the evening after which they could feast altogether in the hall, with meat and wine of honey which never ran out. Although being often considered as the main afterlife for the Vikings, Valhalla was one out of the five realms dedicated for the souls. Another realm for the souls of fallen heroes would wait was Folkvangr, a realm governed by the Vanir goddess Freya (Freyja).
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Perun is known as the Slavic god of thunder in Slavic mythology, he is the god of war, justice and lightning. Often related to Perkunas from Baltic mythology with whom he shares the same attributes and the name's origin, Perun is perceived as the chief of the Slavic gods in Slavic mythology.
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Ogun is the orisha of iron, war and metalwork, he is a divinity revered in Yoruba religion from West Africa as well as in the diaspora. Ogun is mainly known to have been the first Orisha to have come on Earth after he cleared a path for the others from the spiritual world to the physical world.
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As the goddess of the land and sovereignty, Macha once punished the men of Ulster, or more precisely she issued a curse upon them. Based on some ancient tales from Ireland, the terrible curse of Macha was what led to the debility of the Ulstermen in the years that ensued. In the traits of a human, the Irish goddess Macha came down to earth to live with a man named Cruinniuc, who later boasted about her to the king Connor. To make right of her husband's silly boast, Macha was forced to race against horses while being pregnant with twins to save her husband's life, which she won in the agony of labor pains. For failing to use their strength to protect her against it, the goddess Macha cursed the warriors of Ulster for nine times and nine generations that their strength will be useless to them in their time of greatest need, when danger would threat the survival of the province of Ulster, men of Ulster would suffer the pains of childbirth and would last for four nights and five days.
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Born Setanta, he earned his most popular name after he accidentally killed the hound of a smith. On that night, the young Setanta became to be known as Cu Chulainn, meaning The hound of Culann, a title that point out to what would be his task for the rest of his life, the protection of Ulster.
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The Fomorians were a supernatural race from Irish mythology believed to have emerged from under the sea/earth to invade Ireland. They always had a presence in the Background of the myth, preying upon settlers of Ireland until being defeated by the Tuatha De Danann in the second battle of Mag Tuired.
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Hathor was the Egyptian goddess of love, beauty, celebrations, drunkenness and sexuality. Also known as the cow goddess, Hathor was a primordial Egyptian goddess who played a variety of roles. Hathor, the cow goddess was often depicted as a beautiful woman with the head of a cow wearing a sun or solar disc over her head surrounded by the horns of a cow. The cow goddess was associated in early myths to the lion goddess Sekhmet as mentioned in the story of the Legend of the Eye of Ra, in which she was sent to punish humanity, while in later she is associated with the goddess Isis who took over her characteristics and later became the most important goddess in Egypt.
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