In Japanese mythology lives a giant catfish, Namazu. For thousands of years he swum around in the underground rivers and lakes that ran beneath the earth, but… Read more “Catfish and Earthquake Predictions; the Mythology of Namazu.”
MythBlogs
Who Mourns the Sirens?
Sirens are often mistakenly thought of as a monstrous counterpart to the mermaid; evil temptresses lurking in the sea foam waiting to lure innocent sailors to their… Read more “Who Mourns the Sirens?”
Hebrew Folk Magic and Lilith
Even if you casually read the first few pages of the Biblical book of Genesis, you’ll notice something. There isn’t just one creation account – there are… Read more “Hebrew Folk Magic and Lilith”
Pope Innocent VIII and the Hammer of the Witches
If you’re familiar with the late Medieval European witch-hunts, chances are you’ve heard of the Malleus Maleficarum (English: the Hammer of the Witches). This text, published in 1487, would… Read more “Pope Innocent VIII and the Hammer of the Witches”
Heroines and Heroes: Ovid’s Heroides
It goes without question that the Roman poet Ovid’s greatest contribution to our understanding of classical mythology is his Metamorphosis. Born in 43 BCE, and dying between… Read more “Heroines and Heroes: Ovid’s Heroides”
Werewolves Versus Witches: the Peculiar Trial of Theiss of Kaltenbrun
Imagine this: the year is 1691, and you are a judge for the Swedish town of Jürgensburg. Recently, there was a theft from the local Lutheran Church,… Read more “Werewolves Versus Witches: the Peculiar Trial of Theiss of Kaltenbrun”
She Swallows the Stars: the Day of the Dead
There are days for the living… And there are days for the dead. The Aztecs had a peculiar fascination with death, which is obvious from both their… Read more “She Swallows the Stars: the Day of the Dead”
