This ebook licensed to michelle griecomichelle griecomichelle griecomichelle grieco. Unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this ebook is illegal. EABC8972-576D-4878-8C33-C9EBD9D6F5A9 TRINH GIA VIEN, 2010 J. A. Coleman EABC8972-576D-4878-8C33-C9EBD9D6F5A9 TRINH GIA VIEN, 2010 Arcturus Publishing Limited 26/27 Bickels Yard 151–153 Bermondsey Street London SE1 3HA Published in association with foulsham W. Foulsham & Co. Ltd, The Publishing House, Bennetts Close, Cippenham, Slough, Berkshire SL1 5AP, England ISBN: 978-0-572-03222-7 This edition printed in 2007 Copyright © 2007 Arcturus Publishing Limited/J A Coleman All rights reserved The Copyright Act prohibits (subject to certain very limited exceptions) the making of copies of any copyright work or of a substantial part of such a work, including the making of copies by photocopying or similar process. Written permission to make a copy or copies must therefore normally be obtained from the publisher in advance. It is advisable also to consult the publisher if in any doubt as to the legality of any copying which is to be undertaken. British Library Cataloguing-in-Publication Data: a catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library Printed in Singapore For Geoffrey, friend and mentor Thanks to George Davidson for his exhaustive work on the Chinese entries Thanks also to Immanion Press for permission to reproduce material from Charlemagne – Man and Myth By the same author: Beginner’s Guide to Cryptic Crosswords Cassell Cluefinder - Dictionary of Crossword Clues Collin’s Crossword Dictionary Complete Guide to Cryptic Crosswords Cryptic Crossword Cluefinder Wordmaster - A Reverse Dictionary Charlemagne – Man and Myth Mythilarity EABC8972-576D-4878-8C33-C9EBD9D6F5A9 CONTENTS Introduction 7 A 11 B 119 C 180 D 265 E 313 F 354 G 392 H 447 I 507 J 538 K 551 L 599 M 646 N 729 O 766 P 797 Q 856 R 861 S 894 T 978 U 1053 V 1068 W 1090 X 1109 Y 1112 Z 1128 EABC8972-576D-4878-8C33-C9EBD9D6F5A9 7 INTRODUCTION W hat is a myth? The Greeks knew and, as usual, had a word for it; the word mythos which means word, story, talk, etc. So, for that matter, did the tribes of North America – for the Chinook ik!anam; for the Kwakiutl nayam; for the Thompson tribe spektakl; for the Tsimshian adaox, while in Alaska it was adaork. And so, of course, did many other cultures – and they had not only the word but the stories to go with it. To most of them it was a story passed orally from one person to another, from generation to generation, telling of some hero, some god, some formulation of an abstract idea such as creation. Some of these became written records and so survived for us to know them and such is their power that, despite the disappearance of the cultures that gave rise to them, modern literature abounds with allusions and direct references to these marvellous tales, many of which are still endlessly retold – as they are in this book. Although they probably represent the most well-known body of mythological material, myths did not start with the Greeks. Many of the myths included here predate the Greeks by many centuries and there can be little doubt that men have constructed accounts to answer such questions as ‘What causes thunder?’ or ‘Where did we come from?’ ever since they were capable of thought. This implies that myths go back not centuries but millions of years but, since those early people could think and formulate the questions to which they had no real answers but could not write either the questions or the answers, we have no way of knowing what myths they constructed. One thing, however, is abundantly clear from the records that are available to us; the urge – the need even – to create myths seems to be inherent in all cultures. Although it can be argued that each culture took over and elaborated the stories of earlier cultures (as the Romans did, taking over virtually the whole of the Greek pantheon and their myths), it is just as valid to suggest that the many similarities between the major myths have no such connections since they appear in cultures so widely separated by both distance and time that no contact between them seems possible. Stories of creation, of floods, of the mating of gods with mortals, of heroes who EABC8972-576D-4878-8C33-C9EBD9D6F5A9 8 Introduction brought fire – these and many others crop up in the myths of numerous cultures throughout recorded time. One can regard these ancient tales as simple tales of derring-do – the work of a bygone Archer, Forsyth or Shute – or one can attribute to them the deeper significance that almost certainly prompted their creation. Some maintain that the similarities between many of the basic myths postulate a common origin, others that these similarities prove only that similar questions, similar phenomena, evoke similar answers in each culture. This book brings together under such headings as creation, first humans, flood, etc many of these similar stories but the significance of the similarities and the interpretation of individual myths is left to those whose interests lie in those fields and to the reader who is free to add his own interpretation – or none. Scholars divide stories of the imagination into categories such as myth, legend, fairy-tales, folklore, marchen and so on but, given that the stories relate to postulated entities such as gods, real characters such as Charlemagne, completely imaginary characters such as Ali Baba and characters such as King Arthur who live in that shadowland between fact and fiction, it is hard to see how one can slot all of them neatly into classes. Add to this the fact that huge swathes of what passes in the study of the world’s faiths as religion appear again in world mythologies and it is wise, in my view, to take a much more relaxed view of what constitutes mythology. As a result, this book contains entries that purists might well reject as being outside the realms of true myth but it seems to me that, if a demon such as Ravana in Hindu myth or the oni of Japanese stories are eligible for inclusion, there is no good reason to exclude the whole host of demons which inhabit the grimoires and demonologies of the western world. Another feature of this book is that it attempts to encompass as wide a coverage of the world’s mythologies as is reasonably possible within one set of covers. If it opens a wider field to those whose reading has previously been confined to the well-known mythologies of the Greeks, the Romans and the Norsemen, it will have served the purpose for which it was conceived. EABC8972-576D-4878-8C33-C9EBD9D6F5A9 9 Introduction It is a common feature of language that meanings and spellings change over time and distance and it is, therefore, no surprise to find that the names of many of the gods and heroes occur in many forms. Marduk, for example, is said to have 50 names, Ra 75, Allah 99 (or 400), Odin over 200 and Shiva over 1000. I have included all the different versions I have encountered, cross-referenced as appropriate. These alternative names and spellings appear in square brackets after the headword and the entries here also include some favourite epithets and attributes together with equivalents in other cultures. In the case of Chinese entries, there are often significant differences in spelling depending on which of the several transcription systems is used (Wade-Giles and Pinyin are the most frequently used). In this book, all Chinese entries are Wade-Giles. The majority of the entries also carry a label in italics giving an indication of origins. These labels are not intended to indicate nationalties so much as the mythology in which they are featured. Priam for example, though a Trojan, has a Greek label since he appears in the stories of Greek mythology and Lancelot, although French, appears with a British label since he is a hero of the Arthurian saga. Indexing in this book is based on word order rather than on a strict letter- by-letter order. Some languages have unfamiliar letter groups that cause problems in this field. Many Tibetan entries begin with such combinations as dMu, sMan, bDud and so on and some African words begin with uG. One normally finds the Tibetan words indexed under the second (capital) letter but the African words under the first (lower case) letter. Since the normal English practice is to index by initial letter, not sound – we don’t index phonetic under ‘f’ nor psalm under ‘s’ – the word, however pronounced, is indexed here under the first letter, whether capital or lower case. J. A. Coleman Penkridge, July 2007 EABC8972-576D-4878-8C33-C9EBD9D6F5A9 11 A 1 Central American a Mayan deity of uncertain identity referred to as god A: perhaps the god of death, Ah Puch This deity is depicted with exposed spine and skull-like features, wearing a snail on his head and a pair of cross- bones. A 2 Mesopotamian [Aa.Ai] the Sumerian moon-god A-a (see Aa 1 ) A Cholla mo Rùn Scottish a musical legend that credits the Scottish bagpipes with the power of speech A-Mertat (see Ameretat) A-mi-t’o-fo Buddhist [Amito (Fo).A Mi To Fo.O-mi-t’ o- fo.Omit’o-fo.Omitofo.O Mi To Fo:=Japanese Amida] the Chinese name for Amitabha (see also Pu T’ai Ho-shang) A-mong Burmese a progenitor of the Karens A-mong and Lan Yein descended from heaven bearing the magic drum given to them by Sey-ya and founded the tribe. A-Murdad (see Ameretat) A-shih-to Chinese [A-tzu-ta] the Chinese version of Asita (see also Mi-lo-fo) A-tzu-ta (see A-shih-to) Aa 1 Mesopotamian [A-a.Ai.Aya:=Sumerian Serida] a Babylonian sun-goddess wife of Samas mother of Giru, Kittu, Mesharu and Nusku AA 2 Mesopotamian a Chaldaean god of life A’a 3 Pacific Islands a Polynesian god Aa 4 (see A 2 ) Aa 5 (see Ea) Aac Central American a turtle: a Mayan prince son of Kan brother of Cay, Coh, Moo and Niete He wanted to marry Moo but she rejected him in favour of his brother Coh. Their argument turned into war and Aac killed his brother, renewing his suit for Moo. Rejected for a second time, Aac made war on Moo who, when her forces were defeated, escaped and left the country. Aager Norse lover of Else He is said to have spoken to Else from his coffin, asking her to smile. Aah (see Ah) Aah-te-Huti (see Ah) Aalardin British a knight husband of Guigenor He was a magician who provided a magic gold boss for Guimer when she lost one breast in removing the serpent that was wrapped round the arm of her husband, Caradoc. Aalu Egyptian [Aaru] the paradise of Osiris, far to the West To reach this land, the soul had to pass through many gates (versions of the story differ between fifteen or twenty- one) each guarded by demons. Aamon (see Amon 2 ) Aani Egyptian an ape-headed god Aapep (see Apep) aart Egyptian a symbol of Ra When washed in a sacred lake, it became the crocodile god, Sebek. Aaru (see Aalu) Aarvak (see Arvakur) A’as Mesopotamian a Hurrian god of wisdom keeper of the tablets of destiny Ab 1 Egyptian the symbolic heart, as distinguished from the corporeal heart Hati, judged at death Ab 2 Mesopotamian the Sumerian lord of wisdom father of Abzu Ab 3 (see Sahar 1 ) Ab Kin Xox Central American [Ppiz Hiu Tec] a Mayan god of poetry A EABC8972-576D-4878-8C33-C9EBD9D6F5A9 12 Aba Abe no Miushi Aba North American the supreme god of the Choctaws Abaanaui South American a culture hero of the Guaraye tribe brother of Zaguaguaya ababil (see camel bird) Ababinili North American [Great Holy Fire Above. Loak-Ishto- hoolla-Aba. Sitting Above] the supreme god of the Chickasaw tribe He is a sun-god, god of fire, regarded as the creator of all living things. Abac Irish [Abhac] the Irish version of the Addanc Abaddon a demon of evil, the angel of the abyss Abaeus (see Apollo) Abailard (see Abelard) Abakan Khan Siberian a rain-god Abadin Phoenician [Mighty Father] a supreme deity Abaeus (see Apollo) Abaia Pacific Islands a magic fish Abaia became angry when a woman fished in the lake where he lived and caused a deluge. Abaios (see Apollo) Aban Irish [Abban mocu Corbmait] son of Cormac and Milla When he expressed a wish to become a priest, his parents put him in chains, which miraculously fell off. As a boy, he restored to life a calf that had been killed by a wolf. When his uncle, Inbhar, took ship to Rome without him he walked on the waves to catch the ship. He is said to have lit a lamp merely by breathing on it, restored to life a newly dead queen and vanquished many monsters. He established several churches and monasteries where wolves protected the flocks. Abandinus British a Roman-Celtic god Abang Salamat Pacific Islands a retainer of Anggun Nan Tungga Abans Persian a spirit that inhabits iron ore mines Abantubomlambo African river spirits in the Transkei They take devotees under the surface of the water for many days and teach them the arts of the medicine man. Abaris Greek a Hyperborean sage a priest of Apollo He was the owner of a magic golden arrow on which he rode as Apollo’s messenger. Abarta (see Gilla Dacar) Abarthach (see Gilla Dacar) Abas 1 Greek king of Argolis husband of Aglaia son of Lynceus and Hypermnestra father of Acrisius, Idomene and Proetus He had a shield that subdued any enemy who saw it. Abas 2 Greek son of Celeus and Metaneira He was changed to a lizard by Demeter, who was acting as wet nurse to his newly born brother, when he made a foolish jest about her own son, Iacchus. Abas 3 Greek son of Melampus, some say father of Coeranus and Lysimache Abasdarhon a demon Abassi African [‘god’] creator-god and sky-god of the Efik husband of Atai He reluctantly allowed his two children to descend to earth but imposed conditions that they neither mated nor engaged in agriculture, returning to heaven for their meals. Inevitably, the pair mated and soon the earth was fully populated. Abassi endowed these people with the gift of argument and instituted death, so that, since then, men have quarrelled and killed each other. Abassylar Siberian a demon that is said to devour the souls of the dead Abaster Greek one of Pluto’s horses Abasum (see Abosum) Abasy Siberian a group of spirits of the Yakut underworld The Abasy are ruled by Arson-Duolai. Abatos 1 Egyptian paradise: a sacred island in the Nile Abatos 2 Greek one of Pluto’s horses abatawa African [abativa] a fairy These beings are envisaged as being so small that they can walk under grass. They are said to sleep in anthills and to shoot poisoned arrows at their enemies. abativa (see abatawa) abawinae North American in the lore of the Tubatulabal tribe, a ghost This entity is the soul of a dead person, which appears in the form of a human being. abayifo African experts in witchcraft Abban (see Aban) Abbot of Unreason (see King of Unreason) Abcan Irish a harper of the Danaans Abd-el-Rahman European [Abdalrahman] a leader of the Saracen invasion of France He was killed at the Battle of Tours in 732. Abdallah the Fisherman Persian a character in The Arabian Nights He visited Abdallah the Merman under the sea and killed a sea-monster merely by shouting at it. Abdalrahman (see Abd-el-Rahman) Abdeel (see Abdiel) Abderus Greek an armour-bearer for Heracles He helped Heracles on his eighth Labour but was eaten by the mares of Diomedes. Abdiel [Abdeel] a demon: one of the seraphim in Milton’s Paradise Lost Abdullah Arab a man who saw the fabulous city of Iram Abduxuel a moon demon Abe Antak Pacific Islands an Indonesian creator-god Abe Mango South American daughter of Page Abe She came down from the home of the gods to teach the Turkano American Indians the arts of weaving, pottery, etc. Abe no Miushi Japanese a noble He was one of the suitors for the hand of Kaguya and undertook to get for her a robe made from the fur of a flameproof rat. He bought a robe from a merchant and gave it to Kaguya who EABC8972-576D-4878-8C33-C9EBD9D6F5A9 [...]... Muluc, judgement (10 ) Oc, conversion to base matter (11 ) Cheun, burning (12 ) Eb, start of ascent (13 ) Ben, continuation of ascent (14 ) Ix, absolution of sins (15 ) Men, perfection achieved (16 ) Cib, enlightenment achieved (17 ) C’haban, removal of all traces of burning (18 ) Edznab, confirmation of perfection 31 (19 ) Cauac, divine nature achieved (20) Ahau, entry to heaven Hindu The ideal life of the Brahmin... son of Agni brother of Agneya and Agneyi He passed on a store of medical knowledge to the scholar Charaka Agnoman1 Irish [Agnomen] a Scythian son of Sera brother of Partholan and Starn father of Nemed Agnoman2 Irish EABC897 2-5 76D-487 8-8 C33-C9EBD9D6F5A9 [Agnomen] father of Crundchu Agnomen (see Agnoman) agnostos theos Greek unknown gods agnothetai Greek minor officials responsible for the supervision of. .. died of grief Aegialeus3 Greek EABC897 2-5 76D-487 8-8 C33-C9EBD9D6F5A9 [Aigialeus] son of Inachus and Melia brother of Phoroneus and Io Aegialia (see Aegialeia) Aegidius British a 5th C Roman ruler in Gaul He was said to have known King Arthur personally Aegle1 Greek Aegile1 a nymph, one of the Hesperides daughter of Panopus Aegile2 (see Aegialeia) Aegimius Greek king of the Dorians son of Dorus father of. .. Pitaka Buddhist EABC897 2-5 76D-487 8-8 C33-C9EBD9D6F5A9 [Abhidamma-Pitaka] a collection of writings on the subject of dharma: part of the Tripitaka Abhidharmakosa Buddhist a collection of texts translated by Hsüan Tsang and used by the Kosa sect of Chinese Buddhists Abokas Hindu Abhijit a goddess of fortune daughter of Daksa wife of Candra Abhijnanasakuntala Indian a Sanskrit story of Shakuntala and Dushyanta... lake full of milk near the foot of the world-tree and is attacked by the bird Garide, which lives in the top of the tree Abyss (see Abzu.hell) Abzu Mesopotamian [Absu.Abyss.Apason.Apsu.Rishtu.Zigarun: =Babylonian Apsu-Rushtu:=Egyptian Nun] an underground cavern of sweet water a Sumerian god of these waters offspring of Sige son of Ab, some say 14 consort of Tiamat father of An, some say father of all... Greece and became king of Argos Agenor2 a Trojan son of Antenor and Theano He challenged Achilles at Troy and was saved by Apollo but was later killed by Neoptolemus Agenor3 Greek king of Pleuron father of Thestius by Epicaste, some say Agent of Earth (see Ti-kuan) Agent of Heaven (see T’ien-kuan) Agent of Water (see Shui-kuan) EABC897 2-5 76D-487 8-8 C33-C9EBD9D6F5A9 ages ages periods distinguished by major... Adiri1 East Indian the Papuan land of the dead Originally the cheerless home of Adiri and his daughter Dirivo When Dirivo married Sido, the first man to die, Adiri became a more cheerful place Adiri2 East Indian father of Dirovo Adisechen (see Ananta1) Adisesa (see Ananta1) Aditi Hindu EABC897 2-5 76D-487 8-8 C33-C9EBD9D6F5A9 [Deva-matri.Devaki.‘free’ ‘infinity’] daughter of Brahma or Daksha wife of Kashyapa... cut off his brother’s head so that he could not betray their secret A similar story is told of King Rhampsinitus Agamemnon1 Greek EABC897 2-5 76D-487 8-8 C33-C9EBD9D6F5A9 [King of Men] king of Mycenae (or Argos) Agasthenes1 son of Atreus and Aerope brother of Anabixia and Menelaus husband of Clytemnestra father of Chrysothemis, Electra, Iphigenia and Orestes by Clytemnestra, twins by Cassandra and at least... Agweta West Indian daughter of Agwé sister of Agweto Agweto West Indian son of Agwé brother of Agweto Agyieus (see Aguieus) Ah Egyptian [Aah(-te-Huti)] a name of Apollo as guardian of doors, open spaces, etc Agu’gux the creator-god of the Aleut Aguisant British son of Karadan by a sister of King Arthur Agulandus European [Agulant.Aigiolandus.Aigiolant] an African king father of Jutmundus In some accounts... prophecy of Helenus, were found on the site of what was later to be the city of Alba Longa Aenete Aenete Greek wife of Aeneus mother of Cyzicus Aenetus Greek son of Deion and Dimede brother of Actor, Asteriopeia, Cephalus and Phylacus Aeneus1 Greek [Aenus] king of the Doliones husband of Aenete father of Cyzicus Aeneus2 (see Aeneas) Aengaba Irish in some accounts, a Danaan fighting at the first Battle of . EABC897 2-5 76D-487 8-8 C33-C9EBD9D6F5A9 CONTENTS Introduction 7 A 11 B 11 9 C 18 0 D 265 E 313 F 354 G 392 H 447 I 507 J 538 K 5 51 L 599 M 646 N 729 O 766 P 797 Q 856 R 8 61 S 894 T 978 U 10 53 V 10 68 W. Chinese [A-tzu-ta] the Chinese version of Asita (see also Mi-lo-fo) A-tzu-ta (see A-shih-to) Aa 1 Mesopotamian [A-a.Ai.Aya:=Sumerian Serida] a Babylonian sun-goddess wife of Samas mother of Giru,. 5 51 L 599 M 646 N 729 O 766 P 797 Q 856 R 8 61 S 894 T 978 U 10 53 V 10 68 W 10 90 X 11 09 Y 11 12 Z 11 28 EABC897 2-5 76D-487 8-8 C33-C9EBD9D6F5A9 7 INTRODUCTION W hat is a myth? The Greeks knew and, as usual,