Hypnos
God of Sleep
Abode: Underworld
Symbol: Poppy
Consort: Pasithea
Parents: Nyx
Siblings: Thánatos, Morpheus, Phobetor and Phantasos
Children: Morpheus, Phobetor and Phantasos (according to Ovid)
Roman equivalent: Somnus
In Greek mythology, Hypnos (Ὕπνος, "sleep") was the personification of sleep; the Roman equivalent was known as Somnus. His twin was Thánatos (Θάνατος, "death"); their mother was the primordial goddess Nyx (Νύξ, "night"). His palace was a dark cave where the sun never shines. At the entrance were a number of poppies and other hypnogogic plants.
Hypnos's three sons or brothers represented things that occur in dreams (the Oneiroi). Morpheus, Phobetor and Phantasos appear in the dreams of kings. According to one story, Hypnos lived in a cave underneath a Greek island; through this cave flowed Lethe, the river of forgetfulness.
Endymion, sentenced by Zeus to eternal sleep, received the power to sleep with his eyes open from Hypnos in order to constantly watch his beloved Selene. But according to the poet Licymnius of Chios, Hypnos, in awe of Endymion's beauty, causes him to sleep with his eyes open, so he can fully admire his face.
In art, Hypnos was portrayed as a naked youthful man, sometimes with a beard, and wings attached to his head. He is sometimes shown as a man asleep on a bed of feathers with black curtains about him. Morpheus is his chief minister and prevents noises from waking him. In Sparta, the image of Hypnos was always put near that of death.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hypnos
Greek gods | Personification in Greek mythology | Sleep
Tuesday, December 16, 1986
Hyperion (Greek)
Hyperion
Hyperion is the Titan of light, an early sun god. He is the son of Gaea and Uranus. He married his sister Theia. Their children Helius (the sun), Selene (the moon), and Eos (the dawn).
Children
Helius
Selene
Eos
Hyperion is the Titan of light, an early sun god. He is the son of Gaea and Uranus. He married his sister Theia. Their children Helius (the sun), Selene (the moon), and Eos (the dawn).
Children
Helius
Selene
Eos
Sunday, December 7, 1986
Hygieia (Greek)
Hygieia
Goddess of good health, cleanliness, and sanitation
Abode: Mount Olympus
Parents: Asclepius and Epione
Siblings: Iaso, Panacea, Aceso,
Roman equivalent: Sirona
In Greek and Roman mythology, Hygieia (Greek Ὑγιεία or Hygeia Ὑγεία, Latin Hygēa or Hygīa), was a daughter of the god of medicine, Asclepius. She was the goddess of health, cleanliness and sanitation and afterwards, the moon. She also played an important part in her father's cult. While her father was more directly associated with healing, she was associated with the prevention of sickness and the continuation of good health. Her name is the source of the word "hygiene".
History
At Athens, Hygieia was the subject of a local cult since at least the 7th century BC.[citation needed] "Athena Hygieia" was one of the cult titles given to Athena, as Plutarch recounts of the building of the Parthenon (447-432 BC):
"A strange accident happened in the course of building, which showed that the goddess was not averse to the work, but was aiding and co-operating to bring it to perfection. One of the artificers, the quickest and the handiest workman among them all, with a slip of his foot fell down from a great height, and lay in a miserable condition, the physicians having no hope of his recovery. When Pericles was in distress about this, the goddess [Athena] appeared to him at night in a dream, and ordered a course of treatment, which he applied, and in a short time and with great ease cured the man. And upon this occasion it was that he set up a brass statue of Athena Hygeia, in the citadel near the altar, which they say was there before. But it was Phidias who wrought the goddess's image in gold, and he has his name inscribed on the pedestal as the workman of it."
However, the cult of Hygieia as an independent goddess did not begin to spread out until the Delphic oracle recognized her, and after the devastating Plague of Athens (430-27 BC) and in Rome in 293 BC.
In the second century AD, Pausanias noted the statues both of Hygieia and of Athena Hygieia near the entrance to the Acropolis of Athens.
Worship
Hygieia's primary temples were in Epidaurus, Corinth, Cos and Pergamon. Pausanias remarked that, at the Asclepieion of Titane in Sicyon (founded by Alexanor, Asclepius' grandson), statues of Hygieia were covered by women's hair and pieces of Babylonian clothes. According to inscriptions, the same sacrifices were offered at Paros.
Ariphron, a Sicyonian artist from the 4th century BC wrote a well-known hymn celebrating her. Statues of Hygieia were created by Scopas, Bryaxis and Timotheus, among others, but there is no clear description of what they looked like. She was often depicted as a young woman feeding a large snake that was wrapped around her body or drinking from a jar that she carried. These attributes were later adopted by the Gallo-Roman healing goddess, Sirona. Hygieia was accompanied by her brother, Telesphorus.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hygeia
Greek mythology | Greek goddesses | Health goddesses | Offspring of Asclepius
Goddess of good health, cleanliness, and sanitation
Abode: Mount Olympus
Parents: Asclepius and Epione
Siblings: Iaso, Panacea, Aceso,
Roman equivalent: Sirona
In Greek and Roman mythology, Hygieia (Greek Ὑγιεία or Hygeia Ὑγεία, Latin Hygēa or Hygīa), was a daughter of the god of medicine, Asclepius. She was the goddess of health, cleanliness and sanitation and afterwards, the moon. She also played an important part in her father's cult. While her father was more directly associated with healing, she was associated with the prevention of sickness and the continuation of good health. Her name is the source of the word "hygiene".
History
At Athens, Hygieia was the subject of a local cult since at least the 7th century BC.[citation needed] "Athena Hygieia" was one of the cult titles given to Athena, as Plutarch recounts of the building of the Parthenon (447-432 BC):
"A strange accident happened in the course of building, which showed that the goddess was not averse to the work, but was aiding and co-operating to bring it to perfection. One of the artificers, the quickest and the handiest workman among them all, with a slip of his foot fell down from a great height, and lay in a miserable condition, the physicians having no hope of his recovery. When Pericles was in distress about this, the goddess [Athena] appeared to him at night in a dream, and ordered a course of treatment, which he applied, and in a short time and with great ease cured the man. And upon this occasion it was that he set up a brass statue of Athena Hygeia, in the citadel near the altar, which they say was there before. But it was Phidias who wrought the goddess's image in gold, and he has his name inscribed on the pedestal as the workman of it."
However, the cult of Hygieia as an independent goddess did not begin to spread out until the Delphic oracle recognized her, and after the devastating Plague of Athens (430-27 BC) and in Rome in 293 BC.
In the second century AD, Pausanias noted the statues both of Hygieia and of Athena Hygieia near the entrance to the Acropolis of Athens.
Worship
Hygieia's primary temples were in Epidaurus, Corinth, Cos and Pergamon. Pausanias remarked that, at the Asclepieion of Titane in Sicyon (founded by Alexanor, Asclepius' grandson), statues of Hygieia were covered by women's hair and pieces of Babylonian clothes. According to inscriptions, the same sacrifices were offered at Paros.
Ariphron, a Sicyonian artist from the 4th century BC wrote a well-known hymn celebrating her. Statues of Hygieia were created by Scopas, Bryaxis and Timotheus, among others, but there is no clear description of what they looked like. She was often depicted as a young woman feeding a large snake that was wrapped around her body or drinking from a jar that she carried. These attributes were later adopted by the Gallo-Roman healing goddess, Sirona. Hygieia was accompanied by her brother, Telesphorus.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hygeia
Greek mythology | Greek goddesses | Health goddesses | Offspring of Asclepius
Friday, September 12, 1986
Huldra (Norse)
A goddess who was attended by wood nymphs. They had cow tails which could be seen hanging out from beneath their white robes. They were the protectors of cattle, and sang beautifully. She is an aspect of Frigg.
In Scandinavian folklore, the Huldra (in Norwegian culture, derived from a root meaning "covered" or "secret"), or the skogsrå or skogsfru/skovfrue (meaning "Lady (read, counterpart of a Lord) of the forest") or Tallemaja (pine tree Mary) in Swedish culture, is a seductive forest creature. Her name suggests that she is originally the same being as the völva Huld and the German Holda. A male hulder is called a huldu, or in Norway a huldrekall.
The word huldra/huldri/hulderen is the definite form in Norwegian ("the hulder") – the indefinite form is en/ei hulder ("a hulder"). The plural indefinite form is huldre(r) ("hulders"), and the plural definite form is huldrene ("the hulders"). In the plural one could also use huldrefolk (indefinite) and huldrefolket (definite) meaning "the hulder people" to refer to all huldrer as a single entity. There is also an adjective connected, to be huldren, which can be interpreted as uncanny, or often "being under the hulder's spell" (i.e. suffering from inexplicable madness).
Male hulders do appear, called Huldrekall. This being is closely related to other subterrestrials, usually called tusser. Like the female counterpart, the huldrkall is a shapeshifter who often lures girls under a fair countenance (Glamour). Both male and female hulder could be revealed as rather ugly when the glamour was lifted from them.
Features
The huldra is a stunningly beautiful, sometimes naked woman with long hair; though from behind she is hollow like an old tree trunk, and has an animal's tail. In Norway, she has a cow's tail, and in Sweden she may have that of a cow or a fox. Further in the north of Sweden, the tail can be entirely omitted in favor of her hollow or bark-covered back.
In Norway, the huldra has often been described as a typical dairymaid, wearing the clothes of a regular farm girl, although somewhat more dazzling or prettier than most girls.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Huldra
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Huldra's_Nymphs.jpg
Monday, September 1, 1986
Huang Long (黃龍, Chinese)
Huang Long (Four Symbols)
Alternative names:
Yellow Dragon, 黃龍, 黄龙, 黄竜
Huang Long (黃龍，黄龙 or 黄竜, Yellow Dragon, Mandarin: huang2 long2, Cantonese: wong4 lung4, Japanese: Kōryū or Ōryū, Korean: Hwang-Ryong, Vietnamese: Hoàng Long) is a hornless dragon who once emerged from the River Luo and presented the legendary Emperor Fu Xi with the elements of writing. According to legend, when it appeared before Fu Xi, it filled a hole in the sky made by the monster Gong Gong. Its waking, sleeping and breathing determined day and night, season and weather.
In East Asian culture, there is sometimes a fifth Guardian Beast of the Si Ling. This deity is the guardian of the center and it represents the element earth, the Chinese quintessence, as well as the changing of the seasons.
Huang Long does not appear in Japanese mythology: the fifth element in the Japanese elemental system is Void, so there cannot be an animal representing it. Because of this, Huang Long is often forgotten. However, some consider the Ouryu (Ōryū, yellow dragon) as the Japanese counterpart of Huang Long since they share some similarities.
At the end of his reign, the first legendary Emperor Huang Di was said to have been immortalized into a dragon that resembled his emblem, and ascended to Heaven. Since the Chinese consider Huang Di as their ancestor, they sometimes refer to themselves as "the descendants of the dragon". This legend also contributed towards the use of the Chinese dragon as a symbol of imperial power.
Chinese constellations
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Huanglong_(mythology)
Chinese mythology | Chinese dragons | Chinese legendary creatures
Alternative names:
Yellow Dragon, 黃龍, 黄龙, 黄竜
Huang Long (黃龍，黄龙 or 黄竜, Yellow Dragon, Mandarin: huang2 long2, Cantonese: wong4 lung4, Japanese: Kōryū or Ōryū, Korean: Hwang-Ryong, Vietnamese: Hoàng Long) is a hornless dragon who once emerged from the River Luo and presented the legendary Emperor Fu Xi with the elements of writing. According to legend, when it appeared before Fu Xi, it filled a hole in the sky made by the monster Gong Gong. Its waking, sleeping and breathing determined day and night, season and weather.
In East Asian culture, there is sometimes a fifth Guardian Beast of the Si Ling. This deity is the guardian of the center and it represents the element earth, the Chinese quintessence, as well as the changing of the seasons.
Huang Long does not appear in Japanese mythology: the fifth element in the Japanese elemental system is Void, so there cannot be an animal representing it. Because of this, Huang Long is often forgotten. However, some consider the Ouryu (Ōryū, yellow dragon) as the Japanese counterpart of Huang Long since they share some similarities.
At the end of his reign, the first legendary Emperor Huang Di was said to have been immortalized into a dragon that resembled his emblem, and ascended to Heaven. Since the Chinese consider Huang Di as their ancestor, they sometimes refer to themselves as "the descendants of the dragon". This legend also contributed towards the use of the Chinese dragon as a symbol of imperial power.
Chinese constellations
| Three enclosures (三垣) | Purple Forbidden enclosure (紫微垣) | Supreme Palace enclosure (太微垣) | Heavenly Market enclosure (天市垣) | ||
| Four Symbols (四象) and Twenty-eight mansions (二十八宿) | East | Azure Dragon (青龍) | Horn (角) | Neck (亢) | Root (氐) | Room (房) | Heart (心) | Tail (尾) | Winnowing Basket (箕) |
| South | Vermilion Bird (朱雀) | Well (井) | Ghost (鬼) | Willow (柳) | Star (星) | Extended Net (張) | Wings (翼) | Chariot (軫) | |
| West | White Tiger (白虎) | Legs (奎) | Bond (婁) | Stomach (胃) | Hairy Head (昴) | Net (畢) | Turtle Beak (觜) | Three Stars (參) | |
| North | Black Tortoise (玄武) | Dipper (斗) | Ox (牛) | Girl (女) | Emptiness (虛) | Rooftop (危) | Encampment (室) | Wall (壁) | |
| Center | Yellow Dragon (黃龍) | ||
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Huanglong_(mythology)
Chinese mythology | Chinese dragons | Chinese legendary creatures
Huang feihu (黃飛虎, Chinese)
Huang feihu
Alternative Names (異名):
黃飛虎, 黄飞虎, Huáng Fēihǔ, Huang Feihu
Huang Feihu (Chinese tradition: 黃飛虎; simplify: 黄飞虎; Pinyin: Huáng Fēihǔ) is a major character featured within the famed ancient Chinese novel Fengshen Yanyi (封神演義).
Huang Feihu is the son of Huang Gun (黄滚). He is renowned as the top general throughout the whole Shang Dynasty (商朝). When Daji (妲己) had effectively convinced the idiotic King Zhou (商紂王) that it would be best to retrieve the two fleeing princes after slaying an official, Huang Feihu would make his first true appearance.
When the princes had both been stolen by the giant Fang Brothers before Huang Feihu's very own eyes, Huang Feihu was pleased to see that the capital was still possessed of at least a few truly justified individuals. Following this, the king, along with the Chao Twins (Chao Tian [晁田] and Chao Lei [晁雷]) would decide it best that Huang Feihu himself should pursue the Fang Brothers -- who are present with the two princes. Thus, he heads out on his purple mystic bull with the duel Dragon-Phoenix Sword (龙凤剑) given by the twins.
Huang Feihu was appointed as the Great Emperor of Mount Tai (泰山大帝) in the end
Links
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Huang_Feihu
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_mythology
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Chinese_mythology
Fengshen Yanyi characters | Taoism | Chinese gods | Chinese mythology
Alternative Names (異名):
黃飛虎, 黄飞虎, Huáng Fēihǔ, Huang Feihu
Huang Feihu (Chinese tradition: 黃飛虎; simplify: 黄飞虎; Pinyin: Huáng Fēihǔ) is a major character featured within the famed ancient Chinese novel Fengshen Yanyi (封神演義).
Huang Feihu is the son of Huang Gun (黄滚). He is renowned as the top general throughout the whole Shang Dynasty (商朝). When Daji (妲己) had effectively convinced the idiotic King Zhou (商紂王) that it would be best to retrieve the two fleeing princes after slaying an official, Huang Feihu would make his first true appearance.
When the princes had both been stolen by the giant Fang Brothers before Huang Feihu's very own eyes, Huang Feihu was pleased to see that the capital was still possessed of at least a few truly justified individuals. Following this, the king, along with the Chao Twins (Chao Tian [晁田] and Chao Lei [晁雷]) would decide it best that Huang Feihu himself should pursue the Fang Brothers -- who are present with the two princes. Thus, he heads out on his purple mystic bull with the duel Dragon-Phoenix Sword (龙凤剑) given by the twins.
Huang Feihu was appointed as the Great Emperor of Mount Tai (泰山大帝) in the end
Links
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Huang_Feihu
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_mythology
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Chinese_mythology
Fengshen Yanyi characters | Taoism | Chinese gods | Chinese mythology
Tuesday, March 18, 1986
Horus (Egyptian)
Horus (Egyptian)
God of the king, the sky and vengeance
Major cult center: Nekhen, Behdet Edfu
Symbol: The wedjat eye,
Parents: Osiris and Isis
Siblings: Anubis (in some accounts)
Consort: Hathor (in one version)
Horus is one of the oldest and most significant deities in the Ancient Egyptian religion, who was worshipped from at least the late Predynastic period through to Greco-Roman times. Different forms of Horus are recorded in history and these are treated as distinct gods by Egyptologists. These various forms may possibly be different perceptions of the same multi-layered deity in which certain attributes or syncretic relationships are emphasised, not necessarily in opposition but complementary to one another, consistent with how the Ancient Egyptians viewed the multiple facets of reality. The earliest recorded form is Horus the Falcon who was the patron deity of Nekhen in Upper Egypt and who is the first known national god, specifically related to the king who in time became to be regarded as a manifestation of Horus in life and Osiris in death. The most commonly encountered family relationship describes Horus as the son of Isis and Osiris but in another tradition Hathor is regarded as his mother and sometimes as his wife. Horus served many functions in the Egyptian pantheon, most notably being the god of the Sky, god of War and god of Protection.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Horus
God of the king, the sky and vengeance
Major cult center: Nekhen, Behdet Edfu
Symbol: The wedjat eye,
Parents: Osiris and Isis
Siblings: Anubis (in some accounts)
Consort: Hathor (in one version)
Horus is one of the oldest and most significant deities in the Ancient Egyptian religion, who was worshipped from at least the late Predynastic period through to Greco-Roman times. Different forms of Horus are recorded in history and these are treated as distinct gods by Egyptologists. These various forms may possibly be different perceptions of the same multi-layered deity in which certain attributes or syncretic relationships are emphasised, not necessarily in opposition but complementary to one another, consistent with how the Ancient Egyptians viewed the multiple facets of reality. The earliest recorded form is Horus the Falcon who was the patron deity of Nekhen in Upper Egypt and who is the first known national god, specifically related to the king who in time became to be regarded as a manifestation of Horus in life and Osiris in death. The most commonly encountered family relationship describes Horus as the son of Isis and Osiris but in another tradition Hathor is regarded as his mother and sometimes as his wife. Horus served many functions in the Egyptian pantheon, most notably being the god of the Sky, god of War and god of Protection.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Horus
Friday, March 14, 1986
Hongjun Laozu (鸿钧老祖, Chinese)
Hongjun Laozu (鸿钧老祖)
Alternative Names (異名):
鸿钧老祖, 洪钧老祖, 鸿元老祖, 洪元老祖, Hóngjūn Lǎozǔ, Hongjun Laozu
Hongjun Laozu (Chinese: 鸿钧老祖, or 洪钧老祖, 鸿元老祖, 洪元老祖; Pinyin: Hóngjūn Lǎozǔ) is said to be the teacher of the Three Pure Ones in some branches of Taoism. His name means the "The Great Primal Originator" or "The Great Primal Homogeneity". There is a saying that " there was Hong-Jun before there was heaven". He could be said to be the Head of Taoist immortals, but he seldom shows up on earth
See also
Chinese mythology
Religion in China
Taoism
Links
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hongjun_Laozu
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_mythology
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Chinese_mythology
Religion stubs | Chinese mythology stubs | Chinese mythology | Taoism | Triune gods | Chinese gods
Alternative Names (異名):
鸿钧老祖, 洪钧老祖, 鸿元老祖, 洪元老祖, Hóngjūn Lǎozǔ, Hongjun Laozu
Hongjun Laozu (Chinese: 鸿钧老祖, or 洪钧老祖, 鸿元老祖, 洪元老祖; Pinyin: Hóngjūn Lǎozǔ) is said to be the teacher of the Three Pure Ones in some branches of Taoism. His name means the "The Great Primal Originator" or "The Great Primal Homogeneity". There is a saying that " there was Hong-Jun before there was heaven". He could be said to be the Head of Taoist immortals, but he seldom shows up on earth
See also
Chinese mythology
Religion in China
Taoism
Links
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hongjun_Laozu
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_mythology
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Chinese_mythology
Religion stubs | Chinese mythology stubs | Chinese mythology | Taoism | Triune gods | Chinese gods
Wednesday, March 5, 1986
Hoenir (Norse)
Hoenir
After the war between the Aesir and the Vanir, he was sent as a hostage to the Vanir. He gave sense to the first humans. He possibly was Vili, a brother of Odin who helped create the world.
After the war between the Aesir and the Vanir, he was sent as a hostage to the Vanir. He gave sense to the first humans. He possibly was Vili, a brother of Odin who helped create the world.
Tuesday, March 4, 1986
Hod (Norse)
Hod
Son of Odin. He is the blind god of winter, who is tricked by Loki into killing Balder. His name means "war". Vali, a son of Odin, avenged Balder's death by killing Hod.
Son of Odin. He is the blind god of winter, who is tricked by Loki into killing Balder. His name means "war". Vali, a son of Odin, avenged Balder's death by killing Hod.
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