Syn
A goddess who was invoked by defendents at a trial. She was another attendant of Frigg and guarded the door of Frigg's palace.
Monday, December 29, 2008
Saturday, December 13, 2008
Statue of Venus (Sanssouci)
Statue of Venus (Sanssouci)
From Wikimedia Commons
| Description | Potsdam, Sanssouci, Plastik Venus von Pigalle Potsdam.- Sanssouci, Venus von Pigalle an der Großen Fontaine |
| Date | 12 December 2008 |
| Photographer | Max Baur (1898–1988) |
| Institution | German Federal Archives Nachlass Max Baur (Bild 170) |
| Accession number | Bild 170-710 |
| Source | This image was provided to Wikimedia Commons by the German Federal Archive (Deutsches Bundesarchiv) as part of a cooperation project. The German Federal Archive guarantees an authentic representation only using the originals (negative and/or positive), resp. the digitalization of the originals as provided by the Digital Image Archive. |
| Licensing | This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Germany license. |
From Wikimedia Commons
Saturday, September 13, 2008
Sumerian gods & goddesses
Sumerian gods & goddesses
An: god of the Heavens
Enki: Lord of Water and Wisdom
Enlil: god of Air and Storms
Ereshkigal: goddess of Darkness, Gloom and Death
Inanna: a goddess of love and war
Ki: goddess of the Earth
Nammu: goddess of the Sea
Ninhursag: goddess of the Earth, Fertility
Utu: Sun god, god of Justice
An: god of the Heavens
Enki: Lord of Water and Wisdom
Enlil: god of Air and Storms
Ereshkigal: goddess of Darkness, Gloom and Death
Inanna: a goddess of love and war
Ki: goddess of the Earth
Nammu: goddess of the Sea
Ninhursag: goddess of the Earth, Fertility
Utu: Sun god, god of Justice
Thursday, August 21, 2008
Aphrodite and the dolphin by Emil Wolf at the Hermitage
Aphrodite and the dolphin by Emil Wolf at the Hermitage
From Wikimedia Commons
| Description | English: Aphrodite and the dolphin by Emil Wolf at the Hermitage. |
| Date | 20 August 2008 |
| Source | Yair Haklai |
| Author | Yair Haklai |
| Licensing | This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported license. |
From Wikimedia Commons
Sunday, June 1, 2008
Dragon turtle
Dragon turtle
Alternative Names (異名):
Dragon turtle
A dragon turtle is a legendary Chinese turtle with a dragonlike head. It combines two of the four celestial animals of Chinese mythology. It is promoted as a positive ornament in Feng Shui. The dragon sits on top of large coins with a small turtle on its back representing fertility. It is believed that the dragon brings the occupants of a home wealth and security. The dragon is traditionally placed facing the window.
Mapmakers sometimes drew dragon turtles along with other fantastical creatures in explored areas.
Dragon turtles in popular fiction
In the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game dragon turtles are gigantic sea creatures, feared by sailors for their ability to capsize the largest ships. They are massively armoured and breath a cloud of scalding steam.
Dragon turtles are monsters in some DragonQuest/DragonWarrior games, often called Tortragon.
See also
Black Tortoise (玄武)
Links
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Tortoise
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_mythology
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Chinese_mythology
Mythological hybrids | Chinese mythology | Turtles | Chinese dragons | Chinese mythology stubs
Alternative Names (異名):
Dragon turtle
A dragon turtle is a legendary Chinese turtle with a dragonlike head. It combines two of the four celestial animals of Chinese mythology. It is promoted as a positive ornament in Feng Shui. The dragon sits on top of large coins with a small turtle on its back representing fertility. It is believed that the dragon brings the occupants of a home wealth and security. The dragon is traditionally placed facing the window.
Mapmakers sometimes drew dragon turtles along with other fantastical creatures in explored areas.
Dragon turtles in popular fiction
In the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game dragon turtles are gigantic sea creatures, feared by sailors for their ability to capsize the largest ships. They are massively armoured and breath a cloud of scalding steam.
Dragon turtles are monsters in some DragonQuest/DragonWarrior games, often called Tortragon.
See also
Black Tortoise (玄武)
Links
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Tortoise
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_mythology
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Chinese_mythology
Mythological hybrids | Chinese mythology | Turtles | Chinese dragons | Chinese mythology stubs
Dragon King of the North Sea (北海龙王)
Dragon King of the North Sea (北海龙王)
Alternative Names (異名):
北海龙王, Běihǎi Lóngwáng, Dragon King of the North Sea, 敖明[1], Ao Ming, 敖顺[2], Ao Shun
The Dragon King of the North Sea (Chinese: 北海龙王; Pinyin: Běihǎi Lóngwáng) is the Dragon King of the North Sea. His name is Ao Ming (敖明) or Ao Shun (敖顺). He could be linked to Black Tortoise as both are Chinese gods of the north. His brothers are Ao Chin , Ao Jun and Ao Kuang
Notes
[1] Fengshen Yanyi Chapter 13.
[2] Journey to the West Chapter 3.
Links
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dragon_King_of_the_North_Sea
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_mythology
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Chinese_mythology
Chinese mythology | Journey to the West | Fengshen Yanyi characters
Alternative Names (異名):
北海龙王, Běihǎi Lóngwáng, Dragon King of the North Sea, 敖明[1], Ao Ming, 敖顺[2], Ao Shun
The Dragon King of the North Sea (Chinese: 北海龙王; Pinyin: Běihǎi Lóngwáng) is the Dragon King of the North Sea. His name is Ao Ming (敖明) or Ao Shun (敖顺). He could be linked to Black Tortoise as both are Chinese gods of the north. His brothers are Ao Chin , Ao Jun and Ao Kuang
Notes
[1] Fengshen Yanyi Chapter 13.
[2] Journey to the West Chapter 3.
Links
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dragon_King_of_the_North_Sea
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_mythology
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Chinese_mythology
Chinese mythology | Journey to the West | Fengshen Yanyi characters
Dragon King of the South Sea (南海龙王)
Dragon King of the South Sea (南海龙王)
Alternative Names (異名):
南海龙王, Nánhǎi Lóngwáng, Dragon King of the South Sea, 敖顺[1], Ao Shun, 敖钦[2], Ao Qin
Dragon King of the South Sea (Chinese: 南海龙王; Pinyin: Nánhǎi Lóngwáng) is the Dragon King of the South Sea in Chinese mythology. His name is Ao Shun (敖顺) or Ao Qin (敖钦) In Journey to the West, hee is mentioned briefly in a battle with the Immortals over the death of their servant to the sea (which was blamed on Ao-Chin's son) and again when Monkey demanded a gift from him and he presented him a red gold cape. He could be linked to Vermilion Bird as both are southern gods in Chinese mythology.
His brothers are Ao Kuang, Ao Jun and Ao Shun.
Notes
[1] Fengshen Yanyi Chapter 13.
[2] Journey to the West Chapter 3.
Links
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dragon_King_of_the_South_Sea
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_mythology
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Chinese_mythology
Chinese mythology | Journey to the West | Fengshen Yanyi characters
Alternative Names (異名):
南海龙王, Nánhǎi Lóngwáng, Dragon King of the South Sea, 敖顺[1], Ao Shun, 敖钦[2], Ao Qin
Dragon King of the South Sea (Chinese: 南海龙王; Pinyin: Nánhǎi Lóngwáng) is the Dragon King of the South Sea in Chinese mythology. His name is Ao Shun (敖顺) or Ao Qin (敖钦) In Journey to the West, hee is mentioned briefly in a battle with the Immortals over the death of their servant to the sea (which was blamed on Ao-Chin's son) and again when Monkey demanded a gift from him and he presented him a red gold cape. He could be linked to Vermilion Bird as both are southern gods in Chinese mythology.
His brothers are Ao Kuang, Ao Jun and Ao Shun.
Notes
[1] Fengshen Yanyi Chapter 13.
[2] Journey to the West Chapter 3.
Links
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dragon_King_of_the_South_Sea
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_mythology
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Chinese_mythology
Chinese mythology | Journey to the West | Fengshen Yanyi characters
Dragon King of the West Sea (西海龙王)
Dragon King of the West Sea (西海龙王)
Alternative Names (異名):
西海龙王, Xīhǎi Lóngwáng, Dragon King of the West Sea, 敖吉[1], Ao Ji, 敖闰[2], Ao Run
The Dragon King of the West Sea (Chinese: 西海龙王; Pinyin: Xīhǎi Lóngwáng) is the Dragon King of the West Sea. His name is Ao Ji (敖吉) or Ao Run (敖闰). Of the four Dragon Kings he is the least mentioned and very little is known about him in Journey to the West except than when Sun Wukong asked him for a gift he did give him one. He could be linked to the White Tiger as both are Chinese western gods. His brothers are Ao Kuang, Ao Chin and Ao Shun . The character Iroh in Avatar the Last Airbender's nickname is the "Dragon of the West" relating to the Dragon King of the West
Notes
[1] Fengshen Yanyi Chapter 13.
[2] Journey to the West Chapter 3.
Links
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dragon_King_of_the_West_Sea
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_mythology
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Chinese_mythology
Chinese mythology | Journey to the West | Fengshen Yanyi characters
Alternative Names (異名):
西海龙王, Xīhǎi Lóngwáng, Dragon King of the West Sea, 敖吉[1], Ao Ji, 敖闰[2], Ao Run
The Dragon King of the West Sea (Chinese: 西海龙王; Pinyin: Xīhǎi Lóngwáng) is the Dragon King of the West Sea. His name is Ao Ji (敖吉) or Ao Run (敖闰). Of the four Dragon Kings he is the least mentioned and very little is known about him in Journey to the West except than when Sun Wukong asked him for a gift he did give him one. He could be linked to the White Tiger as both are Chinese western gods. His brothers are Ao Kuang, Ao Chin and Ao Shun . The character Iroh in Avatar the Last Airbender's nickname is the "Dragon of the West" relating to the Dragon King of the West
Notes
[1] Fengshen Yanyi Chapter 13.
[2] Journey to the West Chapter 3.
Links
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dragon_King_of_the_West_Sea
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_mythology
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Chinese_mythology
Chinese mythology | Journey to the West | Fengshen Yanyi characters
Dragon King of the East Sea (东海龙王)
Dragon King of the East Sea (东海龙王)
Alternative Names (異名):
东海龙王, Dōnghǎi Lóngwáng, Dragon King of the East Sea, 敖光[1], Ào Guǎng, 敖广[2]
The Dragon King of the East Sea (Chinese: 东海龙王; Pinyin: Dōnghǎi Lóngwáng), named Ao Guang (Chinese: 敖广 or 敖光; Pinyin: Ào Guǎng) is the Dragon King of the East Sea in Chinese mythology. He appeared in different works including Fengshen Yanyi and Journey to the West.
Fengshen Yanyi
In Fengshen Yanyi, following the passage of many years, Ao Guang had brought chaos to the world by forming disastrous droughts, storms, and so forth. Due to the people's immense fear towards the dragon king and his sons, they never reported Ao Guang's actions to the Jade Emperor. Thus, Ao Guang enjoyed countless offerings by the people throughout a time interval of many years. After Nezha cleansed himself at a neighboring stream of the East Sea, Ao Guang's palace began to shake at an annoying level. After Ao Guang's favorite investigator Li Gen and third son Ao Bing were both killed by the hands of Nezha, Ao Guang would set out to talk to Nezha's father, Li Jing. After discussing the matter with his friend for a long period of time in his state of great anger, he transformed himself back into a dragon and ascended to the heavens to state the issue to the supreme Jade Emperor. After the cruel Nezha appeared in heaven, he began to beat Ao Guang very violently. Nezha even began to tear scales from Ao Guang's dragon skin, which caused for blood to profusely spill out. In the end, the unfortunate Ao Guang was forced to turn himself into a small snake and come with Nezha back to the Old Pond Pass to forget about the incident completely.
Later on within this chapter following Ao Guang's leave from Nezha, he would once again see the Jade Emperor. Soon enough, Ao Guang, along with three other dragon kings would come to Old Pond Pass and take both Li Jing and his wife Lady Yin. Nezha however would quickly appear and claims that he will cut out every internal organ from his body as to save his parents. Ao Guang personally agrees to Nezha's resolution with happiness and brings his internal organs to the Jade Emperor. Following this point, the Eastern Dragon King Ao Guang's fate is unknown.
Journey to the West
In Journey to the West, Sun Wukong obtained Ruyi Jingu Bang from Ao Guang. This weapon was originally a stick for measuring sea water depth by Da Yu in his flood control and treatment efforts, hence its ability to vary its shape and length. After Da Yu left, it remained in the sea and became the "Pillar holding down the sea", an unmovable treasure of the undersea palace of the Ao Guang.
One of Wukong's senior advisors had told him to seek out the dragon-kin in order to get a powerful weapon befitting his skill. There in the dragon palace, he tried out several kinds of ancient heavenly weapons, many of which bent or completely broke as he wielded them. Ao Guang's wife then suggested the "pillar" (thinking he would not be able to lift it). But when Wukong neared the pillar, it began to glow, signifying that the monkey king was its true owner. It obediently listened to his commands and shrank to a manageable size so Wukong could wield it effectively. This not only awed the dragon and his wife, it also threw the sea into confusion, since the monkey king had removed the only thing controlling the ebb and flow of the ocean's tides. In addition to the magic staff, Wukong also forced Ao Guang to give him other magical gifts; including golden chain mail, a phoenix-feather cap, and cloud-walking boots.
Notes
[1] Fengshen Yanyi Chapter 12.
[2] Journey to the West Chapter 3.
Links
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ao_Guang
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_mythology
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Chinese_mythology
Fengshen Yanyi characters | Chinese gods | Journey to the West
Alternative Names (異名):
东海龙王, Dōnghǎi Lóngwáng, Dragon King of the East Sea, 敖光[1], Ào Guǎng, 敖广[2]
The Dragon King of the East Sea (Chinese: 东海龙王; Pinyin: Dōnghǎi Lóngwáng), named Ao Guang (Chinese: 敖广 or 敖光; Pinyin: Ào Guǎng) is the Dragon King of the East Sea in Chinese mythology. He appeared in different works including Fengshen Yanyi and Journey to the West.
Fengshen Yanyi
In Fengshen Yanyi, following the passage of many years, Ao Guang had brought chaos to the world by forming disastrous droughts, storms, and so forth. Due to the people's immense fear towards the dragon king and his sons, they never reported Ao Guang's actions to the Jade Emperor. Thus, Ao Guang enjoyed countless offerings by the people throughout a time interval of many years. After Nezha cleansed himself at a neighboring stream of the East Sea, Ao Guang's palace began to shake at an annoying level. After Ao Guang's favorite investigator Li Gen and third son Ao Bing were both killed by the hands of Nezha, Ao Guang would set out to talk to Nezha's father, Li Jing. After discussing the matter with his friend for a long period of time in his state of great anger, he transformed himself back into a dragon and ascended to the heavens to state the issue to the supreme Jade Emperor. After the cruel Nezha appeared in heaven, he began to beat Ao Guang very violently. Nezha even began to tear scales from Ao Guang's dragon skin, which caused for blood to profusely spill out. In the end, the unfortunate Ao Guang was forced to turn himself into a small snake and come with Nezha back to the Old Pond Pass to forget about the incident completely.
Later on within this chapter following Ao Guang's leave from Nezha, he would once again see the Jade Emperor. Soon enough, Ao Guang, along with three other dragon kings would come to Old Pond Pass and take both Li Jing and his wife Lady Yin. Nezha however would quickly appear and claims that he will cut out every internal organ from his body as to save his parents. Ao Guang personally agrees to Nezha's resolution with happiness and brings his internal organs to the Jade Emperor. Following this point, the Eastern Dragon King Ao Guang's fate is unknown.
Journey to the West
In Journey to the West, Sun Wukong obtained Ruyi Jingu Bang from Ao Guang. This weapon was originally a stick for measuring sea water depth by Da Yu in his flood control and treatment efforts, hence its ability to vary its shape and length. After Da Yu left, it remained in the sea and became the "Pillar holding down the sea", an unmovable treasure of the undersea palace of the Ao Guang.
One of Wukong's senior advisors had told him to seek out the dragon-kin in order to get a powerful weapon befitting his skill. There in the dragon palace, he tried out several kinds of ancient heavenly weapons, many of which bent or completely broke as he wielded them. Ao Guang's wife then suggested the "pillar" (thinking he would not be able to lift it). But when Wukong neared the pillar, it began to glow, signifying that the monkey king was its true owner. It obediently listened to his commands and shrank to a manageable size so Wukong could wield it effectively. This not only awed the dragon and his wife, it also threw the sea into confusion, since the monkey king had removed the only thing controlling the ebb and flow of the ocean's tides. In addition to the magic staff, Wukong also forced Ao Guang to give him other magical gifts; including golden chain mail, a phoenix-feather cap, and cloud-walking boots.
Notes
[1] Fengshen Yanyi Chapter 12.
[2] Journey to the West Chapter 3.
Links
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ao_Guang
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_mythology
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Chinese_mythology
Fengshen Yanyi characters | Chinese gods | Journey to the West
Dragon King (龍王)
Dragon King (龍王)
Alternative Names (異名):
龍王, Lóng Wáng, Dragon King
The four Dragon Kings (龍王; pinyin: Lóng Wáng) are, in Chinese mythology, the divine rulers of the four seas (each sea corresponds to one of the cardinal directions). Although Dragon Kings appear in their true forms as dragons, they have the ability to shapeshift into human form. The Dragon Kings live in crystal palaces, guarded by shrimp soldiers and crab generals.
Besides ruling over the aquatic life, the Dragon Kings also manipulate clouds and rain. When enraged, they can flood cities. According to The Short Stories on the Tang People (唐人傳奇 Tangren Chuanqi), the Qian Tang Dragon King did just that when he found out his niece had been abused by her husband. Qian Tang also ate the abusive husband.
The Dragon King of the Eastern Sea (Donghai) is said to have the largest territory.
Dragon Kings appeared commonly in literature. Detailed descriptions were given of the finery of their crystal palaces. In the Chinese classical novel Journey to the West, a Dragon King is one of the main characters in the tenth chapter.
Dragon of the East: Ao Guang (敖廣)
Dragon of the South: Ao Qin (敖欽)
Dragon of the West: Ao Run (敖閏)
Dragon of the North: Ao Shun (敖順)
The four Dragon Kings also appeared in Fengshen Yanyi. But their names are different from those in Journey to the West.
Temples
There are numerous temples dedicated to Dragon Kings in China. One temple in Beijing was built during the Yuan Dynasty and renovated in the early 21st century. Chao-Tian Palace (朝天宮) of Beigang Township (北港鎮), Yunlin, devoted to the Goddess Mazu, also has human-shaped statues for the four Dragon Kings, each riding on a dragon. In contrast to the Dragon Kings, Mazu, although also a deity of sea, is a motherly figure who never wreaks havoc.
See also
Nagaraja
Huang Long
Links
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dragon_King
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_mythology
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Chinese_mythology
Chinese mythology stubs | Chinese mythology | Chinese gods | Chinese dragons | Sea and river gods | Journey to the West
Alternative Names (異名):
龍王, Lóng Wáng, Dragon King
The four Dragon Kings (龍王; pinyin: Lóng Wáng) are, in Chinese mythology, the divine rulers of the four seas (each sea corresponds to one of the cardinal directions). Although Dragon Kings appear in their true forms as dragons, they have the ability to shapeshift into human form. The Dragon Kings live in crystal palaces, guarded by shrimp soldiers and crab generals.
Besides ruling over the aquatic life, the Dragon Kings also manipulate clouds and rain. When enraged, they can flood cities. According to The Short Stories on the Tang People (唐人傳奇 Tangren Chuanqi), the Qian Tang Dragon King did just that when he found out his niece had been abused by her husband. Qian Tang also ate the abusive husband.
The Dragon King of the Eastern Sea (Donghai) is said to have the largest territory.
Dragon Kings appeared commonly in literature. Detailed descriptions were given of the finery of their crystal palaces. In the Chinese classical novel Journey to the West, a Dragon King is one of the main characters in the tenth chapter.
Dragon of the East: Ao Guang (敖廣)
Dragon of the South: Ao Qin (敖欽)
Dragon of the West: Ao Run (敖閏)
Dragon of the North: Ao Shun (敖順)
The four Dragon Kings also appeared in Fengshen Yanyi. But their names are different from those in Journey to the West.
Temples
There are numerous temples dedicated to Dragon Kings in China. One temple in Beijing was built during the Yuan Dynasty and renovated in the early 21st century. Chao-Tian Palace (朝天宮) of Beigang Township (北港鎮), Yunlin, devoted to the Goddess Mazu, also has human-shaped statues for the four Dragon Kings, each riding on a dragon. In contrast to the Dragon Kings, Mazu, although also a deity of sea, is a motherly figure who never wreaks havoc.
See also
Nagaraja
Huang Long
Links
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dragon_King
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_mythology
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Chinese_mythology
Chinese mythology stubs | Chinese mythology | Chinese gods | Chinese dragons | Sea and river gods | Journey to the West
Friday, February 15, 2008
Snotra (Norse)
Snotra
A wise and gentle goddess. Guerber calls her the goddess of virtue and master of all knowledge. She knew the value of self-discipline.
A wise and gentle goddess. Guerber calls her the goddess of virtue and master of all knowledge. She knew the value of self-discipline.
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