Ancient Religions & Mythology, WEI-ŽAL
What did our ancestors believe in? What myths and stories did they use to explain the world around them and find meaning in it? How have their beliefs influenced modern religion and spirituality? Explore these questions and more while discovering notable traditions, figures, and legends that figured prominently in ancient religion and mythology.
Ancient Religions & Mythology Encyclopedia Articles By Title
Wei To
Wei To, in Chinese and Japanese Buddhism, a popular protector of the faith and the general-in-chief under the lokapalas,......
Wendi
Wendi, the Chinese god of literature, whose chief heavenly task, assigned by the Jade Emperor (Yudi), is to keep......
wendigo
wendigo, a mythological cannibalistic monster in the spiritual tradition of North American Algonquian-speaking......
werewolf
werewolf, in popular legend, a human who can shape-shift into a wolf or a hybrid wolf-human form. In many werewolf......
What Is the Difference Between Allah and God?
Allah (الله) is the Arabic word for “God” and is used as a proper noun. In Arabic it is used by Muslims, Christians,......
What language did Jesus speak?
It is widely agreed among historians that Jesus primarily spoke Aramaic, the common language of Palestine and Syria.......
When Was Jesus Born?
One might be inclined to think that when Jesus was born is obvious: on December 25, Christmas, in the year 0. And......
Where Does the Concept of a “Grim Reaper” Come From?
For thousands of years, various cultures have had figures to represent death. One of the most common and enduring......
White Goddess, The
The White Goddess, scholarly work by Robert Graves, published in 1948 and revised in 1952 and 1961. Graves’s controversial......
Whittington, Dick
Dick Whittington was an English merchant and lord mayor of London who became a well-known figure in legend and......
Why Do Dragons Hoard Treasure?
Dragons hoard treasure as a symbol of the destructive power of greed. In European mythology and literature, storytellers......
Why do Hindu gods have many heads and arms?
This is a common question about Hinduism but not a straightforward one to answer. The simplest response is that......
Wise Men of Gotham
Wise Men of Gotham, in English legend, wise fools, villagers of Gotham, Nottinghamshire, Eng. The story is that,......
Woyengi
Woyengi, in the indigenous religion of the Ijo people of Nigeria, the female deity who created the earth. The creation......
xian
xian, in Chinese Daoism, an immortal who has achieved divinity through devotion to Daoist practices and teachings.......
Xipe Totec
Xipe Totec, Mesoamerican god of spring and new vegetation and patron of goldsmiths. Xipe Totec was venerated by......
Xiuhtecuhtli
Xiuhtecuhtli, Aztec god of fire, thought to be the creator of all life. “Old God” is a reflection of his relative......
Xiwangmu
Xiwangmu, in Daoist mythology of China, queen of the immortals in charge of female genies (spirits) who dwell in......
Xochiquetzal
Xochiquetzal, Aztec goddess of beauty, sexual love, and household arts, who is also associated with flowers and......
Yahweh
Yahweh, name for the God of the Israelites, representing the biblical pronunciation of “YHWH,” the Hebrew name......
Yama
Yama, in Tibetan Buddhism, one of the eight fierce protective deities. See...
Yama
Yama, in the mythology of India, the god of the dead. The Vedas describe him as the first man who died, blazing......
Yama-no-kami
Yama-no-kami, in Japanese popular religion, any of numerous gods of the mountains. These kami are of two kinds:......
Yamato Takeru
Yamato Takeru, Japanese folk hero, noted for his courage and ingenuity, who may have lived in the 2nd century ad.......
Yamm
Yamm, ancient West Semitic deity who ruled the oceans, rivers, lakes, and underground springs. He also played an......
Yamāntaka
Yamāntaka, in northern Buddhism, one of the eight fierce protective deities. See...
Yao
Yao, in Chinese mythology, a legendary emperor (c. 24th century bce) of the golden age of antiquity, exalted by......
Yarikh
Yarikh, ancient West Semitic moon god whose marriage to the moon goddess Nikkal (Sumerian: Ningal, “Queen”) was......
Yemonja
Yemonja, Yoruban deity celebrated as the giver of life and as the metaphysical mother of all orisha (deities) within......
Yggdrasill
Yggdrasill, in Norse mythology, the world tree, a giant ash supporting the universe. It is closely related to the......
yi-dam
yi-dam, in Tibetan Buddhism, a tutelary, or guardian, deity with whom a lama (monk) has a special, secret relationship.......
Yima
Yima, in ancient Iranian religion, the first man, the progenitor of the human race, and son of the sun. Yima is......
Yorimitsu
Yorimitsu, one of the most popular of the legendary Japanese warrior heroes and a member of the martial Minamoto......
Yudi
Yudi, in Chinese religion, the most revered and popular of Chinese Daoist deities. In the official Daoist pantheon,......
Zagreus
Zagreus, in Orphic myth, a divine child who was the son of Zeus (as a snake) and his daughter Persephone. Zeus......
Zao Jun
Zao Jun, in Chinese religion, the “Furnace Prince” whose magical powers of alchemy produced gold dinnerware that......
Zao Shen
Zao Shen, in Chinese religion, the Kitchen God (literally, “god of the hearth”), who is believed to report to the......
Zemes māte
Zemes māte, the Earth Mother of Baltic religion. Zemes māte represents the female aspect of nature and the source......
Zeus
Zeus, in ancient Greek religion, chief deity of the pantheon, a sky and weather god who was identical with the......
Zhang Guolao
Zhang Guolao, in Chinese religion, one of the Baxian, the Eight Immortals of Daoism. In art he is depicted carrying......
Zhi Nü
Zhi Nü, in Chinese mythology, the heavenly weaving maiden who used clouds to spin seamless robes of brocade for......
Zhongli Quan
Zhongli Quan, in Chinese religion, one of the Baxian, the Eight Immortals of Daoism. He is a wine-drinking recluse......
Ziusudra
Ziusudra, in Mesopotamian Religion, rough counterpart to the biblical Noah as survivor of a god-sent flood. When......
Zoroastrianism
Zoroastrianism, ancient pre-Islamic religion of Iran that survives there in isolated areas and, more prosperously,......
Zu
Zu, also called Imdugud, in Mesopotamian Religion, bird god who steals the prophetic tables of fate that confer......
Zurvān
Zurvān, in ancient Iranian religion and Zoroastrianism, the god of time. The earliest mentions of Zurvān appear......
Zwarte Piet
Zwarte Piet is a character in Dutch folklore who serves St. Nicholas (in Dutch, Sinterklaas) in St. Nicholas Day......
ört
ört, in Finno-Ugric religion, a shape or shadow that corresponds to the individual soul. The Mari people believe......
Ōkuninushi
Ōkuninushi, in the mythology of the Izumo branch of Shintō in Japan, the central hero, a son-in-law of the storm......
Žaltys
Žaltys, in ancient Baltic traditions, a harmless green snake highly respected as a symbol of fertility and wealth.......