Mythology

Abhimanyu — Young warrior of the Mahabharata Abhimanyu Abhimanyu, son of Arjuna and Subhadra, is celebrated in the Mahabharata for his courage in breaching the Chakravyuha formation and for his tragic death; his legacy continued throug…

Acastus — Greek mythological hero, Argonaut and king of Iolcus Acastus Acastus, son of Pelias in Greek myth, is known as an Argonaut, a hunter of the Calydonian Boar and a king of Iolcus. Traditions link him with Jason, Medea and the hero Peleus; acco…

Achilles: Greek hero of the Trojan War and enduring cultural figure Achilles Achilles, son of Peleus and Thetis, is the foremost Greek warrior of Homer's Iliad. His strength, rage, and famed vulnerability shaped ancient storytelling and modern expressions l…

Adi Parashakti: Mahadevi, the Supreme Goddess in Shaktism Adi Parashakti Adi Parashakti, or Mahadevi, is the supreme female principle in Shaktism. Identified with Durga and Jagat Janani, she is regarded as the ultimate reality and the source of creation…

Adonis: Greek god of beauty, desire, and seasonal rebirth Adonis Adonis is a figure of Greek myth associated with youth, desire, and vegetation cycles; his cult featured female-led rites, seasonal gardens, lamentation, and widespread cultural in…

Aegis — Shield and Symbol in Greek Mythology Aegis Aegis: the mythic protective device carried by deities such as Athena and Zeus, often depicted with the Gorgon's head. An enduring emblem of divine protection, authority, and terro…

Aegisthus (Greek mythological figure) Aegisthus Aegisthus, lover of Clytemnestra in Greek myth, is remembered for his part in Agamemnon’s murder, his rule at Mycenae, and his death at Orestes’ hands; he appears in Homeric epic a…

Aeneas: Trojan prince, epic hero, and ancestor of Rome Aeneas Aeneas, son of Anchises and the goddess Aphrodite (Venus), is a key figure in Greek and Roman myth. He is the protagonist of Virgil's Aeneid and a legendary progenitor of Rome's fo…

The Aeneid — Virgil's Latin epic of Aeneas and Rome's origins Aeneid Epic Latin poem by Virgil (late 1st century BC) recounting Aeneas's flight from Troy, his trials, and the foundations of Roman destiny; central to classical literature and Western…

Aeolus — Greek mythological ruler of the winds Aeolus Aeolus, in Greek tradition, is the mythic keeper of the winds and a recurring figure in epic literature. Accounts vary; he appears in the Odyssey, Roman poetry, and later cultural…

Aether — Greek primordial deity and the upper air Aether Aether, a primordial figure in Greek myth, personifies the bright upper air and light. This article covers his origins, role in cosmogony, influence on ancient natural philosophy,…

Agamemnon: King of Mycenae and Commander in Greek Epic Agamemnon Agamemnon, son of Atreus and brother of Menelaus, is a central figure in Greek epic and tragedy—commander at Troy, husband of Clytemnestra, and the tragic victim at his return from…

Agdistis (Phrygian deity) Agdistis Agdistis, a hermaphroditic figure from Phrygian, Greek and Roman tradition, personified a wild mountain power and was entwined with the Cybele–Attis myths and ancient Anatolian cul…

Age of Mythology Age of Mythology is a 2002 real-time strategy game that blends historical-style base building with mythological units, gods and powers from Greek, Egyptian and Norse traditions.

Ages of Man: the Five Hesiodic Eras from Golden to Iron Ages of Man An overview of the classical Ages of Man myth: its five eras, characteristics, literary sources (Hesiod, Plato, Ovid), and its role in ancient explanations of moral decline.

Aidos — Greek personification of shame, modesty and social reverence Aidos Aidos is the ancient Greek personification of shame, modesty and reverence. Portrayed more as an ethical feeling than a richly worshipped deity, she appears in literature and occas…

Ajax the Lesser (Aias, son of Oïleus) Ajax the Lesser Greek mythological warrior of the Trojan War, son of Oïleus and leader of the Locrians, famed for his swiftness and infamous for the sacrilege that brought divine vengeance and his…

Aker (ancient Egyptian deity of the horizon and guardian) Aker (deity) Aker is an ancient Egyptian protective deity associated with the horizon and the earth, often shown as paired recumbent lions; he guards the eastern and western gates of the nether…

Akrisios Akrisios, a king of Argos in Greek myth, best known as the father of Danaë and grandfather of Perseus; his story examines fate, attempts to avert prophecy, and their ironic fulfill…

Aladdin — fictional hero of the Enchanted Lamp tale Aladdin Aladdin is the central figure of the tale commonly called “Aladdin and the Enchanted Lamp,” associated with the One Thousand and One Nights cycle and widely adapted in literature,…

Álfheimr — the Álfheim of Norse myth, home of the Light Elves Álfheimr Álfheimr (Álfheim) is the Old Norse ‘elf-home’, a realm in Norse cosmology associated with the bright elves (Ljósálfar). It appears in medieval sources and influenced later folklor…

Ali Baba — fictional protagonist of 'Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves' Ali Baba Ali Baba is the central figure of the tale 'Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves', known for the phrase “Open Sesame”; his story has complex origins, enduring cultural impact and dispute…

Alcmene: Mother of Heracles and Iphicles in Greek mythology Alkmene Alcmene, a mortal noblewoman of Mycenae in Greek mythology, mother of Heracles (by Zeus) and Iphicles (by Amphitryon). Her story centers on divine deception, Hera’s jealousy, and l…

Aloadae (Otos and Ephialtes) — twin giants of Greek myth Aloadae The Aloadae were twin giants, Otos and Ephialtes, noted for attempting to storm Olympus, imprisoning Ares, and slaying one another after a trick by Artemis. Traditions differ on pa…

Ama-no-Uzume: Shinto goddess of dawn, revelry and theatrical ritual Ama-no-Uzume Ama-no-Uzume (Ame-no-Uzume-no-mikoto) is the Shinto kami of dawn, mirth and performance, famed for coaxing Amaterasu from a cave and for shaping Japan’s ritual dance traditions.

Amaltheia — Greek mythological nurse of Zeus Amaltheia Amaltheia is a figure from Greek myth, variously described as a goat or as a goat‑nursing nymph who fed the infant Zeus. Her broken horn became the cornucopia, a long‑standing symb…

Amaterasu — the Sun goddess of Japanese tradition Amaterasu Amaterasu is the central sun deity in Shinto belief, famed for myths about withdrawing into a cave and for ties to the imperial line; she is venerated at Ise Grand Shrine and in ma…

Amazons: Warrior Women in Greek Myth and Cultural Memory Amazons The Amazons were a legendary tribe of warrior women in ancient Greek storytelling, variously located by classical authors and linked to steppe cultures. This article explains myths…

Ambrosia — the food of the Greek gods Ambrosia Ambrosia: in Greek myth the divine food (or drink) conferring immortality and divine status; also a cultural term with literary, botanical and culinary uses.

Ammit — the Ancient Egyptian Devourer of the Dead Ammit Ammit was a composite demoness in ancient Egyptian belief who consumed the hearts of the unworthy after judgment, preventing their entrance to the afterlife and symbolizing annihil…

Amphitrite (Greek sea goddess) Amphitrite Amphitrite, a Greek goddess of the sea, is best known as Poseidon’s consort and a Nereid. This article summarizes her origins, myths, iconography, cult associations, and later cult…

Amulet: Objects Believed to Bring Luck and Protection Amulet An amulet is an object thought to protect its wearer or bring good fortune. This article explains common types, cultural history, uses, notable examples and the difference between…

Amun: Ancient Egyptian god of hidden air and Theban eminence Amun Amun, originally a local Theban deity and member of the Ogdoad, rose to national prominence as Amun-Ra. He is associated with air, creation, kingship and the powerful priesthood ce…

Anarkali: the legendary Mughal-era dancing girl Anarkali (girl) Anarkali is a legendary courting figure associated with the Mughal court in Lahore. Her story—romance with Prince Selim (Jahangir), punishment by Emperor Akbar, and a disputed tomb…

Anchises: Trojan noble, lover of Aphrodite/Venus and father of Aeneas Anchises Anchises, a Trojan noble in Greek myth, is famed as the mortal lover of Aphrodite (Venus) and the father of Aeneas. His story links Trojan legend with Roman foundation myth and app…

Ancient Egyptian concept of the soul A clear overview of how ancient Egyptians conceived the human soul — its main components (Ren, Ba, Ka, Sheut, Ib), roles in life and death, funerary practices, and later interpreta…

Andhrímnir — Cook of the Gods in Norse Mythology Andhrímnir Andhrímnir is the divine cook in Norse myth who prepares the boar Sæhrímnir in the cauldron Eldhrímnir to feed the gods and the einherjar in Valhalla, a ritual that renews each day…

Andromache: Trojan noblewoman, wife of Hector and later queen of Epirus Andromache Andromache, wife of Hector in Greek myth, is known for her mourning in the Iliad, the fate of her son Astyanax, and her later life as captive and queen after the fall of Troy.

Andromeda: myth, stars, galaxy, and cultural namesakes Andromeda Overview of Andromeda across mythology, the constellation, the Andromeda Galaxy (M31), and its many uses in literature, music, ships, and popular culture.

Andromeda (mythology) Andromeda, an Aethiopian princess in Greek myth, was chained as a sacrifice to a sea monster and rescued by Perseus; her story inspired art and gives its name to a constellation an…

Anemoi — the Wind Gods of Ancient Greece Anemoi Anemoi are the personified winds in Greek mythology: Boreas, Notus, Eurus and Zephyrus. They appear in literature and art, associated with directions, seasons, weather and mythic t…

Anglo-Saxon mythology The pre-Christian belief system of the Anglo-Saxons in early medieval England: deities, rituals, sources, and its legacy in language, literature and archaeology.

Angrboða — giantess of Norse myth and mother of monstrous kin Angrboða Angrboða, whose name means 'she who brings grief', is a jötunn in Norse myth, associated with Loki and mother of Jörmungandr, Fenrir, and Hel; attestations are sparse and mainly fr…

Ani (Etruscan sky god) Ani (god) Ani, an Etruscan deity associated with the sky and highest heaven, known from sparse iconography and inscriptions; sometimes shown two-faced and compared with Near Eastern Anu and…

Anius — king and priest of Delos in Greek mythology Anius Anius, son of Apollo and Rhoeo, was a mythic king-priest of Delos. He is known for prophetic pronouncements about the Trojan War and for his three daughters, the Oenotropae, who pr…

Annabeth Chase — demigod heroine from Rick Riordan's Percy Jackson series Annabeth Chase Annabeth Chase is a central character in Rick Riordan's modern mythological novels: a daughter of Athena, a skilled strategist and architect, and a longtime companion and love inte…

Annar (figure in Norse mythology) Annar Annar, whose name means "second" or "another" in Old Norse, appears in Norse myth as the second husband of Nótt (Night) and the father of the earth personified as Jörð, making him…

Anput — Egyptian goddess of the desert and funerary protection Anput Anput (Anupet) is an ancient Egyptian protective and funerary goddess, the feminine counterpart of Anubis, linked to the desert, cemeteries, and the seventeenth nome of Upper Egypt…