Mythology

Nerthus — Germanic fertility goddess attested by Tacitus Nerthus Nerthus is a deity of fertility and peace known from Roman-era sources. Tacitus' account describes island rites, a sacred procession and rituals that influenced later scholarship o…

Nico di Angelo: Son of Hades and Necromancer in Rick Riordan's Mythology Nico di Angelo Nico di Angelo, son of Hades in Rick Riordan's novels, is a necromancer demigod whose underworld powers, hidden past, and evolving relationships drive pivotal moments across Percy…

Niðavellir: the dark fields of Norse myth Niðavellir Niðavellir, often translated “dark fields,” is a realm in Norse mythology associated with the dwarves and subterranean craft. It appears in the Poetic Edda and is linked to Svartál…

Niflheim: The Norse Realm of Mist, Ice and Primeval Cold Niflheim Niflheim is the ancient Norse realm associated with mist, ice and the source of cold rivers; it figures in creation myths, cosmology, and later poetic and prose traditions of the N…

Nike — Greek goddess and personification of victory Nike (mythology) Nike is the ancient Greek personification of victory, celebrated in art, religion, and modern culture. Associated with speed, wings, and wreaths, she appears in myths, Hellenistic…

Nimrod (biblical figure) Nimrod Nimrod is a figure from the Hebrew Bible described as a mighty hunter and city-builder. Later Jewish, Christian and Islamic traditions expanded his story into themes of kingship, r…

Ninigi-no-Mikoto — heavenly grandson in Japanese myth Ninigi-no-Mikoto Ninigi-no-Mikoto is a Shinto deity, grandson of Amaterasu, whose descent to earth (Tenson kōrin) brought divine authority, agriculture and the ancestral link to Japan's imperial ho…

Niobe — myth of pride, loss, and the weeping rock Niobe Niobe, daughter of Tantalus and wife of Amphion, is a tragic figure of Greek myth whose boast against Leto led to the slaughter of her children and her transformation into a symbol…

Njáls saga — The Story of Burnt Njáll Njál's saga A detailed overview of Njáls saga, a thirteenth‑century Icelandic saga that examines honor, law, Christianity, and blood feud through the lives of Njáll, Gunnar and their community…

Njörðr (Njord) — Norse god of the sea, wind and prosperity Njord Njörðr (anglicized Njord) is a Vanir deity in Norse myth associated with the sea, winds, fishing and wealth. He appears in the Poetic and Prose Edda and figures in tales of the Æsi…

Noah's Ark: Biblical account, descriptions, and cultural legacy Noah's Ark Noah's Ark is the vessel described in Genesis as built to survive a divinely sent flood. The story, its dimensions, interpretations, and attempts to locate the ark have shaped reli…

Norns: Fate-weavers of Norse Mythology Norns Norse mythic figures who shape destiny; traditionally three women named Urd, Verdandi and Skuld who spin, measure and weave the threads of fate and appear across medieval sources a…

Norse mythology Body of traditional stories, gods, and cosmology of the North Germanic peoples recorded in medieval sources and preserved through oral poetry and saga.

Nótt — Norse personification of the night Nótt Nótt is the Old Norse personification of night in Norse mythology. Described in the Prose Edda, she is a giantess-born goddess who rides the horse Hrímfaxi and is mother of Jörð an…

Nu: letter, words, names and abbreviations Nu Concise reference to the many meanings of Nu: the Greek letter and Japanese kana, names and peoples, codes and abbreviations, mythological and cultural uses, scientific symbols, an…

Nut — Egyptian sky goddess Nut (goddess) Nut is the ancient Egyptian personification of the sky, often shown arching above the earth and linked to the sun's nightly passage, funerary art, and the cycle of birth and renewa…

Nymphs: Nature spirits of Greek mythology Nymph Nymphs are female nature spirits from Greek myth associated with landscapes and waters, classed by habitat and role. They appear in ancient literature, cult practice, art, and late…

Nyx — Greek primordial goddess of the night Nyx Nyx, the personification of night in Greek mythology: origins from Chaos, major offspring such as Hypnos and Thanatos, iconography, literary role, and Roman counterpart Nox.

Oberon — King of the Fairies in Literature and Culture Oberon Oberon is the legendary king of the fairies in medieval and Renaissance storytelling, best known from Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream. This article summarizes his origins,…

Odin: The Norse All‑Father — roles, myths, symbols, and cultural legacy Odin Odin is a central god in Norse mythology: a complex figure of wisdom, war, poetry and magic, chief of the Æsir and ruler of Asgard whose myths shaped medieval literature and modern…

Odysseus — Greek epic hero, king of Ithaca Odysseus Odysseus, a central figure in Homeric epic, is the crafty king of Ithaca whose voyages after Troy form the Odyssey; famed for intelligence, trickery, and lasting influence on liter…

The Odyssey — Ancient Greek Epic Poem Odyssey The Odyssey is an ancient Greek epic attributed to Homer that follows Odysseus's long voyage home after the Trojan War, exploring themes of cunning, hospitality, fate and the meani…

Óðr: Freyja's Companion in Norse Mythology Óðr Óðr is a sparsely attested figure in Norse myth, known chiefly as the husband of the goddess Freyja. Sources, etymology, and scholarly debate explore his identity and possible link…

Oedipus: legendary king of Thebes and central figure in Greek tragedy Oedipus Oedipus, a central figure of Greek myth and drama, whose life of prophecy, patricide and incest inspired Sophocles' tragedies and Freud's term 'Oedipus complex'. Overview, myth, pl…

Oeneus — King of Calydon and Patron of Winemaking Oeneus Oeneus, a mythic king of Calydon in Aetolia, credited with introducing winemaking after instruction by Dionysus; central to the Calydonian Boar myth and ancestor to several legenda…

Ogre (mythical creature) Ogre Large humanoid monster from folklore, often depicted as brutish and man-eating; appears in fairy tales, medieval legends and modern fantasy with varied roles and origins.

Okeanids (Oceanids): water nymphs of Okeanos and Tethys Okeanid Okeanids, or Oceanids, are the multitudinous daughters of the Titans Okeanos and Tethys in Greek myth—water nymphs who personify springs, rivers and aspects of the sea and appear a…

Okeanos (Oceanus) — Titan and personification of the encircling river Okeanos Okeanos is the Titan who embodies the great river said to surround the world in Greek myth. Husband of Tethys and father of river gods and Oceanids, he marks a cosmological boundar…

Omen: signs, interpretation, history and cultural roles Omen An omen is a perceived sign thought to predict future events. This article explains forms, interpretation practices, historical background, examples across cultures, and how the id…

Issun-bōshi (One-inch Boy): summary, motifs, origins and cultural influence One-inch boy Issun-bōshi, the 'one-inch boy', is a classic Japanese folktale about a tiny but brave child. This article outlines the story, symbols, variants, and its place in literature and po…

Oneiroi — Greek personifications of dreams Oneiroi The Oneiroi are dream-spirits of ancient Greek myth, variously described as children of Night or of Sleep. This article summarizes their nature, principal members, symbolic gates,…

Oni (Japanese folklore): appearance, history, and cultural roles Oni (folklore) Oni are supernatural beings from Japanese folklore, often portrayed as large horned creatures. This article outlines their appearance, origins, cultural functions, and modern repre…

Onryō: Vengeful Spirits of Japanese Folklore, Theater, and Film Onryō Onryō are vengeful spirits in Japanese tradition—often wronged women—who return from the spirit world to seek retribution. Their image shaped theater and modern horror cinema.

Ophiotaurus — the Bull-Serpent of Greek Myth Ophiotaurus A rare composite creature, the Ophiotaurus is a bull–serpent hybrid known chiefly from Ovid’s Fasti; burning its entrails was said to grant power over the gods. Also appears in mod…

Oracle (Ancient Greek prophetic institution) Oracle An oracle in ancient Greece was a religious intermediary who relayed divine guidance or predictions. This article outlines their role, rituals, notable examples, and historical sig…

Oracle of Delphi: The Pythia and the Temple of Apollo Oracle of Delphi The Oracle of Delphi was the sacred prophetic institution of ancient Greece where the Pythia, a priestess of Apollo, delivered counsel that shaped religion, politics and culture ac…

Orc: Mythical Origins, Literary Development, and Modern Fantasy Orc Orcs are legendary creatures found in classical myth, medieval folklore and modern fantasy literature. This article outlines origins, key portrayals, physical traits, and cultural…

Orion (mythology) Orion is a large and variable figure in Greek myth: a famed hunter, a constellation, and a local hero whose stories survive in fragmentary, contradictory forms.

Orpheus: legendary musician and figure of Greek myth Orpheus Orpheus, a central figure of Greek myth, is famed for his music, the journey to recover Eurydice from the Underworld, and his influence on religion, poetry, and later arts.

Orphism (ancient Greek religious movement) Orphism (religion) Orphism is a set of religious beliefs and practices in ancient Greece associated with the mythical poet Orpheus, emphasizing the soul’s immortality, ritual purification, and escape…

Orsinian Tales A collection of eleven short stories by Ursula K. Le Guin set in the fictional country of Orsinia, exploring intimate lives against a background of political upheaval and the value…

Osiris: Egyptian god of the afterlife, resurrection, and fertility Osiris Osiris, a principal deity of ancient Egypt, symbolizes death and rebirth, fertility, and kingship. His myth explains Egyptian beliefs about the afterlife and underpins funerary pra…

Otrera — queen and matriarch of the Amazons Otrera Otrera, in Greek mythology, is a named queen of the Amazons, daughter of the east wind and consort of Ares, traditionally counted as mother of Hippolyta, Antiope, Melanippe and Pen…

Our Lady of Guadalupe A summary of the Marian apparition known as Our Lady of Guadalupe: origin, image, symbolism, historical context, devotion and cultural significance across Mexico and the Americas.

Ouroboros: Symbol of Self-Consumption and Renewal Ouroboros Ancient emblem of a serpent or dragon eating its own tail, the ouroboros symbolizes cyclicality, eternity, and renewal across cultures from Egypt and Greece to alchemy and modern t…

Paean (Greek god of healing) Paean (god) Paean, originally a divine healer in ancient Greek tradition, became an epithet of gods such as Apollo and Asclepius and gave rise to the word for a song of thanksgiving.

Palaemon — Greek sea-god (formerly Melicertes) Palaemon Palaemon, originally Melicertes, is a minor Greek sea deity who, with his mother Ino (Leucothea), was transformed after a tragic leap into the sea. He became a patron of sailors an…

Pallas (Titan) — figure in Greek mythology Pallas Article on Pallas, a Titan associated with war in Greek myth: genealogy, offspring (Nike, Kratos, Zelus, Bia), the contest with Athena, variant traditions, and cultural legacy incl…