Mythology

Shichi Fukujin: The Seven Gods of Fortune in Japanese myth Seven Lucky Gods Overview of Shichi Fukujin, the Seven Gods of Fortune in Japanese myth: origins, individual deities (Ebisu, Daikokuten, Benzaiten, etc.), their iconography, the Takarabune and New…

Shapeshifting: transformation in myth, folklore, and fiction Shapeshifting Shapeshifting is the motif of beings changing form found in myths, folklore and modern fiction. This article explains types, cultural examples, differences from biological change,…

Shita-kiri Suzume (The Tongue-Cut Sparrow) Shita-kiri Suzume Shita-kiri Suzume, the Tongue-Cut Sparrow, is a Japanese folktale about kindness rewarded and greed punished. It remains a popular children's story and cultural motif in Japan with…

Shu — ancient Egyptian god of air and cosmic separation Shu (Egyptian god) Shu is the ancient Egyptian deity of air and dryness who upholds the sky, separates earth and heaven, and figures in Heliopolitan creation myths and Egyptian cosmology.

Siegfried (hero of the Nibelungenlied and related Germanic legends) Siegfried Siegfried is the central hero of the medieval German epic tradition—known also as Sigurd in Norse sources—famous for slaying a dragon, winning a treasure, and meeting a tragic deat…

Sif — Norse goddess associated with grain, home and golden hair Sif Sif is a figure in Norse religion, known as the wife of Thor and associated with grain, fields, household prosperity and the famous myth of her golden hair.

Sigyn — Loyal Wife of Loki in Norse Mythology Sigyn Sigyn is a minor figure in Norse myth, remembered as Loki’s devoted wife who stays by him during his punishment. Attested in the Eddas, she is associated with fidelity and the imag…

Sinbad the Sailor: maritime tales from One Thousand and One Nights Sinbad the Sailor Sinbad the Sailor is a legendary mariner from the Arabian Nights whose seven voyages mix seafaring adventure, fantastic monsters and moral reflection; later adapted across literatu…

Sir Bors the Younger — Knight of the Round Table Sir Bors the Younger Sir Bors the Younger, a prominent Knight of the Round Table, is remembered for his loyalty, chastity and role among the Grail knights in Arthurian legend across medieval romances a…

Sir Dinadan: The Witty Knight of Arthurian Romance Sir Dinadan Sir Dinadan is a knight in the Arthurian legends known for his dry humor, martial skill, and role as a skeptical, comic counterpoint within the tales of King Arthur and the Round T…

Sir Gawain — Knight of the Round Table and Hero of Medieval Romances Sir Gawain Sir Gawain, Arthur's nephew and a leading Knight of the Round Table, appears across medieval English, French and Celtic literature as a model of chivalry, a complex hero in poems l…

Sir Kay (Cei) — Knight and Seneschal in Arthurian Legend Sir Kay Sir Kay, son of Sir Ector and foster-brother to King Arthur, is an early figure in the Arthurian cycle: a chief household officer, a prominent Knight of the Round Table, and a comp…

Siren (mythological creature) Siren A legendary figure of Greek myth whose alluring song lured sailors to destruction; originally bird‑women in ancient sources and later depicted like mermaids, best known from Homer'…

Sisyphus — Greek king condemned to an eternal, futile task Sisyphus Sisyphus, a figure from Greek myth, was punished to roll a boulder up a hill forever. His story became a lasting symbol of futile labor, defiance, and philosophical reflection.

Sita: Goddess, consort of Rama, and heroine of the Ramayana Sita Sita is a central figure in the Hindu epic Ramayana—venerated as an incarnation of Lakshmi, daughter of Janaka, exemplar of virtue, and subject of varied religious and literary int…

Sjöfn — Norse goddess associated with love Sjöfn Sjöfn is a minor Norse goddess named by Snorri Sturluson, associated with love and affectionate feeling. She is chiefly attested in the Prose Edda and is otherwise sparsely documen…

Skadi — Norse goddess of hunting, mountains, and skiing Skadi Skadi (Skaði) is a Norse mythological figure associated with skiing, hunting, mountains and winter. Daughter of the jötunn Þjazi, she appears in the Eddas and later folklore and mo…

Sköll — the wolf that pursues the sun in Norse mythology Sköll Sköll is a wolf in Norse mythology who chases the sun (Sól) across the sky. Alongside his brother Hati, who hunts the moon, Sköll figures in medieval sources and later interpretati…

Snotra — Norse goddess of wisdom and prudence Snotra Snotra is a little-attested Norse goddess associated with wisdom, prudence, and courteous behavior; she appears in the Prose Edda and is noted as one of the few goddesses who dies…

Sobek: Ancient Egyptian Crocodile God Sobek Sobek was an ancient Egyptian deity linked to crocodiles, the Nile, fertility, protection, and royal power. His cult kept live and mummified crocodiles and centered at sites such a…

Sohni Mahiwal A classical tragic romance from Punjabi and Sindhi folklore: Sohni braves a river nightly to reach her beloved Mahiwal. The tale explores devotion, betrayal, symbolism of water and…

Sól — Norse personification of the Sun Sól Sól (Old Norse for “Sun”) is the personified Sun in Germanic and Norse tradition, known from the Poetic and Prose Eddas, where she drives a chariot across the sky and is pursued by…

Sopdet — Egyptian goddess of the star Sothis (Sirius) Sopdet Sopdet is the ancient Egyptian personification of the star Sothis (commonly identified with Sirius). Her heliacal rising marked the Nile flood and was tied to renewal, royal ritual…

Spes — Roman personification of hope Spes Spes is the Roman personification of hope, associated with fertility, good harvests, and future prosperity. Venerated since early Rome, she appears in art, coinage and religious pr…

Sphinx: Mythical guardian with a human head and the body of a lion Sphinx A sphinx is a mythological hybrid creature—commonly a human head on a lion's body—found in ancient Egypt, Greece, Asia and later European art; known as guardian, riddle-poser and f…

Star of Bethlehem The Star of Bethlehem is the celestial sign in the Gospel of Matthew that guided the Magi to the infant Jesus. Interpretations range from a miraculous sign to various astronomical…

Stheno — one of the three Gorgon sisters in Greek mythology Stheno Stheno, a Gorgon of Greek myth, is famed for her ferocity and immortality. Sister to Euryale and Medusa, she appears in ancient poetry and art as a protective and fearsome figure w…

Stingy Jack — the folk figure behind the Jack‑o'‑lantern Stingy Jack Stingy Jack is a trickster figure in Irish folklore whose dealings with the Devil explain the origin of the carved lantern known as the jack‑o'‑lantern and its connection to All Ha…

Stories or Tales from Past Times — Charles Perrault's Fairy Tale Collection Stories or Tales of Past Times A concise overview of Charles Perrault's 1697 collection Stories or Tales from Past Times (Mother Goose's Tales), its contents, themes, publication history and cultural influence.

Styx — Greek goddess and personification of the river Styx Styx Styx, a unique female river deity in Greek mythology, personifies the underworld river. Daughter of Oceanus and Tethys, she is linked to Zeus’s oaths and mother of several divine a…

Superhero (fictional hero archetype) Superhero Fictional characters who use extraordinary abilities, training, or resources to protect others; often depicted with costumes, secret identities, and moral codes across comics, film…

Surya — the Sun deity in Hindu tradition Surya Surya is the principal solar deity in Hinduism, worshipped as the sun, daylight and a source of life. He features in Vedic hymns, classical iconography, temple cults, festivals and…

Suryavanshi (Solar Dynasty): origins, clans and cultural significance Suryavanshi Suryavanshi denotes membership in the mythic Solar Dynasty. This article explains its legendary origins, major Rajput clans that claim it, social role, and distinctions from other…

Susanoo: Storms, the Sea, and a Central Deity of Shinto Myth Susanoo Susanoo is a major kami in Shinto associated with the sea, storms and chaotic forces. This article outlines his origins, myths, symbols, and cultural importance in Japanese traditi…

Syn — Norse goddess of refusal, threshold guardianship, and legal protection Syn (goddess) Syn is a minor Norse goddess whose name means "refusal." Attested in medieval sources, she is associated with guarding doors, refusing entry, and defending people in legal disputes…

Takamagahara — the High Plain of Heaven in Shinto mythology Takamagahara Takamagahara is the mythic 'High Plain of Heaven' in Shinto belief, the dwelling of the kami and the upper realm in Japanese cosmogony, connected to the earthly world by the Floati…

Talia al Ghul: background, role, and adaptations Talia al Ghul Talia al Ghul is a complex DC Comics character: daughter of Ra's al Ghul, occasional adversary and ally to Batman, and mother of Damian Wayne. This article summarizes origins, trai…

Talisman: Objects of Protection, Luck, and Sacred Meaning Talisman An object believed to carry protective, beneficial, or sacred power. Explains forms, materials, cultural history, crafting practices, uses, and how talismans differ from amulets an…

Talos: the bronze guardian of Crete in Greek myth Talos Talos was a giant bronze automaton in Greek mythology who protected Crete. Myths describe his origin, functions, defeat by the Argonauts or Medea, and his later interpretation as a…

Tamamo-no-Mae: the legendary fox-woman of Japanese myth and the Killing Stone Tamamo-no-Mae Tamamo-no-Mae is a famous figure in Japanese folklore: a beautiful, cunning woman revealed to be a nine-tailed fox spirit whose death produced the Sesshō-seki (Killing Stone) and i…

Tantalus — punished king of Greek mythology Tantalus Tantalus, a legendary figure of Greek myth, is known for offending the gods and receiving eternal punishment in the underworld; his story explains the word 'tantalize' and connects…

Tanuki: the Japanese raccoon dog and its folkloric role Tanuki Tanuki are East Asian canids (raccoon dogs) and prominent figures in Japanese folklore, remembered as shapeshifters, tricksters, and symbols of prosperity in stories, art, and popu…

Tara (Devi): Hindu Goddess and One of the Mahavidyas Tara (Devi) Tara is a Hindu goddess invoked in Tantra as one of the ten Mahavidyas. She represents protection, guidance and esoteric wisdom and is worshipped with mantras, yantras and ritual r…

Tarot: history, structure, and uses of the 78-card deck Tarot Tarot is a 78‑card deck that developed in 15th‑century Europe for games and later acquired roles in divination, art and self‑reflection. This article outlines its structure, histor…

Tatenen — Egyptian god of the primordial mound Tatenen Tatenen is a primordial Egyptian deity associated with the rising earth, silt, creation and fertility. A Memphite chthonic figure, he is sometimes androgynous and linked to Ptah an…

Tawaret: Ancient Egyptian Protector of Pregnancy and Childbirth Tawaret Tawaret (Taweret) is an ancient Egyptian protective goddess associated with pregnancy, childbirth and household safety, commonly shown as a composite hippopotamus figure and worn a…

Tefnut: Egyptian goddess of moisture, lioness, and early creation Tefnut Tefnut was an ancient Egyptian deity associated with moisture, rain and fertility, often shown as a lioness or woman with a lion's head; she appears in creation myths as a child of…

Telemachus — Son of Odysseus and a central figure in the Odyssey Telemachus Telemachus, son of Odysseus and Penelope in Homer's Odyssey, undertakes a coming-of-age search for his father, confronts his mother's suitors, and helps restore his household with…