Mythology

Antigone (Greek mythic heroine and tragic play) Antigone Antigone: daughter of Oedipus, tragic heroine of Sophocles' play; emblem of familial duty, civil disobedience and moral conflict between conscience and state law.

Anu — Sumerian Sky God and King of the Heavens Anu Anu (Sumerian An) is the ancient Sumerian sky deity regarded as ruler of the heavens, constellations, and divine assemblies; a primordial figure whose cult shaped later Mesopotamia…

Anubis: ancient Egyptian god of embalming, tombs, and the afterlife Anubis Anubis (Egyptian Inpw) is the ancient Egyptian deity associated with mummification, protection of graves, and guiding souls. Depicted with a canine head, his role evolved across Eg…

Anuket — Ancient Egyptian goddess of the Nile at Elephantine and the cataracts Anuket Anuket, worshipped at Elephantine and Seheil, is an ancient Egyptian river goddess associated with the Nile’s cataracts, rapid water, the gazelle, and an annual festival of offerin…

Apate — Greek personification of deceit Apate Apate is the Greek personification of deceit and guile, a minor mythic figure linked to Pandora's release of evils and traditionally described as a child of Nyx and Erebus.

Apep (Apophis): the Chaos Serpent of Ancient Egyptian Myth Apep Apep (Apophis) is the serpentine embodiment of chaos in ancient Egyptian religion, the nightly adversary of the sun god Ra. Accounts describe its origins, symbolism, and the ritual…

Aphrodite: Greek goddess of love, beauty, and procreation Aphrodite Aphrodite, one of the Twelve Olympians, is the ancient Greek goddess of love, beauty and procreation; venerated on Cyprus and Cythera, she features in major myths, cult practice, a…

Aphroditus — a masculine or hermaphroditic form of Aphrodite Aphroditus Aphroditus is an ancient cultic form of Aphrodite with masculine or dual sexual attributes, originating in Cyprus and adopted into Greek practice; associated with gender-mixing rit…

Apocalypse: meaning, history, and cultural significance Apocalypse An overview of 'apocalypse'—its linguistic roots, religious and literary uses, common themes, and how the idea shapes culture, art, and contemporary discourse.

Apollo (Greek god) — music, prophecy, healing, and the sun Apollo Apollo, a major deity of ancient Greece, presided over music, prophecy, healing, archery and the sun. This article outlines his attributes, myths, cult practices, symbols, and last…

Apollonius of Rhodes — Hellenistic poet and author of the Argonautica Apollonius of Rhodes Hellenistic Greek poet, compiler and scholar traditionally associated with the Library of Alexandria; best known for the epic Argonautica about Jason and the Argonauts.

Apotropaic magic (apotropaism) Apotropaic magic Apotropaic magic comprises rituals, objects, and gestures intended to avert harm, misfortune, or the evil eye; found in many cultures and expressed through amulets, inscriptions, b…

Arachne: the weaver punished and transformed in Greek myth Arachne Arachne, a skillful mortal weaver from Colophon, challenged the goddess Athena and—after a contest that exposed gods’ faults—was transformed into a spider; the tale explores hubris…

Ares — Greek god of war and violent conflict Ares Ares, a deity from Greek mythology linked to the brutal aspects of warfare, represents bloodlust and chaos in battle. Associated with Thrace, he appears in myths, art, and ancient…

Ares (DC Comics) — The God of War and Wonder Woman’s Adversary Ares (DC Comics) Ares is the DC Comics version of the Greek god of war, a recurring antagonist of Wonder Woman with mythic origins, varied powers, and appearances across comics, animation, and film…

Argonaut Argonaut: a term with roots in Greek myth referring to Jason’s crew; also the name of a genus of pelagic octopods (paper nautiluses) and a popular cultural, sporting and commercial…

Argonautica — epic poem by Apollonius of Rhodes Argonautica A Hellenistic Greek epic recounting Jason's voyage for the Golden Fleece, composed by Apollonius of Rhodes in the 3rd century BCE; notable for its learned style, characterization,…

Ariadne: helper of Theseus, consort of Dionysus Ariadne Ariadne, daughter of Minos in Greek myth, guided Theseus through the Labyrinth and later became associated with Dionysus. Her story shaped ancient cults, art, and the metaphor of '…

Arke (Greek mythology) Arke (mythology) Arke is a minor figure in Greek myth: a winged daughter of Thaumas, sister of Iris, who served as a divine messenger before a betrayal in the Titanomachy led to her fall and the tr…

Armageddon: meaning, origins, and cultural significance Armageddon Armageddon denotes the prophesied site or event of a decisive end-time battle in Judeo-Christian texts, linked to the hill of Megiddo and widely used as a symbol for apocalyptic co…

Artemis: Greek goddess of the hunt, moon, childbirth and chastity Artemis Artemis, daughter of Zeus and Leto and twin sister of Apollo, is the ancient Greek goddess of hunting, the Moon, virginity and childbirth, venerated in myths, cults and monumental…

Asclepius: Greek god of medicine and healing Asclepius Asclepius (Aesculapius) is the ancient Greek demigod associated with medicine, healing sanctuaries, the serpent-entwined staff, and a long cult tradition that influenced Roman reli…

Asgard: Realm of the Æsir in Norse Mythology Asgard Asgard (Old Norse Ásgarðr) is the heavenly stronghold of the Æsir in Norse myth, situated on Yggdrasill and linked to Midgard by the rainbow bridge Bifröst. Overview, places, sourc…

Astarte: Ancient Near Eastern goddess of love, war, and the morning star Astarte Astarte was a major goddess of the ancient Levant and Mediterranean, associated with fertility, sexual love, war and the planet Venus. Worshiped from the Bronze Age through classic…

Asteria — Titaness of Falling Stars and the Island Delos Asteria Asteria, a second-generation Titaness in Greek myth, is linked with falling stars, nocturnal divination and the island Delos; mother of Hecate and sister of Leto who became the ref…

Astyanax (son of Hector) Astyanax Astyanax, the infant son of Hector and Andromache in Greek mythology, is remembered for his brief life in the Iliad and for later traditions that say he was killed after Troy's fal…

Asura: Supernatural beings in Hindu and Buddhist traditions Asura Asuras are a class of powerful supernatural beings found in Hindu and Buddhist literature. Their roles evolved from respected Vedic figures to rival gods and demonic opponents in l…

Atalanta — Greek mythic huntress and heroine Atalanta Atalanta, a famed huntress and virgin of Greek myth, appears in several legends: abandoned at birth, raised in the wild, a participant in the Calydonian Boar hunt, the footrace wit…

Aten (Ancient Egyptian sun disk deity) Aten Aten was the sun disk venerated in Egypt’s Amarna period. Central to Akhenaten’s monotheistic-leaning Atenism, Aten is known for its sun-ray iconography, the Great Hymn, and a shor…

Athena: Greek goddess of wisdom, warfare, and crafts Athena Athena, one of ancient Greece's chief deities, embodied wisdom, strategic warfare, and skilled crafts; patroness of Athens, featured in many myths and central to classical art, cul…

Atlantis: origins, accounts, interpretations, and cultural legacy Atlantis Atlantis is a legendary island or continent described in ancient texts and later literature. This article surveys classical sources, proposed identifications, modern reception, and…

Atlas (mythology): Titan condemned to bear the heavens Atlas (mythology) Atlas, a Titan in Greek myth, was punished to hold up the sky. Father of the Pleiades, he appears in tales with Heracles and Perseus and influenced art, geography and literary symb…

Atri — Vedic sage and one of the Saptarishi Atri Atri is a prominent Vedic sage in Hindu tradition, counted among the seven rishis (Saptarishi). Remembered in scripture, myth, and astronomy, he figures in hymns, lineages, and Pur…

Attis: The Phrygian Vegetation Deity and Consort of Cybele Attis Attis, a youth associated with Phrygia, is a vegetation god and the mythic consort of Cybele whose death and rebirth symbolize seasonal renewal and inspired distinctive cult practi…

Atum: Creator Deity of Ancient Egypt and Origin of the Gods Atum Overview of Atum, ancient Egypt's self-created creator god: his emergence from the primeval waters, role in cosmogony, links to Ra, cult at Heliopolis, and mythic symbols and icono…

Auðr — figure in Norse tradition associated with prosperity Auðr Auðr (Old Norse 'prosperity') is a little‑attested figure in Norse sources, named as a child of Nótt and Naglfari. His identity, gender, and origin are debated among scholars.

Augeias of Elis, king in Greek mythology Augeias of Elis Augeias (or Augeas) was a legendary king of Elis, famed for his vast herds and the infamously filthy stables that figured in one of Heracles' Twelve Labors and later local traditio…

Aurora (Roman goddess of the dawn) Aurora (mythology) Aurora is the Roman personification of dawn, equivalent to the Greek Eos; she renews each morning, appears in classical myths (notably Tithonus), and figures widely in art and lite…

Australian Aboriginal mythology (Dreaming and Songlines) Australian Aboriginal mythology Overview of Australian Aboriginal myths—often called the Dreaming—covering their forms, themes, cultural roles, regional variety, and continuing significance in art, law and identi…

Avalon (mythology) Avalon is a legendary island in Arthurian tradition, famed as a place of healing, enchantment, and the origin/return of Excalibur; it appears across medieval romances and later lit…

Azrael: the angel of death in religious tradition and culture Azrael Azrael is a name associated with the angel of death in Islamic and Jewish lore. Not named in the Qur'an, the figure appears in later religious literature, folklore, art and modern…

Aztec mythology: gods, cosmology, rituals, and cultural role Aztec mythology A concise overview of Aztec mythology: its cosmology of five suns, principal deities, ritual practices including sacrifice, historical context, and cultural legacy.

Ægir: Norse sea giant and personification of the ocean Ægir Ægir is a figure from Norse myth associated with the sea. Portrayed variously as a god, jötunn, host and brewer, he and his wife Rán embody the power and danger of the ocean in med…

Æsir The Æsir are the principal gods of Norse mythology, associated with rulership, law, and warfare; they dwell in Asgard and are central to myths that include the Æsir–Vanir conflict…

Æsir–Vanir War — Norse myth of gods' conflict and reconciliation Æsir–Vanir War A major myth in Norse mythology recounting a war between the Æsir and Vanir, its negotiated truce, the creation of Kvasir, and the episode's significance for Viking-age belief and…

Ba (Ancient Egyptian concept of the soul) Ba Ba is an aspect of the ancient Egyptian soul often depicted as a human-headed bird; it represents individuality and could travel between the worlds after death.

Baba Yaga: The Ambiguous Witch of Slavic Folklore Baba Yaga Baba Yaga is a central figure in Slavic folktales: a crone who lives in a walking hut, flies in a mortar, and acts as both threat and helper across many regional traditions.

Babruvahana: Son of Arjuna and King of Manipur Babruvahana Babruvahana, a prince of Manipur in the Mahabharata, is known as the son of Arjuna and Chitrangada, a warrior-king who figures in a dramatic father–son confrontation and later regi…