Mythlok - The Home of Mythology

Introduction
Nayenezgani is a mythical hero from the Navajo mythology and is considered to be the god of war although he has gained prominence as the slayer of the monster Anaye.

Physical Traits
Nayenezgani is depicted as the polar opposite of his brother in appearance who is described as dark and moist. He tends to take attributes from his father the Sun God and is considered to be fair and bright in his appearance. He is also believed to be not very heavily built but had immense strength and courage.

Family
Nayenezgani is believed to be the son of the Changing Woman who is also referred to as The White-Painted Woman or The White Shell Woman. His father is said to be the Sun God, Tsohanoai.

He also had a twin brother Tobadzischini, although it is commonly said that Nayenezgani is the first born among the two.

Other Names
He is also known as “The Monster Slayer” or “The Killer of Enemies”.

Powers And Abilities
His father and the Sun God, Tsohanoai, gave him powerful arms, including a chain-lightning arrow, a sheet-lightning arrow, a sunbeam arrow, and a rainbow arrow to kill his enemies

Modern Day Influence
In the Buffy the Vampire Slayer universe on television, Nayenezgani appears as one of the slayers before Buffy. He has briefly been mentioned in both Thor and Wonder Woman comics as apart of the Navajo pantheon.

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Shiva also known as Mahadeva is one of the main deities of Hinduism. With pre-Vedic roots, Shiva is an amalgam of various non-Vedic deities, such as the Rigvedic storm god Rudra. In the Trimurti, which includes Vishnu and Brahma, Shiva is referred to as the Destroyer. He is the Supreme Lord who creates and protects the universe. In the Shakta tradition, a goddess is referred to as the Devi, with Parvati as the equal partner of Shiva.

There are many depictions of Shiva in both benevolent and ferocious aspects. In his noble aspects, he is depicted as a wise and ascetic living on Mount Kailash with his wife, Parvati, and their two children.

Shiva is a deity worshipped in various Hindu countries and traditions like India, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Indonesia. He is depicted with a serpent around his neck, with the moon’s crescent moon and the holy river Ganges flowing from his forehead.

Read more at https://mythlok.com/shiva/

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Introduction
Maize Deity is another Olmec god who has not been identified with a name. The physical representation of the god in ancient carvings associating him with a cleft of corm has lead researchers to name him Maize God or God II.

The shamans who were an important part of the Olmec worship and rituals were considered to be in constant touch the gods and conveyed the messages from the gods to the people.

Physical Traits
Maize Deity or God II was often depicted as a humanish figure with a corn cob growing from a cleft in its head. It had almond-shaped eyes and a large flat nose. The sculptures of the Maize Gods usually have other carvings atop the heads. The statues are almost never shown from waist down.

Family
The Maize Deity is considered to be the precursor for other Maize Gods in the other South American and Mesoamerican cultures. Although the Mayan and Aztec versions of the god have a family to attribute, the Olmec version does not.

Other Names
The Olmec Gods have never been identified with actual names due to the lack of a written history or a written language. This god is often called God II, Maize God or Maize Deity.

Powers And Abilities
The importance of agriculture and maize to the lives of the Olmec was evidenced by the god known as the Maize God. He was often seen accompanying rulers probably highlighting the role of the rulers to ensure that the people were well fed and also a guarantee of abundant crops.

Modern Day Influence
Modern studies in Aztec, Mayan and Inca civilizations have started revealing new information on the Maize Deity and joining the dots that would reveal more information about the Olmec pantheon. Some studies also link the Olmec Maize deity to the sun god of the Mayans and believe that there is enough proof to link the two.

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Osiris was one of the most important gods of the Egyptian pantheon and was believed to be originally a pharaoh from Syria. The myth of Osiris and the gods associated with it became part of the core belief system of Egypt. Osiris became so popular he absorbed the function of earlier gods such as Andjeti and Khentiamenti, two gods of fertility and agriculture worshipped at Abydos.

He is associated with the djed symbol and is often depicted with black or green skin symbolizing the fertile mud of the Nile and regeneration. He is also frequently shown as a mummy or in partially mummified form in his role as Judge of the Dead.

Read more at https://mythlok.com/osiris/

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Dagda was an Irish god who was part of a group of Irish gods known as the Tuatha Dé Danaan. He was regarded as the father of the gods and was known for his knowledge and good nature. He is often referred as “The Dagda”

The legend of Dagda states that he is a god of the earth, knowledge, harvest, time and fate. He is known to possess knowledge and wisdom that was frequently used to help the mortals. He is also depicted as a wanderer who spreads happiness and sense of wonder among the mortal world of Ireland & Scotland.

The Dagda was a giant of a man with long and unruly beard. He wore a woolen cloak around his head and his clothes never fit him right with his belly and buttocks being frequently exposed. This however did not take away his good looks.

It has been theorized that the Dagda’s gruff appearance was created by the Christians who recorded Irish folktales. These early historians wanted to make him appear foolish and humorous when compared to their deity Jesus Christ.

The Dagda is the son of Eithne, who is the daughter of Balor, the leader of the Fomorians. He is also considered the brother of Lugh, who ruled Ireland for 40 years.

The Dagda has a daughter named Brigit, who is a powerful force of fertility. His most famous sons are Cermat and Angus Og, who have represented youth, beauty, and maybe even love.

The Dagda is the husband of Morrigan, who referred to as his “envious wife”. He has two brothers, Nuada and Ogma. In the Dindsench, the Dagda is given Ainge, a daughter who is known for her ability to keep a twig basket or bathtub leaking when the tide is in. Dagda is also said to be the son of Elatha and grandson on Delbeath. His other wife is known as Elcmar and Echtgi is the another daughter that is mentioned in the Banshenchas.

The Dagda has various names or epithets that reflect the various aspects of his character. Some of these include Eochaid Ollathair, Ruad Roftessa, Fer Benn, Daire, Aed, Cera, Cerrce, Easal and Eogabal.

Dagda had a variety of objects that were associated with power and position. The Dagda was known for his various powers, including a caldron full of fruit trees that were never empty allowing him to feed as many people as possible. He also had two pigs that were always ready to eat.

He also had a large club that could kill both men and animals. It is said that one of the ends of the club can kill 9 men in a single swing while the other end can revive people from the dead. He is also in possession of a harp that can be used to change seasons based on the song he plays.

The Dagda has also appeared in various other pop culture works. In Dungeons & Dragons, he was often portrayed as a leader of a Celtic pantheon. He was also featured in the game’s Scion role-playing game. In Marvel Comics featuring Thor, he is represented as an equivalent to Odin in the Celtic pantheon.

Read about the Dagda at https://mythlok.com/dagda/

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A Ninki Nanka is a mythical creature in West African folklore. It is described as a reptilian animal with a dragon-like appearance. Intrinsic to the cultural and mythological beliefs of the people of Gambia, for some it's a massive serpent with reflective scales, a head crest and a winged dragon.

Physical Traits

The Ninki Nanka is described as a black and green snake-like creature with a feathery crest, measures about 50 meters long. It has both been described as having legs like a lizard and also as being limbless like a snake.

Some describe it as having the neck of a giraffe or a crocodile as opposed to that of a snake. The body is also said to either resemble that of a hippo and in some cases, a dragon.

In its python form, it also slithers underground to keep everything filled up from below, its tracks eventually meeting with its celestial route in one large and nourishing circle.

Read more at https://mythlok.com/ninki-nanka/ 

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M'ii is a character in Navajo mythology and is considered to be one of the most significant figures in the culture. Often described as a trickster and troublemaker, M'ii is still revered among the other major gods of the Navajo people. Although To Neinilii is the god of rain, Coyote has powers over water as well. 

She is also a major figure in traditional Navajo healing ceremonies, stories, folklore and creation myths. She is also involved in the making of the Twelve hogan songs, which are believed to have been created by Changing Woman. She is also responsible for informing people about the Blessingway ceremonial.

M'ii takes the form of a coyote in animal form and she looks like a wise and shrewd woman in human form. She is most often depicted in her animal figure, but can also be portrayed in a human form.

Read more at https://mythlok.com/mii/

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Kokyangwuti is the mother of the Hopi tribe and the primary goddess of the culture for most of the native tribes of Southwest America. In the myths, she created humans from clay and led them to the Fourth World.

The Navajo tribe also has a similar deity who they refer to as Spider Woman. Many cultures from around the world have references to Gods who take the form of a spider like the God Anansi in African mythology.

The Kokyangwuti is often depicted as an old aging woman or in the form of a common spider. She usually resides in an underground in a cave or hole when she is in the form of a spider.

She is frequently described as a co-collaborator with Tawa, the Sun God whom she helped create the universe and all the living beings. She is also considered to be the mother of all living things that came into existence after Tawa and herself.

Kokyangwuti is also known as the Spider Grandmother, Spider Woman and Gogyeng Sowuhti.  She is also refered by different names depending on the region or the tribe that worships her.

The Spider Grandmother is believed to have created all the living beings and gave them souls. She crafted all the humans in her and Tawa's likeness out of clay and then breathed life into them. She had to redo her creation multiple times till she had them exactly as she wanted them.

When she is called upon, she will help people in many ways, such as giving advice or providing medicinal cures.

Kokyangwuti is still worshiped by the Native American tribes of Southwest USA and many tribes still keep their traditions alive. The concept of an old spider has been referenced in popular culture in the form of cartoons and characters in children's books. 

Read about the Kokyangwuti at https://mythlok.com/kokyangwuti/

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Introduction
Azhdaya is the demonic version of Zmaj, a dragon that is popular in other European mythologies, which lived for more than 100 years. It has an odd number of heads and is characterised by a terrible growl. This creature is known to eat humans and animals. In Serbia, it is believed that St. George killed an Azhdaya and not a regular dragon.

In some regions, the Azhdaya is also considered to be a snake who has lived a long time or even a snake/dragon who has eaten another of its kind after defeating them in battle.

Physical Traits
The Azhdaya is usually depicted as having either 3, 5 or 7 heads depending on the region that the mythology is from. It had a constant angry demeanour and was malevolent in nature. It’s physicality was so evil that Christianity adopted the likeness for its representation of evil – the devil.

Other Names
The Azhdaya is often confused with the Zmaj and are referred to by these names across the Baltic region. They are popularly known as azdaha, ala or hala and is distinct from other dragons of the time and within the mythology of the region.

Powers And Abilities
The Azhdaya is known to be able to fly and breathe fire through its multiple heads. They are in constant conflict with humans and other animals. They are known to live underground in dark caves and also were attributed to volcanic eruptions.

Modern Day Influence
Modern depictions of evil dragons and multi headed flying monsters stem from the characterization of the evil Azhdaya. In most mythologies of the time, dragons were not considered to be harmful to humans apart from the Azhdaya which periodically attacked and ate humans for food or out of spite.

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Introduction
Princess Lieu Hanh is a cult figure worshipped by Vietnamese people. She is believed to have been created by rice farmers who were desperate for water and land. She is considered a powerful goddess and is among the four immortals of Vietnamese mythology. She holds the distinction of being one of the oldest recognised feminists.

Physical Traits
The goddess is often depicted as a beautiful and youthful woman who is dressed in simple clothes. For ceremonies and festivals she is decked up to take on the form of the princess that she is believed to be.

Family
Princess Lieu Hanh is believed to have taken at least 2 incarnations or rebirths in Vietnamese Mythology. In the first one, she is believed to have been born to a very righteous man Le Thai Cong and his wife.

Legend has it that he had a vision of a young girl who broke the favourite jade cup of the Chinese God Jade Emperor into a million pieces. As a punishment the Emperor set the girl, who was his thirteenth daughter, down to earth. When his wife gave birth, he was sure that this was the same girl in his vision and named her Giang Tien who grew up to marry and have two children. She died suddenly at the age of 21.

The spirit went back to her heavenly home but soon got homesick of her time on earth and requested the Jade Emperor to let her go back resulting in her second incarnation as Princess Lieu Hanh. She married Dao Lang but returned to heaven after a short while.

Other Names
She is also known as Giang Tien , meaning “descending from heaven”.

Powers And Abilities
She is not known to have any specific powers but had the ability to curse or bless people based on their activities.

Modern Day Influence
Despite the heavy influence of communism, traditional Vietnamese festivals are still celebrated around the country. People still hold on strongly to their traditional beliefs and she is highly revered across the country.

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