“Mythology is not a lie, mythology is poetry, it is metaphorical. It has been well said that mythology is the penultimate truth — penultimate because the ultimate cannot be put into words. It is beyond words. Beyond images…”
Joseph Campbell , The Power of Myth
Myths are the stuff that adventures are made of. Whether it is the three-headed dog that is a part of Greek god Hades’ underworld, centaurs, bloodthirsty wolves, Pegasus, the phoenix, or gentle unicorns, the power of these animals have held the young and the old in thrall.
Some creatures like Gorgons — monstrous women with snakes for hair, the Chimera, a fire-breathing beast, or the serpentine four-legged Chinese dragon symbolic of China’s imperial power, transcend the realm of imagination. While many of you might be familiar with Pegasus, the flying horse, or the Minotaur, we introduce you to a few lesser known mythical creatures.
Norse it up
Fenrir, also called Fenrisúlfr , or monstrous wolf, was the son of the wily trickster god Loki and a giant, Angerboda. The other gods were well aware of Fenrir’s brute strength and knew that he could do only evil — his father was a trickster with scant respect for his fellow gods’ well-being, his mother was a giant and his grandfather was giant Farbauti or Cruel Striker .
Thus, the gods bound him with a magical chain made from the sound of a cat’s footsteps, breath of a fish and other magical elements. So enraged was Fenrir when the chain was placed around his neck that he viciously bit off the hand of Tyr, another god. Soon after, he was gagged and bound to a rock where he is fated to lie until doomsday, when he will finally break his bonds and unleash himself on the gods.
Does the name Fenrir ring a bell? It should, if you have had your fair share of the Harry Potter series. Fenrir Greyback, the werewolf who is let loose by Lord Voldemort on those who refused to do his bidding, was inspired from Norse mythology. Incidentally, Greyback is the name of one of the many serpents that gnaw at the roots of Yggdrasil, a tree that is integral to Norse cosmology.
Horse power
We’ve all heard of flying chairs, especially if you’ve read and enjoyed Enid Blyton’s Wishing Chair series. However, have you heard of a horse that can fly — a seven-headed one? In Indian mythology, Uchchaishravas , the flying horse is a mythical marvel. Legend has it that during the time of Samudra manthan (churning of the ocean), many ethereal beings and creatures, including the apsaras , Lakshmi, Varuni, Airavata, the white elephant, and more emerged. Along with them came Uchchaishravas , the seven-headed horse, which can fly people from place to place. While some say that it was Indra’s mount, many others firmly believe that it belonged to the demon-king Bali and helped him attain all he wished for. What’s more, the horse was so captivating that Lakshmi is said to have been mesmerised by him!
Into Spiderwoman’s lair
The Jorogumo is a giant spider that is a part of Japanese folklore. This creature can take the form of a beautiful woman and attract men. She would then wrap them up in her web, poison and devour them. The legend of Jorogumo dates back to the Erdo period, when the Shoguns ruled the land, between 1603 and 1868. According to this legend, when a spider lives for 400 years, it has the ability to grow to the size of a cow, become a shape-shifter and transform into a beautiful woman.
The lesser of two evils
You’re aware of the idiom, ‘between the devil and the deep blue sea,’ right? The saying ‘being between Scylla and Charybdis’ means pretty much the same. It is derived from a Greek idiom about two mythical sea monsters which are talked about by Homer, the author of the Greek epics The Iliad and The Odyssey .
In Greek mythology, Charybdis was believed to be either a sea monster or a large whirlpool. As a sea monster, she was said to be Poseidon, the sea god’s daughter, who, along with Scylla, lived in the waters of the Strait of Messina. With 12 feet and six hands, Scylla devoured six of Odysseus’ (the king of Ithaca) friends. Charybdis lurked on the opposite shore, drank and belched out waters from the ocean thrice a day and was said to assume the form of a whirlpool. Scylla was portrayed as a reef. Thus, the expression ‘being between Scylla and Charybdis’ means being caught between two equally unpleasant choices.
Justice League
Half-dragon and half-unicorn, China’s Xizehi was considered an intelligent creature and the symbol of justice. Chinese literature traces the Xizehi back to the Han dynasty where it was described as a righteous animal which butted wrongdoers or a party at fault during a fight. So impartial was the Xizehi that it was said to have stood by its judgement even if it was not in favour of the Emperor. The beast represents fairness, truthfulness, righteousness, vigour and valour. It is also said to possess human nature and the ability to understand the language of humans.
