World Mythology: The Gods of Death. Part #1/2

Mythology is an integral part of the development of humanity as a whole and the separate peoples. The myths show the original knowledge of man about himself, about his place in the world and about the phenomena which he can't in forces to explain and understand. Despite different skin color, language, regions, habitats, traditions and culture at a certain stage of development, the people have formed myths with similar meaning, people to weave in their basis images and examples of everyday life and adding to them something magical.

For example: the widespread story of the creation of the world - the birth of the Earth from world egg or sphere. It is the universal symbol of the origin of life, which is easily perceive by almost all nations.

Further shaped the myths about natural phenomena (rains, hurricanes, earthquakes) and biological processes (birth, aging, sickness). Then, with the development of thinking and understanding of his place in the world, man deepened to the knowledge of himself, shaping the myths about gods and heroes. People gave the gods human qualities, describing in detail their nature, habits, strengths and weaknesses, and forcing them into the framework of "earth's stories".

Why the gods often had human appearance and only differed by the presence of supernatural forces? Because the easiest way to describe and understand something of the unknown is compare it to the something already familiar and understandable. Another reason is the hope that people could reach an agreement with phenomena beyond their control. You can deceive, outwit, or win God to earn his patronage. Today it may seem ludicrous, but it gave people faith in themselves and the ability to do the impossible.

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Today we will meet the gods, the power of which has always excited, frightened, aroused fear and respect a man from any nation- the Gods of death. You will see that the images of death gods from very different cultures are very similar, and it is easy to explain: death, in the real world, looks the same for everyone, and causing general association- cold, darkness, decay, bones…

But, different people perceived the gods of death at different, sometimes as the main enemies of goodness and light, and sometimes like those, who looks after people and cares about balance in the Universe. In any case, death was always viewed with respect, because she will overtake everyone soon or later: an ordinary person, the hero, sometimes even God.

Mictlantecuhtli (Aztec)

The Aztec ruler of the underworld, ruling the bottom part of the hell. Depicted as a bloody skeleton or a man with a skull for a head, wears a necklace of human eyes. His constant companions are a bat, owl and spider. Mictlantecuhtli with his wife Mictlantecuhtli live in the underworld in a house without windows, their home was considered the center of the earth, and located far to the North.

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To get to Mictlantecuhtli, the traveler (soul) should go a long way: the four-day journey between the crumbling mountains and through the deserts under the icy wind, fleeing from snakes and crocodiles. Then on the shore of the underground river the deceased met the conductor in the form of a small dog with ruby eyes. On her back she was carrying the soul into the possession of Mictlantecuhtli. A dead man gave to God the gifts that family put in the grave. According to the degree of wealth of Mictlantecuhtli determined in what level of hell to send the deceased. To his Kingdom went the people who died a normal death, the others: deaths in war, in childbirth, or in the sacrifice, were transferred to other gods. He was revered as one of the main deities.

Giltine (Lithuania)

The goddess of death and plague, she was a young attractive woman, which was buried alive. When after 7 years, she managed to get out of the grave, she was a terrible old woman with a long blue nose and a poisonous tongue (she licked people doomed to death). She walks through the world, strangling people or breaking their necks, during various epidemics.

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Her image is as close to a classic: Giltine often depicted as a skeleton with a scythe. She can turn into a snake to get to his victim. Giltine, dressed in a shroud, wanders through the cemetery and licks the corpses to extract the poison that she will use to kill the living, but sick people.

Ereshkigal (Sumerian)

The name of this goddess literally means "the great underground lady". Originally personified autumn and winter - the natural withering and death, in contrast to his sister Ishtar, but after her power has spread to the netherworld. Described as young and very beautiful woman, but very spiteful, envious and cunning.

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One of the most famous myths says: when Ereshkigal refused to come on the shared feast, hosted by the Supreme God, to her underground Kingdom was sent Nergal, to punish a naughty goddess. The warlike Nergal had intended to behead the goddess, but her feigned pleas for mercy touched him, and then she seduced the executioner. He took her to wife, left with her to live and rule in the realm of the dead.

Masau (Hopi)

In hopi mythology, Masau better known as the skeleton man, who is the best friend of the people and guardian of the afterlife. Masau, according to the hopi, taught the people agriculture, and also repeatedly warned them about various impending dangers. He always tried to protect people from death, even though he controlled her.

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According to the myths of the Pueblo (in particular, hopi) on earth surface people met their protector and patron of Masau, he demanded people to do four migration along and across the continent and then to establish settlements. Thus the hopi believed that established their settlements in the places of power, which were showed by the God, and he gave them the defenders-spirits.

Donn (Ireland)

Irish ruler of loneliness and death, which, according to legend, lives on the island off the southwest coast of Ireland. The Irish believe that Donn is causing a storm and sink the ships to get more souls into his Kingdom. He looks like a normal man in a hoodie with a staff or sword.

It is believed that Donn wasn't always a God, before he was a mortal man. Donn insulted the goddess of the earth - Eriu, killing in war tribes, who worshipped her, and seizing their land. As punishment, he was thrown by the goddess into the sea. In the place, where Donn fell into the sea, formed the island ("Tech Duinn"), which became the Kingdom of the dead.

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Tech Duinn is commonly identified with Bull Rock, an islet off the western tip of the Beara Peninsula. Bull Rock resembles a dolmen or portal tomb as it has a natural tunnel through it, allowing the sea to pass under it as if through a portal.

Santa Muerte (Mexico)

This cult is mainly present in Mexico, but also found in America. People worship the same deity which is the embodiment of death. This cult was born on the basis of mixing myths of the aborigines of Mexico and Catholicism. Santa Muerte is typically depicted as dressed in a bright dress female skeleton.

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Fans of Santa Muerta believe, that she hears their prayers and can grant wishes. In honor of the deity build the chapel, and the sacrifice is cigarettes, chocolate, and alcoholic beverages. The most fanatical believers make ritual murders in honor of the goddess (usually exchanged their life for the life of the victim). This religion attracts the poor people with one main thing: is in front of Santa Muerte are all equal, including criminals. There is a belief that in the afterlife you can agree with her on mitigation of punishment in hell.

Supay (Incas)

Was the God of death and ruler of the afterlife Kingdom (Ukhu pacha) of the Incas, according to the legend located below the ground and under water. Although he was associated with death, in Inca mythology, the underworld is not necessarily considered as a negative aspect of death. It is believed that groundwater sources are a necessary aspect to maintain the life of the living. Therefore, although the Incas afraid of Supay, but immensely revered the underworld and its God. In honor of Supay conducted various rituals and celebrations.

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Often depicted as a man with demonic features (huge eyes and ears, sharp fangs). With the drawings and several statues was made the assumption that he always went accompanied by different poisonous creatures - snakes, scorpions, frogs.

Sedna (Inuit)

In Inuit mythology, Sedna is the mistress of the underworld and the goddess of the sea, she is mistress of marine animals, especially mammals (seals, walruses, etc). Often she is the mythical creator or destroyer of all things.

One legend says that Sedna was once a beautiful mortal woman, who lived on the coast with her father, her mother died when Sedna was very young. Due to her beauty men from around the world tried to gain her appreciation, but nobody succeeded. But the evil bird's spirit stole her from home. Father went to save his daughter, spirit got angry and caused a terrible storm that threatened to destroy all people. In desperation, the father threw his daughter in a stormy sea, after what she became a goddess.

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Another legend says that she was originally the daughter of a Creator God. She was so big and voracious that ate all that was found in the family home, and even gnawed off one of the hands of the father, while he was sleeping. He was so angry that took her on a boat far out to sea and thrown overboard. But Sedna grabbed the side of the boat and didn't want to let go, then the father cut off her fingers one by one. She drowned and fell into the realm of the dead, becoming the mistress of the deep-sea monsters, and her huge fingers became the seals, sea lions and whales.