Dictionary of mythology - part 9 docx

Santas (see Sandan)
santer North American
a fabulous animal
Santeria African
a god of the Yoruba
Santi Hindu
a goddess
consort of Tivikrama
Santiago South American
a later version of Ilyapa derived from
the Spanish St James
Santoshi Mata Hindu
a mother-goddess
Sanu
1
Afghan
[Sanru]
a Kafir god
father of Sanju
Sanu
2
(see Sanju)
Sanugi Japanese
a bamboo-cutter
He found the tiny Kaguya in the heart
of a reed and reared her. He then found
gold in the reeds and became wealthy.
Sanzu-no-Kawa
(see River of Three Roads)
Sao Ch’ing Niang
(see San Chou Niang)

Sao Chou Chinese
the Broom Star, home of San Chou
Niang
Sao Kang Burmese
a fertility-spirit living in a lake
Saon Greek
a Boeotian envoy
When his people were told to consult
the oracle of Trophonius to find the
cause of the drought that afflicted
them, he followed a swarm of bees that
led him to a cave where the shade of
Trophonius appeared.
Saoshyant Persian
[Saoshyat.Soshans.Soshyant]
a saviour-god
son of Vispa-Taurvairi
In some accounts, this saviour is born
every 1,000 years from the sperm of
Zoroaster which is preserved in Lake
Kasavya so that it impregnates virgins
who swim in its waters.
Some say that there are three
such saviours – Astvat-eveta, Hushedar
(Ukhshyat-ereta) and Hushedar-mah
(Ukhshyat-nemah). The third such
deity conquers evil in the final battle to
allow the world to start a new cycle.
(see also Frashkart)
Saoshyat (see Saoshyant)

Sapa Inca South American
son of the sun-god Inti
Sapan Mesopotamian
the palace of Baal
Sapas Canaanite
[Saps.Shapash:=Babylonian Samas:
=Sumerian Utu]
a sun-god
In some accounts, Sapas is female.
Saphon (see Mount Zaphon)
Sapling (see Djuskaha.Ioskeha)
Saps (see Sapas)
Sapta-Loka Hindu
the 7 realms of the universe
In some versions, the universe has
three realms (Tri-Loka). In the version
that postulates seven, Sapta-Loka, they
are listed as:
1. Bhur-Loka, the earth
2. Bhuvar-Loka, the home of the sage
in the sky
3. Jona-Loka, the home of
Brahma’s children
4. Marar-Loka, the home of the saints
5. Satya-Loka, the home of the gods
6. Svar-Loka, the heaven of Indra
7. Tapa-Loka, the home of the
demi-gods
At the end of each cycle of Brahma’s
life, these seven worlds will also come

to an end and time and the universe
will start all over again.
Some accounts envisage additional
realms such as Gandharva-Loka,
Indra-Loka, Pishasha-Loka, Ratshasha-
Loka and Yaksha-Loka for various
demons and spirits and Soma-Loka for
the moon and planets.
(see also Tri-Loka)
Sapta Ratna Hindu
the Hindu version of the Seven
Treasures of Buddhism
Saptaksara Buddhist
a form of Heruka
In this version, the god is depicted as
blue with three heads each with three
eyes, and six arms, surrounded by
six goddesses.
Saptamataras Hindu
a group of 7 minor goddesses
Saptarshi (see Seven Rishis)
Saptashati Hindu
a poem of some 700 couplets in
honour of Devi’s conquest of demons
Sapurba East Indian
a king of Sumatra
son of Sulana and Muhtabul Bahri
father of Nila Utama
He was originally known as Mencha
Terim, the eldest of Sulana’s three

sons, and adopted the name Sapurba
when he took the throne.
He was said to have killed a huge
serpent which was ravaging the area
and adopted a maiden, Puteri Tunjung
Buih, who came, like Aphrodite, from
the sea.
Sar (see Shar)
sara
1
Buddhist
an arrow used in rites designed to
ward off evil spirits (see also capa)
Sara
2
Mesopotamian
a war god, Babylonian and Sumerian
son of Inanna, some say
Sara-mama (see Saramama)
Saracura South American
a water-hen
When Anatiwa caused the flood, this
bird saved the ancestors of the tribes by
carrying earth to build up the mountain-
top on which the survivors stood.
Sarada Devi
1
Hindu
wife of Ramakrishna
Sarada Devi

2
Tibetan
a Buddhist-Lamaist fertility-goddess
and goddess of autumn and
vegetation
an attendant of Sridevi
Saraha Buddhist
a great sorcerer
Sarahiel
an angel, ruler of the Zodiacal sign
Aries, the ram (see also Malchidael)
Saraide British
a servant of the Lady of the
Lake
She was able, by the use of magic
powers, to rescue Bors and Lionel when
they were held by Claudas.
Sarait Irish
daughter of Conn Ceadchathach
mother of Cairbre and Duibhind
She married Conaire mac Mogha
Lamha who succeeded her father
on the throne of Ireland. When he
was killed, she married his killer,
Neimheadh mac Sraibhghind.
Sarajas (see Pimentola)
Sarakka Baltic
[Sadsta-akka]
a Lapp goddess, guardian of birth
daughter of Mader Akka

It was said that she assisted both deer
and humans.
Sarakuyel
a demon
Sarama (see Sharama)
Saramama South American
[Maize Mother.Sara-mama]
an Inca spirit controlling the growth
of maize (see also huantaysara)
Saramana (see Salman)
Saran Irish
the man who killed Brandubh,
king of Leinster
He regretted what he had done and
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Sarpedon
2
was forgiven but was punished when
his arm fell off.
Saranyu (see Sharanyu)
Sarapiastai Greek
devotees of Serapis
Sarapis (see Serapis)
Sarasraksha Hindu
a name for Indra as ‘thousand-eyed’
Sarasvant Hindu
a female water-spirit
Sarasvati

1
Buddhist
a female Bodhisattva
goddess of music and poetry
She is sometimes depicted playing
the flute.
Sarasvati
2
Hindu
[Bharati.Brahmi.Logos.Mahasarasvati.
Queen of Love.Savitri.Shatarupa.
Vac(h).Vagdevi.Vak:=Pacific Islands
Saraswati: =Japanese Benten]
an early mother-goddess and goddess
of the river Sarasvati
goddess of the arts and wisdom
daughter of Sagara
wife of Vishnu and later of Brahma
In her earlier role as mother-goddess
she killed the demon Ahi.
In some stories, she was born
from the body of Brahma with whom
she mated to produce the first man,
Manu, and was so beautiful that
Brahma grew four more heads so that
he could see her from all directions.
The latter part of this tale is also
told of Shatarupa who some equate
with Sarasvati.
Shiva lost his temper when he was

excluded from a sacrifice by Daksha
and wounded many of those present
including Sarasvati who had her nose
cut off. Vishnu found her too
quarrelsome for his liking and gave
her to Brahma.
She is credited with the invention
of Sanskrit and sometimes identifed
with Vach.
She is depicted with either two or
four arms, sometimes with three
heads, and riding a peacock or a swan.
(see also Sandhya.Shatarupa)
Sarasvati-puja Hindu
[Homage to Sarasvati]
a festival of homage to Sarasvati in
January or February
Saraswati Pacific Islands
the Balinese version of Sarasvati
Saratan Arab
the Zodiacal sign, Cancer
Sarbhile (see Moninne)
Sardian Sibyl Greek
a prophetess
sardius (see carnelian)
Sardoine Danish
daughter of Hengist
sister of Renwein
Sardon (see Adrammelech
1

)
sardrakapala Buddhist
a tantric symbol in the form of a
garland made of severed heads
sarga
1
Hindu
creation
Sarga
2
Hindu
a minor god
son of Shiva (Bhima) and Disa
Sargaz (see Sarur)
Sargon Mesopotamian
a king of Akkad
husband of Azag-Bau, some say
He was abandoned at birth in a basket
but found by Akki. He was made king
by Ishtar who fell in love with him.
Sarigoys South American
father of one of a pair of twin boys
His wife was raped by the god Maire
and gave birth to twins, Ariconte and
Tamendonare, one fathered by the
god, one by himself. They never found
out which was which.
Sarikin Bakka African
the Hausa ‘lord of animals’
He is said to be able to induce madness

in humans.
Sarindiel
a demon
Sariputra (see Shariputra)
Sariputta Buddhist
the Pali version of the Sanskrit
S(h)ariputra
Saris British
in Arthurian lore, a king of Hungary
He was killed in battle by Laris.
Saritiel
a demon, ruler of the sign Sagittarius
(see also Adnachiel)
Saritor Roman
a god of weeds
Sarkany European
a Hungarian demon
He has the power to turn people to
stone. His function is to control the
weather and he can be seen riding his
horse in the thunder clouds.
In some versions he is regarded as a
dragon.
He is depicted with seven or nine
heads.
Sarkap Indian
[Beheader]
a warrior-hero
He earned the name Beheader from
his habit of decapitating those whom

he defeated in games.
Sarki Mongol
one of the burkhan
Sarmishtha Hindu
[Sarmistha]
a princess
mother of Anu and Puru by Yayati
mother of Truvasu, some say
She quarrelled with her friend
Devayani and threw her down a well.
A king, Yayati, found Devayani and
married her, forcing Sarmishtha to
become a servant at his court. She had
an affair with the king and bore three
sons, Anu, Puru and Turvasu. Some
say that Turvasu was Devayani’s son.
Sarmistha (see Sarmishtha)
Sarnga Hindu
the bow of Vishnu
sarong East Indian
a form of skirt worn in many parts of
the Pacific
Javanese sorcerers, it is said, use a
small piece of such a garment with
black stripes on it and cause it to
expand to cover the whole body and
turn the wearer into a tiger.
Sarpanit (see Sarpanitu)
Sarpanitu Mesopotamian
[Aruru.Belti(y)a.Ealur.Erua.

Sarpanit(um).Zarbanit.Zarpanit.
Zarpanitu(m).Zerpanitu(m).Zirat-panitu:
=Semitic Succoth Benoth]
a goddess of childbirth
a name for Ishtar as a creator-goddess
a name for Belit, in some accounts
consort of Marduk
Sarpanitum (see Sarpanitu)
Sarpedon
1
Greek
son of Zeus by Europa
brother of Minos and Rhadamanthus
father of Evander
When he was expelled from Crete
by his brother Minos, after they
quarrelled over a boy called Miletus,
Sarpedon conquered and became
king of what was later called Lycia.
He was said to have lived, in the
form of a serpent, for three gen-
erations and was revered at some
shrines. This was to account for his
identification, in some accounts, with
his grandson of the same name.
Sarpedon
2
Greek
a king of Lycia
son of Evander and Deidameia

son of Zeus by Laodamia,
some say
When Isander and Hippolochus
contended for the throne of Lycia,
Deidamia offered the child Sarpedon
to bear on his chest the ring that the
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two men would use as a target for
their arrows to settle the succession.
He fought on the side of the Trojans
in the war against Greece and killed
Tlepolemus but was himself killed
by Patroclus.
In some accounts, he is equated with
his grandfather of the same name.
Sarpedon
3
Greek
son of Poseidon
brother of Poltys
He was shot and killed by Heracles
after his ninth Labour.
Sarquamiel
a demon of the hours of the day
Sarra Itu Mesopotamian
[Sarr(a)hitu]
a Babylonian-Sumerian fertility-goddess
Sarrahitu (see Sarra Itu)

Sarras British
the city of the Holy Grail
It was to Sarras that Galahad returned
the Holy Grail and where he was made
king. Despite the fact that the Saracens
were said, in some accounts, to have
taken their name from this city, some
say it was in Brittany, not the Holy
Land. In some accounts, the king of
Sarras was the giant Alchendic.
Sarrhitu (see Sarra Itu)
Sarritor Roman
a god of agriculture
Sarruma Mesopotamian
[Saruma.Sharmas.Sharrumas.Sharuma]
a Hurrian god
son of Teshub and Hebat
Sarsaok (see Hadhayosh)
Sartiyas Mesopotamian
[Queen of Katapa]
a Hittite goddess
Sartziel
a demon, ruler of the sign Scorpio,
the scorpion (see also Barbiel)
saru Japanese
a sign (monkey) of the Zodiac
Sarube Japanese
descendants of Saruto-hike and Uzume
creators of ceremonial dance
Saruda-hiko (see Saruta-hiko)

Saruma (see Sarruma)
Sarur Mesopotamian
[S(h)argaz.Sharuk.Sharur]
a Sumerian god
The deified weapon (a cyclone) used
by Ninurta which was capable of
independent action.
Saruta Japanese
a monkey-god
Saruto-hiko Japanese
[Saruda-hiko]
an earthly deity
He was the commander of the forces
supporting Ninigi when he took the
throne from Onamuji.
In some accounts, he is described as
a monkey-god and was said to have
fathered a number of children on Ilzume.
Their descendants, known as miko,
were shamans or attendants at shrines.
He is now regarded as the guardian
of cross-roads and procreation.
Sarva (see Agni.Rudra)
Sarvabhaksha Tibetan
a Lamaist sorcerer
Sarvabuddhadakini Buddhist
the Tibetan name for Narokhachoma
Sarvabuddhadharma-Kosavati
Buddhist
a god of literature

one of the dharanis
(see also Sarvakarmavaranavisodhani)
Sarvaga Hindu
son of Bhima and Balandhara
Sarvakamadugha Buddhist
a cow owned by Indra
daughter of Surabhi
This animal is the supporter of the
north corner of the heavens.
Sarvakarmavaranavisodhani Buddhist
a god of literature
one of the dharanis
(see also Sarvabuddhadharma-Kosavati)
sarvan European
elves or goblins who kept their masters
informed of what was going on
Sarvanivaranaviskambhin Buddhist
[=Tibetan Dip-pa-nam-sel]
a god
one of the Dhyanibodhisattvas
Sarvapayajaha Hindu
a god
one of the Dhyanibodhisattvas
Sarvara (see Carvara)
Sarvasokatamonirghatamati Buddhist
a god
one of the Dhyanibodhisattvas
Sarvatma Hindu
the totality of spiritual force,
represented by the Trimurti

Sary-khan Siberian
a Tartar deity of happiness
grandson of Kudai
(see also Kyrgis-khan)
Saryata Hindu
a king
father of Sukanya
Sasabonsam African
[Sasabonsum:=Dahomey Yehwe Zogbanu]
a hairy forest monster of the Ashanti
husband of Srahman
He had feet pointing both ways and
ate any travellers he could capture
with his feet when they passed under
the tree in which he was sitting.
Sasabonsum (see Sasabonsam)
Sasanadevata Jain
one of the messenger goddesses
Sashi-mi-rig-giha Buddhist
Tibetan earth-gods
Sasquatch (see Bigfoot)
Sassu-wunnu Mesopotamian
Ea as a sea-monster
Sasthi Hindu
a goddess
She is the guardian of the sixth day
after the birth of a child and protects
her devotees from smallpox.
Sasuratum Canaanite
[=Hebrew Kosharot]

a group of 7 midwife-goddesses
daughters of Baal
Sacy-perere (see Cacy taperere)
Sata (see Zada)
Satabhisa Hindu
a goddess of fortune
one of the naksatras
daughter of Daksha
wife of Candra
Sataere German
a god of agriculture regarded as a
manifestation of Loki
Satan Hebrew
[Lord of Fire.Lord of the Underworld.
Old Bendy.Old Hangie.Old Harry.
Old Hornie.Nick.Old Driver.
Old Gentleman.Old Gooseberry.Old Ned.
Old One.Old Poker.Prince of Darkness.
Sathan(as).The Adversary:
=Arab shaitan:=Ethiopian shaytan:
=Scottish Auld Hornie.Clootie.
Little Gude.Old Scratch.Old Serpent.]
the devil: the personification of evil
He is generally depicted with horns,
bat-like wings, a tail and cloven hooves
but some German illustrations show a
crow and mediaeval pictures show him
as a human-headed serpent.
(see also Yazid)
Satan

2
a demon of sorcery
In black magic, one of the Grand
Dignitaries, leader of the opposition.
Satang goddesses East Indian
the 7 daughters of Mahatala
sisters of Jata
These Dayak deities are the arbiters
of fate who take it in turns to
descend to earth on brooms to judge
human beings.
Satan’s Head (see Rosh ha Satan)
Satapatha Brahmana Hindu
a collection of stories including the
story of Manu and the fish
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Sau Kompul
Sataram (see Sudrem)
Sataran Mesopotamian
[Istaran]
a god of medicine
He also acts as a judge.
Satarupa (see Shatarupa)
Satavahana Hindu
a king
He rejected a poem sent to him by
Gunadhya who had written it in his

own blood. The poet tore some of the
poem into small pieces and fed them
slowly, one by one, into the fire,
whereupon all the game animals
gathered round, weeping at the beauty
of the poem. The king then fell ill and
was advised to eat game – but there
was no game to be found anywhere.
The king quickly changed his mind
and bought the remaining part of the
poem.
Satavesa Persian
a star-spirit created by Ahura Mazda
ruler of the west
Satet (see Sati
1
)
Sathan (see Satan)
Sathanas (see Satan)
Sati
1
Egyptian
[Queen of Elephantine.Satet.Satjit:
=Greek Satis]
queen of goddesses,
goddess of the cataracts
first wife of Khnum
In some accounts, sister of Anuket, in
others her mother.
She is depicted with the horns of an

antelope and wearing the white crown
of Upper Egypt.
Sati
2
Egyptian
a serpent in Sekhet-Aaru which preyed
on the dead
Sati
3
Hindu
[Ambika.S(h)akti.Parvati.Uma.‘virtuous’]
an aspect of Devi or Parvati
an incarnation of Lakshmi or Uma
a name for Parvati as ‘good wife’
daughter of Daksha and Prasuti
first wife of Shiva
When her father invited all the gods
except Shiva to a sacrifice she
immolated herself though some say
that it was Gauri who immolated
herself to become Sati. Another story
says that she fell in love with Shiva but
he was not invited to the ceremony at
which a maiden chooses her husband.
She neverthless became his consort
but burnt to death from the intensity
of her own purity. In both versions she
was later reborn as Parvati. The
practice of suttee (sati), where a widow
immolates herself on her husband’s

funeral pyre, stems from this incident.
Satis Greek
the Greek name for the Egyptian
goddess Sati
Satjit (see Sati
1
)
Satki Hindu
a javelin, one of the weapons of Durga
Satmas (see Ummu Sibyani)
Satrajit Hindu
father of Satyabhama
Satrapis Greek
[=Syrian Sadrapa]
a god of healing
Satrud Thai
the Thai version of Satrughna
Satrughna Hindu
[=Thai Satrud]
a god
son of Dasa-ratha and Sumitra
brother of Lakshmana
sattva Hindu
one of the 3 gunas covering the
transmigration of the soul
Saturday (see Baron Samedi)
Saturn Roman
[Sa(e)turnus.’sower’:=Greek Cronus]
god of agriculture, vines, workers
husband of Lua and, later, Ops

father of Juno, Jupiter, Neptune,
Picus and Pluto
In some accounts, he was regarded as
an early Italian king, ruling jointly
with Janus, who went to heaven as
Saturn when he died.
Saturnalia Roman
a festival in honour of Saturn,
December 17th-19th
At this festival, masters and servants
exchange roles for the day.
(see also Sigillaria)
Saturnus (see Saturn)
Satya-bhama East Indian
a wife of Kritarajasa
Satya-Loka Hindu
[Abode of Truth]
one of the 7 realms of the universe,
home of the gods
(see also Brahma-Loka)
satya-yuga (see krita-yuga)
Satyabhama Hindu
a Tamil goddess
daughter of Satrajit
a consort of Krishna and Vishnu
Satyavana Hindu
son of Dyumatsena
husband of Savitri
He died, as had been prophesied,
within a year of his marriage to

Savitri and she followed him to the
underworld. Yama rewarded her
devotion by granting her three wishes.
One of these was that she might have
many children. Yama, realising that he
had been tricked since she could have
children only if she had a husband,
restored Satyavana to life.
Satyavati Hindu
[‘truthful’]
a fisher-girl
daughter of Adrika by a king
second wife of Shantanu
mother of Vyasa by Parashara
She bore a son, Vyasa, to Parashara.
Later, her father allowed Satyavati to
marry the aged king, Shantanu, only
on the condition that any son of the
union should inherit Shantanu’s
throne instead of Bhishma, his son by
his first wife. She produced two sons,
both of whom died childless so she
persuaded Vyasa, her son by Parashara
or, some say, her husband’s half-
brother, that he had a duty to the
widows to give them children and
he complied.
Satyavrata Hindu
[Trishanku]
a king of Dravidia

He helped Vishnu in his struggle with
Hayagriva and, as a reward for his
penance and charity, he was admitted
to heaven as an immortal.
satyr Greek
[fem=satyra.satyress:=Roman faun.Silvan]
god of the woodlands, part man,
part goat, with a long tail
a fertility spirit
Some say that the satyrs were sons of
Hermes and brothers of the nymphs.
The modern Greek callicantzani
have many of the features of the
ancient satyrs.
satyra (see satyress)
satyral
a monster with parts of man, lion
and antelope
Satyrane British
a noble in The Faerie Queene
who rescued Una
satyress
[satyra]
a female version of a satyr
satyrisci (see satyrisk)
satyrisk Greek
[plur=satyrisci]
a young satyr
sau (see siau.tahu
1

)
Sau Kompul Pacific Islands
a dog in the Gilbert Islands
This animal was said to spy on enemies
of the tyrant Sau Telur.
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Sau Telur Pacific Islands
a tyrant killed by Isokalakal
sauba (see Saubha)
Saubha
1
Hindu
[Sauba]
a flying city
Saubha
2
Hindu
[Dhapura.Tranga]
a floating city
This city, home of the Daityas, was said
to lie to the west of the sub-continent.
It was overthrown by Krishna.
Saubhadra (see Abhimanyu)
Saubhagya-Bhuvanesvari Buddhist
a goddess of good fortune
Saubhari Hindu
a hermit
Though he was old and shrivelled after

years of asceticism, he demanded one
of the king’s fifty daughters as a wife.
He turned himself into a handsome
young man so that all fifty of them
agreed to marry him and he ended up
with a hundred and fifty sons.
sauger (see guyascutus)
Saul Mesopotamian
[Savul]
a Babylonian god
Saule Baltic
a Latvian sun-goddess
daughter of Perkunas
consort of Dievs and Meness
She drives across the sky each day in a
chariot and, each night, she washes the
horses in the sea.
When her husband, Meness, had an
affair with Ausrine, Perkunas cut him
in half.
The berries of the shrubs on the
hills were said to be her tears.
In some accounts, Saule is male and
Meness is female.
Saules meitas Baltic
daughters of Saule
They rake up the hay mown by the
Dievadeli in the celestial meadows.
Sauna Inuit
the spirit of the west wind

Saunanda Hindu
the club of Balarama
Saupe Pacific Islands
a magician in the Marianas
brother of Sipe
To honour their ancestors and the
deity Lugeilan, the brothers built
monuments using their magic to cause
stones to fly into position.
Saura Persian
[Sauru]
a demon, ‘misgovernment’, opposing
Kshathra Varya
Sauru (see Saura)
Sauska Mesopotamian
[=Syrian Kubaba]
a Hurrian mother-goddess
and fertility-goddess
Sauvagine European
[Sauvaigne]
a sword of Ogier, made by
Munifican
Sauvaigne (see Sauvagine)
sauvastika (see svastika)
Saw Meya (see Hnit-ma-dawgyi)
Sava Pacific Islands
brother of I’i
He and his sister are regarded as the
first to settle on Savai’i, becoming the
ancestors of the people of that island.

Savala (see Kamadhenu)
Savali Pacific Islands
a Samoan messenger-god
Savari
1
British
a king of Spain
He carried off Lidoine after the death
of her husband, Ladon. She was
rescued by King Arthur.
Savari
2
Tibetan
a fearsome Buddhist-Lamaist goddess,
one of the gauris
Savarkama Hindu
a king
father of Rituparna
Savarna (see Sanjna.Sharanyu)
Savarni Hindu
son of Surya
brother of Shani
Savary European
a duke of Aquitane
father of Fezon
Savea Si’uleo Pacific Islands
a god of the dead
brother of Salevao
Savitar (see Savitri
1

)
Savitr (see Savitri
1
)
Savitri
1
Hindu
[Mart(t)anda.Prajapati.Savit(a)r]
a god of the morning and evening sun
a version of Marttanda
son of Aditi
one of the Adityas
He has the power to grant immortality
and longevity and arranges the
rotation of the seasons. He was later
assimilated into Surya.
He is depicted riding in a golden
chariot drawn by white horses.
In some accounts he is equated with
Agni.
Savitri
2
Hindu
daughter of the sun-god
wife of Brahma
(see also Sarasvati.Shatarupa)
Savitri
3
Hindu
a princess

daughter of Ashvapati
wife of Satyavana
When her husband died, as had been
prophesied, within a year of marriage,
she followed him into the under-
world. Yama rewarded her devotion
by granting her three wishes. The
first wish restored her father-in-law,
Dyumatseni, to his throne, the second
restored his eyesight. The third wish
was that she might have many
children. Yama, realising that he had
been tricked, since she could have
children only if she had a husband,
restored Satyavana to life.
Savul (see Saul)
Sawan (see Samhain
2
)
Sawara Japanese
an artist
He loved Kimi, the niece of his tutor,
Tenko, but when he left to learn more
from Myokei, this great artist wanted
Sawara to marry his daughter. Kimi,
distraught at this news, disappeared
and, when Sawara returned to Tenko’s
house, she was nowhere to be found so
he married a farmer’s daughter named
Kiku. When he later met Kimi, she

stabbed herself to death on learning
that her beloved had married another.
He painted a picture of the dead Kimi
which came to life and visited him
every night. He finally gave the picture
to be hung in a temple and put aside
his wife, Kiku.
Sawoye African
husband of Marwe
He had a terrible skin disease but when
he married Marwe it miraculously
disappeared.
He was killed by men jealous of his
wealth but Marwe used her magic to
restore him to life.
Saxneat (see Saxnot)
Saxnot Saxon
[Sahsnot.S(e)axneat.Swordbearer:
=German Tiwaz:=Norse Cheru.
Heimdall.Tyr]
a war-god
He is regarded as a manifestation of
Heimdall or Tyr.
Saxo Grammaticus Danish
a writer
He was the author of Gesta Danorum.
Say Egyptian
[Shay:=Greek Agathos Daimon]
a god of fate
He attends the weighing of the

individual’s heart in the underworld.
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Sceolan
sayadaw Burmese
a title for the head of a monastery
Sayadio North American
an Iroquois brave
He was greatly grieved when his sister
died and travelled to Shadowland in
the hope of rescuing her. With the
help of the keeper and Tarenyawago,
the master of ceremonies, he captured
her spirit and took it home with him.
As he prepared to revivify his sister’s
corpse, a foolish brave (or, in some
accounts, a young girl) lifted the lid of
the gourd. The trapped spirit flew off
and Sayadio fell dead from grief.
Sayings of Confucius (see Lun Yü)
Sayings of Odin (see Havamal)
Sayoni (see Sa-yoni)
saytan (see shaytan)
Sayuka-hime (see Sengen)
Sazquiel
a demon of the hours of the days
sBed-byed (see Gobaka)
Scaen gates Greek
the entrance gates to the city of Troy

where Paris shot Achilles
Scaevola Roman
a young noble
When the Italians besieged Rome, he
entered their camp to assassinate their
leader, Lars Porsena, but killed the
wrong man. When captured, he
plunged his hand into a blazing fire
without flinching and, by his bravery,
persuaded Lars Porsena to make peace.
scald (see skald)
Scala Coeli
a 12th C book by Honorius describing
many mythical animals
scales (see Libra)
Scalliotta British
[Scalot]
the Italian name for Astolat, home
of Elaine
Scalot (see Scalliotta)
Scamander Greek
[Scamandro(u)s.Skamandros.
Xanthos.Xanthus]
a river-god of Troy
father of Strymo
father of Teucer by Idaea
He was a Cretan who founded a
colony in Phrygia. He fell into the
river Xanthus, which thereafter
became the Scamander, the source of

fertility for maidens who bathed in its
waters, and fathered Teucer on a river-
nymph.
He was said to have fought Achilles
who had filled the river with corpses
to avenge the death of Patroclus.
Hephaestus stopped the fight by
scorching the river dry.
Scamandrius (see Astyanax)
Scamandros (see Scamander)
Scamandrous (see Scamander)
scapulimancy
[scapulomancy]
divination from shoulder blades
(see also omoplatoscopy)
scapulomancy (see scapulimancy)
scarab Egyptian
[scarabaeus.scarabee]
a sacred beetle: the personification
of Kephra
scarabaeus (see scarab)
scarabee (see scarab)
Scaramallion
the English version of Scarmiglione
Scarface North American
[Poia]
a Blackfoot brave
son of Apisuahts by Soatsaki
He loved the daughter of a chief and
she promised to marry him if he could

persuade the sun-god, Natos, to
release her from her undertaking not
to marry (or to marry Natos, in some
versions) and return without the scar,
caused by a bear’s claw, that disfigured
his face. After many tribulations, he
met the sun-god’s son, Apisuahts, who
took him to his father. Scarface and
Apisuahts often hunted together and
when Scarface saved his companion
from a flock of savage birds, the sun-
god agreed to allow him to marry his
beloved and removed the scar from
his face.
In another version, Feather-woman
(Soatsaki) fell in love with Morning
Star (Apisuahts) and was taken up to
the star-country in a spider’s web.
When she disobeyed instructions
never to dig up the great turnip which
blocked the hole through which she
had ascended, she was banished back
to earth, taking her son, the star-boy
named Poia, who was called Scarface.
When he grew up, he sought his father
in the star-country and, after saving his
father from death, was permitted by
the sun-god to return to earth without
the scar that disfigured his face and to
marry the maiden he loved. After

teaching his people the Sun-dance, he
returned to the star-country.
In some stories, a cooking-pot takes
the place of the turnip and the scar on
Poia’s face was caused when he rubbed
his cheek on the leather thong by
which he and his mother were lowered
through the hole below the cooking-
pot when his mother disobeyed
instructions and moved the pot.
Scarmiglione
[Scaramallion]
a demon in Dante’s Inferno
Scath Irish
a realm of the afterworld from which
Cuchulainn is said to have seized
much treasure
Scathach (see Sgathach.Skatha)
scatomancy
divination from inspecting faeces
Sceaf Norse
[Scef(ing).Scyld.Skeaf.Skidd(r).
Skiold.Skjold.Stigarde]
a king of the Danes
son of Odin
husband of Gefjon
He arrived mysteriously on the shores
of Denmark in an open boat with a
sheaf of corn for a pillow and was
made king. When he died, he was

placed in a boat which drifted out to
sea.
In some accounts he was a form
of Heimdall.
Sceanb Irish
wife of Craftiny
She had an affair with Cormac Cond
Longes and her jealous husband had
him killed.
Scef (see Sceaf)
Scefing (see Sceaf)
Sceine (see Scena)
Sceiron (see Sciron)
Scena Irish
[Sceine.Skena]
wife of Amergin Glungheal
She died on the voyage to Ireland and
was buried there.
Scenmed Irish
sister of Forgall
Cuchulainn killed Forgall who had
refused him the hand of his daughter
Emer, abducting Emer and making her
his wife. Scenmed raised an army and
pursued them but Cuchulainn defeated
her forces and killed Scenmed.
Sceolaing (see Sceolan)
Sceolan Irish
[Grey Dog.Sceolaing.Sgeolan.Skolawn]
a hound of Finn

Finn’s sister (or, in other accounts, his
sister-in-law or aunt) was Uirne and
she was to be married to Iollan. When
she was pregnant, Iollan’s jealous
mistress, a druidess, put a spell on
Uirne, turning her into a bitch, with
the result that her children, Sceolan
and Bran, were born as hounds.
912
sayadaw
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In other accounts, Uirne was
restored to her former self by Lugaid
Lagha, whom she married, and the
pups were born to them at the same
time as human triplets.
In some versions, Bran and Sceolan
were originally owned by a giant who
stole children. When Finn killed the
giant and rescued the children, he also
took the giant’s bitch and her two
whelps. Finn kept the brindled one,
Bran, and the other, called Sceolan,
was left with the children’s father.
Later the hound was captured by
invading Lochlanners and turned
loose in Glen More where it became a
wild, ravaging beast. Finn, who was
later captured by the Lochlanners, was
left bound at the mercy of the hound

but he tamed Sceolan by showing it
the golden leash he used for Bran.
When Finn was rescued by the Fianna,
he took Sceolan with him and he was
reunited with Bran.
On one occasion, both Bran and
Sceolan were stolen by Arthur, a son of
the British king, Arthur, who had come
to Ireland with twenty-eight warriors to
seek adventure. Nine Fianna warriors
followed them to Scotland and killed
all of them, taking Arthur prisoner,
and recovering the hounds.
When Angus Og said that the
hounds could not kill a single pig in his
herd, Finn set them to work and they
killed all the herd of a hundred,
including a famous black boar.
Schacabac Persian
[Shacabac]
in The Arabian Nights, a beggar who
was the subject of the cruel jest of
Barmecide’s feast
Schachlil
a demon associated with the sun’s rays
Schal-jime Russian
a hero of the flood in Tartar lore
He became the ruler of the realm to
which dead children go.
Schala (see Sala)

Schaltiel
a demon, ruler of the Zodiacal sign of
Virgo, the virgin (see also Hamaliel)
schamir Norse
a magic stone said to make the
holder invisible
Scharpfe Norse
son of Etzel by his first wife
brother of Porte
Schastel Marveil British
the home of Klingsor
It was here that Gawain slept in
the magic bed that moved of its
own accord.
Schedbarchemoth
a demon of the moon
schedim (see shedeem)
Schedius Greek
son of Iphitus
brother of Epistrophius
He and his brother were the leaders of
the Phocian contingent at Troy.
Scheherazade Persian
[Shahrazad]
wife of King Shahriyah
In The Arabian Nights, she told her
husband a story each night for 1001
nights, leaving the tale unfinished, to
escape execution, the fate of all the
king’s previous wives.

Scheliel
a moon-demon
Schenteflurs British
son of Gornemant
brother of Gurzgi, Liaze and Lascoyt
Scheria Greek
an island ruled by Alcinous
This is where Odysseus came ashore
after his raft was wrecked and where
he was found by Nausicaa.
Schethalim
a demon
Schiekron
a demon associated with lust
Schilbung Norse
brother of Nibelung
He quarrelled with his brother over
sharing their father’s estate; both were
killed by Siegfried.
Schionatulander British
[Tchionatulander]
husband of Sigune
He was killed by the Red Knight
when he tried to recover the pet dog
that had been stolen from Sigune.
Schirim
a demon in the form of a goat
Schlauraffenland German
the German version of Cockaigne
Schlemihl

a man who sold his soul to
the devil
Schoenius Greek
a king of Orchomenus
son of Athamas and Themisto
husband of Clymene
father of Atalanta, in some accounts
Schratt German
[=Celtic Dus]
a goblin (see also Scrat)
sciapod
a mythical one-footed man with one
large foot
Sciathbhreag Irish
a warrior of the Fianna
sciomancy (see necromancy)
Sciron
1
Greek
[Sceiron]
an outlaw
son of Poseidon
A bandit who demanded that travellers
should wash his feet and then kicked
them over the cliff where a tortoise ate
the bodies. Theseus, on his journey to
Athens to find his father, dealt with
Sciron in the same fashion.
(see also Sciron
2

)
Sciron
2
Greek
[Sceiron]
son of Pylas
father of Endeis
He and Nisus were both claimants for
the throne of Megara. Aeacus arbitrated
and gave the throne to Nisus, making
Sciron his army commander.
In some accounts, he is the same as
Sciron the outlaw. (see also Sciron
1
)
Sciron
3
Greek
a wind from the north-west quarter
Scirophoria Greek
a festival in honour of Athena or of
Core and Demeter, at which pigs
were killed, held in June/July
Scobelleum British
a fruitful country
The inhabitants of this country had all
the vices that afflict humanity and
were punished for it – the women were
turned into cows and the men into
various other animals.

Scoithfhionn
a wife of Finn mac Cool, some say
scolopendra English
a fabulous fish (Spenser)
scopellism
in black magic, curses written on
paper attached to stones thrown
into gardens, etc.
Scoriath Irish
father of Moriath
Some versions say he was king of
Feramorc in Munster, others of the Fir
Morca in Gaul. Covac, king of Ireland,
had killed the father and grandfather
of Maon (Lugaid Loiseach) and forced
the boy to eat parts of their hearts.
The boy was either previously dumb
or was rendered dumb by the
experience and fled to Gaul. He fell in
love with Moriath, the daughter of
Scoraith, either in Munster or in Gaul,
and her father not only agreed to let
Maon marry his daughter but raised an
army which invaded Ireland, killed
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sea-spirit
2
Covac and installed Maon on the

throne.
Scorpio
[Scorpion:=Akkadian Girtab:=Arab
Aqrab:=Hebrew Akrabh]
the eighth sign of the Zodiac,
the scorpion
scorpion
1
an arachnid with a sting in its tail:
(1) In Babylonian lore the scorpion
appears as Scorpion Man.
(see separate entry)
(2) In Egypt the scorpion was
regarded as the personification of
Serket and was sacred to Isis.
(3) In Greece, a scorpion was sent
by Artemis or Gaea to kill Orion,
who had boasted that he could
kill any animal, and was set in the
heavens as the constellation Scorpio
as a reward.
It was said that oil extracted
from a scorpion acted as an antidote
to the poison from its sting.
(4) The Hebrews regarded the
scorpion as a symbol of evil.
(5) In Persia this animal represents
autumn and decay. Mithra is
depicted as a bull, the strength of
life, in summer and the scorpion

nibbles away at the bull’s testicles
representing the fading of summer
and the onset of autumn.
(6) In Toltec lore, the god Yappon
and his wife Tlahuitzin were both
turned into scorpions when they
were killed by Yaotl.
Scorpion
2
(see Scorpio)
Scorpion Man Mesopotamian
[Girtablili]
one of the Eleven Mighty Helpers
created by Tiamat.
Scota
1
Irish
[Bera]
a Milesian queen
daughter of the pharaoh, Nectanebus
second wife of Milesius
She died soon after reaching Ireland
which was conquered by her sons who
overcame the Danaans.
In some accounts she is equated
with Cailleach Bheur.
Scota
2
Irish
daughter of the pharaoh, Cingris

wife of Niul
mother of Gaedheal
Scotia Greek
a sea-goddess of Cyprus
Scotorum Historiae Scottish
a history, written by Boece, which
includes some Arthurian lore
Scox (see Shax)
Scrat German
[Schratt.Scrato:=Celtic Dus:
=Icelandic Skratti]
a forest-demon
Scratchfoot European
a hen in Reynard the Fox
mate of Henning
She was killed by Reynard the Fox.
Scrato (see Scrat)
screbonie North American
a fabulous animal
Scritta Anglo-Saxon
[=Celtic Dus:=German Scrat]
a monster
scrying
[crystal-gazing.crystallomancy]
divination from images seen in a
crystal ball
Scuab Uasafach Irish
[Terrible Broom]
a battalion of the Fianna
This elite battalion was commanded

by Oscar and was renowned for
never yielding.
Scyld Norse
in some accounts, the same as Sceaf;
in others, his son
Scylla
1
Greek
[Ciris.Skulla.Skulle.Skylla.‘whelp’]
daughter of Nisus
She was nursed by Carme, a slave-
woman from Crete. Her father, a king
of Megara had been warned that he
must never cut his purple hair or his
kingdom would fall. When Minos
attacked Megara, the siege lasted six
months until Scylla fell in love with
him and killed her father by cutting off
a lock of his hair to give to Minos who
seduced and then deserted her. She
drowned when she tried to swim after
his departing ship and her father’s
spirit, in the form of a sea-eagle,
attacked her. She was changed into a
lark, Ciris.
Scylla
2
Greek
[Skulla.Skulle.’whelp’]
a nymph

daughter of Zeus and Lamia
daughter of Phorcos and Cratais or
Hecate, some say
Some say she spurned the love of the
sea-god Glaucus and Circe, who
wanted Glaucus herself, turned her
into a six-headed monster with three
rows of teeth and twelve feet
destroying everything that came
within range of the cliff on which she
was fixed, opposite the whirlpool
Charybdis.
Another story says that Amphitrite,
annoyed when her husband Poseidon
looked at Scylla, turned her into a
monster by putting magic herbs into
the water where she bathed.
Some accounts say that she was
killed by Heracles when she stole some
of Geryon’s cattle from him but she
was revivified by Phorcos. Others say
that she was turned into a rock.
Scyrius Greek
a king of Scyros
father of Aegeus
Scyros Greek
the island ruled by Lycomedes
Scythes Greek
son of Heracles
brother of Agathyrsus and Gelonus

On his way back to Greece after
seizing Geryon’s cattle, Heracles had
his horses stolen by a snake-tailed
woman (Echidna, some say) who
returned the horses only when he slept
with her. She bore him three sons.
Scythes became the first king of
Scythia.
Scythians (see Arimaspi)
Se-irim Hebrew
[Ceirim]
hairy, goatlike monsters
sea-dog
a monster in the form of a dog with
fins and a beaver’s tail
sea-dragon
a monster, part dragon, part fish
sea-horse
a monster in the form of a horse
with a fish’s tail
sea-king
the king of the mer-people
sea-lion
a monster, part lion, part fish
sea-maid (see mermaid)
sea-man (see merman)
sea-nymph
a minor sea-goddess
Sea of Clear Glass Irish
an area of smooth sea

Maeldun encountered this glass-
smooth sea during his voyage.
Sea of Death Mesopotamian
part of the underworld ruled by Sabitu
Sea of Two Knives Egyptian
a sacred lake
A symbol of the primaeval waters
holding the Isle of Flames.
sea-serpent
a monster in the form of a marine
animal
Sea Spirit
1
(see Sedna)
sea-spirit
2
(see roane.selkie)
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sea-unicorn
a monster, part unicorn, part fish
sea-wolf
a monster, part wolf, part fish
sea-woman (see mermaid)
Seachnasach Irish
a king of Tara
Seachran Irish
a giant
Finn mac Cool made friends with this

giant who took him to his home. His
family were hostile and tried to kill
Seachran. A huge claw appeared and
grabbed hold of him and, in his efforts
to escape, he accidentally knocked
his mother in a boiling cauldron. Both
Seachran and Finn fled the scene but
were overtaken by Seachran’s brother
who killed Seachran. Finn avenged his
death by killing the brother and then
resuscitated Seachran with the aid of
his magic ring.
Seaghdha (see Segda)
seal
an occult or demonic device in
the form of a diagram or
picture
seal-maiden (see roane.selkie)
Sean mac Semais Irish
a young man of Munster
He fell dead at his engagement party
but was carried off and restored to
life by Cliona. When Caitlin Og, his
betrothed, demanded a large ransom
from Cliona, she released him.
Seanaigh Irish
[Maol Seanaigh]
When Cellach was deposed by Guaire
and fled to an island, Seanaigh and
three other young monks went with

him. They later accepted a bribe from
Guaire and killed Cellach. The dead
man’s brother, Muireadhach, found
the body and, when he caught the
murderers, had them put to death.
Seanan Irish
[Senan]
a saint
son of Geirgreann
He is said to have performed many
miracles, including restoring the dead
to life and banishing a monster from
Scattery Island where he established a
monastery. He was persuaded to allow
women to join his community by the
woman, Canair who walked to the
island on the wave-tops.
Seanbheag Irish
a man from the Otherworld
In one story, he met Cuchulainn and
gave him weapons that would ensure
victory and clothes that would protect
him from both fire and water.
Seancha mac Aillealla Irish
a counsellor and peacemaker
at the court of Conor mac
Nessa
Seanchan Torpest Irish
[Seanchan Torpeist.Senchan]
a chief poet

husband of Brighid
He was said to have killed ten rats
merely by reciting a couplet and was
once carried off by the king-cat Irusan
for composing a satire.
At the court of Guaire, king of
Connaught, he was challenged to
recite the story of the Cattle Raid of
Cooley. He knew this story because
he had raised the dead king, Fergus
mac Roth, and learned the whole story
from him before allowing him to
return to his grave.
Seanchan Torpeist
(see Seanchan Torpest)
Seang Irish
daughter of a Scythian king
first wife of Milesius
When she died, Milesius went to
Egypt and married Scota.
Searbhan (see Sharvan)
Seasons (see Horae)
Seat of Danger (see Perilous Seat)
Seat of Dread (see Perilous Seat)
Seat Perilous (see Perilous Seat)
Seathrun Ceitinn Irish
a priest
He collected and distributed much
Irish lore.
Seaxneat (see Saxnot)

Seb Egyptian
in some versions, a name of Geb
Seba Egyptian
in some accounts, a serpent
(see also Sati
2
)
Sebak (see Sebek)
Sebastian European
a king of Portugal
He was killed in a battle against the
Moors but is said to lie sleeping,
awaiting a call to rule Brazil.
Sebek Egyptian
[Rem(i).Sebak.Sob(e)k:=Greek Sekonopis.
Sochos.S(o)uchos]
a crocodile-god
son of Neith
father of Khons by Hathor, some say
In some accounts he is identified with
Maka or Set.
He is depicted as a crocodile or as a
crocodile with the head of a hawk.
(see also aart)
Sebek-Osiris Egyptian
a composite of Sebek and Osiris as
a god of the dead
In this role he was envisaged as a
crocodile with a human head.
Sebek-Ra Egyptian

a composite of Sebek and Ra, a
manifestation of the sun-god
In this role he was envisaged as a man
with a crocodile’s head.
Sebettu Mesopotamian
a group of Akkadian demons
The malevolent Sebettu are the
cause of eclipses and various disasters
but are opposed by the benevolent
Sebettu.
Sebile British
[Sebille]
a sorceress
a companion of Morgan le Fay
Sebille (see Sebile)
Sebitti Mesopotamian
Babylonian war-gods
children of Anu
Sechmet (see Sekhmet)
Sechobochobo African
in Zambia, a one-eyed, one-legged
forest monster
Sechol-Hor Egyptian
a cow-goddess
foster-mother of Horsu, some
say
Second Lord of Quality
(see Erh-lang)
Second Sun Central American
[Four Wind.Sun of Air]

the second age of the Aztec
creation cycle
At the end of the first era, ruled by
Tezcatlipoca and which lasted for
676 years, the animals ate all the
human beings. Quetzalcoatl killed
Tezcatlipoca and ruled for the period
of the Second Sun which also lasted
for 676 years. When he took over,
Quetzalcoatl created a new race of
humans and, by sacrificing his own son
in the fire, brought light to the dark
world they lived in.
At the end of this period, Tlaloc
caused a great wind to blow away all
these humans (except a few who
became monkeys) and took over as
ruler of the Third Sun.
Another version calls this period the
Sun of Air and accepts that two
humans escaped destruction at the end
of the era. (see also sun
1
)
Secret Commonwealth, The British
a treatise on Gaelic fairy lore, written
by Robert Kirk
915
Secret Commonwealth, Thesea-unicorn
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seirenes
Secular Games
1
Greek
a festival held every 4 years in honour
of Hades
Secular Games
2
Roman
a festival held at intervals of 100
years (at the beginning of a new
saeculum) in honour of Dis
and Proserpina
Securita Roman
[Securitas]
a guardian goddess protecting
the empire
Securitas (see Securitas)
Sed
1
Hebrew
[plur=Sedim]
a demon with magical powers to
whom children were sacrificed
Sed
2
Egyptian
a cannibalistic feast
If the king was still alive after thirty
years on the throne he was killed and

eaten so that his strength would pass to
his successor.
Sed
3
Egyptian
a jackal-god, guardian of the
individual
Sed
4
Mesopotamian
a Semitic sun-god
Seder (see Pasch)
Sedim (see Sed
1
)
Sedanta (see Setanta)
Sedeq (see Sydyk)
Sedhu (see Sedu)
Sedhu-Lal Hindu
an attendant on the smallpox
goddess, Shitala
Sedit North American
[Coyote]
a trickster-god of the Wintun people
Olelbis sent his brothers to earth with
orders to build a ladder from earth to
heaven so that men could ascend to
renew their youth. Sedit persuaded the
brothers to dismantle the work that
they had already done but suddenly

realised that he himself was now cut
off from heaven. He tried to reach
heaven, flying on a pair of home-made
wings, but they shrivelled in the heat
of the sun and Sedit was killed when he
fell back to earth.
Sedna North American
[Arnaknagas.Arnaknagsak.Arnakua’gsak.
Arn(a)quagssaq.Arna(r)ku(su)agsak.
Great Goddess.Immap Ukua.Nuliajoq.
Nuliajuk.‘old woman’.Sea Spirit:
=Greenland Nerrivik:
=Siberian Nuli’rahak]
a one-eyed sea-goddess of the
underworld in Alaska
daughter of Anguta
She was one of the three spirits
controlling the forces of nature.
When she started to eat her parents,
they threw her into the sea from their
boat and when she clung to the sides,
they cut off her fingers which became
fish, whales, etc.
In another version, she rejected
humans in favour of animal lovers and
was thrown into the sea by her father
when he was taking her home from a
meeting with one of these lovers.
In yet another version Sedna was a
mortal who was carried off from a boat

by a petrel. Her parents tried to drive
the bird away but it then attacked
them so they threw their daughter into
the sea, cutting off her fingers when
she tried to climb back into the boat.
Sedrat (see Sidrat al-Muntaha)
Sedu Mesopotamian
[Sedhu:=Hebrew Sed]
a Babylonian spirit of the underworld
He and the female Karibatu were
installed as guardians at the entrance
of palaces and both were depicted as
winged bull/human hybrids.
seelie court Scottish
benevolent fairies
Seere
a demon
one of the 72 Spirits of Solomon
This being is said to be able to make
anything happen instantaneously and
appears as a man riding a horse.
Seeta (see Sita)
Seeva Baltic
[=Slav Siva]
a Lithuanian love-goddess
Seewiesken German
a water-spirit
Sef Egyptian
a lion-god
ruler of yesterday

brother of Dua, some say
Sefkhet-Awby Egyptian
[Safekh-Aubi.Safket-Awbi.Safkhat-Awbi.
Ses(h)at.Ses(h)et.Sesheta]
a goddess of writing and libraries
She is often depicted wearing a long
dress made of panther-skin.
Segais’ Well (see Well of Segais)
Segard British
steward to Rohand, father of Guy
of Warwick
Segda Irish
[Seaghdha.Segda Saerlabraid]
a prince of the Otherworld
son of Manannan and Fand or
Rigru Roisclethan
When Conn, the high-king, was told
to sacrifice the son of sinless parents,
he sailed to the Land of Wonder and
took Segda. The youth’s life was saved
when Conn was persuaded to sacrifice
a cow instead.
Seger (see Seker)
Segesta (see Egesta)
Segomo Celtic
a war-god in Gaul
In some accounts he is equated
with Cocidius.
Segun North American
the manitou of summer, in the lore of

the Algonquin
Segurant British
[Knight of the Dragon.Knight of
the Old Table]
a knight at Uther’s court
Segwarides British
a knight of King Mark’s court
Both Tristram and King Mark were
attracted to this knight’s wife. She
preferred Tristram who seduced her
and then defeated Segwarides when he
challenged the seducer.
Sehem Egyptian
divine energy personified
Sei-O-Ba Japanese
[Seiobo:=Chinese Hsi Wang Mu]
goddess of the west
Seiobo (see Sei-O-Ba)
Seia Roman
a guardian-goddess of newly-planted
corn
Seian Horse Roman
a horse apparently bringing ill-fortune
to its owner
seid Norse
[seidr.seithr]
a form of divination, using magic,
practised by Freya and others
Practitioners of this art could cause the
soul to leave the body, take on the form

of some animal and attack an enemy.
seidberendr (see vitkar)
seide Lapp
a sacred object in the form of a
weathered stone or tree-stump, said
to predict the future
seidean side (see sidhe gaoite)
Seider (see Pasch)
seidhkoma Norse
female magicians
seidhmadr Norse
male magicians
seidr (see seid
1
)
Seileni (see Silenus
2
)
Seilinos (see Selinus)
Seilinus (see Silenus)
Seimia (see Simi)
seirenes (see siren)
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Secular Games
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Se’irim (see Serim)
Seishi Japanese
a Shinto deity
seistron Egyptian

a priest’s staff imbued with
protective powers
Seit Ka-doji Japanese
an attendant on, or an aspect
of, Fudo-myoo
Seitaka Japanese
an attendant on, or an aspect
of, Fudo-myoo
Seithenyn Welsh
a man who, in some accounts, caused
Cantref Gwaelod to be overwhelmed
by the sea
seithr (see seid
1
)
Seizam (see Tokugawa
2
)
Sejarah Melayu Malay
a 17th C book of history and
myths
Sek-ya Burmese
a deity, lord of supernatural weapons
One of his weapons was a magic drum
which, when sounded, drove off the
enemy. He gave this drum to Lan Yein
and A-mong when they descended
to earth.
Seker Egyptian
[Closer of the Day.Seger.Sokar(i):

=Greek Sokaris.Soucharis]
a falcon-headed god of mercy
consort of Sakhmet
He is a funerary god ruling over one
section of the underworld, the Western
Desert.
He is depicted as a hawk-headed
human, a hawk with the body of a
serpent and three human heads or
sometimes with four heads – one of a
ram, one of a bull and two of a hawk.
Sekhauit (see Sakhmet)
Sakhautet (see Sakhmet)
sekhem
1
Egyptian
a vital force inherent in the individual
which, in some cases, survived
death
Sekhem (see Sakhmet)
Sekhemtaui Egyptian
[Power of the Two Lands]
Wepwawet as an aspect of Osiris
Sekhet (see Sakhmet)
Sekhet-Aalu (see Sekhet-Aaru)
Sekhet-Aaru Egyptian
[Place of the Reeds.Sekhet-Aalu:
=Babylonian Aralu]
one of the realms of Amenti
Sekhet-Hetep Egyptian

one of the realms of Amenti
Sekhet-Hor Egyptian
a goddess protecting cattle
Sekhet-Tchant Egyptian
[Field of Zoan]
a realm equated in some accounts
with Amenti
Sekhmet (see Sakhmet)
Sekmet (see Sakhmet)
Sekonopis (see Souchos)
Sekti (see Shakti)
Sel Welsh
a warrior at King Arthur’s court
son of Selgi
Sela African
in the lore of the Abaluyia, the first
woman
daughter of Wele
sister and wife of Mwambu
She and Mwambu were born in heaven
but Wele dropped a ladder down from
the sky and they descended to earth
and populated it with their offspring.
Selamanes (see Salman)
Selardi Armenian
[Selardib]
a moon-god
Selardib (see Selardi)
Selekana African
in the lore of the Lesotho, a girl who

was thrown into a river
She met the River Woman and worked
in the underwater palace of the River
King for which she was rewarded with
jewellery. The daughter of the village
chieftain jumped into the river, hoping
for similar rewards, but she refused to
work in the palace and was eaten by
the River King, a huge crocodile.
Selena (see Selene)
Selenus Greek
a shepherd
This handsome young man was in
love with Argyra and almost died of
grief when she left him. Aphrodite
turned the love-lorn fellow into the
River Selemnus.
Selene Greek
[Asterodia.Mene.Phoebe.Selena.
Seline:=Roman Luna]
a moon-goddess and goddess
of magicians
a Titaness
daughter of Hyperion and Thea
daughter of Pallas or Helius by
Euryphaessa, some say
sister of Helius and Eos
She fell in love with the mortal
Endymion and put him to sleep
for ever so that she might visit him

every night.
She is said to be the mother of his
fifty sons.
Another story says that she slept
with Pan who gave her a white fleece
or appeared in the form of a white
ram.
Some equate her with Artemis,
Hera, Io or Pasiphae.
(see also Chromia)
Selgi British
father of Sel
Selindung Dalima Malay
daughter of Dewa Laksana
and Seri Bunian
Selinus
1
Greek
a king of Aegialus
father of Helice
Selinus
2
Greek
a river-god
Selises British
a Knight of the Round Table
Selivant British
a knight of King Arthur’s court
brother of Bliant
He and Bliant looked after Lancelot at

Castle Blank for over a year and a half,
during the period of Lancelot’s
madness.
Selk (see Selket)
Selket Egyptian
[Selk(it).Selq(u)et.Serket(-hetu).
Serket-hetyt.Serq(u)et:=Greek Selkis]
a fertility-goddess and
mortuary goddess
She guards the entrails of the dead
and, in her role as scorpion-goddess,
guards the king’s throne. She is also
said to guard the serpent, Apep.
She is depicted as having the head of
a scorpion or as a scorpion with a
woman’s head and is personified in
the scorpion.
selkie Scottish
[sea-spirit.seal-maiden.silkie]
one of the sea-spirits, a seal race of
the Orkneys (see also roane)
Selkis Greek
the Greek name for Selket
Selkit (see Selket)
Sellen
a demon
Selli Greek
[Helli]
the inhabitants of Dodona who made
bread from acorns: priests of Zeus

at Dodona
Selqet (see Selket)
Selquet (see Selket)
Selu North American
[Corn Mother]
the first woman, in the lore of
the Cherokee
wife of Kanati
mother of the Thunder Boys
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Senapus
Selvans Roman
an Italian god, possibly a god of
agriculture and forests
Selwanga African
a python-god of the Baganda
Selyf Welsh
son of Cynan Whiteshank
He appears as one of Owain’s
companions in The Dream of Rhonabwy
where he is killed in battle.
Semagumba (see Semagunga)
Semagunga African
[Semagunba]
a high priest of Mukasa
semangat (see sumangat)
semangko East Indian
the ghosts of the dead in Papua

Semaquiel
a demon, ruler of the Zodiacal sign
Capricorn, the goat
(see also Hanael)
Semar East Indian
a Javanese god
brother of Batara Guru
father of Garang and Petruk
He was said to live on earth to protect
the Pandawas.
Semara Pacific Islands
a Balinese god of love
Semargl Slav
a family god, the god of
barley
Sembadra (see Subadra)
semblance
an apparition
Semektet (see solar bark)
Semele Greek
[Keraunia.Stimula.Thyone:=Phrygian
Zemelo:=Roman Fauna]
a princess of Thebes
daughter of Cadmus and Harmonia
sister of Agave, Autonoe, Ino
She was the mother of Dionysus by
Zeus and, at the instigation of Hera in
the guise of Semele’s old nurse, Beroe,
foolishly demanded that he show
himself to her in all his full glory and

died before the divine light. Her
unborn baby was placed by Hermes in
the thigh of Zeus or, in some stories,
Zeus himself saved the child by
inserting it into his own side. In either
event, the child, Dionysus was born at
full term and, years later, descended to
Tartarus and successfully demanded
that Hades release the mother he had
never seen. She was carried up to
Olympus and, though a mortal, was
received by the gods and deified by
Zeus. Thereafter she was known
as Thyone.
Another story says that Dionysus
was born in the normal fashion but,
when Semele claimed that Zeus was
the father, Cadmus cast both Semele
and her son adrift in a chest. Semele
died but Dionysus was saved and
reared by Ino. (see also Zagreus)
Semenkoror (see Samonekoaner)
Semeon (see Semion)
Semetet (see Sakhmet)
Semias (see Simias)
Semiazas
[Samyasa.Samyaza]
a demon leader
seminatrices malorum (see furiae
1

)
Seming (see Saeming)
Semion Irish
[Semeon]
an ancestor of the Fir Bolg
grandson of Nemed
son of Stariat
Semiramis
1
Armenian
a goddess
She fell in love with Er and had him
killed when he rejected her. She so
regretted this that she persuaded
another lover to masquerade as Er,
pretending that he had returned from
the dead.
Another version says that Er was, in
fact, restored to life just as he was
about to be cremated.
Semiramis
2
Mesopotamian
[Sammuramat]
(c 800
BC)
a queen of Babylon
daughter of Oannes and Atargatis,
some say
wife of Menon and Ninus

mother of Ninyas by Ninus
In some accounts, her father was an
unnamed Syrian youth.
She was abandoned as a baby and
fed by doves. Found and reared by
Simmos, a shepherd, she married
Menon who hanged himself when
Ninus, the king of Assyria, demanded
Semiramis for himself. She later killed
Ninus and was herself killed by their
son, Ninyas.
In one version of her death, she died
of heartbreak when she failed to
conquer India.
Another story says that, when her
mother was changed into a fish, she
became a dove.
In some accounts, her first husband,
Menon, is referred to as Moenones
or Onnes. Others say that Onnes was
her father.
Semketet (see solar bark)
Semnai Greek
a Titaness
an Athenian goddess of the underworld
mother of the Horae, some say
Semnai Theai Greek
[Eumenides.‘venerable goddesses’]
earth-goddesses at Athens
and Colonus

In some accounts, they became
identified with the Furies.
Semnocosus Roman
a Spanish war-god
Semo Roman
a vegetation-god, sower of seed
He was later absorbed into Sancus
as Semo-Sancus.
Semo Sancus (see Sancus.Semo)
Semutega African
in the lore of the Baganda, an
umbilical cord dedicated to Kibuka
Sen Mag (see Senmag)
Sena
1
Hindu
the Hindu equivalent of bacchante
Sena
2
(see Devasena)
Sena-pati
1
Hindu
a name of Karttikeya as ‘commander
of armies’
Sena-pati
2
(see Senapati)
Senach Irish
a warrior

Fand, the wife of Manannan, had been
promised to Cuchulainn if he would
protect her from her enemies. One of
his tasks was to fight Senach.
In some accounts he is referred to as
a god of drought or frost.
Senan (see Seanan)
Senapati East Indian
[Sena-pati]
a Javanese king
The sea-goddess Kidul took him to
her underwater palace where he
became her lover and learned to
control the sea-spirits. When he
returned home, walking on the
surface of the sea, he became king of
Java. Attempts to kill him by the
assassin, Bochor, and by Ratna Jumilah
failed because, as a divine king, he
was invulnerable.
Senapus European
a king of Abyssinia
As a young man, he had attempted to
invade the earthly paradise at the
source of the Nile and for this
presumption he was struck blind. He
was also harried by the Harpies and, at
the time of Astolpho’s arrival, was
dying from starvation since the
Harpies snatched or fouled all his

food. Astolpho drove off the Harpies
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and cured the king’s blindness with a
magic herb. In return, the king gave
Astolpho a large army with which to
support Charlemagne in his war with
the Saracens.
In some accounts, it was Prester
John, king of Nubia, who was harried
by the Harpies until Astolpho drove
them off.
Senators of the Gods Italian
a group of great gods
Senboth Irish
a chieftain
He acted as adviser to Partholan.
Sencha Irish
a warrior at the court of Conor mac
Nessa
He fought alongside Conary at the
siege of Da Derga’s hostel and was one
of the few to escape.
Sencha mac Ailella Irish
a judge and poet
He was a tutor of the young Cuchulainn.
Senchan (see Seanchan)
Sen’dah North American
[Sen’dah Old Man]

a trickster-god of the Kiowa
Sen’dah Old Man (see Sen’dah)
Sendai Kuji Hongi Japanese
a (probably) 9th C record of the early
ages of the gods, etc., in ten parts
sending (see familiar)
Sengalang Burong East Indian
a bird-god of the Iban tribe of Borneo
He was the grandfather of Surong
Gunting and instructed him in the
rituals of the birds.
In some accounts, he is described as
a war-god appearing in the form of
a hornbill.
Sengann Irish
son of Dela
leader of the invading Fir Bolg
He and his brother Gann shared the
province of Munster.
Sengen Japanese
[Asama.Blossom Princess.Child-Flower.
Fuji-hime.Ko-no-hana.
Kono-hana-sakuya-hime.Sakuya]
goddess of Mount Fuji
guardian of the cherry and
plum blossom
daughter of Oho-yama
sister of Iha-Naga
wife of Ninigi
mother of Fire Fade and Fire Flash

She married Ninigi but left him when
he became jealous, immolating herself
by setting fire to the wooden hut she
lived in, after giving birth to three
sons.
Senjemand Norse
a mountain-giant
He fell in love with Juterna-jesta who
preferred Torge. In a rage, Senjemand
shot a huge arrow that would have
killed her had not Torge thrown his
hat to deflect it. When Senjemand
tried to ride off, the sun came up and
he was turned to stone.
Senjiu-Kannon (see Senjiu Kwannon)
Senjiu Kwannon Japanese
[Senj(i)u-Kannon]
a name of Kwannon as ‘the
thousand-handed one’
In this version, she is depicted as having
forty rather than a thousand hands,
each of which holds some object.
Senju-Kannon (see Senjiu Kwannon)
Senkyo
1
Japanese
one of a race with a hole right
through the chest
A senkyo who was tired or ill could be
carried by two others on a pole

through the hole in his chest.
Senkyo
2
Japanese
a paradisal realm, home of the sennin,
on Cosmic Mountain
Senmag Irish
[The Old Plain]
the plain where the Partholanians
buried their dead
senmerv Persian
[samurv.senmurv.seymorg]
a fabulous bird
This enemy of snakes was said to be
part bird, part mammal.
(see also simurgh)
senmurv (see senmerv)
Sennan Holy Well British
a site where King Arthur and the
kings of Cornwall gave thanks
after they had defeated the Danes
at Vellendrucher
sennin Japanese
a recluse
These beings appear as humans but
they are in fact immortal. They are
said to be skilled magicians, able to
perform miracles such as producing an
image of themselves from the mouth,
walking on water and flying through

the air.
Their home, the Cosmic Mountain,
is said to be supported by a turtle.
Senotlke North American
a serpent-like monster, in the lore of
the tribes of the northwest
sensum (see ntoro)
Senta Norse
daughter of Daland
She loved the Flying Dutchman and
would have married him but he put to
sea without her. She threw herself to
her death from the cliff-top.
Sentait Egyptian
an ancient corn-goddess, later merged
with Isis
Sentaro Japanese
a man who travelled to the Land
of Eternal Youth
When Sentaro prayed at the shrine of
Jofuku, he received a small crane made
of paper which turned into a real bird
that carried him to the land where all
the inhabitants, blessed (or cursed)
with eternal life, longed for death.
When he returned to his home, he
found that he had been away for
300 years.
Sentraille du Lushon British
a knight, attendant on Tristram

He helped Tristram to escape from the
prison into which he had been thrown
by Andred.
Senx North American
[Our Father.Sacred One.Sonx]
a sun-god of the Bella Coola Indians
of Canada
Seoritsu-hime Japanese
a water-goddess living in rapids
Sep (see Sept)
Sepa (see Sept)
Separ (see Vepar)
Separate Heavenly Deities Japanese
[Kotoamatsukami]
the 5 primordial gods of the Shinto
pantheon
These five gods, from whom all other
deities are said to be descended, are
Amanominakamushi, Amanotokotachi,
Kamimusubi, Takamimusubi and
Umashiashikabihikoji.
Sepd Egyptian
a form of Bes as a handsome,
lion-faced man (see also Sept(u))
Sepi Malosi Pacific Islands
[Sepo Malosi]
a Samoan war-god
This deity took the form of a bat and
indicated victory by flying in front of
the eventual winners.

(see also Taisumale)
Sepo Malosi (see Sepi Malosi)
Sepset Egyptian
a goddess of the underworld
She is present when the hearts of the
dead are weighed.
Sept Egyptian
[Sep]
the god of Sirius, the Dog-star
(see also Sepd)
Septentrio (see Aquilo)
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Set
Septentronial Signs
the first 6 signs of the Zodiac
Septu (see Bes.Sepd)
Sequana Celtic
[Sequena]
a river-goddess of the Seine
and goddess of healing in
Gaul
Sequena (see Sequana)
Sequence British
one of King Arthur’s swords
Seqinek North American
an Inuit sun-spirit
Ser-thup Buddhist
the Tibetan version of Kanakamuni

Sera Irish
father of Agnoman, Partholan
and Starn
Some versions have Sera, not Partholan,
as the husband of Dealgnaid.
Serapati East Indian
a Javanese prince
When an enemy force was poised to
attack, Serapati prayed to the sea-
goddess who sent a shower of rocks to
disperse the enemy.
Serapeum Egyptian
a temple of Serapis in Alexandria:
a burial place for the Apis bulls
Seraph
1
British
[Seraphe]
the original name of Nascien
seraph
2
a flying serpent
Seraphe (see Seraph
1
)
Seraphis (see Serapis)
Serapion
one of the Seven Sleepers
Serapis
1

Egyptian
[Asar-Hap(i).Osirap.Sarapis.
Seraphis.Usar-Api(s).Usar-Hapi]
a god of the underworld
the Greek version of Osir-Apis, the
combination of Osiris and Apis
consort of Isis
Serapis was the state god during the
Greek occupation.
He is depicted as having curly hair
and beard, sometimes with a dog at
his feet, or as a bearded, human-headed
serpent.
Serapis
2
Greek
[=Egyptian Apis.Osiris]
a god of the underworld, healer of the
sick
Seratiel
a demon, ruler of the sign Leo,
the lion (see also Verchiel)
Serbonian Bog Greek
a morass at the mouth of the Nile,
home of Typhon
Seri Mesopotamian
a bull
This beast, together with Hurri, was a
companion of Ishkur
Seri Turi Malay

the name taken by Nila Utama when
he became the first ruler of Singapore
Serida Mesopotamian
[=Babylonian A-a]
a Sumerian mother-goddess
Serim Semitic
[Sahirim.se’irim]
mythical hairy, goat-like beings
living in desert areas: satyrs
Serimnir (see Saehrimnir)
Serket (see Selket)
Serket-hetu (see Serket-hetyt)
Serket-hetyt Egyptian
[Serket(-hetu)]
a name for Selket as controller of
breath
Serosevsky Russian
a spirit of the forest
This being, which leads travellers astray,
can appear as an animal or a human
being.
serou Tibetan
[kee.tso’po]
the unicorn
serpent (see snake)
serpent-god
a deified snake
serpent-goddess
a deified snake
Serpent of the Obsidian Knives

Central American
an Aztec symbol of sacrifice
He was originally regarded as one of
the four giants supporting the sky at
the beginning of the Fifth Sun.
Serpent of the Sea (see Koloowise)
Serpent of Wisdom (see Python
2
)
Serpent Skirt (see Coatlantona)
Serpent-stone (see Copacati)
Serpent Woman (see Cihuacoatl)
Serqet (see Selket)
Serquet (see Selket)
serra
a griffin-like monster, said to breathe
fire
In some accounts, this beast has the
head of a lion and the tail of a fox.
Seru North American
a corn-spirit of the Cherokee
wife of Kanati
mother of Wild Boy
Servage (see Isle of Servage)
Servant Rupert (see Knecht Ruprecht)
Servius Tullius Roman
the sixth king of Rome
son of Ocresia
father of Tullia
He was said to have been born when

his mother mated with Vulcan in the
form of a phantom phallus rising from
the fire.
He was reared by Tarquin and his
queen, Tanaquil, and married their
daughter, becoming king when
Tarquin was assassinated.
His daughter plotted with Tarquinius
Superbus to kill her Arruns, her
husband. She then married Tarquinius
who had Servius assassinated so that
he could take the throne himself.
A similar story of the phantom
phallus in the flames is told of the
daughter of Tarchetius, mother, in that
account, of Romulus and Remus.
In some accounts, he is identified
with Mastarna.
Sesa (see Ananta.Basuki)
Sesame (see Open Sesame)
Sesanaga (see Ananta)
Sesat (see Sefkhet-Awby)
Sese African
an earth-god(dess) of the Ngbandi
people
Sesemu (see Sezmu)
Seset (see Sefkhet-Awby)
Sesha (see Ananta.Basuki)
Seshanaga (see Ananta.Basuki)
Seshat (see Sefkhet-Awby)

seshaw Egyptian
magic rituals
Seshet (see Sefkhet-Awby)
Sesheta (see Sefkhet-Awby)
Sesmu (see Sezmu)
Sesotris Egyptian
a mythical king said to have
conquered much of Africa
and Asia
Sesshiu Japanese
an artist
At a very early age he was tied up in a
temple for some misdemeanour and,
using his tears for ink, and his toe for a
brush, painted rats on the floor. These
animals came to life and freed the boy
by gnawing through his bonds.
Sessrumnir (see Sessrymnir)
Sessrymnir Norse
[Sessrumnir.Sessymir]
the palace of Freya in Folkvang
It was to this palace that Freya took
her share of the warriors slain in battle.
Sessymir (see Sessrymnir)
Set Egyptian
[Ekhi.Iahu.Ombos.Seth(i).Seti.Sit.Sut:
=Arab Shayth:=Canaanite Baal:
=Greek Bapho.Typhon:=Mesopotamian
Setekh.Setes(h).Sutekh.Sutesh.Suty]
920

Septentronial Signs
EABC8972-576D-4878-8C33-C9EBD9D6F5A9
animal-headed god of darkness,
sky-god and storm-god
son of Geb and Nut or Ra and
Nut
brother of Isis, Nephthys and
Osiris
husband of Nepthys
When Geb abdicated, he divided the
kingdom leaving the south to Set. Set
wanted the whole of the kingdom so,
in an attempt to get the north as well,
he put his brother Osiris in a box and
threw it into the Nile. When Isis
recovered the body, Set cut it into
fourteen pieces and threw them back
into the river. Isis recovered and
reassembled the pieces, restoring her
husband to life, but he went off to rule
in the underworld, leaving the
northern kingdom to Horus.
Set later fought a battle with Horus
for the whole kingdom. Set was
castrated but, in the form of a pig, put
out one of Horus’ eyes. In another
version, he gouged out both the eyes
and buried them. Lotus blossom
sprouted from the ground where the
eyes were buried and Horus had his

sight restored by the gods. In the end,
the case was put to the gods for a
decision and Horus won. Set was then
transferred either to the heavens as a
storm-god or the Great Bear or to the
desert as a war-god.
He was one of the gods protecting
Ra in his nightly journey through
the underworld and once saved Ra
when the serpent Apophis was about
to swallow him.
He is sometimes depicted as a boar
or as part ass, part pig, but, having
been born prematurely and shapeless, he
can take many different animal shapes.
In some accounts he is equated
with Sebek (see also Bebon.Nuoni.
Typhonian Beast)
Seta African
a fertility-goddess of East Africa
consort of Tororut
mother of Arawa, Ilat and Topoh
Setanta Irish
[Sedanta]
the original name of Cuchulainn
Setebos English
[Settaboth]
an evil spirit in Shakespeare,
based on Settaboth
Setek European

[Sotek:=Czech Dedek:
=Russian Dedushka Domovoy]
in Slovenia, a hobgoblin
Originally a guardian spirit, this being
was downgraded.
It is envisaged as a boy with claws
instead of nails, inhabiting sheep
pens.
Setekh (see Sutekh)
seterty (see adykh)
Setes (see Sutekh)
Setesh (see Sutakh)
Setesuyara Pacific Islands
a Bali goddess of the underworld
She was said to rule jointly with Batara
Kala.
Seth
1
Irish
son of Adam and Eve
Irish lore says that Seth and the three
daughters of Cain were the first people
to come to Ireland.
Seth
2
(see Set)
Sethi (see Set)
Sethlans Roman
[Sethlaus:=Greek Hephaestus:
=Roman Vulcan]

an Italian smith-god
Sethlaus (see Sethlans)
Seti (see Set)
Setna Egyptian
a sorcerer-prince
a priest of Ptah
father of Siosire
Setsubun Japanese
a festival, held on 3rd February, in
which the individual’s fortune for
the coming year is fixed
Settaboth South American
a Patagonian deity (see also Setebos)
Settin-ki-jash North American
a supreme deity of the Haida
He owned the moon and the sun but
they were taken from him by Ne-kilst-
luss who deceived him into handing
them over.
Setu-Bandha (see Adam’s Bridge)
Sevain (see Sanam)
Seven against Thebes Greek
7 champions who marched
against Thebes
Polyneices had been banished from
Thebes by his twin Eteocles with
whom he should have shared the
throne and Tydeus had been banished
from Calydon. King Adrastus of
Argos married his daughter Aegia

to Polyneices and his other daughter,
Deiplya, to Tydeus, promising to
restore both to their rightful king-
doms. He assembled a force led by the
Seven to attack Thebes first. Tydeus
tried to settle the matter by
negotiation but failed and was
ambushed on his way back by fifty
Thebans, all of whom he killed.
Each of them took station opposite
one of the seven gates of the city with
Adrastus facing Megareus (the Neistan
Gate), Amphiarus facing Lasthenes
(the Homoloid Gate), Capaneus facing
Polyphontes (the Electrian Gate),
Hippomedon facing Hyperbius (the
Oncaean Gate), Parthenopaeus facing
Actor (the Borrhaean Gate), Polyneices
facing Eteocles (the Hypsistian Gate)
and Tydeus facing Melanippe (the
Proetid Gate). The twin brothers tried
to settle the issue in face-to-face
combat but each killed the other.
In some accounts, Eteoclus is given
in place of Adrastus and Mecisteus in
place of Polyneices. Of the seven, only
Adrastus survived the battle which
ended in the defeat of the Argives.
Creon, who took over Thebes,
refused to allow the Argives to collect

the bodies of the dead for burial causing
grave offence. Adastrus reported this to
Theseus who marched on Thebes,
captured Creon and returned the dead
to the families. The sons of the seven
champions, known as the Epigoni,
later avenged the death of their fathers
when they attacked Thebes ten years
later.
Seven against Thebes Greek
a play by Aeschylus
Seven Ancient Elders Mesopotamian
Babylonian sages
These sages, who took the form of
birds or fish, were said to have written
down the arts of magic and divination.
Seven Brahma-rishis
(see Seven Rishis)
Seven Caves, The (see Tulkan-Zuiva)
Seven Chaban Central American
the seventh of the 20 days of the
Mayan creation cycle
On this day the earth itself was created.
(see also Chaban)
Seven Champions
seven national saints
These are listed as:
(1) St Andrew (Scotland), said to
have lived for seven years as a swan
(2) St Anthony (Italy) who used

water from an enchanted fountain
to perform miracles
(3) St David (Wales) who was a
prisoner in an enchanted garden
for seven years
(4) St Denis (France) who lived for
seven years as a deer
(5) St George (England) who was a
prisoner of the king of Morocco
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Seven ChampionsSeta
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Seyon
(6) St James (Spain) who was struck
dumb for seven years when he fell
in love
(7) St Patrick (Ireland) who dug his
own grave with his hands when he
was locked in a cell
Seven Flowers (see Chicomexochtli)
Seven Gems Buddhist
symbols used in Chinese Buddhism
as amulets
These seven objects are given as the
image of Chu Ts’ang, the image of
Chu Ping Ch’en, the image of Yü Nü,
Ma the steed of the sun, Hsiang the
elephant, Chin Lun the Wheel of
Victory, and Ju’i Chu a pearl.
(see also Seven Treasures)

Seven Gods of Happiness
(see Ch’i-fu-shen)
Seven Gods of Luck
(see Shichi Fukojin)
Seven Hathors, The Egyptian
deities of fate
7 aspects of Hathor
These were seven maidens, attendants
of the souls of new-born babies. They
were later identified with the Pleiades.
(see also Mothers
2
)
Seven Judges (see Anunnaki
2
)
Seven Kings of Cornwall British
those rulers who joined forces with
King Arthur to defeat the Danes
at Velendrucher
Seven League Boots British
a pair of boots, made by Merlin, which
enabled the wearer to cover about
20 miles at each stride
Seven Macaw (see Vucub Caquix)
Seven Precious Stones Malay
jewels held by the Seven Sages
These jewels were used to predict the
future and one of them, the moon-
stone, was said to display portraits of

the king’s enemies.
Seven Rishis, The Hindu
[Manasa Putra.Manasaputra.Prajapati.
Seven Brahma Rishis.Seven Sages.
Seven Seers.Saptarshi]
wise men, created from the brain
of Brahma
They are listed as Atri, Bharadwaja,
Gotama, Jamad-agni, Kashyapa,
Vashishtha and Vishwamitra. Vishnu,
in his sixth avatar as Parasurama,
delivered the world into their hands
and they now appear in the sky as the
seven stars of the Plough constellation.
Another list gives Agastya, Angiras,
Atri, Bhrigu, Kashyapa, Vashishtha and
Vishvamitra while another lists
Angiras, Brighu, Daksha, Kashyapa,
Narada, Vashishtha and Vishvamitra.
Yet another list gives ten, omitting
Vishvamitra and adding Atri, Kratu,
Pulaha and Pulastya.
Some accounts list fourteen:
Angiras, Atri, Bharadwaja, Brighu,
Daksha, Gorama, Jamad-agni, Kashyapa,
Kratu, Marichi, Pulaha, Pulastra,
Vashishtha and Vishvamitra.
These personages are often referred
to as the Prajapati. (see also rishi)
Seven Sages, The

1
British
advisers to the Roman emperor
One such group was killed by
Herowdes, on the advice of Merlin, to
cure the emperor’s blindness.
Seven Sages, The
2
Greek
7 wise men of ancient Greece
They are given as Bias, Chilon,
Cleobulus, Periander (or Epimenides),
Pittacus, Solon and Thales.
Seven Sages, The
3
Malay
seers at the court of the king
Seven Sages, The
4
(see Apkallu.Seven Rishis)
Seven Seers, The (see Seven Rishis)
Seven-serpent (see Chicomecohuatl)
Seven Sisters
1
Australian
[Kungarankalpa]
ancestral heroines of the Aborigines
To escape the attentions of Nyiru, the
sisters left their home and travelled
south until they reached the coast.

Here they entered the sea and then
ascended into the sky as the Pleiades.
Seven Sisters
2
(see Pleiades)
Seven Sleepers, The
[The Seven Sleepers of Ephesus]
7 Christians who were persecuted
They were said to have been holed up
in a cave on Mount Celion for 200
years until 497. They fell asleep,
awaiting the Resurrection. Their names
are given as Constantius, Dionysius,
Joannes, Malchus, Martinianus,
Maximianus and Serapion.
Seven Snakes (see Chicomecohuatl)
Seven Stars Mother Chinese
a goddess of the constellation
Ursa Major
Seven Stars of the North Korean
the Korean version of the
constellation Ursa Major
It is said that these stars are seven
brothers who were exceptionally good
to their widowed mother and were set
in the heavens as a reward.
Seven Treasures of Buddhism
[=Hindu Sapta Ratna] Chinese
revered objects of a universal sovereign
These objects are listed as Divine

Guardians of the Treasury, Elephants,
Gemmeous Maidens, Gold Wheel,
Horses, Military Governors and Pearl.
(see also Seven Gems)
Seven Wise Masters Persian
sages who instructed Prince Lucien
When the prince, who had been
warned that he would die if he spoke
within seven days of returning to
court, was accused of rape by a female
at the court, the Wise Masters told
contrary tales which postponed his
execution day by day until he was able
to speak and refute the charge.
Seven Wise Ones Egyptian
deities created in the form of hawks
by Mehet-Weret to help to create
the world
Sevenfold Buddha Buddhist
a group of 7 Buddhas
This group comprises Lokesvara and
Vajrapani plus the five Dhyanibuddhas
(Akshobhya, Amitabha, Amoghasiddhi,
Ratnasambhara and Vairocana).
Seventh Heaven Hebrew
the highest, hence the happiest, of the
7 heavens postulated in the secret
lore of the rabbis
Severa (see Sevira)
Severin (see Sevinus)

Sevinus European
[Severin]
duke of Bordeaux
brother of Eudes
husband of Alice
father of Girard and Huon
He was killed in battle, and his servant,
Sherasmin, was taken prisoner, by
the Saracens.
Sevira British
[Severa]
daughter of Macsen and Elen
first wife of Vortigern
mother of Vortimer
Sewingshields British
a site in Northumberland where King
Arthur and his knights are said to
be sleeping
In this case, a horn had to be blown
and a garter severed with a sword to
waken the sleeping warriors.
Other sites suggested are Alderley
Edge, Cadbury, Craig-y-Dinas, Mount
Etna, Ogof Lanciau Eryri, Ogo’r
Dinas and Richmond Castle.
Sextus Tarquinius
(see Tarquinius Sextus)
seymorg (see senmerv)
Seyon Hindu
[Ceyon.Muruga(n).Murukan:

=Hindu Skanda]
922
Seven Flowers
EABC8972-576D-4878-8C33-C9EBD9D6F5A9
a Tamil creator-god
son of Korrawi
This deity is regarded as a hunter and
is depicted riding an elephant. He
holds a spear and a garland of flowers.
Sezarbil
a demon
Sezmu Egyptian
[Ses(e)mu.Sezumu]
a god of wine and unguents
Sezumu (see Sezmu)
Sforza European
brother of Achilles of Lombardy
and Palamedes
He was a soldier in the army of
Godfrey at the siege of Jerusalem.
Sga’na North American
[Masset San]
a sea-god of the Haida Indians
He is envisaged as a killer whale.
Sgathach Irish
[Scathach]
daughter of Eannna
Her parents proposed to give her to
Finn mac Cool for one year but, using
a magic harp, she transported Finn and

his men far away from the house while
they were asleep.
sGeg-mo-ma Buddhist
the Tibetan version of Lasya
Sgeimh Solais Irish
[Light of Beauty]
daughter of Cairbre
She married the son of a Desi chieftain,
precipitating a conflict between her
father, the high-king, and the Fianna.
Sgeolan (see Sceolan)
Sgilti Welsh
[Lightfoot:=Irish Cailte]
a warrior at King Arthur’s court
He could run on the tops of trees and
on the tips of reeds without so much as
bending them and was one of the party
which accompanied Culhwch in his
quest for the hand of Olwen.
sGra-c’an-dsin Buddhist
[Da-chen-dsin]
the Tibetan version of Rahula
sGrol-’bum Buddhist
the Tibetan name for Virudhaka as
king of the Khumbandas
sGrol-dkar Buddhist
the Tibetan name for White Tara
sGrol-Ilang Buddhist
the Tibetan name for Green Tara
(see also Syamatara)

sGrol-ma Buddhist
[Dolma]
a Tibetan earth-goddess
consort of sPyan-ras-gzigs
This rock giantess and sPyan-ras-gzigs
are regarded as the progenitors of all
living things.
In some accounts, this is the
Tibetan name for the goddess Tara or
the Buddha’s mother, Maya.
sGun-gi-rgyal-po Buddhist
[Sung-gi-gval-po]
one of the Panchamaharajas
king of speech
He is depicted riding a blue mule.
Sha Ho-shang Chinese
a priest
He was originally a minister at the
court of the Jade Emperor but was sent
to earth in the form of a man-eating
monster when he broke a crystal bowl.
When Kuan Yin lifted the punishment
placed on him, he mended his ways
and was one of those who accompanied
Tripitaka on his journey to India to
learn the Buddhist doctrines.
He is depicted wearing a necklace
of skulls.
Sha-lana North American
a sky-god of the Haida Indians

He was the ruler of a kingdom in the
sky above the primordial waters. He
threw his servant, Raven, out of the
sky and the bird created the world
and mankind.
Sha Shen Chinese
son of Tou-shen
brother of Chen Shen, Ma Shen
and P’an Shen
He helps those who suffer from
scarlet fever.
Shabaqo Stone Egyptian
a tablet engraved with the story of
creation as told by Ptah
shabah Muslim
earth-bound spirits
Shabbathai (see Solday)
Shabiri
a demon said to cause blindness in
those who drink the water he lives in
shabti Egyptian
[shawabti.ushabti.ushebti(u)]
a funerary figure in the form of a
mummy which was said to do
menial work for the deceased in
the after life
Shacabac (see Schacabac)
Shachar Canaanite
a goddess of the dawn
Shachipati Hindu

a name for Indra as ‘mighty lord’
Shadadi (see Shadad)
Shadanana-Subrahmanya Hindu
a form of Karttikeya
In this form, the god had six heads so
that he could be suckled by the six
consorts who had had relations with
Agni, and twelve arms.
Shaddad Arab
[Shadadi]
husband of Zabiba
father of Antara
He conquered the Sudan and married
Zabiba after freeing her from captivity.
He robbed his subjects and used his
ill-gotten wealth to build the fabulous
city of Iram.
Shaddanta Buddhist
a royal elephant
This beast had six tusks and a white
body with a red head and feet.
A jealous queen persuaded a
minister to kill the elephant and bring
her a pair of its tusks. The hunter’s
saw would not penetrate the tusks so
Shaddanta pulled them out himself.
The queen, overcome with grief
when she was given the tusks, died
that day.
Shaddanta-Jataka Buddhist

the story of the elephant Shaddanta
Shadday (see Shaddai)
shade
[shadow]
a disembodied soul: a spirit:
a ghost
shaden Japanese
shrine(s) or shrine hall(s)
shadow (see shade)
Shadowland North American
the Algonquian land of the dead
Shadrapi Mesopotamian
a Phoenician god of healing
Shafan (see Xaphan)
Shaggy Beast French
a monster with a green body and
the head of a snake
This monster breathed fire which
destroyed the crops and could shoot
darts from the fur on its body which
were fatal to humans. When it seized a
young maiden, her lover cut off its tail
and it died.
Shah Name Persian
[Book of Kings.Shah Nameh.
Shahnama(h)]
a 10th C book (120,000 lines)
This work, written by Firdausi, is a
mythological history which includes
the exploits of the heroes Alexander

the Great, Gayomart, Hoshang,
Rustem and Tahmurath and the kings
of the Kayanian dynasty.
Shah Nameh (see Shah Name)
Shahan (see Sherah)
Shahapet Armenian
[Shvaz.Shvod]
923
ShahapetSezarbil
EABC8972-576D-4878-8C33-C9EBD9D6F5A9
shaman
a spirit, ruler of the land
He can appear either as a man or as
a serpent.
Shahar (see Sahar)
Shahrevar (see Kshathra Varya)
Shahrijah Persian
[Shahryar]
a sultan in The Arabian Nights
He had killed each of his many
wives on their wedding night but
Scheherazade managed to avoid this
fate by telling him a story each night.
Shahryar (see Sharijah)
Shai Egyptian
a god of fate
husband of Meshkenit
He was depicted as a man, a goat or
a snake.
Shaibya Hindu

a devoted wife
Her husband, being a sinner, went
through many incarnations as a bird
or an animal before he was born again
as a man. Shaibya, who lived through
all these generations, recognised him
and they were made man and wife
again.
Shait Egyptian
a goddess of destiny
shaitan Arab
[abilii.sha(y)tan.she(i)tan.sheytan:
plur=shayatin:=Hebrew Satan]
an evil spirit; a devil: one of the forms
of the jinn
These beings sometimes appear as
snakes which can enter a mortal’s body.
Shaka Japanese
[Shaka Muni.Shaka-Nyorai]
the Japanese version of Shakyamuni
Shaka Muni (see Shakyamuni)
Shaka-nyorai (see Shaka)
Shakan (see Shakkan)
Shakanli North American
a serpent-like monster of
the Choctaws
Shakara Japanese
a guardian deity
one of the 28 Nijuhachi-Bushu
Shakini Hindu

a demoness attendant on Durga
Shakespeare, William English
(1564-1616)
a poet and playwright
He wrote The Rape of Lucrece, Venus
and Adonis, etc.
Shakkan Mesopotamian
[Shakan]
an Akkadian god of animals
In some accounts, he was said to have
married his sister, Tiamat.
Shakpono (see Obaluwaye)
Shakra
1
Buddhist
[Sakra:=Hindu Indra]
a god of the calendar
He helped the Buddha to
perform miracles.
When intervention in human
affairs is required, his throne becomes
very hot.
Shakra
2
Hindu
the third eye of Shiva, in the centre of
his forehead
Shakra
3
Hindu

a name for Indra as ‘powerful’
Shakra
4
Hindu
the owl, a bird sacred to Indra
shakta Hindu
one who worships a skakti
Shaktar Hindu
the king Kalmashapada in the form of
a man-eating demon
(see Kalmashapada)
shakti
1
Hindu
[=East Indies kesakten]
the female aspect of a deity
Shakti
2
Hindu
[Sakti.Sekti:=Cambodian Bentei Srei]
the female aspect of Shiva: a name for
Devi or Sati as consort of Shiva
Shakti
3
Hindu
[Sakti.Sekti]
a name for Durga, Kali, Parvati or Uma
Shaktiman Hindu
an epithet for Shiva as ‘he who
has power’

Shakuntala Hindu
[Sakuntala]
a moon-goddess
daughter of Vishvamitra and Menaka
wife of King Dushyanta
mother of the Bharatas
She was abandoned by her parents and
was reared by the hermit Kanwa.
She and her husband separated but,
when their son, Bharata, was born, she
set out to find his father. The ring by
which she would be recognised was
lost when she was bathing but was
recovered from the belly of a fish and
she was then reunited with the king.
Shakuru North American
[Atius]
a sun-god of the Pawnee tribe
Shakya Buddhist
a name for the historical Buddha
Shakyamuni Buddhist
[Amoghasiddhi.Sakyamuni.Shaka (Muni):
=Chinese Shih-chia(-mu-ni):=Japanese
Shaka(-nyorai):=Korean Sokka]
a name of Buddha as ‘the silent sage’,
one of the 5 Dhyanibodhisattvas, in
some accounts
son of Suddhodana and Maya
husband of Yashodara
father of Rahula

In this form, he is revered in Zen
Buddhism and is regarded as one of
the seven manushibuddhas.
He is said to have given parts of his
body to save threatened animals and
birds and to have given one of his eyes
to a blind man. Some say that, in
various incarnations, he appeared four
times as a horse, six as an elephant and
ten as a deer.
He is depicted sitting on a lotus
with his right hand raised, though
sometimes he is seen holding the
shuttle of a loom. When regarded as
female, ‘he’ is the fertility goddess,
depicted holding a grain of rice and a
pot. Some images include Ananda and
Kashyapa on his right and left
respectively. (see also Shenrab Miwo)
Shakyasinha Buddhist
[Sakyasinha]
a name for the Buddha as ‘lion’
Shala Canaanite
a storm-goddess
Shalakapurusha Jain
a spiritual leader
It is said that sixty-three such leaders
appear during each of the earthly
periods. They will include nine groups
of three, each comprised of a Baladeva,

a Pratisvasudeva and a Vasudeva.
Shalako North American
[=Zuni Niman]
a Zuni festival
This festival, which lasts for nine days
in July, celebrates the return of the
spirits to their underground home in
Shipap where they will remain until
winter returns.
Shalem (see Salem)
Shalim Canaanite
a goddess of dusk
Shalott British
another name for Astolat, home of Elaine
Shalya Hindu
a king
He fought on the side of the Kauravas
against the Pandavas and was killed
in battle.
Shalyat Canaanite
a seven-headed monster
This beast, in some accounts the same
as Lotan, was killed by Anat.
(see also Lotan)
shaman Asian
[chaman:female=shamanka]
a sacred person: a magician-priest or
witch-doctor
924
Shahar

EABC8972-576D-4878-8C33-C9EBD9D6F5A9
Shamanism Asian
a religion largely based on magic,
sorcery and spirit-worship
shamanka Asian
[shemanka:male=shaman]
a female witch-doctor
Shamas (see Samas)
Shamash (see Samas)
Shamba
1
African
a cultural hero of the Bushongo
He travelled widely and learned many
skills which he passed on to his people.
Shamba
2
Hindu
[Samba:=Tamil Sama]
an incarnation of Vishnu
son of Krishna and Rukmini
brother of Kama
consort of Indukari
Brahmins whom he had mocked laid a
curse on Shamba saying that he would
give birth to an iron club which would
be the cause of his father’s death.
When this weapon eventually
appeared, Shamba smashed it and
threw the pieces into the sea. His

father died from a wound inflicted by
an iron arrowhead and it turned out
that this had been made from one of
the pieces of the broken club
recovered from the belly of a fish.
Shamba was captured by
Duryodhana in the war with the
Pandavas and was kept in prison until
Balarama secured his release when he
demolished the walls of the city by
ploughing beneath them.
Another story says that, for some
slight to the sage Durvasas, he was
cursed with leprosy but was cured by
Surya to whom Shamba built a temple.
Shambhala Tibetan
a land in the north, home of
spiritual wisdom
Shambhara Hindu
[Dasyu.Sambara]
a demon of drought, one of the Asuras
This demon carried off Krishna’s son,
Pradyumna, and threw him into the
sea where he was swallowed by a fish.
This fish was caught and given to
Shambhara’s queen, Mahadar, who cut
it open and released the boy.
Shambhu (see Rudra)
Shamhat Mesopotamian
[Ukhat]

the prostitute who tamed the wild
man, Enkidu (see also Samkhat)
shamil Hebrew
a worm said to be able to split rocks
The whereabouts of this creature was
known to the demon Asmodeus.
Shamkara (see Shankara)
Shams (see Sams)
Shamshiel Hebrew
a prince of paradise
Shamshu (see Shams)
Shamur (see .Mount Samur)
Shan Hai Ching Chinese
[Book of Mountains and Seas]
a book of mythology
shan-hui Chinese
a human-faced dog
Shan Kuei Chinese
a mountain-god
Shan-ts’ai Tung-tzu Chinese
a male attendant on Kuan Yin
Shanama (see Shah Name)
Shanamah (see Shah Name)
Shanewis North American
an Iroquois woman
wife of Nekumonta
She was saved from dying of the
plague by the water brought by
Nekumonta who had been told in a
dream where to find the underground

waters which, when released, formed a
healing spring.
Shang Ch’ing
(see Higher Azure Palace)
Shang-lha Tibetan
a local god of good fortune
Shang-t’ai (see Ssu Ming)
Shang-te (see Shang Ti)
Shang Ti Chinese
[Celestial Emperor.Lord of Heaven.Lord
on High.Shang-te.Yü Huang]
a creator-god and sky-god
He is regarded as a celestial emperor
with his own court and ministers like
the earthly institutions.
He allocated the planet Jupiter to
Chuang-tzu after it was vacated by
Mao Meng.
In some accounts, he is equated
with Yü Huang.
(see also Sheng Ti.Ti.T’ien)
Shang-ti Yeh Chinese
[= Taiwanese Pak Tai]
a Taoist war-god
shang-yang Chinese
a one-legged bird which was said
to cause rain
Shango
1
African

[Sango:=Cuban Santa Barbara:
=Egyptian Amon-Ra]
a thunder-god, war-god and god of
justice of the Yoruba
son of Aganju and Yemoja
son of Ogun, some say
consort of Oba, Oshun and Oya
father of Shankpana
He was a king of Oyo who lived in
a brass palace and owned a huge
herd of horses. He was said to
breathe flames.
He hanged himself to escape his
enemies and was deified. In some
stories he climbed a golden chain to get
to heaven and became a thunder-god.
He is depicted with the head of
a ram. (see also Yansan)
Shango
2
West Indian
a Haitian voodoo spirit derived from a
Yoruba god of the same name
Shani Hindu
[Manda.Sani]
a god of ill-fortune
son of Surya and Chhaya or of
Balarama and Revati
brother of Savarni
He is regarded as the planet Saturn

personified.
In one account, it was his fierce gaze
that burned the head off the infant
Ganesha which Parvati (or Vishnu)
replaced with the head of an elephant.
He is depicted as black-skinned and
riding a vulture or a raven.
Shanka-Sura Hindu
in some accounts, a demon killed
by Krishna
Shankapala (see Shankha
3
)
Shankara Hindu
[Sankara.Shamkara]
a manifestation of Bhairava: a name
for Shiva as ‘the auspicious one’,
‘peace’ or ‘healer’
Shankari Hindu
[Sankari]
a mother-goddess
one of the saptamataras
Shankha
1
Buddhist
the just king who will rule the earth at
the time of the coming of Maitreya
shankha
2
Hindu

[sankha]
the horn of victory
This was a conch-shell, one of the
attributes of Vishnu, which was the
twelfth object to be created at the
Churning of the Ocean.
Shankha
3
Hindu
[S(h)anka(pala)]
a snake-god
on of the mahanagas
shankhapadua Buddhist
a trumpet made from a thigh-bone,
used in ceremonial rites
Shankpana African
[Sankpana.Shankpanna]
son of Shango
a plague-god of the Yoruba
Shankpanna (see Shankpana)
925
ShankpannaShamanism
EABC8972-576D-4878-8C33-C9EBD9D6F5A9
Sharvan
Shanta Hindu
daughter of Dasha-ratha
wife of Risha-Shringa
She was adopted by the king,
Lomopada, and married Risha Shringa,
a youth born of a doe.

Shantanu Hindu
[Santanu]
a king
half-brother of Vyasa
husband of Ganga and Satyavati
father of Bhishma by Ganga
father of Vichitravirya
His first wife, Ganga, bore him eight
sons and then reverted to her normal
form as the river Ganges.
He said he would marry the young
Satyavati on condition that any son of
the union should inherit the throne
instead of Bhishma, one of his sons by
Ganga. Bhishma renounced his claim
to the throne and the marriage went
ahead, producing two sons, both of
whom died childless.
Shanti Hindu
a goddess of peace
Shanti-Niketa Hindu
the heaven of Shanti, goddess of peace
shao hui t’un fu Chinese
[swallow-ashes charm]
incantations to ward off demons
These incantations, written on paper,
are burned and ground to ashes which
are then swallowed.
Shapash (see Sapas)
shape

a spirit or apparition
shape-changer
a being made from fire and air,
capable of assuming any form,
including that of a human, and of
mating with mortals
Shar Mesopotamian
[(Ilu) Sar:=Babylonian Ansar]
an early Syrian god of the dawn
the god Ansar as the Pole Star
Shar Apsi Mesopotamian
a name for Ea as ‘ruler of the
deep waters’
Shara Armenian
a storm-demon
son of Armais
Sharabda Mesopotamian
a Babylonian deity,
slander personified
Sharabha Hindu
a huge monster
a form of Shiva
This beast is envisaged as having tusks
and claws and a body over 100 miles
long supported on eight legs.
Sharabangha Hindu
a hermit
When his great desire to meet a god
was granted as a reward for his pious
life, he burnt himself to death and

went to heaven.
sharada Hindu
the lute, symbol of Sarasvati
Sharama
1
Hindu
[Sarama]
a divine bitch
When some Panis stole some of
Indra’s cattle, he created this animal to
retrieve them. Instead, the dog was
given some milk by the Panis and
reported that she could not find the
cattle so Indra had to retrieve them
himself, killing the Panis in the
process.
Sharama
2
Hindu
[Sarama]
a dawn-goddess
mother of Sharamaya
In some accounts an attendant on
Indra but in others referred to as
a dog.
Sharamaya Hindu
a god of the air
offspring of Sharama
In some accounts the Sharamayas are
two dogs guarding the underworld.

sharanga (see peacock
3
)
Sharanyu Hindu
[Sanjna.Saranyu.Savarna]
a primaeval goddess and sun-
goddess
daughter of Tvashtri
mother by Vivasvat of the Aswins,
Yama and Yami
mother by Indra of the minor gods,
the Ribhus
The Vedic version of Sanjna.
Sharatz Serbian
[Sharin.Sharo]
the horse of Marko
This piebald animal was given to
Marko by a veela or, in some stories,
reared by Marko who bought him as
a foal afflicted with leprosy. Other
versions say that it came as a reward
for three years faithful service to his
master. Marko always tested a horse by
swinging it round by its tail but
Sharatz, though a young foal, could
not be budged.
The horse, which was said to
breathe blue flame, lived with Marko
for 160 years.
Sharaw Mesopotamian

a Sumerian god of Umma
Sharazad (see Scheherazade)
Sharfenebbe European
a female crow
mate of Merkinau
She was killed by Reynard the Fox.
Shargaz (see Sarur)
Sharin (see Sharatz)
Shariputra Buddhist
[Sariputra.Upatissa:=Pali Saripitta]
an early disciple of the Buddha
He turned himself into a garuda to
defeat the heretic Agnidatta who had
assumed the form of a serpent with
many heads.
sharira Buddhist
a substance found in the cremation
ashes of saints
This material, in the form of pellets,
is said to be indestructible.
Sharis Mesopotamian
[=Akkadian Ishtar]
a Urartian goddess
Sharmas (see Sarruma)
Sharo (see Sharatz)
Sharpbeak European
a female rook in Reynard the Fox
consort of Corbant
She was killed and eaten by Reynard.
Sharpfe German

son of Etzel
brother of Orte
He and his brother, together with
Dietrich’s youngest brother, Diether,
accompanied Dietrich von Bern on
one of his forays against Ermenrich.
Left in charge of Elsan, they were
allowed to go riding and all three were
killed by the traitor, Wittich.
Sharrumas (see Sarruma)
Sharuk (see Ninurta.Sarur)
Sharuma (see Sarruma)
Sharur (see Sarur)
Sharvan Irish
[Lochlannach.Searbhan.Sharvan
the Surly]
a one-eyed giant
A magic quicken berry, dropped by
one of the Danaans, grew into a tree
in the Forest of Dooros and produced
many berries which could restore
youth to the aged. The Danaans
decided to send Sharvan to guard the
tree to ensure that no mortals ate any
of the fruit.
When Grania developed a hunger
for quicken berries, Dermot asked
Sharvan for permission to take some
for her. When the giant refused
Dermot killed him with three

blows of Sharvan’s own iron club,
which was the only way he could be
killed.
926
Shanta
EABC8972-576D-4878-8C33-C9EBD9D6F5A9
Shasha Hindu
a hare, said to live in the moon
(see also Shashi)
Shashi Hindu
[Shashin]
the moon
It is said that the hare lives on the
moon or that the moon-goddess
herself is a hare. (see also Shasha)
Shashin (see Shashi)
shasho Japanese
monks worshipping at a Buddhist
shrine
Shashthi Hindu
[Shas(h)ti.‘sixth’]
a guardian goddess of children
In some versions, she was a form of
Durga or Uma.
She is said to ride on a cat.
Shashti (see Shashthi)
Shasti (see Shashthi)
Shatagat Canaanite
[Sha’taqat]
a goddess or witch created

by El
This being, who could cause or cure
illness, was sent to cure Keret.
Shatahrada Hindu
consort of Kala
mother of Viradha
shatan (see shaitan)
Shatananda Hindu
husband of Radha
He found the child Karna who had
been abandoned and reared him as
his own son.
Sha’taqat (see Shatagat)
Shatarupa Hindu
[Satarupa.Savitri]
a goddess
daughter of Brahma
mother of Manu
mother of Priyavrata by Brahma
In one story, Brahma had incestuous
designs on this daughter who was so
beautiful that he grew four more heads
so that he could admire her from all
sides. Other stories say much the same
about his consort Sarasvati. In some
accounts she is the female aspect of
Brahma.
In some versions, she is equated
with Sarasvati.
(see also Sandhya.Sarasvati)

Shathra (see Kshathra Vairya)
Shatrughna Hindu
son of Dasa-Ratha and Su Mitra
twin brother of Lakshmana
half-brother of Bharata and Rama
husband of Shrutakirti
He fought alongside Rama in the
battle with the demon Ravana and,
some say, killed Ravana.
Shaumya Hindu
a name for Shiva in his peaceful
aspect
Shaushga (see Shaushkas)
Shaushkas Mesopotamian
[Lalwani.Lelwani(s).Shaushga.Shaushkash:
=Akkadian Ishtar]
a Hurrian goddess of the underworld
consort of Teshub
In early accounts, this deity was
regarded as male.
Shaushkash (see Shaushkas)
shawabti (see shabti)
Shawano North American
an Algonquian hero
He was one of quadruplets born to a
primordial being who died in
childbirth. He represented south; the
others were Kabibiokka (north),
Kabun (west) and Wabun (east).
Shax

[Chax.Scox]
a demon, a duke of hell
one of the 72 Spirits of Solomon
He is said to be able to strike people
dumb or blind and can find buried
treasure. He appears in the form of a
bird, perhaps a stork.
Shay (see Say)
shayatin (see shaitan)
Shaya (see Chhaya)
shaytan
1
African
[saytan:=Arab shaitan:=Hebrew Satan]
an Ethiopian evil spirit: demon: devil
shaytan
2
Muslim
evil spirits
Made from fire, if one of these beings
is wounded, the fire flows out and the
shaytan is burnt to death.
They can appear in almost any
form they choose – animals, a cloud of
smoke, terrible monsters, etc. When
they take human form, they are hard to
detect but will teach the art of sorcery
if a person pledges his or her soul.
Angels use meteorites to kill shaytans.
(see also shihab)

Shayth Arab
the Arab name for Set
Shazi (see Shazu
2
)
Shazu
1
Mesopotamian
a name of Marduk as ‘mind-
reader’
Shazu
2
Persian
[Shazi]
a river-god
She (see Hou t’u)
She-chi (see Hou t’u)
She-tse (see Hou t’u)
She Wang Chinese
[Fang Cheng-hsüeh.The Snake King]
a sage
He was regarded as the deified form of
the 14th C sage, Fang Cheng-hsüeh,
who was said to have had a split
tongue. He was executed when he fell
out with the emperor.
Shebtaiel
a deity in white magic
Shed Egyptian
a guardian god

an aspect of Atum
His role was to destroy snakes and
crocodile eggs.
He was envisaged as an ichneumon.
Shedad Muslim
[Sheddad]
a king of Ad who designed the
garden of Irem
Sheddad (see Shedad)
sheddim (see shedeem)
shedeem
1
Hebrew
[sheddim.s(c)hedim:sing=shedu]
a tribe of clawed demons led
by Asmodaeus
offspring of Adam and Lilith
(see also mazikeen)
shedeem
2
Mesopotamian
[s(c)hedim:sing=shedu]
storm-demons in the form of
winged bulls, guardians of
Babylonian palaces and
temples
shedim (see shedeem)
Shedu
1
Mesopotamian

a benevolent spirit, protector of
the household
shedu
2
(see shedeem)
shee (see sidhe)
Shee folk British
the English version of the Irish fairies,
the aes sidhe
Sheela Na Gig Irish
[Sheila Na Cioch.Sheala-No-Gig.
Sile na gCioch]
a mother goddess
This being was later downgraded to
the level of a demon.
Sheela-No-Gig (see Sheela Na Gig)
Sheen Norse
a name for the moon
Sheeree African
a female demon of the Berbers
Sheik Ali (see Ali)
Sheik Khaleel (see Khaleel)
Sheila Na Cioch (see Sheela Na Gig)
sheitan (see shaitan)
Shel North American
a sun-god of the Klamath Indians
He came into being when Kumush
927
ShelShasha
EABC8972-576D-4878-8C33-C9EBD9D6F5A9

Sherasmin
and his daughter danced with the
spirits of the underworld who were all
turned into dry bones when the light
of the sun fell on them. Kumush
collected the bones and, following in
the tracks of Shel, scattered the bones
over the face of the land to produce
the various tribes.
Shelan Nara Persian
a demon
Shelartish Mesopotamian
a Urartian mood-god
Shell
a demon, one of those who populate
the 7 firmaments
Shelley, Percy Bysshe English
(1792-1822)
a poet
He wrote the four-act play Prometheus
Unbound.
shellycoat Scottish
a water goblin
shem Hebrew
a charm such as that used to activate
a golem
shemanka (see shamanka)
Shemesh (see Samas.Zemen)
Shemhaziel
a fallen angel

shen
1
Chinese
[=Japanese shin]
gods collectively: a guardian god or
goddess: the spirit or the numinous
influence inherent in a particular
object (see also hsien)
Shen
2
Chinese
the constellation Orion, ruled
by the White Tiger
shen
3
Egyptian
a symbol of eternal life or of eternity
Shen-hsien Chinese
celestial spirits who return as mortals
and later resume their existence
as immortals
Shen Hsien Chuan
(see Biographies of the Gods)
Shen I (see I
4
)
Shen Kung-pao Chinese
a magician
He pitted his skills against those of his
former friend, Chiang Tzu-ya, hoping

to win a list of ways of achieving
immortality that the Old Man of the
South Pole had given to the general.
Shen cut off his own head and caused
it to float in the air, claiming to have
won. The Old Man of the South Pole
sent the Crane Youth to carry the
airborne head away but Chiang
persuaded him to return it and it was
rejoined to Shen’s body.
Shen Lou (see Shou Shen)
Shen Mu (see Pi-hsia Yüan-chun)
Shen Nung Chinese
[Divine Farmer.Ardent Emperor]
an early emperor, one of the
Three Sovereigns
a god of agriculture and medicine
son of An Teng and a dragon
husband of Hsien Tsan
father of Chih Yü
He was the product of a miraculous
birth and was nearly nine feet tall
when born, with the head of a bull on
a man’s body.
He taught mankind the art of
agriculture and introduced the art of
medicine which he learned by studing
nature and finding out secrets of
herbal remedies. He was said to have
a transparent stomach that allowed

observation of the effects of medicinal
plants, etc. He died when testing a
species of grass which cut open his
intestines and was deified.
He runs the Ministry of Healing
with Fu-hsi and Huang Ti and is
credited with the invention of the
plough and the discovery of medicinal
herbs, becoming the patron of
chemists. He is regarded as a kitchen-
god in some accounts. Others equate
him with Yen Ti.
He died at the age of 168 and was
deified.
Shen P’ao Chinese
the name of the deified Lao-tzu, in
some accounts
Shen Seng-chao Chinese
a 5th C monk
It was said that once a month, after his
normal duties, he took on the role of
secretary to a celestial ministry and so
acquired supernatural powers.
Shen Shu Chinese
a door-god
brother of Yü Lu
He and his brother lived on Mount Tu
Shuo under a magical peach tree, the
branches of which formed the Door of
the Spirits through which every soul

passed after death. They bound those
with wicked spirits and fed them to
tigers. Their image is put in doorways
of houses to protect against evil spirits.
Shen-tsan Chinese
[Lan Ts’an]
an 8th C kitchen worker in a
monastery who became a minister
one of the Eighteen Lohan,
in some accounts
He was said to be able to work
miracles such as moving large rocks
with a mere touch. When he left the
monastery, wild beasts became a
nuisance so he came back to remove
the plague of beasts which all
disappeared when he mounted a tiger
and rode away, never to be seen again.
He is depicted with a staff and a hat
slung over his shoulder.
Shen Wan-san Chinese
a god of wealth, in some accounts
Shen Yo Chinese
a 6th C writer who was deified as a
god of Hu-chou
Shen Yü (see Shu Yü)
Shen Yung-pao
(see White Crane Youth)
Sheng Chinese
[Holy One]

a title given to many deities,
including Confucius
Sheng-mu Chinese
a name for Pi-hsia Yüan-chun
as Holy Mother
Sheng Ti Chinese
[Holy Emperor]
god of the sacred mountain T’ai Shan
a Taoist god of destiny, lord of the
underworld (see also Shang Ti)
Sheng-jen Chinese
deified mortals: saints
Shenrab Miwo Tibetan
founder of a modified form of Bon
He was said to have come from the
mythical land Zhang Thung, and was
later equated with Shakyamuni.
sheogue Irish
a fairy
She’ol Hebrew
[=Greek Hades]
hell: the home of the dead
(see also Belial)
Shepherd God Greek
a name for Pan
Shepherd of the Clouds (see Sitondo)
shepherd’s crook Egyptian
the symbol of Seker
Shera Wali Matha Hindu
a goddess

Sherah Mesopotamian
[Shahan]
a Sumerian deity, the generative power
of the sun’s rays personified
Sherasmin European
[Gerasmes.Gerasmin.Ger(i)aume.Solario]
a servant of Sevinus
brother of Guire
He was taken prisoner by the Saracens
when his master was killed in battle
but escaped after three years and lived
alone in the deserts of Palestine until
928
Shelan Nara
EABC8972-576D-4878-8C33-C9EBD9D6F5A9
the arrival of Huon to whom he
attached himself as guide on his
journey to find the Sultan Gaudisso.
When Huon was imprisoned by
Gaudisso, Sherasmin planned his
escape with the help of Clarimunda
and, pretending to be Gaudisso’s
nephew, Solario, obtained some of the
Sultan’s beard and four of his teeth, the
objects required by Huon, when the
Sultan was killed on the orders of the
Caliph.
Shesha (see Ananta)
Sheshanaga (see Ananta)
Sheshu African

a supreme god of some
Nigerian tribes
shesmet girdle Egyptian
an apron of beads suspended
from a belt
This adornment was worn by kings
and deities and was personified by the
goddess, Shesmetet.
Shesmetet Egyptian
a goddess, personification of the
shesmet girdle
consort of Sheshmu
She was depicted as having the head of
a lioness and was regarded as an aspect
of Bast.
Shesmu Egyptian
executioner of the underworld
consort of Shesmetet
He is depicted as having the head of a
lion or an ox.
shetan (see shaitan)
sheytan (see shaitan)
Shezbeth (see Xezbeth)
Shhri-var (see Kshathra Varya)
shi-ryo Japanese
a ghost of the dead
Shi Tenno Japanese
[Four Diamond Kings.Shitenno]
the 4 guardians of the cardinal points,
protecting the world from demons

These beings are said to be very tall,
500 years old and living on the slopes
of Mount Meru.
They are listed as Bishamon (north),
Zocho (west), Jikoku (east) and
Komoku (south).
(see also Four Diamond Kings)
Shibbeta Hebrew
a demoness
Shichi Fukojin Japanese
[Shichi-Fuku-Jin.Seven Gods of Luck]
the 7 Shinto deities of good fortune
They are listed as Benten (the only
goddess), Bishamon, Daikoku, Ebisu,
Fukurokuju, Hotei and Jurojin. They
travel together in their treasure-ship,
Takara-Bune, and own a never-empty
purse, a hat that confers invisibility
on the wearer and many other
magical devices.
Shichi-Fuku-Jin (see Shichi Fukojin)
Shiduri (see Siduri)
Shidduri (see Siduri)
Shide Japanese
Shield Beautiful British
a shield won by Fergus
This shield was held in Castle
Dunostre where it was guarded by a
dragon and a giantess. Fergus was told
by a dwarf that, to win the love of

Galiene, he must acquire the shield
and, after disposing of the two
guardians, he was able to claim it.
Shield Maidens (see Valkyries)
Shield of Heracles Greek
a poem by Hesiod
Shih Chinese
a plant used in divination
Shih Che (see Ten Scholars)
Shih-chi Niang Niang Chinese
a Taoist goddess
Shih-chia-mu-ni Chinese
the Chinese version of Shakyamuni
shih chieh-hsien Chinese
a Taoist immortal who has died, left
his body and lives on as a soul
Shih Ching Chinese
[Book of Odes.Book of Poetry]
the third of the 9 major works
of the Confucian canon,
dealing with early beliefs and
rites
one of the Five Classics
Shih Fen Chinese
the original name of Lu Hsing
Shih Kan Tang Chinese
inscribed tablets of stone or
a spirit, said to ward off evil
influences
Shih-te Tzu Chinese

one of the Eighteen Lohan,
in some accounts
He was found as a child by Feng-kan
and raised by monks.
Shih T’ien-yen-wang
1
Chinese
the 10 departments of hell
Shih T’ien-yen-wang
2
(see Shih Wang)
Shih-tzu-pi-ch’iu Chinese
[Son of the Lion]
the Chinese name for Singhalaputra
Shih Wang Chinese
[Shih T’ien-yen-wang]
a name for the gods of the
underworld as the Ten Yama
Kings
Shih Wang Mu (see Hsi Wang Mu)
shihabu African
in the lore of the Swahili,
shooting stars
These are regarded as arrows fired by
angels at demons attempting to gain
entry to heaven in order to read the
future written in Luah.(see also shihab)
Shihai West Indian
a wind-god
Shiho-tsuchi (see Shiko-tsutsu)

Shiju-Gara Japanese
a great tit
This bird carried love letters from
the owl, Fukuro, to Uso-Dori, the
bullfinch.
Shikaiya Wasobioye Japanese
a scholar
He was caught in a storm when sailing
his boat and, after some months,
landed on an island where the
inhabitants were immortal and life was
all pleasure. After twenty years he
became disenchanted with this life
and left, journeying through many
strange lands and finally was given a
ride lasting five months on the back of
a stork which put him down in a land
of giants.
Shikimi Japanese
a sacred tree
Shiko-tsutsu Japanese
[Shiho-tsuchi]
god of salt-traders
an old man of the sea
He made the basket in which Hoori
descended to the realm of the sea-god.
Shikome Japanese
storm-deities, demons that bring
about diseases
shikon Japanese

4 spirits
These are listed as ara-mitama. kushi-
mitama. nigi-mitama and saki-mitama
Shila Buddhist
[Sila(paramita).Shilaparamita]
one of the 12 Paramita goddesses,
good conduct personified
Shilaparamita (see Shila)
shilup North American
the individual’s soul, in the lore of
the Choctaws
Shilup Chito Osh North American
the Choctaw name for the Great Spirit
shilstone
a shrine used in sun-worship
Shimbei Japanese
the heron, servant of the owl Fukuo
Shimben-Kidoku-Shu Japanese
a form of saké
This magic drink was given to Raiko
by the gods to help him in his quest to
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Shimben-Kidoku-ShuShesha
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Shippawn Ayawng
kill the Goblin King. When the goblin
drank it, it put him to sleep and he was
then killed by Raiko.
Shimegi Mesopotamian
a Hurrian sun-god

Shi’menawa (see Shiri-kume-na-nawa)
Shimga (see Holi)
Shimmoten Japanese
a guardian god
one of the 28 Nijuhachi-Bushu
shin
[=Chinese shen]
a collective name for Chinese and
Japanese gods and spirits: the
supreme deity
Shin Ne Mi Burmese
a nat in the form of a nature-spirit
niece of Min Magaye
shin-po Japanese
sacred treasures kept in a shrine
Shina-to-be (see Shina-Tsu-Hiko)
Shina-Tsu-Hiko Japanese
[Shina-to-be]
a Shinto wind-god
son of Izanagi and Izanami
consort of Shina-Tsu-Hime
He was said to have been born from
Izanagi’s breath.
He and his wife are reputed to have
caused the offshore winds that kept the
country safe from the invading army of
Genghis Khan.
Shina-Tsu-Hime Japanese
consort of Shina-Tsu-Hiko
Shinbetsu Japanese

families which claim descent from
deities other than Amaterasu
(see also Kobetsu)
Shinboku Japanese
a Shinto sacred tree (see also Sakaki)
Shinda Daikoku Japanese
Daikoku depicted as a boy sitting
down and holding a crystal
Shindwe-hla (see Hnit-ma-dawgyi)
Shiner Greek
one of the horses drawing the
sky-chariot of Eos
Shingé Japanese
a princess
daughter of Zembei
When she was bitten by (or fainted at
the sight of) a large snake, she was
rescued by Yoshisawa and fell in love
with him. When her father decreed
that she could not marry a man of such
low caste, she threw herself into the
well where she had first met her
beloved.
Shingrawa Burmese
a nat regarded as a creator
ancestor of Shippawn Ayawng
He was created by Chinun Way Shun,
taking the form of a pumpkin.
When the world flood subsided,
Shingrawa refashioned the earth with

his hammer and then ascended into
the heavens.
Shining Brow (see Taliesin)
Shining Jewel (see Ratna Dumilah)
Shining Snake Mesopotamian
one of the Eleven Mighty Helpers
created by Tiamat
(see also Mushussu)
Shinje-chho-gyal Tibetan
a god of justice
ruler of Nyalwa, the underworld
He is depicted as a monkey-headed
monster holding scales into which
monstrous angels drop white or
black pebbles to represent good or evil
deeds performed by the one being
judged.
He is regarded as a reincarnation of
sPyan-ras-gzigs.
shinji Japanese
sacred ground used for religious
ceremonies (see also saniwa)
shinkan (see shinshoku)
Shinmei (see Amaterasu)
Shinob North American
[=Navaho Nayenezgani]
a supreme deity of the Paiute
people
twin brother of Tobats
Shinsaku Japanese

a fisherman
Shinsaku fell in love with O Cho
San and they arranged to be married.
This caused so much trouble among
the other fishermen, all of whom were
in love with O Cho San, that they
cancelled the wedding. Even this did
not quell the unrest and Cho drowned
herself, overcome with grief. Shinsaku
would have followed her example had
he not been prevented by her brother,
Gisuke. Together, the two men built
a shrine to her memory, a task in
which they were helped by the other
fishermen who were ashamed of their
earlier conduct.
shinsen Japanese
sacred food offered to the deities
shinsenden Japanese
a sacred rice-field where food for the
deities is grown
shinshoku Japanese
[shinkan]
Shinto clergy: a priest
(see also kannushi)
Shinta-lo-be Japanese
a wind-goddess
shintai Japanese
some physical object in which a deity
is inherent

Shinten Japanese
sacred Shinto scriptures
Shinto Japanese
[Kami-no-Michi.S(h)intu]
literally ‘gods’ or ‘spirits’
a form of spirit-worship
Shintu (see Shinto)
Shinzaburo Japanese
a samurai
He fell in love with Tsuyu who died
of grief when he was prevented from
seeing her again. She and her maid,
Youé, who had died of grief at the
loss of her mistress, returned to
visit Shinzaburo at the Feast of the
Dead and came night after night,
leaving before dawn. To the besotted
Shinzaburo, Tsuyu was the lovely
maiden he had fallen in love with but
his servant, Tomozo, who spied on
them, could see that she was a dead
woman. Shinzaburo was advised by
the wise Yusai that he was consorting
with the dead and that this could
lead to his own death, so he went in
search of the two women but found
only their tombs. The priest, Ryoseki,
gave Shinzaburo various talismans to
ward off the ghosts of the dead and,
when they next came, Shinzaburo

locked the doors and they could not
get in. Youé bribed Tomozo to give
them access and the affair started up
again.
Next morning, Tomozo found
Shinzaburo dead, lying beide the
bones of Tsuyu.
Ship of Joy (see Nef de Joie)
Shipap North American
[Shipapu(yna):=Zuni Shipapulima]
the Pueblo land of the dead, the
underground kingdom of the
corn-goddess, Iyatiku
This place is regarded not only as the
place to which the dead go but also
as the place from which the tribes
emerged and whence babies come.
Shipapu (see Shipap)
Shipapulima North American
[=Pueblo Shipap]
the Zuni land of the dead
Shipapuyna (see Shipap)
Shipit Mesopotamian
[Shipit Baal]
a god of Byblos
Shipit Baal (see Shipit)
Shippawn Ayawng Burmese
the ancestor of the Kachin
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Shimegi

EABC8972-576D-4878-8C33-C9EBD9D6F5A9
people, descended from the
creator, Shingrawa
Shippeitaro Japanese
a dog
A cat-monster every year demanded a
maiden who was safely fastened in a
cage and then devoured her. This
happened until a knight took pity on
the villagers and put himself in the
cage with the dog, Shippeitaro. When
the cat appeared, the dog seized it
while the knight killed it with his
sword. The dog then killed all the cat’s
attendants.
Shipton (see Mother Shipton)
shiqq Muslim
a form of jinn
These beings were envisaged as half
a human, split vertically, and were
said to mate with proper humans to
produce nasnas.
Shiri-kume-na-nawa Japanese
[Shimenawa]
a rope
Tajikara-wo placed this rope across the
entrance to the cave where Amaterasu
had hidden herself to prevent her from
re-entering after she had been coaxed
from hiding.

Shiro Japanese
an attendant Buddhist god
The Shinto god, Daikoku, often
manifested himself as a rat. Shiro was
sent by the Buddhist gods to get rid of
the rat but the rat drove Shiro off with
a holly branch.
Shirt of Nessus Greek
the robe sent by Deianeira to
Hercules
This robe, impregnated with the
poisoned blood of the centaur Nessus,
killed Hercules when he put it on.
shishi Japanese
lionlike beasts guarding the entrance
to temples and shrines
Shishi-o (see Shishi-wo)
Shishi-wo Japanese
[King of Lions.Shishi-o]
a sword
This weapon was given to Yorimasa
as a reward for killing the sky-
monster which had been harassing the
emperor.
Shishupala Hindu
[Shisupala.Sis(h)upala]
the third and final manifestation of
the demon Ravana
son of Dama Ghosha and
Shrutadeva

He was originally manifest as
Hiranyakashipu and then as Ravana.
In this form, the demon-king had
three eyes and only four, instead of
twenty, arms. Some say that he was
the son of Shiva by a mortal woman.
It was said that, should he ever sit
on the knee of the one who would
eventually kill him, his extra eye and
arms would disappaear and that is
just what happened when he climbed
up on to Shiva’s knee. His mother
made the god promise to give her
son a hundred lives but that, in the
end, was not enough because each
time Shishupala tried to kill Shiva
he failed and, when he tried once
more, Shiva called upon the sun-disc
which cut Shishupala in half from
head to foot.
Shisrte Buddhist
a king of Lanka
consort of Sri, the goddess of
disease
Shisupala (see Shishupala)
Shita-teru-hime Japanese
daughter of Susanowa
wife of Waka-Hiko
Shitala Hindu
[Mariammai.Shitalamata.Sitala(mata)]

a guardian goddess
an aspect of Devi
Shital is one of seven goddesses all of
whom are connected with various
diseases. She protected children from
smallpox. The others are Agwani,
Basanti, Lamkarya, Mahamai, Masani
and Polamde.
Her attendants are Ghantakavana
and Sedhu Lal. She is depicted as
naked and painted red, riding a
donkey, or as a four-armed goddess,
sometimes living in a tree.
Shitalamata (see Shitala)
Shitenno (see Shi Tenno)
Shitkur Siberian
[Sholmo]
the Devil
It was this being who pushed his stick
into the earth, so creating all the
harmful creatures such as the snake.
He turned himself into a mouse and
tried to gnaw through the timbers of
the ark, ordered by the god Burkhan to
save the people from the flood, but he
was frustrated when the god created
the cat.
shito dama Japanese
the astral spirit of a dead person
Shitta Burmese

the nat of the moon
one of the original nats, created by
Chinun Way Shun
Shiva
1
Hindu
[Acyata.Adinatha.Aghora.Akula.Ananda.
Anant(es)a.Annamurti.Bathala.
Bhadra Vira.Bhagavan.Bhairava.
Bhatara Guru.Bhava.Bhavishya.Bhima.
Bhuta-Natha.Bhuteswara.Blue Throat.
Candesvara.Candrasekhara.Dakshina-
Murti.Dhurjati.Digambara.Divine Yogi.
Durvasas.Ganga-dhara.Garudi.Gopala.
Goraknath.Great Ascetic.Gupta.Hara.
Harihara.Isha(na).Is(h)a.Is(h)ana.
Is(h)vara.Janardana.Kala(ri).
Khandoba.Linga.
Lingodbhava.Lord of the Dance.Lord
of the Moon.Mahadeo.Mahadeva.
Mahakala.Mahapurusha.Maharaja.
Mahes(h)vara.Mangala.Mukhalinga.
Nataraja.Nates(h)a.Nilakantha.
Nritta-Murti.Pancanana.Panchamukti-
Maruti.Pas(h)upati.Patsupati.
Petara.Rishabha.Rudra.Sadyojata.
Shaktiman.Shambhu.Shamkara.
S(h)ankara.Sharabha.Shaumya.
Sikhandin.Siva.Somanatha.
Somaskanda.Srikantha.Sthanu.Sundara.

Supreme Lord.Syama.Tatpurusha.
Tri-lochana.Tripuratanka.Ugra.
Vamadeva.Vira-Bhadra.Virabhadra.
Virupashksa.Vishapaharana.
Vishvanatha.Warayana:=Buddhist
Amitabha:=Cambodian Hara.Prah
Eysor:=East Indies Karaeng Lowe.
Is(h)wara.Mahaiswara.Mahatala.
Mahayogi.Petara:=Greek Cronos:
=Japanese Amida:=Pacific Bat(h)ala.
Siwa:=Philippines Mahacabatara:
=Thai Phra In Suen]
a creator-god, moon-god, god
of destruction, fertility and
medicine, strengthener of
men
the Hindu version of the Vedic Rudra
consort of Devi, Ganga, Sakti,
Sati and Uma
consort of Bhavani, some say
father of Ganesha
He was said to have been born from
Vishnu’s forehead and to have had
twenty-eight incarnations.
In another version, he appeared
when a cosmic lingam rose out of
the ocean and burst open to settle
an argument between Brahma
and Vishnu as to who had created the
universe.

He killed Kama when he interrupted
his meditations and to assert his
authority he cut off Brahma’s fifth
head which he was condemned to
carry for a long time before he was
purified in the Ganges.
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Shiva
1
Shippeitaro
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