| Name ▲▼ | Origin ▲▼ | Description ▲▼ |
|---|---|---|
| God name "Cocidius" | Britain | A major cult centre of this Hunter god in Britain was at Bewcastle in Čú𝔪bria, known in Roman times as Fanum Cocidi or 'The Temple of Cocidius'. |
"Dragons Guardin Ladies" | European | The walls of feudal castles ran winding round the building, and the ladies were kept in the securest part. As adventurers had to scale the walls to gain access to the ladies, the authors of romance said they overcame the serpent-like defence, or the dragon that guarded them. Sometimes there were two walls, and then the bold invader overcame two dragons in his attempt to liberate the captive damsel. European |
"Dun Cow" | Britain | The dun cow of Dunsmore heath was a savage beast slain by Sir Guy, Earl of warwick. A huge tusk, probably that of an elephant, is still shown at Harwich Castle as one of the horns of the dun-cow. The fable is that this cow belonged to a giant, and was kept on Mitchell Fold (middle fold), Shropshire. Its milk was inexhaustible; but one day an old woman who had filled her pail, wanted to fill her sieve also. This so enraged the cow, that she broke loose from the fold and wandered to Dunsmore heath, where she was slain by Guy of warwick. Britain |
"Galligantus" | Greek | A giant who lived with Hocus-Pocus in an enchanted castle. By his magic he changed men and women into dumb animals, amongst which was a duke's daughter, changed into a roe. Jack the Giant Killer, arrayed in his cap, which rendered him invisible, went to the castle and read the inscription: "Whoever can this trumpet blow, will cause the giant's overthrow." He seized the trumpet, blew a loud blast, the castle fell down, Jack slew the giant, and was married soon after to the duke's daughter. Fairy tale |
| Spirit name "Hinzelmann" | German | The most famous house-spirit or kobold of German legend. He lived four years in the old castle of Hudemuhlen, where he had a room set apart for him. At the end of the fourth year (1588) he went away of his own accord, and never again returned. |
| God name "Hogfather" | Europian | The Discworld's version of Father Christmas or Santa Claus. He wears a red, fur-lined cloak, and rides a sleigh pulled by four wild boars, Gouger, Rooter, Tusker and Snouter. In earlier times he gave households pork products, and naughty children a bag of bloody bones. Earlier than that, he was a Winter god of the death-and-renewal kind. The modern version is a jolly toymaker, with vestiges of the earlier myths (such as his Castle of Bones, a vast palace of ice which has nothing notably bony about it, except for the suggestion of a protruding femur or scapula here and there) still clinging to him. |
"Lamps" | Christendom | The seven lamps of sleep. In the mansion of the Knight of the Black Castle were seven lamps, which could be quenched only with water from an enchanted fountain. So long as these lamps kept burning, everyone within the room fell into a deep sleep, from which nothing could rouse them till the lamps were extinguished. Christendom |
| King name "Mark" | Cornwall | A mythical king of cornwall, Sir Tristram's uncle. He lived at Tintagel Castle, and married Isolde the Fair, who was påśśionately enamoured of his nephew, Sir Tristram. The illicit loves of Isolde and Tristram were proverbial in the Middle Ages. |
"Maugys" | Britain | A giant who keeps a bridge leading to a castle by a riverside, in which a beautiful lady is besieged. Sir Lybius, one of Arthur's knights, does battle with the giant; the contest lasts a whole summer's day, but terminates with the death of the giant and liberation of the lady. Britain |
"Mauthe Dog" | Manx | A spectre hound that for many years haunted the ancient castle of Peel town, in the Isle of Man. This black spaniel used to enter the guard-room as soon as candles were lighted, and leave it at day-break. While this spectre-dog was present the soldiers forebore all oaths and profane talk. One day a drunken trooper entered the guard-house alone out of bravado, but lost his speech and died in three days. Manx |
"Melusina" | France | Having enclosed her father in a high mountain for offending her mother, she was condemned to become every Saturday a serpent from her waist downward. When she married Raymond, Count of Lusignan, she made her husband vow never to visit her on a Saturday; but, the jealousy of the count being excited, he hid himself on one of the forbidden days, and saw his wife's transformation. Melusina was now obliged to quit her mortal husband, and was destined to wander about as a spectre till the day of doom. Some say the count immured her in the dungeon of his castle. France |
"Sheela Na Gig" | Britain | Figurative carvings of naked women displaying an exaggerated vulva. They are found on churches, castles and other buildings, particularly in Ireland and Britain, sometimes together with male figures. |
| King name "Thrummy Cap" | Britain | A sprite described in Northumberland fairy tales as a "queer-looking little auld man," whose exploits are generally laid in the cellans of old castles. Britain |
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