Name ▲▼ | Origin ▲▼ | Description ▲▼ |
---|---|---|
"Wild Huntsman" | German | The German tradition is that a spectral hunter with dogs frequents the Black Forest to chase the wild animals. The English name is "Herne the Hunter," who was once a keeper in windsor Forest. In Winter time, at midnight, he walks about Herne's Oak, and blasts trees and cattle. He wears horns, and rattles a chain in a "most hideous manner". Another legend is that a certain Jew would not suffer Jesus to drink out of a horse-trough, but pointed to some water in a hoof-print as good enough for "such an enemy of Moses," and that this man is the "Wild Huntsman." Various |
"Wokey" | Britain | Wicked as the Witch of Wokey. Wookey-hole is a noted cavern in Somersetshire, which has given birth to as many weird stories as the Sibyls' Cave in Italy. The Witch of Wokey was metamorphosed into stone by a "lerned wight" from Gaston, but left her curse behind, so that the fair damsels of Wokey rarely find "a gallant." Britain |
God name "Wong Taisin (the great immortal Wong)" | Chinese | God. Probably an incarnation or avatara of the god HUANG TI (the yellow emperor), he is considered benevolent. Closely åśśociated with a district in Kowloon which is named after him. His cult arrived in Hong Kong in 1915 from Kwangtung in the form of a painting brought by a man and his son. It was installed in a small temple in Wanchai. In 1921 a larger sanctuary was built, from public funds, facing the sea and backed by Lion Rock.... |
Spirit name "Wrath's Hole" | Britain | The legend is that Bolster, a gigantic wrath or evil spirit, paid embarråśśing attention to St. Agnes, who told him she would listen to his suit when he filled with his blood a small hole which she pointed out to him. The wrath joyfully accepted the terms, but the hole opened into the sea, and the wrath, being utterly exhausted, St. Agnes pushed him over the cliff. cornwall, Britain |
God name "Wu-tai Yuan-shuai" | China | God of musicians. China |
Spirit name "Xaya Iccita" | Yakut / central Siberia | mountain spirit. The owner or master of the mountains.... |
God name "Yama-No-Kami" | Shinto / Japan | mountain god. Specifically the deity who comes down to the rice paddies in spring and returns in autumn. The festival of Nolde-No-Shinji marks his descent.... |
Goddess name "Yasodhara (preserving glory)" | Buddhist | Goddess. The daughter of Dandapani and the consort of the BUDDHA before he attained his full status.... |
God name "Yayutsi" | Siberia | After ascending through several heavens in visionary consciousness, the shaman converses with the creator god Yayutsi and also bows before the moon and Sun in turn. Finally, at the celestial abode of bai Ulgan, the shaman learns details of future weather patterns and the outcome of the harvest. The shaman then collapses in a state of ecstatic release. The Altai, Siberia |
Spirit name "Yeth-Hounds" | Britain | Dogs without heads, said to be the spirits of unbaptised children, which ramble among the woods at night, making wailing noises. Devonshire, Britain |
"Yetl" | Tlingit | The Raven of Tlingit legend, was the symbol of creation, maker of Forests and mountains, rivers and seas. He guided the Sun, the moon, and the stars and controlled the winds and the floods. Yetl gave light to the world. |
"Yezd" | Persia | Chief residence of the Fire-worshippers. They have kept the sacred fire alight above 3,000 years, without suffering it to go out for a second. The sacred fire is on the mountain Ater Quedah (Mansion of the Fire), and he is deemed unfortunate who dies away from the mountain. Persia |
God name "Yspaddaden Pencawr" | Celtic / Welsh | God. Possibly the counterpart of the Irish deity Balor and the Icelandic Balder. In the legend of Culhwch and Olwen, Olwen is identified as his daughter. He sets Culhwch several difficult tasks before he can obtain Olwen's hand. Culhwch retaliates by wounding him severely, but he cannot be killed until Olwen marries. This is presumably a distorted fertility legend, the original meaning of which is lost.... |
Spirit name "Ytsigy" | Siberia | The highest benevolent deity of the Gilyak is known as Ytsigy and they call the universe Kurn, and apply the same name to their highest anthropomorphic deity. The 'owner' spirit of the mountain, and the mountain itself, is named Pal, and the sea and its 'owner' they call Tol. Gilyak. Siberia |
Spirit name "Yulgen" | Central Asia | According to the belief of the Altaians, the good spirits,aru neme, are all subjects of the good god Yulgen, and the bad spirits, kara neme, of the evil god Erlik. Yulgen is so kind and generous that he never does harm to men. Sacrifices are offered to him by all, but no one fears him. Every bridegroom must sacrifice to him a horse of a light colour after his marriage. |
God name "Zipakna" | Mayan / Mesoamerican / Mexico | earthquake god. Usually coupled with the god KABRAKAN and identified as a creator of mountains which Kabrakan subsequently destroys.... |
Spirit name "gNyan" | Tibetan | Tree spirits. Malevolent forces residing in the mountains which can bring sickness or death.... |