Mythology Glossary

The belief that objects, places, and creatures all possess a distinct spiritual essence.

The attribution of human traits, emotions, or intentions to non-human entities, including deities, animals, objects, or ...

Texts, stories, or teachings of doubtful authenticity or origin, often excluded from official religious or mythological ...

A universally recognizable element, pattern, character type, or theme that recurs across different mythologies and stori...

A mythological concept representing the center of the world or the connection between Heaven and Earth.

A medieval collection of allegorical descriptions of real or mythical animals, often accompanied by moral lessons.

Relating to the underworld, the earth, or the dark, mysterious forces beneath the surface, often associated with specifi...

A branch of mythology or science that deals with the origin and creation of the universe.

The study of and search for animals whose existence has not been proven, relying heavily on folklore, anecdotal evidence...

A creator deity or being responsible for the creation and maintenance of the physical universe, distinct from the suprem...

The part of theology or mythology concerned with the final events of history, or the ultimate destiny of humanity.

The study of causation or origination; in mythology, an etiological myth explains the origin of a name, phenomenon, cust...

The traditional beliefs, customs, stories, and cultural practices of a community, passed down primarily through oral tra...

The ambiguous, transitional state or space between two distinct phases, states, or boundaries.

A narrative pattern popularized by Joseph Campbell, suggesting that most mythological hero stories follow a fundamentall...

A fundamental, recurring motif, theme, or structural element found repeatedly across different mythologies and stories.

A form of magic or divination involving communication with the dead, usually to obtain hidden knowledge or predict the f...

A person or agency considered to provide wise and insightful counsel or prophetic predictions or precognition of the fut...

The complete collective or assembly of gods and goddesses within a specific polytheistic religion or mythology.

The belief in and worship of multiple deities, each usually having distinct personalities, domains of influence, and rit...

The philosophical or religious belief that the non-physical essence of a living being begins a new life in a different p...

A mythological being or entity with the ability to physically alter its form, often between human and animal.

The blending or attempted blending of different religions, cultures, or schools of thought, often resulting in new deiti...

A narrative detailing the origin, genealogy, and family tree of the gods within a specific mythology.

The religious or mythological practice of ritually consuming a god or divine being.

A complex figure in mythology and folklore known for intellect, secret knowledge, and rule-breaking behavior.

An animal whose existence or survival is suggested by folklore, eyewitness accounts, or indirect evidence, but has not b...

Mythological creatures formed by combining parts of different animals, or a human and an animal.

A spiritual entity, deity, or creature whose responsibility is to guide newly deceased souls from Earth to the afterlife...

The immense, sacred World Tree in Norse mythology around which all nine realms exist.