In Egyptian myth, the magician-hero Setne broke into the tomb of Prince Naneferkaptah to steal the Book of Thoth, a spellbook with the power to raise the dead. However, Setne was cursed by the prince's mummy for this theft, his mind ravaged by horrific nightmares.

#BookologyThursday #BookChatWeekly #FolkloreThursday #31DaysofHaunting #TempleThursday #folklore #mythology #EgyptianMythology #Egypt #Setne #magic #sorcerer #occult #Thoth

In 1419 a Ming treasure voyage returned to China with a qilin (or Kirin), a symbol of prosperity and Heaven's blessings. The Yongle Emperor downplayed this for two reasons: he did not want an excess of gifts, and because he likely knew it was a giraffe. #TempleThursday

🖼️ S. Du

A solar eclipse on February 12, 1831 turned into a vision for Nat Turner, who saw it as a black man's hand overtaking the sun, reaching for freedom. Inspired by this holy vision, on August 21 of that year he launched a spiritually-inspired rebellion. #TempleThursday

🖼️ BB Shahn

Revered by both the Shinto and Buddhist religions, Inari is the Japanese goddess of agriculture and fertility. According to myth, she first arrived in Japan riding on the back of a white fox, and benevolent foxes known as zenko continue to be her messengers. #TempleThursday

📷: Levi Meir Clancy

#Mythology #Inari #Fox #Kitsune #Zenko #Kami #Shrine #Shinto #Buddhism #Japan

Though the Romans equated their war god Mars with the Greek god Ares, they portrayed him as very different. Mars was also a god of agriculture and a father to the Romans, who used war to create lasting peace, while Ares was only interested in slaughter and chaos.

#TempleThursday #FolkloreThursday #31DaysofHaunting #folklore #mythology #GreekMythology #RomanMythology #Greece #Rome

In one Welsh legend, King Arthur discovered an altar floating in the ocean, and unsuccessfully tried to use it as a table. When Arthur realized the altar belonged to St. Carannog, he returned it in exchange for the saint ridding the land of a troublesome dragon.

#TempleThursday #31DaysofHaunting #FolkloreThursday #folklore #mythology #Celtic #Wales #KingArthur #Arthuriana #saint

In British legend, when Merlin saw a comet that resembled a dragon in the sky, he knew it meant his king, Ambrosius, had died, and Ambrosius' brother Uther was now king. In honor of this comet, Merlin dubbed the new king Uther Pendragon (Uther "Dragon's Head").

#TempleThursday #31DaysofHaunting #Superstitiology #mythology #folklore #Celtic #KingArthur #Arthuriana