In the Altai legends about animals, we see reverence for the surrounding world. Read the myths of Gorny Altai about animals, please.
Legend of musk deer
At the edge of the forest, on the banks of a fast river, lived a grandfather and a woman. They had nobody and nothing, only one cow. Grandfather told fairy tales at night, and sang songs. Grandma kneaded animal skins, but listened to grandfather. And so these fairy tales flowed smoothly that sensitive musk deer came running to listen from the high stones. Once the musk deer could not resist during the day. I went down to the hut, and there was a cauldron with milk. The musk deer drank half of the cauldron. The old woman returned home: "I've been living in this hut for sixty years, but I've never seen thieves." Out of shame, the musk deer climbed the rocks. But she liked the milk so much that she began to go to the hut every day.
The old men got angry, they hung the cauldron on stakes, high above the ground. The next morning the musk deer came running, and the cauldron was high. The musk deer hit the cauldron with their hooves - the cauldron swayed, and the musk deer milk splashed onto its back. How many musk deer did not rub against stones, did not roll on the ground, white spots did not erase. Ashamed of this mark, the musk deer now clings to the gray stones. And only at night does she go out to look for food. She is ashamed to show herself to the animals during the day. They will also call him a thief. It is still hiding.
The legend of the wood grouse
In ancient times, birds flew to warm lands all together, having previously discussed the day of departure. In the next autumn, the birds gathered for a departure meeting. All the birds flew to this meeting, except for the wood grouse. He was lazy, and he slept too. Having woken up, the wood grouse went to look for birds - it became too quiet in the forest. He walked around his slope with the edge of the forest, and did not meet a single bird. All the birds flew away to warm lands. He was the only one left for the winter. The capercaillie sat down, sulked and cried. Cries and rubs his eyes with his paw. Rubs, rubs and cries. He rubbed his eyes so much that they turned red. So the capercaillie with red eyes remained.
Legend of the cuckoo
In ancient times, the Altai did not offend birds, songs were sung about them, fairy tales, epics and legends were formed. Here is one of the legends ...
When it was? A long time ago ... Then the Altai peoples idolized birds. And the old people still consider the cuckoo (kuyuk) a bird-martyr. The cuckoo was once a woman. She lived in poverty, but hard work saved her. She gave all her strength to her three children. And the children grew up disobedient, they did not respect their mother. One day she fell seriously ill. She sent one son to fetch firewood. He didn't go. She sent another - he ran away. And the third disobeyed his mother, dismissed her request. Mother cried and said: "I wish I became a bird, I would fly away from you ..." She said in despair, without intent, and suddenly the truth turned into a cuckoo ...
She flew up and flew into the chimney - the hole in the yurt. One son had time, grabbed her by the leg. But only the shoes remained in his hands, and the cuckoo flew away. So now she lives without a home, one black leg - in "shoes", the other light - "barefoot." And he lays eggs in the nests of other birds, so as not to suffer herself, not to feed the chicks. And so much despair is heard in her "cuckoo" in spring and early summer.
Here is such a sad legend. But for the information of those who managed to become sad: the cuckoo - the female does not know how to scream in any way. She is always silent. "Ku-ku" is the call of the male. And the longer “Ku-ku, ku-ku” is heard, the more “finicky” the bride got. So do not be sad for a long time if you hear his (not her!) Voice and smile at the spring!
The Legend of the Nutcracker
An old bear lived in the dense impassable taiga, among the windbreak. Life taught him to be thrifty, and he always had nuts. Once a huge black bird flew over the bear's dwelling. She was very hungry because there was no food in the forest in winter. A bird from above saw a heap of cedar cones at a bear. The bird knew that the thrifty bear would not share the cones with her, and went on to deceive.
She sank to the ground and said to the bear: "If you want, I will show you a place where there are so many nuts that you will have enough for the rest of your life." The bear believed the bird and rather ran in the direction the bird pointed to. Meanwhile, the cunning bird ate up the entire bear stock of pine nuts. A bear circled, circled through the taiga and did not find either a bird or a nut. Somehow the bear got to the den, and there were only empty cones. The bear got angry with the bird for such deception and theft and cursed it.
And at that time a small gray bird became from a beautiful black bird. Sometimes in the singing of this bird one can hear: "Ho-o-cheh nuts-and". It's the nutcracker screaming.
About the bat
The bat used to fly during the day and ran quickly at night. Now the mouse has completely stopped running and in the daytime you rarely see it flying. The old tale says so.
Previously, all animals and birds paid tribute. A mouse flies somehow, and a hawk meets it. The hawk says: “Honorable mouse, I've been looking for you for three years. All the birds paid tribute, only you stayed. " The mouse answers: "Look, am I a bird?" - went down into the grass and ran. The hawk flew away empty-handed.
A mouse ran to the hills, and there the fox was waiting for her: “Good afternoon, mouse. I've been looking for you for the seventh year, all the animals paid tribute, you just stayed. " The mouse replies: "Look, am I a beast?" - spread her wings and flew away. She left Lisa with nothing.
Since that time, being afraid of the fox, the bat has completely stopped running: its legs have withered from fear. And she also does not dare to fly - she is afraid of the hawk. So we sometimes see a bat late in the evening. And the fox sleeps, and the hawk does not fly.
I am a king - I am a slave, I am a worm - I am God.
Derzhavin G.R.
Long before people learned to read and write, they kept folk traditions and legends, passing them on from mouth to mouth. And, of course, each storyteller introduced something different: either a new character appears, or the plot turns in a different way. From these ever-changing stories, myths and legends were born.
Myths are stories of fictional events and supernatural beings operate in them. Myths are, of course, fiction, but they help explain local customs and natural phenomena. Very often, myths tell about deities who take the form of animals.
The legend is very similar to the myth. The difference is that a legend can be based on an event that actually happened, or it can tell about a person who really existed. But this does not mean that over time it does not undergo changes.
The myths of ancient peoples are perhaps one of the most interesting cultural treasures of civilizations. Every nation, every country, every civilization composed its own myths and legends about brave heroes, about powerful gods, about the all-powerful rulers of the ancient world.
The myth of the creation of humans in Borneo
On the island of Borneo, there is a myth that people were created by two huge birds, and in the beginning the birds weaved them from twigs, as they weave their nests. But people broke down very easily. Then the birds carved people out of stone, but the people were so heavy that they could not walk or speak. And finally, the birds blinded people out of clay, and red resin from a special tree was poured into the veins of the people. At first, people could not speak, but when the birds called out to the man and began to torment his body with their beaks, he cried out in pain, and blood flowed from his wounds. Thus, a person simultaneously learned to speak, learned to defend himself and realized that life is pain.
Turtles, crocodiles, lizards, snakes are the descendants of dinosaurs, creatures that ruled the planet in the Mesozoic era. There are people who have an unaccountable fear of reptiles, but most of humanity admires their beauty and grace. In ancient myths, reptiles were assigned a special role - sages who know secrets inaccessible to human understanding. It is impossible to remain indifferent to these animals, therefore in modern apartments you can see many representatives of the class of reptiles, and every day there are more people who want to acquire such an unusual pet.
From the originator
Animals
The tale of the bear
(excerpt)
Like warm springtime
From under the morning white dawn,
From the forest, from the dense forest
The bear came out
With cute baby cubs
Take a walk, see, show yourself.
The bear sat down under a white birch;
The cubs began to play between themselves,
Roll around on an ant,
Fight, tumble ...
Pushkin A.S.
Antelope
In one Siberian myth, the first antelope had six legs. With such a device, it was very difficult to catch her, and sometimes even impossible.
The divine hunter Tung-poi made special skates from the sacred tree, which was constantly crackling and was indicated to him by the barking of a dog. In the same way, the skates snapped, racing like an arrow; to control them and slow them down, he had to insert wedges made from another magic tree into them.
Tung-poi chased the antelope all over the sky. The exhausted animal fell to the ground, and Tung-poi cut off the hind pair of legs.
- People, - said Tung-poi, - are getting smaller and weaker every day. How can they hunt six-legged antelopes, when I myself have hardly killed her.
Since then, antelopes have become four-legged.
In the myths of the Bushmen, the progenitor of the people Tsagn participates in the creation of the world: he gave the oryx antelope white honey, the oryx drank this honey. And that's why the oryx now has a light skin.
And the antelope-kaama Tsagn gave honeycomb to young bees. The honeycombs of the young bees are red and the antelope turns red.
Antelope-canna Tsagn gave honey aspen, so it is dark - after all, she ate wasp honey.
Leopard is a symbol of courage, honor and nobility. There is a strong belief in Tibet that saints can transform into a snow leopard.
The Vakhs, an ethnic group living in the mountains of northern Pakistan, China, Tajikistan and Afghanistan, have a belief in mountain spirits “pari” - women who turn into snow leopards who, with due treatment and respect, help local residents.
In the Turkic-Mongolian "animal" calendar with a 12-year cycle, instead of the year of the Tiger, there was the year of Bars. According to popular beliefs, this year was considered particularly successful. “In the year of the Leopard, all this, even this millet”, “The Year of the Leopard is wealth”, predicted folk signs.
Nepal has many local customs that reflect Buddhist traditions and rituals. One such ritual forbids mountain shepherds to fry meat, since the mountain god can send his "dog", that is, a snow leopard, then the loss of livestock will be inevitable. In Nepal, killing a snow leopard is considered a greater sin than killing its prey (for example, a blue ram), because all the sins that a leopard committed during its life, killing victims, will then be transferred to the hunter.
In India, residents of the Ladakh province of northern India believe that the snow leopard is both a land animal and a near-water animal.
The leopard in the mythological ideas of the Saka-Scythian peoples was a defender of justice: "He, as the highest judge, looked at what was happening from a divine height."
According to the ancient Kyrgyz epic "Manas", the ancestral Kyrgyz nobility - Begi traced its ancestry from mythical ancestors - leopards: “I killed seven wolves. I did not kill leopards and fallow deer, ”the ancient Kyrgyz wrote on the grave epitaphs.
Since ancient times, in Russia, the Uvinians revered and respected the "master of the mountains" - the irbis (irbis), endowing him with supernatural powers.
Back in the 7th century, the ancestors of the Kazan Tatars - the Volga Bulgars - considered the winged leopard a symbol of wealth, fertility, nobility and the patron saint of their state. The leopard was considered a sacred animal, so he was depicted with the sign of holiness - wings.
According to the legend, among the Uzbeks, when the city of Samarkand was founded, a palyang leopard descended from the Zeravshan mountains. He wandered around the walls, turned into a man, blessed its inhabitants for the construction of the city, the future of Samarkand, and retired back to the mountains. Since then, the inhabitants of Samarkand have been called leopards. A leopard was depicted on their standards and coats of arms.
The image of the snow leopard is found in the epics and legends of the Tuvan people, fairy tales and songs. Decorations of the snow leopard have been found in famous ancient burial mounds. They were often accompanied by scenes of his hunting, which confirmed the status of the "king of beasts" of the Tuvan highlands. Until now, the people of Tuva believe that a meeting with an irbis is an omen of some important event that will play a special role in the life of a person or the life of his family. Irbis' attacks on livestock were also regarded by shepherds as punishment from above for violating the ancient laws of existence in harmony with nature. The inhabitants of the remote Sengelen highlands in the southeast of Tuva to this day identify the irbisha with the spirit of the mountains and are afraid to kill this beast, which is capable of taking revenge on the murderer even after its death, exterminating its livestock and family.
MINISTRY OF BRANCH OF RUSSIA
Federal State Budgetary Educational Institution
higher professional education
Volgograd State Social - Pedagogical University
(FSBEI HPE "VGSPU")
Project work
Ecology
Topic: Myths and legends about animals
Prepared by A. Shibitova
Shtyl N.V.
D - PB - 12
Checked by: Zhakupova G.S.
Volgograd
2013
Introduction ………………………………………………………………… 3
General characteristics, features, meaning ……………… ............. 4
The reasons for the appearance of myths and legends about animals ..................... 7
Chapter 1. Fairy-tale mythical animals …………… .. …………… 8
1.1 Phoenix ……………………………………………………… .9
1.2 Pegasus ………………………………………………………… 15
1.3Sphinx ……………………………………………………… .20
1.4 The unicorn ……………………………………………… …… ..23
Chapter 2. Myths and legends about animals ………………………………… 26
2.1 Bull ……………………………………………………………… 27
2.2 Cat ……………………………………………………… ... 29
2.3 Scarab ……………………………………………………. .32
2.4 Snake ………………………………………………………… .. 34
2.5 Tiger ……………………………………………………… .. 36
2.6 Bear ………………………………………………………… 39
List of Literature ………………………………… …………………… .42
Introduction.
Throughout its history, man has been closely associated with animals and even in some way dependent on them. They served as a source of food and clothing for him, warned of dangers. By changing the behavior of wild animals, people learned about the approach of earthquakes, floods or volcanic eruptions. Everything in nature is interconnected and people cannot live without the nature around them. Animals play a huge role in nature. Without them, many plants would not be able to reproduce and spread. Animals and people are necessary. Not only because they provide food and valuable furs, but also because almost all animals are very beautiful and interesting. Animal myths are among the oldest. Ancient man revered animals, birds, insects and endowed them with supernatural powers.
The purpose of our work is to demonstrate the whole variety of myths about the fauna of our planet.
The tasks of the work are as follows: to study the features of myths about animals, to acquaint the audience with specific myths different nations, analyze the reasons for the appearance of myths and legends about animals.
General characteristics, features, meaning
Everyone knows the word "myth" so well that it is necessary to immediately outline the sphere of its main meanings. In the meaning of "invention", "deception" it is used, for example, in the phrase "political myths". It means "legend", "legend" when we talk about the myths of the peoples of the world. The word "myth" also serves to denote a harmonious, syncretic worldview, characteristic of primitive mankind.
This type of worldview arose when a person could not yet imagine and think of himself otherwise than in an organic, "blood" unity with the entire universe. The world was then represented as a single material and spiritual whole, a continuous cycle of living beings and elements, spirits and people. Human life was an incessant sacred rite, a mystery, the purpose and meaning of which was to maintain the unity and harmony of being.
This type of worldview arose when a person could not yet imagine and think of himself otherwise than in an organic, "blood" unity with the entire universe. The world was then represented as a single material and spiritual whole, a continuous cycle of living beings and elements, spirits and people. Human life was an incessant sacred rite, a mystery, the purpose and meaning of which was to maintain the unity and harmony of being. Much attention in myths is paid to birth, death, trials. A special place is occupied by the production of fire, the invention of crafts, the domestication of animals. Myth is not an initial form of knowledge, but a kind of worldview, a figurative representation of nature and collective life. In the myths, the rudiments of knowledge and religious beliefs are united.
For primitive consciousness, the thinkable must coincide with the experienced, the real with the one who acts. The genetic principle - comes down to finding out who gave birth to whom. Myths are built on the establishment of harmony between the world and man.
Today, most scientists are inclined to believe that the secret of the origin of myth should be sought in the fact that mythological consciousness was the most ancient form of understanding and understanding the world, understanding nature, society and man. The myth arose from the need of ancient people to understand the natural and social elements surrounding him, the essence of man.
Among the whole multitude of mythical legends and stories, it is customary to single out several most important cycles. Let's call them:
- cosmogonic myths - myths about the origin of the world and the universe,
- anthropogonic myths - myths about the origin of man and human society,
- myths about cultural heroes - myths about the origin and introduction of certain cultural goods,
- eschatological myths - myths about the “end of the world”, the end of times.
Functions of the myth
Russian scientist B.L. Borisov believes that myth is a multilevel system. Among its many functions, in his opinion, the following are the most significant:
- axiological, or value. Expresses the qualitative state of an object or idea.
- semiotic, or symbolic. This is reading texts in a specific sign language.
- epistemological, or cognitive: the experience of human generations, the ability to accumulate knowledge about the world.
- communication (broadcast function). This is a mechanism for the transfer of experience from generation to generation, the social memory of mankind.
Features of myths
The study of ancient mythology allows us to notice that all myths have some common features that characterize their specificity.
1. Identification of fantasy with reality
A person who believes in myth lives in a world filled with a mixture of reality and fantasy. Fantasy for him is no less obvious than reality.
2. Explaining reality in a visual - figurative form
In this respect, myth is similar to philosophy and science, which also set themselves the task of explaining reality. But philosophy and science explain reality with the help of abstract concepts and logical reasoning, and myth - with the help of visual images and sensory associations.
3. Emotional richness
Due to its "obvious" authenticity and artistic imagery, the myth directly affects the feelings of people. He involves them in experiencing the events taking place in him.
4. Connection with magic
Mythology not only shapes the spiritual life of people - it also has a practical orientation, for it equips people with "technical" means of influencing the surrounding reality.
The reasons for the appearance of myths and legends about animals.
There are many reasons for the appearance of animal myths, for example, such a reason as: a man of a primitive society does not yet feel like a separate person. In totemism, he does not simply consider himself a descendant of any kind of animal, or divine (semi-divine) being. This connection runs through his entire physical and social existence. In many cases, such an identification consolidates this clan, distinguishing it from others (we are boars, and they are birds), and in this it is already possible to clearly distinguish the antithesis “we are they”, indicating the awareness of our tribe (and then the people ) as a unique community.
Another derivative of the myth is taboo (prohibition). Largely due to taboos, an ethnic stereotype of behavior arises. Their taboos (due to the authority of the myth that gave rise to them) seem to be unconditional and legitimate to a much greater extent than the taboos of neighbors. There are, of course, common taboos for different peoples (on murder, incest, cannibalism, that is, on those actions that can lead to the extinction or degradation of a species, tribe, and finally, an ethnos), but otherwise the taboos are different. By this, the emerging people, as it were, create a certain threshold of communication that separates them from their neighbors.
Chapter 1.
FABULOUS MYTHICAL ANIMALS
1.1 Phoenix Bird
No other creature symbolizes eternal life more than the Phoenix, a mystical bird that is famous for its beauty as well as unique vitality. The legend of the Phoenix bird has appeared in various ancient myths, including those of Greece, Egypt, and India. The bird is usually described as an eagle or other bird of prey, but it looks more like a heron due to its dignified posture. In many myths, the Phoenix bird is associated with the rising of the Sun; it is in close connection with the Sun god Ra. Another feature of the Phoenix is \u200b\u200bthat it is one and only. When she senses that her life is coming to an end, about once every thousand years, the Phoenix bird makes a funeral pyre from cinnamon or other aromatic material and allows the flame to consume itself. After the bird is consumed, a new bird rises from the ashes and begins a new life on Earth.
The Legend of the Phoenix
There is in the far East - at the very end of the earth, where the gates of dawn never close - a country of eternal happiness. This country is not located where the sun rises in colder winters or hot and sultry summers - it lies near the gates, from which the sparkling chariot of the great luminary sheds life-giving light on the earth in sweet springtime. There are no hills or valleys in that land, but a shining plain opens up there to the eyes of a lucky man. Above the highest mountains this plain rises twice by six measures. There is a forest in that country, planted in honor of the great sun, and it never loses its green cover. When the daring Phaethon, enveloped in fire, not a single tongue of deadly flame touched that land, and when a flood filled the earth, punishing sinful humanity, this land with a wonderful island rose above the raging waters of Deucalion. There is no illness, no old age, no death in that land, there is no fear there, and not a single atrocity has defiled the borders of this land. There is no place there for the money-loving Hermes, or for the bloodthirsty Mars, for there is no anger there that engenders bloodshed, no poverty that engenders love of money, no worries of life, no evil hunger. The storm does not rage there, and the wind does not break the trees, and the frost does not bind the earth. The clouds do not cover the sky, and the rains do not wash out the roads. But in the very heart of the wonderful country, a wonderful spring gushes out of the ground, also called the source of living water. This spring is quiet and transparent, and the waters are clean and sweet in taste, and pouring over the ground once a month, he manages to irrigate this land twelve times with his life-giving streams.
There is a grove in that country where tall trees grow, bearing juicy fruits that do not rot and do not fall to the ground. Only one bird lives in this wonderful grove - the Phoenix. Phoenix lives alone, leaving behind no offspring except through death. Phoenix is \u200b\u200bnot a tame bird and obeys only one owner - the light-faced Sun. And it is also a very unusual bird, although its habits were given to him by nature and being learned from ancestors.
When the dawn paints the sky in scarlet and reddish colors, when with its purple radiance the morning drives the night stars out of the sky, Phoenix plunges into the sacred waters three times and four times, drinks from the life-giving source three times and four times. Then he flies up to the tallest tree in the grove, and, towering over the whole world, looks where the dawn breaks, waiting for the first rays of the rising sun. When the sun crosses the threshold of its shining gates and the shine of the first rays illuminates the earth, an amazing bird begins to sing, welcoming the light of a new day. The chirping of a nightingale is beautiful, and the flute of the Muses, the cry of a dying swan and the lyre of Mercury - the messenger of Heaven, but no song on earth or under heaven can compare with the one that Phoenix sings in the rays of the rising sun. When the shining chariot floats out from the horizon and, rising higher and higher above the earth, sets off on its daily journey, the wonderful herald in reverence bows his head, blazing like fire, and, flapping his wings three times, falls silent.
For a thousand years, Phoenix has lived in a blissful country among the trees of the sacred grove, unmistakably distinguishing the course of hours and minutes, the ruler and priest of the Gardens of Eden, who alone knows the secrets of the Sun throughout the earth.
But a thousand years pass, time becomes a burden to a wonderful bird. And in order to renew the old and return the deceased to a new life, obeying fate, Phoenix leaves his native garden and holy land. He flies into this world full of sorrow and death, and his path lies in the Syrian deserts, to the place to which Venus herself gave a name similar to his name - Phenicia. Flying over the endless deserts, where no man's foot has stepped, he is looking for where a forest or a grove has hidden between lifeless mountains, in some valley, secluded from the whole world. Having found such a place, Phoenix sits on the highest palm tree, whose peak rises to the heavens, where neither a predatory animal nor a snake, nor even a bird, a tree named after him - a date tree, can climb. Then Aeolus locks the winds into his caves, forcing them to fall silent, so that their gusts do not disturb the air and so that not a single cloud will block the rays of the beautiful sun from the bird.
And there Phoenix builds a nest for himself - a nest that will serve as his grave, for without losing life, you will not save it and you will not be resurrected if you do not die. He collects funeral oils and incense that are mined in Assyria, which are rubbed by the rich of Arabia and which are collected by African pygmies / There follows a long list of perfumes and incense that Phoenix rubs on himself and his nest /. Having covered the nest with fragrant leaves, the bird sprinkles itself with oil like tears and, having celebrated its own funeral, prepares for death. Thus, surrounded by the aromas of funerary herbs, he part with life - without fear and full of faith, as parting with a seed, planting it in the ground. His body, defeated by death, heats up from the sun's rays and becomes so hot that the heat generates a flame. The body of the bird disappears, enveloped in tongues of flame, and there it turns into a mass, like a seed, from which, they say, milk-white worms or animals that have neither wings nor legs are born. But now, this seed turns into a round egg, in which all the members of the body that a bird should have are re-formed. And finally, the old Phoenix emerges from this egg just like caterpillars in the fields, curled up into pupae, fly out of there in beautiful butterflies.
Earthly food is not suitable for a bird of paradise - and who will take care of a fledgling chick - and for the Phoenix, the food of the gods - ambrosia and nectar - falls from the stellar edges. So, among the fragrant trees and strengthening its strength with manna, the Phoenix grows until it takes on its former beautiful appearance. And as soon as the forces return to him, he again ascends into the sky, as in previous years, for the time has come to return home.
But before flying to the wondrous homeland, Phoenix collects all the remains from his former body, covers them with aromatic herbs and oils and, rolled into a kind of ball, carries with him to the sacred temple that lies in distant Egypt. There he flies up to the altar and, placing his remains on it, appears to the admiring gaze of people, enchanted in awe of the beauty of a bird that has risen from the shackles of death. The color of her plumage is scarlet, like red ripe pomegranates and poppies in the fields, on the tail, scarlet mixes with flashes of yellow, and a bright mark shines between the wings - as if a cloud had descended from heaven and left its mark on the back of the Phoenix. His eyes shine like two hyacinths, and on his head is a sparkling crown, a reflection of the glory of the Sun. The legs of the bird are covered with scales, and the claws are color pink... There is no bird or beast in the world that can compare in beauty with this wondrous creation. Seeing the Phoenix in the temple, all the Egyptians converge to see such a great miracle. His bird friends also pay homage to him - the discordant chorus does not stop in the sky, and a magnificent retinue accompanies the flying Phoenix - not one of the birds ends up there with evil or cunning intent, no one flies there out of fear, but each considers it an honor to be in that suite.
But the Phoenix does not stay for long among honors and glory, noise and fuss - having pleased people and birds, he flies home, to his abodes, inaccessible to intruders, to live there again, feeding on sacred fruits and a source of living water.
Such is you, Phoenix, a bird of a happy fate, who received from God such an extraordinary destiny - to be born of yourself, passing through the gates of death. alone in the whole world, he does not know love for his own kind, and his only bride is death, a desired death. For only by dying, having renounced his life, can he find it again, in order to rise alive from the shackles of the grave - dead, but resurrected, former, and at the same time different, similar to himself, and not similar, not fearing the gift of God - death and having gained eternal life through her.
This fabulous animal is the son of Poseidon, the god of the sea, and the gorgon Medusa. He is depicted as a horse with eagle wings, sometimes white, sometimes gold. In Greek mythology, there are several versions of the birth of Pegasus. According to one version, he jumped out of Medusa's neck when the hero Perseus beheaded her. According to another version, Pegasus was born from drops of blood that Medusa shed after death. The image of Pegasus is one of the favorites in the art of many centuries; artists and sculptors often depicted and sculpted a majestic winged horse. There is even the constellation Pegasus - a gift from Zeus after the death of this beast.
The Legend of Pegasus.
Long ago, even before the eternal darkness, there lived on Mayron a white horse named Miaranil, who could sing. He was very handsome, and his voice was like the glitter of a moonlit path in a quiet river. When he began to sing, all living things calmed down around: animals and birds fell silent, embarrassed by their voices. The wind was holding back its breath, fearing inadvertently to carry away beautiful sounds. The trees stopped whispering, even the ringing streams were silent. Everyone, hiding, listened to the wonderful singing.
The modest horse never attributed his vote to personal merit and, moreover, did not seek fame. Miaranil was terribly embarrassed by the presence of so many listeners, and he often wondered why ?, to which he never received an answer, and this upset him more and more.
Once Miaranil was walking along the ocean shore, looking thoughtfully into the distance. Suddenly his attention was attracted by a huge eagle, soaring high in the sky. The white horse was so struck by the sight that he stopped rooted to the spot, watching the eagle, until tears came from his eyes. He lowered his head and wandered on.
What a beautiful creature, he mused, truly the highest creation of nature. That's who really doesn't know sadness. How wonderful it is to be a bird. All life is boundless freedom, sky, height, the feeling of flight. A flap of wings - and you soar in the sky, flap - and you are on the other side of the world. And beneath you, far below, there is a great land or endless ocean. Oh, how wonderful it is to be a bird, how wonderful it is to fly into the skies. - Miaranil walked, not noticing that the tears caused by the sunlight did not stop, but, on the contrary, were already pouring from the eyes in a continuous stream, falling into the water, and dissolving in the salty ocean. Suddenly he heard someone call out to him.
“Good afternoon, Mr. Singing Horse,” Miaranil raised his head. In front of him, on a small boulder, sat a gray, nondescript bird.
-- Hello. Forgive me, but I don’t know your name, respectable stranger, ”the horse inquired politely,“ could you name it to me, so that I could know with whom fate brought me on this deserted shore.
- They call me differently and most of these names are unworthy of your ears. Just call me a bird. Nice, you know. When at least someone calls you that, the interlocutor sighed bitterly.
- Forgive me my curiosity, Mr. Bird, but I see that you are upset about something. What kind of trouble happened to you?
- This is a stone of desires, - instead of an answer, the Bird said, pointing to a boulder, - they say that miracles sometimes work here. If someone is lucky enough to see a green rainbow sitting on this stone, then any of his dreams will come true. That is why I flew here today, hoping for a miracle. I have only one desire - by right to be called a Bird, but I'm afraid it will never come true ... Do you not understand me? - Suddenly asked the mysterious interlocutor, noticing the surprised look of the horse. - Oh, yes, the noble gentleman is trying not to offend me once again by reminding me of my ugliness.
- Yes, what are you, dear Bird, - the horse was completely agitated. - What can be ugly in such a perfect creature as you?
- So you didn't really notice anything? Well, well, - with these words, the creature spread its wings. There were ... four! Miaranil stared at them in admiration.
“Looks awfully ridiculous, I know,” the creature sighed. Why do I need this !? I am just a small bird and cannot boast of either a bright plumage, like the Viris, or a beautiful voice, like yours. But I would just like to live like everyone else, not ashamed of my appearance.
- Do you like my voice? Miaranil said thoughtfully. - And I consider him my curse ... - Suddenly it dawned on him.
- Tell me ... This rainbow ... Well ... If it's true ... - The white horse suddenly hesitated, unable to find the words. - In general, if a miracle happened, would you like to exchange your wings for my voice? Miaranil paused awkwardly.
-- What?! I heard right ... You said your voice on my wings? Oh Higher Ones! Yes, I could not even dream of such a thing! If you are not joking, then I agree.
- Hey, what is this ?! Take a look. Over there, right above us. How gorgeous she is! the horse exclaimed.
- High in the sky, right above the friends, numb with delight, a huge shining flower blossomed, shimmering with all possible colors. It shimmered and shone, constantly changing shape, so close and at the same time so unattainable in its beauty.
- So this is true - thought Miaranil, watching as the flower more and more changes its shape, stretching out in an arc of green. - After all, this is the place where miracles are born, dreams come true.
- Reflections of a green rainbow illuminated him. The light green color was replaced by a more juicy one, dark green and deep swampy rushed to replace it.
Miaranil stood, not daring to breathe, feeling that he could stand like this for an eternity. Suddenly a sensation came to him that defies description. The white horse looked back and could not believe his eyes: wings grew behind him, covering the entire back. They were dazzling white. So the sun shines, reflected in the blocks of snow and ice on a bright winter afternoon. Everything happened only for a few moments. Suddenly, the rainbow, flashing brightly, disappeared.
Happened! the horse wanted to exclaim, but only a ringing neigh came from its lips.
Happened! - said the Bird. But an iridescent trill of extraordinary purity flew off its beak. The friends looked at each other happily for the last time. Miaranil was the first to say goodbye. Nodding his head in gratitude, he unfolded his huge white wings and soared into the air.
-How beautiful! - he was amazed, looking down from a bird's-eye view. - I'm flying! I fly like a bird! No. Above the birds, above the clouds! I can ride through the clouds straight to the sun! What a small forest down there. That bright spot over there is my meadow, my home. - Miaranil suddenly wanted badly to return home. Smoothly sinking down, the white horse felt like the happiest creature in the world.
The gray bird remained on the boulder for a long time, gratefully looking into the distance. Then, opening the two remaining wings, she rose and flew into the forest.
The ancient gamayun called this bird, which in ancient Elven meant the Song of Hope. They said that hearing a gamayun was like being born again, finding a new purpose in life, a new hope. As long as you live, you hope, an ancient proverb says, and you are looking for your bird of happiness, your gamayun.
1.3Sphinx
The Sphinx has the body of a lion and the head of a man, sometimes a man, sometimes a woman. The legend of the Sphinx is rooted in ancient Egyptian mythology, mentions of it appear about 4 thousand years ago. This creature is associated with guards, and its statues were often placed at the entrance to buildings or at the gates of cities. The oldest and most famous statue of the sphinx is the Great Sphinx at Giza, which is located on the west bank of the Nile River, near present-day Cairo and is the guardian of ancient burials. One of the smartest fairy-tale creatures, the Sphinx is known for its habit of speaking in riddles. According to the legend, anyone who could not correctly solve the riddle of the Sphinx not only could not go further, but was instantly swallowed by this beast.
Legend of the Sphinx.
1.4 Unicorn
Unicorns are magical and noble creatures that have captivated both adults and children for centuries across the planet. They are symbols of purity and divinity and the embodiment of indomitable freedom. Many cultures around the world have their own myths about the unicorn, but in most cases it is described as a white horse with a long horn emerging from its forehead. The horn is often curled; in the rays of the sun, light plays around the body of the beast.
Unicorns are often associated with rainbows and chaste girls. According to legend, unicorns can only be caught by pure maidens who are alone in the forest. Unlike most fairy-tale animals, whose descriptions are based on the main human fears, most fairy tales involving unicorns are kind. The unicorn was talked about several thousand years ago, and it is still sometimes reported that someone saw it.
The Legend of the Unicorn.
There is a legend that in the Middle Ages there was a small village in Bulgaria. Life there flowed calmly, but one day in one day all the water in the wells was rotten. I had to walk a whole mile to fetch water, passing through several fields to the very edge of the forest, where a small stream flowed. The blame for everything was a traveler who passed through this village a few weeks ago. This made its inhabitants even more inhospitable. Meanwhile, the water in the stream was running out, but the villagers thought that the autumn rains would correct the situation. But the autumn was very dry, and in a month the stream dried up. As a result, women had to take water from wells, and so that it did not have an unpleasant taste, it was filtered. But soon illnesses began, and the children suffered most of all, many died without waiting for water. Then the inhabitants decided to sacrifice an orphan girl to the forest spirit. She didn't even have to be taken by force, she said that she didn't want the children to suffer. With these words she went into the forest. She walked for a very long time, and suddenly a Unicorn came up to her. The girl waited for morning, and with the proud gait of the queen, she left the forest and went to the village. Residents were very surprised to see a girl who returned from the other world, and besides, with a majestic beast. The girl took turns approaching the wells, and the Unicorn lowered his mighty head into the well and touched the water with a horn. After a while, the water was crystal clear, but people suddenly realized what treasure they had. They grabbed the girl and held her while the other villagers slaughtered the Unicorn and sawed off the horn. Soon, several people loaded their bloody cargo on a cart and left for the outside world, to sell the carcass and horn of the Unicorn. Soon they returned rich, but in addition to provisions and cloths, they also brought rats with plague-infected fleas. Since then, the village has become extinct.
Chapter 2.
MYTHS AND LEGENDS ABOUT ANIMALS
The cult of the bull is primarily associated with the fact that this animal was used in agricultural work: bulls were plowed. Therefore, the bull was considered the personification of fertility, and naturally the worship of those gods of fertility, who were dominant in this area, merged with the cult of bulls. Cows were also revered as food givers; in addition, their cult was associated with the cults of Isis and Hathor and with the concept of the sky as the Heavenly Cow.
The most revered bull was Apis (Egyptian Hapi) - the soul of the Ka of the Memphis Ptah, the personification of fertility and the soul of Hapi-Nil and Ba Osiris as the god of reborn nature. It was believed that Apis fertilizes the Heavenly Cow and from him she gives birth to a golden calf - a solar disk. After Apis's death, his soul is reunited with the Ba of Osiris.
Apis and the cow that gave birth to him lived at the temple of Ptah in Memphis; there also existed an oracle, whose priests based their predictions on the behavior of the animal. The ritual run of Apis was believed to bring fertility and prosperity (compare: the ritual run of the pharaoh at the Heb-sed festival).
The dead Apis were embalmed, the mummies were placed in sarcophagi, which were then installed in the underground galleries of the Memphis necropolis on the west bank of the Nile. Various jewelry and amulets were placed in the sarcophagus.
After the burial of Apis, the priests proceeded to
etc.................
Sacred animals of Egypt.
T
radiation worship of sacred animals, which were often the totem of the tribe, has been going on since ancient times, when people had not yet come up with such complex explanations of the world order associated with deities and spirits. The connection with the animal world turned out to be so close that it never died and passed into a new quality. For example, many deities had their animal counterparts, which they supposedly could turn into, or which were their symbol. Continuing the theme of the previous issue, connected with Egyptian mythology, the story will focus on the sacred animals of Egypt.
Although initially all deities were represented in the guises of animals, and later most of the gods were depicted in zoomorphic guises (in whole or in part), the animals themselves were never identified with the gods and were not worshiped as deities, except for those cases when a strictly defined animal was considered "the embodiment of the soul "some god (for example, the black bull Mnevis).
The most widespread were the cults of the bull, the ibis, the falcon, the kite, the cat, the baboon, the crocodile, and the scarab beetle; cults of other animals were of a local character. It often happened that an animal that was considered sacred in one nome was not considered sacred in another: it could be killed there, and this often led to enmity between the inhabitants of different regions. Hunting for an ibis, a kite and a falcon was forbidden always and everywhere, for lions - only on the days of the feast of the goddess Bast. In some areas, crocodiles were killed if too many of them were bred and they began to pose a danger to people and livestock.
A dead sacred animal, if death occurred in the nome - the center of his cult, was embalmed, placed in a sarcophagus and buried, usually at a temple. Dead cats were buried in Bubastis, in a special sacred crypt, ibises were delivered to Hermopolis, bulls were buried in the place where they died, on the western bank of the Nile, dead cows were thrown into the Nile. Among the archaeological finds there are sarcophagi of beetles, ichneumons, snakes, and fish.
Sacred bulls and cows.
The cult of the bull is primarily due to the fact that this animal was used in agricultural work: bulls were plowed. Therefore, the bull was considered the personification of fertility, and naturally the worship of those gods of fertility, who were dominant in this area, merged with the cult of bulls. Cows were also revered as food givers; in addition, their cult was associated with the cults of Isis and Hathor and with the concept of the sky as the Heavenly Cow.
The most revered bull was Apis (Egyptian Hapi) - the soul of the Ka of the Memphis Ptah, the personification of fertility and the soul of Hapi-Nil and Ba Osiris as the god of reborn nature. It was believed that Apis fertilizes the Heavenly Cow and from him she gives birth to a golden calf - a solar disk. After Apis's death, his soul is reunited with the Ba of Osiris.
The veneration of the solar bull Mnevis (Egyptian Nemur) was widespread. Mnevis was considered the soul of Ka of Heliopolis Ra and the "living embodiment" of the sun god. The bull Bukhis, or Bakis (Egyptian Bha) was considered the soul of Montu in Hermont and was also associated with the cult of Osiris. Bukhis was black (although it was assumed that his coat color changes every hour, depending on the phase of the Sun's diurnal path) and was depicted with a solar disk between the horns. The white Bull Mina, the Bull Maat and the Bull of Heaven (the son and husband of Nut, the Heavenly Cow, fertilizing her) were also deified.
Sacred birds
The mythical sacred birds - Vienna and the Great Gogotun - were considered gods. Of the birds that actually existed, the most revered were the ibis, falcon and kite. Even for the unintentional killing of these birds, the death penalty was imposed.
The cult of the ibis, the sacred bird of Thoth, was widespread. Ibis personified wisdom, calmness and gracefulness, was revered as a serpent fighter.
The falcon was worshiped in Egypt since ancient times in connection with the idea of \u200b\u200bthe solar disk as the right eye of the god Horus, who was thought of as a falcon flying through space. Later, the falcon was associated with the "soul" of Ba, depicted as a falcon with a human head; was considered a sacred bird of Ra, Horus - the son of Isis, Montu; throughout the history of the Egyptian religion was considered the patron and protector of the pharaohs.
In addition, in Egypt, the veneration of the kite, a bird symbolizing the sky and dedicated to the goddesses Mut and Nehbet, was widespread; swallows (in connection with the myth of Isis, who in the guise of a swallow flew around the column with the corpse of Osiris; in addition, the floods of the Nile were associated with the arrival of the swallows), geese, which were considered the sacred birds of Amun, Amon-Ra and Heb and personified the Great Gogotun; very rarely - a heron, in the form of which Vienna was depicted.
Crocodiles, rams
Crocodiles were worshiped in many places, but their cult acquired special significance in Thebes and in Fayum - an oasis in the Libyan desert, where under the pharaohs of the XII dynasty a grandiose system of irrigation structures was created, a reservoir appeared and many crocodiles bred.
Crocodiles personified the god of the Nile waters of Sebek, they were credited with the ability to command the floods of the River, bringing fertile silt to the fields. Just as the bull Apis was selected according to special criteria, in Fayum, in the main cult center of crocodiles and Sebek - the city of Shedete (Greek Crocodilopolis), they were looking for a crocodile, a suitable day to become the embodiment of the soul of Ba Sebek.
Sheep were revered everywhere. Just like bulls, they personified the forces of fertility and were associated in the ideas of the Egyptians with the soul of Ba - since the words "Ba" and "ram" sounded the same: in Esna and Elephantine, rams were considered the embodiment of Ba Khnum, in Heracleopolis - Herishef, in Thebes - Amun (-Ra) (Amon's ram differed from the rest of the sacred rams by its crooked bent horns).
Cats, baboons, jackals, dogs, wolves
The cat, the sacred animal of the goddess Bast, was revered everywhere, but especially in Bubastis. Herodotus mentions the cult of cats, their cult was associated with the fact that they exterminate rodents - enemies of the harvest. In the era of the Old Kingdom, cats were associated with the serpent-fighting gods; there is a (poorly preserved) myth about a cat - the daughter of the Sun and its Eye (therefore, the Eye of Wadget was often depicted on the chest of statuettes of sacred cats). The dead cats were embalmed and buried in a special sanctuary at the temple of the goddess Bast in Bubastis.
Kinocephalus baboon was considered a sacred animal of Thoth. His cult was also associated with the solar cult (since at sunrise the mountain baboons emit joyful cries), with the worship of the moon and with the funeral cult (the baboon is mentioned as one of the guards of the Duat entrance). Sacred baboons lived at temples in open-air cages with date palms; trained baboons participated in religious mysteries.
Jackals were associated with the west, the desert and the god Anubis; the cult center of dogs and jackals was Kinopolsky Nome. The veneration of wolves was associated with the cult of Upuaut.
Hippos, lions, pigs
The worship of the hippopotamus is associated with the cult of Taurt, depicted as a pregnant female of this animal, however, despite the popularity of Taurt, the cult of the hippopotamus was not particularly widespread: hippos were worshiped only in the Papremit district and in some other places. Sometimes hippos were considered sacred animals of Osiris. At the same time, along with crocodiles, they were associated with the forces of evil and Set, personified the enemies of Ra.
Lions symbolized the power of the lioness goddesses, most often Sokhmet, and the power of the pharaoh. Their cult was local in nature. The cult center is Leontopol (Greek).
A pig in Egypt was considered an unclean animal, was associated with Set, but at the same time, from ancient times, it was associated with the sky, and Nut was sometimes depicted in the form of a pig with star piglets on its belly.
Ichneumon, hedgehog, frog
Ikhnevmon (mongoose), an animal that is immune to snake venom, fighter of reptiles and g 
ryzunov, was revered primarily as a snake fighter; in one of the myths, Ra defeats Apophis in the form of ichneumon. Ichneumones are easy to tame and were often kept in homes for protection from snakes and rats. Ichneumon began to be considered a sacred animal from the period of the XXII dynasty, but its mentions in religious texts are found earlier. The Ichneumons were dedicated to the Sun, Ra and Wadget.
The hedgehog was revered as a snake fighter and was associated with Ra. The hedgehog cult was widespread. In the form of this animal, vessels for libation were often made.
The frog was revered because of its fertility (which symbolized fertility); she was credited with power over the floods of the River, on which the harvest depended. In addition, in Egypt there was a belief that the frog has the ability to spontaneously generate, so it was associated with the afterlife cult and resurrection after death. Sometimes the frog was painted under the Rook of Ra; she was considered a sacred animal of the goddess Heket. The cult centers of the frog are Harver and Abydos.
Insects, fish, snakes
The dung beetle, the scarab, was considered sacred. His cult was associated with the cult of Khepri. There was a belief (as with the frog) that scarabs have the ability to spontaneously generate. Images of a scarab served as amulets that protect from the forces of evil, from poisonous bites and help to resurrect after death.
Among insects, the poisonous centipede Sepa, the sacred insect of Atum, was also revered.
The cult of fish dates back to the Predynastic era. The sacred in Egypt were oxyrinchus and lepidot. Lepidot - a scaly (now extinct) fish - was considered the sacred animal of Mechit; was dedicated to the god Hapi. The cult center of Lepidotus is Tis (Greek Lepidotopolis) in the 8th Upper Egyptian Nome.
Herodotus writes about the burials of sacred snakes: according to him, the snakes were dedicated to Amon (-Ra) (whom the Hellenic historian identifies with Zeus) and were buried in the Karnak temple.
In some areas of modern Egypt, sacred animals are still revered. Only in different areas - different animals. One of the most popular cults is still the cult of the cat, the bull and the ibis.
Sergey Belyakov
P
stunning in its expressiveness image of the god Anubis in the guise of a black jackal was found in the passage to one of the chambers of the tomb of Tutankhamun, known as the "Secret Treasury", where it was placed with its front to the burial chamber, to the west. Anubis is reclining on a casket-reliquary, made in the form of a temple pylon, mounted on runners and equipped with four poles for carrying. The height of the statue is 118 cm, length 270 cm, width 52 cm. Age - 14th century. BC.
This delightful statue from the tomb of Tutankhamun once followed in the royal funeral procession, and then was placed in one of the most significant rooms of the tomb, where canopic canopies with the entrails of the king were located, the guardian and guardian of which, thus, was Anubis, the ruler of the countless number of "bau" divine forces and energies, a fortuneteller and one of the lords of magic. A magic brick with a miniature torch and several grains of charcoal was found in front of the statue; a protective formula was written on the brick: "I hold the sand so that it does not fall asleep in a secret peace. Anyone who wants to bypass me, I will stop the flame of the desert. I have set the desert on fire. I made you turn on the wrong road. I am here to protect Osiris."
The statue is made of wood, the surface of which was then covered with plaster and a thin layer of black resin. The inner surface of the deity's ears, the bandage around his neck and the collar-necklace are gilded. The eyes are inlaid with alabaster, gold and obsidian; claws are made of silver. Initially, the body of the statue was covered with a linen cloth with the date of the seventh year of Akhenaten's reign preserved on it, when the future Tutankhamun might have been born. Around the neck was tied a thinner and more refined cloth, something resembling a scarf, decorated with two rows of burial blue lotuses and cornflowers, woven in the middle of the strip, and tied at the back of Anubis' head with a bow.
Anubis rests on the removable lid of a gilded wooden chest. Crowned with a characteristic Egyptian cornice, the box, imitating in its form the gates of the underworld, is covered with images of the symbols of Osiris "Jed" and the symbols of his wife Isis "tet"; in combination, these hieroglyphic signs carried the meaning of "seshet" sacrament. Inside the casket were found earthenware amulets: four images of a cow's leg "ear" with the meaning of the verb "repeat", two images of a mummy, an image of a falcon-headed Choir or Ra, two figurines of Thoth in the guise of an ibis, a "ouj" stem of a papyrus reed, symbolizing eternal youth , the wax "flood bird" Bach, several pieces of resin, as well as eight necklaces and two alabaster vessels: one of them contained a resinous substance, a mixture of resin and sacred natron, while the other served as a lid. These items, originally located in dedicated compartments, were unfortunately intermixed by ancient robbers. All these amulets, undoubtedly, were associated with rituals designed to bring "uchem mesut" revival to the soul of the king.
In the inscriptions that cover the chest, Anubis is praised in two of his incarnations as Imiut, the son of Osiris, who gave his deceased father his skin necessary for his revival, and as Hentisekhnecher, the head of the divine canopy located at the entrance to the tomb, under which the ceremony of "Opening the mouth was performed. and eyes ", giving the deceased the opportunity to see, feel, taste the offerings and move around, over and over again conquering death!
Since ancient times, in many cultures and religions there are different animals that are considered sacred. And animal worship is a religious ritual where animals are deities. These animals are believed to represent deities and have divine properties. Zoolatria (animal worship) is a very important part of the religion of ancient Egypt and India. This religion is based on the fact that animals have qualities that humans do not possess at all or to a lesser extent. AT different parts world, animals are worshiped for various reasons. Here are ten of the most sacred animals in the entire world:
10. Pig
In ancient Egypt, pigs were considered sacred and were often sacrificed in the name of God. The Greeks also practiced the ritual of sacrificing pigs for their goddess Demeter. The goddess represented harvest, fertility, purity and youth, and the preservation of marriages. In China, the pig is considered one of the twelve auspicious animals. The Celts also worshiped the god of "pigs" under the name Moccus, after the ceremonial prayer, the ritual preparation of pork took place.
9. Snake
The snake is still worshiped in Karnataka, India. Snake worship is present in several older cultures and traditions. Especially in Hindu culture: God Shiva wears spectacled snakes around his neck as a decoration. Cobra is the most sacred of all snakes in India. There is a special snake festival called Nagapanchi, where everyone worships snakes and their deities.
8. Tiger
According to Chinese myths, tigers are in the list of 12 zodiac animals. Chinese painting and martial arts consider the tiger to be a symbol of the earth. For East Asian culture, the tiger is a symbol of fearlessness and anger. There is a suburb of Kunming in China, which is the main place for worshiping the tiger. Here, tiger worship is a tourist attraction. In Hinduism, the tiger is associated with the Hindu god Shiva and Durga. Nepal celebrates the festival of the tiger called Bag Jatra. In many parts of Vietnam, almost every village has a tiger temple, and it is common to see a picture of a tiger at the entrance to temples and palaces. It is believed that they protect these places from evil spirits.
7. Buffaloes and Cows
In Hinduism, cattle are considered saints, even the ancient Egyptian and Greek cultures also consider them auspicious. In southern India, the Toda ritual is performed, when in the year of the bull a calf is sacrificed and then eaten by adult men. In Egypt, bulls celebrate their birthday every year and are mummified after death and buried in the grave. Similar rituals are observed in the Nile. In India, cows are the most respected of all other animals. A cow is a symbol of prosperity, and drinking cow urine brings good luck and prosperity.
6. Elephant
In Thailand, people believe that the white elephant contains soul of the dead human. In India, God Ganesha has the head of an elephant. During a festival called Alunam, unmarried women devote their dances and songs to the elephant. In some cultures, elephant figurines are used to represent importance. The culture of North Borneo sees elephants as a symbol of honor. The elephant has a special place in Hindu culture and traditions. There are temples in southern India that specially prepare elephants to be worshiped later. This is an amazing sight for tourists.
5. Monkey
According to the Chinese zodiac calendar, the monkey is in ninth place in the cycle of auspicious animals, which consists of 12 animals. Buddhist religion believes that the monkey is the embodiment of the Buddha. But some also think they are dishonest and ugly. The Chinese Buddhist religion uses the metaphor "monkey mind", which means the disturbed, impatient state of the human mind. In some cultures, monkeys are also seen as meaningless creatures to symbolize greed.
4. Wolf
The wolf occupies significant positions in the fundamental mythologies of Eurasia and North America. In many cultures, wolves are associated with warriors, warlords and chiefs of the tribe. Shamans of the Turkic people consider themselves the descendants of wolves. But, for many peoples of the world, the wolf is a symbol of anger, aggressiveness and bloodthirstiness, and for the Chinese it is also a symbol of debauchery. Often vile and cunning people hide under the skin of wolves.
3. Dog
In Nepal and parts of India, dogs have a religious meaning. Dogs are worshiped during a five-day festival known as the Toyhar Festival. In Hinduism, the dog is the messenger of the god of death. They are also believed to be the guardians of Heaven's doors. In Nepal, the 14th day in November is celebrated as Kukurtoyhar, which means dog day. On this day, dogs are worshiped, decorated with garlands.
2. Goat
In many cultures, the goat, like the cow, symbolizes fertility and maternal care. The image of the goat Amalfea, who fed the baby Zeus with her milk, is associated not only with maternal care, but also with abundance, since it is her wonderful horn, according to one of the versions of the myth, that is the legendary Horn of Plenty. According to the Chinese zodiac system, people born under the sign of the goat are considered shy, often lonely, creative, and also introverted.
1. Horse
Horse worship is mainly practiced by Turkish and Indo-European people. They also believe that Poseidon, the god of water, previously appeared in the form of a horse. The horse and the mule are also sacred to the Roman people. In Hinduism and Buddhism, horses were led by a god named Hayagriva. Gods and heroes move on a horse. Throughout the centuries, horses were highly valued, especially war horses, loyal comrades of warriors and powerful leaders. The merits of the loyal animals did not remain without a reward: Alexander the Great founded the city of Bukefalia in honor of his favorite who fell in battle.
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