Table 1. A near-universal theme of systems of mythological knowledge: 'hero fights monster'
Wim van Binsbergen
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From an African bestiary to universal
science? Table 1. A near-universal theme of systems of mythological knowledge: 'hero fights monster' Wim van Binsbergen |
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selected
protagonists |
selected
enemies |
selected
passive heroines |
African
interior |
Perseus |
Ketos |
Aso,
Andromeda |
Egypt |
Ammon,
Athena / Neith, Geb, Horus, Isis,
Min, Osiris, Ra, (Set), Thoth, Uto |
Apep,
Bata, Busiris, the Sea, Set, (Thoth) |
Anat,
Asherat, (Isis), Nut |
Canaan,
Israel, Ugarit, Syria |
Anat,
Aqhat, Baal, Beltis, El (Il), (Judith), Kadmos,
Melqart, Paghat, Perseus, Phoenician heaven god,
Yahweh |
Holofernes,
Humbaba, Judith, Ketos, Leviathan, Mot, Orontes,
Phoenician hawk dragon, Satan, Tannin, Yam, Yatpan |
Andromeda,
Asherat, Kassiepeia, Omphale, Phoenician earth goddess |
Anatolia,
Cilicia, Hittites, Cyprus |
Baal
Tarz, Hittite Weather God, Hupasias, Inaras, Kumarbi,
Marsyas, Perseus, Sandon, Teshub, Telipinu |
dragon,
Illuyankas, Medusa, Okeanos, Syleus, Typhon,
Ullikummi, Upelluri |
Aphrodite,
Semiramis |
Meso-potamia |
Anu,
Ea, (Enkidu), Enlil, Gilgamesh, (Inanna) / (Ishtar), Lugalbanda,
Marduk, Nergal, Ninurta, Shamash, Tammuz |
Apsu,
Asag, Bilulu, (Enkidu), Erishkigal, (Gilgamesh),
Girgire, Humbaba, Imdugud, Inanna / Ishtar, Kingu,
Labbu, Seven Demons, Tiamat, Zu |
|
India,
South East Asia, Persia |
Fredun
= Thraetaona, Indra, (Kaikeyi) |
Azi
Dahaka, Danu, Garuda, Manthara, Nahusha,
Namuci, Ravana, Sinhika, Viparupa, Vritra |
(Kaikeyi) |
China |
Chu
Yang, Li Ping, No Cha, Shen Yi, Yi, Ying Lung, Yu |
Ch’ih
Yu, Chu Wang, dragon, Fung Po, Ho Po |
Hsi
Wang Mu |
Japan |
Agatamori,
Amewakahiko, Izanagi, Raiko, (Susanowo), Takemikazuchi |
Susanowo |
Amaterasu,
Izanami |
North
Africa and Southern Europe |
Athena
/ Neith, Herakles, Melqart, Perseus |
Antaios,
Atlas, Cacus, Evander / Faunus, Geryon, Ophion |
|
Greece |
Apollo,
Artemis, Athena, Dionysos, Erechtheus,
Eros, (Hekate), Herakles, (Hermes), Io,
Kadmos, Kronos, Pan, (Poseidon), Uranos, Zeus [Keraunios][1] |
Acheloos,
Aigis, (Apollo), Ares, Delphyne, Despoina,
Diomedes, (Dionysos), Drakon, Echidna, Gigantes,
Glaukos, Hades, Hekate, Hera, (Herakles),
(Hermes), Hydra, Kampe, Kepheus, Keto, Ker,
(Kronos), Kyknos, Lamia, Laogoras, Laomedon,
Linos, Neleus, Ocean = Okeanos, Ogygos, Pallas,
(Perseus), Phlegyas, Phorbas, Poine, Poseidon, Python,
the Sea, Sphinx, Styx, Sybaris, Tartaros, Telphusa,
Thanatos, Thetys, Titans, Tityos, (Uranos), Zeus
[Chthonios], Zeus’s hawk[2] |
(Artemis),
Deianeira, Demeter, Ge, Io, Kelto, Leto, Moirai,
Persephone, Rhea, Xenodike |
pre-Christian
Northern Europe |
Bearson,
Beowulf, Hagen, Odin, Ogier the Dane, Parzival, Sigurd /
Siegfried, Sigmund, Thor |
dragon,
Fafnir, Firedrake, Grendel, Grendel’s Mother, Hel,
Holda, Lorelei, Midgard Snake, Regin-Mimir, Valkyrie,
Venus, Ymir |
Audumla,
Brynhild, Krimhild, Lohengrin |
Christian
Europe |
St
Evenmar, St George, St Michael |
Satan,
St George’s dragon, the Woman of Rev. 12 & 17 |
|
Americas |
Coyote,
Gucumatz, Hunahpu, Xbalanque, Tahoe |
Nashlah,
Xibalba, Vucub-Caquix, Wishpoosh |
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Table 1. A near-universal theme of systems of mythological knowledge: 'hero fights monster'
Table compiled on
the basis of scattered information contained in: Fontenrose, J.,
1980, Python: A study of Delphic myth and its origins, Berkeley
etc.: University of California Press, reprint of the 1959 edition
[1] To which could be added, e.g., Agenor, Argos,
Eurybatos, Euthymos, Koroibos, Lykos, Pyrrhichos, Silenos.
[2] To which could be added, e.g., Admetos, Akrisios,
Aktaion, Amykos, Amyntor, Asklepios, Autolykos, Dryopes, Erginos,
Eurynomos, Eurypylos, Eurytion, Eurytos, Euphemos, Geras, Heros
of Temesa, Koronos, Ladon, Laistrygones, Lakinios, Lityerses,
Lykoros, [Peri-]Klymenos, Phineus, Phorkys, Polydektes, Satyros,
Theiodamas, Tiphys, Titias.
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