Aani is the Cynocephalus Baboon, a sacred animal in ancient Egyptian religion closely associated with the god Thoth. It is depicted as a dog-headed ape, embodying both canine and primate features in its iconography. The creature symbolizes wisdom and writing, playing a significant role in hieroglyphic representations and religious rituals.

Aani

Aba is a Thracian naiad nymph from Greek mythology associated with the town of Ergisce in Ciconia. She is noted as the mother of Ergiscus by Poseidon and is presumed to be the daughter of the river Hébros. Her myth underscores the divine connection between freshwater deities and the land.

Aba (mythology)

Abarbarea is a naiad nymph from Greek mythology renowned as one of the three ancestral figures of the Tyrians. Associated with pure, unmuddy waters, she embodies the serene and divine qualities of nature. Not to be confused with a later figure of the same name, her myth highlights themes of purity, fertility, and divine intervention.

Abarbarea (ancestor of the Tyrians)

Abarimon are a mythological tribe of reversed-footed people renowned for their extreme running speed. First described by Pliny the Elder, they were believed to be native to India and inhabit isolated mountain valleys. Their unique physiology and restricted habitat have made them a subject of enduring fascination in ancient and medieval lore.

Abarimon

Abatur, also known as the Ancient of Days, is a significant Uthra in the Mandaean religion responsible for weighing the souls of the dead. He exists in two distinct personae – the lofty celestial Abatur Rama and his lower counterpart of the Scales – embodying both divine radiance and judicial authority. Revered as the father of the Uthras and associated with Polaris, he plays a central role in maintaining cosmic balance.

Abatur

Abezethibou is a fallen angel and demon featured in the Testament of Solomon who serves as a strategist in Hell. He is marked by his single red wing, a remnant of his treachery during the War in Heaven. His influence extends to Earth, notably in Egypt, before his downfall in the Red Sea, with a promise of return for future chaos.

Abezethibou

Abu is a Mesopotamian god associated with vegetation and snakes. His character remains poorly understood, contributing to his enigmatic presence in ancient lore. He was often paired with the deity gu2-la2, a figure later conflated with Gula.

Abu (god)

Abyzou is a female demon from Near Eastern and European folklore, infamous for causing miscarriages and infant mortality. Depicted with fish- or serpent-like attributes, she embodies ancient fears surrounding childbirth. Recognised in Coptic Egyptian and Byzantine traditions, her many names reflect a syncretic demonology spanning antiquity and the Early Middle Ages.

Abyzou

Achelois is a multifaceted figure in Greek mythology whose name means 'she who drives away pain'. She appears in various forms, including as a water nymph, a siren, and a daughter of Pierus among the Pierides. Through these divergent identities, she embodies both healing qualities and the perilous allure of the mystical waters.

Achelois

Achilles was the preeminent Greek warrior of the Trojan War, renowned for his near invulnerability and exceptional martial prowess, yet fated by a single vulnerability in his heel.

Achilles

The Achlis is an unusual, elk-like creature from Roman mythology noted for its oversized upper lip and jointless hind legs. It grazes backwards to avoid its lip obstructing its mouth. Its peculiarity makes it vulnerable, as it struggles to rise quickly from its resting position.

Achlis

Achlys is the ancient Greek personification of mist and sorrow, depicted on Heracles' shield. In Homer, she is the fog that blinds mortal eyes at the moment of death. Later, she appears as a witch in Nonnus's Dionysiaca, underscoring her enigmatic and mystical nature.

Achlys

Actaea, also known as Actaeä or Aktaia, is a Greek sea-nymph and one of the fifty Nereids associated with rocky shores. She is a daughter of Nereus, the Old Man of the Sea, and the Oceanid Doris. Her presence in mythology underscores the ancient Greeks' reverence for the coastal and marine environment.

Actaea (mythology)

Adathan and Yadathan are a pair of uthras in Mandaean cosmology who serve as guardians in the World of Light. They stand at the Gate of Life and protect the sacred first river, symbolising divine access to life. Frequently invoked in Mandaean prayers, they embody benevolence and spiritual guardianship.

Adathan and Yadathan

Admete is an Oceanid from Greek mythology, daughter of Oceanus and Tethys. Her name means 'the unbroken, unwedded or untamed', highlighting her free spirit. She is remembered as a companion of Persephone during her abduction by Hades in Sicily.

Admete (Oceanid)

Adnei haSadeh are legendary, human-like wild creatures mentioned in ancient Jewish texts. They are depicted as untamed, rugged humanoids with a wild, animalistic appearance. Their mysterious nature symbolizes the raw, unbridled forces of nature and the enigmatic aspects of humanity.

Adnei haSadeh

Adrammelech is an ancient Semitic god mentioned in the Hebrew Bible, recognised as the deity of Sepharvaim. He embodies divine kingship and transcendent power, as implied by his title 'Magnificent King'. His cult was centred around the twin cities on the banks of the Euphrates, highlighting his regional significance in ancient Mesopotamia.

Adrammelech

Adraste, also known as Adrasteia, is a divine Oceanid in Greek mythology noted for her nurturing role in caring for the infant Zeus and for her presence as a companion of Helen. Her lineage as a daughter of Oceanus and possible Tethys underscores her association with water and divine immortality. Through these dual narratives, she embodies both the ethereal qualities of a nature spirit and the benevolent traits of a nurturer.

Adraste

Adrasteia is an ancient Greek goddess originally revered as a Phrygian mountain deity and later as a Cretan nymph, famed for nurturing the infant Zeus. She is also known as the embodiment of divine retribution through her identification with Nemesis. Her myth reflects a dual role of gentle protection and the stern execution of cosmic justice.

Ancient World Mythological Creatures

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