Jack the Lizard Wonder World ANIMALS IN LEGEND

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Bumblebee and Flower Field
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All animals are connected with each other somehow. Although it is not always welcome relation, they interact with in nature anyway. Little Bumblebees come across various creatures in this story with many illustrations. Let’s find out circle of life in nature through the seasons of Bumblebees.

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The Giant Turtle in Genesis - Kurma -
Avatar of Vishnu


Kurma

Vishnu is the one of the Hindu deities and the top five gods as well as Shiva. The blue skin of Vishnu probably represents infinity of the blue sky and ocean. It is also said that Vishnu is the symbol of the power of sun. Vishnu usually holds chakra (the wheel shaped weapon, symbol of destruction and creation) and a mace (the symbol of wisdom) in his right hands, a conch(represents roots of existence) and lotus flower(sun) in his left hands.

Vishnu has 10 different forms on the earth known as Avataras. In the legend one Avatar is fish which saved mankind when the flood covers the world. Second Avatar is the giant turtle called Kurma which appeared in the Genesis story “Churning of the Ocean of Milk” in Hinduism. In the legend Kurma sustained the mount Mandara to help Gods and demons to stir the ocean to create the world.


 

Pelican Story

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Pelican

In Christian legend Pelican is the symbol of self-sacrifice and resurrection. When food shortage was so severe that mother pelican did not have any food to feed her young, mother gave her own blood to them in this legend.

There is another story of pelican in Egypt. One pelican gave birth and brought up babies very carefully. When young pelicans grew up strong, they struck their mother’s face. Then involuntary she struck back and killed them. As she felt remorse for her young’s death, she opened her flank and poured her blood over the bodies. Then the young revived from the dead.


 

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The Captain of Hell's prison    - Ox-head and Horse-face -


Ox-head and Horse-face

Ox-head and Horse-face appear in Chinese and Japanese mythology and novels. They are captain of Hell’s guardians and lead dead souls to Hell’s gate. Hell’s guardians are called “oni” which means demons or ogres in Japanese.

In some stories Ox-head and Horse-face are depicted as servants of Yama. Yama is the ruler of the underworld and judges whether a dead soul should go to Hell or Heaven.

The reason why they have ox head and horse face is unknown. Perhaps cattle and horses have been always important for humans as rides, company and food since the Paleolithic age.


 

Mighty Bird Garuda

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Garuda

Garuda is portrayed as an eagle or creature has the golden human body with eagle head and red wings. In some places Garuda is also depicted as the ride of Hindu God or Indian mythological God Vishnu.

Because Garuda eat snakes and dragons that people fear, Garuda is worshipped by many people in India and Southeast Asia. Moreover Garuda is so powerful that even Gods are afraid of his power and Vishnu asked Garuda to be his ride.

Garuda is also symbol of speed, bravery and intelligence.


 

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Scorpion Goddess    - Serket -


Serket

Serket is the Egyptian Goddess protects life and death. She is usually depicted as a woman with a scorpion on her head or as a scorpion. The name “Serket” means that the one who tightens the throat or causes the throat to breathe.

In Egypt poisonous animals such as scorpions or snakes is a serious threat to people. As Serket protects people from being bitten by snakes or stung by scorpions, she is considered a highly important Goddess. She even protects Gods such as Isis or Neith.


 

The messenger of the God    - Hen -

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Hen

Amaterasu is the goddess of the Sun in Japan. When one of the Japanese Gods called Susanoo who is the God of darkness and the sea was on the rampage, Amaterasu hid herself in the cave to escape from Susanoo. Then the darkness covers all over. The other gods in Japan tried to persuade Amaterasu to come out and came up one idea. That was to gather hens and have them sing for Amaterasu. Finally Amaterasu opened the gate of the cave to see what was going on.

Since then Hens have been reared at Shinto shrines in Japan. They are messenger of the Gods.


 

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Mouse Rider    - Ganesha -


Ganesha

Ganesha is the God that is worshipped widely in India and Pakistan. He brings success and removes obstacles and misfortune. He is also patron of education and wisdom. The big belly of Ganesha is the symbol of ability to accept all wishes. That is why people love Ganesha!

The ride of Ganesha is mouse. Mouse is the symbol of desire and selfishness. So riding on mouse means that Ganesha overcomes those.

The name Ganesha consists of two words, gana and isha. Gana means a group or multitude and Isha means lord or master in Sanskrit.

But in Tamil Ganesha means “ little child”.


 

Thoth the God with Ibis head

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Thoth

Thoth is the Egyptian God, who created writing and alphabets. Therefore he is considered as the patron of wisdom, magic and religion. He is also the inventor of calendar and science.

Furthermore Thoth is the scribe of Maat which is the moral law for both the Gods and humans. Since Maat sustains the principal of the Universe, Thoth can be represented as the author of the Universe.

The appearance of Thoth has several forms. One is the man with the head of an ibis. Another is entirely an ibis or a baboon.


 

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Odin’s raven


Odin

Odin is the supreme god of Norse mythology prevailing among Scandinavian people. Odin controls wisdom, war, death and magic. His weapon is the Gungnir which is the spear never misses its target.

Odin always looks over the world from his hall, Valaskjálf through his two ravens. One is called Huginn as the symbol of thought and another is called Muninn as the memory. They fly over around the globe during the day and turn the hall to inform their master of what they saw in the night.


 

The Eagle and Crabs in the Greek mythology

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Prometheus

The story is from that of Prometheus or Tityus.

Prometheus is punished for his theft. He stole the fire from Gods and gave it to human. Zeus, king of the Gods, got angry furiously and chained Prometheus to mount Caucasus. On the mountain Prometheus is tormented by the giant eagle which eats the liver of Prometheus day after day. The liver grows back during the night because Prometheus is immortal. Although the punishment seems to last forever, Prometheus is rescued by Heracles who shot the giant eagle.

The symbols of Zeus are bull, oak and eagle. The crabs might represent the arrival of Heracles.


This illustration is based on the drawing of Michelangelo Buonarroti (1475-1564).

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