Phil's photos with the keyword: Mythology

A fairy "hitch-hiker" riding a woodpecker....another sculpture in Aitken Wood near the village of barley in Pendle District, North-West England (see links below). Photographed with a Nikon D500 camera and processed with Nikon Capture NX2. btckstorage.blob.core.windows.net/site5828/Panel/Pendle_Sculpture_Trail_leaflet_2013_FINAL.pdf www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Attraction_Review-g3555319-d7134467-Reviews-Pendle_Sculpture_Trail-Barley_Lancashire_England.html

This mythical beast (whose name is "Grim") is, according to the myth, a friend of "The Boggart".....see my earlier photo. This is one of the sculptures in Aitken Wood near the town of Barley in Lancashire, North-West England. See link below. Photographed with a Nikon D500 camera. Processed with Nikon Capture NX2. www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Attraction_Review-g3555319-d7134467-Reviews-Pendle_Sculpture_Trail-Barley_Lancashire_England.html

In European folklore the unicorn is often depicted as a white horse-like or goat-like animal with a long horn and cloven hooves (sometimes a goat's beard). In the Middle Ages and Renaissance it was commonly described as an extremely wild woodland creature, a symbol of purity and grace which could be captured only by a virgin. In the encyclopedias its horn was said to have the power to render poisoned water potable and to heal sickness. In medieval and Renaissance times the tusk of the narwhal was sometimes sold as unicorn horn. The unicorn continues to hold a place in popular culture. It is often used as a symbol of fantasy or rarity. (Wikipedia). Camera: NIkon D500 Lens: AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 17-55mm f/2.8G IF-ED Software: Nikon Capture NX2 Photographed at the Pendle Sculpture Trail: www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Attraction_Review-g3555319-d7134467-Reviews-Pendle_Sculpture_Trail-Barley_Lancashire_England.html

The recorded folklore of Boggarts is remarkably varied as to their appearance and size. Many are described as relatively human-like in form, though usually uncouth, very ugly and often with bestial attributes. One such boggart was "a squat hairy man, strong as a six year old horse with arms almost as long as tacklepoles". Other accounts give a more completely beast-like form. The "Boggart of Longar Hede" from Yorkshire was said to be a fearsome creature the size of a calf, with long shaggy hair and eyes like saucers. It trailed a long chain after itself, which made a noise like the baying of hounds. The "Boggart of Hackensall Hall" in Lancashire had the appearance of a huge horse. At least one Lancashire boggart could take the form of various animals, or indeed more fearful creatures. (Wikipedia). Camera: Nikon D500 Software: Nikon Capture NX2 Photographed at the Pendle Sculpture Trail: www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Attraction_Review-g3555319-d7134467-Reviews-Pendle_Sculpture_Trail-Barley_Lancashire_England.html

In Norse mythology a valkyrie is one of a host of female figures who choose those who may die in battle and those who may live. Selecting half of those who die in battle, the valkyries bring their chosen to the afterlife hall of the slain, Valhalla, ruled over by the god Odin whilst the other half go to the goddess Freyja's afterlife field, Fólkvangr. Valkyries also appear as lovers of heroes and other mortals where they are sometimes described as the daughters of royalty, sometimes accompanied by ravens and sometimes connected to swans or horses. (Wikipedia). Camera Sony RX100. Processed with Nikon Capture NX2.

Photographed in Victoria Park near Nelson, North-West England. This carved wooden dragon is one of a series of sculptures along the children's "Witches Trail" which runs through the park. Photographed with a Sony RX100 camera and processed with Nikon Capture NX2.

A Gold & Silver-plated medallion depicting the legendary King Arthur of Camelot (see next photo for the reverse view and more details). Photographed with a Sony RX100 compact camera and processed with Nikon Capture NX2.

In Norse mythology Freyja (Old Norse "Lady") is a Goddess associated with love, sexuality, beauty, fertility, gold, war and death. Freyja is the owner of the fabled necklace Brísingamen. She rides a chariot pulled by two cats or, when not using her chariot, rides the boar Hildisvíni (which is also said to be Freyja's human lover Otta in disguise and is the reason why the God Loki consistently accuses her of being "wanton" by "riding her lover in public"). She possesses a cloak of falcon feathers and, by her husband Óðr, is the mother of two daughters, Hnoss and Gersemi. Along with her brother, father and mother, she is a member of the Vanir. Modern forms of the name include Freya, Freija, Frejya, Freyia, Frøya, Frøjya, Freia, and Freja. Freyja rules over her heavenly afterlife field Fólkvangr and there receives half of those that die in battle.........the other half go to the God Odin's hall, Valhalla. Freyja assists other deities by allowing them to use her feathered cloak, is invoked in matters of fertility and love and is frequently sought after by powerful Jötnar who wish to make her their wife. Freyja's husband, the God Óðr, is frequently absent. She cries tears of amber (or "red gold") for him and constantly searches for him under assumed names. Amber is plentiful in the Scandinavian / Baltic regions and is often referred to as "The Tears of The Goddess". Scholars have theorized about whether Freyja and the Scandinavian Goddess Frigg ultimately stem from a single Goddess common among the Germanic peoples and about her connection to the Valkyries, female battlefield choosers of the slain. Freyja's name appears in numerous place names in Scandinavia with a high concentration in Southern Sweden. Various plants in Scandinavia once bore her name (before they were, apparently, "converted" to Christianity) and rural Scandinavians continued to acknowledge Freyja into the 19th century and beyond. (Wikipedia....edited & shortened). Camera Sony RX100. Processed with Nikon Capture NX2. Cold-cast figurine from Nemesis Now ("Willow Hall" collection).

Morrígan (meaning "Phantom Queen" or "Great Queen") is usually regarded as a Celtic / Irish war Goddess and she has been compared with the Valkyrie / Walkuere of Germanic and Scandinavian origin. Her role often involves premonitions and predictions of a particular warrior's violent death, suggesting a link with the Banshee of later Irish folklore. In certain areas of Ireland this supernatural being is, in addition to the name Banshee, also called Badb (in some versions, Badb and Morrigan are sisters). Her role was not only as a symbol of imminent death but also to influence the outcome of wars and battles. She did this by appearing as a crow or raven flying over the battlefield and would inspire either fear or courage in the hearts of the warriors. She could be heard as a voice among the corpses on a battlefield and, according to some accounts, she would often join in the battle itself as a warrior and show her favouritism in a more direct manner. (Wikipedia...edited & shortened). Photographed with a Sony RX100 camera and processed with Nikon Capture NX2. Figurine of Morrigan by Pagan artist & sculptor Neil Sims from South Shields, U.K.

A Table-top photograph of one of the range of hand-painted statuettes from the "Tudor Mint" Lands / Sorceress collection, featuring "Woodland Sorceress" from "Land of the Dragons". Camera: Nikon D300s Lens: Nikkor AF-S VR 70-200MM F2.8 IF ED II Flash: Nikon SB-400 (bounced)

Isis was venerated first in Egypt. As per the Greek historian Herodotus writing in the fifth century BCE, Isis was the only goddess worshiped by all Egyptians alike and whose influence was so widespread by that point that she had become completely syncretic with the Greek goddess Demeter. It is after the conquest of Egypt by Alexander the Great and the Hellenization of the Egyptian culture initiated by Ptolemy I that she eventually became known as 'Queen of Heaven'. Lucius Apuleius confirmed this in his novel "The Golden Ass", in which his character prayed to the "Queen of Heaven". The passage says that the goddess herself responded to his prayer, in which she explicitly identified herself as both the Queen of Heaven and Isis. (Wikipedia).