

































































Study with the several resources on Docsity
Earn points by helping other students or get them with a premium plan
Prepare for your exams
Study with the several resources on Docsity
Earn points to download
Earn points by helping other students or get them with a premium plan
Community
Ask the community for help and clear up your study doubts
Discover the best universities in your country according to Docsity users
Free resources
Download our free guides on studying techniques, anxiety management strategies, and thesis advice from Docsity tutors
Various supernatural beings from different mythologies, including their powers, forms, and cultural significance. It covers deities, angels, dragons, fairies, and more.
Typology: Study notes
1 / 73
This page cannot be seen from the preview
Don't miss anything!
Websters Websters
super super
nautura nautura
nature. nature.
1: of or relating to God or a 1: of or relating to God or a
god, demigod, spirit or devil god, demigod, spirit or devil
. 2: a . 2: a
departing from what is usual or departing from what is usual or
normal, esp. to transcend the laws of nature. b: attributed to a normal, esp. to transcend the laws of nature. b: attributed to a
ghost, ghost,
spirit or devil. spirit or devil.
Wikipedia Wikipedia
: In the case of one who has strong scientific and atheist : In the case of one who has strong scientific and atheist
beliefs, beliefs,
the supernatural is anything unexplainable by natural the supernatural is anything unexplainable by natural
law or phenomena law or phenomena
In secular societies, In secular societies,
religious miracles are typically perceived as religious miracles are typically perceived as
supernatural claims, as well as spells and curses, divination, supernatural claims, as well as spells and curses, divination,
the afterlife and many others the afterlife and many others
Such beliefs have existed in many cultures throughout human Such beliefs have existed in many cultures throughout human
history. history.
Free Online Dictionary: Free Online Dictionary:
Supernatural beings believed to have powers to affect the courseSupernatural beings believed to have powers to affect the course
ofof
human eventshuman events
BeliefBelief
any cognitive content held as trueany cognitive content held as true
deity, divinity, god, immortaldeity, divinity, god, immortal
any supernatural being worshipped as any supernatural being worshipped as
controlling some part of the world or some aspect of life or who controlling some part of the world or some aspect of life or who
is theis the
personification of a force personification of a force
angelangel
spiritual being attendant upon monotheistic God or polytheisticspiritual being attendant upon monotheistic God or polytheistic
gods gods
Yahoo Answers: What are some supernatural beings? Yahoo Answers: What are some supernatural beings?
Best answers: dragons, fairies, mermaids, nymphs, harpies Best answers: dragons, fairies, mermaids, nymphs, harpies
half half
woman and half bird, shadow hunters, angels, pixies, dyads, woman and half bird, shadow hunters, angels, pixies, dyads,
gnomes, goblins, griffins gnomes, goblins, griffins
half eagle and half lion, Centaurs half eagle and half lion, Centaurs
half half
horse half human, leprechauns, zombies, vampires, sprites, horse half human, leprechauns, zombies, vampires, sprites,
unicorns, ghosts, werewolves, wizards, witches, ogres, oracles a unicorns, ghosts, werewolves, wizards, witches, ogres, oracles a
nd nd
trolls. trolls.
In all mythologies the principal actors in the drama of cosmic In all mythologies the principal actors in the drama of cosmic
creation begin as spirit beings so fundamental or so awe creation begin as spirit beings so fundamental or so awe
inspiring,inspiring,
or both, as to be describable only as generalities. or both, as to be describable only as generalities.
Native North Americans refer to the All Spirit or Great Mystery Native North Americans refer to the All Spirit or Great Mystery
(For(For
example, example,
Wakan Wakan
TankaTanka
, the great spirit of the Lakota Sioux). , the great spirit of the Lakota Sioux).
The Hindu creator divinity is Brahma, whose name means the The Hindu creator divinity is Brahma, whose name means the
Absolute. Absolute.
Amma, the original creator god of the African Dogon myth, is sai Amma, the original creator god of the African Dogon myth, is sai
d to d to
mean The One Who Holds. mean The One Who Holds.
God is a word of disputed etymology, but probably derives from a God is a word of disputed etymology, but probably derives from a
term meaning the Worshipped One. term meaning the Worshipped One.
Websters Websters
deus deus
god, Gk god, Gk
diosdios
heavenly. 1 heavenly. 1
aa
: the rank or essential : the rank or essential
nature of a god : DIVINITY b: nature of a god : DIVINITY b:
cap cap
: GOD 1: SUPREME BEING 2 : a : GOD 1: SUPREME BEING 2 : a
god or goddess (the god or goddess (the
deities deities
of ancient Greece) 3 : one exalted or of ancient Greece) 3 : one exalted or
revered as supremely good or powerful. revered as supremely good or powerful.
Wikipedia Wikipedia
: A deity is a postulated preternatural or : A deity is a postulated preternatural or
supernatural supernatural
immortal immortal
being who may be thought of as holy, divine or sacred being who may be thought of as holy, divine or sacred
held in high regard, and respected by believers, often religious held in high regard, and respected by believers, often religious
ly ly
referred to as a referred to as a
god. god.
Notable deities include Tsui Goab (African tribal), Mangar Notable deities include Tsui Goab (African tribal), Mangar
kunierkunier
kunja (Australian aboriginal), Shiva (Hindu), Yuanshi Tianzun (C kunja (Australian aboriginal), Shiva (Hindu), Yuanshi Tianzun (C
hina hina
Taoism), Ra (Egypt), Zeus (Greek), Anu (Sumerian), Ahura Mazda Taoism), Ra (Egypt), Zeus (Greek), Anu (Sumerian), Ahura Mazda
(old Iranian Zoroastrian), Vesta (Roman goddess of the hearth), (old Iranian Zoroastrian), Vesta (Roman goddess of the hearth),
Odin (Norse), Yahweh (Hebrew Biblical), Quetzalcoatl (Aztec), Ik Odin (Norse), Yahweh (Hebrew Biblical), Quetzalcoatl (Aztec), Ik
a a
Omkara (India Sikhism), Exu (African Yorba) and others. Omkara (India Sikhism), Exu (African Yorba) and others.
Wilipedia Wilipedia
: Some deities are thought to be invisible or inaccessible to : Some deities are thought to be invisible or inaccessible to
humans, dwelling mainly in humans, dwelling mainly in
otherworldly, remote or secluded and holy otherworldly, remote or secluded and holy
places, places,
such as heaven, hell, the sky, the under such as heaven, hell, the sky, the under
world, under the sea, in the world, under the sea, in the
high mountains or deep forests, or in a supernatural plane or ce high mountains or deep forests, or in a supernatural plane or ce
lestial lestial
sphere. sphere.
Deities are depicted in a variety of forms, but are also frequen Deities are depicted in a variety of forms, but are also frequen
tly expressed tly expressed
by having by having
human or animal form human or animal form
. .
They are They are
usually immortal usually immortal
, and are commonly assumed to have , and are commonly assumed to have
personalities and to possess consciousness, intellects, desires personalities and to possess consciousness, intellects, desires
and and
emotions similar to those of humans. emotions similar to those of humans.
Such natural phenomena as Such natural phenomena as
lightning, floods, storms, other “acts of lightning, floods, storms, other “acts of
God” and miracles are attributed to them God” and miracles are attributed to them
, and they may be thought to be , and they may be thought to be
authorities or controllers of various aspects of human life (suc authorities or controllers of various aspects of human life (suc
h as birth or h as birth or
the afterlife). the afterlife).
The boundary between the human and the divine in most cultures i The boundary between the human and the divine in most cultures i
s by no s by no
means absolute. Demigods are the offspring from a union of a hum means absolute. Demigods are the offspring from a union of a hum
an with a an with a
deity, and deity, and
most royal houses in antiquity claimed divine ancestors. most royal houses in antiquity claimed divine ancestors.
Beginning with Beginning with
Djedefra Djedefra
( (
th th
century BCE), the century BCE), the
Egyptian pharaohs Egyptian pharaohs
called called
themselves “Son of Ra” as well as “Bull (son) of his Mother,” am themselves “Son of Ra” as well as “Bull (son) of his Mother,” am
ong their ong their
many titles. (My note: many titles. (My note:
The shaman of Neolithic times has gained The shaman of Neolithic times has gained
status status
) )
Some human rulers, such as the pharaohs of the New Kingdom, the Some human rulers, such as the pharaohs of the New Kingdom, the
Japanese Tennos and some Roman Emperors have been Japanese Tennos and some Roman Emperors have been
worshiped by worshiped by
their subjects as deities while still alive. their subjects as deities while still alive.
The The
earliest ruler known to have claimed divinity earliest ruler known to have claimed divinity
is Naram is Naram
Suen of Suen of
Akkad ( Akkad (
nd nd
century BCE), perhaps based on his extending the Akkadiancentury BCE), perhaps based on his extending the Akkadian
Empire to its zenith. “Suen or Sin” refers to god). Empire to its zenith. “Suen or Sin” refers to god).