Robert Jones's Blog, page 12

Mythological Beasts And Spirits: Wyvern

The Wyvern was a winged, bipedal dragon. Technically, it differs from the Drake, which was a smaller version of a winged, four-legged dragon, but various literary works have used the term, Drake, to represent dragons in general. I took poetic license and used both terms interchangeably because it afforded me more flexibility in forming rhymes. … Continue reading Mythological Beasts And Spirits: Wyvern →

Mythological Beasts And Spirits: Lindorm

The term, Lindorm, is both Danish and Swedish. Depending on its use, it can be synonymous with Lindworm, used in reference to any giant serpent, or used to represent a sea serpent. I’m sure there’s a plausible answer, but I wonder how cultures from cold, northern climates developed mythologies with huge, reptilian monsters. There is … Continue reading Mythological Beasts And Spirits: Lindorm →

Mythological Beasts And Spirits: Lindworm

This is perhaps the most grotesque of the creatures in this series. It is an awkward-looking reptile, a dragon with only two legs and no wings, but “bipedal, wingless dragon” sounds more erudite. Alternatively, one might view it as a two-legged serpent. It is another of the creatures used in heraldry. There are different ways … Continue reading Mythological Beasts And Spirits: Lindworm →

Mythological Beasts And Spirits: Freybug

Also called the Hellhound and a Warg, the Freybug is something of a demonic canine from medieval English folklore. Perhaps the most famous Hellhound is Cerberus from Greek mythology. This is the three-headed dog who stands as the keeper to the gates of Hell. Milton even included him in his epic poem, Paradise Lost, which … Continue reading Mythological Beasts And Spirits: Freybug →

Mythological Beasts And Spirits: Alphyn

  The Alphyn combines various characteristics of a lion, a dragon, an eagle and a wolf, so it is a type of chimera. It has a long, knotted tail. For my poem, The Staff in the Tree, I chose to interpret it as a lion with eagle’s feet, but historically only the forelimbs are those … Continue reading Mythological Beasts And Spirits: Alphyn →

Mythological Beasts And Spirits: Enfield

  The Enfield is a type of chimera which combines the features of a fox, an eagle, a lion, a greyhound, and a wolf. In heraldry, it stood for subtlety, cunning, fierceness, and fortitude. It appeared on coats of arms. Here is an interesting interpretation by famed fantasy artist, William O’ Connor: In the drawing … Continue reading Mythological Beasts And Spirits: Enfield →

Mythological Beasts And Spirits: Hippogriff

The Hippogriff had the front half of an eagle and the hind half of a horse. As the above imagery and verses imply, I have taken some liberties by giving this creature the head and wings of an eagle and the body of a horse. I did this because it was easier for me to draw … Continue reading Mythological Beasts And Spirits: Hippogriff →

Mythological Beasts And Spirits: Shedu

In ancient Mesopotamia (Assyria), the Shedu (alternate name Lamassu)  was a winged animal (usually a bull or a lion) with the head of a man. On a visit to London, I saw some of these relief sculptures at the British Museum, and they are impressive. In later European heraldry, the Shedu is a winged lion. … Continue reading Mythological Beasts And Spirits: Shedu →

Ancient To Modern: Borrowed Gods (7)

Zeus In the Greek pantheon he is the king of the gods, the god of the sky, the heavens, and thunder and lightning. When compared to the Norse pantheon, he might be considered a combination of some of the attributes of Odin and Thor.  His name in the Roman pantheon is Jupiter. In the painting … Continue reading Ancient To Modern: Borrowed Gods (7) →

Ancient To Modern: Borrowed Gods (6)

Poseidon In Greek mythology, he is the god of the sea. His name in Roman mythology is Neptune. Here are some representations in painting and sculpture from various centuries: He has been borrowed and modified for inclusion in the Marvel Universe where he interacts with Namor, the Submariner… … as well as the DC universe. … Continue reading Ancient To Modern: Borrowed Gods (6) →