Sylvia Rose
Žaltys: Sacred Snake & Serpent Queen
In Baltic mythology, the grass snake žaltys (Natrix natrix) is a sacred animal. It's invited into the home and kept as a pet and house...
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Sylvia Rose
May 115 min read
European Grass Snake: Nature & Lore
Snakes have mystic associations since the beginning of human thought. The European Grass Snake (Natrix natrix) is a small, harmless...
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Sylvia Rose
May 63 min read
Are Cormorants Stymphalian Birds?
In Greek myth, the Stymphalian birds appear in tales of Heracles and in the Argonautica, the adventures of Jason and the Argonauts. The...
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Sylvia Rose
May 35 min read
Oder River: Nature & Early People
The Oder (Odra) River originates in Czechia and flows through several countries before reaching the Baltic Sea. Part of the Amber Roads,...
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Sylvia Rose
May 15 min read
Corycian Caves, Bee Nymphs & Greek Gods
The Corycian Cave system is a Neolithic ritual site and sanctuary on Mount Parnassus used from c. 4000 BCE. To ancient Greeks it's home...
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Sylvia Rose
Apr 298 min read
Honey Bees (Apidae): Nature & Myth
Honey bees create honey, beeswax and folklore. First domestication of the honeybee is c. 7800 BCE, in the Neolithic Age. At this time the...
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Sylvia Rose
Apr 246 min read
Heimchen - House Crickets of Folklore
Heimchen are house crickets (Acheta domesticus) in German folklore, said to bring luck or foretell disaster. Dwarfs might take the form...
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Sylvia Rose
Apr 238 min read
Great Bear - Nature, Spirituality & Lore
Bears in nature, spirituality and myth or lore have astral qualities as well as strong earth connections. An apex predator and fierce...
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Sylvia Rose
Apr 226 min read
Syrian Brown Bear - Bronze Age Wild
The Syrian brown bear (Ursus arctos syriacus) is a subspecies of Eurasian brown bear. Native to the Middle East, Caucasus Mountains and...
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Sylvia Rose
Apr 174 min read
Great Cormorant: Wild Birds & Mythic Beasts
The great cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo) has a scattered range throughout the world. Largest of the cormorants, the bird is hunted...
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Sylvia Rose
Apr 144 min read
Tanning Hides - Ancient Techniques
Tanning hides is practiced in the ancient world since c. 7000 BCE, in the Indus Valley site of Mehgarh. By 2500 BCE, Sumerians of...
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Sylvia Rose
Apr 126 min read
Stymphalian Birds & Greek Heroics
The Stymphalian birds are vicious flesh-eating birds in Greek mythology. They're believed to originate from the swamps of Stymphalia in...
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Sylvia Rose
Mar 236 min read
Elp: Bronze Age Militant Cattle Culture
The Elp culture spreads through the Netherlands, Northern Germania and just south of the Baltic coast. Bronze and Iron Age cattle people,...
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Sylvia Rose
Dec 29, 20233 min read
Scorpion Men of Babylonia
Scorpion men (Akkadian: girtablullû, aqrabuamelu) make an appearance in various Akkadian language myths. They include the Enûma Elish...
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Sylvia Rose
Dec 21, 20235 min read
Dromedary Camel: Animals of Ancient Arabia
Early people of the Arabian peninsula came through the Levant region c. 8000. Hunter gatherer nomads, they vie for territory with wolves,...
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Sylvia Rose
Dec 20, 20234 min read
Giant Cinnamon Birds of Arabia
Cinnamon birds appear in folklore of Eurasia shortly after Arab merchants begin trading with ancient lands to the north. Cinnamon enjoys...
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Sylvia Rose
Dec 3, 20234 min read
Apep - Chaos Snake God of Egypt
Primal Snake God Apep (Apepi, Aapep, Apopis) is the personification of chaos. He provokes destruction, confusion, darkness,...
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Sylvia Rose
Nov 30, 20235 min read
Owl - Death, Memory, Mystic Wisdom
Owls are sacred to Athena, Greek goddess of war and wisdom. The Owl is a symbol of Inanna (Ishtar), Queen of Heavens, and Ereshkigal,...
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Sylvia Rose
Nov 28, 20232 min read
Ornithomancy - Prophecy by the Birds
Ornithomancy or augury is first recorded during the Hittite Empire (c. 1450 - 1180). From ancient Greek "take omens from the flight and...
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Sylvia Rose
Nov 25, 20234 min read
Wadjet - Winged Snake Goddess of Egypt
Another Goddess duo in ancient mythology is Wadjet and Nekhbet. A hybrid animal goddess, Wadjet is usually depicted as a cobra snake with...
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