Sylvia Rose
Striped Hyena - Bronze Age Wild
The striped hyena (Hyaena hyaena) is widespread during Neolithic and Bronze Age times, with fossils going back three million years. The...
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Sylvia Rose
Jan 23 min read
Lahar: Flock & Sheep Pastoral Goddess
Lahar is a pastoral goddess of sheep, flocks and wool in ancient Mesopotamia. Throughout the year various deities are invoked to keep...
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Sylvia Rose
Jan 13 min read
Shumugan - God of Donkeys & Mules
Shumugan (Šumugan, Šamagan, Šumuqan, Šakkan) is an ancient Syrian and Mesopotamian god associated with animals. He's a patron of...
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Sylvia Rose
Dec 27, 20233 min read
Mountain Gazelle: Wild Ancient World
The little mountain gazelle (Gazella gazella) is also called the Palestinian or true gazelle. Both males and females have horns, which...
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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 13, 20233 min read
Sacred Scarab: Lucky Bug of Ancient Egypt
Elevated from the lowly position of dung worker, the scarab (Scarabaeinae) becomes a sign of prosperous work, fertility, life, luck,...
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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 20, 20234 min read
Minoan Genius (Genii) Helper Spirits
The Minoan Genius (pl. Genii) spirit appears as a hybrid animal merger of animals which can include lion, snake, hippopotamus, crocodile,...
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Sylvia Rose
Nov 9, 20233 min read
Rhytons - Animal Vessels of the Ancients
Especially popular in the near East of the Bronze Age, rhytons (Gr. rhyta) were common for ceremonial purposes, displays of wealth or...
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Sylvia Rose
Oct 31, 20234 min read
Ancient Wild Predators - Eurasian Lion
The Eurasian Lion or European Lion features in the art and tales of ancient Greece and Mesopotamia. The lion is a symbol of strength,...
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Sylvia Rose
Oct 14, 20235 min read
Ouroboros Glyph: Snake Eating its Tail
A mythical serpent or dragon, ouroboros appears in literature and illustration from ancient Greece. Tales of ouroboros spread east, and...
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Sylvia Rose
Oct 9, 20232 min read
Al-Mi'raj: Unicorn Hare of Arab Myth
One horned hare Al-Mi'raj or Almiraj appears in popular Arabic mythology. Most famously the unicorn hare is part of the mythological tale...
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Sylvia Rose
Oct 8, 20232 min read
Wolpertinger - German Myths & Folklore
Wolpertinger (Wolperdinger, Woiperdinger) lives in the dark alpine forests and rolling hills of Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg in southern...
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Sylvia Rose
Aug 23, 20235 min read
Animal Spirits - Goat, Hare, Falcon
Among the animal spirits in shamanic lore are the Goat, Hare and Falcon. Each brings unique talents, magic or insights we can use to...
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Sylvia Rose
Aug 4, 20236 min read
Animal Spirits - Horse, Otter, Goose
Ancient cultures attuned to spirits living in all things including trees, plants, rivers, breezes, rocks and animals. In mythology and...
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