Deities
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Baba
Baba is a mythical figure from Slavic myth. The name Baba generally translates to “old woman” or “grandmother.” She was sometimes revered as a goddess of death and regeneration, with Baba sometimes relating to the concept of the mother goddess. Over time she was viewed more as a witch, and her status as a deity was removed likely due to Christianization. As her witch-like features were emphasized, she became a more monstrous figure. She gradually went from a general Fae-like being to those synonymous with hags. Sometimes she would be used as a bogeyman figure. She was depicted either as a beautiful maiden or an ugly hag. The hag aspect…
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Antu
Antu is a deity from Mapuche and Araucanian mythology representing the sun, light, wisdom, and spirits. He is seen as the principle Pillan spirit and the total opposite of darkness and the physical world. He has a son who became a monstrous snake called Trentren Vilu, and is married to Kuyén who represents the moon. Eclipses have been called Lay-Antu and Lay Cujen, meaning death of the sun and death of the moon respectively. He is seen as the enemy to Peripillán, and it’s thought he rested in the mountain of Piri Pillén. Citations: Cruz, Eduardo Agustin. The Grand Araucanian Wars (1541–1883) in the Kingdom of Chile. United Kingdom, Xlibris…
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Akkorokamui/Atkor Kamuy
Akkorokamui is from Japanese mythology. This creature’s name translates to “string holding kamui,” with string holding referring to its tentacles. It resembles a red octopus measuring 10,000 square meters in size. It was thought to be capable of swallowing ships and even whales in one bite. It was revered as the god of Uchiura Bay and sailors were warned to avoid the water when the sky and sea were red. If you had to be on the water during these times, you had to carry a scythe to protect yourself by cutting the tentacles with it. The origin of this creature is that it was once a giant spider called…
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Ai Apaec
Ai Apaec is a Peruvian deity from the North Coast in Mohican culture. He has massive fangs, a feline mouth, a jaguar-like headdress, and serpent earrings. He was called “The Decapitator” and was depicted on the pyramid of the moon. The spider-like tentacles in his depictions supposedly drained blood from victims. He was often depicted under the throne of the sky god and usually placed on a high mountain and he was thought to have a home on Cerro Blanco. He was seen as a founding deity and possibly the son of a mountain god. During times of drought or flood, he would oversee sacrifices and ask the gods to…
