Philippine Mythology – The Gods and

Goddesses
3.1.1 LUZON DEITIES
The Philippines is blessed with rich traditional
beliefs, customs, and tales. In our culture, myths
and folklore have been passed through
generations by word of mouth. And today, we still
believe that mythical creatures such as Aswang,
Diwata, Kapre, gods, and etc. exist. If you’re not Mayari – Goddess of the Moon
familiar with Philippine mythology then you’re Tala – Goddess of the Stars
actually missing a lot. Just like any myths,
Philippine mythology has a lot of interesting Hanan – Goddess of the Morning
stories and facts that will make you understand Aman Sinaya – Goddess of the Sea (Tagalog
our culture more. To start your myth journey, here region) The Tagalog goddess of the sea and
are the Gods and Goddesses from our very own protector of fishermen is a woman. Bathala and
Philippines mythology: Aman Sinaya have been fierce rivals for a long
The first one is the most powerful Bathala, or time, and every day, they would try to outshine
Bathalang Maykapal. Bathala reigns supreme in each other. Bathala used his lightning bolts and
the heavens, he is the leader of the gods in the thunder, and Aman Sinaya used her waves and
Tagalog myths. typhoons.

But there are counterparts in the other dialects, One day, Aman Sinaya decided to send her
and you might know him as Captan/Kaptan from tempests into the Sky to cause a commotion. In
the Visayan creation myth. order to stop her, Bathala threw giant boulders
that came from atop of the mountains. It then
created thousands of islands into the surface of
the Sea, which became the Philippine
archipelago.

The two brothers of Bathala are Ulilang

Kaluluwa (a snake living in the clouds) and
Galang Kaluluwa (the winged wanderer). None
of the three knew each other, and when Ulilang Idianale – Goddess of Labor and Good Deeds
met with Bathala, a violent duel happened. Known to be one of the assistants of Bathala.
Bathala won, and Ulilang was killed, giving Idianale married Dumangan, the god of good
Bathala control of the heavens. harvest, and later gave birth to Dumakulem and
Anitun Tabu.
Galang became the sky ruler and Bathala’s best
friend. But after the sky wanderer’s illness,
Galang died and Bathala ruled supreme.
Of course, mythology is incomplete without any
demigods. Bathala fell in love with a mortal
woman. But unfortunately, she died after giving
birth to her three beautiful daughters. Bathala
didn’t want anything bad to
happen to his girls so he brought all three of them
to the sky to live with him.
Dumangan - God of Good Harvest
Lakapati – Hermaphrodite Goddess of Fertility
Dumangan was the Tagalog sky-god of good and Agriculture
harvest, the husband of Idianale, and father to
Dumakulem and Anitun Tabu.In Zambales culture, One of the most intriguing deities of Philippine
Dumangan (or Dumagan) is the reason for the mythology, Ikapati (or Lakapati) was the Tagalog
rice to “yield better grains.” goddess of fertility.
Why intriguing? Well, some sources describe
Lakapati as
an androgynous, hermaphrodite, and even a
“transgender” god. Before planting in a new field,
the ancient Tagalogs usually offered sacrifices to
Lakapati. In a 17th century report by Franciscan
missionary Father Pedro de San Buenaventura, it
was said that a farmer paying homage to this
fertility goddess would hold up a child before
saying “Lakapati pakanin mo yaring alipin mo;
Anitun Tabu – Goddess of the Wind and huwag mong gutumin” (Lakapati, feed this thy
RainIn Zambales, this goddess was known as slave; let him not hunger).
Aniton Tauo, one of the lesser deities assisting
their chief god, Malayari. According to legend,
Aniton Tauo was once considered superior to
other Zambales deities. But when she became so
full of herself, Malayari reduced her rank as a
punishment. The Zambales people used to offer
her the best kind of pinipig or pounded young rice
grains during harvest season. Sacrifices that
made use of these ingredients are known as
mamiarag in their local dialect.

Dumakulem was the son of Idianale and

Dumangan, and the brother of the wind goddess
Anitun Tabu. He is described as a strong and
skillful hunter. This Tagalog sky-god later tied the
knot with another major deity, Anagolay, known as
the goddess of lost things. The marriage
Mapulon, God of Seasons (Tagalog) One of the produced two children: Apolaki, the sun god, and
lesser divinities assisting Bathala. He was the Dian Masalanta, the goddess of lovers.
husband of Ikapati/Lakapati, the fertility goddess,
and the father of Anagolay, the goddess of lost
things.
 aspect of the sun so she is a woman in other
myths like the Tagalog folktales. However,
according to one explanation, Libulan is a
hermaphrodite or just a crossdresser. During the
olden days of ancient Visayans, male babaylans
garbed in female fashion were regarded in high
esteem by the barangays.Libulan’s patronage is
observed by crossdressing babaylan men of the
community, although they do feminine things like
cook, sew, clean the house and carry palay and
Dian Masalanta – Goddess of Lovers, clean them.
Childbirth, and Peace
the goddess of love, childbirth, peace, and the
protector of lovers among the ancient Tagalogs.
Legend says that if you offer sacrifices to Dian
Masalanta, she will ensure successful
pregnancies.

Sitan – God of the Lower World

Sitan, is the god of the lower world, a leader of
the evil of the ancient hell. He encourages the
mortal to commit sin, with the help of his four
disciples: Manggagaway, Manisilat,
Mangkukulam, and Hukluban.

Apolaki – God of the Sun, Patron of Warriors

Apolaki appeared in several ancient myths. He
shares almost the same qualities with the
Kapampangan sun god of war and death, Aring
Sinukuan Early people of Pangasinan claimed
that Apolaki talked to them. Back when blackened
teeth were considered the standard of beauty,
some of these natives told a friar that a
disappointed Apolaki had scolded them for
welcoming “foreigners with white teeth.”
The 3 Anito (Tagalog and Pampanga Regions)
Lakambini – God of Purity
A male Diwata known for his incomparable
beauty. He was originally known as the god of
“kapurihan”(purity) and is also the god of food,
festivity, and anti-gluttony. Worshiped mainly by
men: they pray to Lakambini to let them find a
beautiful maiden to wed. Lakan Bakod –
Lord of Fences Lakan Bakod was the “lord of
Fences,” a protector of crops powerful enough to
Libulan – God of the Moon, Patron God of keep animals out of farmlands. He was invoked
Homosexuality and offered eels when fencing a plot of land.
Lakan Danum – Ruler of the Water Among the
Libulan in myths of Visayas is portrayed as a
ancient Kapampangans, Lakan Danum was
man, but some believe that the moon is a female
known as the water god depicted as a serpent- cultural myths and folklore. Hope you enjoyed
like mermaid (naga). Before the Spaniards their stories, it’s now your time to share it.
arrived, locals would often throw livestock to the
3.1.2 ANCIENT VISAYAN DEITIES
river as a peace offering for Lakandanum. Failure
to do so resulted in long periods of drought.

The ideas of how things began and the

explanations of natural phenomenon are diverse
among the inhabitants of the pre-hispanic
Philippines. They lived in many independent
groups, each having their own traditions In this
topic, we will now know the following Visayan
deities or the gods and goddesses of Visayas.
Visayas is the smallest and the centermost island
group in the Philippines and is divided into three
Aring Sinukuan – Sun God of War and Death regions: Western, Central, and Eastern. Like the
(Kapampangan Region) Olympian gods and goddesses of Greece,
Aring Sinukuan lives in Mount Arayat. According Visayas has its own set of gods and goddesses
to stories, he was the one who taught the ancient as well.
Kapampangan metallurgy, wood This article will recount the courts of the Bisayan
cutting/gathering, and rice cultivation. He had gods, based on F. Landa Jocano’s Outline of
three children, namely, Munag Sumalâ, the Philippine Mythology (1969) which he took from
golden serpent god who represents dawn, old Spanish accounts and ethnographic studies.
Lakandanup, the god of gluttony who represented To the ancient Bisaya people, there were three
the sun at noontime, and Gatpanapun, the noble divisions of the world: Kahilwayan, the sky,
god who only knew pleasure and represented the Kamariitan, the earth and Kasakitan, the
afternoon. underworld.

Apung Malyari – Goddess of the Moon, Ruler

of the Eight Rivers
Apung Malyari is a mortal enemy of Aring Kahilwayan
Sinukuan. In Kapampangan mythology, Apûng
Kaptan – Ruler of the sky (Principal deity)
Malyari is depicted as the moon goddess who
lives in Mt. Pinatubo and ruler of the eight rivers. Maklium-sa-twan – Lord of the Plains
She was considered as one of the two most
powerful deities.These gods and goddesses are Maklium-sa-bagidan – Lord of Fire
just a few of the many deities in Philippine Maklium-sa-tubig – Lord of the sea
mythology. And of course, the stories that you’ve
read here are just an introduction of who they Kasaray-sarayan-sa-silgan – Lord of the
really are. Their stories can be confusing but it will Streams Magdan-durunoon – Lord of Hidden
all make sense once you dig deeper into our Lakes Sarangan-sa-bagtiw – Lord of Storms
Suklang-malayon – Guardian of Happy Homes,
sister to Abyang
Abyang – Sister of Suklang-malayon
Alunsina – Goddess of the sky ferried the souls to the underworld Sumpoy would
greet them and take the souls to a realm of
Kasakitan called Kanitu-nituhan. There another
deity would take over the responsibilities over the
souls. Sisiburanen was the deity that took over
this responsibility. Whether the souls were good
or bad in life, Sisiburanen would treat them all
equally. Two huge kuruntangs (giants) Simuran
and Siguinarugan guard the gates of Kanitu-
nituhan.

Kamaritaan, the Earthworld, was ruled by the

death goddess Sidapa (it is important to note the
gender of Sidapa here as in other stories she is
depicted as male) and her husband, Makaptan,
god of sickness. Makaptan was considered by
most to be evil as he went out to frequently send
disease and ravage villages with sickness during
the lean months. It was explained that he did
such acts because he had not eaten anything
from the earthworld or drunk any pangasi (rice In the underworld of Kasakitan, those poor souls
wine).The deities of the earthworld were under whose living relatives did not offer sacrifices for
the court of Sidapa and Makaptan and was under redemption stayed in Kasakitan in virtual
the supervision of the deity Danapolay. Here are servitude to Sisiburanen. These unredeemed
the deities of the earth realm. souls would eventually be fed to Simuran and
Siguinarugan. In terms of human souls, the soul
Kamaritaan
would have to pass through the underworld of
Sidapa – Goddess of Death (Principal deity) Kasakitan before moving on to the Skyworld of
Makaptan – God of Sickness (Principal deity) Kahilwayan, provided that the

Danapolay – Supervisor of the Court of the two soul’s living relatives would offer sacrifices to
Earthworld Rulers Pandaque, the spokesman of Sidapa. When
Magyan ferried the souls to the underworld
Pandaque – spokesperson of Sidapa Sumpoy would greet them and take the souls to a
Tagusirangan Duwindihan Dalongdongan realm of Kasakitan called Kanitu-nituhan. There
Tagabiritlakan-ka-adlaw Suta Agta Tabuknun another deity would take over the responsibilities
over the souls. Sisiburanen was the deity that
took over this responsibility. Whether the souls
were good or bad in life, Sisiburanen would treat
them all equally. Two huge kuruntangs (giants)
Simuran and Siguinarugan guard the gates of
Kanitu-nituhan. The court of the underworl has
the following deities;
Kasakitan
Sumpoy – Ruler of the Underworld; brother of
Makaptan
Magyan – Ferryman leading the souls to the
The underworld of Kasakitan was ruled by the underworld; brother of Makaptan and Sumpoy
brother of Makaptan, Sumpoy. Their other brother Sisiburanen – Keeper of souls
Magyan was charged with carrying the souls of
the dead to the underworld. Magyan carried the Simuran and Siguinarungan – Gatekeepers of
souls in his boat called, balanday. When Magyan the Kasakitan realm
Kanitu-nituhan Saragnayan – Lord of Darkness
Abyang Durunuun – Goddess of Charms
Umagad Palinti – Messenger of the two brothers
of the underworld
Sumpay Pako-pako – Messenger of the two
brothers of the underworld
Pinganun-pinganun – guardians of enchanted
places
Unlike the Tagalogs, ancient Visayans didn’t have 1. Tungkung Langit and Alunsina.
a creator god like Bathala who appeared out of
nowhere and decided to create humanity. But The Sulod of Central Panay in Western Visayas
what they lacked in “creator god” they made up believed that the universe was divided into three
for in plenty of origin myths. These stories explain regions: Ibabawnun (upperworld), Pagtung-an
how death, class and race differences, (middleworld), and Idadalmunun (underworld).
concubinage, war, and theft were introduced to Ibabawnun was further divided into two–a place
the world. They worshiped and offered prayers to ruled and inhabited by the male diwata, and the
a variety of invisible beings. These could either be other by the female diwata. For the male section,
a diwata (i.e. gods and goddesses) or the spirits a deity named Tungkung Langit (literally means
of their ancestors called umalagad. It is believed “pillar of the skies”) was considered the supreme
that the word diwata was derived from the god or the highest-ranking deity. Alunsina,
Sanskrit devata which suggests Hindu influences meanwhile, was the most powerful female diwata
to our pre-Spanish culture. Our Visayan ancestors and the goddess of the eastern skies. Tungkung
also believed in the afterlife, although theirs had Langit, just like Bathala, was assisted by several
no heaven or hell as we understand them today. lesser divinities. Among them were Bangun-
The 17th century Augustinian priest Father bangun, the “deity of universal time who
Méntrida said that because these ancient regulated the cosmic movements”; Bahulangkug,
Visayans had no knowledge of hell, “they call the the “diwata who changed seasons”; Ribun-linti
Inferno, Solar (Sulad), and those who dwell in the (or Ribung-linti), the “god of lightning and
Inferno, solanun.”Most of these unfortunate souls thunderstorms”; Sumalongson, the “god of the
were poor Visayans who either died without river and seas”; Santonilyo, “deity of good
sufficient gold as pabaon or whose relatives graces”; and the most respected and feared of
couldn’t afford the required sacrifice to rescue them all, Munsad Burulakaw. Alunsina had her
them. Couples who were reunited in the afterlife own assistants: Muropuro, the “goddess of the
continued to do the same activities, although spring, rivers, and lakes”; Labing Daut, the
women could no longer conceive. The babies, on “goddess-in-charge of rain-clouds”; and Tibang-
the other hand, did not have an afterlife. Instead, Tibang, the goddess whose main responsibility
they were reincarnated for about nine times until was to maintain the balance in the world and
in their final rebirth they were “buried in a coffin make sure that day and night happened in
the size of a grain of rice.” The Visayan succession. Both Pagtung-an (middle world) and
underworld and the rest of the ancient domains the Idadalmunun (underworld) were also ruled by
were rife with interesting deities. As Pananyanhon deities. The underworld was under the jurisdiction
let us get acquainted with our very own. Let’s of its highest ranking deity, Panlinugon, who also
have a rundown of some of these colorful happened to be the god of earthquake. The
characters who made the world less confusing for couple Paiburong and Bulawanon led other
our ancestors. deities in keeping the middleworld in perfect
order. They were helped by their five children,
among them were Layang Sukla, goddess of
beauty; Surangaun, god of the sea; and Tugang
Tubig, god of rivers, streams, and lakes. An origin
myth from Panay suggests that Tungkung Langit
and Alunsina, the chief gods of the upperworld,
were actually married and settled down in
heaven. The story, which was part of the old
myths and legends compiled by anthropologist F. are also the most difficult to remember. Try it for
Landa Jocano in 1971, traced the origin of the yourself: Makliumsaiwan, the “lord of the plains
world and celestial bodies. After marrying and valleys”; Maklium-sa-bagidan, the “lord of
Alunsina, Tungkung Langit worked non-stop to fire”; Maklium- sa-tubig, the “lord of the sea”;
put an order in the confusing and still-shapeless Kasaray-sarayan-sa-silgan, the “lord of the
world. He was described as a “loving, hard- streams”; Magdan-durunuum, the “lord of the
working god,” while his wife a “lazy, jealous, and hidden lakes”; Sarangan-sa-bagtiw, the “lord of
selfish goddess.” One day, as Tungkung Langit storms”; and Suklang-Malayon, the “guardian of
left their home in the skyworld to perform his happy homes.” According to an ancient origin
duties, Alunsina ordered the breeze to follow and myth recorded by Miguel de Loarca from the
spy on her husband. When Tungkung Langit coastal people of Panay (possibly in Oton, Iloilo),
found out about it, a long argument ensued. The Kaptan married a goddess named Magwayen and
fight became so serious and hurtful that Alunsina together they ruled the skyworld. And just like
decided to leave her husband, never to be seen what happened to Tungkung Langit and Alunsina,
again. Several lonely months later, Tungkung the two had an argument, ending up with
Langit tried to find his wife everywhere, but to no Magwayen leaving her husband.
avail. In desperation, he took Alunsina‘s jewels
To cope with his sorrow, Kaptan went to his
and spread them in the sky, hoping that somehow
garden called kabilyawan and there he planted a
she would notice them and be compelled to
bamboo tube. As the plant grew by leaps and
return. Sadly, Alunsina never bothered to come
bounds, Kaptan thought of creating a man and a
back. It is believed among the old folks of Panay
woman who could take care of the bamboo.
that Alunsina‘s necklace became the stars, while
Before long, the bamboo split in half and from it
her comb and crown became what we know
came out the first man which Kaptan named Si
today as the moon and sun, respectively. They
Kalak (“the sturdy one”), and the first woman
also think that the rain is actually the tears of
whom she christened Si Kabay. The two became
Tungkung Langit falling from the sky. The
the ancestors of humanity.
thunders, on the other hand, could be the
supreme god desperately calling for his beloved Magwayen
wife.
Kaptan

In other ancient stories, Magwayen was

considered the goddess of the sea and death.
Gregorio Zaide’s Philippine History and
Civilization mentioned Maguayen as the “Visayan
Acheron who ferried the souls of the dead from
Other parts of the ancient Visayas believed the the land of the living to the other world.” You can
world was divided into three regions: Kahilwayan find the same information in William Henry Scott’s
or the skyworld; Kamariitan or the earth; and Baranggay. The ancient people of Panay knew
Kasakitan or the underworld. Kaptan was the Magwayen as the boatman who delivered the
supreme god of these early Visayans. He lived in soul to the afterlife. Upon its arrival, the soul could
Kahilwayan and always passed through the either be accepted or rejected depending on
Madyaas mountain in Panay every time he came whether he was decorated with sufficient gold
down to earth. jewelry. Those rejected would remain in Sulad or
the ancient counterpart of Inferno unless his
Kaptan also had several minor deities under his relatives offered enough sacrifices to save him.
supervision. The names of these lesser divinities
 do with the conspiracy at all. The grief-stricken
Kaptan, upon realizing he could no longer revive
the four deities, decided to just provide their
Another version of the Visayan origin myth remains with an everlasting light. Hence, Liadlaw
suggests that Kaptan and Magwayen were not a became the sun, Libulan became the moon, and
couple. Instead, they were both guys, with Kaptan Lisuga became what we know today as the stars.
ruling over the skyworld and Magwayen lording Likalibutan, Libulan, Libulan, Lisuga
over the water.
Lihangin and Lidagat

In the 1904 book, Philippine Folklore Stories by

John Maurice Miller, Kaptan is said to be the
father of Lihangin, the god of the wind, while
Magwayen sired the goddess of the sea, Lidagat.
With the permission of their fathers, Lidagat and
Lihangin got married and raised four kids: the
strong Licalibutan who had a body made of rock;
the always-happy Liadlaw (god of sun) who was
covered with gold; the shy and weak Libulan (god
of moon) who was made of copper; and the only
daughter, Lisuga (god of stars), whose silver body
always sparkled. For a time, the family seemed to
be happy and had no issues at all. However,
everything changed when Lihangin and Lidagat
died. Their eldest son, Licalibutan, became the
victim of his own greed. As for the evil Licalibutan, Kaptan didn’t bother to
give him light. He thought it was just fair to let him
One day, he planned a surprise attack against the
remain as it is–the land that would support the
skyworld to hopefully seize its control from the
human race. Soon, Magwayen planted a seed on
supreme god Kaptan, his grandfather. Joining him
the said land and it didn’t take long before a
were Liadlaw and Libulan who were too afraid of
bamboo tree started growing.At this point, the
him to even think of backing out. Together, they
story mirrors what happened in other Visayan
went to the skyworld and blew up the gates
origin myths: The tree split open and introduced
protecting the kingdom. When Kaptan learned
us to the parents of the human race–the first man,
about the attack, he was enraged. The skygod
Sicalac, and the first woman, Sicabay.
sent three lightning bolts to his grandsons, which
all melted instantly. Both Liadlaw and Libulan Varangao, Ynaguinid, and Macanduc
were reduced into a ball, while Licalibutan‘s rock-
hard body broke into pieces, fell into the sea, and
became what is known as land. Lisuga, unaware
of what was happening, also went to the skyworld
to visit his grandfather. Kaptan, too blinded by his
anger, struck the innocent Lisuga with lightning as
well, breaking her into thousand pieces. When he
and Magwayen finally met, things started to sink
in for Kaptan. He lost all his grandchildren,
including the beautiful Lisuga who had nothing to
 Bulalakaw

When a warrior died in a battle, the ancient

Visayans believed that they traveled up the
rainbow to the sky. Infact, in a Panay epic Labaw
Donggon, the rainbow is said to be the blood of
these fighters falling down to earth. These
warriors also turn into gods once they reached
The god Bulalakaw is the exact opposite. Unlike
the skyworld, the kingdom of Kaptan, and would
other healing deities, this supernatural being was
guide any relatives who could avenge their
said to be the giver of illnesses.There are
deaths. Among these warriors-turned-rainbows, a
variations as to the origin and nature of this god,
deity called Varangao was considered the most with some people of Panay worshiping him as
powerful. He became the god of the rain bow, and their “bathala” who lived at the summit of Mt.
the natives prayed to him before going to war or Madyaas. Others believed Bulalakaw was a
plundering expeditions. mythical bird with fiery feathers (another version
Aside from Varangao, two other names were says the fire is on its tail) who could magically
mentioned by Miguel de Loarca as deities whom cause illness to a person, and the only way to
the indios offered prayers to for success in the save his life was to appease the bird god with a
battlefield. They were Ynaguinid and Macanduc, ritual/offering.
the Visayan gods of war whose dwelling places Burigadang Pada Sinaklang Bulawan
remain unknown.
Dalikmata

While Kaptan and other major Visayan deities

ruled over bigger, more spectacular domains,
there were other diwatas invoked for specific
human conditions. One example is the deity
Makabusog (or Makabosog),
who, as his name suggests,
“moved men to gluttony.” Hinilawod is an epic chanted by the Sulod
people from the Panay island. It’s one of the
Another is the many-eyed
longest epics in the world, and has two parts: the
goddess Dalikmata, whom our
first one, containing 2,325 lines, is about the
ancestors offered their prayers
adventures of the demigod Labaw Donggon. The
and sacrifices to whenever
second cycle, meanwhile, focuses on Labaw
someone suffered an eye
Donggon‘s brother, Humadapnon, and has
illness. They believed that once
53,000 lines.
Dalikmata was pleased, the eye
ailment would soon disappear. Labaw Donggon was the son of the goddess from
the eastern skies, Alunsina, and her mortal
husband, Buyung Paubari. Since he was half-
god, Labaw Donggon was born with an
extraordinary strength (think Hercules) and grew
up quickly. He later fell in love and had multiple
marriages with two beautiful women–Anggoy Lalahon.
Ginbitinan, who lived at the mouth of the Halawod
River, and Anggoy Doronoon, who was from the
underworld. But not content with his two wives,
Labaw Donggon fell in love again, this time with
Nagmalitung Yawa, the wife of Saragnayan, the
deity responsible for directing the course of the
sun. Other sources described Saragnayan as the
“Keeper of Light,” while F. Landa Jocano, who
recorded the epic himself, called him the “lord of
the darkness.”
Saragnayan Contrary to popular belief, the ancient Visayan
deity Lalahon was NOT the goddess of
volcanoes. The name Lalahon (also called Laon,
Lalon, or Lauon) first appeared in Miguel de
Loarca’s Relacion de las Yslas Filipinas in 1582,
where she was described as the goddess invoked
by the natives for good harvest. It was said that
she lived in Malaspina volcano (present-day Mt.
Kanlaon) in Negros island. Now, this is where the
confusion began.When the original Spanish
passage by Loarca was translated for Blair and
Robertsons’ The Philippine Islands, 1493-1803
(Volume 5), the phrase “que hecha fuego” was
When Labaw Donggon asked for the hands of his mistranslated to “whence she hurls fire” instead of
wife, Saragnayan thought it was ridiculous to let “which hurls fire,” leading others to assume that it
go of his beloved without putting up a good fight. was the goddess Lalahon, not the volcano where
A battle ensued, culminating to Labaw Donggon she lived, who spews out fire. The truth, however,
submerging his opponent into the water for seven is that the natives worshiped her as the goddess
years. But the giant Saragnayan survived every of the good harvest. They believed that when
attack. Little did Labaw Donggon know, a wild displeased, Lalahon could send locusts to destroy
boar in a place called Paling Bukid holds the life their crops.
of Saragnayan, and the only way to kill him was
to find Sidapa and Makaptan

and kill the pig as well. In the end, Labaw

Donggon was defeated and imprisoned below
Saragnayan‘s kitchen. He was later rescued by
Asu Mangga and Buyung Baranugun, his sons
from the two previous marriages. The two used
the pamlang or charms given by their mothers to
defeat an army of diwatas and to kill the wild boar
which served as the lifeline of Saragnayan.
Everything went as planned, and Labaw Donggon
escaped.
As you may recall, the ancient Visayan world was
The first part of the epic ended with Labaw divided into three regions, the first one being
Donggon telling his brothers about Nagmalitung Kahilwayan (or skyworld) where the supreme god
Yawa‘s two beautiful sisters–Burigadang Pada Kaptan lived. The other two were Kamariitan
Sinaklang Bulawan, who was also the goddess of (earth) and Kasakitan (underworld). Two chief
greed, and Lubaylubyok Hanginon deities were identified as the leader of Kamariitan:
Mahuyukhuyukon. The brothersthen prepared for Sidapa, the goddess of death, and her husband,
another journey, this time to win the hearts of the Makaptan, the god of sickness. William Henry
beautiful maidens. Scott’s
Baranggay describes Makaptan as the “deity who worshiped the spirits in the pre-colonial era
killed the first man with a thunderbolt and visited combined both their old beliefs and those of the
disease and death on his descendants.” F. Landa foreigners they came in contact with. The colorful
Jocano, in his Outline of Philippine Mythology, and fascinating Mindanao mythology would have
added that the reason Makaptan brought probably died with our ancestors were it not for
diseases to the natives was that “he had not the few dedicated people who took the risk to
eaten anything of this food or drunk any pangasi study them. For the record, the first mention of
(rice wine).” It pissed him off so much that he the Bagobos was in a letter written by a
wanted the people to suffer as a consequence. As missionary named Fr. Matteo Gisbert, S.J.
with other high-ranking deities, Makaptan and his However, two authors at the dawn of the 20th
wife had several deities who worked under them. centurywent the extra mile and lived with the
These lesser divinities were supervised by a Bagobo tribe. They immersed in their culture and
powerful god called Danapolay. The underworld wrote all the data they collected in their books.I’m
(Kasakitan), meanwhile, was ruled by Makaptan‘s talking about Laura Estelle Watson Benedict, an
brother, Sumpoy. When someone died, the soul anthropologist, and Fay Cooper Cole, author of
would be transported to the infernal regions with “The Wild Tribes of Davao District,
the help of the boatman named Magyan (in other Mindanao.”Thanks to the hard work of these
sources, his name is Magwayen), also a brother researchers, we now have an idea of how our
of Makaptan. Once there, Sumpoy would take Mindanaoan ancestors made sense of everything.
over and bring the soul to Kanitu-nituhan where Take for instance the Bagobos: they didn’t
another deity called Sisiburanon was waiting. If understand “birth” and “death” as we do today.
the relatives failed to offer sacrifices to save the For them, there was no real death because
soul of the departed, Sisiburanon would order the there’s no country for the departed souls, nor did
soul to be fed to two ferocious giants of the they believe in “birth” as they assumed the god
underworld–Simuran and Siguinarugan. Note that made the additional creatures and left them so
during those times, all souls usually passed they could raise the babies on their own.The
through the underworld before they could enter Mindanao mythology is as colorful as the many
the skyworld. How quickly they would be tribes that lived in the island. They include the
transferred depended on whether their relatives Bagobo, Manobo, Bukidnon, Subanon, and
gave sacrifices to a deity named Pandaque (or Tiruray, among others. Let’s jump right in and
Pandaki), known as Sidapa‘s spokesman. explore the magical world of the ancient
Mindanao.
Pamulak Manobo.
3.1.3MINDANAO ANCIENT GODS AND
GODDESSES

Among the Bagobos of Mindanao, a supreme god

called Pamulak Manobo was considered the
creator of everything.In Laura Watson Benedict’s
“Bagobo Myths,” this diwata (a general term for
If you think the Tagalog and Visayan mythology deities) was also believed to be the creator of the
are mind-blowing enough, wait until you see what first man and woman–Tuglay and Tuglibon.
Mindanao has to offer. Religion and culture in the Another version suggests that the first humans
south are unique because of the Muslim and were shaped out of corn meals and given life by
Hindu-Javanese influences that shaped them. As Tuglay and Tuglibon, not by Pamulak Manobo.
a result, the way our Mindanaoan ancestors Going back to Benedict’s version of the story,
Pamulak Manobo also created an eel (kasili) and move up higher. The latter did as he was told,
a crab (kayumang). These two creatures are which explains why the sky is where it is now.
always together, and every time the crab bites the
As for the origins of their names, the second
eel, an earthquake occurs. Pamulak Manobo was
syllable in Tuglay (i.e., “lay” or “lai”) means “man”
believed to be in control of other natural
in Malay, while the “libon” in Tuglibon means
occurrences. When it rained, for example, the
“virgin.”
Bagobos believed it was the great god spitting or
throwing water from the heaven. The white Mebuyan and Lumabat.
clouds, on the other hand, were actually the
smoke from the fire produced by the other gods.
Tuglay and Tuglibon.

According to one Bagobo and Manobo myth,

there once lived two deities named Lumabat (god
of the sky) and Mebuyan (goddess of the
underworld). Both were siblings but complete
opposites of each other.
Lumabat was a terrific hunter who once brought
Tuglay and Tuglibon are two of the most along his dog to catch an elusive deer. The hunt
prominent figures in ancient Bagobo culture. In took so long that by the time he caught the
Jocano’s Oultine of Philippine Mythology, they are animal, he was already old and graying. Still, he
classified as assistants to Pamulak Manobo and returned to his people, eager to show them his
were responsible for the births, marriages, power. Lumabat even killed his father eight times,
language, and customs of the tribe. Tuglay and and each time the latter magically came back to
Tuglibon are two of the most prominent figures in life he became younger and younger. When it
ancient Bagobo culture. In Jocano’s Oultine of was time for Lumabat to go to heaven, he wanted
Philippine Mythology, they are classified as his sister, Mebuyan to join him. The latter refused
assistants to Pamulak Manobo and were and they started fighting each other. The Bagobo
responsible for the births, marriages, language, mythology describes Mebuyan as an ugly deity
and customs of the tribe. In other sources, who decided to go down below the earth where
however, these two deities were either the creator she now rules a place called Banua Mebu’yan
of the world or co-creator of humanity. One of the (Mebuyan’s town). Here, she welcomes the spirits
Bagobo myths compiled by anthropologist Laura of the dead Bagobos before they go straight to
Estelle Watson Benedict even shares Gimokudon, the Bagobo equivalent of the
similaritieswith the biblical story of Adam and Eve. underworld. It is said that Mebuyan has many
In the said myth, Tuglay and Tuglibon created the breasts because she nurses and takes care of all
world while an equally powerful yet unidentified the baby spirits before they join their families in
god made the first man and woman. One day, a Gimokudon. As for the adult spirits, they also stop
snake approached the first humans and offered by at Mebuyan’s town, specifically in the black
them a fruit. The cunning reptile convinced them river where they wash their joints and heads.
to eat the said fruit so they could “open their
eyes,” only to find out later that eating it The ritual bath, known as pamalugu, is done so
prevented them from seeing the god forever. that the spirits will not return to their earthly
bodies and disrupt their journey to the
In yet another interesting version of the origin underworld. Note that the Manobo or Bagobo
myth, Tuglibon (or Tuglibong in other sources) underworld, at least the one ruled by Mebuyan,
was pounding a rice when she noticed the sky has a relatively more positive connotation. It’s not
was too close to the ground and was interfering in a place where you can find a lake of fire and
her activity. She scolded the sky and asked it to where the unbelievers are punished forever. In
the book “Arakan, Where Rivers Speak of The sulup, god of material goods. Among these gods
Manobo’s Living Dreams” by Kaliwat Theatre and goddesses, a deity named Tigbas was the
Collective, Datu Mangadta Sugkawan gives us an most respected by the Bukidnon, while the god of
interesting description of Mebuyan and her calamity named Busao was the most feared and
domain: also the last one they offered sacrifices to.
“Maibuyan (Mebuyan)….the diwata (deity) of the
afterlife who takes care of all the souls before
Other Mindanao deities.
they receive Manama’s (Supreme Being)
judgment…. Maibuyan’s entire domain is of pure Mindanao is composed of many tribes, and in
gold on which the soul could clearly see its each tribe, one can find plenty of deities and
reflection. The souls there only talk about good supernatural beings. I know it’s impossible to
and sensible things. If one starts to talk, cover them all in one blog post, but to live up to
everybody else listens. There is no need for food. my promise of providing an “ultimate guide,” I’ll
Maibuyan’s domain in the underworld is where briefly mention some of them here. For the
the soul lives a second life after its body–the Tirurays, they believed that the first man and
physical twin–dies.” Among the Ata-Manobo, a woman were created by a superhuman named
similar deity also existed. Rolando O. Bajo’s “The Sualla (or Tullus-God) who lived in the sky.
Ata-Manobo: At the Crossrooads of Tradition and
Modernization” introduces us to a god of the The Gianges of Cotabato, meanwhile, prayed to
afterlife named Moibulan. This deity takes care of two major deities: Tigianes, creator of the world,
the spirits in a place located at the bottom of the and Manama, her governor. They also worshiped
earth called Sumowow, where the souls can only Todlay and Todlibun (notice the similarity with the
experience peace and happiness as they await Bagobos’ Tuglay and Tuglibon), the gods of love
their final judgment. and marriage, respectively.

Tagbusan. Lastly, the Subanuns of upper Zamboanga were

also guided by several deities, the most powerful
of which was Diwata-sa-langit, god of heaven.
The other deities are Tagma-sa- dagat, lord of the
sea; Tagma-sa-yuta, lord of the earth; Tagma-sa-
mangga-bungud, lord of the woods; Tagmasa-
uba, lord of the rivers; and Tagma-sa-langit, god
and protector of the sick.
Why Philippine Mythology?
Imagine yourself living in ancient Philippines.No
Christianity, Islam, or any of the modern-day
religions. Everything you need to survive is
The Manobos also believed in a supreme god–
literally in front of you–food, clothes, a roof over
Tagbusan. This highest-ranking deity “ruled over
your head, you name it. But while things around
the destiny of both gods and men.” And just like
you seem to be in perfect order, a tidal wave of
others of his kind in Philippine mythology,
confusion starts forming in your mind. You’re now
Tagbusan was also helped by other lesser
questionig your very own existence. Questions
divinities.
you never knew you needed to answer are
Magbabaya. flooding your brain: Why is the sky blue? Where
did we come from? Who controls everything? But
Another important deity from Mindanao is with no religion to rely on, how can you possibly
Magbabaya, considered by the Bukidnon as their make sense of everything? The answer,
highest ranking deity. He was likewise assisted by according to our ancestors, is Philippine
other lesser divinities: Domalongdong, the deity of mythology. But NO, we’re not going to talk about
the Northwind; Ognaling, the deity of Southwind; the whitewashed deities you grew up watching in
Tagaloambung, the deity of Eastwind; and movies. While almost everybody is familiar with
Magbaya, the divinity of the Westwind. Other Zeus, Athena, Aphrodite, Eros and other
interesting deities of Bukidnon mythology are legendary gods of Greek mythology, it seems that
Ibabasag, patroness of pregnant women; we are all clueless about their Filipino
Ipamahandi, goddess of the accident; and Tao-sa- counterparts. And that’s the reason why we’ve
decided to have this unit. Philippine mythology is products of vain imaginings intended to amuse or
much more important than you think. It gave our to frighten a child. If ever we study myths, we
ancestors a sense of direction and helped them view them in terms of what they look like on paper
explain everything–from the origin of mankind to and not in terms-of what they actually serve in
the existence of diseases. For them, it was not life. Many of us fail to realize that myths fulfill one
just a belief in invisible higher beings. Philippine of the most important functions in societyserving
mythology defined who they were and what as a means by which people can logically present
they’re supposed to do. The late anthropologist H. fundamental concepts of life and systematically
Otley Beyer shared his own observation: express the sentiments which they attach to those
concepts. Let us examine briefly how myths
“Among the Christianized peoples of the
supply Filipino institutions (i.e. , family and
plains the myths are preserved chiefly as
kindred groups, social; political, and religious)
folktales, but in the mountains their recitation
with a retrospective pattern of moral values that
and preservation is a real and living part of the
makes possible the understanding of the
daily religious life of the people. Very few of
continuity of certain customs and traditions.
these myths are written; the great majority of
Anyone who reads old accounts about the
them are preserved by oral tradition only.”
Philippines during the arrival of the Spaniards will
There’s no one-size-fits-all rule in Philippine
certainly note that our forefathers believed in
mythology. In other words, ancient Filipinos from
many divinities. These deities inhabited the
every part of the country didn’t stick to a single
surrounding world of our ancestors and
version of creation story nor did they give uniform
maintained continued social and ritual interactions
names to their deities. As a result, Philippine
with them. Aside from these relationships, these
mythology became so diverse that studying it now
supernatural beings were believed to have control
is like staring at a list of gazillion Pokémons. Read
over all phenomena basic to man’s survival-e.g.
the article that follows to deepen your learning.
weather, diseases, success of crops, and so
MYTHOLOGY AND PHILIPPINE STUDIES forth-such that every phase of the daily activity
had to follow the wishes of these controlling
By F. Landa Jocano powers. The farmer, the hunter, or the wayfarer
The value of myths and legends to students of venturing into the fields, hills, and forests should
Filipino society and culture cannot be first seek the permission of the spirits living in the
overemphasized. These narratives are basic to vicinity or else he would meet with misfortunes on
our social tradition; they constitute part of our his way. In like manner a traveler trodding a new
social heritage. Yet the study of Filipino mythology path should first ask the permission of the
has not apparently attracted the attention of many environmental divinities so that he would arrive
educators and students. Only few, so far, have safely at his destination. For good harvest hunting
shown interest in it. Undoubtedly, this aspect of fishing building a house, or for any other matter,
our literature is the most neglected field of study. appropriate sacrifices should be offered to the
Many colleges and universities do not carry a “soul spirits” of the departed relatives who were
course on it in their curriculum; instead, they have considered intercessors with the higher divinities.
Greek and Roman mythologies as major The offerings should be made during the
offerings. While it is true that liberal education performance of these proper ceremonies. These
must be internationally oriented, it must not be so diverse ways of establishing relations with the
detached from the local culture as to lose its spirit world clearly illustrate how the myths of our
meaning and perspective. A balance has to be ancient fathers, as well as our own today, have
maintained or students become dislocated in the favored the growth of traditional beliefs and
end. After all they are the ones who will eventually practices. These also point out to the fact that
come to grip with and make adjustments to the myths cannot be separated from any social
realities of the community where they will live. institution as long as human beings are a part of
Whether or not this poor treatment which our own group life. The nature of human society is such
mythology receives is due to the neglect on the that it requires continuous motivation of human
part of our educators is hard to judge. Perhaps behavior in a culturally constituted behavioral
because we often hear these stories, we rarely environment, in which traditional meanings of
pause to consider them important in values play a vital role in the organization of
understanding the nature of Filipino culture and needs and goals and in the redirection of
society. Also these oral narratives have become immediate experiences. Thus we always find
so familiar to us that we often regard them as myths and legends identified with the convictions
of the group. It is through the elaboration of these lowland and mountain groups. The stories
folk narratives that ethical and religious views of recorded by Miguel Lopez de Loarca (1583) and
life assume definite form and character among Jose Maria Pavon (1838-39), to cite only two
the people. In like manner, it is from these stories documents, are still currently narrated by the old
that interpretations of natural phenomena folk in Western Bisayas. Thus studied, myths
germinate and give rise, unconsciously under the inevitably lead us to a fuller reconstruction of the
tender care of those who conceived them, to the social context of our prehistoric lifeways and to a
luxuriant foliage of arts and letters. Viewed from better understanding of the details of the historical
this perspective, Myths and legends have a far- tradition that form the base of our contemporary
more-reaching significance than we suppose culture and society. For one thing, as an eminent
these have by merely studying the printed text. anthropologist puts it in wider context, “myths are
Perhaps this maybe explicitly stated in terms of ways in which the institutions and expectations of
how myths play a vital role in the social life of the society are emphasized and made dramatic
ancient and contemporary Filipinos. It must be and persuasive in narrative form. Myths show that
realized that myths touch the deepest of human what a people has to enjoy or endure is right and
emotions-man’s fears, sentiments, passions, and true – true to the sentiments the people hold.” It is
hopes, as these affect his social activity . They clear then that one cannot hope to understand the
were the first hand tools which man used (and are Filipinos, as a people, if their tales, myths,
still using) to justify and validate the social order legends, and songs, which are part of the matrix
of his society and to explain his environment, long of their tradition are disregarded; these native lore
before any systematic knowledge of natural give them a sense of being Filipinos.
phenomena became known to him. Their
3.4. Creation Myths and Legends
influence has contributed directly to the creation
of that great unseen world of ideas and ideals. It MGA ALAMAT or myths form an important genre
was through these narratives that our forefathers of folk literature. Together with legends and
defined their world, expressed their feelings, folktales, they constitute the large group of folk
explained their success, and made their narratives in prose. A myth is "a sacred narrative
judgments. In other words, myths form explaining how the world and man came to be in
their present form" (Dundes, 1984). Attached are
the fabric of meaning in terms of which our
links which we can visit as analyses of these
ancestors interpreted their experiences and
myths are unfolded so we may gain better
guided their actions; the source of their realization
understanding of our ancient beliefs and relate
of how everything they learned had precedents in
these to modern lives.
the past.Moreover, many of the deified
https://www.pitt.edu/~dash/creation-phil.html
personalities in Filipino mythology were spirits of
the departed members of the community. By The Gods and the Creation of the World:
tracing descent from these divinities, the
individual was drawn closer to other members of Philippine myths show that our ancient peoples
the group to whom he considered himself related believed in one supreme god and in a number of
because of common ancestors. In this way, myths lesser gods and goddesses. Sometimes the
of origin endowed our forefathers with a name of the god is not given, he is simply referred
retrospective pattern of historical truth – a living to as the Supreme God, great Being, or God the
faith which reinforced group solidarity, maintained Most high. Most of the time, their names were
social order, and made interpersonal relationships given, and these names varied with the different
easier. The constant repetition of the adventures tribes: Bathala for the Tagalogs, Mangetchay for
of culture heroes, moreover, established in the the Pampangos, Gugurang for the Bicols,
minds of our ancient fathers an effect similar to Lumawig and Kabunian for the Bontoc and Igorot,
that which we feel in the study of our Liddum for the Ifugao, Mahal Makakaako for the
contemporary historical heroes. It created in their Mangyan, Laon for the Visayans, Magbabaya for
minds a soil fertile for implanting nobler the Bukidnons, Sualla or Tullus for the tiruray,
sentiments necessary to bolster the morale of Melu for the Blaan, Makalidug for the Manobo of
society and to regulate individual conduct in the Agusan Valley, Diwata for the Bagobo,
conformity with the social order of group life. The Manama for the Munuvu, the couple-god Kadaw
empirical evidence for this historical assertion lies La Sambad and the Bulon La Mogaw for the
in the persistence and continuity of Filipino myths Tiboli. In many myths, the supreme god is the
and legends among numerous contemporary creator of the world. Sometimes people were
merely told that the god made the earth and no
further details. In some myths, the creation of the whenever the moon is swallowed or embraced by
world was not the work of a supreme being but a monster --huge snake, lion, or gigantic
rather the outcome of a struggle between hostile tarantula.
forces.
Origin of Man:
Early Conceptions of the Universe:
The creation of man in myths follows immediately
Stories of creation contain scattered references after the creation of the world. Philippine myths
which indicate the early Filipinos' conception of explain the origin of the first people on earth in
the universe. This universe consists of the three ways: (1) man came to earth from
Skyworld, the earth or middleworld, and the heaven/skyworld; (2) the first man and woman
underworld. Almost all the different regional emerged fully formed from two nodes of a piece
groups believe that the universe has many layers of bamboo, from two stumps of banana plant,
with which each layer is inhabited by different hatched from two eggs of a bird; and (3) they
kinds of being. Part of the early Filipinos' concept were created by a god and his helpers out of
of the universe is the belief that once upon a time earth or some other material.
the sky was low, and many myths attest to this
Relationship between Gods and Men:
belief.
Myths portray some of the gods and goddesses
The Great Flood
as being in frequent and intimate communication
Mythology speaks of such world calamities as a with the mortals on earth. This is especially true
great fire and a deluge that happened a long time among the tribes living in the mountains of the
ago, and myths describing such calamities are northern parts of the the main Island.
worldwide in occurrence. In the Philippines, there
Acquisition of Culture and the Origin of Fire:
seems to be no myth about great fires, but flood
myths are quite common. In majority of the myths, After the creation of man, he has to have fire to
the flood occurs as a punishment for the people's keep his surroundings warm and to use for his
failure to fulfill their sacrificial obligations to the own needs. How fire was brought to man is
gods or to observe God's laws. Other reasons or explained in different stories. Many believed that
causes of the flood are given in the myths. A fire came to man as a gift from the gods or that it
Nabaloi version blames the flood on the was stolen from a giant as it was told in the
negligence of the woman guarding the river. She folktale Biag ni Lam-ang (life of Lam-ang) of the
fell asleep and wood and thrash clogged the river North.
and caused it to swell and overflow.
Origin of Land Features:
Establishment of Natural Order:
Legends about land features explain the origin of
Myths try to explain many kinds of natural mountains and volcanoes in general and some
phenomena: why there is rain, rainbow, thunder, specific and famous volcanoes and mountains. A
lightning, earthquake, eclipse, and the like. The motif that is found in few of mountains are the
rain is believed by many as the tears shed by a rising from the common grave of faithful lovers.
man longing for his vanished wife, a Diwata (fairy) Others come from the grave of huge animals or a
throwing out water in the sky. The rainbow is giant who lived in it pulled it out from its
believed to be the flower loving daughter of foundations and carried it and moved it to a
Bathala, who was cursed by the latter to stay on different place to show its strength.
earth forever because of her failure to attend a
family council ordered by the Bathala. Other Origin of Animals:
believed that the rainbow is not a person but a Animal legends present an interesting array of
road from the sky to the earth that a man built so Philippine fauna, especially of the smaller specie--
that his star wife and child could visit him without birds, fishes, and insects. Of beasts, legends deal
any difficulty. The origin of the lightning and mostly with monkey, rarely with cats and rats.
thunder are stories about the marriage of a god There seem to be legends of the origin of
and a mortal wife. The earthquake is what early monkeys in every region of the Philippines. Motifs
Filipinos believed as the movement of the body varied from one place to another. One motif is
part of a great being or by the movement of the that that those who became monkeys are hungry
post or being that supports the earth. Others children who are denied of proper food by their
believed that the eclipse of the moon occurs mothers and stepmothers. In lowland Filipino
legends, it is usually a lazy boy who is
transformed into a monkey. In these motifs, the
Engkanto:
transformation into a monkey happened as a form
bracket term for
of punishment for laziness and selfishness. In
highly-attractive
some stories, irreverence in children may also
enchanted human-
change them into monkeys. Legends about other
like environmental
small animals like birds vary from one place to
beings, usually
another. Common motif includes girl or boy cruelly
exuding the scent of flowers and
treated by their parents or step-parent. They run
having no philthrum
away and become a bird, oftentimes by merely
wishing to escape the cruelty of
the parent. Some birds that
make peculiar noises are also Higante: bracket term for giant humanoid land
subject of legends. The owl was creatures
said to be an old woman who
kept weeping and crying for her
dead son Juan to come back to Sirena: bracket term for water
her. An interesting legend about creatures with a humanoid
the bat says that it is once a rat on which the upper body and the body of a
wings of a bird got stuck. He was however, fish from waist down similar to
rejected by both the birds and the rats, and so in merfolks Most creatures
shame he hides during the daytime and flies only originating from Philippine
at night. mythology, however, are not
under any specific bracket term.
Origin of Plants:
Do you know of other enchanted creatures? What
Plant myths and legends abound in Philippine do you know of them in your locality? Let us learn
Folklore. They give highly fanciful accounts of the more about them.
origin of various kinds of plants, flowers, and
fruits. Among the most widely known of these are
those about rice, the staple food of the
Creatures of the soil.
Philippines. Legends believed that rice was only
known by the gods until they gave people the Agta: is a tall mythical creature with skin as black
detailed instruction on how to plant, have a good as charcoal, found in Philippine mythology. These
harvest, and cook it. Other motifs include, lovers creatures reside in different trees, most commonly
eloping, a child hiding and running away, and a Santo or Balete trees. They are known to climb
lover who died in behalf of his/her love. down from their perches and roam around the
land warning fishermen to stay on land instead of
3.1.5. Philippine mythological creatures
fishing. Then, the agta will push trees down so
Some mythological creatures, aside from their that the timbers will prevent the fishermen from
specific name, are also referred through a generic going to the sea to fish. The agta is just like the
term which encompasses other kapre, who likes staying in its tree while smoking
similar mythological creatures. a rolled cigar. They are usually depicted as
Some of these terms include: naked.

Aswang: bracket term for shape- Amalanhig (also called 'Maranhig' or

shifting creatures that have a 'Amaranhig') are creatures in Visayan mythology,
variety of forms, such as the particularly among Hiligaynon speaking groups.
blood-sucking vampire, the self-segmenting Amalanhig are Aswangs who failed to transfer
viscera sucker, the man-eating weredog, the their monstrosity causing them to rise from their
vindictive or evil-eye witch, and graves to kill humans by biting their necks.
the carrion-eating ghoul Another version that has survived through word-
of-mouth recounts that Amanlanhigs are said to
Duwende: bracket term for small chase any living person they found and once they
magical beings of the land reach them, they would tickle the victim until they
die, both of laughter and terror. In order to escape
from Amanlanhigs, one runs in zigzag direction
since they can only walk in straight direction due Spanish encanto, "spell, incantation, charm") are
to the stiffness of their body. One would also gods and goddesses below the supreme deity or
climb trees or high platforms enough to be out of deities; some are similar to dryads who guard
their reach. One would also run into lakes and natural creations such as forests, seas,
rivers since Amanlanhigs are scared of deep mountains, land and air; fair- skinned, good-
bodies of water. looking and, sometimes, blonde-haired; reside in
large trees, such as acacia and balete, and tend
Amomongo is a creature described as hairy,
to be resentful of humanity's intrusion into their
man-sized and ape-like with long nails.The term
realm Dwende: goblins, hobgoblins, elves or
may have its roots in the Hiligaynon word amó,
dwarfs (Spanish: duende "goblin, elf, charm" <
which means "ape" or "monkey".
"duen de (casa)", owner of the house); little
Residents of La Castellana in Negros Occidental creatures who provide good fortune or foretell an
refer to the creature as a "wild monkey" that lives ominous fate to people.
in caves near the foot of Mt. Kanlaon. The
Kapre: muscular tree giants described as being a
creature is said to have attacked two residents of
tall (7 to 9 ft), big, black, terrifying, and hairy
the settlement and disemboweled goats and
chickens in the area, for the purpose of eating the Mambabarang: witches who utilize insects to do
entrails. their bidding
Batibat is a vengeful demon found in Ilocano Mangkukulam: bruha (from Spanish: bruja,
folklore. In Tagalog folklore, the creature is called "witch") are witches, wizards, bruho
Bangungot. These demons were blamed as the (Spanish:brujo, "wizard, male witch"), or sorcerers
cause of the fatal nocturnal disease called who cast evil spells to humans; also called
bangungot. A batibat takes the form of a huge, manggagaway
old, fat woman that resides in trees. They usually
Multo: Common themes in ghost legends include
come in contact with humans when the tree in
the White Lady, the headless priest and the
which they reside is felled and made into a
phantom hitchhiker. The white lady appears in
support post for a house. This causes them to
lonely places, dressed in white, with no visible
migrate into holes found in the post. The batibat
face or with a disfigured face. Apparently she has
forbids humans from sleeping near its post. When
died a violent death and is still haunting the
a person does sleep near it, the batibat
vicinity, but with no ill intent. The headless priest
transforms into its true form and attacks the
prowls at night in a graveyard or ruined place,
person. It sits upon the chest of its victim until
either carrying his severed head or searching for
they suffocate. To ward off the batibat, one should
his death and is still haunting the vicinity, but with
bite one's thumb or wiggle one's toes. In this way,
no ill intent. The headless priest prowls at night in
the person will awaken from the nightmare
a graveyard or ruined place, either carrying his
induced by the batibat
severed head or searching for his head. Balete
Berbalang: are mythical creatures in Filipino Drive, Fort Santiago, Malinta Tunnel, San Juan La
culture. They have a human appearance, but Union and the Romblon Triangle are famous
resemble the characters of vampires and have ghost Haunts
wings and slanted eyes. They dig up graves to
Nuno sa punso: (literally, goblin of the mound)
feast on the corpses.
goblins or elves who live within mysterious lumps
Bungisngis: one-eyed giant, purported to dwell of soil (ant hills); provide a person who steps on
in Meluz, Orion, Bataan, and Cebu; described as their shelter with good luck or misfortune
always laughing
Pugot: is a mythical fiend that is found in the
Busaw; is a legendary creature that resembles folklore of the Ilocos region of the Philippines. It
humans in appearance and behavior, raising farm can assume various shapes such as hogs, dogs
animals and planting root crops. However, its or even as humans. However, it usually appears
favorite food is humans, resulting in scattered as a black, gigantic headless being. The creature
human skeletons on the grounds of its dwelling usually resides in dark places or deserted
place houses. However, they especially like living in
trees such as the duhat.
Diwata: (from Sanskrit devata, "gods"),
engkantada (from Spanish encantada, Santelmo: is a creature of Philippine mythology.
"enchantress, charmed") or engkanto (from The term santelmo is the shortened form of the
Tagalog words "Apoy ni San Elmo "-"St. Elmo's many elderly people believed that they use water
fire".Santelmo are two balls of fire that fight each to attack their enemies. They discharge a large
other. They appear in places where accidents amount of water (just like a fire hose) at their
place or where big arguments on land boundaries victims until they drown
happen
Kataw: is one of the merfolk in the Philippine
Sarangay: is a creature resembling a minotaur Mythology. In Visayan, Kataw was believed to
with a jewel or gemstone attached to its ears. have higher rankings than other water and sea
When the Spanish first heard the story in the 17th creatures as those of Sirena, Sireno and Siyokoy.
century, they thought the legends described the It is believed that the Kataws are the reigning
Greek minotaur. Sarangay is described as half rulers of the kingdom Bantay Tubig. Based on
bull (specifically, a male water buffalo) and half physical features, Kataws, along the Sirena and
man. According to folklore, the creatures guard Sireno, were the Bantay Tubig-creatures that bear
their jewels and attempted thieves will be killed likeness to human while Siyokoy are those that
mercilessly. It was said that when a Sarangay resemble water-creatures. Unlike Sirena, they
becomes enraged, smoke issues from its nostrils. have feet instead of tails but they have gills on
their bodies and fins in their arms. These marine
Sigbin: is a creature in Philippine mythology said
creatures disguises into fishermen asking for
to come out at night to suck the blood of victims
help. When approached by mortals, the Kataws
from their shadows. It is said to walk backwards
drown them into the abyss.According to old folks,
with its head lowered between its hind legs, and
Kataws have the ability to manipulate and control
to have the ability to become invisible to other
likes. Also, they can change water to ice.
creatures, especially humans. It resembles a
hornless goat, but has very large ears which it Sirena: sea creature with a human upper body
can clap like a pair of hands and a long, flexible and a fish tail instead of lower extremities.
tail that can be used as a whip.The Sigbin is said
Siyokoy: are creatures in Philippine mythology
to emit a nauseating odor.
which were members of Bantay Tubig (merfolk).
Tikbalang: lurk in the mountains and forests; tall, They are usually illustrated as green-skinned
bony humanoid creature with the head and humanoids with scales, webbed limbs, and fins.
hooves of a horse and disproportionately long
Creatures of the air
limbs, to the point that its knees reach above its
head when it squats down Bakunawa: is a serpent-like dragon in Philippine
mythology. It is believed to be the cause of
Tiyanak: is a vampiric creature in Philippine
eclipses, earthquakes, rains, and wind. The
mythology that takes on the form of a toddler or
movements of the Bakunawa served as a
baby. Although there are various types, it typically
geomantic calendar system for ancient Filipinos
takes the form of a newborn baby and cries in the
and were part of the shamanistic rituals of the
jungle to attract unwary travelers. Once it is
babaylan. It is usually depicted with a
picked up by an unfortunate passerby, it reverts to
characteristic looped tail and a single horn on the
its true form and attacks the victim.The tiyanak is
nose. It was generally believed to be a sea
also depicted to take malevolent delight in leading
serpent, but are also variously believed to inhabit
travelers astray, or in abducting children
either the sky or the underworld
Creatures of the water
Garuda: is described as the king of birds and a
Berberoka: The people from Apayao, Abra and kite-like figure. He is shown either in zoomorphic
Ilocos Norte believe in and fear this swamp form (giant bird with partially open wings) or an
creature. It lures victims by sucking water in the anthropomorphic form (man with wings and some
pond enough for a number fish to come to the bird features). Garuda is generally a protector
surface. When the potential victims get attracted with power to swiftly go anywhere, ever watchful
to the school of fish, the Berberoka drowns them and an enemy of the serpent. But in the epic
by hosing water and swallowing them afterwards. Indarapatra and Sulayman it is known as a
Despite all their powers, these water ogres have dreadful bird also, having seven heads and the
a morbid, ironic fear of crabs. power to see in all directions at the same time.
Mt. Gurayn was its home and like the others it
They were compared to the Greek naiads, the
wrought havoc in its region.
nymphs of water elements. They have the ability
to suck up all the water in a swamp or lake. Also,
Manananggal: derived from the word, tanggal, Sarimanok: papanok in its feminine form, is a
which means "to separate" because of their ability legendary multi-colored bird or chicken
to separate from their lower body part
Tigmamanuka: was believed by the Tagalog
Manaul: is a creature of Philippine folklore. There people to be an omen or augural bird. Although
are at least four existing stories regarding the behaviors of numerous birds and lizards were
Manaul. Panay Manaul. A Manaul bird was said to be omens, particular attention was paid to
mentioned in the Code of Kalantiaw, a sacred the tigmamanukan. In pre-colonial times, the
code from the island of Panay. According to this Tagalogs believed that the tigmamanukan was
document, the killing of this bird is punishable by sent by Bathala to give hints to mankind whether
death. It is highly believed that the belief they needed to proceed on a journey or not. In
surrounding the said Manaul originated during the some Philippine creation myths, the
dominance of the Confederation of Madja-as. tigmamanukan bird was sent by Bathala to crack
open the primordial bamboo whence the first man
Mangyan Manaul. In Mangyan and Negrito
and woman came out.
folklore, Manaul was a wrathful king who was
imprisoned by King Tubluck Lawi. When Manaul Wakwak; is a vampiric, bird-like creature in
escaped, he later revolted against all gods and Philippine mythology. It is said to snatch humans
spirits and was punished by Kaptan by throwing at night as prey, similar to the Manananggal and
in rocks onto him. The rocks missed Manaul, and the Ekek in rural areas of the Philippines. The
created islands, where Manaul rested and lived in difference between the Manananggal and the
peace. Wakwak is that Wakwak cannot separate its torso
from its body while the Manananggal can. Some
Tagalog Manaul. In Tagalog folklore, it is said
believe the Wakwak is a form of vampire. Other
that Bathala sent a tigmamanukan omen bird he
people contend that a Wakwak is a Philippine
named "Manaul" to peck on the bamboo. Manaul
night bird associated with witches.
flew from right to left and landed on the bamboo.
When Manaul pecked on the bamboo, it opened
in half and released the first man, Malakas, and
first woman, Maganda. Manaul afterwards flew
from right to left again, signalling a labay, or a
good omen to proceed. In other sources, it was
the bird form of the deity of peace, Amihan, who
pecked the bamboo.
Bisaya Manaul. In Bisaya folklore, the king who
guided destinies was Manaul. He incited the earth
and sky to wage a war, and when tired of the war,
Manaul clawed rocks from the ocean depths and
threw the rocks onto the sea, creating islands.
Minokawa: is a giant, dragon-like bird in
Philippine legends. Early people believed this
creature is so big that it can swallow (or cover)
the sun to explain the occurrence of eclipses. It is
even described as a giant bird named Minokawa
that lives in outer space which can devour the sun
and the moon, and would try to do the same with
the earth. In a Bagobo tale, the Minokawa is a
bird as large as an island. Its feathers are those
of sharp swords, the eyes reflect like mirrors, its
beak and legs are like steel. It lives "outside the
sky, at the eastern horizon". While the Baua lived
"above the sky" because the Visayans believe
that there is a cave called "calulundan" above the
sky, the entrance covered by blue smoke
What Is Norse mythology?
Before the Norse (a.k.a. the Vikings) converted to
Christianity during the Middle Ages, they had their
own vibrant native pagan religion that was as
harshly beautiful as the Nordic landscape to
which it was intimately connected. The
centerpiece of that religion was what we today
call “Norse mythology:” the set of religious stories
that gave meaning to the Vikings’ lives. These
myths revolved around gods and goddesses with
fascinating and highly complex characters, such
as Odin, Thor, Freya, and Loki. The Norse religion
that contained these myths never had a true
name – those who practiced it just called it
“tradition.” However, people who continued to
follow the old ways after the arrival of Christianity
were sometimes called “heathens,” which
originally meant simply “people who live on the
heaths” or elsewhere in the countryside, and the
name has stuck. Religions are attempts by
mankind to reach the numinous, and the Norse
religion was of course no exception. It provided a
means of doing this that was fitting for the Vikings’
time and place. Even though some aspects of it
may strike the modern reader as bizarre, if we
approach it with the open mind it deserves, we
can recognize within it the common human quest
to live life in the presence of the transcendent
majesty and joy of the sacred. And even though
it’s been a thousand years since the last Vikings
laid down their swords, people today continue to
be inspired by the vitality and wonder of the
Norse myths and the gods who inhabit them.
Who are the Vikings. For the Vikings, the world
as they found it was enchanted – that is, they
didn’t feel the need to seek salvation from the
world, but instead delighted in, and marveled at,
“the way things are,” including what we today certainly regional and temporal variations in the
would call both “nature” and “culture.” Their pre-Christian religion of the Germanic peoples,
religion and myths didn’t sugarcoat the there was nevertheless a common core
sordidness, strife, and unfairness of earthly life, worldview, cosmology, and to a large extent, a
but instead acknowledged it and praised the common pantheon as well.
attempt to master it through the accomplishment
Worldview. The pre-Christian Norse religion
of great deeds for the benefit of oneself and one’s
wasn’t only a set of grand myths and the gods
people. A life full of such deeds was what “the
and creatures who filled them. It was an entire
good life” was for the Vikings. The Vikings were
worldview in its own right – and one that was very,
seafaring raiders, conquerors, explorers, settlers,
very different from any of the worldviews that
and traders from modern-day Norway, Sweden,
most people are familiar with. This unfamiliarity is
Denmark, and Iceland who ventured throughout
due to two factors: 1) the way the Vikings
much of the world during the Viking Age (roughly
expressed their worldview, and 2) its content. The
793-1066 CE). They traveled as far east as
Vikings hadn’t yet acquired thier intellectual tool
Baghdad and as far west as North America, which
known as logos – “the abstract concept, the
they discovered some five hundred years before
method of theoretical exposition, the reasoned
Christopher Columbus. They spoke the Old Norse
system – one of the greatest discoveries in the
language, wrote in runes, and
history of the human mind.” As much as we today
practiced their ancestral religion. The Vikings take that mode of thought for granted, it has been
were motivated to sail from their homelands by the exception rather than the rule throughout
timeless, universal human desires: wealth, human history, and, at least in a Western context,
prestige, and power. As in most human societies, it has a particular history that began in ancient
those aims were intertwined for the Greece. What made the first philosophers
philosophers was that they expressed their ideas
Vikings; those who had more wealth typically had
through logos rather than mythos, the concrete,
more prestige and power, and vice versa. The
story-based, nonrational idiom of myth. In the
Vikings sought wealth in both its portable form –
Viking Age, classical civilization, including the
gold, silver, gemstones, and the like – and in the
philosophical tradition, hadn’t made many inroads
form of land. We have the Vikings to thank for our
into the Norse lands of Scandinavia and the North
present understanding not only of their own pre-
Atlantic islands. Its entrance went hand-in-hand
Christian religion and mythology, but of that of the
with the Vikings’ conversion to Christianity. So, as
other Germanic peoples as well. Thanks to the
far as we know, the pagan Norse worldview was
Old Norse poems, treatises, and sagas that were
expressed exclusively in mythos rather than
written during or relatively soon after the Viking
logos. The sources of our present-day knowledge
Age, we have a much, much fuller picture of what
of the Vikings’ worldview contain beautiful, vivid
the Vikings’ religion was like (despite the many
tales and images, but no philosophical or
unfortunate holes that nevertheless remain in that
theological discussions written by a pagan hand.
picture) than we do for the religions of any of the
But when we moderns want to understand a
other pre-Christian Germanic peoples. But from
worldview, we seek to understand it in terms of
the little that we do know about those religions
logos rather than mythos. In order to make the
directly, they seem to have been variations on
Vikings’ worldview comprehensible in these
common themes that were also shared by the
terms, a process of “translation” from mythos to
Norse, so we can use the Norse sources to help
logos is necessary. That’s what the articles in this
us reconstruct those hoary religions, too.
section of this site endeavor to do – to go beyond
Who Are the Germanic peoples? the stories and characters to identify and discuss
the abstract concepts that existed in Norse
The Germanic peoples are one of the indigenous mythology and religion in a latent state.
peoples of northern Europe, along with the Celts,
Sami, Finns, and others. Historically, they’ve These concepts include:
occupied much of Scandinavia, Iceland, the
• The Enchanted World: The Norse saw the
British Isles, and continental Europe north of the
world as a place infused with sacred
Alps. Their best-known representatives are the
Vikings, the Anglo-Saxons, and the continental meaning and divine presence – in contrast to both
Germanic tribes, but they included many other modern materialism and salvation
groups as well. In the modern era, they – we –
centered religions.
are spread out across the world. While there were
• Norse Theology: What the Vikings meant when Others of Odin’s helping spirits, including the
they used the word “god.” eight-legged horse Sleipnir and the ravens
Hugin and Munin. Ask and Embla, the first
• Fate – : Blind, amoral fate was the main way the
human man and woman to be created. The
Vikings explained why things
Norns, extremely powerful female entities whose
happened the way that they did. Even the gods whims become the fate of all other beings –
were subject to fate. including even the gods.

• Magic: The Norse believed that magic was a The Disir, female spirits whose precise identity is
real force at work in the world. highly ambiguous and varies from source to
source. Kvasir, the wisest of all beings, who was
• Shamanism: The Norse also practiced murdered and had his blood brewed into the
shamanism and believed in its efficacy. Mead of Poetry. Finally, if you want a summary of
• Seidr: One of the main kinds of Norse magic the famous gods of Asgard, look at the list below.
and shamanism. Major Deities
• Innangard and utangard: The distinction Odin. As chieftain of the Aesir gods, Odin united
between what was holy, civilized, and orderly the Norse pantheon through the AesirVanir War
(innangard) and what was unholy, wild, and and ruled over their combined might in Asgard.
chaotic (utangard) was very important to the While Odin was known as a great warrior, his
Vikings. They organized both physical space and chief weapon was actually his mind. A trickster at
their spiritual cosmos around these concepts. heart, Odin achieved his ends through cunning,
• Death and the Afterlife: What the Norse craft, and the power of suggestion. Odin was also
thought happened to someone after he or she wise. Through his magic, and by dint of his
died. unceasing quest for knowledge, Odin gained
understanding of both the occult world and events
• The Self and Its Parts: The Vikings wouldn’t yet to come.
have agreed with our division of the self into a
body, mind, and perhaps a soul as well. They Thor. The son of Odin, Thor was the Norse god of
thought of the self in different terms. See also The thunder, lightning, and war. He was a figure of
Vikings’ Selfish Individualism for more on some of prodigious strength who bested giants, trolls, and
the social/moral aspects of the Norse view of the dwarves with a war hammer called Mjölnir, the
self. “grinder.” While Thor was quick to anger and
always ready for a fight, he also enjoyed more
• Totemism: The Vikings saw themselves as pleasurable activities such as drinking and
being spiritually related to various animals in making love to women.
certain contexts.
Loki. Full of wit and wile, Loki was the devious
• Óðr: Óðr is an Old Norse word that meant trickster god of the Norse pantheon. A figure of
“inspiration,” “ecstasy,” and “fury.” It played a great mischief, Loki used his shapeshifting
central role in some of the Vikings’ religious abilities to deceive gods and mortals alike.
practices and myths, as well as the character of According to the prophecies of Ragnarök, Loki
the god Odin. was fated to take up arms against the gods and
precipitate the end of the world.
• Dreams: What the Norse believed about
dreams and their significance.d, to a large extent, Freya. Freya was a prominent Norse goddess, a
a common pantheon as well. member of the Vanir tribe, and a practitioner of
seidr magic. She held domain over love, lust, and
Cosmology. The cosmology of Norse mythology
fertility. A powerful and at times contradictory
– the places in which the action occurs and their
figure, Freya was the subject around which
arrangement, you could say – is primarily an
several major Norse myths revolved.
invisible, spiritual otherworld, although it
overlapped with the Vikings’ physical world in a Heimdall. Heimdall the watcher was a Norse
few cases. The Norse cosmology shares much in deity of the Aesir tribe, a god of keen eyesight
common with the cosmologies of other northern and hearing who stood ready to sound the
Eurasian shamanic traditions, but it presents a Gjallarhorn at the beginning of Ragnarök. He was
unique take on those shared patterns. known as a protector of the gods and a guardian
of the passages to and from the Nine Worlds.
Baldur. “Shining” Baldur of the Aesir tribe was the Beowulf is the title of the earliest existing Anglo-
loveliest and most beloved of all gods in the Saxon epic. It tells the story of Beowulf, a Norse*
Norse pantheon. As the wisest of all the gods, he hero and warrior who fought and conquered
served as arbiter of disputes, settling feuds several monsters that terrorized Denmark and
among both gods and men. His death, predicted Sweden. The poem combines elements of Anglo-
as an early event in Ragnarok, led to the Saxon culture with Christian moral values in an
imprisonment of Loki. extraordinary adventure story. Beowulf is divided
into two parts. The action in the first part takes
Freyr. Freyr, of the Vanir tribe, was the Norse god
place in Denmark, where Hrothgar is king.
of masculine virility and reproduction. Known as a
Beowulf, a mighty warrior from Sweden, comes to
bringer of peace and prosperity, he was the twin
help the king destroy a monster. The second part,
brother of Freya, the goddess of wisdom and
set in Sweden, provides an account of Beowulf as
magic. Often associated with sunshine and fair
an old man who must rid his country of a
weather, Freyr was famed for his fabulous
fearsome dragon.
accoutrements, including a glow in the dark boar,
a ship that folded up and could be carried in a Sigurd (Old Norse: Sigurðr) or Siegfried (Middle
pocket, and a sword that fought on its own. High German: Sîvrit) is a legendary hero of
Germanic mythology, who killed a dragon and
Frigg. As the wife of Odin, Frigg served as the
was later murdered. It is possible he was inspired
queen of the Norse deities. A member of the Aesir
by one or more figures from the Frankish
tribe, Frigg was associated with marriage, love,
Merovingian dynasty, with Sigebert I being the
wisdom, and prophecy. She was also the mother
most popular contender. Fafnir, in Nordic
of shining Baldur, whose death bereaved the
mythology, name of the great dragon slain by
gods and set in motion the chain of events known
Sigurd, the Norse version of the German hero
as Ragnarök.
Siegfried. As told in the Völsunga saga (“Saga of
Tyr. Tyr was a Norse god, one of the Aesir deities, the Volsungs”), Fafnir slew his father, Hreithmar,
who represented war, bravery, and justice. He to obtain the vast amount of gold which Hreithmar
was best known for losing an arm to the had demanded of Odin as a compensation for the
monstrous wolf Fenrir, sacrificing it so the other loss of one of his sons. Odin gave the gold but
gods could chain the beast. Though Tyr was once put a curse on it. Full of greed, Fafnir changed
a prominent god among the Germanic people, his into a dragon to guard his treasure and was later
importance eventually waned, and by the time of slain by the young hero Sigurd. Sigurd was
the Vikings he was little more than a minor deity. spurred on by another brother of Fafnir, the
blacksmith Regin. Once Sigurd, under the advice
Njord. The Norse god of the seas and the winds, of Odin, had killed Fafnir, Regin asked him to
Njord was the patriarch of the Vanir tribe and the cook the dragon’s heart for him. Sigurd touched
patron of sailors and fishermen. He was best the heart as it was cooking to test if it was done
known for fathering the twin deities Freyr and and burned his thumb. He put his thumb into his
Freya, as well as for his unhappy marriage to the mouth and was then able to understand the
giant Skadi. language of birds. (In this tale, knowledge is given
Idun. The Norse goddess of youthfulness and to one who eats the heart of a dragon.) The birds
fertility, Idun carried magical apples that told Sigurd that it was Regin’s intention to kill him,
preserved youth and prevented aging. By so instead Sigurd killed Regin and left with
distributing these apples to the gods, Idun kept Fafnir’s treasure.
them young and active. In one of the most
famous Norse myths, Idun was abducted by a
giant seeking to claim her apples.
Nerthus. Nerthus was a Germanic goddess of
peace and prosperity about whom little is known.
According to the Roman historian Tacitus, the
Germanic tribes performed a cart ceremony to
honor Nerthus. Wheeled from village to village,
Nerthus’s cart caused observers to lay aside arms
and celebrate peace
Norse Myth and Literature