#“this appears to be an Aztec Quetzalcoatl”

[ashanimus]

white people shut the everloving fuck up about what appropriating peoples culture means challenge and just enjoy your goddamn sparkle dragons

[neil-gaiman]

Stop me if you've answered these kinds of questions before:

I loved reading the graphic novel adaptation of American Gods. I was wondering if there were any particular reasons why there were no indigenous spiritual figures that to make an appearance in the story, like Glooskap or Nanabozho from Wabanaki/Anishinaabe legends, or Mexican deities like the Aztec Quetzalcoatl, or the Mayan Kinich Ahau?

Was it due to a lack of available research material at the time of writing? Concerns about presentation? Time constraints? Did they just not fit into the story you were trying to tell?

I hope this doesn't come off as leading or accusative, it's not meant to be. I was just curious. I would love to hear your perspective on this, as the author.

I think you may have missed Wisakedjak, who is there and vital to the story.

There are a number of Mexican and Mayan deities in the book, but they are described and not named.

[talonabraxas]

Ouroboros

Ouroboros meaning and origin

The ouroboros symbol, often depicted as a snake eating its tail to form a circle, is one of the oldest and most recurring motifs in the mythology and iconography of various cultures around the world. Next, I will tell you about some of the most notable origins and meanings of ouroboros in different cultures:

Ancient Egypt: One of the first known records of the ouroboros comes from ancient Egypt, where it was associated with the serpent Uraeus, a protective deity represented as a cobra. Ouroboros was related to the cycle of life, death and renewal, and was often found in amulets and funerary jewelry. It was also linked to the idea of ​​eternity and the unity of time.

Ancient Greece: In Greek mythology, the ouroboros is sometimes associated with the serpent Ladon, who guarded the Garden of the Hesperides and is often depicted as a serpent eating its own tail. This symbol is related to the idea of ​​constant regeneration and the infinite cycle of nature.

India: In Hindu tradition, the ouroboros is found in the image of the Ouroboros Ananta Shesha, the cosmic serpent that supports the god Vishnu as he floats in the cosmic ocean. This snake represents eternal time and the infinite cycle of creation and destruction in the universe.

Alchemy: During the Middle Ages and Renaissance, the ouroboros became an important symbol in alchemy. It represented the union of opposites, such as the masculine principle (the Sun) and the feminine principle (the Moon), and symbolized transmutation and the search for the philosopher's stone, which conferred immortality.

Other cultures: The ouroboros also appears in Chinese mythology, where it is known as the "Jade Dragon." Additionally, it is found in Mesoamerican cultures such as the Aztec, where it is associated with the feathered serpent Quetzalcoatl.

The general meaning of the ouroboros is the idea of ​​an eternal cycle, renewal, the unity of opposites and eternity. It is also interpreted as a symbol of self-reflection and self-transcendence, where the individual seeks understanding and wisdom by exploring their own limitations and potentials.

Overall, the paradox of the ouroboros challenges our conventional understanding of time, renewal, and the relationship between opposites. It invites contemplation and reflection on the interconnectedness of all things and the complex nature of existence. The paradox inherent in the symbol has made it a powerful and enduring motif in various cultures and philosophical traditions.

In summary, the ouroboros is an ancient and universal symbol that has evolved throughout human history and culture, representing profound concepts related to the cyclical nature of life and the pursuit of wisdom and transcendence. His legacy endures to this day as a reminder of the richness and depth of human symbolic thought.

[raisha-gs]

A little something I had on the backburner since December. As you guys know, The Casagrandes Movie was teased early last month, and it showed Ronnie Anne and a unnamed new character in a Mayan (or Aztec?) temple. 

Naturally I was inspired to draw said character who, according to the rumormill, is named Punguari. But it did get me thinking, The Loud House movie had some fantastical elements in it, most prominently, the Loch Loud Dragon. So would it be a stretch to imagine that a mythical creature would appear in the Casagrandes Movie as well?

Well, that's the gist of this artwork: Ronnie Anne and Punguari encountering a Quetzalcoatl with the later defending the former with her magic. That's right, I'm willing to bet that the new girl is probably gonna have powers of some kind.

Anyway, this is just speculation on my part, and we won't know until a trailer of some kind is revealed. Watch as this post ages poorly. lol

And yes, I'll be making a bingo card just like the last movie.

[docgold13]

Heroes & Villains The DC Animated Universe - Paper Cut-Out Portraits and Profiles

Justice League Supplemental - Aztek & Starman

The Q Foundation, a secret society of religious outcasts and renegade scientists foretold the return of the Aztec primary god, Quetzalcoatl and the final battle between him and his brother Tezcatlipoca. In preparation, the Foundation created war suits to be worn by specially trained operatives. Uno was the latest to take on the Aztek mantle and relocated to Vanity City under the alias of Dr. Curt Falconer.Powered by fourth dimensional energies, the Aztek war suit is a conglomeration of magic and technology giving its bearer an array of powers such as super strength, super speed, super hearing, telescopic vision, x-ray vision, infrared vision, invisibility and flight.

Aztek was recruited into the Justice League when the team expanded its roster in the wake of the Thanagarian Invasion.  As a member of the League, Aztek aided in fighting Mordru, the Dark Heart, and the Ultimen.

Born into the ruling monarchy of the alien planet of Throneworld, Price Gavyn chose to roam the cosmos in search of adventure so that he might learn humility and valor.  On earth he came to be known as Starman and possessed the abilities to absorb and redirect solar radiation.  He was asked to join the Justice Lesgue when the team expanded its ranks and he gladly accepted.  

Starman participated in the battle against the Darkheart as well as the defense of earth from the invading armies of Darksied.  

The two heroes both first appeared in the debut episode of the first season of Justice League Unlimited, ‘Initiation.’  

[dailydemonspotlight]

Xiuhtecuhtli - Day 87

Race: Yoma

Alignment: Neutral-Law

August 6th, 2024

Fire is a fact of life for many cultures around the globe- a source of heat and warmth may become a source of life in the coldest nights, and flame is needed to cook away the imperfections of food, per instance. This, naturally, would lead to the reverence of fire being a common idea in many old-world religions and traditions, as its importance cannot go understated. This was an especially important fact in the Mesoamericas, however, as food without fire was rare, and the arid climates made flames spread fast- it was as revered as it was feared. This, predictably, led to the lack of understanding regarding fire transforming into, what else, but a representation of that fire itself, as unpredictable as it was important. This deity, at least to the Aztecs, took the form of today's Demon of the Day: Xiuhtecuhtli, the Turquoise Lord.

Strangely in contrast to his role as a god of fire, Xiuhtecuhtli was a rather down-to-earth deity, though one filled with youthful vigor. This was likely due to the fact that he represented more than just fire, however- he represented several important aspects of light itself, such as the daytime, warmth, the hearth, the afterlife, volcanoes, and he was referred to with many names as well- Cuezaltzin and Ixcozauhqui, per instance. While typically portrayed as a young god, ironically he's one of the oldest gods in the Pantheon, typically portrayed alongside and identified with the elder god of fire Huehueteotl, one of the eldest gods in the Aztec pantheon.

Xiuhtecuhtli was a rather important god, though not one counted among the commonly cited main four of Huitzilopochtli, Tonatiuh, Tlaloc, and Quetzalcoatl. However, this doesn't make his role in many stories irrelevant, as he was still a figure who held great importance to the day-to-day life of many Aztecs. After all, as the creator of flame and light, he also was commonly cited as the creator of none other than life itself, though this appears to be rather contested- it may have been Huehueteotl who did so, and interpretations may change based on if one conflates Xiuhtecuhtli with Huehueteotl or not. What Xiuhtecuhtli also did, however, was protect human life from its end, and this one is far harder to dispute.

At the end of the Aztec calendar, Xiuhtecuhtli would preside over a great festival known as the New Fire Ceremony to ensure the sun could continue its cycle without being consumed by the darkness. During this festival, held to ensure the successful renewal of the sun (it's a long story), all fires were put out, all idols were cleansed, and a group of priests would reside atop Citlaltepec, waiting for the stars to align. When the stars did, and the Yohualtecuhtli star shone brightly in the middle of the sky, a priest would cut out a sacrifice's heart then set a flame in the now-empty chest cavity of the sacrifice. This is, rather obviously, a part of where the whole perception of sacrifices in Aztec culture came from, though it was far from the only sacrifice focused ritual, but I'm getting ahead of myself. After this fire would be lit, it would be used to relight all fireplaces throughout the city.

This was an incredibly important ritual, and one that Xiuhtecuhtli had reign over to ensure the next part of the Aztec cycle of life. This all points to a great amount of importance itself being placed upon this deity, as well as fire itself, as it was believed this ritual could be used, if successful, to prevent the incursion of monsters from the dark that would slaughter the Aztec people. Far more rituals throughout the culture did appear to be focused around sacrifice, though the Aztecs were far from a simple blood mongering group who killed for the sake of sacrificing. The importance of these rituals, these sacrifices, and the cost of human life actually shows that they had respect for their fellow man. Still, blood sacrifices weren't good, and I hope that isn't controversial, it's just that they were a product of their time.

Xiuhtecuhtli was also commonly represented with the color turquoise, and this ties into his design, oddly enough. In SMT, a great pillar of fire pierces through a turquoise mask to represent the deity, and this is a surprisingly faithful image to his depictions, especially in the form of the mask itself, though it does take some creative liberties. However, this design is fantastic, and I wish I got to see it in 3D. Maybe next game...

[victorluvsalice]

Hi all -- I'm on vacation this week, and I wanted to share with you some shots of my trip earlier today to Roger Williams Park Zoo to look at their "Dragons & Mythical Creatures" exhibit! This is a special exhibit running until August 11th where they've set up a bunch of simple animatronics of various mythical creatures from around the world around their Wetlands Trail path. The animatronics are a bit goofy, as you can probably see from the above pictures, but they were still fun to look at, and I had a good time going through and looking at them all with my folks. :) In order of their appearance in the photoset above, we have --

-->An alicorn (winged unicorn) right at the entrance

-->A siren by the lake -- they actually had three mermaids, but the other two were the traditional lovely ladies, so I decided to prioritize getting a picture of the one with the goofiest smile XD

-->Your traditional European dragon, who roared with glowing eyes

-->The Aztec god Quetzalcoatl, depicted in feathered serpent form wrapped around a pyramid

-->The Ninki Nanka, a West African beast with the face of a horse, the neck of a giraffe, and the body of a crocodile, which lives in muddy mangroves and according to the Limba people in Sierra Leone, causes thunder and lightning -- as you can see, this one has a horn for extra value

-->An Egyptian Sphinx sporting the traditional Egyptian funerary mask for pharaohs -- honestly, between that technicolor mask and the way it was wiggling its head, it was one of the most off-putting exhibits there

-->A Japanese kappa, a mischievous creature that here appears as a turtle standing upright with a vicious-looking beak and a divot on the top of its head -- I believe that divot is supposed to hold water, and if you can trick them into bowing to you, the water will flow out and they'll lose a lot of their powers

-->A Japanese Kasa-obake, which is an old and neglected umbrella that has picked up a spirit and become a mischievous ghost with a long tongue and a single eye. ...I will admit, I immediately accused it of being a Pokemon. XD

-->A traditional griffin, with the white feathered head, wings, and talons of an eagle and the body of a lion -- I especially like this one because it includes feathered ears as well, something you don't see on a lot of griffins -- but that you do see on the GRYPHON in the original Alice books!

-->A yeti -- who you may recognize as Bumble from the Rankin-Bass stop motion Christmas films, because apparently the park couldn't resist

-->FUCKING CTHULHU. With his head out of proportion to the rest of his body. If you're wondering what the hell he's doing here, Roger Williams Park Zoo is in Providence, Rhode Island, which just so happens to be the birthplace of HP Lovecraft. I guess they felt they had to. XD

[santoschristos]

"All religious forms are manifestations of the great cosmic, universal, infinite religion latent in every atom of the cosmos." --Samael Aun Weor - The Perfect Matrimony

Any genuine religion, mystical tradition, or type of spirituality is an attempt to communicate something of value and importance, which is that there is a purpose to life that one can experience for oneself.

The main traditions that we study here are Hinduism, Judaism, and the reform of those religions which came later, which are Buddhism and Christianity. We study all religions, but these are the four main ones we are interested in.

There are people all over the world that study the religion that they grew up with, or the religion that they became attracted to during their life. All of those traditions are very beautiful and have a great deal of knowledge that they express to humanity.

But unfortunately, people do not see religions for what they truly are. Over many centuries, religions have become a mere belief, something that people follow, respect, study and believe in, but rarely experience. It is very rare, sadly, to find anyone who has true experience of what the religions are teaching. Yet, that is their purpose: to guide us to experience what they teach.

In this tradition, the experience of religion is our primary goal. Our primary interest is learning the practical value of each religion.

Now in the case of Buddhism, Hinduism, Judaism and Christianity, all of them in their essence teach exactly the same thing. On the surface they can appear different, but in their heart they are exactly the same.

They are attempting to convey the experience of a higher way of living, something that cannot be communicated in words. Each religion is like the expression of direct mystical experience with the divine.

Jesus was a vessel for that spirit which came in order to teach the same thing, the same religion, the same truth in different places. As an example: in India we find the Lord Krishna, who taught the same truth, in different levels of course, according to its own vessel. The vessel of Krishna who is one with that Spirit and is that same Spirit itself is the Bodhisattva; the Bodhisattva of Krishna is of course Arjuna, who we find in the Bhagadvad Gita.

Arjuna is the one who is talking to the Lord Krishna in the Bhagavad Gita, but you have to understand that Arjuna is the bodhisattva of Krishna. So, Krishna is the master of Arjuna. Krishna is the master and Arjuna is the Bodhisattva, who is learning from him and is at the same time teaching to others through the same.

The thing is that when we talk about this spiritual prophecy, or this intelligence that is able to incarnate in many places in order to establish the religion or the way to union with God of that time and place, this concept is understood in the western world, through the Bible, but in a very incomplete way.

Indeed, in the West there is a lot of ignorance related with this spirit, because in many different places this spirit has received many names. Among the Tibetans, for instance, Christ is known as Avalokiteshvara; you find that name in the Buddhist Pantheon.

Among the Taoists you find Kwan Yin. Kwan Yin is of course, according to the Tao, the “subtle voice,” or the “sweet voice,” in other words, the verb, the word, Logos.

Among the Mayans, they call this spirit, Kukulkan. The word “Kukul” means bird and “Kan” means serpent. So, when you say Kukulkan, this means the “bird-serpent.” That spirit, the “bird-serpent” in Aztec language or Nahua, is Quetzalcoatl.

There among the Peruvians, the Incas of Peru they call him Viracocha. Viracocha is the same Vishnu, the Lord. Of course, Chokmah חכמה, in the Kabbalah as you know means “Wisdom” and this is related with this spirit of wisdom.

All religions are precious stones strung on the golden thread of Divinity.

All religions conserve the eternal values. False religions do not exist.

All religions are necessary; all religions fulfill their mission in life.

It is absurd to state that our neighbor’s religion is useless and that only ours is authentic. If the neighbor’s religion is not good then my religion is not good either because the values are always the same.

It is stupid to state that the religion of the indigenous tribes of America is idolatry because they too have the right to say that our religion is idolatry. If we laugh at them, they can also laugh at us. If we say that they adore or that they adored idols, then they too can say that we adore idols.

We cannot discredit the religion of others without discrediting ours as well because the principles are always the same. All religions have the same principles.

Under the sun, every religion is born, grows, develops, multiplies into many sects, and dies. This is how it has always been and will always be.

Religious principles never die. The religious forms can die, but the religious principles, in other words, the eternal values, can never die. They continue; they are re-dressed with new forms.

Religion is inherent to life in the same manner that humidity is to water.

It is worthwhile to study all religions. The comparative study of religions leads one to comprehend that all religions conserve the eternal values, that no religion is false, that all are true.

The word religion comes from the Latin word religare, which implies “to link or bind or union of the Soul to God."

"As the blazing fire reduces wood to ashes; similarly, the fire of Self-knowledge reduces all bonds of karma to ashes..." --Krishna - Bhagavad-gita 4:36-37

The eternal values embodied in the world's religions express the essential requirements for the consciousness to enter into the light and fully realize the purpose of living.

In other words, the heart message of every religion seeks to awaken the consciousness and eliminate suffering, so that the eternal light may be known through our own direct experience.

"Truth is one; sages call it by various names." -- Rig Veda

Original Post by Mac Fion

[warthogreporter]

When it comes to mixed mythology media I feel there's a set of figures often used to go 'oh we're acknowledging x mythology' but it's only them and done in a very surface level way. Just taking the one or two names that have gotten into broader pop culture.

And a little biased as a Mesoamerican mythology fan, but I think Maya mythology got the worst of it in terms of who ended up in those slots.

On one end you have a generic monster treated as both a unique individual and god, on the other you have an actual deity but one only used as a Quetzalcoatl palette swap with no actual Maya elements. Meanwhile you're lucky to see actual prominent figures in the Popol Vuh appear.

At least for the Aztecs Quetzalcoatl is a genuinely prominent figure with a lot to go off of, even if he's portrayed badly more often than not (Quetzalcoatl did take human sacrifices).

[hplovecraftmuseum]

Lovecraft and animals, Part 7: Snakes - Snakes did not become particularly important in Lovecraft's tales until fairly late in his career (since Lovecraft considered himself a gentleman amateur 'man of letters', using the term 'career' might have been distasteful for him). The 'Father of all serpents' first appeared in his ghost writing/revision work. THE CURSE OF YIG and THE MOUND, both featured references to 'Yig'. Though there was some uncertainty as to who really coined the name (Lovecraft or his client) in his letters to other writer friends Lovecraft claimed that he himself came up with the name and concept of Yig. Yig is never actually featured in any Lovecraft story in the same way as Great Cthulhu. We do not get a detailed discription of him either. We might assume that since the stories that carry his name most abundantly are connected to the American West and it's pre - Anglo inhabitants that Yig is perhaps the original entity around which all First Nations Snake-God myths were born. The Aztec diety Quetzalcoatl would be a prime example. A snake-like bundle of hair that can move about even after it is cut from a woman's head shows up in the particularly dreadful tale, MEDUSA'S COIL. Lovecraft penned this abomination for Zealia Bishop but the story did not see publication until after his death. (1940. Weird Tales) Of all Lovecraft works written for clients seeking to develop a career as professional writers, MEDUSA'S COIL has got to be one of the most rediculous! Still, Lovecraft injects references to Cthulhu - called Clooloo here, as well as Shub-Niggurath and R'lyeh. Interestingly Lovecraft also makes mention here of the author of the fabled book, Les Chants de Maldoror, also known as Maldoror by a young Frenchman who called himself 'Comte de Lautremont'. Les Chants de Maldoror was written between 1868 and 1869 and was highly influential for the Surrealist School of artists and poets of the 1930s. Lovecraft admitted in letters that he had read parts of Maldoror on several occasions. HPL also knew of Salvador Dali's early works. Apparently Lovecraft was not particularly impressed with Surrealism in general, however. Lastly Lovecraft makes a passing reference to 'the serpent-men of Valusia in one of his later tales. This brief mention was a tip of the hat to Lovecraft's writer pal, Robert E. Howard. Howard and Lovecraft never met, but they corresponded by mail for many years until Howard's death by suicide on June 11, 1936. Howard is best known today for his virtual 'invention' of the Sword and Sorcery genre of imaginative writing. He was the creator of the famed barbarian King, Conan. Lovecraft made mention of a number of his writer friend's fictitious gods and monsters as his own mock mythology/cosmic religion developed, most importantly Clark Ashton Smith's whom Lovecraft admired greatly. (Exhibit 415)

[talonabraxas]

Ouroboros

Ouroboros meaning and origin

The ouroboros symbol, often depicted as a snake eating its tail to form a circle, is one of the oldest and most recurring motifs in the mythology and iconography of various cultures around the world. Next, I will tell you about some of the most notable origins and meanings of ouroboros in different cultures:

Ancient Egypt: One of the first known records of the ouroboros comes from ancient Egypt, where it was associated with the serpent Uraeus, a protective deity represented as a cobra. Ouroboros was related to the cycle of life, death and renewal, and was often found in amulets and funerary jewelry. It was also linked to the idea of ​​eternity and the unity of time.

Ancient Greece: In Greek mythology, the ouroboros is sometimes associated with the serpent Ladon, who guarded the Garden of the Hesperides and is often depicted as a serpent eating its own tail. This symbol is related to the idea of ​​constant regeneration and the infinite cycle of nature.

India: In Hindu tradition, the ouroboros is found in the image of the Ouroboros Ananta Shesha, the cosmic serpent that supports the god Vishnu as he floats in the cosmic ocean. This snake represents eternal time and the infinite cycle of creation and destruction in the universe.

Alchemy: During the Middle Ages and Renaissance, the ouroboros became an important symbol in alchemy. It represented the union of opposites, such as the masculine principle (the Sun) and the feminine principle (the Moon), and symbolized transmutation and the search for the philosopher's stone, which conferred immortality.

Other cultures: The ouroboros also appears in Chinese mythology, where it is known as the "Jade Dragon." Additionally, it is found in Mesoamerican cultures such as the Aztec, where it is associated with the feathered serpent Quetzalcoatl.

The general meaning of the ouroboros is the idea of ​​an eternal cycle, renewal, the unity of opposites and eternity. It is also interpreted as a symbol of self-reflection and self-transcendence, where the individual seeks understanding and wisdom by exploring their own limitations and potentials.

Overall, the paradox of the ouroboros challenges our conventional understanding of time, renewal, and the relationship between opposites. It invites contemplation and reflection on the interconnectedness of all things and the complex nature of existence. The paradox inherent in the symbol has made it a powerful and enduring motif in various cultures and philosophical traditions.

In summary, the ouroboros is an ancient and universal symbol that has evolved throughout human history and culture, representing profound concepts related to the cyclical nature of life and the pursuit of wisdom and transcendence. His legacy endures to this day as a reminder of the richness and depth of human symbolic thought.

[wei75631]

P6 Idea - 22 Dragon Veins

First let's talk about dragon veins. They are formed from the collective subconscious of extinct creatures on the earth, and they have always supported the balance of this world. After the protagonist completes certain tasks and the dragon veins enter into a contract, the dragon veins will reside in the protagonist's body and allow the protagonist to give birth to a "cosmic egg" that symbolizes motherhood. As the protagonist takes care of the cosmic egg, it will turn into a persona.

The personas hatched from the cosmic egg are a mixture of their own mythological images and Mesozoic reptilians. The arrangement of the 22 Arcana is as follows:

The Fool - Yam, the sea god in Ugaritic mythology - A dromaeosaur covered in ocean-style armor

The Magician - Aitvaras, the fire spirit in Lithuanian folklore - An oviraptor dressed as a wizard with hands on fire

The Priestess - Kuraokami, the water goddess in Japanese mythology - An elegant plesiosaur wrapped in Shinto relics

The Empress - Meretseger, the winged snake goddess in Egyptian mythology - Archaeopteryx in ancient Egyptian style

The Emperor - Yatonokami, the horned snake god in Japanese mythology - A stegosaur decorated with cold weapons from the Jomon period

The Hierophant - Itzamna, the lizard god in Mayan mythology - A sauropod made of Mayan architectural stones

The Lovers - Melusine, the winged human-snake fairy from French folklore - A petite pterosaur with a draconic fairy sculpture on its tail

The Chariot - Tarasque, the monster suppressed by a saint in French legend - An ankylosaur assembled from a round tank and turret

Justice - Mushussu, the hybrids appearing on decorations in ancient Mesopotamia - Shringasaurus decorated with snake, ram, lion, eagle and scorpion armors

The Hermit - Fafnir, the dwarf who transformed into dragon in Norse mythology - An megalania wearing dragon-shaped armor

Fortune - Illuyanka, the sea serpent in Hittite mythology - Mosasaurus with cyberpunk style

Strength - Vrtra, the powerful monster in Hindu mythology - A tyrannosaur that blends into the truck and keeps smoking

The Hanged Man - Python, the big snake killed by Apollo in Greek mythology - Titanoboa with steampunk elements

Death - Crom Cruach, the heretic god in Celtic mythology - Triceratops with steam train and gothic decoration

Temperance - Nyami Nyami, the snake god of the Zambezi River - A spinosaur with Gaigan elements

The Devil - Apophis, the evil snake god in Egyptian mythology - A giant cobra made of dark energy

The Tower - Fernyiges, the cunning black dragon in Hungarian folklore - A wise stygimoloch wearing a black cloak

The Star - Yurlungur, the rainbow serpent in Australian Aboriginal mythology - Prehistoric salamander in Aboriginal totem style

The Moon - Bakunawa, the sea dragon that swallowed the moon in Philippine mythology - Ichthyosaur composed of moon-shaped luminous wooden boards

The Sun - Quetzalcoatl, the greatest god in Aztec mythology - A giant pterosaur in the style of a fighter jet and Rodan

Judgement - Kur, the dragon that symbolizes the underworld in Mesopotamian mythology - Countless dragon veins and sharp metals piled up to form a Daikajiu like Godzilla

As for "The World", I'm keeping it secret for the time being in order not to prevent the plot from leaking out.

[diarythebookwyrm]

Insane Shit I was Taught as a Mormon (in no particular order)

That all indigenous people in North America were actually Jews who sailed from somewhere in the Middle East all the way to somewhere in either South, Central, or North America in 600 BC.

That somehow these Jews started out white (which...is like Jesus being white, but sure Jan) and then as they became more "sinful" they became darker skinned.

Oh, and by 300 AD all the Nephites (the "white and delightsome" and "holy" people) were killed in a battle with the Lamanites (the sinful and darkskinned people) with only one Nephite left named Moroni who buried an abridged history carved on gold plates, a special translation stone called the Urim and Thumim in a hill in New York State for Joseph Smith, Jr. to find in 1823

That Joseph Smith, Jr. translated the Book of Mormon by "wearing" the Urim and Thumim, which were supposedly a breastplate with lenses set into the shoulders like some weird goggles that you could adjust. (This was official Church History until the last like...twenty years or so, when they finally started admitting how he really "translated" the gold plates. I'll go into that later)

More under the cut, because there's a Lot of Weird Shit

That Joseph Smith, Jr. and Oliver Cowdery received the Aaronic (or "lesser") priesthood by a river in Philadelphia from the spirit of John the Baptist, and then the Melchizedek (or "higher") priesthood by that same river from Peter, James and John (yes, Jesus' companions/disciples).

That Quetzalcoatl was actually how the Aztecs explained Jesus Christ coming to the New World during the three days before he appeared to his apostles in Jerusalem. I wish I was making this one up.

That there were three Nephites who were basically the New World Peter, James and John who told Jesus they wanted to "tarry" on earth until the second coming. This is such a Thing (TM) among Mormons that ppl claim to this day to have had interactions with the Three Nephites. like it's wild how much they buy into this, along with the idea that John the Beloved is still walking around. There's a whole ass Christmas book (with included musical accompaniment CD--yes, really--because everyone has A Song) about a woman discovering the True Meaning of Christmas (TM) by being a caretaker nurse to a guy who claims to be John the Beloved that's written by a popular Mormon musician.

That Joseph Smith, Jr. only ever had three "extra" wives, because he didn't really want to practice polygamy, but God made him do it.

That Joseph Smith, Jr. was killed for being the True Voice of God, and not because he was a lying, narcissistic sack of shit. (more on that later)

That God is an alien (they don't say that but come on) who lives on a Star/Planet (they use the term star, but there's no way anything lives on a star) called Kolob. There's a whole ass hymn that they just straight up only sing in church on rare occasions that's all about how God lives on Kolob. The reason they don't sing it? because they KNOW how insane it sounds, and they don't want people to know just how fucking weird they are.

That if you are a Truly Good Mormon in life and get all your appropriate ordinances done (like being married in the Temple. you legit cannot enter Super Heaven without that), then you go to Super Heaven The Celestial Kingdom. And if you are the Specialist Boi (it's almost certainly gonna be all men lbr) then you go to the Highest Level of Super Heaven the Celestial Kingdom and get your own planet to be God for.

That there are three tiers of Heaven. Terrestrial (for those who did okay for being not Mormon Godless Heathens), Telestial (for those who Did Accept Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior, but weren't quite Special Enough for Super Heaven), and Celestial aka Super Heaven.

That Adam (as in Adam and Eve) was actually the Archangel Michael given a human body because he was a Super Special Boi who helped God and Jesus create the world.

Lies I Learned the Truth of Once I Put in Minimal Effort:

That the Urim and Thumim weren't real. The way Joseph Smith actually "translated" the Book of Mormon was by putting a "seer stone" in a hat, putting his face in the hat to seal out all the light, and "seeing" the words printed on the stone. This was also a scam he used several years before he started "translating" to find hidden treasure. He was arrested for fraud for doing this in Philadelphia, which was why his future father-in-law didn't want Emma Hale (later Emma Smith) to marry Joseph in the first place.

The seer stone looked like this:

That Joseph Smith didn't just have three "bonus wives" who were poor women with no man to financially support them, but actually closer to 35. At least eleven of these wives were teenagers when he coerced them into marrying him. At least two were polyandrous, where Joseph coerced both the woman and her legal husband into letting him marry the woman in question. The youngest and most scandalous of these girls was Helen Mar Kimball, who was fourteen. Several of these women then went on to marry Brigham Young, who had a total of fifty-six wives.

Joseph claimed that he was "encouraged" to practice polygamy by an angel with a "drawn sword" and used this to coerce the young women and girls into accepting his proposal.

That Joseph wasn't killed for being The One True Prophet, but for the rumors of him being a polygamist who married children. He was arrested for destroying a federally owned printing press where a former Mormon was printing pamphlets about the girls Joseph Smith was forcing to marry him. The mob that came to Carthage Jail were there because they heard the rumors and wanted to get rid of a pervert, basically.

The Mormon Church lies about a lot of their history. And even when they do finally admit the truth about it, they hide it so you have to really go hunting for the proof in their "approved" sites.

[highly-important]

Exploring Zonai Art

Just some misc musings. Putting under a tag for spoilers

There is definitely a visual connection between the Captain Constructs and the Bargainer statues, right? The cone head and vertical stacked eyes. The warrior constructs are meant to evoke death.

One thing is I am not sure if the bargainer statues are made by the Zonai or just discovered by them. To me, they look intentionally different from other Zonai art. The bargainer statue in Great Abandoned Central Mine looks like it is being excavated. If this is the case, the warrior constructs are built in the likeness of the Bargainers.

The eye in the bargainer statue looks like it might be a proto version of the Sheikah eye.  The gossip stones might also be related to bargainer statues.

The Goddess statues are associated with light and life. They might be dual opposites to the Bargainer statues. (The big Bargainer in the Grand Central Mine is also directly below the Temple of Time.)

The friendly constructs have lightbloom motifs on them, the life/light opposing the  death/darkness. (Later, Zelda also gets lightbloom earrings symbolizing her role and abilities.)

On Link, the Depths Gear looks almost like a ritual executioner hood. Zant’s helmet in Twilight Princess has the same conical shape, but could also just be a coincidence.

From a real-world art direction standpoint, the Zonai art makes a lot of references to Indigenous Latin American imagery. The Constructs reference the jade mosaic and tusk shapes seen in Aztec death masks.

There are also references to the Quetzalcoatl, the feathered serpent that represents heaven and earth. The Quetzalcoatl is a synthesis of  opposites, representing the destructive and developing nature of the earth, the snake, and the fertile and rendering forces of the heavens, the bird. 

The Zonai dragon statues usually have two heads, and often appear as circles, maybe representing a cycle of birth and destruction.

I haven’t beat TOTK yet so I don’t know where the story is going, but the dual opposites of life/death, heaven/earth, male/female, light/dark all thematically play a huge role in the art, story, and design of this game.

 This TikTok user does a better job of exploring other Latin American art references in TOTK than I can.

[veale2006-blog]

Feathered Serpent The earliest representations of feathered serpents appear in the Olmec culture (c. 1400–400 BC. The Olmec culture predates the Maya and the Aztec. This cultural enclave extended from the Gulf of Mexico to Nicaragua. Most surviving representations in Olmec art, such as Monument 19 at La Venta, and a painting in the Juxtlahuaca cave, show the Feathered Serpent as a crested rattlesnake, sometimes with feathers covering the body and legs, and often close to humans. It is believed that Olmec supernatural entities such as the feathered serpent were the forerunners of many later Mesoamerican deities, although experts disagree on the feathered serpent's religious importance to the Olmec. H.B. Nicholson notes that as early as the Middle Formative (Preclassic) in the Olmec tradition, images of serpents with avian characteristics were often represented in several types of artifacts and monuments. This composite creature, who has been denominated the “Avian Serpent” and “Olmec God VII,” appears to constitute an earlier form of the later full-fledged Feathered Serpent, the rattlesnake covered with feathers, probably with at least some of the same celestial and fertility connotations.

The pantheon of the people of Teotihuacan (200 BC – 700 AD) also featured a feathered serpent, shown most prominently on the Temple of the Feathered Serpent (dated 150–200 AD). The pyramid was built southeast of the intersection of the avenue of the dead and the east-end avenue. Several feathered serpent representations appear on the building, many of them including full-body profiles and feathered serpent heads. The sculptures utilize practices such as relief carving to create complex ornate compositions. Head carvings of the Feathered Serpent have been frequently found around the Pyramid of the Feathered Serpent.

While the feathered serpent has been a common theme in different Mesoamerican works, it is frequently and most commonly reflected in the architecture of Mesoamerican culture. Some common techniques used to incorporate imagery of the Feathered Serpent into this architecture is relief carving, which involves “a sculpture with figures that protrude from a background while still being attached to it” and normally combined with tenoned heads, which are large pieces of stone carved but have a peg of sorts to insert them into the wall area, adding more depth and details to the architecture. Other Mesoamerican structures, such as the ones in Tula, the capital of the later Toltecs (950–1150 AD), also featured profiles of feathered serpents..

The Aztec feathered serpent deity known as Quetzalcoatl is known from several Aztec codices, such as the Florentine codex, as well as from the records of the Spanish conquistadors. Quetzalcoatl was known as the deity of wind and rain, bringer of knowledge, the inventor of books, and associated with the planet Venus.

The corresponding Mayan god Kukulkan was rare in the Classic era Maya civilization. However, in the Popol Vuh, the K'iche' feathered serpent god Tepeu Q'uq'umatz is the creator of the cosmos.

Along with the feathered serpent deity, several other serpent gods existed in the pantheon of Mesoamerican gods with similar traits, all of which had an important role in the cultural development of Mesoamerican cultures. The evidence of the importance of these deities to Mesoamerican culture lies in the architecture left from these civilizations and the rituals surrounding them.

[blooming-grove]

a latine voter here: its not that quetzalcoatl is a dragon but more that quetzalcoatl can very easily fit into the category depending on how you define dragon imo? like if you were to ask me to list dragons i would probably not immediately say quetzalcoatl, but like, feathered serpent deity is really giving dragon, yknwo?

Answering this now since the fiona vs Quetzalcoatl poll is over (n im extremely surprised he won in the end like i really thought fiona would be the final round vs ace ppl irl) anyways

I agree!! Quetzalcoatl to me and many others is not a dragon but a feathered serpent n deity.

For me in particular I didnt see the relation of Quetzalcoatl being added as a dragon and a dragon species? type? sub-type? until it started appearing in media like video games and anime. Not that they appear often or are popular enough for it imo but in the few ones its more in the dragon dep. or divine dep. (bonus points for showing my bestie anime dragon girl Quetzalcoatl* to induce dmg)

*if ur curious i showed her both Lucoa from Dragon Maid** and Quetzalcoatl FGO **I wanna say search Lucoa out of ur own will but id rather not send minors that could be reading this towards that anime so trust me when i say her designs is a fanservice big breasted character type and her dragon form imo resembles more a chinese dragon without limbs and shitty wings. I also think it gets included into the dragon category bc it helps fill a gap in like "world dragons" if that makes sense. If you told me a giant reptile with wings id be yeah sure thats a dragon bc it fits.

But idk if its bc i grew up with subeta that has a feathered serpent pet species I would again not think yeah thats a dragon but yeah thats a snake.

Actually when i saw the coatls from fr i did not make the immediate connection at ALL (also fandomwise i saw them linked more to cats so i was like yeah makes sense KLJHLDKFJSAHLKJGH)

Now i gotta show one of my favorite designs in modern media for Quetzalcoatl comes from Las Leyendas***. LOOK AT THIS MAN!!! ITS SO COOL AND POWERFUL!!

***Las Leyendas was a very good show dripping with pride for its roots but i have to mention that they did have an episode with a w*ndigo and its been a long time so i cannot remember if there were other insensitive depictions of other cultures.

In this show he's the big bad but he's a complex deity he's the god of the wind and fertility!! and crops!! He's complex!! But he's not a dragon.... to me.

Now all this said and done take my opinion with a grain of salt because, while I am latine I am not of Aztec Descent or Mexican (my bestie is tho and when i asked they too didn't consider Quetzalcoatl a dragon but a serpent). In general I am always overjoyed n excited to just see him and just latam pantheon/characters around. I had slightly more typed but i had to retype this like 3 times bc tumblr didnt save. I really do appreciate the ask i was excited when i got it n wanted to respond immediately thank you for sharing!!