Nimrud Gate (Metropolitan Museum of Art). Photo: CC BY 2.0

Lamassu are mythical sphinx-like creatures with the head of a man, the body of a lion or bull and eagle wings that once guarded cities in Mesopotamia. They were considered powerful creatures that served as a clear reminder of the power of the king, and were also a symbol of guardian spirits for the whole people.

Colossal lamassu statues were discovered during excavations of the Assyrian capitals founded by King Ashuratsirpal II (ruled between 883 - 859 BC) and King Sargon II (ruled from 721 to 705 BC). The famous winged sphinxes from Nimrud in Iraq (the ancient city of Kalhu), guarding the gates of the city, were destroyed by ISIS militants in 2015. Other sculptural images of mythical animals belong to the cities of Dur Sharrukin (now Khorsabad, Iraq).

In every significant city, the city gate guarded the lamassa. At the same time, another winged sphinx was made to guard the entrance to the throne room. The Mesopotamians believed that the lamassu was scared away by the forces of chaos and brought peace to people's homes. In the Akkadian language, "lamassu" meant a protective spirit.

celestial beings

Lamassu are often found in the art and mythology of Mesopotamia. The first discovered lamassu was created around 3000 BC. e. Lamassu is also called limasi, alad and shedu.

Sometimes the lamassu was depicted as a female deity, but usually he had a male head. Women's lamassu were called aspasu.

Lamassu, a celestial being, is often identified with Inara, the Hittite-Hurrian goddess of wild steppe animals, daughter of the thunder god Teshub. She corresponds to the Greek goddess Artemis.

A winged bull with a human head, known as shedu, from Khorsabad. Oriental Institute of the University of Chicago. Photo: CC BY-SA 3.0

In the Epic of Gilgamesh and Enuma Elish, both lamassu and aspasu (Inara) are mentioned as symbols of the starry sky, constellations and the zodiac. Whether in female or male form, the lamassu is always represented by the stars, constellations or the zodiac.

The cults of lamassu and shedu were very common among the inhabitants of Mesopotamia from the Sumerian to the Babylonian period. They were associated with the guardians of the kings in various cults. The Akkadians associated lamassu with the god Papsukkal, and the god Isum (the god of fire, the messenger of the Babylonian gods) with shedu.

Mythical Guardians Influencing Christianity

Lamassu were the guardian spirits not only of kings and palaces, but of every single person. People felt more secure if their guardian spirit was nearby, so lamassa was carved on clay tablets that were buried under the threshold of the house. A house in which a lamassu was present was considered a more auspicious place than one where there was no guardian spirit. Archaeological research shows that the lamassu occupied a very important place in all the cultures that inhabited the lands of Mesopotamia and nearby.

As already mentioned, lamassu first appeared in the royal palaces at Nimrud during the reign of Ashurnatsirpal II and disappeared at the end of Ashurbanipal's reign between 668 and 627 BC. The reason for the disappearance of lamassu in buildings is unknown.

Lamassu in the northeastern palace of Ashurnatsirpal II. Photo: Public Domain

The ancient Jewish people inherited the iconography and symbolism of previous cultures and also revered the lamassa. The prophet Ezekiel wrote about the lamassu, describing it as a fantastic creature with the body of a bull or lion, the wings of an eagle and the head of a man. During the early Christian period, the four Gospels were also associated with each of these components.

Moreover, the lamassu may have been the reason for the use of the lion not only as a symbol of the brave and strong leader of the tribe, but also as a guardian.

majestic monuments

Lamassu still stand proudly on their plinths. They are carved from solid stone blocks. The oldest monumental sculptures made of alabaster reach a height of 3-4 meters. There are notable differences in body shape between early lamassu and sculptures from a later period. The first lamassu had the body of a lion, while the lamassu from the palace of King Sargon II had the body of a bull. Another interesting detail is that Sargon's lamassu is smiling.

In 713 BC Sargon founded his capital Dur Sharrukin. He decided that guardian spirits should be on each side of the seven gates as guardians. They were not only guardians and imposing decorative components, but also performed an architectural function, bearing part of the weight of the arch.

Sargon II showed great interest in lamassu. During his reign, a large number of sculptures and monuments of these mystical sphinxes were created. During this period, the body of the lamassu was more prominent. The head had the ears of a bull and a male face with a beard and thin mustache.

Lamassu from the British Museum. Photo: CC BY-SA 3.0

During excavations led by Paul Botta in early 1843, archaeologists discovered several sculptures that were sent to France to the Louvre Museum. Then, perhaps, Europeans first saw the mystical sphinxes of Mesopotamia.

Shedu shedu

Statues of human-headed winged lions and bulls guarding the entrances to the palaces of the Assyrian kings. In the ancient Mesopotamian religion, "shedu" were lower deities - "demons" or "geniuses". According to Sumerian mythology, the bull was an animal of the moon god Sin, associated with the symbolism of fertility. The lion symbolized royalty and strength. On the head of the shedu was a tiara with horns - the oldest sign of divinity and fertility. Shedu were generally thought of as good guardian spirits, which, however, could sometimes be "harmful", so they were sacrificed. The Assyrians, having adopted the culture of the ancient Sumerians, introduced the tradition of placing images of shedu on the sides of the palace gates as protection from evil spirits. The statues reached five meters in height and had five legs: an additional leg created the illusion of the animal moving towards the viewer. The most famous are the sculptures of winged bulls from the palace of Sargon II (late 8th century BC) in Dur-Sharrukin (now Khorsabad).

(Source: "Art. Modern Illustrated Encyclopedia." Under the editorship of Prof. A.P. Gorkin; M.: Rosmen; 2007.)

Synonyms:

See what "shedu" is in other dictionaries:

In Egyptian mythology, the guardian god, who protected from the bites of scorpions and snakes, was depicted as a boy with a bow and arrows and with a defeated scorpion at his feet ...

See Alad... Big Encyclopedic Dictionary

Shedu, in Egyptian mythology, the guardian god, who protected from the bites of scorpions and snakes, was depicted as a boy with a bow and arrows and with a defeated scorpion at his feet ... encyclopedic Dictionary

Exist., Number of synonyms: 1 custodian (18) ASIS Synonym Dictionary. V.N. Trishin. 2013 ... Synonym dictionary

- (in Akkadian), lammasu, lama (in Sumerian) in the Sumerian Akkadian mythology, the guardian spirit of a person, expressing his individuality. Shedu was ubiquitous throughout Assyria: the bull-man guarded all significant state ... ... Wikipedia

shedu- Those same, scho th lamassu ... Architecture and monumental art

Alad- I'm going to Sumero Akkad. myth. type of demon neutral. in relation to a person, from the end of the Old Babylonian. period, a good guardian spirit every. person. In an art critic. it is believed (perhaps erroneously) that the figures of winged bulls, guards. ... ... Ancient world. encyclopedic Dictionary

The culture of the peoples who inhabited in antiquity, in 41 m thousand BC. e., Mesopotamia Mesopotamia Mesopotamia Tigris and Euphrates (the territory of modern Iraq), the Sumerians and Akkadians, Babylonians and Assyrians, who created the large states of Sumer, Akkad, Babylonia (See ... ... Great Soviet Encyclopedia

- (Sumer.), Shedu (Akkadian), in the Sumerian Akkadian mythology, a type of demon, initially neutral in relation to a person, from the end of the Old Babylonian period, a good guardian spirit of each person. In art history, it is believed (perhaps erroneously) that ... ... Encyclopedia of mythology

An ancient state in the Northern Mesopotamia (on the territory of modern Iraq). The historical core of Assyria in the 3rd beginning of the 2nd millennium BC. e. was the sacred city of Ashur. In the XIV-IX centuries. BC e. A. repeatedly conquered the Northern Mesopotamia and ... ... Art Encyclopedia

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• Fear has no eyes, Shedu I.. What is our fear capable of? The provincial town is horrified: several people were found with identically terrible injuries - burnt wounds in the eye sockets. Shocked Experts...

Winged bull from the palace of Sargon II at Dur-Sharrukin Unknown author, Late 8th century BC Alabaster, Height 4.2 m Louvre, Paris

The art of Mesopotamia is the art of ancient states that existed in different periods in the Mesopotamian region (between the valleys of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers). In the history of Mesopotamian art, the following periods are distinguished:

Sumer (late 4th - early 3rd millennium BC);
- Sumero-Akkadian kingdom (second half of the 3rd millennium BC);
- Old Babylonian kingdom (20-17 centuries BC);
- Assyria (14-7 centuries BC),
- Neo-Babylonian kingdom (7-6 centuries BC).

The Sumerians founded the first city-states in Mesopotamia - Eridu, Uruk, Ur, Lagash, in each of which worshiped their gods.

In the center of each Sumerian-Akkadian city, temples rose on high mounds. Their powerful walls, made of raw brick dried in the sun, were alternating ledges and ledges. The interiors of all the buildings looked like corridors, into which the sun's rays sparingly penetrated through the windows made under the very arch. The main part of the temple was the central courtyard and adjoining rooms. Their walls were decorated with mother-of-pearl friezes or mosaics of red, black and white clay nails driven into the mud.

In con. 3rd millennium BC e. a new type of temple appeared - the ziggurat. Ziggurat in Ur. (Sumerian period)

In the main sanctuary of the temple, in the dim light of the bowls, one could see the stucco figure of the goddess protruding from the wall with a beautiful face made of white stone, eyes of blue lapis lazuli, and golden hair. Roughly made primitive statues were crowded along the walls, depicting people in prayer poses - all on the same face.

Standard from Ur. Inlaid with mother-of-pearl, lapis lazuli and red limestone. OK. 2600 BC e. British museum. London

Where the Euphrates used to flow into the Persian Gulf, the ruins of ancient Ur have been preserved. Archaeologists have discovered here in the underground chambers the burials of kings. Servants, singers, musicians, guards, charioteers were buried with them. According to the ideas of the inhabitants of Mesopotamia, as well as many ancient peoples, the servants had to serve their masters even after death. The buried were in thin colored clothes. Jewelry, harps, helmets, wagons, weapons, toiletries, dishes were also found here. Many household items are made of gold, silver and gems.

Scientists date these things around the XXVI century. BC e. Obviously, the following generations of masters studied according to these samples, one of which cast a wonderful head from bronze - a sculptural portrait of the famous commander Sargon the Ancient.

The head of the Akkadian ruler (the so-called "Head of Sargon"). Bronze. 2300–2000 BC e. Iraqi Museum. Baghdad

King Sargon II. Relief from the palace of Sargon II at Lur-Sharrukin. 8th century BC e.

Palace of Sargon II (VII century BC Reconstruction).

the main center of trade and crafts of Mesopotamia at the beginning of the II millennium BC. e. became Babylon, which turned under King Hammurabi into one of the largest and richest cities in Mesopotamia. Nothing remains of ancient Babylon, because in the 7th century. BC e. the Assyrians captured it, tore down the fortifications, robbed the temples, burned and destroyed all the buildings, stole the population.

A hundred years later, Babylon was rebuilt and was surrounded by two rows of walls with eight gates. Road through the north gate dedicated to the goddess of war and fertility Ishtar leading to the main temple. On the way, in the days of the righteous, to the music and singing of hymns, a procession with statues of the gods passed.

The city had more than fifty temples, hundreds of shrines and street altars. Above all the buildings rose the famous Tower of Babel, erected in the courtyard Temple of Marduk- the main Babylonian god. Its height reached 90 m, the foundation area - 3600 m2. All floors were painted in different colors: black, red, white; at the top stood a blue temple, the roof of which was crowned with golden horns.

Cult center of Babylon. In the foreground is the temple of Marduk (Esagila), in the background is the Tower of Babel (E-temenanki)

Any of the major cities of another slave state - Assyria - can be called a city of palaces. Outwardly, all the buildings looked like the Babylonian ones: outside, the same deaf grandiose walls, and the interior rooms - in the form of dim corridors. In Assyria, the palace-fortress was located on the edge of the city, and not in the center. Huge figures of bull-men or man-lions stood at the entrance to the front rooms, and the walls were lined with flat stone reliefs, brightly painted with blue, red and white paint.

Winged bull-man from Dur-Sharrukin - "shedu". Oriental Institute, Chicago.

The history of ancient art does not know wall reliefs better than Assyrian ones in boldness and scope in conveying the most intense scenes.

To show the power of the king, Assyrian sculptors of the 9th century. BC e. made his figure huge, so the rest of the figures crowded somehow. In the 7th century BC e. the same goal is achieved in a different way. Artists tried to show the breadth and difficulty of the king's deeds; panoramas of construction sites appeared, poetic images of battles in impenetrable mountains and swamps, pictures of sieges and the destruction of impregnable fortresses. In such panoramas, the figure of the king with bodyguards can hardly be found. It was made a little larger than others only in scenes built according to old patterns, which depicted wild reprisals against rebels, receptions of humiliated ambassadors and rich tribute. In the hunting scenes, the figure of the king was repeated as the central figure in each episode.

"Hunting for lions". Relief of the palace of King Ashurbanipal. 7th c. BC e. British museum. London

The works of nameless artists of Babylon and Assyria that have come down to us help us to better understand how people lived in ancient times.

Children's encyclopedia. Volume 10, Art and Literature, 1961

Images of people with bull heads first appeared in the third millennium BC. e. in the empires of the Middle East. Cylinder seals from that era clearly depict a man with a horned bull's head. Sometimes these bull people were depicted in a fight with heroes. Throughout the Old Babylonian and Kassite periods, these Bull-Men were depicted not only in battle, but also as servants of the sun god Shamash. During the Neo-Assyrian period, the Bull-Men were depicted holding or supporting the winged disc, the symbol of Shamash. From the Sumerian word gud-alim came the name kusarikki, which denoted a man with a bull's head, as well as a bull with a human head.

The Indian god Yama also occasionally appeared with a bull's head. Lord of Death Yama was the lord of the underworld, the judge of the dead and the god of truth and virtue. His wife was his twin sister Yami. The Indians claim that Yama judges the dharma (earthly duty) of people. He was also called Pitripati (father of fathers), Sraddaheva (god of funerals), Samana (equalizer) and Dandadhara (beater or punisher). He was always accompanied by spotted watchdogs with four eyes. Hindus believe that Yama now lives in the capital of his kingdom, Yamapura.

Dionysus, in his early Cretan incarnation of Zagrevs, had a human body and the head of a bull. He was called the "Divine Bull" and was considered the son of Zeus. In this hypostasis, Dionysus can be considered another version of the Minotaur. According to legend, it was believed that on Earth, Zagrevs takes the form of a man with the head of a bull, who was worshiped in the form of a sacred bull, and in the realm of the dead, he is reborn into a snake.

In ancient Armenian myths, there is a mention of the kingdom of Urartu, located around Lake Van (which is currently located in Turkey). One of the impressive legacies of this culture is a bronze alloy figurine depicting a winged bull with a human head and torso, the origin of which dates back to 750 BC. e.

: positive- understanding the underworld and the dead without immersion in fatalistic thoughts. Negative- unreasonable fear of death and the dead.

magical properties: bulls with a human head - cm. Minotaur. The pit symbolizes truth, earthly duty, judgment, fate, death and punishment.

winged bull

Among the Assyrian and Sumero-Semitic sculptures, one can still see the massive figure of a winged bull to this day. The Assyrians called this creature shedu, or shedim. They carved his image in stone to guard the gates and doors of their temples and palaces. The winged bull had a human head with a crown and the body of a bull with wings.

Such a sculpture, the creation of which is attributed to the VIII century BC. e., was found in the palace of Sargon II in Khorasbad. This palace guard is depicted with five legs and a headdress with horns. Although shedu were terrifying in appearance, they were considered noble creatures and were usually depicted in pairs.

Shedu have great strength. These magical creatures, like many others described in this book, had their own special language, but they are very intelligent and can understand the language of any people in the world. But despite this ability, shedu prefer to communicate with people through telepathy or direct mental contact. They have all supernatural abilities and use them only for good. Although these beings first appeared in the Middle East, they enjoy traveling the world fighting evil and helping people in dire need and magicians who ask for their support in good spells.

The Assyrian shedu, or winged bulls, with their divine wings, human heads and animal bodies, represent humans. The five legs of the Shedu statue symbolize the five elements - Earth, Air, Fire, Water and Spirit.

Shedu are excellent mentors in the search for ancient occult knowledge, which is usually found during astral travel. They will only help people with high ideals and goals. Any rudeness, orders or violation of moral standards make them immediately break any agreements and avoid further contacts.

Psychological characteristics: A magician who has grasped the importance of the five elements and learned to use them in balance. A person who has nothing to do with magic, who has balanced all aspects and obligations of life.

magical properties: very powerful; helps only in good spells. Provides assistance in magic, languages, telepathy, all supernatural abilities, the fight against evil.

fairy lions

In mythology, there are lion-men, winged lions, horned lions, half-lions, half-dogs, and many similar creatures. However, the history of some of them has not reached our days. For example, in the temples of India there are images of horned lions carved in stone, but neither myths nor history shed light on their origin. We only know that they were adopted by the Buddhist religion in its existing form. One of the Persian miniatures depicts a lion with deer horns and a fiery tail, and in one of Indian temples an image of a lion with three horns carved in stone was found. One of them is located in the center of the forehead, and the rest are on the sides of the central horn. This lion has pointed ears and a lush mane.

The lion in any of its many forms has been associated with the Sun, royalty and fearlessness. Many toponyms, both ancient and modern, are somehow connected with the lion, which reflects the universal respect for this animal. Since ancient people saw in this animal more than an ordinary creature, they most likely had in mind a supernatural lion, and not an earthly one. The wizard Merlin lived in England in the city of Kerleon (Lion's House). The ancient name for Cornwall was Lyoness (Lioness Country). The name Singapore means "Lion City". One of the shrines of Buddhism is Simhasana (The Throne of the Lion).

Medieval texts of the Middle Ages pay tribute to images of lions and their use in healing magic.

Akeru

Akeru is an unusual two-headed creature from Egyptian mythology. Its two-part body in the supine position had two lion heads facing in opposite directions and two pairs of front legs. The back parts of both lions merged with each other. The solar disk rested on lion heads. Sometimes these lions were called by the names of Xerefu and Akeru or Sef and Tuau. Like the lions of yesterday and tomorrow, they guarded the gates of dawn and dusk and were considered a symbol of time. Their symbolism was similar to the Greek meaning of alpha and omega.

Psychological characteristics : positive is a person who is able to look back on the past without regrets and yet look to the future with hope. Negative- a person who rarely makes a decision if it can be avoided.

magical properties: helps to look into the past through time in order to learn something from the mistakes made in past lives.

Chimera

The chimera lived in Lydia, a city in Asia Minor. According to mythology, the parents of this creature were Typhon and Echidna. The chimera was considered a fire-breathing monster with the front of a lion's body and the tail of a dragon. She also had three heads: a goat, a lion, and a dragon. In medieval painting, the Chimera was often depicted with a goat's head growing from the middle of the back.

One ancient myth claims that the Chimera was a divine nymph, but according to the most famous legend about her, the Chimera was a fire-breathing monster that constantly wreaked havoc throughout the Lydian kingdom and nearby areas. This continued until Bellerophon, with the help of Pegasus, killed her. Despite the fact that people believed in the existence of only one Chimera, many statues depict her with the swollen breasts of a nursing lioness.

Although the Chimera is commonly associated with Mediterranean and Middle Eastern cultures, a Han Dynasty bronze statue clearly depicts a Chimera with two horns, a wrinkled nose, a feathered tail, and curly rings of hair all over its body.

The word "chimera" comes from the Greek chimaera, which means "goat", and is also related to the Greek word chaimon - "winter". In modern language, the word "chimera" means an illusion or fiction.

Psychological characteristics: a person who rarely or never shows his true self to others; he hides his identity behind false masks. The one who creates his own reality by refusing to notice the facts.

magical properties: Call the Chimera when you need to hide your fear or anxiety from others. However, the Chimera can be very dangerous and should only be sought as a last resort.

Chinese lion dogs

Fu dogs (sometimes called lion-dogs or Fo dogs) were considered guardians, so their sculptures were placed at the door in front of the entrance to the temple. The small, flat faces of these dogs are reminiscent of oriental flat-faced dog breeds such as the Pekingese, Tibetan Spaniel, Lhasa Apso, and Pug.

The Chinese kept small guard dogs whose task was to hunt mice, hedgehogs and other small predators. It was believed that these small animals, also known as "demon catchers", were able to catch and exorcise any evil spirits that inhabited this world. Their barking was said to drive evil out of any home. The ancient Chinese believed that all evil beings come into this world very small. Therefore, the small but vigilant animals of the physical world were able to kill or drive them away.

Many centuries before the Forbidden City was built in the center of Beijing, in those days when the emperor lived in another city, the most courageous and intelligent Chinese fighting dogs were bred not only on the basis of loyalty, courage and wisdom, but also on the criterion of small stature. . It seems that the Chinese tried to recreate in physical form an animal that, according to their beliefs, exists on a spiritual level.

It is impossible to say how long ago these small dogs began to be bred, but they have been depicted in Chinese painting since the 14th century. During the Qing Dynasty, or Manchu, Pekingese were kept only by members of the imperial family. It was considered a crime to have such a dog to anyone not related to the emperor's family. Empress Dowager Tsu Xi was especially fond of the Pekingese, her favorite pet was called Shadza ("fool").

At the end of the Second Opium War in 1860, British troops sacked the imperial palaces in Beijing. Four Pekingese were brought to England, one of them was presented to Queen Victoria. From that time until the beginning of the 19th century, they received several more Pekingese by bribing the palace eunuchs. And finally, in 1906, the breed was listed in the AKC registry, and the first dog show of this breed was held in 1911.

By 1924, the last emperor of the Manchu dynasty left the Forbidden City, which led to the disappearance of the monarchy in China. Then the eunuchs killed all the remaining Pekingese in order to prevent them from falling into "unworthy hands."

The Buddhist lion-dog is a ferocious but noble animal that guards and defends Buddhist law. He is depicted with a ball under one paw, which symbolizes the balance of opposites: definite and indefinite.

It was believed that the eastern stone lions, whether they were dog lions or other creatures, came to life at night and bypassed the places protected by them, protecting them.

On ancient Chinese artifacts that have come down to us, you can see carved images of dog lions. One of the Chinese jade seals depicts the dog Fo, which looks exactly like a Pekingese. A black soapstone statue of the dog Fo has survived to this day, in which it looks like a cross between a small lion and a Pekingese.

Chinese lion dog

The spirit and strength of the lion-dog, or Pho dog, can be attracted to a suitable statue of this animal through magic or a sincere request for his presence. Such a statue will become the guardian of the house.

Psychological characteristics: a person who can be fierce but generous; a person who balances the opposite traits of his personality.

magical properties: are protectors from evil; they catch demons that will drive evil out of any home.

man-lion

On Indian carved panels and sculptures, the god Vishnu is depicted in one of his incarnations - in the form of a Man-Lion. Lord Vishnu was worshiped by the kind demon Prahlada. Because of this, his father harassed him, claiming that this god does not have real power. The son resolutely asserted that Vishnu is everywhere, and he sees and hears everything. In response, the father sarcastically asked: “Maybe Vishnu is now in the central column of the throne room?” Suddenly, Vishnu jumped out of the central column in the form of a Manlion. He was so angry at the way the father demon treated his son and his disbelief that he tore the demon king to shreds.

The Indian god Vishnu, in his incarnation of the Manlion, personifies the fierce, and at the same time meek nature of any creature, including man.

Lion Man Vishnu

Psychological characteristics : positive- a person who understands the nature of anger, controls and directs it in the right direction. Negative- one who enjoys his temper.

magical properties: provide protection, especially in cases of religious persecution and harassment.

Manticore

It was believed that the manticore lives in the forests of Asia, mainly in India, Malaysia and Indonesia. The Cambridge Bestiary classifies the manticore as an Indian animal. This creature was considered more dangerous than any other inhabitants of the jungle. His lair was often located in a cave or underground hole.

The manticore had the body of a lion and a head resembling that of a human, except for three rows of sharp teeth. Some individuals of this species also had small brown wings, similar to those of a bat, although there is no mention of the ability of the manticore to fly anywhere. However, she had a long serpentine tail covered in scales. At its end were poisonous stingers that the creature could throw. The locals believed that these stings became poisonous thanks to the juice of the anchar tree.

Manticore

The manticore would either sneak up on its prey or use its hypnotic gaze to get close enough to stab the animal or person with its venomous stinger. Then she tore the victim to pieces.

The earliest example of the appearance of the manticore (or mantiger) in English heraldry is the emblem of Sir William Hastings of Kirby and Burton Hastangs of Warwickshire.

Psychological characteristics: one who enjoys "killing" for the exhilarating pleasure of killing itself. This can mean the destruction of a reputation, confidence or dream, or physical murder.

magical properties: dangerous; contact is not recommended.

Sea lion

The mythical creature known as the Sea Lion is not the aquatic animal we all know. This magical beast has a leonine front and head with a mane, and a silver-colored back of a huge fish. Strong jaws and clawed webbed feet make it very dangerous. Typically, these creatures live in packs along the rocky shores of the sea, preying on schools of fish or shipwrecked sailors. The roar of this Sea Lion is easy to hear even underwater. The Sea Lion, like the Sea Pegasus, is associated with the Water People who inhabit the seas.

Sea lion

The sea lion symbolizes the protective instincts of people towards children, especially their own. When child abuse causes a storm of emotions in a person, he, like a lion, roars with rage and bravely defends the victim.

Psychological characteristics : positive- a person who has learned to roar "foul!", declaring dishonesty when someone starts playing games with the mind or emotions. Negative- a person who is so emotionally hypersensitive (and enjoys it) that he is upset by the slightest emotional fluctuations. When everything is calm, he imagines disrespect.

magical properties: Protects from people playing with your emotions and mind.

Winged lions and human lions

The winged lion is a creature often depicted in drawings, paintings and sculpture throughout the Middle East. The Persian golden rhyton (drinking vessel) was made in the form of the front part of a winged lion, which served as the base for the conical rhyton. The head and muzzle of the animal resemble a common lion, but its body is covered with something like scales or feathers. An example of the use of the image of a winged lion in English heraldry is its image on the seal of John Hu from Norfolk from the second half of the 13th century.

In the sculpture and bas-reliefs of the Middle East, there are also people with lion heads. In the ruins of settlements, you can find many images of winged geniuses (as they are called) with human heads, lion bodies and wings. Another kind of them are creatures having a human upper body, standing on two leonine hind legs and having a lion's tail twisting upwards. The Lion Man was the protector; his Akkadian name was "uridimmu" meaning "mad lion".

Another type of demon lion was a creature with human body, a lion's head, donkey ears sticking up, a lion's tail curled up and bird's paws. He was usually depicted wearing a short kilt and holding a staff in one hand and a dagger in the other. He was a kind genius and fought evil demons and diseases. In Assyrian art, a variety of the centaur lion also appears. This animal had the body of a lion with four legs, and the torso, head and arms of a man. He was called "urmalullu" (lion-man). The statue of this creature was placed in front of the entrance to the baths so that he could protect people from the lion-demon Mikil-res-lemutti (evil servant). One can only guess what exactly this "evil servant" was doing. Perhaps he personified polluted water or thieves who attacked bathers.

demon lion

Babylonian sculpture of the 7th-8th centuries BC. e. from terracotta clay depicts a similar creature with a lion's head and the body of a man. She may represent one of the evil geniuses who, according to legend, were born in the mountains of the West and lived in earthen burrows or among ancient ruins. They sowed discord and disease among the people and tried to destroy their flocks.

Bas-relief dating back to 1050-850 BC. e., depicts another creature with the features of a lion. On his lion's body was a human head, as well as wings. On his head was a high headdress, similar to the white crown of Upper Egypt. This lion-man, unlike evil geniuses, protects people.

Psychological characteristics : positive- a person who protects his close friends and family. Negative- one who likes to bring discord and grief to others.

magical properties: Be sure to only summon positive human lions and demon lions. The lion is a symbol of many sun gods, and also personifies spiritual fire, courage in the face of a long battle; dignity, victory, the search for spiritual enlightenment. Protects from evil spirits and diseases.

Magic snakes

In the vast majority of cultures, snakes were considered a symbol of the Goddess and / or the energy of the kundalini. In addition, they were believed to be immortal, since they shed their skin, and it seemed that they began a new life. The Greeks called the skin shed by snakes geras i.e. "old age". Snake people can be both good and evil, so you should work with them with care.

Most people have an innate aversion to snakes, not only because of the potential danger, but also because of Christian propaganda and the Eden story.

The snake symbolizes the movement of the kundalini up the seven chakras. This happens by itself when a person develops spiritually. However, the kundalini energy can be lethal (physically, mentally, and spiritually) if forced to rise before one has reached the necessary spiritual readiness.

Aheloy

This Greek demigod was one of the sons of Oceanus and Tethys and the most revered river god. Hesiod claimed that this couple had three thousand river-sons, and they were all described as energetic men with long beards and two horns above their eyebrows.

In Greek art, Achelous is depicted with a human torso, arms and head with horns, but a serpentine lower body. It operates the largest waterway in Greece.

Legend has it that Aheloy fell in love with a beautiful girl named Deianira. However, he did not have time to surrender to his desires, as the hero Hercules also decided that he wanted to be with this girl. A fierce battle took place between Achelous and Hercules, during which the river god turned first into a snake, and then into a wild bull. Hercules eventually tore off one of Achelous' horns and defeated him. The river nymphs took the severed horn and turned it into a cornucopia.

Aheloy was very fond of and exacting attitude towards rendering honors to him during the sacrifices. When the daughters of the soothsayer Echin did not do this, they turned into the Echinad Islands.

During the taking of oaths, Achelous was addressed throughout Greece, and even in Sicily.

Psychological characteristics : positive- a person who has learned true love to another. Negative- someone who will not allow friendship or love relationships to end peacefully.

magical properties: area of ​​influence - oaths, contracts, promises.

feathered serpent

The feathered serpent was known to the Aztecs and other Central American cultures. The Maya Indians called him Kulkulkan, and the Aztecs called him Quetzalcoatl. This feathered creature (sometimes called the Feathered One) was a combination of a bird and a snake, but it cannot be compared to the bat-winged snakes of the Middle East and Egypt. This snake bird had feathers on its head, on its tail, and sometimes on its body. One gets the impression that the Feathered Serpent was both a magical creature and a hypostasis or symbol of the god Quetzalcoatl, or Kulkulkan.

Quetzalcoatl

This deity in the form of a snake was worshiped by several tribes of Central America. Legend has it that Itzli (Obsidian) gave birth to him, and the father's name is unclear. Quetzalcoatl came to the city of Tula, the capital of the Toltec state, as a mysterious stranger with a "wrinkled face" - this is how his appearance was described. This pious man soon became famous for his denial of human sacrifice, which was demanded by all other deities. He became a great "herald of culture" and an inventor and taught people how to weave linen, work with feathers, showed them jade, gold, cotton, and also discovered the art of dance, painting and writing.

Several ancient Mexican artefacts are patterned with another unusual snake that resembles more Indian nagas than Quetzalcoatl. History has not preserved the name of this creature.

Psychological characteristics: one who prefers art to manual labor.

magical properties: its symbols are crafts, metallurgy, fate, culture, learning, organization and order, laws, inventions.

horned serpent

The North American Indians of the Huron tribe had a legend about a huge snake named Oniont. This snake had a horn that could pierce a stone. Anyone who was lucky enough to find even the slightest piece of this horn could cure any disease with its help.

Horned snakes often appear in Celtic art. Most often they are depicted with two ram's horns, and not with one. The Gundrestrup cauldron is engraved with Cernunnos (Lord of the Animals) holding a snake with ram's horns by the neck. The horned serpent was a very important element in Celtic beliefs. Sometimes he was depicted not only with ram's horns, but also with a ram's head.

Celtic horned serpent

Several Babylonian paintings show a serpent-dragon with the body and head of a serpent, lion's front and bird's hind legs, and a horn located in the center of the nose. This dragon-serpent was called "mushussu" (ferocious snake). The Babylonians singled out three more types of horned snakes, calling them "Musmahkhu", "Usumgallu" and "Basmu".

Psychological characteristics: one who has learned to work with the energy of the chakras.

magical properties: cures any ailment.

Lamia

In ancient texts, lamia is mentioned as a type of creature similar to sirens. These creatures prefer dry places and live in ruined cities, caves, and remote wilderness areas. The lamia had the body and head of a woman and the lower part of a snake. They combed their hair with a golden comb and loved to eat the meat of children. Lamia was swift, powerful and lured the victim into her nets with the help of spells.

In ancient Greek myths, several creatures were called lamia. In one legend, this name was given to a mortal maiden who gave birth to Zeus several children. In another legend, this is a creature with the face of a gorgon that ate children. Another legend tells how Hermes turned a snake with crimson, gold, green and blue spots into a beautiful girl. The happiness of this girl was destroyed by the philosopher Apollonius, she screamed and disappeared.

Catholic Bishop Martin of Braga wrote that lamias lived in rivers and forests and were devils. Johann Weir devoted an entire book to these creatures, De Lamiis Liber (On the Life of Lamia), published in 1577.

By the beginning of the 17th century, the lamia had changed its appearance and became a scaly four-legged creature. Her hind legs had hooves, and her front legs had claws. She had a woman's face and breasts and a man's penis.

Psychological characteristics: one who intentionally lures victims and gains complete control over them.

Nagas

Indian nagas are perhaps the most amazing magical snakes. They were demigods by nature, children of the goddess Kadru, and usually appeared in the form of a half-serpent, half-man. However, they could take on a human form, and females did this much more often than males. Nagas were both water and earth spirits.

Apparently, there were several types of nagas, and each of them had its own characteristic external features and color. Nagas who live in ruins, places of oppressive atmosphere, or underground are covered in black scales with crimson stripes. Their faces are similar to human ones, they have the same colors of skin, eyes and hair. However, this type of naga is hostile towards humans. They can enchant anyone who meets their eyes; they can spit venom, and their bite is also poisonous. Don't expect help from these nagas.

Other earth nagas are wise, friendly, and guard sacred sites or treasures, as well as controlling their black counterparts. These cobra people can also spit venom, although they only do so in self-defense. They have golden eyes and green-gold scales with silvery triangles along their backs.

Naga dwellings, which prefer to dwell in various bodies of water, are located deep under the clear, fresh water of ponds, lakes or rivers. They usually do not interfere in the affairs of people, although a sincere request can help enlist their help. They are curious about everything that happens to people. Water nagas are the most colorful of all species. Their scales range in color from emerald green to turquoise, and the patterns they often have can range from deep brown with pale jade to dark gray with olive. The shade of their eyes can vary from pale green to bright amber. Even though their bite and saliva are poisonous, these nagas prefer to use magical spells.

Naga Kanya

Nagas could cause or prevent rain, they had great power and wealth, as well as power over all water, including over rivers and seas. Myths claim that the nagas gained their semi-divine status when gods and demons churned the seas to make soma, the divine drink. While the gods and demons were fighting for soma, a few drops of this drink fell to the ground. The Nagas drank them greedily, but it wasn't enough to give them the power they needed for the gods.

It is believed that nagas live in a country that is either under water or underground. The capital of their state and the main place of residence is in the underground kingdom of Bhagavati ("rich in treasures"), which is probably located deep under the Himalayan mountain system. According to legends, they live there in beautiful houses decorated with precious stones and metals. The streets of their cities are paved with a mosaic of emeralds, rubies, sapphires and other bright gems. Nagas also keep books of great mystical knowledge. Each naga has a jewel of immeasurable value in their throat or forehead that gives them their supernatural powers.

The female nagas are called naginis. These snake women are very beautiful and wise. There are many stories about how they fell in love and married mortal princes. According to Cambodian legend, this country was formed through the union of a nagini and a prince. In the ancient city of Angkor, images of nagas are everywhere - in sculpture and home decoration. Pairs of nagas guarded the entrances to temples, palaces and tombs, and their seven-headed statues bowed over all who entered.

On the lands adjacent to the palace, as early as the 13th century, a golden tower towered. Upstairs there was a special room where the king was supposed to spend every night. The people of Cambodia believed that there lived a nine-headed nagini who ruled the country with the help of the king. If the nagini does not come, the king will die, and if he spends at least one night not in the tower, misfortune will fall upon the country.

In India, to this day, nagini is worshiped - this is Naga Kanya, the goddess of the three kingdoms. She is the guardian of underwater treasures and spiritual achievements. She has the upper body of a woman, and the lower part of a water snake. Above her head rises a dome in the shape of a five-headed cobra, symbolizing Kanya's spiritual powers. She has wings on her back above her shoulder blades, and a precious stone sparkles in her forehead. Naga Kanya holds a clam shell in her hands, symbolizing her desire to shed blessings on those who seek her wisdom.

Although most nagas can combine both good and bad qualities, some of them have done great things and achieved enlightenment. Naga Sesha led such a righteous life that the god Brahma granted him immortality. It is believed that now Sesha supports the universe, and on the rings of his curled tail the god Vishnu sleeps in the shadow of his seven heads.

When the Buddha was born, the nagas sprinkled him with fragrant water. After the Buddha attained enlightenment, he spent several weeks in a state of meditation. His great piety attracted Naga Muchalinda (sometimes referred to as Musilinda), a multi-headed cobra. Muchalinda surrounded the Buddha with the rings of his body and sheltered him from the storms with his huge hood so that the Buddha could meditate calmly and nothing disturbed him. After the death of the Buddha, one of the tombs built to honor his memory ended up in the country of the Nagas.

At least one type of naga is not benevolent towards humans. The Naga-Sannia demon causes nightmares related to snakes.

Some tribes living in India consider themselves descendants of the Nagas and pay respect to their ancestors by leaving sacrifices on the banks of certain ponds and rivers. In Indian mythology, snakes are associated with the element of Water and the seas. It is also believed that people they like can be bestowed with the ability to become invisible when they enter any water.

In addition, nagas protected doors and thresholds, and guarded treasures, both physical and spiritual. Doors, thresholds and physical and spiritual treasures are considered dangerous things for unprepared people. Nagas open these places and allow only those they deem worthy and ready to enter.

Psychological characteristics : positive- one who sincerely seeks to acquire spiritual treasure. Negative- a person who can make others do anything with the help of spells, but at the same time he has a bad habit of spewing poisonous gossip and rumors.

magical properties: contributes to the acquisition of spiritual wealth; helps to find the hidden treasure of spiritual search, which is revealed only to sincere people. If you encounter adversity or difficult problems, ask the nagas to help you understand exactly where you have gone astray. Helpful nagas can sometimes help you find hidden treasures, win contests and lotteries, or get unexpected money, but their help can only be won with sincerity.

Other Indian snakes

Ananta the Infinite was called the Mother Snake by the Hindus. She was also called Sarparajni, meaning the Queen of Serpents. Vishnu and other gods sleep in Ananta rings during the periods of time between incarnations. Ananta is similar to the Egyptian goddess Mekhen, whose name means "she who surrounds". Mekhen was a huge snake that lived in the underworld, and every night she became the cradle for the sun god Ra.

From the snake goddess Kadru, aunt of the half-man half-bird Garuda, all cobras and cobra-men in India are believed to have descended. In the ancient Babylonian kingdom, a similar goddess was worshiped, who was called Kadi or Der. She had the head and breasts of a woman on a serpentine body. Her children were like Indian nagas: the upper part of the body is human, and the lower part is snake.

Psychological characteristics: a person who can be cute and pleasant at one moment, and at the other - a "snake under the hook."

magical properties: very dangerous and unpredictable.

Other magical snakes

The Complete Encyclopedia of Mythological Creatures. Story. Origin. The magical properties of Conway Dinn

winged bull

winged bull

Among the Assyrian and Sumero-Semitic sculptures, one can still see the massive figure of a winged bull to this day. The Assyrians called this creature Shedu or Shedim. They carved his image in stone to guard the gates and doors of their temples and palaces. The winged bull had a human head with a crown and the body of a bull with wings.

Such a sculpture, the creation of which is attributed to the VIII century BC. e., was found in the palace of Sargon II in Khorasbad. This palace guard is depicted with five legs and a headdress with horns. Although shedu were terrifying in appearance, they were considered noble creatures and were usually depicted in pairs.

Shedu have great strength. These magical creatures, like many others described in this book, had their own special language, but they are very intelligent and can understand the language of any people in the world. But despite this ability, shedu prefer to communicate with people through telepathy or direct mental contact. They have all supernatural abilities and use them only for good. Although these beings first appeared in the Middle East, they love to travel around the world fighting evil and helping people in dire need and mages who ask for their support in good spells.

The Assyrian shedu, or winged bulls, with their divine wings, human heads and animal bodies, represent humans. The five legs of the Shedu statue symbolize the five elements - Earth, Air, Fire, Water and Spirit.

Shedu are excellent mentors in the search for ancient occult knowledge, which is usually found during astral travel. They will only help people with high ideals and goals. Any rudeness, orders or violation of moral standards make them immediately break any agreements and avoid further contacts.

Psychological characteristics: A magician who has grasped the importance of the five elements and learned to use them in balance. A person who has nothing to do with magic, who has balanced all aspects and obligations of life.

magical properties: very powerful; helps only in good spells. Magic, languages, telepathy, all supernatural powers, fighting evil.

Shedu

From the book The Newest Book of Facts. Volume 2 [Mythology. Religion] author

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