Gilgamesh

Gilgamesh

I love this part of Gilgamesh as it a remembering of the door we humans have walked through to be where we are today. ii. Cedar Door · In the desolate hours before the Sun returns, Gilgamesh searched Uruk for his companion, scoured the broad 

Wind-Weaver

Wind-Weaver

According to Fjölsvinnsmál, Víðópnir or Víðófnir (Old Norse, possibly “wide-open” or “wind-weaver”) is a rooster that sits at the top of Mímameiðr, a tree often taken to be identical with the World Tree Yggdrasil. They appear in Norse Mythology, although the name does not otherwise 

Golden Comb

Golden Comb

In Norse mythology, Gullinkambi (Old Norse “golden comb”) is a rooster who lives in Valhalla. In the Poetic Edda poem Völuspá, Gullinkambi is one of the three roosters whose crowing is foretold to signify the beginning of the events of Ragnarök. The other two roosters 

A Story of Balder

A Story of Balder

Odin, the king of the Norse gods, often sat upon Hildskialf, the throne of the Aesir gods [see Norse Gods], with his companions, the two ravens, Hugin (thought) and Munin (Memory), whispering in his ears. From this position he could look out on all of 

Wilder Mann

Wilder Mann

Caretos, Lazarim, Portugal, 2010-2011. From the “Wilder Mann” series © Charles Fréger

A moura-fiandeira carried Pedra Formosa on her head while she was spinning

A moura-fiandeira carried Pedra Formosa on her head while she was spinning

A moura-fiandeira carried Pedra Formosa on her head while she was spinning The moura encantada is a supernatural being from the fairy tales of Portuguese and Galician folklore. She often appears singing and combing her beautiful long hair, golden as gold or black as the 

Bulgaria’s Kukeri Dancers

Bulgaria’s Kukeri Dancers

By Rachel Brown Photographs by Aron Klein “If you ever saw [the kukeri], they’re just too amazing,” says Gerald Creed, an anthropology professor at Hunter College and the Graduate Center, CUNY. “They monopolize the senses. You can’t look away.” The ritual is a public one, profoundly ancient, full of 

On the Bunny Trail: In Search of the Easter Bunny

On the Bunny Trail: In Search of the Easter Bunny

The Easter Bunny, like Santa Claus, is the bringer of gifts on a popular American holiday. Throughout the country, the swift little creature is said to deliver decorated eggs to children on Easter. In some variants of this story, the bunny is even said to