The weapons used for hunting would mostly be the same as those used for war: bow and arrow or crossbow, lance or spear, and sword. Shortbows and longbows were the most commonly used weapon; the crossbow was introduced around the time of the First Crusade (1100), but was not generally used for hunting until the second half of the 15th century. Cudgels (clubs) were used for clubbing small game in particular by women who joined the hunt; "boar spears" were also used. With the introduction of handheld firearms to hunting in the 16th centu ...

See also:

Medieval hunting, Medieval hunting - History, Medieval hunting - Equipment, Medieval hunting - The horse, Medieval hunting - The hound, Medieval hunting - The hawk, Medieval hunting - Quarry, Medieval hunting - The hart, Medieval hunting - Other quarry, Medieval hunting - Art and symbolism, Medieval hunting - Dangers of the hunt, Medieval hunting - Literature, Medieval hunting - Sources, Medieval hunting - External link

Read more here: » Medieval hunting: Encyclopedia II - Medieval hunting - Equipment

Apap (Egypt, Egyptian), in Greek Apophis. The symbolical Serpent of Evil. The Solar Boat and the Sun are the great Slayers of Apap in the Book of the Dead.

It is Typhon, who having killed Osiris, incarnates in Apap, seeking to kill Horus. Like Taoer (or Ta-ap-oer) the female aspect of Typhon, Apap is called "the devourer of the Souls", and truly, since Apap symbolizes the animal body, as matter left soulless and to itself.

Osiris, being, like all the other Solar gods, a type of the Higher Ego (Christos), Horus (his son) is the lower Manas or the personal Ego. On many a monument one can see Horus, helped by a number of dog-headed gods armed with crosses and spears, killing Apap. Says an Orientalist: "The God Horus standing as conqueror upon the Serpent of Evil, may be considered as the earliest form of our well-known group of St. George (who is Michael) and the Dragon, or holiness trampling down sin." Draconianism did not die with the ancient religions, but has passed bodily into the latest Christian form of the worship.

(See also: Apap, Theosophy, Spirituality, Body mind and Soul, Spiritual Dictionary, )

Apap or Apep (Egyptian) Apophis (Greek) The serpent of evil, generally denoting matter in its lower reaches of differentiation from spirit; the slayer of every soul too loosely linked to its immortal spirit. Typhon, having slain Osiris, incarnates in Apap and seeks to kill Horus (the personal ego), but is slain by Horus through the power of Horus' father Osiris, the buddhic principle.

It is also the serpent which is slain by the sun god Ra. The combat is another aspect of the myth of the battle between Horus and Set, these deities representing cosmic and physical light and cosmic and physical darkness respectively. "Apap is called 'the devourer of the Souls,' and truly, since Apap symbolizes the animal body, as matter left soulless and to itself. Osiris, being, like all the other Solar gods, a type of the Higher Ego (Christos), Horus (his son) is the lower Manas or the personal Ego. On many a monument one can see Horus, helped by a number of dog-headed gods armed with crosses and spears, killing Apap" (TG 26).

The same general story is found in St. George and the Dragon, Michael and Satan, etc. Apap, the serpent of evil, is slain by Aker, Set's serpent, showing the twofold meaning of the serpent symbol. Cosmologically this means the bringing into order of the confused and turbulent principles in chaos; in the human being it refers to the trials of initiation; in astronomy, to eclipses.

(See also: Apap, Apep, Mysticism, Mysticism Dictionary, Occultism, Occultism Dictionary)

Cain qayin (Hebrew) (from qayin spear)

In the Bible, the son of Adam and Eve, and a tiller of the ground. Becoming jealous of the offering which his brother Abel presents to the Lord, Cain according to the legend slays him (Genesis 4). This allegory signifies that "Jehovah-Cain, the male part of Adam the dual man, having separated himself from Eve, creates in her 'Abel,' the first natural woman, and sheds the Virgin blood" (SD 2:388). Cain and Abel represent the third root-race or the "Separating Hermaphrodite" (SD 2:134).

Again "beginning with Cain, the first murderer, every fifth man in his line of descent is a murderer. . . . In the Talmud this genealogy is given complete, and thirteen murderers range themselves in line below the name of Cain. This is no coincidence. Siva is the Destroyer, but he is also the Regenerator. Cain is a murderer, but he is also the creator of nations, and an inventor" (IU 2:447-8).

In Biblical genealogy, the line of Cain is Enoch, Irad, Mehujael, Methusael, and Lemech, whose sons were Jubal, Jabal, and Tubal-cain; the line of Seth, the third son of Adam and Eve, is Enos (Enoch), Cainan, Mehalaleel, Jarad (or Irad), Enoch, Methuselah, Lamech, and Noah (Genesis 4-5). Blavatsky calls it "fruitless (to) attempt to disconnect the genealogies of Cain and of Seth, or to conceal the identity of names under a different spelling. . . . all these are symbols (Kabalistically) of solar and lunar years, of astronomical periods, and of physiological (phallic) functions, just as in any other pagan symbolical creed" (SD 2:391n).

See also ABEL

(See also: Cain qayin, Mysticism, Mysticism Dictionary, Occultism, Occultism Dictionary)

GOD: male aspect which pervades all of the universe in vast interrelationships of every possible sort, providing impetus, creative spark and more. It is capable of being perceived in many ways depending on the perceiver and transcends time as well as space. Most perceptions of the great gods are valid in their own aspects and are or can be of considerable value.

Pagans often choose the archetypal god of the waxing year as patron of all which is new and growing, and the god of the waning year as patron of all which ripens and declines, before the inevitable rebirth. Such perceptions enable us to form close emotional and magickal links with godhood. He is the divine equal and counterpart to the Goddess. Often depicted as the Green God of Summer and the Horned God of Winter.

He is seen as the Sun, without which we couldn't survive. His life, then is honored through the passing seasons of the year. Wild animals are his special concern and His aspect of the Horned God, with antlered helmet was the Christian source of titling Pagans as Satan worshippers. The God's domains are the untouched natural lands whether mountain or desert or forest. The stars, too are his. And his symbols include: sword, horns, spears, wand, knife, arrow, and sickle.

(See also: GOD, Witchcraft, Wicca, Paganism, Pagan Dictionary)

Allfather; Alfadir (Icelandic) (from al all + fadir father)

Odin, father of gods and men. As Allfather, Odin occurs on many levels: as the indwelling divinity in a universe and in every part of the universe. He is also, together with his two brother-gods, the creative power of life on each level of existence. Odin (divine intelligence, Sanskrit mahat), Vile (will), and Vi or Ve (awe, sanctity) comprise the cosmic creative trinity. They spring from Bur, the quasi-manifest or Second Logos, which in turn emanated from Buri, the legendary king of cold. Buri was immersed in the ice of non-being until the cow Audhumla, symbol of fertility, uncovered his head when licking the ice blocks for salt.

On the next level Odin is again instrumental in creation. Here his brother creators are named Honir and Lodur. The gods of this second trinity correspond to the Hindu tattvas: Odin stands for air (breath, spirit), Honir for water (fluidity, intelligence), and Lodur for fire (energy, will and vital heat). They found on the earth "Ask (ash) and Embla (alder), indeterminate," and gave to these vegetative life forms out of their own nature the properties needed to complete the human constitution.

In his capacity as Allfather, Odin "hung nine nights in the windtorn tree pierced by a spear," in order to "raise runes of wisdom" from the nether worlds: the cosmic spirit sacrificed "my self to my Self above me in the tree" to gain universal experience.

(See also: Allfather, Alfadir, Mysticism, Mysticism Dictionary, Occultism, Occultism Dictionary)

Valhalla (Scandinavian) Valholl (Icelandic) [from val choice, death + hall, holl hall]

In Norse mythology, the hall of the chosen or of the slain where Odin's heroes, the One-harriers, are brought by the Valkyries at the end of each day's battles to feast with Ropt, the maligned or misunderstood god (Odin). "The hall of the chosen glows golden in Gladhome," one of the superior "shelves" or ethereal planes which are closely related to our planet earth.

The walls of Valhalla are built of the spears of the warriors, it is roofed with their shields, while inside the hall "the benches are strewn with byrnies." Over the entrance door are transfixed the wolf (bestiality) and the eagle (pride). All of these are symbolic of the sacrifice of properties that have been relinquished by Odin's chosen warriors, for these represent, in the Norse tales, the initiated adepts who have elected to serve the cause of universality and aid the progress of human evolution. Abandoning progressively all weapons of offense, then of defense, and finally all personal protection, exemplifies the universal service of the chosen.

The One-harriers of Odin emerge daily to do battle on the plain of consecration (Vigridsslatten, life on earth) and by night return to feast with Allfather Ropt in the sacred hall on the mead brewed from their experience of life.

At the feast of the warriors in Valhalla they are served three boars, representing three elements as well as three principles of cosmic life: Andrimner (air, spirit), Sarimner (water, mind), and Eldrimner (fire, desire). A suggestive verse in Grimnismal may then be read as: "Spirit lets mind be steeped in desire. Few know what nourishes the One-harriers."

The tales concerning Valhalla have been sadly misunderstood in popular mythologies. Far from being an account of gross debauchery, there is mystical meaning hidden in every detail of the description of Odin's domain and of the feasting of his warriors. For example, Valhalla is said to have 540 doors, through each of which 800 warriors issue abreast. This makes the number of One-harriers total 432,000, an oft-recurring number in Hindu and Babylonian time tables dealing with mystic and mythic history. Their message is in fact one of the noblest and most inspiring of mythic tales, when read between the lines of allegory, for here the warriors of emerge willingly to be "slain" daily in the cause of humanity's evolutionary progress.

(See also: Valhalla, Mysticism, Mysticism Dictionary, Body mind and Soul)

Odin (Icelandic, Scandinavian) [from Wodan from odr cosmic mind; cf Greek nous, Sanskrit mahat]

As a god, foremost of the aesir in Norse mythology; as a human being, the founder of the ancient Norse religion. Odin is the Great Sacrifice of our world system, hung or mounted on the Tree of Life throughout its duration, seeking runes of wisdom in the material worlds, "raising them with song" and at the end of time falling once more from the tree. He is said to have given one eye as forfeit to the matter-giant Mimer for the privilege of partaking of Mimer's well of wisdom: experience in material life. Thus matter receives a part of divine vision during the god's imbodiment.

As creative spirit Odin and his brother creators, Vili and Vi (will and awe), give rise to the worlds in manifestation. At the creation of humanity, Odin again participates with two creative energies on a lower level, Honer and Lodur (water and fire). Odin gives the breath of spirit, Honer mind, and Lodur vitality to the incipient humans.

In the myths Odin rides the eight-legged steed Sleipnir, wears a blue fur coat, and is the owner of a marvelous ring, Draupnir, from which eight more drip every ninth night, symbolizing proliferating cycles of every kind. His spear is named Gungnir (swaying), perhaps an allusion to the pendulum swing between life and death which is nature's eternal way. Odin has two wolf hounds (the animal nature), Gere (greedy) and Freke (gluttonous); he feeds them, but himself subsists on wine or mead (wisdom) alone. His two ravens, Hugin (mind) and Munin (memory), fly daily over the battlefield Vigridsslatten (plain of consecration, earth), and report back to Allfather by night.

Odin's hall is named Valhalla (hall of the chosen), where his heroes are brought by the Valkyries (crowners of the chosen) to feast with Yggjung (the ever-young, Odin).

As a planetary deity Odin is connected with Mercury, and his day is Wednesday (Woden's day). He has many names, each fitting the role he has to play. At the beginning of a life cycle he is named Ofner (opener), while at the end he is called Svafner (closer). Blavatsky refers to the human Odin as "one of these thirty-five Buddhas; one of the earliest, indeed, for the continent to which he and his race belonged, is also one of the earliest" (SD 2:423).

(See also: Odin, Mysticism, Mysticism Dictionary)

ROMULUS AND REMUS

The author's name is merely old Roman "Remus". The intrusive "h" was a German grandfather's idea to give the correct pronunciation for other Teutons. Latin names are (or were) common in Germany and Scandinavia (cf. Rommel). A permutation of the name is also seen in Arminius, a German prince who defeated the Romans in the First Century. See Amullus Silvius (also Armand, Herman, etc.). According to Jung, the twins represent the religious conviction (like Moses in the bulrushes) that one is a prince by birth and forced to live as an ordinary person until destiny reveals his true status to the world: Romulus and Remus, Remus being the poor victim of oppression, Romulus the emerging prince:

O Gemini of Latium, gentle and cruel,

Princes, wolf-suckled,  born to rule:

O Gemini of Latium, gentle and cruel,

Princes,  wolf-suckled, born to rule:

The one to be ground in the dust,

The  other to rise as he must...

Twins in mythology and in Geminian symbolism refer to the One in its manifestational phase of self and other, as the union of opposites (Yang and Yin, Light and Darkness, Being/Non-Being, etc.). Together with his brother, Remus, Romulus founded Rome as a haven for abductors of the Sabine women. The twins, who were the sons of Mars and Vestal Priestess, Rhea Silva, were abandoned at birth and suckled by a wolf. Originally both presided over the building of Rome, but they quarreled (a parallel of Cain and Abel) over every decision. One day, while Romulus was constructing the city wall, Remus jumped over it, saying: IN HOC MODO SUPERSALIT HOSTIS MURUM ("Look how easily the enemy can leap over this wall!"). At this, Romulus shouted, "And look how easily I can kill you!" and ran him through with his sword. In this way Romulus achieved harmony without union and thereafter set the tone for Roman conquest and empire by will and force.

After his death, Romulus was transported to heaven and wassometimes identified with Mars and sometimes worshiped under the godly Sabine name, Quirinus. Quiris, lit. "spear", also referred to citizens of Cures, the Sabine town, and it eventually came as well to mean a citizen of Rome. The Quirinalia was a military holiday in honor thereof.

Furthermore, according to Jung, "Armilus begot by Satan on a block of marble, is the Anti-Messiah. Messiah ben Joseph must die in order to atone with his blood for the children of Yahweh. Messiah ben Joseph will in turn be felled by Armilus and will succumb during the conflict between Gog and Magog. Armilus will be killed in turn by Messiah ben David." Armilus = Romulus, the Antichrist. From Methodius: "Romulus, who is also Armaeleus." According to some authorities, Romulus was the product of an incubus and a salamander.

Remus, the slain geminus, is represented by the lute, whereas Romulus is the mace. This is the usual Greco-Roman view of the Gemini.

In John Puhvel's Comparative Mythology, things take on a different color. We discover that when the Romans referred to the beginning of time, it was 'AB REMO ET ROMULO', whereas now it's "Romulus and Remus". Remus, it seems, is the true founder of Rome -- its sacrificial origin -- whereas Romulus is but secondary, the name meaning merely "or Roman". The twins, Rhomos and Rhomulos in Greek, are the equivalent of the twin Norse god, Ymir and the Vedic Yama and Yami.

"Romulus" in Egyptian Hieroglyphics

(See also: ROMULUS AND REMUS, Magick, Mysticism, Mysticism Dictionary, Body Mind and Soul, )

The legend of the Spear of Destiny survives to this day in no small part because of the Nazi obsession with the occult, and of the contemporary obsession with Nazism and the New Age. That obsession is reflected in Trevor Ravenscroft’s 1982 bestseller The Spear of Destiny, which has fixed his version of the legend in the minds of many today. It was Ravenscroft’s works that laid out that whosoever might hold the spear would have the power to conquer the world but losing it meant instant death. The history of those who actuall ...

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Spear of Destiny, Spear of Destiny - Authenticity, Spear of Destiny - Location, Spear of Destiny - The legend of the spear, Spear of Destiny - The Spear of Destiny in popular culture

Read more here: » Spear of Destiny: Encyclopedia II - Spear of Destiny - The legend of the spear

In 1999, two blonde Caucasian teenage girls who performed teen pop music debuted onto the music scene. As is often the case, the media (as they did when Brandy and Monica came out) immediately labeled them as bitter enemies, who couldn't stand each other. The situation was not helped when fans of Spears and Aguilera battled online, adding only fuel to the rumors. Spears and Aguilera for their own part denied any friction, and instead released a bombshell that they had known each other before they came out musically, and had in fac ...

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Pop rivalry, Pop rivalry - Britney Spears vs. Christina Aguilera, Pop rivalry - Axl Rose vs. Vince Neil, Pop rivalry - Mariah Carey vs. Jennifer Lopez, Pop rivalry - Mariah Carey vs. Madonna, Pop rivalry - Eminem vs. Michael Jackson, Pop rivalry - Benji Madden vs. Kelly Clarkson, Pop rivalry - Destiny's Child vs. Destiny's Child, Pop rivalry - Mariah Carey vs. Eminem, Pop rivalry - Other notes

Read more here: » Pop rivalry: Encyclopedia II - Pop rivalry - Britney Spears vs. Christina Aguilera

Directed by David LaChapelle, the controversial music video for the song was originally supposed to depict Spears' character dying in a bathtub from an "accidental" overdose of pills and alcohol. When word leaked out about the video's content, protests quickly changed it. The released video exists in two versions; the American version being slightly cleaned up, and the international version showing more skin and blood than deemed normally acceptable by MTV's standards. The video also features Stephen Dorff as her estranged boyfriend ( ...

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Everytime, Everytime - Music video, Everytime - Chart performance

Read more here: » Everytime: Encyclopedia II - Everytime - Music video

Like everything else in the Middle Ages, hunting was full of symbolism. Religious symbolism was common; the hart or the unicorn was often associated with Christ, but the hunt itself could equally be seen as the Christian’s quest for truth and salvation. In the more secular literature, romances for instance, the hunter pursuing his quarry was often used as a symbol of the knight's struggle for his lady’s favor. The hawk and rabbit were symbols of "venery" (delight, or pleasure; the meaning of these symbols remaining ambiguous among sch ...

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Medieval hunting, Medieval hunting - History, Medieval hunting - Equipment, Medieval hunting - The horse, Medieval hunting - The hound, Medieval hunting - The hawk, Medieval hunting - Quarry, Medieval hunting - The hart, Medieval hunting - Other quarry, Medieval hunting - Art and symbolism, Medieval hunting - Dangers of the hunt, Medieval hunting - Literature, Medieval hunting - Sources, Medieval hunting - External link

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There are several objects that are reputed to be the Spear of Destiny or Holy Lance (Heilige Lanze). One such "Holy Lance" was allegedly unearthed by a Crusader named Peter Bartholomew in Antioch in 1098 while the Crusaders were under siege from the Seljuk Turks under Kerbogha. Peter Bartholomew reported that he had had a vision in which St. Andrew told him that the Holy Lance was buried in St. Peter's Cathedral in Antioch. At the time some were skeptical, but others were convinced. In any case, after much digging in the cathedral, Peter Bar ...

See also:

Spear of Destiny, Spear of Destiny - Authenticity, Spear of Destiny - Location, Spear of Destiny - The legend of the spear, Spear of Destiny - The Spear of Destiny in popular culture

Read more here: » Spear of Destiny: Encyclopedia II - Spear of Destiny - Location

It was not until 1936 that the statue found a suitable home, thanks to the Works Progress Administration, which partially funded a new park in the city at the top of Red Mountain. A 120-foot (37-meter) pedestal was built of local sandstone, and Vulcan was hoisted into place. A new spear was fabricated to be held high in his right hand while his left hand held a hammer at his side. Vulcan was repainted in an aluminum like finish. A nine day festival commenced on May 7, 1939 to dedicate Vulcan Park. Miss Evelyn Tully was crowned the Vul ...

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Vulcan statue, Vulcan statue - Creation of the Statue, Vulcan statue - 1904 Exposition, Vulcan statue - At the Fairgrounds, Vulcan statue - On Red Mountain, Vulcan statue - Centennial facelift, Vulcan statue - Restoration, Vulcan statue - Vulcan Park, Vulcan statue - Trivia

Read more here: » Vulcan statue: Encyclopedia II - Vulcan statue - On Red Mountain

The Fisher King first appears in Chrétien de Troyes' unfinished romance Perceval, the Story of the Grail. Neither his wound nor his father's is explained, but Perceval later discovers the kings would have been healed if he had only asked about the Grail (his teacher had warned him not to ask too many questions). Perceval learns he is related to the Grail Kings through his mother, the Wounded King's daughter; ...

See also:

Fisher King, Fisher King - Why Fisher King?, Fisher King - Chrétien de Troyes' Perceval, Fisher King - Celtic mythology, Fisher King - Later medieval works, Fisher King - Modern takes on the legend

Read more here: » Fisher King: Encyclopedia II - Fisher King - Chrétien de Troyes' Perceval

The early blades varied in construction, some having a "clipped" or "drop" point, often found on the Bowie knife. The "spear-point" tip has now become universal. Scalloped filework on the back of the blade is common on all Scottish knives. A short blade of 3 to 3.5 inches is typical. Since the modern wearer of the sgian dubh does not intend the blade for cutting food or self-defense, blades are now of a simple (but not unglamorous) construction. These are typically stamped from brass and nickel-plated. The basic handles are pla ...

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Sgian Dubh, Sgian Dubh - Etymology, Sgian Dubh - Origins, Sgian Dubh - Construction, Sgian Dubh - Spelling

Read more here: » Sgian Dubh: Encyclopedia II - Sgian Dubh - Construction

Naucalpan - Symbol. The Nahuatl symbol for Naucalpan (often inaccurately referred to as its Coat of Arms) is composed of four concentric rings located on the upper part, above the symbol of Calpulli (house exerting the power); under them, the symbol for "land", and the symbol of Pan (place) in the bottom. Naucalpan - Meaning of the name. The name Naucalpan derives from the Nahuatl "Nahui-Calli-Pan", which literally translates into "Four-House-Place". The derived m ...

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Naucalpan, Naucalpan - Toponymy, Naucalpan - Symbol, Naucalpan - Meaning of the name, Naucalpan - History, Naucalpan - Geography, Naucalpan - Population, Naucalpan - Extension, Naucalpan - Altitude, Naucalpan - Climate, Naucalpan - Hydrology, Naucalpan - Torres de Satélite Satélite Towers

Read more here: » Naucalpan: Encyclopedia II - Naucalpan - Toponymy

The Fisher King's next development occurs in Robert de Boron's Joseph d'Arimathe, the first work to connect the Grail with Jesus. Here, the "Rich Fisher" is called "Bron", a name similar enough to Bran to suggest a relationship, and he is said to be the brother-in-law of Joseph of Arimathea, who had used the Grail to catch Christ's blood before laying him in the tomb. Joseph founds a religious community that travels eventually to Britain, and he entrusts the Grail to Bron. Bron, called the "Rich Fisher" because he catches a fish eaten at the Grail table, founds the line ...

See also:

Fisher King, Fisher King - Why Fisher King?, Fisher King - Chrétien de Troyes' Perceval, Fisher King - Celtic mythology, Fisher King - Later medieval works, Fisher King - Modern takes on the legend

Read more here: » Fisher King: Encyclopedia II - Fisher King - Later medieval works

The Fisher King's next development occurs in Robert de Boron's Joseph d'Arimathie, the first work to connect the Grail with Jesus. Here, the "Rich Fisher" is called "Bron", a name similar enough to Bran to suggest a relationship, and he is said to be the brother-in-law of Joseph of Arimathea, who had used the Grail to catch Christ's blood before laying him in the tomb. Joseph founds a religious community that travels eventually to Britain, and he entrusts the Grail to Bron. Bron, called the "Rich Fisher" because he catches a fish eaten at the Grail table, founds the line ...

See also:

Fisher King, Fisher King - Why Fisher King?, Fisher King - Chrétien de Troyes' Perceval, Fisher King - Celtic mythology, Fisher King - Later medieval works, Fisher King - Modern takes on the legend

Read more here: » Fisher King: Encyclopedia II - Fisher King - Later medieval works

The Fisher King appears first in Perceval, but the character's roots lie in Celtic Mythology. He may be derived more or less directly from the figure of Bran the Blessed in the Mabinogion; Bran had a cauldron that could restore life (albeit imperfectly), and he gave it to the king of Ireland as a wedding gift for the king and his sister Branwen. Later, he wages war on the Irish and is wounded in the foot or leg, and the cauldron is destroyed. He asks his followers to sever his head and take it back to Britain, and his head continues t ...

See also:

Fisher King, Fisher King - Why Fisher King?, Fisher King - Chrétien de Troyes' Perceval, Fisher King - Celtic mythology, Fisher King - Later medieval works, Fisher King - Modern takes on the legend

Read more here: » Fisher King: Encyclopedia II - Fisher King - Celtic mythology