Legendary practices
Known from myth, story and legend rather than from recorded practice.
- Living
- Revived
- Fading
- Historical
- Legendary
- Performed
RegionSouth AsiaSoutheast AsiaEast AsiaCentral Asia and the CaucasusMiddle EastNorth AfricaSub-Saharan AfricaEuropeNorth AmericaLatin America and the CaribbeanOceania
PurposeProtectionHealingSeeing and foretellingLuck and prosperityLove and attractionCursing and harmCleansing and purificationSpeaking with spirits and the deadChange and initiationBinding and oathsPower and authorityWonder and entertainment
WhoShamansFolk healersPriests and ritual specialistsWitches, sorcerers and cunning folkDiviners and readersMediums and the possessedCeremonial magicians and alchemistsHouseholds and ordinary peopleStage magiciansScholars and sceptics
BeliefHindu and TantricBuddhistJainMuslim and SufiJewishChristianSikhZoroastrianShinto and TaoistIndigenous and shamanicAfrican and Afro-diasporicPagan and NeopaganEsoteric and occultFolk and village customSecular and stageOther traditions
馃嚜馃嚞 Egypt and 1 moreLilith诇执讬诇执讬转
A feminine figure from Mesopotamian and Jewish mythology, often depicted as a night demon or spirit.Being 路 Cursing and harm Legendary
馃嚜馃嚞 Egypt and 1 moreBehemoth讘职旨讛值诪讜止转
A primeval land-monster from the Book of Job and later Jewish legendBeing 路 Power and authority Legendary
馃嚜馃嚞 EgyptDjedi
A fictional magician from the Westcar Papyrus who resurrects animals and foretells a king's lineage.Figure 路 Seeing and foretelling 路 Wonder and entertainment Legendary
馃嚜馃嚞 EgyptChimera围委渭伪喂蟻伪
A fire-breathing hybrid monster from Greek mythology, composed of lion, goat, and snake parts.Figure 路 Wonder and entertainment Legendary
馃嚜馃嚬 EthiopiaCatoblepas
A legendary beast from ancient texts with a heavy head and a lethal gaze or breath.Being 路 Cursing and harm Legendary
馃嚜馃嚞 EgyptAkhekh
A winged desert creature of Egyptian myth linked to chaos and royal powerBeing 路 Power and authority Legendary
馃嚜馃嚞 EgyptSoul Collector
A mythical figure said to gather, guide, or judge the spirits of those who have passed away.Being 路 Speaking with spirits and the dead Legendary
馃嚜馃嚞 EgyptCelestial Ferryman
An ancient Egyptian god who guides souls and judges sins in the underworld.Being 路 Speaking with spirits and the dead Legendary
Photo credits on this page
The small pictures above come from Wikimedia Commons under free licences. Some are cropped to fit.
- Behemoth: Louis Le Breton, Public domain, source
- Chimera: Lampas Group, Public domain, source
- Catoblepas: Jan Jonston, Public domain, source
- Lilith: Photographs by Ardon Bar Hama, author of original document is unknown., Public domain, source