Disability in Mythology

Written by Hannah Dang, with support from the DAC Team 

PROLOGUE: At the dawn of human civilization, people spun stories inside of their heads, shared orally, and then etched out in writing. The practice of creating and sharing stories to reflect the universe hasn’t disappeared since. It was only a matter of time until stories about the disability community made their space underneath the spotlight. In this blog post, I have retold some of my favorite legends in ancient mythologies and old folktales. 

I also highly encourage everyone to check out the resources I’ve compiled in the works cited below the blog or researching on your own time if you’re interested in learning more! Perhaps, you’ll write about your favorite mythological figures with more depth (and consider publishing your work on our blog). Thank you, and I hope you enjoy. 

— AZTEC MYTHOLOGY —

1. Nanahuatzin [nana-wa-tsin]

Number one in this collection is Nanahuatzin, a poor and disabled deity in Aztec mythology. According to legend, Nanahuatzin is considered to be the smallest, poorest, and humblest of the Aztec godly council, and even as he is struck with illness, Nanahuatzin continues to perform his godly duties. 

During the age of the gods, three cycles of life already passed, and each cycle would end due to a catastrophe. In each cycle, one of the Aztec gods must bear the task of giving light to humanity, but to do so, one of the gods must sacrifice himself by willingly leaping into a fire. By the end of the fourth cycle, the gods gather at Teotihuacan to decide on a sacrifice. 

The two gods picked are Tecciztecatl, who would become the sun as a testament to his wealth and strength, and Nanahuatzin, as the moon, due to his impoverished and sickly self. During the sacrificial ritual, Tecciztecatl hesitates to jump first, but Nanahuatzin courageously leaps into the flames in his stead. As a result, Nanahuatzin becomes Earth’s fifth sun, and Tecciztecatl, moved by Nanahuatzin’s bravery, jumps into the fire as well and becomes Earth’s moon (Rubalcava).

2. Tezcatlipoca [tez-ca-tli-po-ca]

Worshiped as the Aztec god of the night, war, and magic, Tezcatlipoca loses one of his feet during the creation of Earth due to a crocodile monster. In place of the foot is an obsidian mirror which he uses to see the deeds and thoughts of humans omnipotently (Britannica).

3. Xolotl [shuh-luht]

Xolotl is one of the most important deities in Aztec mythology. Known as the god of monsters, death, diseases, and bad luck, Xolotl is depicted as a “canine” or dog because the Aztecs believe dogs symbolize death. Additionally, Xolotl is also described as having deformed limbs, a hunched back, and eyes pulled out of their sockets (Kerkhof). 

— ARTHURIAN LEGEND —

4. The Fisher King

A character in Arthurian legend, the Fisher King is the descendant of a long line of British kings who are tasked to protect the Holy Grail. Although he is the guardian of the Holy Grail and his kingdom, a severe wound debilitates the use of his legs, groin, and thighs. He receives his name due to his favorite pastime, fishing, as he awaits a “chosen one” to heal his legs and save his home (Teale). 

— CHINESE MYTHOLOGY —

5. Yubu

“Yubu,” the Paces or Steps of Yu, is a mystical kind of dancing derived from a religion and philosophy called Taoism or Daoism. Named after Yu the Great, the founder of the Xia Dynasty who becomes partially paralyzed due to overexerting his body while battling the Great Flood, the dance form consists of “dragging one foot after another” as Yubu loses the use of one of his legs (Ruark).

— GREEK/ROMAN MYTHOLOGY —

6. Hephaestus [huh-fay-stuhs] or Vulcan [vuhl-can]

One of the twelve Olympians as well as the god of fire, metalworking, and the forge, Hephaestus, otherwise known by his Roman counterpart, Vulcan, is one of the most prominent gods in Ancient Greece and Rome. 

Angry at Zeus (Jupiter) for bearing Athena (Minerva), the goddess of wisdom, with only his head, Hera (Junos) gives birth to Hephaestus without sexual intercourse (in some versions of the myth, Hephaestus considers Zeus as his father). In comparison to the flawless Athena, Hephaestus is born with a “shriveled” leg. Despite his talents, Hera is embarrassed by her son and casts her baby from Olympus. Hephaestus is later rescued by the sea nymphs, Thetis and Eurynome (Atsma). 

7. The Graeae [GREE-ee] or the Gray Sisters

Daughters of sea gods, Phorcys and Ceto, and sisters to the Gorgons, the Graeae are three old women (Deino, Enyo, and Pemphredo) who share only one eye, “a symbol of knowledge and power,” and one tooth, “representing age and wisdom,” between the three of them. Both, “were central to their ability to foresee and influence events.” The sisters appear in the myth of Perseus, the demigod, and the slayer of the monster, Medusa. In the myth, Perseus wishes to know the location of three powerful objects needed to defeat Medusa, but the location was only known to the Graeae. To acquire them, Perseus holds the sisters’ eye as hostage until the sisters relent and tell Perseus the information he wanted (GreekMythology).

8. Oedipus [eh-dih-pus]

Born to Laius and Jocasta, the king and queen of Thebes, Oedipus is prophesied to kill his father and marry his mother. To stop the prophecy, Laius has Oedipus’s feet, “pinned together,” intending to kill his son, but Oedipus survives due to the kindness of a shepherd. The shepherd and his wife adopt Oedipus as their own, and Oedipus grows up in Corinth, never knowing the true identities of his birth parents.

Just as foretold, Oedipus unknowingly kills Laius due to a quarrel and wins Jocasta’s hand in marriage after defeating the Sphinx, a monster who was terrorizing Thebes. Later on, the truth is exposed, leading Jocasta to commit suicide, leaving behind Oedipus and their four children. Struck by the horror of his actions, Oedipus blinds himself as punishment and goes into exile (Britannica).

9. Oizys [Oh-ee-ZEES]

Known as “Miseria” by the Romans, Oizys is the Greek goddess of grief, anxiety, and depression. She and her twin brother Momus, the Greek god of satire and mockery, are born to either Nyx, the primordial goddess of the night, or Erebus, the primordial god of darkness. Oizys is believed to be an enemy of humans as she loves to spread misery (Greek Gods & Goddesses).

10. Plutus [PLOO-tus]

Plutus is the god of wealth and is canonically blinded by Zeus to ensure he would be fair to the rich and the poor (Atsuma).

11. Tiresias [TY-RE-SEE-AS]

A blind, Theban seer who is responsible for the prophecy sealing Oedipus’s fate. Besides having an extended lifespan and the ability to see the future, Tiresias is one of the few mortals to have lived as both a man and a woman due to being wounded by a pair of mating snakes. According to the myth, Tiresias is asked by Zeus and Hera, “Which of the two sexes experiences greater pleasure during sex?” Having lived as both, Tiresias answers, “Women,” to which Hera blinds Tiresias. In exchange, Zeus gifts Tiresias with the ability of prophecy and longevity. 

Another story about his blindness was it being a result of accidentally stumbling upon Athena as she’s bathing. Instead of restoring his sight, Athena gives the gift of prophecy to the Theban. Tiresias also appears in a minor role in Homer’s Odyssey as a supporting character. There, Tiresias uses his ability of prophecy to consult Odysseus in the Underworld (Britannica). 

— EGYPTIAN MYTHOLOGY — 

12. Bes [B-S-T]

Bes, the dwarf god, is a minor Egyptian deity. He is known as the protector of women in childbirth and is also the god of music (Britannica).

13. Osiris [OH-SY-RIS]

Osiris is the Egyptian deity of the Underworld. After Ra, the god of the sun, steps down as pharaoh, Osiris takes his place, ushering in a new era of godhood, peace, and prosperity. Jealous, Osiris’s brother, Set, the god of chaos, kills Osiris and rips his body into fourteen pieces, scattering the parts all over the world. Osiris’s wife, Isis, the goddess of magic, searches the globe for her husband’s missing body parts and is able to find all the parts except his phallus. Osiris is then resurrected by the other Egyptian deities and given a prosthetic penis (Journey to Egypt). 

14. Horus [HAW-RUHS] and Set [s-eh-t]

In classic “Lion King” fashion, Set and Horus, the son of Osiris and Isis as well as the god of the sky and kingship, battle one another for the throne of Egypt. The battles result in Horus losing one of his eyes and Set losing his testicles (Joy).  

15. Ptah [Pa-ta-ha]

As the renowned creator god of Memphis, a city-state in Ancient Egypt, Ptah is oftentimes depicted with dwarfism (Meehan)

— FINISH MYTHOLOGY —

16. Loviator [loh-VEE-a-tar]

She is a blind daughter of Tuoni, the god of death. She is impregnated and gives birth to nine sons, the nine diseases. In some poems, she also gives birth to a tenth child who is a girl. Loviatar’s nine sons, fathered by either the wind or the sea monster Iku-Turso, are named Colic, Pleurisy, Fever, Ulcer, Plague, Consumption, Gout, Sterility, and Cancer. She is possibly the only solely evil deity in the Finnish pantheon. In addition to that, she is titled as the goddess of evil (Niskanen).

— GERMANIC MYTHOLOGY —

17. Wayland the Smith

The stories of fairy-smith Wayland originate in northern Europe among the Scandinavians and Germanic groups. His earliest appearance is in “Völundarkviða (‘Poem/Lay of Volund’) of the thirteenth century Icelandic ‘Poetic Edda’ texts,” in which he is depicted as a prince of elves, possessing unmatchable skills in crafting jewels, weaponry, and armor imbued with magic. The smith is also a character in the “early tenth century Anglo-Saxon poem Deor (from the Exeter Book manuscript collection) . . . . [and] in the tenth century Old English epic poem, Beowulf, as the creator of the hero’s chest armor.” 

In a thirteenth-century Scandinavian retelling of “Gothic hero-king Theoderic (Dietrich) the Great (Þiðrekssaga/Thidrekssaga),” Wayland is featured as a blacksmith apprentice under Mimir and the dwarves. Wayland presents himself to the king and kills the king’s blacksmith, and for his transgressions, he is crippled and enslaved (The Atlantic Religion). 

— MIDDLE ENGLISH FOLKLORE —

18. Changelings [CHAYNJ-LING]

Considered one of the most feared types of fairies in folklore, changelings have a habit of abducting children, young mothers, or unmarried women and then taking their place and appearances in the form of a shape-shifting monster or inanimate object. Historically, folktales are used to explain “developmental disabilities and intellectual disabilities” (ex. autism, ADHD, epilepsy, dyslexia, and others) in children. 

Although encouraging a family’s belief in fairies provides a means to “console” themselves, the stories also gives other families an excuse to justify the “murder, abandonment, and torture of these children.” While there aren’t as many positive representations of changelings in folklore as there are negative ones, the folklores enable us to remember people with disabilities and neurodivergent people have always existed (Whalen). 

— NORSE MYTHOLOGY —

19. Hodr [HO-der]

Hodr is the blind god of darkness, shadows, struggles, war, and winter, the direct opposite of his brother, Balder, the Norse god of light. Although Hodr is one of the twelve leading Norse gods, he is not respected or beloved because Hodr accidentally killed Balder. Baldur was foretold to imminently die, and fearing for his life, Frigga has everything in the world swear an oath to never harm Baldur except the mistletoe. 

In celebration of Baldur’s “invulnerability,” a contest is held during a feast in Asgard, the home of the Norse gods. All of the gods take turns throwing weapons at Baldur only for each to harmlessly bounce off the god’s body. Loki, the god of mischief, creates a spear out of mistletoe and tricks Hodr into participating. Due to his blindness, Hodr does not know the spear is dangerous to Baldur. Throwing the spear at his brother, Hodr accidentally kills his brother. From thenceforth, Hodr is mockingly dubbed the name “Baldur’s Slayer” or “Mistletoe Thrower” (Megas). 

20. Odin [OH] + [DIN] 

The Allfather. Mankind’s father. The raven god. Known by several names, Odin is the god of war, death, poetry, wisdom, and magic. Not only is he the ruler of the other Norse gods, but Odin is associated with having a crucial role to play at the beginning of the universe and the lineage of Aesir, the various tribes of Norse mythology. Odin is a rather complex character in Norse mythology as unlike other kings at the helm of the other gods, Odin is not a traditional, kind ruler. Wise as he was, Odin is prone to causing conflicts instead of resolving them, guiding the chain of events to his bidding. 

Odin is typically described as an elderly man with a long beard, a dark blue cloak, a staff, and a hat to obscure his missing eye, signifying the lengths he would go to quench his thirst for knowledge (Marius)

21. Tyr [teer]

Tyr is the noble Norse god of war and oaths, portrayed as a warrior with either a spear or sword. In other depictions, Tyr is shown performing one of his greatest feats, tricking the monstrous wolf, Fenrir, to be trapped in chains. As a result of his encounter with Fenrir, Tyr loses one of his hands. In the present day, losing his hand symbolizes the themes of “heroism and sacrifice” cemented in Norse mythology (Marius). 

— HINDU MYTHOLOGY —

22. Ashtavakra [ash-tah-vah-kra]

Ashtavakra is known as the “Great Vedic Sage” and is revered as one of the most capable sages in society despite being born with eight deformities. Although Ashtavakra isn’t always respected by others, he goes on to acquire the position of “Brahmrishi,” become the king of Janaka, father of the goddess Sita, and writes the “Ashtavakra Samhita” to pass down his enlightened knowledge. 

Per the myths, when Ashtavakra is in his mother’s womb, he hears the correct pronunciation of the Vedic Mantras, which are being chanted by his grandfather and the guru of his parents. Later on, his father is practicing his chantings but makes eight mistakes. Ashtavakra, as a fetus, asks his father to fix his mistakes. Humiliated, his father curses his son, causing Ashtavakra to be born with eight deformities in his body (Lalit). 

23. Vamana [vah-man-nah]

Vamana is one of ten Dashavtara or avatars of Lord Vishnu used to annihilate demons and bring order and peace to humanity. This avatar is depicted as having dwarfism, and one of the incarnation’s prime battles was with Bali, the demon king. In this form, Vamana makes a bet with Bali, asking for land equivalent to his three steps. 

Seeing Vamana’s short stature, Bali readily agreed. Bali then donates three steps to Vamana, and the latter increases his height to the highest degree possible to the extent Vamana becomes capable of covering the entire planet and heavens in two steps. Bali makes a desperate gamble, offering his head for the third step, but is pushed to the netherworlds via Vamana’s footsteps (Lalit). 

24. Kubera [kyoo-br-uh]

In Hindu mythology, Kubera is the king of the yakshas, or nature spirits as well as the god of wealth. He is often depicted as having dwarfism, holding a pouch of money, and having a mongoose as a companion (Lalit).

25. Shani [shaa-nee]

Shani is the Hindu god of justice and retribution. He is the younger brother of the Hindu god Yama, who is the god of the dead. Together, the brothers guide the souls to the realm of the dead and then judge their past lives to decide if a soul deserved to be rewarded or punished. Ruling with a sector and with the crow as his signature animal, Shani is portrayed by his believers as a disabled deity due to his limp, which he earns due to a fight between him and Yama in their childhood (Rgyan). 

26. Khodiyar Maa [cod-dee-yaw maa]

Khodiyar Maa is the Hindu goddess of the womb and childhood. As her name translates to, “the Goddess who hobbles and limps from an injury,” she is also the goddess of “physical handicaps and impediments.” More than that, Khodiyar Maa is so respected due to her unconditional love for the mortal world, directly intervening during times of emergencies regarding conflicts plaguing humans (Ring). 

27. Manasa [ma-na-sa]

The “Snake Goddess,” Manasa is in charge of the domains surrounding poisons, fertility, marriage rites, as a protector of children, and prosperity. Believe it or not, her believers used to preach that being one of her believers grants the ability to be immune to poisons. She is revered as the one-eyed goddess due to the tale of Chani, Manasa’s stepmother, burning one of Manasa’s eyes in anger (McGuigan).  

28. Pushan [p-uu-sh-ah-n]

The god of safe journeys, luck, travelers, and meetings, Pushan plays an important role as a guide for lost souls and for farmers who lose sight of their animals. Outside of his golden lance and chariot pulled by goats, Pushan is painted as having no teeth as a result of the battle between himself and the god Shiva (Lalit). 

29. Hanuman [haan-nuu-man]

Dubbed the “Monkey King” and the leader of an army of monkeys, Hanuman is an important figure in Hindu mythology and other areas of Central, Southwest, and East Asia. As a baby, Hanuman attempts to steal the sun, mistaking it for a fruit to eat. Seeing Hanuman’s “arrogance,” Indra, the king of the gods, strikes Hanuman with a lightning bolt, hitting him in the jaw. Prone to mischief, Hanuman is repeatedly cursed by sages to lose his magical powers, including his ability of flight and body modification (Doniger).

30. Vishpala [vii-sh-paa-la]

Dated between 6000 B.C. and 500 B.C., the Rigveda is the first of a set of sanctimonious Hindu texts, the Vedas. In the text, Vishpala is an ancient warrior and queen who, upon losing one of her legs to either a race or battle known as “Khela’s Battle,” is given the first prosthetic, iron leg in history. The prosthetic leg is a gift hailing from the Ashwin, twin gods who have horse heads instead of human ones. The Ashwin gods, Nasatya and Dasra, are portrayed as riding in a golden chariot and possessing the power to heal (Gary).

— JAPANESE MYTHOLOGY —

31. Ebisu [eh-bee-suu]

Patron to Japanese fishermen and merchants, Ebisu is best known for his position as one of the Shichi-fuku-jin (lit. Seven Lucky Gods). He’s also associated with bringing happiness because he played the role of a pacifist in a conflict between the deities of heaven and earth. As the son of the gods of creation, Izanami and Izanagi, Ebisu is born without bones. Horrified at their son’s disposition, the couple throws Ebisu into the sea. Floating for a time, Ebisu washes ashore and is then taken in by a group of indigenous people named the Ainu. 

By the age of three, he overcomes his sickly disposition, and his bones grow, allowing Ebisu to walk. Grateful for his circumstances, Ebisu begins to spread joy and wealth to everyone he meets, and eventually, he becomes a god of fortune. He also inherits an affinity for the sea and favoring fishermen. When he becomes an adult, Ebisu is also depicted as being hard of hearing (Wright). 

—INUIT MYTHOLOGY—

32. Sedna [said-nah]

In Inuit mythology, Sedna is the goddess of the sea and the creatures who inhabit it. Her origin story starts with a marriage. Sedna is born to a loving family; however, it was her parents’ wish for Sedna to marry, but their daughter refuses to follow tradition. One day, an Inuk approaches Sedna and promises to be a good husband and to provide for Sedna. In love, Sedma marries the Inuk, but as it turns out, the Inuk is a birdman in disguise. Betrayed, Sedna is furious, but she is stuck in a loveless marriage. Seeing her unhappy, Sedna’s father kills the birdman, but the birdman’s friends swear to take revenge for their fallen friend. 

As Sedna and her father were escaping by kayak, the birdmen flaps their wings, causing huge waves and a storm. Scared, Sedna’s father pushes Sedna off their kayak, but Sedna holds on to the edge of the boat. As the boat is about to flip over, Sedna’s father cuts each of Sedna’s fingers off, abandoning his daughter to the icy, cold depths of the sea. From each finger, new sea creatures were born, including seals, whales, and walruses (Lindemann).  

— NATIVE AMERICAN MYTHOLOGY —

33. Kokopelli [koko-pell-lee]

The final mythological being in this collection is Kokopelli, a Native American fertility deity portrayed as playing a flute and having a humpback. There are several backstories to Kokopelli’s humpback, which include slinging a sack over his back, causing it to bend, carrying seeds, babies, and blankets to give to maidens, carrying clouds and rainbows as symbols of hope and plenty, carrying songs, or carrying deer skins, shirts and moccasins (Southwest Arts and Design). 

EPILOGUE: Although I predicted I wouldn’t find many disabled characters in many cultures’ mythologies, I wanted to contribute to my lifelong aspiration to offer a starting point to better the world by sharing some of my favorite and newly discovered stories about people with disabilities. This blog post was created to highlight a few stories, ancient as they are, that deserve to be told. I wish to allude to the world’s need to embrace inclusivity inside and outside the disability community, historically, futuristically, and presently. A part of inclusivity to knowing our history, accessing our culture, openly educating ourselves, and not hiding nor whitewashing any of the stories. 

I also highly encourage everyone to check out the resources I’ve compiled in the works cited below the blog or researching on your own time if you’re interested in learning more! Perhaps, you’ll write about your favorite mythological figures with more depth (and consider publishing your work on our blog). Thank you, and I hope you all have a lovely day. 

WORKS CITED:

Atsma, Aaron J. “Hephaistos Myths.” HEPHAESTUS MYTHS 1 GENERAL – Greek Mythology, http://www.theoi.com/Olympios/HephaistosMyths.html#Birth. Accessed 01 Feb. 2024. 

Atsuma, Aaron J. “Ploutos.” PLUTUS (Ploutos) – Greek God of Wealth & Agricultural Bounty, Theoi Project, http://www.theoi.com/Georgikos/Ploutos.html. Accessed 09 Feb. 2024. 

Doniger, Wendy. “Hanuman.” Edited by The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., 31 Jan. 2024, http://www.britannica.com/topic/Hanuman. Accessed 07 Feb. 2024. 

The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica. “BES.” Edited by Amy Tikkanen, Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., http://www.britannica.com/topic/Bes. Accessed 01 Feb. 2024. 

The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica. “Oedipus.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., 24 Jan. 2024, http://www.britannica.com/topic/Oedipus-Greek-mythology. Accessed 01 Feb. 2024. 

The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica. “Tiresias.” Edited by Mic Anderson, Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., http://www.britannica.com/topic/Tiresias. Accessed 01 Feb. 2024. 

The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica. “Tezcatlipoca.” Edited by Elizabeth Prine Pauls, Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., http://www.britannica.com/topic/Tezcatlipoca. Accessed 01 Feb. 2024. 

Gary, Holly. “The Legend of the One-Legged Queen Vishpala of the Rigveda.” Grunge, 1 Feb. 2023, http://www.grunge.com/1185147/the-legend-of-the-one-legged-queen-vishpala-of-the-rigveda/. Accessed 07 Feb. 2024

GreekMythology.com, The Editors of Website. “Graeae”. GreekMythology.com Website, 30 Nov. 2023, https://www.greekmythology.com/Myths/Monsters/Graeae/graeae.html. Accessed 09 February 2024.

Joy. “The Sunday Section: Ancient Egypt – the Osiris Myth.” Joy V Spicer, 15 July 2020, http://www.joyvspicer.com/joy-blog/2015/09/the-sunday-section-ancient-egypt-osirishtml. Accessed 09 Feb. 2024. 

Kerkhof, Maup van de. “Xolotl: Aztec God for the Motion of Life.” History Cooperative, 23 Jan. 2024, historycooperative.org/xolotl/. Accessed 01 Feb. 2024. 

Lalit, Samyak. “Persons with Disability in Hindu Mythology.” WeCapable, 1 Oct. 2021, wecapable.com/disability-indian-mythology/#google_vignette. Accessed 07 Feb. 2024. 

“The Legend of Kokopelli.” Southwest Arts and Design, 30 Oct. 2019, swartsanddesign.com/the-legend-of-kokopelli/. Accessed 01 Feb. 2024. 

“Legend of Lord Shani: Story behind the Most Feared God.” Rgyan.Com, rgyan.com/blogs/lord-shani-story-behind-the-most-feared-god. Accessed 07 Feb. 2024. 

Lindemann, Lenore. “The Legend of Sedna the Sea Goddess.” Sedna or Sanna the Sea Goddess of the Inuit, 1999, http://www.palomar.edu/users/scrouthamel/ais100/sedna.htm. Accessed 01 Feb. 2024. 

Marius. “Odin the Allfather: Ruler of the Norse Gods.” Norse Mythology & Viking History, Vikingr, 8 Feb. 2024, vikingr.org/norse-gods-goddesses/odin. Accessed 09 Feb. 2024. 

Marius. “Tyr: The Norse God of War and Justice.” Norse Mythology & Viking History, Vikingr, 5 Nov. 2023, vikingr.org/norse-gods-goddesses/tyr. Accessed 09 Feb. 2024. 

McGuigan, Brendan. “Rudra Centre.” Rudraksha Ratna, 5 Jan. 2024, http://www.rudraksha-ratna.com/articles/goddess-manasa. Accessed 07 Feb. 2024. 

Meehan, Evan. “Ptah.” Mythopedia, 9 Nov. 2022, mythopedia.com/topics/ptah. Accessed 09 Feb. 2024. 

Megas, Vasilis. “Hodr: The Norse God of Darkness and Winter.” Norse Mythology & Viking History, 5 Nov. 2023, vikingr.org/norse-gods-goddesses/hodr. Accessed 01 Feb. 2024. 

Niskanen, Niina. “Loviatar: Goddess of the Far North.” Spiral Nature Magazine, 2 Jan. 2019, http://www.spiralnature.com/spirituality/loviatar-goddess-of-the-far-north/. Accessed 09 Feb. 2024. 

“Oizys – Goddess of Grief, Anxiety, and Depression • Facts and Information on the Goddess Oizys – Goddess of Grief, Anxiety, and Depression.” Greek Gods & Goddesses, 4 Feb. 2022, greekgodsandgoddesses.net/goddesses/oizys/. Accessed 01 Feb. 2024. 

“Osiris: Egyptian God.” Best Egypt Tours, Trips, Travel, Holidays & Nile Cruises 2024/2025 – Journey To Egypt, http://www.journeytoegypt.com/en/blog/osiris-egyptian-god. Accessed 09 Feb. 2024. 

Ring, Hara. “Khodiyar Maa.” Healing in the Willows, healinginthewillows.com/khodiyar-maa/. Accessed 07 Feb. 2024. 

Ruark, Michael. “‘Paces of Yu’ – Shaman Steps.” Michael Ruark, 12 Oct. 2019, michaelruark.blog/2019/10/12/yubu-paces-of-yu/. Accessed 01 Feb. 2024. 

Rubalcava, Heriberto. “Nanahuatzin: The Most Humble of Gods.” Pipiripau, 5 Oct. 2022, pipiripau.com/blogs/blog/nanahuatzin-the-most-humble-of-gods. Accessed 01 Feb. 2024. 

Teale, Dr. Oliver. “A Summary and Analysis of the Fisher King Myth.” Interesting Literature, 18 Apr. 2023, interestingliterature.com/2022/09/fisher-king-myth-summary-analysis/#. Accessed 01 Feb. 2024. 

“Wayland Revisited: A Pan-European God?” The Atlantic Religion, 9 Dec. 2015, atlanticreligion.com/2015/12/08/wayland-revisited-a-pan-european-god/#:~:text=He%20presents%20himself%20at%20the,special%20jewels%2C%20weapons%20and%20armour. Accessed 01 Feb. 2024. 

Whalen, Kayley. “Changelings and the Folk History of Autism.” Autistic Women & Nonbinary Network (AWN), 30 Apr. 2023, awnnetwork.org/changelings-and-the-folk-history-of-autism/. Accessed 01 Feb. 2024. 

Wright, Gregory. “Ebisu.” Mythopedia, 9 Nov. 2022, mythopedia.com/topics/ebisu. Accessed 01 Feb. 2024.