The Bunyip, or Kianpraty, is a large mythical creature from Aboriginal mythology, said to lurk in swamps, billabongs, creeks, riverbeds, and waterholes. The bunyip appears to have formed part of traditional Aboriginal beliefs and stories throughout Australia. Common features of Bunyip include a dog-like face, a crocodile like head, dark fur, a horse-like tail, flippers, and walrus-like tusks or horns or a duck-like bill.
Mythology of the Philippines - Mythological Creatures, issued by the Philippines on April 24, 2015:
Nuno Sa Punso ("old man of the mound") is a dwarf-like creature in Philippine mythology. It is believed to live in an anthill or termite mound, hence its name, literally "Ancestor / Grandparent living in the anthill":
The Sirena is a mythological sea creature from Filipino culture . Like Sirens of Greek mythology, Sirenas are often portrayed as mermaid-like creatures who live under the sea. The Sirena is one of the Bantay Tubig, a Fillipino term used to describe mythical guardians of the water:
Malakas and Maganda (literally, Strong One and Beautiful One) are Filipino versions of Adam and Eve. They are said to have sprung from a large bamboo tree pecked by a Sarimanok known as Magaulancealabarca:
Maria Sinukuan is the diwata (fairy) or mountain goddess associated with Mount Arayat in Pampanga, Philippines, and is a prominent example of the mountain-goddesses motif in Philippine mythology.
The Ogopogo. ~~~~~~~~~~ In Canadian folklore, the Ogopogo is a lake monster said to inhabit Okanagan Lake in British Columbia, Canada. Some scholars have charted the entity's development from First Nations folklore and widespread water monster folklore motifs. Wikipedia
The Werewolf. ~~~~~~~~ The werewolf is a mythological animal and the subject of many stories throughout the world—and more than a few nightmares. Werewolves are, according to some legends, people who morph into vicious, powerful wolves. Others are a mutant combination of human and wolf.
Many myths were evolved in the Pacific islands explaining the origin of the different island names. This set was issued by Gilbert and Ellice Islands on March 5, 1973 depicting the myths behind the island names.
The Island Funafuti - The land of bananas:
The Island Butaritari - The smell of the sea:
The Island Tarawa: Nareau, the Spider Lord, was a creator god. After emerging from a primeval place, consisting of darkness and endless space, he created ocean, heaven and earth and two beings, Na Atibu and Nei Teukez. He called the the sky "Karawa", the ocean "Marawa" and the earth he created "Tarawa" (The center of the world):
Thank you, tomonakaazu, for the nice addition! seems that Tlaloc is a very important Aztec god
Quote: Many myths were evolved in the Pacific islands explaining the origin of the different island names. Second set was issued for use in the Gilbert and Ellice Islands on August 1, 1974 depicting the myths behind the island names.
The Island Beru - The bud:
The Island Abaiang - Land to the north:
The Island Marakei - Fish-trap floating on Eaves:
The Island Onotoa - Six giants Onotoa is a combined abbreviation of "Onoman Aintoa" (Six Giants) who were involved in the creation of the island and is thus known locally as "Land of the Six Giants":
Samoan myths and legends carved on a wood, issued by Samoa I Sisifo on September 20, 1971:
3 Sene: Queen Salamasina - is perhaps the most famous female figure in all of Samoan social history. She descended from several powerful royal bloodlines and held the four papa, titles which lent her the paramount status of Tafa'ifa.
8 Sene: How Samoa got its name - Lu, son of the Chief, had a "sa-moa", a preserve of hens laid under a taboo. One day the Tagaloalagi clan came from the eastern islands and stole Lu's sacred hens. He pursued them with great slaughter all the way to Malae totoa, the place of rest. There Tagaloa said to Lu, "Lu, have mercy on Tagaloalagi clan as they are about to enter the Malae totoa and I will give you my daughter Lagituaiva as a wife". Lu said, "Very well, the Tagaloalagi people shall live." Lu married Lagituaiva and they had a son who they named Samoa in memory of his sacred hens.
10 Sene: The Creation of the Samoa Island - Tagaloa is the supreme ruler of the Samoans, the creator of the universe, the chief of all gods and the progenitor of other gods and humans. Tagaloa dwelt in space and created the sky, the land, the seas, the trees, the islands and the people. Among the islands created by Tagaloa, was the island of Samoa which he fished from the sea.
22 Sene: Mount Vaea and the Pool of Tears - Samoans believe Mount Vaea is the petrified remnant of a warrior who married a Fijian princess. She bore him a child whom she wanted to take back to Fiji. She was so long away and he stood so still watching for her return that he turned to stone, and when she did finally come back, she embraces his unmoving form and the two shed such an abundance of tears as to form a stream and fill the pool below.
Sea Goddesses of the Pacific, a set of 6 stamps, issued by Micronesia on May 29, 1997. Here are the first two of them:
Walutahanga of Melanesia The eight-fold snake goddess was born to a human mother; the woman was afraid of her husband and hid the serpent girl. But he discovered the deception and was so shocked he cut Walutahanga into eight pieces. After eight days of rain, the girl's body rejoined into a whole. Walutahanga traveled through the islands, tormenting humans in retaliation for her murder. Captured, she was again chopped into eight pieces; everyone, except a woman and her daughter ate the body, and threw her bones into the sea. It rained for another eight days. Then the bones under the sea again formed themselves into the goddess. To punish humanity, Walutahanga covered the islands with eight huge flooding waves, which killed everyone but the woman and her child, the only ones who had not eaten the goddess' flesh. The goddess gave these two many gifts, including the coconut and clear-water streams, before again retreating to the ocean.
Tien-Hou of China Tien-Hou is the Chinese Goddess of fishermen. She was once a mortal woman named Lin Moniang with four brothers who were all sailors, each with his own ship. One day while they were at sea, Tien-Hou fell into a coma. Her mother tried to revive her and eventually succeeded. Tien-Hou protested that she had been awakened too soon. Later that day, three of her brothers returned home, saying that their ships had nearly been destroyed in storms at sea, but that a vision of Tien-Hou had appeared to them and led them to safety. The fourth brother never returned, for Tien-Hou had been awakened before she could save him. Tien-Hou was still young when she died, and the people named her Princess of Supernatural Favor. She watches over all fishermen, and there are many temples in her honor along the coastline of China.
United States has the Raven Story forever stamp issued July 2021 (Scott 5620) at original price of $0.55.
First Nations of the Pacific Northwest have many stories of Raven, prominently as part of creation myths. In one, Raven discovers the first humans trapped in a giant clam shell. He frees them but learns the females are missing. Raven later finds females in a chiton shell and frees them. Raven thus became a protector of mankind.
I don't collect US after about 2000, but here from my current mailing inventory is the Raven Story stamp on its sheet. This is one of my favorite among recent US stamps. Sadly, the reflective gold stars and spheres on the stamp and sheet are rendered blackish by my scanner.
It was created by Tlingit/Athabascan artist Rico Worl and draws on another traditional story of Raven setting the sun, moon and stars free. The stamp design depicts a raven just as he escapes from his human family and begins to transform back into his bird form.
Sea Goddesses of the Pacific, a set of 6 stamps, issued by Micronesia on May 29, 1997. Here are more 2 of them:
Lorop of Micronesia Lorop is a sea goddess and creator deity of the Yap people of Micronesia. She is the daughter of the creator deity Liomarar, who threw sand into the ocean to form the first islands of what became Micronesia and then gave birth to Lorop. She bore three children, one of whom went on to become a hero figure. Each day, Lorop secretly dove into the ocean. Finally one of the children, curious about her activities, followed her and discovered her filling her basket with fish from the depths of the sea. This discovery meant she had to remain below the waves, but she still came to the surface each day to feed her family.
Oto-Hime of Japan The adventurer Urashima, rescued by a turtle when his ship sank, was brought to the dragon queen Otohime, who endowed her new lover with valuable gifts. Time passed quickly, more quickly than Urashima knew. Finally he grew homesick for his family and for earthly life. Otohime agreed to let him go, giving him a small box with the requirement that he never open it. When Urashima reached home, he found the faces and names unfamiliar. Puzzled, he found an ancient resident who recognized the name of his family, and learned he had been gone for hundreds of years. Sadly, the young man sat down and, forgetting his promise, opened the little box. Out swept the years he had lived with Otohime. Surrounding him like smoke, they withered his body, and he fell into dust. In recent years, a woman named Fujita Himiko announced herself as the re-born Otohime. From a shrine near Kyoto, she serves as a shaman, bearing the goddess's name. The re-born goddess has announced that humanity suffers from the same delusions as Urashima, because societies fail to recognize the power of women.
Sea Goddesses of the Pacific, a set of 6 stamps, issued by Micronesia on May 29, 1997. Here are the last two stamps:
Nomoi of Micronesia See above description about Lorop. There is a group of Islands in Micronesia called Nomoi, after the goddess.
Junkgowa Sisters of Australia The Junkgowa Sisters are marine goddesses of the Australian Aborigines. They represent the triple aspect of the Great Goddess: maiden, mother and crone. The Junkgowa Sisters created all the creatures of the oceans and rivers, as well as the first people. To explore the ocean waters, the sisters built a canoe and set out, singing as they paddled. Everywhere they dipped their oars, the creatures of the sea appeared. When the Junkgowa Sisters reached land, they began a walkabout. Every place they touched their staffs to the ground, a water hole appeared, releasing the waters of a sacred spring. These openings are seen as portals into the world of the spirits.
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Posted 08/31/2022 5:06 pm
