Mythology of Italy refers to the
mythology
Myth is a folklore genre consisting of narratives that play a fundamental role in a society, such as foundational tales or origin myths. Since "myth" is widely used to imply that a story is not objectively true, the identification of a narrat ...
of people living in
Italy
Italy ( it, Italia ), officially the Italian Republic, ) or the Republic of Italy, is a country in Southern Europe. It is located in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea, and its territory largely coincides with the homonymous geographical re ...
.
Major pantheons
}; el, Διόσκουροι ''Dioskouroi'' "sons of Zeus"
, -
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Etruscan mythology
Etruscan religion comprises a set of stories, beliefs, and religious practices of the Etruscan civilization, heavily influenced by the mythology of ancient Greece, and sharing similarities with concurrent Roman mythology and religion. As the Et ...
,
Tages
Tages was claimed as a founding prophet of Etruscan religion who is known from reports by Latin authors of the late Roman Republic and Roman Empire. He revealed a cosmic view of divinity and correct methods of ascertaining divine will concerni ...
, align=left, He was a founding
prophet
In religion, a prophet or prophetess is an individual who is regarded as being in contact with a divine being and is said to speak on behalf of that being, serving as an intermediary with humanity by delivering messages or teachings from the s ...
of
Etruscan religion
Etruscan religion comprises a set of stories, beliefs, and religious practices of the Etruscan civilization, heavily influenced by the mythology of ancient Greece, and sharing similarities with concurrent Roman mythology and Religion in ancient ...
who is known from reports by Latin authors of the late
Roman republic
The Roman Republic ( la, Res publica Romana ) was a form of government of Rome and the era of the classical Roman civilization when it was run through public representation of the Roman people. Beginning with the overthrow of the Roman Kin ...
and
Roman empire
The Roman Empire ( la, Imperium Romanum ; grc-gre, Βασιλεία τῶν Ῥωμαίων, Basileía tôn Rhōmaíōn) was the post-Republican period of ancient Rome. As a polity, it included large territorial holdings around the Mediterr ...
.
,
Gods and Goddesses
Important Gods and Goddesses of Italian Mythology:
*
Aradia
Aradia is one of the principal figures in the American folklorist Charles Godfrey Leland's 1899 work '' Aradia, or the Gospel of the Witches'', which he believed to be a genuine religious text used by a group of pagan witches in Tuscany, a claim ...
is the Italian Goddess of witchcraft. She protects witches (male and female) against the aggression of religious persecution and condemnation and symbolizes the air element and the moon.
*
Carmenta is the Goddess of spells, known for chanting incantations in verse to ease the pains of women in labor and children facing illness.
*
Februus
Februus is an ancient Italic god of purifications, who was worshipped by both the Romans and Etruscans. He was also worshipped as the god of the underworld by the Etruscans. For them, Februus was also the god of riches (money and gold) and death, ...
is the Italian God of purification who lives in the underworld.
*
Fortuna
Fortuna ( la, Fortūna, equivalent to the Greek goddess Tyche) is the goddess of fortune and the personification of luck in Roman religion who, largely thanks to the Late Antique author Boethius, remained popular through the Middle Ages until at ...
is the Goddess of fate and fortune and also bringer of fertility.
*
Jana is the Goddess of the Moon, said to have 2 faces. One faces the past, and the other faces the future.
*
Jove
Jupiter ( la, Iūpiter or , from Proto-Italic "day, sky" + "father", thus " sky father" Greek: Δίας or Ζεύς), also known as Jove ( gen. ''Iovis'' ), is the god of the sky and thunder, and king of the gods in ancient Roman religio ...
is the Sky God. He is the equivalent of Jupiter of Roman mythology who is the King of all other Gods.
*
Nox
In atmospheric chemistry, is shorthand for nitric oxide () and nitrogen dioxide (), the nitrogen oxides that are most relevant for air pollution.
These gases contribute to the formation of smog and acid rain, as well as affecting tropo ...
is the Goddess of the night, the beginning of all things, and one of the oldest of the Gods.
*Umbria is Goddess of shadows, secrets, darkness who lives in the underworld.
*Cel is the Etruscan Goddess of earth. She was the mother of Giants, a race of great strength and aggression.
Cultural phenomena
Malocchio
The Evil Eye ( grc, ὀφθαλμὸς βάσκανος; grc-koi, ὀφθαλμὸς πονηρός; el, (κακό) μάτι; he, עַיִן הָרָע, ; Romanian: ''Deochi''; it, malocchio; es, mal de ojo; pt, mau-olhado, olho gordo; ar ...
or the
Evil Eye
The Evil Eye ( grc, ὀφθαλμὸς βάσκανος; grc-koi, ὀφθαλμὸς πονηρός; el, (κακό) μάτι; he, עַיִן הָרָע, ; Romanian: ''Deochi''; it, malocchio; es, mal de ojo; pt, mau-olhado, olho gordo; ar ...
The Evil Eye is not just a part of Italian folklore but is also present in many different cultures. Each of these cultures has its own version of the Evil Eye. However, the Evil Eye is very prominent in Italian culture and is still a common superstition today among Italians and Italian-Americans.
The Evil Eye is a look one gives another to put bad luck upon one either causing one misfortune or causing a type of mild physical pain. This look is cast by someone typically because of jealousy and envy.
However Italian culture has two ways to counteract the Evil Eye. These are the Italian Horn, or the “Cornuto” and the “Mano Carnuto”, the hand horn. The Italian Horn is a pendant often worn on a necklace in a shape similar to a chilli. This pendant is often in gold or coral and is said to be sacred to the Moon Goddess. This is meant to ward off evil spirits as well. The “Mano Carnuto” is the formation of a hand in a fist with the pinky finger and index finger extended. This is also supposed to ward off negative vibes and the Evil Eye. Both of these counteractions are of Italian origins.
See also
*
Roman mythology
Roman mythology is the body of myths of ancient Rome as represented in the literature and visual arts of the Romans. One of a wide variety of genres of Roman folklore, ''Roman mythology'' may also refer to the modern study of these representat ...
*
Etruscan mythology
Etruscan religion comprises a set of stories, beliefs, and religious practices of the Etruscan civilization, heavily influenced by the mythology of ancient Greece, and sharing similarities with concurrent Roman mythology and religion. As the Et ...
*
Greek mythology
A major branch of classical mythology, Greek mythology is the body of myths originally told by the Ancient Greece, ancient Greeks, and a genre of Ancient Greek folklore. These stories concern the Cosmogony, origin and Cosmology#Metaphysical co ...
References
External links
Italian Lore, Gods, Demigods, Heroes, Symbols, and Other Famous Mythological Characters* http://www.thaliatook.com/OGOD/fauna.html
* http://www.angelfire.com/goth2/deathomen/Gods/italian_gods.htm
* http://www.godchecker.com/pantheon/roman-mythology.php?deity=FEBRUUS
* http://www.vroma.org/~araia/fortuna.html
* http://www.cosmicgoddessempowerments.com/apps/webstore/products/show/1564109http://www.lifeinitaly.com/heritage/folklore.asp
* http://www.ciaopittsburgh.com/italian-superstitions-the-evil-eye-malocchio/
* http://ottawaitalians.com/Heritage/malocchio.htm
Italic mythology
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