Difference between revisions of "Amaterasu"
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| − | '''Amaterasu''' is a mythical sun goddess in the ancient Japanese religion of [[Shinto|Shintoism]]. The most famous story about Amaterasu tells of her retreat to a cave when her brother the storm god ravaged the earth with storms. Without the sun goddess, crops began to die and demons roamed the earth. To lure her out of the cave, another goddess performed a lewd dance outside the cave. Hearing the laughter of the gods, Amaterasu peeked out of the cave and saw herself in a mirror hung on a tree. Awed by her own beauty and brightness, she ventured farther out of the cave, where the other gods caught her and pulled her out. <ref>http://www.pantheon.org/articles/a/amaterasu.html</ref> The story is reminiscent of the Greek legend of the abduction of Persephone by the god of the underworld, Hades. As her mother Demeter, the goddess of the Earth, roamed in search of her daughter, crops withered in the fields and people suffered terribly. | + | '''Amaterasu''' is a mythical sun goddess in the ancient [[Japanese]] religion of [[Shinto|Shintoism]]. The most famous story about Amaterasu tells of her retreat to a cave when her brother the storm god ravaged the earth with storms. Without the sun goddess, crops began to die and demons roamed the earth. To lure her out of the cave, another goddess performed a lewd dance outside the cave. Hearing the laughter of the gods, Amaterasu peeked out of the cave and saw herself in a mirror hung on a tree. Awed by her own beauty and brightness, she ventured farther out of the cave, where the other gods caught her and pulled her out. <ref>http://www.pantheon.org/articles/a/amaterasu.html</ref> The story is reminiscent of the [[Greek]] legend of the abduction of Persephone by the [[god]] of the underworld, [[Hades]]. As her mother [[Demeter]], the goddess of the Earth, roamed in search of her daughter, crops withered in the fields and people suffered terribly. |
| + | == See also == | ||
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| + | * [[Hachiman]] | ||
| + | * [[Hotei]] | ||
== References == | == References == | ||
<references/> | <references/> | ||
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[[category:Shinto Mythology]] | [[category:Shinto Mythology]] | ||
Revision as of 23:42, March 23, 2008
Amaterasu is a mythical sun goddess in the ancient Japanese religion of Shintoism. The most famous story about Amaterasu tells of her retreat to a cave when her brother the storm god ravaged the earth with storms. Without the sun goddess, crops began to die and demons roamed the earth. To lure her out of the cave, another goddess performed a lewd dance outside the cave. Hearing the laughter of the gods, Amaterasu peeked out of the cave and saw herself in a mirror hung on a tree. Awed by her own beauty and brightness, she ventured farther out of the cave, where the other gods caught her and pulled her out. [1] The story is reminiscent of the Greek legend of the abduction of Persephone by the god of the underworld, Hades. As her mother Demeter, the goddess of the Earth, roamed in search of her daughter, crops withered in the fields and people suffered terribly.