#mythology definition

• Amphiptere — A legendary winged serpent or mythological dragon, represented in medieval heraldry with bat or bird wings and no legs, often symbolizing secret knowledge or spiritual protection. In classical architecture, by rare extension, the term can describe a structure or building completely surrounded by lateral wings of columns or double porticoes.
• Amphitryoniad — The articulated form (or rare poetic derivative) referring to the lineage or mythological cycle of Amphitryon; in a literary sense, the term can evoke the patronymic used to designate a son or direct descendant of Amphitryon (as Hercules / Heracles was sometimes called in ancient epic poems) or the collective dramatic works inspired by the famous identity confusion surrounding this character.
• Aoroi — A mythological term adopted from Ancient Greek (aoroi) designating a special category of souls of those who died prematurely or before their time (literally 'the timeless ones'). In ancient beliefs, these spirits were thought to wander restlessly between worlds, unable to find eternal rest in Hades because they had not completed their natural cycle of earthly life.
• Aesir — The plural form of the noun 'as'; it designates the main gods in Norse mythology (the Germanic pantheon), led by Odin, who inhabited the sacred realm of Asgard. These structural deities were associated with war, power, the sky, and magic, frequently found in conflict or alliance with another divine family called the Vanir. In a different historical context, it can denote the plural of 'as' used for aviation champions or playing cards.
• Atrides — The standardized Romanian form for 'Atridae', designating the famous descendants of King Atreus of Mycenae. At the center of Homeric legends, these structural rulers (Agamemnon and Menelaus) symbolize absolute monarchical authority in the Bronze Age, as well as vulnerability to an ancestral curse marked by tragedy.
• Avatar — In Indian philosophy and mythology, the earthly reincarnation or incarnation of a deity (especially Vishnu); by extension, a metamorphosis, unpredictable transformation, or vicissitude experienced by a person or group over time. In modern digital media, the term denotes the graphical representation, icon, or virtual character chosen by a user to represent their identity in games, social networks, and online communities.
• Bogeywoman — An imaginary character frequently found in Romanian folklore and children's stories, depicted as an old, ugly, often wicked woman or endowed with negative supernatural powers, used symbolically to frighten or discipline children; a bogeywoman, hag, or anthropomorphic representation of an obscure malevolent entity.
• Bacchic — Pertaining or relating to the god Bacchus (Dionysus), his cult, or to festivities characterized by abundant wine consumption and revelry; in a literary and figurative sense, it describes a noisy party atmosphere, behavior induced by drinking, a state of joyful intoxication, or a lyrical creation dedicated to praising wine and earthly pleasures.