Okay- this isnt a mythical animal, its more a folk legend i think from europe. I dont know much but i need its name for a school project! It is a [shape shifting] trickster who appears in the shape of a horse with yellow eyes? or a goat with yellow eyes? Myth is that if you go near it it will take you on a ride that lasts through a century of our time? Help!
120340
It is an Irish pooka.\n\nVariants: phouka, puca\nNo fairy is more feared in Ireland than the pooka. This may be because it is always out and about after nightfall, creating harm and mischief, and because it can assume a variety of terrifying forms.\n\nThe guise in which it most often appears, however, is that of a sleek, dark horse with sulphurous yellow eyes and a long wild mane. In this form, it roams large areas of countryside at night, tearing down fences and gates, scattering livestock in terror, trampling crops and generally doing damage around remote farms.\n\nIn remote areas of County Down, the pooka becomes a small, deformed goblin who demands a share of the crop at the end of the harvest: for this reason several strands, known as the 'pooka's share', are left behind by the reapers. In parts of County Laois, the pooka becomes a huge, hairy bogeyman who terrifies those abroad at night; in Waterford and Wexford, it appears as an eagle with a massive wingspan; and in Roscommon, as a black goat with curling horns.\n\nThe mere sight of it may prevent hens laying their eggs or cows giving milk, and it is the curse of all late night travellers as it is known to swoop them up on to its back and then throw them into muddy ditches or bogholes. The pooka has the power of human speech, and it has been known to stop in front of certain houses and call out the names of those it wants to take upon its midnight dashes. If that person refuses, the pooka will vandalise their property because it is a very vindictive fairy.\n\nThe origins of the pooka are to some extent speculative. The name may come from the Scandinavian pook or puke, meaning 'nature spirit'. Such beings were very capricious and had to be continually placated or they would create havoc in the countryside, destroying crops and causing illness among livestock. Alternatively, the horse cults prevalent throughout the early Celtic world may have provided the underlying motif for the nightmare steed.
63360
There are several myths (I believe they are Navajo or one of the Pueblos) about the "Hero Twins."  You could use them as a comparison to other works such as "David and Goliath" or "Jack and the Beanstalk."
269680
The deer was said to be a fairy creature that could pass between the world's. This was especially true for a white deer. Fionn's wife Sabha became a deer when she went to the Otherworld. Beautiful women frequently became deer in many tales while fleeing from hunters. The Druid Tuan mac Carill is the sole survivor of a group of early Partholanian Irish settlers. He lives at first as a wildman of the woods eventually becoming a stag, an eagle, a salmon and eventually is reincarnated as himself at a much later date to give the ancient history of Ireland to the more recent settlers. \n\nEngland \n\nThe symbol and reverence of the stag amongst the Anglo-Saxons is a tradition that is very likely to be rooted in the most ancient of Germanic culture and religion. In England we know such reverence of stags was already a strong custom even in the days of Saint Augustine, for he is quoted as condemning the 'filthy practice of dressing up like a horse or stag' , a tradition that seems to resemble closely the English custom of hoodening. Like so many of the other animal symbols connected to the Anglo-Saxons, we only have to look at the Sutton Hoo ship burial for evidence. Within the burial was found a spectacular sceptre that was topped off with a beautiful stag figure. The sceptre to the King who carried it symbolised his power and high status. And it could be that \n\namongst the Heathens the stag was regarded as the most noble and proud of animals, and would therefore be a most appropriate symbol of a King and his leadership. Extremely strong evidence pointing to the use of stag images, but not only their images, but the worship of stags too, is found in a quote from Saint Aldhelm who wrote to a friend the following: \n\n'where once the crude pillars (ermula) of the same foul snake and the stag were worshipped with coarse stupidity in profane shrines' \n\nA later, medieval, English addition to the Stag legend is that of Herne the Hunter. The name Herne maybe a linguistic cognate with the Celtic Cernunnos. In modern times his shamanic-style appearance in the TV series 'Robin Hood' has increased his popularity. \n\nWales/Cornwall/Brittany \n\nIn Celtic mythology, the deer is a magical creature, able to move between the worlds. As in Eire many tales have humans transformed into deer. For example, St. Patrick was said to have transformed himself and his companions into deer in order to escape a trap laid by a pagan king. In the Welsh tale of Culhwch and Olwen, the stag is one of the oldest animals in the world, along with the blackbird, the owl, the eagle and the salmon. \n\nThe antlers of the stag are compared to tree-branches and thus may represent fertility. Since they are shed and re-grown every year, they may also symbolise rejuvenation and rebirth. Cernunnos, the Celtic Horned God, was depicted with the antlers of a stag; he is said to be a god of fertility and plenty, and to be the Lord of the Beasts. According to some, his antlers symbolise a radiation of heavenly light. Images of stags were supposedly used to symbolise Cernunnos in non-human form. \n\nOther than that, white deer are very rare. less than 1/4 ever survive to adulthood, being easy targets for preditors and trophy hunters, not to mention the fish and wildlife comittee in certain places.
548836
Superstitions & Folklore.\n\nhttp://www.corsinet.com/trivia/scary.html\n\nhttp://www.brownielocks.com/superstitions.html\n\nhttp://www.islandnet.com/~luree/silly.html\n\nWEB SITES ON GREEK AND ROMAN MYTHOLOGY\n\nhttp://www.cumbavac.org/Greek_and_Roman_Mythology.htm\n\nMythology\n\nhttp://www.windows.ucar.edu/tour/link=/mythology/mythology.html\n\nhttp://www.mythweb.com/\n\nhttp://www.mythweb.com/today/today01.html\n\nhttp://library.thinkquest.org/25535/\n\nhttp://www.cln.org/themes/mythology.html\n\nhttp://www.magictails.com/creationlinks.html\n\nMyths often tell the story of ancestors, supernatural beings, heroes, gods, or goddesses with special powers. Sometimes myths try to describe aspects of customs or explain natural events such as the sun or lightning.\n\nhttp://www.42explore2.com/myth.htm\n\nGood luck.\n\nKevin, Liverpool, England.
40593
my class just finished reading the Glass Menagerie. you mean the scarecrow is like a metaphor? I don't understand what you mean though about how the scarecrow does his job instead of standing in the bright sun...isn't the scarecrow always in the bright sun while it's doing its job?? Update your question to let me know...I'll check back and write back to you on it.
425499
I don't think it's actually possible to shapeshift... sorry\n\nYou may not get the shape of an animal, but it's qualities (strength, and such), like Native Americans do
201730
Not all involve only animals.  There are important family and tribe values taught in some stories.  \nThe most famous involve a spider whom often gets into mischief because he does not think of others.  \nSome storied are explanations for the unknown (like many myths). (why the mosquitoes fly into ears, and why the sun and moon rise and set..)\nIf you want to pass you should go to the library.
540495
Zoroaster is a pretty interesting character.  He is actually credited as being the founder of the beliefs of the Magi ... the "three wise men" who followed the star to Bethelehem.
289901
The making of a golden calf has to be understood in its ancient context.  In the ancient Near Eastern religions, the gods had thrones, or "vehicles" which were often depicted as animals.  Sometimes, the deity would be depicted on the animal, and at other times, only the animal was depicted, so as to make the worshipper aware of the unimaginable and esoteric God that "rode" the vehicle, or "sat" on the throne.  So an empty animal or throne was only a pointer to the God that was supposed to imaginarily sit or ride on it.  \n\nSo, it is very possible that what the people were doing was merely worshipping YHWH, but doing so by making the calf as a throne/vehicle for Him, and then imagining their un-depictable deity atop the calf.  This is not only an academic interpretation, but early Jewish sources also say that the sin of the golden calf was NOT that the people worshipped another God besides YHWH, but that they made the mistake of trying to depict him in some way.\n\nNotice that in the Jerusalem Temple, there is this exact same idea, and it was APPROVED.  There in the Holy of Holies, was a throne made in the likeness of a sphinx-type creature, with cherubs above it.  Why was it ok to have a sphinx for a throne/vehicle for God, but not a golden calf for one?\n\nIt is very possible that the answer is politics.  Jerusalem was the cult-center for Judah, the southern portion of Israel when Israel was divided.  The Northern Kingdom also had cult centers - one in the south and one in the North, and at each of the centers, was a golden calf in the holy of holies, depicting that throne/vehicle for God.  When Israel was defeated, the people from the Northern Kingdom had to assimilate their worship ways with those of the South.  Therefore, the Northern deity, El, became identified as the same God as YHWH.  But the priests of Jerusalem did not want anyone bringing sacrifices to any other place other than Jerusalem.  In an attempt to condemn the worship centers of the Northern Kingdom of Israel, they wrote this story of the golden calf into Exodus.  This gives their ruling against golden calves an ancient authority.\n\nIt also makes it seem totally ridiculous what the northerners did.  I mean, afterall, they were TOLD not to make golden calves at the exodus, right?!  And yet they turned around and did it anyway!?\nThe story is a metaphor.  It is a metaphor for condemning the worship practices of Northern Israel.\n\nIt is not historical.
20548
Aw, they don't? Then I would say Fenrisulfr, or Fenrir the wolf. From Norse mythos, NOT Narnia crap...
121971
Leprechaun\nFrom Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia\nJump to: navigation, search\nA modern stereotypical depiction of a Leprechaun of the type popularised in the 20th Century.\nEnlarge\nA modern stereotypical depiction of a Leprechaun of the type popularised in the 20th Century.\n\nIn Irish mythology, a leprechaun (Modern Irish: leipreachán) is a type of male elf said to inhabit the island of Ireland. They are a class of "faerie folk" associated in Irish mythology and folklore, as with all faeries, with the Tuatha Dé Danann and other quasi-historical races said to have inhabited Ireland before the arrival of the Celts.\n\nLeprechauns and other creatures of Irish mythology are often associated with "faerie forts" or "faerie rings" — often the sites of ancient (Celtic or pre-Celtic) earthworks or drumlins.\n\nThey usually take the form of an old man and enjoy partaking in mischief. Their trade is that of a cobbler or shoemaker and they are often described as being seen working on a single shoe. They are said to be very rich, having many treasure crocks buried during war-time. [1] While anyone keeps his eye fixed upon them, they cannot escape, but the moment the eye is withdrawn they vanish.
254565
I think you are right. Tazmanian devils are funny little things. I also get a good laugh from hedgehogs. But I think the weirdest looking animal has to be the anteater!!! :-)
328114
ITS THE GHOST OF GUATEMALA... BE CAREFUL YOUNG ONE AS IT SEEM TO HAVE A FAVORABLE SENSE ON YOU... HAHAHAHA... or probably its just your imagination.. running away with you.. so its just your imaginaaaatiiooon.. runningggg awaaay with you.. or maybe its the Jin which an unseen creature.. we're not the only ones inhabiting the world you know.. there's the unseen too.. don't worry just let it be.. ignore it..
291497
It is a Christian legend. The Wandering Jew, also known as Ahasverus or Buttadaeus, was given the curse of immortality. Ahasverus, was either a porter in Pilate's service, or an officer of the Sanhedrim (an order of Jewish priests); in other versions, he is merely a shoemaker with a quick temper. \n\nWhatever his origins, all version of his tale agree that the Wandering Jew soon repented of his sins and was baptized Catholic. He grows old in the normal fashion until reaching one hundred whereupon he sheds his skin and rejuvenates to the age of thirty. The Middle Ages abound with sightings of the Wandering Jew, generally telling his story in turn for meager food and lodging, sometimes even undergoing tests of authenticity by local professors and academic figures. Encounters with the Wandering Jew occurred all throughout Europe - during the Middle Ages, there were sightings in Armenia, Poland, Moscow, and virtually every Western European city including London. \n\nBy the 19th century, sightings of the Wandering Jew were largely attributed to imposters and madmen. In the 1840's, he reappeared in New England, although this time only in literary form, in Nathaniel Hawthorne's A Virtuoso's Collection and A Select Party (both stories originally published in magazines but later collected in Mosses from an Old Manse, 1846). In both stories, Hawthorne departs from the traditional depiction of the Wandering Jew as a world-weary penitent and instead outlines more of a cynical, earthy figure. At the same time, Gustave Dore created a series of elegent woodcuts, The Legend of the Wandering Jew (1856), probably the finest portrayal of the traditional myth. \n\nI doubt if there is any truth to it. Read the FAQ below:
183158
It is a hideous witch of Russian folklore that lived deep in the middle of the forest. It was reported to have iron teeth, and live in a house that spun while it moved around. She had a fierce appetite, but remained almost like a skeleton. My grandmother used to try to scare us with the  stories of Baba Yaga.
310032
i don't know about the game, but as far as myth goes natural born lycans can control transformation, its the ones that have been "cursed" or bitten that can't control the transformation.
131166
TAURUS ... My birth date\n Heres a story of it \nTaurus is one of the many animals hunted by Orion, the Hunter. \n\nThe Greeks saw Taurus as Zeus in disguise. The story went that Zeus fell in love with Europa, the daughter of Agenor who was King of Phoenica. On one day while she was playing by the waters edge, she caught sight of a majestic white bull grazing amongst her fathers heard. When she approached the bull, it knelt down and let get on it's back. Once she was on, it sprang to it's feet and took off to the sea in Crete where Zeus made her his mistress. \n\nIt also represents the white bull that sired the famous Minotaur with the wife of King Minos of Crete. This bull was sent to Minos as a sign that he was the rightful heir to the throne. However, Minos did not sacrifice the bull to Poseidon like he was supposed to, so the ever-vengeful sea god caused his queen, Pasiphaë, to fall in love with it. Later, in another myth, Theseus of Athens goes to Crete and slays the dreadful Minotaur, which was reported to be a man with a bull's head that could breathe fire. \n\nThe Egyptians saw the constellation instead as their god Osiris while the Chinese caled it alternatively the "White Tiger" or the "Great Bridge