Theriocephaly
Theriocephaly (from Greek θηρίον therion 'beast' and κεφαλή kefalí 'head') is the anthropomorphic condition or quality of having the head of an animal – commonly used to refer the depiction in art of humans (or deities) with animal heads.
![](../I/m/Ganesha_Basohli_miniature_circa_1730_Dubost_p73.jpg)
Ganesha, with Elephant's head
Examples
Many of the gods and goddesses worshipped by the ancient Egyptians, for example, were commonly depicted as being theriocephalic. Notable examples include:
- Horus, depicted as having the head of a falcon.
- Anubis, depicted with a jackal's head.
- The desert-god Set, often depicted with the head of an unknown creature, referred to as the Set animal by Egyptologists.
- The Horned God of Wicca.
- The Minotaur, from Greek mythology.
- In some Eastern Orthodox Church icon traditions, some saints, particularly St. Christopher, are depicted as having the head of a dog.
- In Hinduism, the wisdom god Ganesha is depicted with an elephant head.
- In Native American Abenaki mythology, the spirit Pamola was a being who possessed the head of a moose, and wings and taloned feet of an eagle.
gollark: h̆͛͆é͒ͧa͛ͥ͊v̍ͤ̌s̈́ͤ͗eͯ̅̓r̾ͯͮvͪͯͦe̎̓̈́r̔ͮͯ ͊̄ͫi̊ͪ̅s̍͑̌҉̛͡͡ ́ͯͣi̊̌̾n̏ͥ̈́ěͪͨv̈̿ͥi͗ͭ͆tͫ̄̌a̔́͋b͐̅̔҉͘͟͝l̀̎ͯeͣ̉͆
gollark:
gollark: Interesting!
gollark:
gollark: I'm not aware of it.
See also
- Animal worship
- Hybrid (mythology)
- Therianthropy
- Zoomorphism
References
- Agamben, Giorgio (2004). The Open. Stanford: Stanford University Press. ISBN 0-8047-4738-5.
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