Mythology - it seems - is all the rage.
Over two previous parts we’ve managed to traverse the many texts and scriptures of
ancient customs and cultures - many of which have carried through to modern times - where
their analogies still find a cautionary place in our contemporary way of thinking.
Mythology is important, no matter it’s place in ancient history - because it encapsulates
the essence of a very human condition - but the canon of these creations also serve to
inspire and augment a particular way of looking at the world.
And most importantly, hidden within their allegories - are some truly terrifying tales.
So, let’s take a look shall we?
Hello horror fans - what’s going on, and once again welcome back to the scariest channel
on YouTube - Top 5 Scary Videos.
As per usual, I’ll be your horror host Jack Finch - as today, we curiously take a look
at the Top 5 Scariest Mythological Gods In History - Part 3.
Roll the clip.
Damn right he is.
For the curious amongst you, that clip was from the awesome T.V series American Gods
- based on the even more awesome novel of the same name by Neil Gaiman, and for those
of you that haven’t read it yet - I sincerely urge you to do so, as it’s one of the most
captivating and important tales written in a long, long time.
And consider this an honorable mention for Odin - because he’s the bearer of more terrifying
stories than you can shake an eight legged horse at.
On that note, I guess we better get started.
Kicking off at Number 5 - Apep
And it’s important to note that Egyptian Mythology is incredibly vast and journeyed
- and its creation myths stretch far and wide.
One of the most important gods in ancient Egypt was Ra - creator of the sky, the Earth
and the Underworld and the bringer of light.
But of course, you can’t have light without the dark - so enter this guy, Apep - the ancient
egyptian embodiment of chaos and the one true opponent of the forces of good.
Also known as Apophis or Apoph - this chaotic deity often appeared in the form of a giant
serpent, and his only true purpose was to bring torment and ruin to Ra in an endless
battle of blood and chaos.
I mean, there aren’t many grey areas in this particular mythos - Apep is literally
the embodiment of all evil, but it’s in the great lengths that Ancient Egyptians went
to to combat this guy where the grizzly nature of Apep can reveal just exactly how strongly
they feared him.
Apep was thought to encompass the world, wrapping his coiled body around the planet - just below
the horizon, lurking within the lands of the dead and the underworld.
To combat him, Egyptian priests would create wax models of serpents - or in many cases,
actually horde live snakes - and tear them to pieces in a ritualistic act of mutilation,
burning their bodies in the thousands.
They feared him so much, that they’d carve protective spells into their dead - so that
when they awoke in the underworld, they’d have a fighting chance against the evil of
Apep.
That’s dedication.
Coming in next at Number 4 - Hades
Because really - in all reality, we can’t talk about any kind of lord of the underworld
without giving credit to the true guy who hails downstairs - Hades.
And no, not the James Woods version - because black robes and flaming blue hair aside, Hades
was actually a terrifying deity in Greek mythology - so much so, that the Ancient Greeks even
feared to speak his true name.
In fact, so much so, that compared to other Greek gods - little was recorded about Hades,
as the ancient Greeks were terrified of marking his image in fear of attracting his attention.
When offering up sacrifices to him, the greeks would cover their faces - or perform the ceremony
with their eyes closed in fear of catching his gaze.
There is also several stark connections to a death-cult connection to Hades, a secret
sect of worshippers that believed that Dionysus, the god of wine and revelry, was actually
the youthful form of Hades - and in the lustful practice of gluttony and indulgence - they
were actually worshipping the lord of all death.
Hades is an incredibly interesting figure in Greek mythology - and yet despite his terrifying
reputation, he was also a pretty just and fair figure that would often give mortals
the benefit of the doubt when staring down their immortal death.
Or maybe he was just doing it for kicks.
Yeah, probably that.
Next up at Number 3 - Izanami
And for this entry, we’re going over to Japanese mythology - and the creation myths
of the Shinto religion.
Shinto is a practice of duality - of both life and death, all of which is encapsulated
in the goddess Izanami no mikoto - which means - she who invites.
Which is a little disconcerting already, isn’t it?
In Japanese mythology, Izanami is the goddess of both creation and death - and she began
her reign as the wife of the creation god Izanagi, where she gave birth to the many
deities of Shintoism.
But it’s in the tale of her final birth where the horror of Izanami truly got turned
up a notch.
After dying during childbirth, whilst giving life to the deities of the incarnations of
fire - Izanami was buried in a tomb and her essence was transferred to Yomi - the shadowy
land of the dead.
Enraged by her death - her husband Izanagi journeyed to the underworld to find her, but
couldn’t - as the encroaching shadows hid her appearance.
She spoke to him from behind the veil - telling Izanagi that she had already eaten the food
of the underworld, and couldn’t leave.
Izanagi refused to accept this - and swore not to leave her, but as he struck a torch
- the light revealed the truth of Izanami.
The once beautiful and graceful form of Izanami had turned into a husk of rotting flesh, with
maggots and foul creatures crawling over her ravaged body.
Well - as you would, her husband decided to get the hell out of dodge - but Izanami chased
after him, shrieking and cursing him for leaving her.
She was so furious that she swore to reap 1000 souls a day just to spite her previous
love.
Well, Izanagi replied that he would give birth to 1500.
What a come back.
Coming in at Number 2 - Nergal
And we’re heading way, way back to Ancient Mesopotamia - to the lands of Akkad, Assyria
and Babylonia - where this guy ruled with an iron fist.
Also known as Erra, or Irra - Nergal is the ravenous god of war, plague, death and disease
- and collected titles such as the furious one and the raging king - but to be honest,
Nergal was so ridiculously powerful that he only ever waged war out of pure boredom.
Initially, Nergal was the god of war - often drawn as a proto form of Ares in Greek mythology
- but in later stages, he also became the god of death and the underworld.
And how did he do that?
He literally stormed the gates of the land of the dead with a small army of demons and
took over the place by force.
Well, I guess that’s one way to do it.
In another myth involving Nergal - one day, he was feeling dull and bored - and so to
spice things up a bit, he decided to just straight up attack the great city of Babylon
- which was then under the protection of Marduk - the most powerful of all Ancient Mesopotamian
gods.
Through trickery and deceit, Nergal managed to distract Marduk long enough to completely
slaughter the innocent citizens of Babylon - and once his bloodlust was sated, he reassured
the survivors that a great leader would soon return to protect them, so they needn’t
be worried about dying.
What the hell, dude?
Talk about mind games.
Yeah, out of pretty much all of the gods in mythology - this guy was the personification
of watching the world burn for the sake of it.
And finally - coming in at our Number 1 spot - Czernobog
And this guy is so damn mysterious, that scholars are still arguing to this day as to his true
motivations in Slavic mythology.
In many Eurasian proto-religions - the concept of dualism was a key theme, with light and
darkness being two clear, opposing forces - but were also given the same sense of worship
and importance in their ritualistic understanding.
Belobog - also known as the light god, was held as the progenitor of all things good
in the world - but in contrast, his counterpart, Czernobog - the dark god, was seen as the
orchestrator of all things bad, and terrible and responsible for mortal misfortune.
This dualistic theme is what makes Slavic paganism so damn interesting - but nevertheless,
Czernobog always lived up to his name - and was ritualistically portrayed as grotesque,
intimidating and accursed.
A monsterous figure that need only utter a few curses to bring folly to mankind.
It is in the fear of the unknown where the terrifying potential of Czernobog truly lies
- but there’s actually a quiet sense of comfort in the Slavic worship of the dark
god.
As the Germanic priest and scribe Helmold of Bosau wrote, during Slavic ritualistic
feasts to appease their pantheon of gods - a bowl of potent spirits were passed around,
and each person would utter the names of their gods - Belobog, most importantly - but also
Czernobog, and it was of the utmost importance never to leave the name of bad god out - in
fear of attracting the attention of his mortal misfortune.
You’ve gotta take the rough with the smooth, after all.
Well - there we have it horror fans - our list for the Top 5 Scariest Mythological Gods
In History - Part 3! Phew, we’re racking them up already aren’t we.
Well, what did you guys think?
Do you think we could add a few more terrifying entries to this Top 5 Series?
Let us know your thoughts, as well as any choice picks of your own down in the comment
section below.
Before we depart from today’s video though, let’s first take a quick look at some of
your more resounding remarks from part two of this particular list.
First up - Stuart Guy says --
I rate this episode 4 beers and 2 tequila shots!
Good job!
-- Wow.
That’s quite a score for a nine and a half minute video….
I don’t know whether to be impressed or worried.
Good job either way.
And finally, Boris the Cat says --
Jack Finch - you are the greatest!
What is your favourite type of chips?
(Crisps) in parenthesis.
-- No Boris the Cat, you are the greatest!
But thank you very much.
Now, I’m pretty partial to quite a few potato based snacks - but there’s only one winner,
Pickled Onion Monster Munch.
If you know, you know.
Well, on that note horror fans - unfortunately that’s all we’ve got time for in today’s
video - cheers for sticking around all the way until the end.
If you were a fan of this video, or just Top 5 Scary Videos in particular, please be a
dear and hit that thumbs up button - as well as that subscribe bell, and I’ll be seeing
you in the next one.
As per usual, I’ve been your horror host Jack Finch - you’ve been watching Top 5
Scary Videos - and until next time, you take it easy.