Chthonia Podcast
1) Kalma: Personification of the Grave and the Corpse
In this week's episode we look at Kalma, a Finnish folkloric figure mentioned in the Kalevala associated with corpses and graveyards. She is the daughter of the god and goddess of the underworld, and ...Show More
2) Scathach: Teacher of Great Warriors
In this episode we talk about Scathach, the mythical Irish warrior woman who would train men able to reach her island in the art of war. Her most famous pupil was the legendary Cú Chulainn, and much o...Show More
3) La Cigaupa: Dominican Mountain Mermaid
This week's episode looks at La Cigaupa, a beautiful howling woman with backward facing feet who is found in the mountains in Dominican folklore. She is often treated as a dangerous siren figure, but ...Show More
4) Styx: Hate Goddess as a Source of Strength?
This week we look at the daimonic goddess Styx, who is a personification of the river in Hades, but is also associated with Hatred. Her children are Victory, Force, and Rivalry, and Zeus rewarded her ...Show More
5) Dea Tacita: Double Edged Sword of Silence
This week's episode is about the Roman deity Dea Tacita, celebrated with a ritual at the Feralia to keep gossip and the results of "loose tongues" from the family and the city. However, Dea Tacita's o...Show More
6) Cliodhna: the Banshee Queen as Soul Image
This week we look at Cliodhna, an Irish fairy queen who is a patroness of Munster and also called Queen of the Banshees. This beautiful banshee has a habit of stealing mortal men away from her favored...Show More
7) Virgin Mary: the Paradoxical Divine Connection
By request, we are looking at the Virgin Mary in this week's podcast, in particular the "dark Feminine" elements of her mythology. An exploration into Mary (or Maryam), mother of Jesus reveals various...Show More
8) Mary Magdalene: The Apostles' Apostle
In this episode we look at Mary Magdalene, the favorite female disciple of Jesus. The gospels suggest that Mary became a follower of Jesus after he expelled seven demons from her. Pope Gregory promote...Show More
9) Ran: Death as a Fisher of Men
This week's podcast looks at the Nordic deity Ran, a wrathful sea goddess that causes shipwrecks and drags fishermen down to the watery depths with her net. With her husband Aegir and her nine childre...Show More
10) Lugh: the Mercurial Hero
In honor of Lughnasadh (August 1), this week's podcast is about the Irish god Lugh. Lugh very likely originates from the Celtic deity Lugus, who Julius Caesar equated with the Roman Mercury. He is not...Show More