History Main / MythicalMotifs

* '''BasiliskAndCockatrice''': Two related creatures, often related to a rooster and/or salamander; nobody knows what they look like because [[DeadlyGaze anyone who meets their gaze dies instantly]].

* '''[[{{Medusa}} Gorgon]]''': Hideous monsters, causes people to [[TakenForGranite turn to stone]] (from the Medusa myth).

* Akali from the K/DA has a recurring dragon motif throughout the POP/STARS music video -- on the back of her jacket; the first one of her spray paint drawing is of a dragon; the spray pain design on her mouthband resembles a dragon's mouth.

[[folder:TabletopGames]]

* ''WesternAnimation/AvatarTheLastAirbender'': Zuko has an animal motif in the theme of dragons, creatures associated with [[ElementalPowers fire]]. However, his motifs were of two dragons, one blue and one red, representing the dual aspect of his nature. The dragons also refer to his Uncle Iroh, the Dragon of the West [[spoiler:who protected the last of the dragons, from whom Zuko and Aang later learn the true source of Fire Bending from.]]
** His sister, Azula, is also associated with the blue dragon.

* From ''WesternAnimation/StevenUniverse'', Sugilite, the fusion of Amethyst and Garnet, produces a dragon-shaped aura when she is formed

** The BigBad of the series, Yuuki Terumi, fights with an EvilWeapon named Ouroboros, which not only gives him a [[AnimalMotif Snake Motif]] to go with his SatanicArchetype, but also ties in with his knowledge of alchemy; the Ouroborus being a representation of quicksilver, the most important substance in all of alchemy. When under the guise of his alter-ego, Hazama, his crest also includes an image of a snake biting its own tail. When he drops the alter-ego, this crest is instead replaced with one depicting a stylized [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caduceus Caduceus,]] the Herald Staff of Hermes, the Greek God of Boundaries, whose Roman name is the namesake of quicksilver: Mercury... Speaking of Hermes, wanna take a guess what the Japanese name for "Boundary" is? Hint: It's "Hazama"... In ''Central Fiction,'' Terumi's true form, [[spoiler:[[Myth/JapaneseMythology Takehaya Susanoo no Mikoto]]]], also has spikes resembling MercurysWings on his feet.
** ''[=BlazBlue=]'''s second primary threat, Meiou Izanami, not only shares her name with the Goddess of Death in Japanese mythology, but "Meiou", meaning [[SheIsTheKing "Dark King"]], is the Japanese name for Pluto, both the planet and the Roman God of Death. In the English version of the game, her name is given as "Hades Izanami" in reference to this.

** [=''BlazBlue'''s=] second primary threat, Meiou Izanami, not only shares her name with the Goddess of Death in Japanese mythology, but "Meiou", meaning [[SheIsTheKing "Dark King"]], is the Japanese name for Pluto, both the planet and the Roman God of Death. In the English version of the game, her name is given as "Hades Izanami" in reference to this.

** The BigBad of the series, Yuuki Terumi, fights with an EvilWeapon named Ouroboros, which not only gives him a [[AnimalMotif Snake Motif]] to go with his SatanicArchetype, but also ties in with his knowledge of alchemy; the Ouroborus being a representation of quicksilver, the most important substance in all of alchemy. When under the guise of his alter-ego, Hazama, his crest also includes an image of a snake biting its own tail. When he drops the alter-ego, this crest is instead replaced with one depicting a stylized [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caduceus Caduceus,]] the Herald Staff of Hermes, the Greek God of Boundaries, whose Roman name is the namesake of quicksilver: Mercury... Speaking of which, wanna take a guess what the Japanese name for "Boundary" is? Hint: It's "Hazama"... In ''Central Fiction,'' Terumi's true form, [[spoiler:[[Myth/JapaneseMythology Takehaya Susanoo no Mikoto]]]], also has MercurysWings on his feet.
** ''BlazBlue'''s second primary threat, Meiou Izanami, not only shares her name with the Goddess of Death in Japanese mythology, but "Meiou", meaning [[SheIsTheKing "Dark King"]], is the Japanese name for Pluto, both the planet and the Roman God of Death. In the English version of the game, her name is given as "Hades Izanami" in reference to this.

* From ''Anime/KillLaKill'', Satsuki and Ragyou Kiryuuin being associated with dragons, with the Japanese mythology of that being that dragons are perceived to be '''divine''' animals, the which either serve the gods or are gods themselves, especially in the case of Ragyou.

* The murders in ''Film/SherlockHolmes'' are based of the parts of a Sphinx, the migget-the face of a man, the Sir Thomas the tail of a bull, the American ambassador the wings of an eagle, and the British parliament the body of a lion.

Mythical motifs are similar to AnimalMotifs, but with mythical creatures being used as symbols. They, like animals, can be used to underline something important in the plot or to convey a character's personality. A particularly tough and quick-tempered character may be compared to a dragon, or a MacGuffin or delicate-but-powerful or wise character may be compared to a unicorn.

It can also be the use of mythology as a motif.

Here is a partial list of mythical creatures:

[[index]]
* '''BasiliskAndCockatrice''': Two related creatures, often related to a rooster and/or salamander; nobody knows what they look like because [[DeadlyGaze anyone who meets their gaze dies instantly]].
* '''[[OurDragonsAreDifferent Dragon]]''':
[[/index]]
** Western: Solitary, violent, fire breathing, {{greed}}y, dangerous. May [[ToServeMan eat people]] or [[DragonHoard guard hoards of treasure]].
** Eastern: Power; strength; nobility; male; likes to play [[TigerVersusDragon Hide and Seek with tigers]]; generally benevolent.
[[index]]
* '''[[OurGryphonsAreDifferent Griffin]]''': Part lion, part eagle; noble, generally. Symbol of kingship/holy power.
* '''[[{{Medusa}} Gorgon]]''': Hideous monsters, causes people to [[TakenForGranite turn to stone]] (from the Medusa myth).
* '''{{Hellhound}}''': Either a vicious hunter, a vicious guardian or a PortentOfDoom.
* '''[[HydraProblem Hydra]]''': Many headed creature, where if you cut off one head, two more grow in its place.[[note]](The plebeians in ''Theatre/{{Coriolanus}}'' are called a Hydra.)[[/note]]
* '''{{Kitsune}}''': Illusions, mystery, trickery, cunning and wisdom. Also associated with femininity, despite their reputation of being [[GenderBender males who turn into attractive human females]].
* '''[[OurMermaidsAreDifferent Mermaid]]'''
* '''{{Ouroboros}}''': A serpent eating its own tail: Infinity, alchemy, death and rebirth; lives at the edge of the world or at [[WorldTree its base]].
* '''{{Pegasus}}''' (or winged horses in general): Freedom, high ideals, thought. Can be called "horse of the poets" thanks to his connection with Athena and the Muses, so is also linked with imagination, and writers in particular.
* '''[[ThePhoenix Phoenix]]''': A flaming bird capable of rising again from the ashes: Death and rebirth; fire; eternal life; (Eastern) female.
* '''[[FierySalamander Salamander]]'''
* '''[[RiddlingSphinx Sphinx]]''': Cunning, mystery, riddles, desires. ''Terribly'' mysterious.
* '''{{Unicorn}}''': Purity, [[MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic rarity, magic]], power (which goes against tradition, 'cause in heraldry they are chained down because they're violent [=MFs=]). Usually the [[LastOfHisKind last of its kind]]. Often associated with virgins. Famously a heraldic beast of Scotland, and features on the UK Coat of Arms.
[[/index]]
----
!!Examples:

[[foldercontrol]]

[[folder:Anime & Manga]]
* In ''Anime/MobileSuitGundam'', the Unicorn is the symbol of the CoolShip ''White Base''. [[Anime/MobileSuitGundamCharsCounterattack Later on in life]], Gundam pilot Amuro Ray adopts it as his own.
** The Unicorn motif takes center stage again, but in the form of the titular unit of ''Anime/MobileSuitGundamUnicorn''.
* Most of the guilds in ''Manga/FairyTail'' have a mythical motif in their name, including the titular Fairy Tail (fairies), Quatro Cerberos, Blue Pegasus, Lamia Scale, Grimoire Heart (Devils), Phantom Lord and recently Sabertooth and Mermaid Heel.
* From ''Anime/KillLaKill'', Satsuki and Ragyou Kiryuuin being associated with dragons, with the Japanese mythology of that being that dragons are perceived to be '''divine''' animals, the which either serve the gods or are gods themselves, especially in the case of Ragyou.
* Aside from Kuwabara, the members of Team Urameshi from ''Anime/YuYuHakusho'' all have MythicalMotifs.
** The most obvious is Kurama having a connection to {{Kitsune}} as the guy actually ''was'' a kitsune in his former life before being reincarnated into a human. Kurama is quiet, secretive, cunning, and wise, with a feminine nature and appearance.
** Yusuke Urameshi has a [[ThePhoenix Phoenix]] motif, with his spirit animal being a phoenix and his BattleAura taking the shape of one when he decides to let loose. Yusuke first acquired his powers after dying and coming back to life at the start of the series.
** Hiei has a Dragon motif, with his attacks being named after dragons or to outright ''summon'' a dragon and throw it at his enemy. Oddly for a show so steeped in Eastern myth, his particular flavor of dragon is strictly Western; brooding, solitary, violent, and burning everything in its path. Hiei fits the motif like a glove.
* Takumi Kuzuryu in ''Manga/TanteiGakuenQ'' uses dragon in many of his works. In-universe, he's depicted as a handsome, elegant, genius noble man, traits his known descendants[[spoiler:, Ryu Amakusa for example,]] supposedly inherit. Those he considers legal descendants will contain kanji "Ryu" in their name, further solidifying the theme. [[spoiler:This is a hint for the climax's reveal that King Hades, while being Takumi Kuzuryu's (illegitimate) son, is not Ryu's biological grandfather.]]
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Comic Books]]
* ComicBook/{{HYDRA}}, the ersatz [[Film/JamesBond SPECTRE]] (who incidentally use the very similar motif of the octopuss), in the MarvelUniverse.
* [[ComicBook/JeanGrey Phoenix]] from ''Franchise/XMen''. She is a nurturing, subtly powerful figure with a hot temper, and holds untapped power that the others around her cannot quite match or comprehend.
* In a few different ''ComicBook/{{Batman}}'' stories, ComicBook/TheRiddler tries to give himself a Sphinx motif; being a crafty and wise riddle-given who kills those that get it wrong. In the ''[[ComicBook/BatmanZeroYear Zero Year]]'' storyline, Batman deduces that while holding the city hostage, The Riddler is hiding underneath a Sphinx statue at the Gotham museum.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Films -- Animation]]
* ''WesternAnimation/KungFuPanda'' takes it so far as to name characters after what species they are ([[GeniusBonus or what style of kung fu they practise]]). The titular character, Po, is an odd case where an animal character has a separate animal motif, in which he, a panda, is frequently associated with dragons.
* ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyEquestriaGirls'': Sunset Shimmer's IAmBecomingSong "My Past Is Not Today" ties her with ThePhoenix, rising from the ashes of her old life to make a new start for herself as a better person. [[spoiler: This continues in ''[[WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyEquestriaGirlsFriendshipGames Friendship Games]]'' where, after absorbing magic from her friends, her transformation has energy wings and her magic is distinctly fire-looking. The very end has a phoenix rise up from a hill before showing stars representing Twilight and herself.]]
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Films -- Live-Action]]
* Depending on how you interpret ''Film/BladeRunner'', a Unicorn motif can be assigned to Rick Deckard, Rachael, or the both of them. Unlike the rest of the cast with regular AnimalMotifs.
* Vlad and dragons in ''Film/DraculaUntold'', from where he, his clan and his castle take their names.
* The murders in ''Film/SherlockHolmes'' are based of the parts of a Sphinx, the migget-the face of a man, the Sir Thomas the tail of a bull, the American ambassador the wings of an eagle, and the British parliament the body of a lion.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Literature]]
* Mayland Long (Oolong) from ''Tea With The Black Dragon'' by Creator/RAMacAvoy.
* Several characters in ''Literature/TheCircusOfDoctorLao''.
* The Ordo Hydra, another conspiracy group, in the InquistionWarTrilogy by Ian Watson ( a series of Warhammer 40000 novels). They are a secret group in the already secret group of the Ordo Malleus who are already part of the "mostly ignored of by the general population" group, the Inquisition. They are really secretive.
* In ''Literature/ASongOfIceAndFire'' the Targaryen have a three headed dragon as their coat of arms. The dragon heads represented Aegon, and his sisters, as well as their three dragons. House Stark has a direwolf as their sigil, while House Manderly has a Merman. The old Ghiscari Empire had the Harpy as their sigil, the cities of Slaver's Bay kept it as their heritage.
* Invoked in ''Literature/EndersGame''. The various armies in the Battle School are given animal motifs (though there is mention of a Phoenix and Manticore armies), until Ender becomes old enough to command an army of his own. Rather than assigning him a preexisting army, the administrators create an entirely new one for him staffed with inexperienced soldiers and dub it the "Dragon Army." With Ender in command it soon takes on an unprecedented winning streak (despite increasingly-unfair odds) and invokes the hatred of every other army in the school. The Dragon army is both mighty and has hoards of would-be heroes trying to "slay" it.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Professional Wrestling]]
* Especially common in Mexican Lucha Libre. It's hard to think where else Dark Unicorn and Mermaid Warrior would legitimately connect with crowds without aid of comedy or years of buildup.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:TabletopGames]]
* The Dragonmarked Houses in TabletopGame/{{Eberron}} all have mythological beasts as their crests.
* The Alpha Legion from ''TabletopGame/{{Warhammer 40000}}'' have the hydra as their symbol, representing the doctrine of autonomous operation and the ability to have multiple fronts who can act even without chains of command (the "head" being removed).
** The Thousand Sons, on the other hand, use the Ouroboros to signify their mystical nature.
* In the TabletopGame/IronKingdoms, the Retribution of Scyrah fields [[MiniMecha myrmidons]] named after mythical beasts and often designed after the traits of their namesake ; the Phoenix is a perfect example with its [[HealingFactor regenerating force field]] and ability to [[KillItWithFire bathe its surroundings in a roaring inferno]].
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Theatre]]
* In Tennessee Williams' ''Theatre/TheGlassMenagerie'', painfully isolated Laura identifies with her glass unicorn figurine of the horse-with-a-horn variety; when a young man dances with her and accidentally breaks off its horn, she states that he has enabled it to finally fit in with the other horses. Unfortunately, this HopeSpot is all too brief in the play (as with most Tennessee Williams plays).
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Video Games]]
* Motifs from Japanese, Norse, Classical and Abrahamic mythologies abound in ''Franchise/BlazBlue'':
** The BigBad of the series, Yuuki Terumi, fights with an EvilWeapon named Ouroboros, which not only gives him a [[AnimalMotif Snake Motif]] to go with his SatanicArchetype, but also ties in with his knowledge of alchemy; the Ouroborus being a representation of quicksilver, the most important substance in all of alchemy. When under the guise of his alter-ego, Hazama, his crest also includes an image of a snake biting its own tail. When he drops the alter-ego, this crest is instead replaced with one depicting a stylized [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caduceus Caduceus,]] the Herald Staff of Hermes, the Greek God of Boundaries, whose Roman name is the namesake of quicksilver: Mercury... Speaking of which, wanna take a guess what the Japanese name for "Boundary" is? Hint: It's "Hazama"... In ''Central Fiction,'' Terumi's true form, [[spoiler:[[Myth/JapaneseMythology Takehaya Susanoo no Mikoto]]]], also has MercurysWings on his feet.
** ''BlazBlue'''s second primary threat, Meiou Izanami, not only shares her name with the Goddess of Death in Japanese mythology, but "Meiou", meaning [[SheIsTheKing "Dark King"]], is the Japanese name for Pluto, both the planet and the Roman God of Death. In the English version of the game, her name is given as "Hades Izanami" in reference to this.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Web Comics]]
* The title character of ''Webcomic/DecryptingRita'' has dragons, primarily evident with Rita-1 (who dates Carol-1 in a dragon-like chassis) and Rita-3 (who ''is'' a dragoness).
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Western Animation]]
* ''WesternAnimation/AvatarTheLastAirbender'': Zuko has an animal motif in the theme of dragons, creatures associated with [[ElementalPowers fire]]. However, his motifs were of two dragons, one blue and one red, representing the dual aspect of his nature. The dragons also refer to his Uncle Iroh, the Dragon of the West [[spoiler:who protected the last of the dragons, from whom Zuko and Aang later learn the true source of Fire Bending from.]]
** His sister, Azula, is also associated with the blue dragon.
* From ''WesternAnimation/StevenUniverse'', Sugilite, the fusion of Amethyst and Garnet, produces a dragon-shaped aura when she is formed
[[/folder]]
----

* In Tennessee Williams' TheGlassMenagerie, painfully isolated Laura identifies with her glass unicorn figurine of the horse-with-a-horn variety; when a young man dances with her and accidentally breaks off its horn, she states that he has enabled it to finally fit in with the other horses. Unfortunately, this HopeSpot is all too brief in the play (as with most Tennessee Williams plays).

** The BigBad of the series, Yuuki Terumi, fights with an EvilWeapon named Ouroboros, which not only gives him a [[AnimalMotif Snake Motif]] to go with his SatanicArchetype, but also ties in with his knowledge of alchemy; the Ouroborus being a representation of quicksilver, the most important substance in all of alchemy. When under the guise of his alter-ego, Hazama, his crest also includes an image of a snake biting its own tail. When he drops the alter-ego, this crest is instead replaced with one depicting a stylized [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caduceus Caduceus,]] the Herald Staff of Hermes, the Greek God of Boundaries, whose Roman name is the namesake of quicksilver: Mercury... Speaking of which, wanna take a guess what the Japanese name for "Boundary" is? Hint: It's "Hazama"... In ''Central Fiction,'' Terumi's true form, [[spoiler:[[Myth/JapaneseMythology Takehaya Susanoo no Mikoto]]]], also has wing-like formations on his feet; winged shoes being a symbol of Hermes.

[[AC:Comic Books]]

[[AC: {{Anime}} and {{Manga}}]]

[[AC:{{Comics}}]]

[[AC:{{Film}}]]

[[AC:{{Literature}}]]

[[AC:Professional Wrestling]]

[[AC:TabletopGames]]

[[AC:{{Theatre}}]]

[[AC:VideoGames]]

[[AC:WebComics]]

* '''{{Unicorn}}''': Purity, [[MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic rarity, magic]], power (which goes against tradition, 'cause in heraldry they are chained down because they're violent [=MFs=]). Usually the [[LastOfHisKind last of its kind]]. Often associated with virgins. Being a heraldic beast of the United Kingdom, they can be used to represent Englishness.

* '''[[OurDragonsAreDifferent Dragon]]''': (Western) Solitary, violent, fire breathing, {{greed}}y, dangerous. May [[ToServeMan eat people]] or [[DragonHoard guard hoards of treasure]].
* '''[[OurDragonsAreDifferent Dragon]]''': (Eastern) Power; strength; nobility; male; likes to play [[TigerVersusDragon Hide and Seek with tigers]]; generally benevolent.

* In a few different ''ComicBook/{{Batman}}'' stories, The Riddler tries to give himself a Sphinx motif; being a crafty and wise riddle-given who kills those that get it wrong. In the ''Year Zero'' storyline, Batman deduces that while holding the city hostage, The Riddler is hiding underneath a Sphinx statue at the Gotham museum.

* Takumi Kuzuryu in ''Manga/TanteiGakuenQ'' uses dragon in many of his works. In-universe, he's depicted as a handsome, elegant, genius noble man, traits his known descendants[[spoiler:, Ryu Amakusa for example,]] sssupposedly inherit. Those he considers legal descendants will contain kanji "Ryu" in their name, further solidifying the theme. [[spoiler:This is a hint for the climax's reveal that King Hades, while being Takumi Kuzuryu's (illegitimate) son, is not Ryu's biological grandfather.]]

* '''{{Unicorn}}''': Purity, [[MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic rarity]], [[MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic magic]], power (which goes against tradition, 'cause in heraldry they are chained down because they're violent [=MFs=]). Usually the [[LastOfHisKind last of its kind]]. Often associated with virgins. Being a heraldic beast of the United Kingdom, they can be used to represent Englishness.

[[/index]]
* '''Basilisk''' and '''[[FeatheredFiend Cockatrice]]''': Two related creatures, often related to a rooster and/or salamander; nobody knows what they look like because [[DeadlyGaze anyone who meets their gaze dies instantly]].
[[index]]

* '''{{Kitsune}}''': Illusions, mystery, trickery, cunning and wisdom. Also associated with femininity.

* '''{{Ouroboros}}''': A serpent eating its own tail: Infinity, alchemy, death and rebirth; lives at the edge of the world or at [[WorldTree its base]].

* '''[[OurMermaidsAreDifferent Mermaid]]'''

* In the IronKingdoms, the Retribution of Scyrah fields [[MiniMecha myrmidons]] named after mythical beasts and often designed after the traits of their namesake ; the Phoenix is a perfect example with its [[HealingFactor regenerating force field]] and ability to [[KillItWithFire bathe its surroundings in a roaring inferno]].

* '''{{Unicorn}}''': Purity, [[MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic rarity]], [[MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic magic]], power (which goes against tradition, 'cause in heraldry they are chained down because they're violent [=MFs=]). Usually the [[LastOfHisKind last of its kind]]. Often associated with virgins.

* The Dragonmarked Houses in {{Eberron}} all have mythological beasts as their crests.