Animals Throughout World Religions Quiz

Answer: Horus

Worshipped throughout Egypt, Horus was one of the major deities for this ancient civilization, acting as a representation of all things related to the sun and the sky. It likely comes as no surprise that a being standing for those would be a bird-- in hieroglyphics, Horus was almost always depicted as being part-falcon, making him quite distinct amongst other images.

The son of the fertility goddess, Osiris, Horus was notable for his eyes. While the Eye of Horus is a particularly memorable symbol (and has been depicted in ancient writings), it's believed that one of his eyes was the moon and the other was the sun. Sailors, at one time, painted the eye on their boats to ensure safety on dangerous waters.

As for the other answers, Anubis is known for having the head of a dog or a jackal, Bastet had the head of a cat, and Hathor had the head of a cow.

Answer: A golden fish

Beomeosa Temple, located in the Geumjeong District of Busan, South Korea, was constructed on the slopes of Geumjeongsan and how it became important is a bit of fortunate happenstance as many believe that one day, long ago, the clouds opened up and a large, golden fish (the Nirvana Fish) descended from Brahma. The resultant blessing created Geumsaem, a natural spring said to be eternally flowing.

Although a tourist site and a pilgrimage destination for Buddhists in South Korea, Beomosa Temple is also home to a Seon Buddhist sanctum for practicing monks. Its importance has led to it becoming one of the Three Jewels Temples of Korea.

Answer: Buddhists

Although there is a Temple of the Azure Clouds in Northwest Beijing, China as well, the 'Snake Temple' is a Chinese Buddhist temple found in George Town, Penang and it's a bit different, mainly because it's occupied by many, many snakes, all considered by followers to be resurrected disciples of a Buddhist monk and, thus, protected.

The snakes here are generally pit vipers, so you can imagine that they're mostly venomous animals. This said, locals have taken great pains to ensure that the snakes have their venom safely removed. It's recommended that visitors don't taunt or pick up the snakes in any case.

Answer: Odin

Odin's sentries, it's believed that Huginn and Muninn acted as the all-seeing eyes and ears of the Norse King of Gods, which is further reinforced by the fact that their names are words referring to one's mind and one's will. Given the ability to talk, both were always considered to represent Odin's senses; many stories see Odin worried that they may be lost to the world.

The idea of these ravens being a part of Odin's existence has persisted throughout time, having been depicted in art and oral tales for more than fifteen hundred years. Their existence is indicative of a tendency to see Norse Gods (and the gods of many early European belief systems) as having guardian animal spirits, many with complex powers and capabilities and many with the ability to shapeshift.

Odin was also believed to have a pair of wolves as animal familiars -- Geri and Freki.

Answer: Tiger

Shigisan Chogosonshi-ji, a Japanese temple compound dedicated to Bishamonten, sits atop the mountains of Nara, Japan on Mt. Shigi. Stories about the temple have persisted for more than a thousand years, with its earliest monks being said to have granted bounties of food and good favour to local villagers from up on high.

The tigers here are plentiful to say the least. Before entering a tunnel shaped like a tiger, you'll find one of the world's largest paper-mache tigers (named Fukutora) out front. Bishamonten, a God of Warriors who was believed to have arrived on Earth to defend Japan, was called upon during the hour of the tiger on the day of the tiger in the year of the tiger. The two have since been intertwined.

Answer: Book of Jonah

Generally regarded as a parable instead of a complete truth, the Book of Jonah is one of the stories from the Bible that has transcended the holy text, emerging as a more traditional tale, especially for children. It's about Jonah, of course, who is meant to travel to Nineveh but instead flees his duty, heading to sea and being beset upon by an awful storm. He ends up being swallowed by a large fish (a whale in retellings) and he spends three days and three nights in its belly, repenting before he's spared, being expelled from the fish's mouth.

The story of Jonah persists through many texts including the Tanakh, the Christian Old Testament and, partially, in the Dead Sea Scrolls.

Answer: A llama

Not only a llama, but a multicoloured llama!

Llamas have always been a symbol of the Andes, especially in Peru, because in places like Machu Picchu they were a source of food, a source of wool, and a creature of sacrifice to gods that ensured the wellbeing of the Incan people who lived high in the mountains.

Urcuchillay was respected by the herders who filled a key role in Incan life; many would expect Urcuchillay to oversee the herds at night. Other depictions of this unique deity involved a human body with a llama head on top, as if that were a less confusing option.

Answer: Temple of Rats

Bikanur is a large city, and part of that, slightly to the south, is the Rajasthani town of Deshnoke. Here, you might stumble upon the Karni Mata Temple, home for the Hindu god of power and victory and a site of pilgrimage for all who worship her. And you might quickly find out why it's known by the name 'Temple of Rats'; the rats are there in overwhelming numbers (some believe to be more than 25,000).

Amongst the tens of thousands of rats found here, locals believe that the all-white rats are reincarnated followers, and those ones are held in greater reverence. All rats have free reign to eat from the offerings provided to them there. It's considered an honour to have your food eaten by the rats.

Answer: Fox

Considered by followers of the Shinto faith to be the chief deity, Amaterasu oversees the home plane of the gods as well as the Imperial House of Japan and is worshiped at the Grand Shrine of Ise. Though she does have a human form, there are actually tales that feature her as a fox, dragon, and snake creature.

The fox tales refer to Amaterasu hiding herself into the Rock-Cave of Heaven; when she descended from the heavens, she chose this form because it was one that, according to Japanese myth, would allow her to emit heavenly light.

Answer: Ganesha

One of the most revered gods in the Hindu pantheon, Ganesha actually crosses into the Buddhist and Jain faiths as well, always being depicted as an elephant-headed deity. Notably, Ganesha is known for bringing good luck to those who follow and deserve it (and puts obstacles in the way of those who need to be tested).

As a supreme being, Ganesha is affiliated with many, many different items and beliefs, a number of which pertain to success in arts, sciences, culture, and fields of intellect.