Myths and Legends - "Final Fantasy" Quiz

Answer: One of three supreme gods and a divine yogi

Juno was the Roman goddess of marriage and women, and Inanna was the Sumerian goddess of love and fertility. Whereas in the "Final Fantasy" series, Shiva is often depicted as female - in Hindu mythology, Shiva is actually a supreme 'male' god and personifies the powers of destruction. Shiva is said to be:
"...fair of face, has four faces and three eyes." The fiery glance of his third eye is said to have created our world. Unusual contrast, no?

Answer: Babylonian

In Babylonian mythology, Tiamat is the 'She-Dragon of Chaos' and is said to represent the salty sea-water of the oceans, in opposition to to sweet waters of the Abzu Resevoir. She was bested and defeated by Marduk (son of the water god Ea), who utilised her carcass to create the Universe.

Answer: An unfortunate Lydian king

The name of the longship which Jason and the Argonauts used to travel to Colchis was named 'Argo', and the large, many-eyed monster was known as 'Argus' (or alternatively as Pantopes which means 'all-seeing'). Tantalus was a Lydian king who was said to have passed on secrets that the Greek gods had entrusted to him and stole the food of the God.

The best known myth regarding Tantalus is where he attempted to test the gods' divine knowledge by feeding them a rather disgusting meal (i.e. Tantalus' poor son, Pelops). All the gods spotted Tantalus' trickery, with the exception of absent-minded earth goddess Demeter, who was reflecting upon the issue of her missing daughter Persephone (a.k.a Kore).

They proceeded to restore Pelops, Hermes was able to retrieve Pelops' soul from the Underworld, and Demeter provided a new shoulder, crafted from ivory, to replace the one she unwillingly consumed. Tantalus was punished severely for this offence and was thrown into the abyss of Tartarus.

Here he would stand chin-deep in water, and every time he proceede to drink the water or reach for the fruit of a nearby tree, they would constantly receed and move away from him, leaving Tantalus forever hungry.

Answer: A spirit

Nymphs exist in Greek mythology, not Hindu, and avatars are the terms used to describe the incarnations of Vishnu. Asuras were once thoughts of as supreme divine spirits. However, Asuras were later regarded as demons and enemies of the gods. In fact a certain the second incarnation of Vishnu, Kurma the turtle, was requested by Indra (King of the Hindu gods) to help them cope with the asuras.

Answer: Iranian

In Iranian mythology, Angra Mainyu's role was a lot like Satan's in Christianity. He was permanently opposed to Ahura Mazdah (whose name means Wise Lord), and like the devil, Angra Mainyu thwarted Ahura Mazdah's plan for a heavenly paradise on earth, and it was soon filled with his own machinations such as disease and ailments, wintry cold and summer's prickly heat.

He is also said to have created Azi Dahaka (a monster that also appears in "Final Fantasy X-2"), which caused further nuisances. The alternative name for Angra Mainyu is 'Ahriman', and this name has been given to another of "Final Fantasy X-2's" monsters (a less annoying one I might add).

Answer: Yes

Excalibur was the name given to the blade owned by King Arthur, a hugely popular character in mythology and very well-known. Historians claim that the true Arthur may have been a "...Romanized British chieftain". It's also said that the legend of King Arthur may have been based on a Welsh priest-king named Gywdion, a cultural hero who redefined civilization.

It is said that the bard-magician Gwydion taught people the valuable lesson of writing, and also inspired poets.

Answer: Enkidu

Endo Morito was a legendary swordsman-turned-monk in Japanese mythology, and Endymion was the lover of moon goddess Selene in Greek mythology. Emer was the partner of Irish hero Cuchulainn. Enkidu was born in the wild and is said to have had authority over animals.

However, Gilgamesh (who was eager to draw Enkidu to him), sent a harlot to convince him to follow her to Uruk. After fighting Gilgamesh, Enkidu became life-long companion to Gilgamesh, and together they sought out many a great adventure. Upon their return to Uruk, Ishtar (the aggressive goddess of love) approached Gilgamesh, yet he spurned her advances.

This rejection left Ishtar bitter and vindictive, and she went before Anu, demanding punishment for Gilgamesh. Anu tried to calm her down, but Ishtar was relentless.

She threatened to free the dead from the Underworld unless Anu lent her the Bull of Heaven, a bull which represented Heaven itself. But despite the bull's great and undeniable strength, together Enkidu and Gilgamesh slaughtered the Bull of Heaven.

The gods held a debate, and decided that Enkidu should grow ill and die. The death of his friend left Gilgamesh devastated, and this led to him embarking on a quest to become immortal.

Answer: Kill a kinsman

Ixion is said to have murdered Eioneus, his father-in-law. For this, he was punished by being secured to a blazing wheel in the Underworld.

Answer: Central America

Chac is the Mayan god of rain, thunder and lightning. He is thought of as four divine entities, each connected by a cardinal point, and each a varying colour: red for east, white for north, black for west and yellow for south. The Chac quartet were seen to have curling fangs and tears streaming from their eyes - despite their deceiving appearance, the Chacs were known to be kindly and caring.

It is said that the rain they sent encouraged fertility among Maya's lands.

Answer: Odin

Loki does exist in European mythology, but he did not wield Gungnir. Quetzalcotl exists in Aztec mythology, and Thor, though existing in Norse mythology was in possession of a hammer named Mjolnir. A certain myth about Odin may sparked interest in Christianity for the Vikings. One legend describes how Odin (who desired to discover the secret of runes) took Gungnir and impaled himself to Yggdrasil, the World Tree.

After nine days and nine nights, his wish was fulfilled, and he achieved his goal. Later on, the Vikings became fascinated with the Christian figure Jesus, a "...gentle redeemer of mankind who was also nailed to a tree."