The figure of the divine trickster is a fascinating and complex archetype found in many different cultures and mythologies around the world. This extraordinary figure appears in many separate cultures, questioning the status quo and disrupting the normal order of things. This type of trickster god almost always boasted a very similar set of skills, such as shape-shifting.
Taking on different forms and identities depending on the needs is a theme that appears in mythologies very often. Divine tricksters very often use this skill to play pranks and jokes on people in positions of power or authority. This archetype has been found in many cultures around the world, including Native American, African, and Viking mythology.
Despite the differences in the specific features and behaviors of trickster characters in different cultures and mythologies, there are some common denominators that from the perspective of modern times may seem suspicious. In Native American mythology, the trickster figure is often represented by the Coyote, Raven, or Spider. Coyote is known for his tricks and pranks, and Raven is a shapeshifter who often plays pranks on other animals.
In African mythology, the trickster figure is represented by Anansi, a spider known for its cunning. In Norse mythology, the role of the trickster god belongs to Loki, who is also known for his cunning and ability to shapeshift into numerous animals including birds and insects. Could such a large accumulation of stories of an almost identical nature be just a coincidence?
Some researchers suggest that the trickster figure represents a kind of collective shadow or unconscious element of the human psyche. The trickster god embodies our dark impulses and desires, but also our creativity, adaptability, and resilience. By studying the trickster figure in different cultural contexts, researchers concluded that trickster stories were a way for people to deal with issues of power, authority, and social norms.
There will probably be those who will want to treat these stories more literally and attribute magical or even extraterrestrial origin to tricksters. Such considerations are easy to justify if we take into account that almost every culture known today has the figure of the Trickster God or some related creature of this type.
In Greek mythology, this role is taken by Hermes, who is known for his cunning, quick wit and ability to travel between worlds. In Hindu Sanskrit, a related function is played by the god Krishna, who is sometimes depicted as a trickster figure who uses his cunning and intelligence to outsmart his enemies.
A similar creature also functions in the mythologies of the Far East, the best known being the Japanese fox spirit or kitsune, depicted as a sneaky character who uses his shapeshifting abilities to play pranks on people. In South American mythology, the god Quetzalcoatl is depicted in a very similar way.
The myth of the trickster god even developed among the Australian Aborigines. As in the representatives of Mesoamerica, there he is also represented by the divine serpent, a powerful and cunning creature that is associated with creation, destruction and rebirth. Even Slavic mythology did not avoid similar stories. One of the most important gods of the Slavic pantheon, Veles, was well known for his cunning and ability to change shape and assume various forms, including animal ones, such as a snake or a bear.
It is impossible to avoid successive versions of almost the same character, appearing in different parts of the world. Does the legend of the trickster god have any truth to it?
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