Wolves in mythology are often portrayed as evil and dangerous, but some Native American tribes revere them as nurturing and even the creators of humans. European and Asian legends also depict wolves as heroic or nurturing figures, but also as bloodthirsty and demonic.
Wolves in mythology are often portrayed as cunning and evil harbingers of destruction and death. In some legends and cultures, especially Native American folklore, the wolf is portrayed in a more positive light. The mythology of Europe and East Asia generally portrays wolves as unreliable and dangerous creatures, and some legends even portray these animals as demons or creations of Satan himself. Conversely, many Native American tribes, such as the Lakota Sioux and Inuit peoples, revere the wolf as a sympathetic entity and even as the creator of human beings. Also in some Indo-European cultures, wolves are assigned nurturing roles in mythology or are seen as symbols of heroism and leadership.
Native American tribes are generally more likely to assign positive attributes and roles to wolves in folklore. Inuit peoples are believed to have revered a lone wolf called the Amarok, who served the Inuit tribes by culling frail and sick caribou from the herd, thus leaving healthy and strong herds for human hunters. A Lakota folktale describes an injured human woman who is taken in and nursed back to health by wolves. The wolves are said to teach this woman valuable skills, which she uses to help her tribe when she finally returns to them.
Other Native American tribes assign important creation roles to wolves in mythology. A legend describes the archetypal wolf as carrying an ever heavier burden. It is from the burden of this wolf that mankind is ultimately born.
The folklore of Europe and East Asia generally depicts wolves as more sinister mythological figures. Eastern European and Scandinavian peoples have traditionally portrayed wolves in mythology as bloodthirsty and demonic. The modern English word “wolf” is said to derive from the ancient Gothic term for “assassin,” which is “varg.” In accordance with ancient Germanic practice, assassins were often driven out of the community and forced to live alone in the wilderness, deprived of any contact or assistance from their communities. Some scholars believe that this practice may offer a clue to the origins of werewolves in folklore, as these bandit killers were said to have lost their humanity entirely.
Other European and Asian legends portray wolves in mythology as nurturing or heroic figures. The ancient Celts may have believed that the wolf safeguarded the fertility of the earth, while the ancient Scots may have portrayed the wolf as a goddess who cares for wildlife. Ancient Roman legend generally holds that Romulus and Remus, the roundels of the Roman Empire, were raised as infants by a she-wolf. The Mongols are believed to have possessed a similar legend, in which a celestial wolf first breeds, and then mates with a human man, giving birth to ten half-blood sons who become great kings. In all of these societies, wolves in mythology were believed to represent leadership and heroism.
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