Shikome
Encyclopedia
, also known as , were, in Japanese mythology
, eight (or myriad) hags sent by Izanami
to chase Izanagi
and bring him back to the underworld.
They are depicted as fierce and wild women. The story of Izanami
has strong parallels to that of Orpheus
and Eurydice
. The Shikome themselves parallel the Thracian maidens who tore Orpheus to pieces. However, they represent divine fury and have little, if any, of the sexual and drunken revelry association that the Thracian maidens in the service of Dionysus
) also possess. In the Japanese version, Izanagi escapes.
Japanese mythology
Japanese mythology is a system of beliefs that embraces Shinto and Buddhist traditions as well as agriculturally based folk religion. The Shinto pantheon comprises innumerable kami...
, eight (or myriad) hags sent by Izanami
Izanami
In Japanese mythology, is a goddess of both creation and death, as well as the former wife of the god Izanagi-no-Mikoto. She is also referred to as Izanami-no-kami.-Goddess of Creation:...
to chase Izanagi
Izanagi
is a deity born of the seven divine generations in Japanese mythology and Shinto, and is also referred to in the roughly translated Kojiki as "male-who-invites" or Izanagi-no-mikoto. It is also pronounced Izanaki-no-Okami....
and bring him back to the underworld.
They are depicted as fierce and wild women. The story of Izanami
Izanami
In Japanese mythology, is a goddess of both creation and death, as well as the former wife of the god Izanagi-no-Mikoto. She is also referred to as Izanami-no-kami.-Goddess of Creation:...
has strong parallels to that of Orpheus
Orpheus
Orpheus was a legendary musician, poet, and prophet in ancient Greek religion and myth. The major stories about him are centered on his ability to charm all living things and even stones with his music; his attempt to retrieve his wife from the underworld; and his death at the hands of those who...
and Eurydice
Eurydice
Eurydice in Greek mythology, was an oak nymph or one of the daughters of Apollo . She was the wife of Orpheus, who loved her dearly; on their wedding day, he played joyful songs as his bride danced through the meadow. One day, a satyr saw and pursued Eurydice, who stepped on a venomous snake,...
. The Shikome themselves parallel the Thracian maidens who tore Orpheus to pieces. However, they represent divine fury and have little, if any, of the sexual and drunken revelry association that the Thracian maidens in the service of Dionysus
Dionysus
Dionysus was the god of the grape harvest, winemaking and wine, of ritual madness and ecstasy in Greek mythology. His name in Linear B tablets shows he was worshipped from c. 1500—1100 BC by Mycenean Greeks: other traces of Dionysian-type cult have been found in ancient Minoan Crete...
) also possess. In the Japanese version, Izanagi escapes.