Mythological, Traditional and Divine Figures

Andal

In Tamil Nadu tradition, Andal was a girl (by some considered to be a manifestation of the goddess Bhoodevi) found under a tulsi bush in the flower garden of the temple of Vishnu at Srivill... [more]

Arthur

King Arthur was born the son of Uther and Igerna, who was the wife of Gorlois, Duke of Cornwall. He was raised by Sir Ector in secret and became king on Uther's death, proving his right to ... [more]

Augustus Caesar Octavius (under Roman Empire)

Ancient Roman society institutionalized the adoption of adults. It was relatively common for a wealthy Roman couple to adopt an adult man, even a slave, as heir if they did not have any son... [more]

Bear Woman

Bear Woman was an Inuit girl who became lost while playing hide-and-seek with her brothers. She was found near death by a large bear, who took her home and raised her as his own (see also ... [more]

Blood Clot Boy

The Southern Ute version of the story of Blood Clot Boy tells how he arose from a blood clot found by an old, childless hunter, who brought it home to his wife. When boiled it tur... [more]

CuChulain

Setana was the son of the god Lugh and the mortal Dechtire, wife of Sualtam. He had seven pupils in each eye and 14 fingers and toes. He was sent to be fostered by the best men in Ulster, a... [more]

Dalai Lamas

The Dalai Lamas - supreme heads of Tibetan Buddhism and also the secular rulers of Tibet before the Chinese invasion - as well as some other important leaders of the religion (such as the P... [more]

Eliezer

According to the Bible (Genesis 15:2-3) he was a servant of Abram/Abraham (traditionally ca. 1838-1613 BCE) and probably was adopted by him in accordance with a fairly common middle eastern... [more]

Enkidu

Enkidu is one of the central characters in the Epic of Gilgamesh, a 5,000-year-old poem from Mesopotamia. He was a wild man of the hills (see Feral Children), created from the earth by a go... [more]

Ephraim and Manasseh

According to the Bible these two sons of the patriarch Joseph and his wife Asenath (daughter of the Egyptian priest Potiphera), were born during his period as governor of Egypt and before t... [more]