History Of Human Hybrids

Before looking at creating my own human hybrid I wanted to research the history of hybrids so that I could more fully understand the importance of them throughout history and their importance within society. Hybrids have been around society for thousands of years in the form of mythology and genetic manipulation.

The artist and scholar Pietro Gaietto noted that 'representations of human animal hybrids always have their origins in religion' This shows that hybrids have been prominent for many years of human existence. Hybrids are very prominent in different cultures such as the Romans, Greeks,  Egyptians, Japanese and Chinese.

Greek Hybrids:

Pan:

Pan was a Greek God, a protector of the wild and goats who offered asylum to any being pursued by a wolf. In mythology it is said that he tried to pursue many nymphs who ran away from him due to his frightening appearance. Pan merges both human and goat features of a goat head, goat hind legs and a human torso. One of the first depictions of Pan is that of a bronze sculpture as well as in a painting on a Biotan Vase.

http://www.beazley.ox.ac.uk/tools/pottery/painters/keypieces/redfigure/pan.htm

Sirens:

Sirens are women with bird like bodies who are known for luring sailors to their death by pulling them towards rocks with their enchanting voices and songs. These sirens are said to be the daughters of the river god Achelous.

http://orojackson.com/threads/lafittes-power-mythical-zoan-siren.9047/

Egyptian Hybrids:

Anubis:

Anubis is said to be the god that watched over the dead and is the god of embalming. He is said to have three main functions; "he supervised the embalming of bodies, he received the mummy into the tomb, and performed the 'Opening Of The Mouth ceremony' and then conducted the soul in the Field of Celestial Offerings". His appearance is that of a man with a Jackal head. This is my favourite looking hybrid of all of that I researched and I think the combination of the Jackal is actually very beautiful.

http://www.ancient-egypt.org/_v3d/index.html

Bat:

Bat is a cow goddess associated with upper Egypt, who was originally a deification of the Milky Way. She is rarely shown in Egyptian art, but when she is, is shown as a women with bovine ears and curled horns.

http://egyptian-gods.org/egyptian-gods-bat/

Chinese Hybrids:

Chu Pa-Chieh:

Chu Pa-Chieh is a Chinese pig like god and, like Bat, he is associated with the Milky Way, which in mythology was regarded as a river. Chieh was banished to earth in the form of a pig after he upset the Jade Emperor by getting drunk.

http://www.aliexpress.com/promotion/home-office-tools_zhu-feng-promotion.html

Japanse Hybrids:

Kitsune:

A Kitsune or fox is a Japanese folklore creature that is able to shape shift into a human form. A Kitsune prefers to shape shift into that of a beautiful women, young girl or elderly man.

http://listverse.com/2009/10/26/10-mythological-creatures-and-shapeshifters/

Sources:

http://historyofourplanet.blogspot.co.uk/2011/04/pan-greek-god.html

http://www.mythography.com/myth/welcome-to-mythography/greek-chimerae/hybrids/

http://www.greekmythology.com/Myths/Creatures/Sirens/sirens.html

http://www.egyptianmyths.net/anubis.htm

http://egyptian-gods.org/egyptian-gods-bat/

http://www.mythologydictionary.com/chu-pa-chieh-mythology.html

http://listverse.com/2009/10/26/10-mythological-creatures-and-shapeshifters/