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The rainbow, a natural phenomenon noted for its beauty and mystical appearance, has been a favorite component of mythology throughout history. Rainbows are part of the myths of many cultures around the world. The Norse saw it as Bifrost; Judeo-Christian traditions see it as a covenant with God not to destroy the world by means of floodwater. Whether as a bridge to the heavens, messenger, archer’s bow, or serpent, the rainbow has been pressed into symbolic service for millennia. There is a myriad of beliefs concerning the rainbow. The complex diversity of rainbow myths are far-reaching, as are their inherent similarities. ==Bridges== In Norse religion, a burning rainbow bridge called the Bifrost connects Midgard (earth) with Asgard, home of the gods.〔("Rainbows in Mythology" ), National Geographic. 〕 Bifrost can only be used by gods and those who are killed in battle. It is eventually shattered under the weight of war - the Ragnarok (German Götterdammerung). The notion that the rainbow bridge to heaven is attainable by only the good or virtuous, such as warriors and royalty, is a theme repeated often in world myths. In the ancient beliefs of Japan, rainbows were the bridges that human ancestors took to descend to the planet.〔 In Navajo tradition, the rainbow is the path of the holy spirits, and is frequently depicted in sacred sandpaintings.〔(Native American Rainbow Mythology )〕 The Maori tell a tale of Hina, the moon, who caused a rainbow to span the heavens even down to the earth, for her mortal husband to return to earth to end his days, since death may not enter her celestial home.〔Best, Elsdon. ("Rainbow Myths", ''Maori Religion and Mythology'' ), Part 2, p. 414, P.D. Hasselburg, Wellington, New Zealand, 1982. 〕 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Rainbows in mythology」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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