In many parts of the world, the wolf is primarily associated with harvest and fertility as much as it is with strength and warriors. The myths and folklore show the wolf to be a positive force of nature and more of a familial being. One that is a protector of the people, helping lost people get home or taking in and raising abandoned children. All so unlike the modern tales that portray the wolf as a villain.

The wolf features greatly in stories from the different North American Indian tribes – such as The Tale of the Two Wolves from the Cherokee.

There are many more myths and folktales of wolves as well than what I have here, and I hope to add more as I pick up more.

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Roman Mythology

The famous story of Romulus and Remus, the founders of Rome. Their great uncle Amulius had ordered the twin brothers to be killed, however, the servant with the orders relented. The twins were placed in a cradle on the bank of the Tiber River. The river deity Tiberinus protected them as the flood waters rose and carried the cradle downstream where Lupa found and nursed them. Lupa is also known as the Capitoline Wolf.

The she-wolf went on to become a symbol of Rome by both the Romans and any nation under Roman rule. The symbol, when used in the Roman Provinces was seen as an expression of loyalty to Rome and the emperor.

The wolf is associated with Mars, and with agriculture, fertility and war. There is also a story that suggests Lupa is a goddess that later trains the Roman soldiers.

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Norse Mythology

The wolf is also a symbol associated with warriors, and Odin has two wolves – Geri and Freki – as loyal companions reputed to be a ‘good omen’. Wolves also served as mounts for more or less humanoid creatures in various parts of the Poetic Edda. In ‘The Lay of Hyndla, the völva (witch) Hyndla is also described as using a wolf as a mount. A giantess named Hyrrokin arrives mounted on a wolf to the funeral of Baldr.

The most famous myth about wolves in the Norse mythology is Fenrir, born from the God Loki and the giantess Angerbod. Prophesised to be the one to kill Odin during Ragnarok, Fenrir is viewed as a symbol of chaos and destruction. Fenrir is the father of Skol and Hati.

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Japanese Mythology

In Shinto belief, the wolf, Okami, is regarded as a messenger of the kami spirits. Wolves were also said to offer protection against crop raiders such as boar and deer. Grain farmers worshipped shrines and left food offerings near their dens beseeching them to protect their crops.

The mountains of Japan which were viewed as dangerous and deadly place were associated with the wolf. It was believed that the wolf was their protector and guardian.  In Japanese folklore, there is a tale of the okuiōkami (‘escort wolf’) that would follow someone walking alone through a forest. It would follow them until they reached their home, without doing them any harm. Sometimes an offering was made for this escort. There are also many mountain villages named after the wolf such as Okamiiwa (Wolf Rock) and Okamitaira (Wolf Plateau).

Another belief is that wolves raised infants which were abandoned in the forest of the Kii Peninsula. The clan leader Fujiwara no Hidehira is believed to have been raised by wolves. In the Kanto region of Eastern Japan, it was believed that feeding an infant milk from a wolf would make them grow up strong.

Talismans and charmed adorned in the imagery of wolves were thought to protect against fire, disease and other calamities.

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North American Indian Mythology

Wolves are considered a medicine being. They are associated with courage, strength, loyalty and success at hunting.

Native Americans have long seen the wolf as an animal of power with many tribes attributing the actual creator of the earth to be a wolf. The Arikara and Objibwe believed a wolf-man spirit made the Great Plains for them and for other animals. The Quileute and the Kwakiutl tell of their first ancestors were transformed from wolves into men.

There is an Omaha legend in which a wolf guides a wounded warrior back to his camp. It would alert him whenever there were rival warriors nearby and showed him the easiest path.

The Navajo were known for calling upon the wolf to aid in healing ceremonies. Apache warriors would pray, sing and dance to gain the teamwork, strength and bravery of wolves before a battle. The Pawnee, being both an agricultural and hunting people, associated the wolf with both corn and bison.

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Turco Mongolian Mythology

The wolf is a revered animal for the Turkic and Mongolian peoples. In their mythology, wolves were believed to be the ancestors of the Turks, Mongols and the Ainu. This comes from the Legend of Asena. A small Turkic village in North China was raided by Chinese soldiers, but one small child survived the raid and was left behind. An old she-wolf with a sky blue mane name Asena found and nursed the child back to health. Impregnated by the boy, Asena escapes he enemies by crossing the Western Sea to a cave near the Qocho mountains and the city of Tocharians. She later gives birth to ten half wolf, half human cubs.

Also in Turkic mythology, it is believed that a grey wolf showed the Turks the way out of their legendary homeland ‘Ergenekon’. This allowed them to spread and conquer their neighbours. In modern Mongolia, the wolf is still seen as a good luck symbol, especially for males

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Egyptian Mythology

Wepawet – The Opener of Ways (sometimes depicted as a jackal) features in late Egyptian mythology. Wepawet was originally a war deity whose cult centre was in Asyut in Upper Egypt (Lycopolis in the Greco-Roman period). He is often seen as wolf standing at the prow of a solar boat. An interpretation of this is that Wepawet was a scout and would go first to clear the way for the forces to proceed forwards.

Wepawet was originally seen as a wolf deity, hence the Greek name of Lycopolis – City of Wolves. It is reckoned that Wepawet was originally a symbol of the pharaoh seeking to associate with wolf-like attributes. Over time, the connection to war and so to death, lead Wepawet to be seen as the one who opened the way to and through Duat (Realm of the Dead). This then leads Wepawet to become associated to Anubis, and later to be considered his son.

Original article: Wolves in Mythology.