Set was originally worshipped in Upper (Southern) Egypt as a god of the desert. He is typically dressed in red and black, and often appears in his role as warrior and protector. Loki is the trickster-god from the Norse pantheon. Baboons are clever animals. In the book, Ibis (Thoth by another name) mentioned that the last time any of the gods had heard from Set was 1905 or 1906 via a postcard from San Francisco.15, Set served as the inspiration for Sutekh, an antagonist in Pyramids of Mars, the 3rd serial of the 13th series of Doctor Who. That is to say he is documented as the murderer of his brother, Osiris, and the enemy of Horus. Learn more. [You can read the entire myth at The Murder of Osiris.]. Let's recognize that Trickster God was a loaded term, and a bad analogy. In Norse legend Loki was a trickster god associated with magic and fire. (n.d.). A common theme in Set’s mythology was his violation of sexual norms and general sexual deviancy. Aten – Egyptian Supreme God, solar deity. A Roman goddess of thieves, cheats, liars and fraudsters, Laverna managed to get a hill on the Aventine named for her. The one Who shakes things up, Who always has creative, boundary-crossing solutions to problems. The Ancient Egyptian Creation Story is a true tale of creation, explaining everything in nature from the Sun, to the Earth, Air, Moisture, Sky, and humans. At times, Thoth may take full ibis form. The Trickster is clever, of mind and of… Because of his ability to change his appearance, Lugh sometimes appears as an old man to fool people into believing him weak. One myth tells that he raped his sister Isis, impregnating her in the process. This song was subdivided into seven mini-tracks. Trickster Goddesses are fewer and farther between. He was the son of Gaia (Earth) and Aether (Hyginus, Fabulae Theogony 3) or Erebus and Nyx (Cicero, De Natura Deorum). Sisyphus: Deceitful Trickster God of Ancient Greek Mythology. Trickster Gods and Goddesses. Nut, in Egyptian religion, a goddess of the sky, vault of the heavens, often depicted as a woman arched over the earth god Geb.Most cultures of regions where there is rain personify the sky as masculine, the rain being the seed which fructifies Mother Earth. Set was mentioned in Neil Gaiman’s American Gods. Unlike many trickster gods, however, Wisakedjak often pulls his pranks to benefit mankind, rather than to harm them. Its moves consider to be tricky cause of the moving tiles. Trickster, Recordkeeper, Sage of Ancient Egypt Thoth, Tehuti or Djehuty in ancient Egyptian, is the god of wisdom, writing, speech, measurement, the moon, and magic. He could also take the form of Anubis.3, As a trickster god, Set opposed the Egyptian concept of maat, or divine order. Later, she swindled a lord in the same manner, and the lord and the priest realized they had both been the victims of a deceptive goddess. However he does have a number of aspects and was Then they didn't, and now they do again. The Trickster breaks the rules, makes us laugh, often embraces The Other by shapeshifting. Wigington, Patti. Set was an Egyptian trickster god who spread disorder and suffering across the land. Some of this jealousy may have been warranted—his wife eventually bore an illegitimate child with Osiris. 1 Overview 2 Description 3 Attacks 3.1 Falling Tiles (Passive) 3.2 Quadriple Circle Fold 3.3 Earth Spike Spell 3.4 Diamond of Doom 3.5 Cobra Portal 4 Strategies, Tips and Tricks 5 Trivia Anubis, Trickster of Titans is the final boss of the Pyramid Dungeon in World 4, Pharaoh's Canyon. Despite these sins, he later played a key role in Egyptian cosmology, protecting Ra from the forces of chaos. So most Egyptian gods have a few animal shapes as well as human ones, and often have animal heads even when they're walking on two feet. She loves to start trouble, just for her own sense of amusement, and perhaps one of the best known examples of this was a little dustup called the Trojan War. In this study Kristensen treats especially the Babylonian god Ea and the Greek god Hermes. Nephthys - Musée du Louvre, Paris, France. They all live here in the collective unconscious. (Image via. A goddess of chaos, Eris is often present in times of discord and strife. Not all of the divine is necessarily friendly to humanity. Terracotta, 63 in. Some have lessons to teach while others are just cruel for the sake of their own amusement. From devious Loki to the dancing Kokopelli, most societies have had, at some point, a deity associated with mischief, deceit, betrayal and treachery. He rode at the front of Ra’s solar barque and defended the sun god from Apophis, the great chaos monster.12, Commonly portrayed as a giant snake or crocodile, Apophis would attack Ra each night. Hermes took on a trickster role on occasion in Greek mythology, using his quick wits to outsmart people and gods alike. Enki as a Trickster and One Who is Tricked In some myths, Enki is regarded as the father of the goddess Inanna, another major deity in the Sumerian pantheon. In some tellings, he tore himself from Nut’s womb; in others, his mother spat him into existence.7 In either case, his unconventional birth was thought to foreshadow his representation of disorder and chaos. © 2019 Wasai LLC – All Rights Reserved. One of the Orishas, Elegua (sometimes spelled Eleggua) is a trickster who is known for opening the crossroads for practitioners of Santeria. For a time, it seemed that he had gotten away with his fratricide, as he went on to rule Egypt as its king. Wearing Set’s skin as a disguise, Anubis snuck into Set’s military camp and killed all of his followers.11, Constrasting with the evil and destruction he had wrought in life, Set was a force for good in the afterlife. Paris selected Aphrodite to receive the apple, and thus guaranteed that his hometown would be demolished by the end of the war. Both Cree and Algonquin storytellers know the tales of Wisakedjak. This week, Mike introduces you to Tricksters, starting with Anansi, the West African trickster god who is also sometimes a spider. When we think of Easter, the "Easter Bunny" is a main topic for festivity and play. Zeus, trying to be helpful, chose a young man named Paris, a prince of the city of Troy, to select a winner. Gods and Myths of Ancient Egypt. Originally Seth was a sky god, lord of the desert, master of storms, disorder, and warfare—in general, a trickster. Set was originally worshipped in Upper (Southern) Egypt as a god of the desert. Depending on the myth, the two either engaged in battle to decide who will rule, or put the matter before a court presided over by Ra. This god is also often consulted for mediation and is believed to have control of the seasons. Though Apophis could be killed, he would regenerate each day, thus ensuring the need for constant vigilance. During the yearly celebration of Velja Noc, Veles sends the souls of the dead out into the world of men as his messengers. The Egyptian God Seth as a Trickster* H. Te Velde I In Radin, Jung and Kerenyi's well-known book about the Trickster, reference is made to a study on the divine deceiver by the Dutch scholar Kristensen. Horus from Egyptian theology: The god of all Egypt and the son of the goddess Isis, Horus is most often depicted with the distinct head of a peregrine falcon or similar raptor with the body of a man. Set took his sister, Nephthys, as his wife. 1 Overview 2 Description 3 Attacks 3.1 Falling Tiles (Passive) 3.2 Quadriple Circle Fold 3.3 Earth Spike Spell 3.4 Diamond of Doom 3.5 Cobra Portal 4 Strategies, Tips and Tricks 5 Trivia Anubis, Trickster of Titans is the final boss of the Pyramid Dungeon in World 4, Pharaoh's Canyon. diam. The conventional position of Seth in Ancient Egypt is as the villain amongst the gods. In the Enuma Elish he defies his mother's hopes in killing Apsu but must do so for the greater good and, in The Atrahasis, he saves one good man to inspire Enlil to give humanity a second chance to live. The baby, which was born prematurely, emerged as a hideous creature—half black ibis and half baboon.8, In another tale, Isis was attacking Set’s forces under the guise of the goddess Sekhmet. Though few independent myths have been found, evidence suggests that Set existed prior to his incorporation into the Egyptian mythos, and it is all but certain that such myths existed as well. In Ancient Greek, the god's name is given as Sēth (Σήθ). He could turn himself into an ox, an oryx, a hippopotamus, a bull, a crocodile, and a panther. 8 Famous Witches From Mythology and Folklore, Gods and Goddesses of Death and the Underworld, roles as a smith and craftsman and warrior, Wisakedjak stories have a clear pattern and format. Set tried again, offering that he was “a Quiver full of Arrows and a Pot Full of Disturbance.”. Set was an Egyptian trickster god who spread disorder and suffering across the land. Often considered among one of the most important ancient Egyptian gods, Amun was the divine entity who represented the air and the sun. Rather, they can be regarded as a composite of aardvark, donkey, and jackal. Kokopelli is perhaps best recognized by his curved back and the magic flute that he carries with him wherever he may go. Pinch, Geraldine. UCLA Encyclopedia of Egyptology, 1(1) (2013). He was typically all black, and was often portrayed in a seated position.8Like many Egyptian gods, Anubis was capable of shapeshifting; he was so shocked at the sight of Osiris’s dead body that he immediately turned into a lizard. Nancy Nehring / Getty Images In addition to being a trickster deity, Kokopelli is also a Hopi fertility god – you can imagine what sort of mischief he might get up to! While he offers us opportunity, he is just as likely to throw an obstacle in our way. Seth – a misrepresented god in the Ancient Egyptian Pantheon? Although he doesn’t appear often in the Eddas, he is generally described as a member of the family of Odin. He unraveled the details of Ancient Egyptian demonology and showed how it eventually emerged as the driving force of all Egyptian magic. While he had a human body (like most Egyptian gods), he also had a jackal’s head and tail. [For a more complete retelling, see Isis and the Ascendency of Horus.]. In Norse mythology, Loki is known as a trickster. Accessed January 10, 2020. doi:10.2307/40000633. In Aradia, Gospel of the Witches, folklorist Charles Leland tells this tale, quoting Virgil: He goes on to relate a story of how Laverna tricked a priest into selling her an estate — in exchange, she promised she would build a temple on the land. Many people have heard his stories in many books as children growing up, but I learned he isn’t the only mischievous one. https://mythopedia.com/egyptian-mythology/gods/set/. The most important extant myth from Ancient Egypt was the murder of Osiris. Fandom Apps Take your favorite fandoms with you and never miss a beat. Evan Meehan, “Set,” Mythopedia, accessed , https://mythopedia.com/egyptian-mythology/gods/set/. Still not ready to reveal the truth, Set told Horus: “I am a man of a thousand cubits, whose reputation is not known, I am a threshing-floor, made fast like a bronze which a cow has not swept. He's also the gods' official record-keeper. H Hermes‎ (7 C, 15 P) L Loki‎ (10 P) Lugh‎ (6 P) M Mercury (mythology)‎ (1 C, 3 P) Pages in category "Trickster gods" The following 47 pages are in this category, out of 47 total. Set was not simply a force of disorder, but instead served as the god of khenenu, or confusion.4 He was often associated with sandstorms, thunderstorms, and flash floods; given Egypt’s reliance on the Nile’s waters, all of these forces were regarded as destructive nuisances.5, Regarded as the mightiest of the gods, Set proved his strength in the nightly battles against Apophis, the chaos monster.6. Through his union to Angrboda (herself a jotunn, a type of undefined creature), he is also the father of the great wolf Fenrir, the world-serpent Jörmungandr, and Hel, the goddess of the underworld. So that fits. When Set spotted her, he immediately recognized the goddess for who she truly was. Laverna was then ordered by Jupiter to become the patron goddess of dishonest and disreputable people. Learn Religions, Aug. 27, 2020, learnreligions.com/trickster-gods-and-goddesses-2561501. She is the author of Daily Spellbook for the Good Witch, Wicca Practical Magic and The Daily Spell Journal. Nephthys marries Set the god of disorder. Got it. Anansi the spider decided he wanted stories of his own, and offered to buy them from Nyame, but Nyame didn’t want to share the stories with anyone. "Trickster Gods and Goddesses." The priest went to confront her but she was gone. By permission of the Italian Ministry of Heritage and Culture and Tourism. ( CC BY-SA 2.0 fr ) More Deities of Darkness Horus is the god of the sky, sun, and moon, as well as the god of war and hunting, attributes that well-suit an apex predator like a peregrine falcon. He would ultimately ally himself with Osiris, riding on the front of the solar barque and defending it from Apophis—an elemental chaos beast. Retrieved from https://mythopedia.com/egyptian-mythology/gods/set/. Famous for his winged shoes, he was known for being quick both physically and mentally. Anansi comes from Ghana, where his adventures are told in songs and stories. In some accounts, he is helpful to the gods. Below is an animated retelling called “Anansi and the Story of the Sky God.” He used this skill four times to get past the wabet guards and escape with Osiris’s corpse. D&D Beyond They appealed to the Gods for assistance, and who called Laverna before them, and asked why she had not upheld her end of the bargains with the men. Set imprisoned Isis shortly after coming to power; he believed her to be a threat to his power. For example, in the well-known myth, The Descent of Inanna , a plan is devised by Enki to rescue his daughter from the Underworld when she is killed by Ereshkigal, her sister. The one Who shakes things up, Who always has creative, boundary-crossing solutions to problems. London: Thames and Hudson Ltd., 2014. The Egyptian God Seth as a Trickster* H. Te Velde I In Radin, Jung and Kerenyi's well-known book about the Trickster, reference is made to a study on the divine deceiver by the Dutch scholar Kristensen. Peter Berresford Ellis, in his book The Druids, suggests that Lugh himself might be the inspiration for folktales of mischievous leprechauns in Irish legend. Once again, Horus told him that this response was inadequate. The Trickster's tricky ways can have unintended consequences; often unexpectedly positive, sometimes not so much. Finally, Veles is a well-known mischief-maker, similar to the Norse Loki or Greece’s Hermes. Another name for Thoth is Tehuti. Famous for his winged shoes, he was known for being quick both physically and mentally. Like his grandfather Ra before him, Set prevaricated: I am Yesterday, I am Today, I am Tomorrow which has not yet come. Like the Anansi tales, the Wisakedjak stories have a clear pattern and format, usually beginning with Wisakedjak  trying to trick someone or something into doing him a favor, and always having a moral at the end. Patti Wigington is a pagan author, educator, and licensed clergy. Although there is little documented information about Veles, parts of Poland, Russia and Czechoslovakia are rich in oral history about him. Anansi the Spider appears in a number of West African folktales, and is able to shift into the appearance of a man. Bet you had to be really well behaved around him. Brahma – Hindu Creator God. Set’s name may have meant something to the effect of “he who is below,” on the basis that Set was Horus’s opposite. Peter may be related then to the Egyptian god P'tah whom some equate with the Egyptian trickster moon god Thoth who was Mercury or Hermes the greek trickster god Thoth was known as the God of Thieves responsible for the "transportation of souls" and the "conductor of spirits to the next world". In both Cree and Algonquin folklore, Wisakedjak shows up as a troublemaker. Pipes are used to transport and also to conduct. Veles is an underworld god, associated with the souls of deceased ancestors. Some are far more obscure. Let's recognize that this place is an establishment over a number of years already with norms and is full of unbelievers and whether I fit here or not is going to take a while to figure out whether its a good fit. An image of Enki from the Adda cylinder seal. Isis mocked him for his failure, saying “It is an abomination to have scattered [your seed], O Bull.”9. Kokopelli is a trickster who represents mischief, magic and fertility. We have the Greek Eris with Her golden apple tossing, though generally, She’s more the Goddess of troublemaking and disharmony. While I do enjoy the Egyptian gods, I branched out to learn more about different cultures in Africa where I found the Yoruba Orishas. This category has the following 4 subcategories, out of 4 total. Abbathor • Aerdrie Faenya • Akadi • Alobal Lorfiril • Baravar Cloakshadow • Beshaba • Brandobaris • Cyric • Diirinka • Erevan Ilesere • Fraz-Urb'luu • Gargauth • Garl Glittergold • Hlal • Hruggek • Keptolo • Kirith Sotheril • Kurtulmak • Leira • Lolth • Maglubiyet • Malyk (demipower) • Marthammor Duin • Mask • Melira Taralen • Memnor • Merrshaulk • Odin • Oghma • Ravanna • Raxivort • Sardior • Sarula Iliene • Shar • Sharess • Shargaas • Sseth • Sune • Thautam • Tymora • Vergadain • Vhaeraun • Waukeen Instead, the murderous trickster god seemed to have been reformed. Actor Tom Hiddleston portrays Loki in the Avengers films. In others, he tries to cause as many problems as possible. Evan Meehan is a freelance writer, researcher, and historian with an M.A. Sep 21, 2019 - Know your Gods and Goddesses, your monsters, and mythical creatures, and your run of the mill Jungian archetypes too. He was the one responsible for conjuring a great flood that wiped out the world after the Creator built it, and then used magic to rebuild the current world. Without a clearly defined practice of succession, it was challenging to maintain the continuity of civilization. Set has appeared extensively throughout popular culture in books, television, film, video games, and music. In most of the other stories he is shown in this same way. Some of them have loomed large in pop culture and the public imagination: Ra, Apophis, Anubis, Isis, Bast, Osiris, etc. God Hermes was a clever trickster. He is described in the Prose Edda as a "contriver of fraud." Meehan, Evan. Learn Religions. One of the most iconic Egyptian deities, Anubis possessed several distinctive features. (2020, August 27). Alex Gendler details the myth of Osiris. Credit: Atelier Sommerland - Abobe Stock There is however one important difference between these divinities and humans: they are free from all human troubles, regrets, and sorrows, living freely, enjoying their youthful strength, sensual pleasures, and eating ambrosia, the food of the gods and drinking nectar, according to Homer's poems. His siblings included Osiris, Horus (Note: not in all mythological versions), Isis, and Nephthys. It all started with the wedding of Thetis and Pelias, who would eventually have a son named Achilles. However, often these trickster gods have a purpose behind their trouble-making plans! A pattern emerges with crow and raven gods and goddesses – crows and ravens have guardianship over the dead; therefore, many death gods are related to blackbirds. His job was mostly to make trouble for other gods, men, and the rest of the world. The Divine Beast Cards, or the more aptly phrased Genshinjū or 'Phantom God Beast" in Japanese or simply Kami in the manga, are, as their name suggests, a bit of a conundrum.Once they existed. Note that Horus’s name likely meant “he who is above.”1, Set was an easy god to recognize in hieroglyphics, as he always appeared as an unidentifiable aardvark/ant-eater headed man. in History from Georgia State University. Like Anansi, Kokopelli is a keeper of stories and legends. Their trickster god Cagn, perhaps one of the original imaginings of the trickster archetype, holds a unique position as also being the supreme god and creator of the universe. In the myths above, it may be said that Enki was perceived as a wise and benevolent god who cared for humanity. Meehan, Evan. 3:1-6). Wigington, Patti. Seth embodied the necessary and creative element of violence and disorder within the ordered world. Mr. Nancy – Anansi, a trickster spider god from Ghanaian folklore. Egyptian mythology has a lot of gods. While most Egyptian deities were associated with a specific animal, it has been suggested that Set’s form did not represent an animal at all; rather, he may have represented a mythical, chimeric beast.2, Like many Egyptian gods, Set was capable of shapeshifting. Cupid is another. Having revealed his uncle’s secret name at last, Horus was able to heal Set’s injury.14. In Egyptian mythology, Nephthys was the goddess of the night, death, and birth. Loki is the trickster-god from the Norse pantheon. This week, Mike introduces you to Tricksters, starting with Anansi, the West African trickster god who is also sometimes a spider. Detail of Colossal Krater from Altamura, about 350 B.C., Greek, made in Apulia, South Italy. In one legend, Kokopelli was traveling through the land, turning winter into spring with the beautiful notes from his flute, and calling the rain to come so that there would be a successful harvest later in the year. Adonis – Greek God of rebirth and vegetation, worshipped in mystery religions for untold eons.. Apollo – Greek/Roman young solar God, God of light, truth and prophecy, God of archery, medicine and healing, God of music, poetry, and the arts. Anansi, the trickster from the folktales of the Ashanti of West Africa, takes the shape of a spider who goes to the sky god to buy his stories to share with the world.Anansi’s stories would become popular through the African diaspora all over the Caribbean and southern US. “Sculpting The Throne Ov Seth” from Behemoth’s 2004 album. The serial relied on the oft-repeated trope of Egyptian gods being aliens—in this case a race called Osirians.16, Gerard Butler plays Set in the 2016 film Gods of Egypt. Loki has become a bit of a pop culture icon lately, thanks to the series of Avengers movies, in which he is played by British actor Tom Hiddleston. This category has the following 4 subcategories, out of 4 total. This incongruence may explain why he was cast as a force of evil and disorder. Accessed . Interestingly, while Elegua is often portrayed as an old man, another incarnation is that of a young child, because he is associated with both the end and the beginning of life. Set, also known as Seth and Suetekh, was the Egyptian god of war, chaos and storms, brother of Osiris, Isis, and Horus the Elder, uncle to Horus the Younger, and brother-husband to Nephthys.His other consort was the goddess Tawaret, a hippo-headed deity who presided over fertility and childbirth. Having formed a connection in the womb, the two were married before they were born. A key element of Set’s mythology was his unrelenting jealousy of his elder brother Osiris. A fierce fighter, h… Accessed January 8, 2020. https://tardis.fandom.com/wiki/Sutekh. Shaw, Garry J. By using Learn Religions, you accept our. Kuk was an uncreated god who personified the primordial darkness. All of the gods of Olympus were invited, including Hera, Aphrodite and Athena — but Eris’ name got left off the guest list, because everyone knew how much she enjoyed causing a ruckus. While he retained his desert-centric characteristics, such traits did not fit neatly into the agrarian framework of Nile-bound Egyptian society. For example, Hermes is considered a trickster God. Hermes took on a trickster role on occasion in Greek mythology, using his quick wits to outsmart people and gods alike. The Trickster’s tricky ways can have unintended consequences; often unexpectedly positive, sometimes not so much. As an ever-growing archive, our mission is to catalog the world’s mythology on the web for all to enjoy. Horus prevailed and was awarded the kingship. He’s a pretty important cultural figure, both in West Africa and in Caribbean mythology. This answer was still not enough for Horus. Naturally, Athena, Aphrodite and Hera had to bicker over who was the rightful owner of the apple. https://www.learnreligions.com/trickster-gods-and-goddesses-2561501 (accessed February 14, 2021). Set. However he does have a number of aspects and was venerated in certain guises and places, particularly the Delta. Legba Facts and Figures. The features of this mythical god do not seem to resemble any specific animal. He commonly appears as a praying mantis or caterpillar. IMDb.com. He offers the theory that the word leprechaun is a variation on Lugh Chromain, which means, roughly, "little stooping Lugh.". Lugh is the patron god of blacksmiths and artisans. Nephthys, the Egyptian Goddess of the Dead, is no exception. While Set was able to briefly steal Osiris’s corpse a few times, he was caught and punished severely each time. Loki’s relationship with the other gods was sometimes good and … Aphrodite offered Paris a bribe he couldn’t resist — Helen, the lovely young wife of King Menelaus of Sparta. He is often associated with doorways, because he will prevent trouble and danger from entering the home of those who have made him offerings — and according to the stories, Elegua seems to really like coconut, cigars and candy. Loki is quite the shape-shifter, because he is also the mother of Sleipnir, Odin’s eight-legged horse. Learn Religions uses cookies to provide you with a great user experience. Sections include the Magician (Alchemist), Warrior, Innocent, Caregiver, Romantic, Ruler, Orphan (Everyman), Seeker (Explorer), and Jester (Trickster). Subcategories. In addition to his role in the underworld, Veles is also associated with storms, particularly in his ongoing battle with the thunder god, Perun. Seth – a misrepresented god in the Ancient Egyptian Pantheon? She managed to evade Set’s pursuit, causing her horribly aroused brother to ejaculate on the ground. Te Velde, H. “The Egyptian God Seth as a Trickster.” Journal of the American Research Center in Egypt 7 (1968): 37-40. Posted on November 20, 2020 November 20, 2020 by MAMcIntosh. The Egyptian creation story is one of the most complete and ancient known to … Set was the son of Geb (the god of Earth) and Nut (the goddess of the Sky), and the great grandchild of the Egyptian Sun god, Ra. Anubis – Egyptian God of the Dead. National Archaeological Museum of Naples, 81666. [The full version of this myth is recounted in Anubi’s Battles with Set. The god Hermes had many similarities with Thoth, he was a guide, a patron of writers, and the god of words. Originally, there were no stories at all. In mythology and the study of folklore and religion, a trickster is a character in a story (god, goddess, spirit, human, or anthropomorphisation) who exhibits a great degree of intellect or secret knowledge and uses it to play tricks or otherwise disobey normal rules and defy conventional behavior. ↩. The god Seth or Set is often advanced as the archetype of the demonic entity and leader of the demonic horde. In addition to his roles as a smith and craftsman and warrior, Lugh is known as a trickster in some of his tales, specifically those rooted in Ireland. Trickster Gods In April Call for Submissions V7. The Egyptian god Thoth is thought of as one of the most important of the ancient Egyptian gods. Set had a positive role where he accompanies Ra on his barque to repel Apep, the serpent of Chaos. A typical Anansi story involves Anansi the Spider getting into some sort of mischief — he’s usually facing a horrible fate like death or being eaten alive — and he always manages to talk his way out of the situation with his clever words.