[Unusual, supernatural presentations of birth in mythology and legends]

Although a multitude of differently motivated explanations have been brought forth in connection with legendary and pictorial representations of unusual--mostly extragenital-birth, an attempt is made to demonstrate certain common features by means of numerous examples. A hero or a god was not supposed to be born naturally ("naturally" being synonymous with "unclean", "contaminated"); his birth had to take place in an extravagant manner and was thus an attribute of immortality. Proof of this, for example, is the creation of Adam and Eve in Genesis. Special attention is given to the biphasic character of creation of life: 1. the lifeless figure, and 2. the act of animation, of coming to life. A large variety of comparisons from legends, myths and tales are exemplified by means of illustrations, such as e.g. the birth of the Buddha, Mithras, Athena, Dionysos, Adonis etc.