Ballad of Mulan

The sound of one sigh after another, As Mulan weaves at the doorway.

No sound of the loom and shuttle, Only that of the girl lamenting.

Ask her of whom she thinks, Ask her for whom she longs.

"There is no one I think of, There is no one I long for.

Last night I saw the army notice, The khan is calling a great draft.

A dozen volumes of battle rolls, Each one with my father's name.

My father has no grown-up son, And I have no elder brother.

I'm willing to buy a horse and saddle, To go to battle in my father's place."

She buys a fine steed at the east market; A saddle and blanket at the west market

A bridle at the south market; And a long whip at the north market.

She takes leave of her parents at dawn, To camp beside the Yellow River at dusk.

No sound of her parents hailing their girl, Just the rumbling waters of the Yellow River.

She leaves the Yellow River at dawn, To reach the Black Mountains by dusk.

No sound of her parents hailing their girl, Just the cries of barbarian cavalry in the Yan hills.

Ten thousand miles she rode in war, Crossing passes and mountains as if on a wing.

On the northern air comes the sentry's gong, Cold light shines on her coat of steel.

The general dead after a hundred battles, The warriors return after ten years.

They return to see the Son of Heaven, Who sits in the Hall of Brilliance.

The rolls of merit spin a dozen times, Rewards in the hundreds and thousands.

The khan asks her what she desires, "I've no need for the post of a gentleman official,

I ask to borrow a camel fleet of foot, To carry me back to my hometown."

Her parents hearing their girl returns, Out to the suburbs to welcome her back.

Elder sister hearing her sister returns, Adjusts her rouge by the doorway.

Little brother hearing his sister returns, Sharpens his knife for pigs and lamb.

"I open my east chamber door, And sit on my west chamber bed.

I take off my battle cloak, And put on my old-time clothes.

I adjust my wispy hair at the window sill, And apply my bisque makeup by the mirror.

I step out to see my comrades-in-arms, They are all surprised and astounded:

'We travelled twelve years together, Yet didn't realize Mulan was a lady!'"

The male rabbit is swifter of foot, The eyes of the female are somewhat smaller.

But when the two rabbits run side by side, How can you tell the female from the male?

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hua_Mulan

Mars

In ancient Roman religion and myth, Mars (Latin: Mārs, Martis) was the god of war and also an agricultural guardian, a combination characteristic of early Rome. He was second in importance only to Jupiter, and he was the most prominent of the military gods in the religion of the Roman army. Most of his festivals were held in March, the month named for him (Latin Martius), and in October, which began and ended the season for military campaigning and farming.

Under the influence of Greek culture, Mars was identified with the Greek god Ares, whose myths were reinterpreted in Roman literature and art under the name of Mars. But the character and dignity of Mars differed in fundamental ways from that of his Greek counterpart, who is often treated with contempt and revulsion in Greek literature. Mars was a part of the Archaic Triad along with Jupiter and Quirinus, the latter of whom as a guardian of the Roman people had no Greek equivalent. Mars' altar in the Campus Martius, the area of Rome that took its name from him, was supposed to have been dedicated by Numa, the peace-loving semi-legendary second king of Rome. Although the center of Mars' worship was originally located outside the sacred boundary of Rome (pomerium), Augustus made the god a renewed focus of Roman religion by establishing the Temple of Mars Ultor in his new forum.

Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mars_(mythology)

Mercury

Mercury (/ˈmɜrkjʉri/; Latin: Mercurius) is a major Roman god, being one of the Dii Consentes within the ancient Roman pantheon. He is the patron god of financial gain, commerce, eloquence (and thus poetry), messages/communication (including divination), travelers, boundaries, luck, trickery and thieves; he is also the guide of souls to the underworld. He was considered the son of Maia and Jupiter in Roman mythology. His name is possibly related to the Latin word merx ("merchandise"; compare merchant, commerce, etc.), mercari (to trade), and merces (wages).^{[citation needed]} In his earliest forms, he appears to have been related to the Etruscan deity Turms, both of which share characteristics with the Greek god Hermes. In Virgil's Aeneid, Mercury reminds Aeneas of his mission to found the city of Rome. In Ovid's Fasti, Mercury is assigned to escort the nymph Larunda to the underworld. Mercury, however, fell in love with Larunda and made love to her on the way. Larunda thereby became mother to two children, referred to as theLares, invisible household gods.

Mercury has influenced the name of many things in a variety of scientific fields, such as the planet Mercury, and the element mercury. The word mercurialis commonly used to refer to something or someone erratic, volatile or unstable, derived from Mercury's swift flights from place to place. He is often depicted holding the caduceus in his left hand.

Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mercury_(mythology)

Minerva

Minerva (Etruscan: Menrva) was the Roman goddess of wisdom and sponsor of arts, trade, and defense. She was born from the godhead of Jupiter with weapons. From the 2nd century BC onwards, the Romans equated her with the Greek goddess Athena. She was the virgin goddess of music, poetry,medicine, wisdom, commerce, weaving, crafts, magic. She is often depicted with her sacred creature, an owl usually named as the "owl of Minerva", which symbolizes that she is connected to wisdom.

Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minerva_(mythology)

Mithras

The Mithraic Mysteries were a mystery religion practiced in the Roman Empire from about the 1st to 4th centuries AD. The name of the Persian godMithra (proto-Indo-Iranian Mitra), adapted into Greek as Mithras, was linked to a new and distinctive imagery. Writers of the Roman Empire period referred to this mystery religion by phrases which can be anglicized as Mysteries of Mithras or Mysteries of the Persians; modern historians refer to it as Mithraism, or sometimes Roman Mithraism. The mysteries were popular in the Roman military.

Worshippers of Mithras had a complex system of seven grades of initiation, with ritual meals. Initiates called themselves syndexioi, those "united by the handshake". They met in underground temples (called mithraea), which survive in large numbers. The cult appears to have had its centre in Rome.

Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mithras

Mors

In ancient Roman myth and literature, Mors (also known as Letus) is the personification of death equivalent to the Greek Thánatos. The Latin noun for "death", mors, genitive mortis, is of feminine gender, but ancient Roman art is not known to depict Death as a woman. Latin poets, however, are bound by the grammatical gender of the word. Horace writes of pallida Mors, "pale Death," who kicks her way into the hovels of the poor and the towers of kings equally. Seneca, for whom Mors is also pale, describes her "eager teeth." Tibullus pictures Mors as black or dark.

Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mors_(mythology)

Ma'at

Appearance:

*Woman with a feather on her head
*A feather

Ma'at was the goddess of truth, justice and harmony. She was associated with the balance of things on earth.

Ma'at was the daughter of the sun god Ra.
Pharaohs are frequently shown in wall reliefs making an offering of Ma'at to the gods-showing that they are preserving harmony and justice on earth.

The vizier who was in charge of the law courts was known as the 'priest of Ma'at'.