Tortoises in Mythology

[16 shells]

From sources on the net, found some things about our little/big friends. I thought maybe interesting. Or not! sorry lol.
Japan~ The god of wisdom and fortune Fukurokuju is pictured with a large forehead and accompanied by a tortoise and a deer, both animals symbolise a long life.
The god of longevity and fortune Jurojin has a tortoise and the bird the crane meaning a contented life in old age
China~ The tortoise is an image of the universe, and a symbol of wisdom in old age.
Mongolia and India~ see the tortoise carring the world on it's back, the graves of Mongolians used to form a pattern of the Tortoise as it was seen as the symbol of immortality.
Buddists and Hindus believe in rebirth, every human soul is carried to Nirvana in every tortoise, it is forbidden for Buddists to kill a tortoise
Hindus the tortoise is the second incarnation of the god Vishna. He was transformed into a tortoise in a big flood,and after that created a new world on the back of a tortoise.
Greece~ An old Greek myth, Chelone. was a virgin that Hermes transformed into a tortoise, because she did'nt attend a gods wedding Zeus and Hera, she had to carry her home on her back forever.
Ameican Indian~ A tribe Iroquois believe the tortoise pulled the world out of the first ocean.
They say that the tortoise is hardy,and can recover from illness and injury very well. So they wear pieces of shell to ward of illness.
Europe~ The tortoise and the hare, of course. The wisdom of the Tortoise.
If someone knows a differant version let me know.
Paul.