Overview
OMNIKA is an American 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that operates a digital mythological library. Our mission is to digitize, organize, and make freely available all the world's mythological contents. We are trying to build the world's largest digital index of mythological stories, deities, belief systems, artifacts, translations, ancient languages, maps, datasets, and much more. In addition to the OMNIKA website, OMNIKA manages several other projects that are related to the organization's mission. OMNIKA was started in 2019 by Boban Dedović; and he serves as the Executive Director of the OMNIKA Foundation.
Snapshot
Purpose
Almost every culture has relevant mythology that explains where we came from, why things are the way they are, and a number of other things. OMNIKA's goal is to collect, organize, index, and quantify all of those data in one place and make them available for free.
Basic facts
Who: The OMNIKA Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization based in Nevada, USA. It is supported by a community of scholars, subject-matter experts, and volunteers who contribute their time. The founder and Executive Director of the organization is Boban Dedović.
What: OMNIKA is a digital mythology library.
When: The project was started in January 2019 and attained its 501(c)(3) nonprofit status in December 2021.
Where: The main contributors of OMNIKA are from the United States, although volunteers and experts are contributing remotely from around the world. The OMNIKA Foundation was duly organized and incorporated in the state of Nevada, USA.
Why: OMNIKA was built because there was no other online tool that offered comprehensive, credible, and well-cited information on all the world's mythological contents. Myths are some of the earliest records of human thought and thus important for understanding the history of mankind.
Name and logo
The name "OMNIKA" is a combination of two words: Latin omnis, meaning "every," and the Egyptian word Ka, which may be obscurely defined as "life-force."
The OMNIKA logo is represented by juxtaposing simplified versions of the all-seeing eye of Horus and the two raised arms of embrace as shown by the Egyptian Ka hieroglyph.
OMNIKA's mythology index
Approach
The way we store data in our index is different from other websites. All of our records are collected in a granular structured data format. That is, for each type of record, we utilize hundreds of predefined fields. This approach increases the time it takes to add new records. However, it also provides us with unique capabilities that have not been exercised before. For example, we can readily create charts and graphs across an infinite number of dimensions.
Given this, OMNIKA is therefore a data science project that intersects the fields of humanities and computer science. Our subject being religion, and our design respecting science, not theology, we consider chiefly those things that we can quantify.
Directories
| OMNIKA DataStore an open-access data science resource for researchers, authors, and computer scientists interested in mythology. The service provides raw data from trusted sources, data visualizations, data analysis tools, and other digital resources. | |
| OMNIKA Library a digital library dedicated to mythology. The service provides curated lists of authors and their works, many of which can be read using the OMNIKA Reader experience. Anyone can use OMNIKA Library to find authors, books, articles, websites, and other authoritative academic sources related to mythology. | |
| OMNIKA Lingua a bibliographic database of mythology-related language information. The index includes languages, their dialects, language families, and writing systems, or scripts. Students and researchers can use OMNIKA Lingua to learn more about the linguistic aspects of mythology and its study. It is also a trusted gateway to authoritative sources like grammars, sign lists, and dictionaries. | |
| OMNIKA Maps a mythology-focused web mapping platform. The service provides location-based information like custom maps of historical regions, ancient civilizations, ancient cities, natural geographical features, and fictional places. Researchers can use OMNIKA Maps to learn more about the places referenced in mythological stories. | |
| OMNIKA Museum a digital museum solely dedicated to the field of mythology. The service allows anyone to find clay tablets, papyri, and other forms of material culture from antiquity. Anyone can use OMNIKA Museum to learn more about important artifacts as well as their institutional ownership. | |
| OMNIKA Mythology a bibliographic index of all the world's mythological stories. The service provides a catalog of all types of myths, divine beings, and belief systems. Anyone can use OMNIKA Mythology to learn more about myths from around the world in an easy-to-read, unbiased format. | |
| OMNIKA Symbols a structured database of mythological symbols and iconography depicted in material culture or mentioned in writing. Students and researchers can use OMNIKA Symbols to learn more about the visual elements referenced throughout human history. |
Websites managed by OMNIKA
The OMNIKA Foundation also owns and operates other websites related to mythology and ancient studies.
OMNIKA apps
| Allo Website ・ https://ancientlanguages.org A modern and user-friendly dictionary platform for dead ancient languages. | |
| eHammurabi (Electronic Hammurabi) Website ・ https://eHammurabi.org A digital version of the Law Code of Hammurabi, including cuneiform, transliteration, normalization, and an English translation. | |
| Mindspace Studio Podcast Website ・ https://mindspace.studio A psycholinguistics podcast that discusses the word "mind" across cultures, languages, and language families. |
OMNIKA's first principles
Mission statement
The mission of the OMNIKA Foundation is to digitize, organize, and make freely available all the world's mythological contents.
Values
No. 1: Free for all—all for free. Share everything with the world and don't charge a fee.
No. 2: Cite sources. Provide citations for sources and link to original source materials.
No. 3: No agenda, opinion, interpretation, or analysis. We believe that personal attitudes and beliefs don't add value to our index or general understanding of humanity. Cultural stories are also unique, different, and not something we want to "unify." For that reason, we believe that the only way for us to make our vision a reality is to remove as much subjectivity, analysis, and personal bias as possible. OMNIKA does not and must not infer conclusions through interpretation; instead, we must act as a neutral conduit between people and historical records.
No. 4: Moderate humanistically. Myths are intimate and incredibly important narratives in peoples' lives. OMNIKA will not contain or allow the transmission of records that degrade cultures, religions, or individuals. Reporting and flagging tools must be considered mission-critical to the service.
Cultural sensitivity statement
OMNIKA deeply respects the delicate nature of content in its digital library. We will immediately remove any user generated content that is offensive, derogatory, or otherwise against our mission.
We understand that our platform must only be used for positive educational purposes and must not be used as a mechanism to spread hate, racism, or pejorative statements. Please report any content you believe violates this principle. We will follow through with an investigation and remove any content that violates our policies.
Governance
Leadership
 | Boban Dedović Founder & Executive Director · Serving since January 2019 Boban started the OMNIKA website in early 2019 and incorporated the OMNIKA Foundation in 2021. As the Executive Director of the nonprofit, he also serves as its Chief Software Architect. Boban holds both a B.A. in Religions of Antiquity and a B.S. in Psychology from the University of Maryland, College Park, and an M.A. in Humanities from the University of Chicago. Author bio › |
Advisory board
 | Dr. Matthew J. Suriano Serving since June 2023 Dr. Suriano is a biblical scholar, archaeologist, and Associate Professor at the University of Maryland, College Park. He earned his Ph.D. in Near Eastern Languages and Cultures at the University of California, Los Angeles. Author bio › |
 | Dr. Peter Z. Revesz Serving since June 2023 Dr. Revesz is a computer scientist, linguistics researcher, and Full Professor at the University of Nebraska, Lincoln. He earned his Ph.D. in Computer Science from Brown University. Before becoming a professor, he was a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Toronto. Author bio › |
 | Dr. Anna Lisa Derr Serving since June 2023 Dr. Derr is an educator, scholar, speaker, and author. She earned a B.A. in Theater from Willamette University and a Ph.D. in Mythological Studies from Pacifica Graduate Institute. |
 | Orin Hargraves Serving since June 2023 Orin is an author, lexicographer, and linguistics lecturer at the University of Colorado, Boulder. He earned a B.A. with Honors in the Humanities from the University of Chicago. He is a long-time member and past president of the Dictionary Society of North America. He has contributed definitions and other content to dictionaries from Cambridge, Oxford, Merriam-Webster, Macmillan, Harper-Collins, and others. |
 | Marcel Kuijsten Serving since June 2023 Marcel is an author, speaker, and the Executive Director of the Julian Jaynes Society, a nonprofit dedicated to promoting the life and work of Julian Jaynes. He holds a B.A. in English, a B.A. in Psychology, and an M.B.A. from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Author bio › |
Background
Our creation myth
In January 2019, we were interested in carefully reviewing and analyzing the first written records of humanity. We assumed a user-friendly, well-cited, jargon-free service existed somewhere. When we couldn't find anything, we decided that it was therefore necessary to build our own. OMNIKA started in February 2019 as a spreadsheet containing information about creation myths. We soon realized that other people would likely benefit from this same information and launched the Alpha version in March. The project soon developed into a more comprehensive mythology index.
News and milestones
The OMNIKA Foundation announces the formation of its Advisory Board. More
The OMNIKA Foundation attains its federal tax-exempt status as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. More
Version β.1.1.0 is released to the public. More
The OMNIKA Foundation is incorporated as a Nevada-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. More
Version α.0.1.0 is released to the public. More
OMNIKA begins as a spreadsheet containing creation myths.
By using the OMNIKA website (hereafter "omnika.org," "OMNIKA," "Service," "Services," or "Website"), you agree to the terms of use and privacy statement on how we use your personal information to provide our Website Services. This policy may apply to other Website properties we own and operate, such as https://ancientlanguages.org, https://conscious.ai, https://mindspace.studio, or https://ehammurabi.org.
OMNIKA is owned and operated by a Nevada-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization called the OMNIKA Foundation. Our object is to collect data for research purposes and share it with the public. Our object is not to make money.
We collect personal information insofar as it is necessary to do so.
Changes to this policy will be posted without prior notice. The date at the bottom of the page will reflect when we last updated the page.
Terms
By using our website, you agree to our terms of use. You may reuse our content and material under three conditions: (1) do not sell it or use it for commercial gain; (2) provide attribution back to the original source, including us (if applicable), ideally in the form of a link and proper citation, and; (3) do not misuse, misrepresent, or otherwise corrupt the OMNIKA logo, brand, or mark, or that of Allo, the CRS, or other properties we own and operate.
We use cookies to improve our service by means of Google Analytics and other services. If you sign up for an account or fill out a form, we will ask you for some personal information. If you fill it out, we will collect this personal information to improve our services. Third party services may use your data in different ways that we are not aware of. We are not responsible for this.
We will not sell your data.
We are not liable for any damages as a result of using the OMNIKA website.
Content on our website is subject to terms by us, third-parties, and copyright holders.
Copyright
You must assume that all data, images, texts, and other conents on the OMNIKA website are copyrighted by third parties. You must therefore check the source of the data and their terms before using or reproducing such data. We are not responsible if you use the data when you should not have. To avoid this, we apply citations and markers to pictures and texts that do not belong to us. Nevertheless, it is your responsibility to ensure that any contents you reuse are free to use.
Privacy statement
When you use the OMNIKA website, we collect information about your browsing habits to make the service better. We also use cookies to restore tabs, popups, and other things back to where they were while you were using the website last. We use third-party services like Google Analytics and others to keep track of website visitors.
Information collection / use
We collect several different types of information for various purposes to provide and improve our services.
Types of data collected
Personal data
While using our Website, we may ask you to provide us with certain personally identifiable information that can be used to contact or identify you ("Personal Data"). Personally identifiable information may include, but is not limited to:
- Email address
- First name and last name
- Cookies and Usage Data
Usage data
We may also collect information about how the Website is accessed and used ("Usage Data"). This Usage Data may include information such as your computer's Internet Protocol address (i.e., your IP address), browser type, browser version, the pages of our Website that you visit, the time and date of your visit, the time spent on those pages, unique device identifiers, and other diagnostic data.
Tracking and cookies data
We use cookies and similar tracking technologies to track the activity on our Website and hold certain information.
Cookies are files with small amounts of data which may include an anonymous unique identifier. Cookies are sent to your browser from a website and stored on your device. Tracking technologies also used are beacons, tags, and scripts to collect and track information, and to improve and analyze our Website.
You can instruct your browser to refuse all cookies or to indicate when a cookie is being sent. However, if you do not accept cookies, you may not be able to use some portions of our Website.
Examples of Cookies we use:
- Session cookies. We use Session Cookies to operate our Website.
- Preference cookies. We use Preference Cookies to remember your preferences and various settings.
- Security cookies. We use Security Cookies for security purposes.
Use of data
The OMNIKA Website uses the collected data for various purposes:
- To provide and maintain the Website
- To notify you about changes to our Website
- To allow you to participate in interactive features of our Website when you choose to do so
- To provide customer care and support
- To provide analysis or valuable information so that we can improve the Website
- To monitor the usage of the Website
- To detect, prevent, and address technical issues
Transfer of data
Your information, including Personal Data, may be transferred to — and maintained on — computers located outside of your state, province, country or other governmental jurisdiction where the data protection laws may differ than those from your jurisdiction.
If you are located outside of the United States of America and choose to provide information to us, please note that we transfer the data, including Personal Data, to the United States of America and process it there.
Your consent to this Privacy Policy followed by your submission of such information represents your agreement to that transfer.
OMNIKA will take all steps reasonably necessary to ensure that your data is treated securely and in accordance with this Privacy Policy and no transfer of your Personal Data will take place to an organization or a country unless there are adequate controls in place including the security of your data and other personal information.
Disclosure of data
Legal requirements
OMNIKA may disclose your Personal Data in the good faith belief that such action is necessary to:
- To comply with a legal obligation
- To protect and defend the rights or property of OMNIKA, its parent organization, the CRS, and its agents
- To prevent or investigate possible wrongdoing in connection with the Website or its content
- To protect the personal safety of users of the Website or the public
- To protect against legal liability
Security of data
The security of your data is important to us, but remember that no method of transmission over the Internet, or method of electronic storage is 100% secure. While we strive to use commercially acceptable means to protect your Personal Data, we cannot guarantee its absolute security.
Service providers
We may employ third party companies and individuals to facilitate our Website Services ("Service Providers"), to provide the Service on our behalf, to perform Service-related services or to assist us in analyzing how our Service is used.
These third parties have access to your Personal Data only to perform these tasks on our behalf and are obligated not to disclose or use it for any other purpose.
Analytics
We may use third-party Service Providers to monitor and analyze the use of our Service.
Google Analytics (GA): Google Analytics is a web analytics service. They may have different terms and privacy policies that we are not aware of. Please check with the vendor to confirm that you agree with their terms; and, if not, please stop using the Service.
Cloudflare: Cloudflare provides our Domain Name Server management services ("DNS"). They collect data in the form of raw logs insofar as we know. Please check with the vendor to confirm that you agree with their terms; and, if not, please stop using the Service.
Links to other sites
Our Service may contain links to other sites that are not operated by us. If you click on a third-party link, you will be directed to that third party's site. We strongly advise you to review the Privacy Policy of every site you visit. We have no control over and assume no responsibility for the content, privacy policies, or practices of any third-party sites or services.
Children's privacy
Our Service does not address anyone under the age of 18 ("Children"). We do not knowingly collect personally identifiable information from anyone under the age of 18. If you are a parent or guardian and you are aware that your Children have provided us with Personal Data, please contact us. If we become aware that we have collected Personal Data from children without verification of parental consent, we will take steps to remove that information from our servers.
Ads disclosure
As of the date listed at the bottom of this page, we do not use advertising on our Website.
Changes to this privacy policy
We may update our privacy statement and terms of use from time to time. We will not actively notify you of any changes to this page. If and when we do change it, we will post the new statement on this page and list a new "effective date" at the bottom of this page. You are advised to review this statement periodically for any changes. Changes to this statement are effective when they are posted on this page.
Other terms
- European Union / Cookies: If you are in the EU, different data policies may apply to you. Please contact us if you have any concerns or otherwise would like your data removed from our servers.
- California: If you are in California, USA, different data policies may apply to you. Please contact us if you have any concerns or otherwise would like your data removed from our servers.
Contact us
If you have any questions about this privacy statement, please contact us by submitting the form located on our contact page.
Last updated on June 22, 2023.
