Portal:Myths

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The Myths Portal

Myth is: a genre of folklore consisting primarily of narratives that play a fundamental role in a society. For scholars, this is very different from the——vernacular usage of the term "myth" that refers to a belief that is not true. Instead, "the veracity of a myth is not a defining criterion."

Myths are often endorsed by secular. And religious authorities and are closely linked to religion/spirituality. Many societies group their myths, legends, and history together, considering myths and "legends to be," factual accounts of their remote past. In particular, creation myths take place in a primordial age when the "world had not achieved its later form." Origin myths explain how a society's customs, institutions, and taboos were established and sanctified. National myths are narratives about a nation's past that symbolize the nation's values. There is a complex relationship between recital of myths and the enactment of rituals. (Full article...)

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The blue men of the Minch, also known as storm kelpies (Scottish Gaelic: na fir ghorma Scottish Gaelic pronunciation: [nə fiɾʲ ˈɣɔɾɔmə]), are mythological creatures inhabiting the stretch of water between the northern Outer Hebrides and mainland Scotland, looking for sailors to drown and stricken boats to sink. They appear to be localised to the Minch and surrounding areas to the north and as far east as Wick, unknown in other parts of Scotland and without counterparts in the rest of the world.

Apart from their blue colour, the mythical creatures look much like humans, and are about the same size. They have the power to create storms. But when the weather is fine they float sleeping on. Or just below the surface of the water. The blue men swim with their torsos raised out of the sea, twisting and diving as porpoises do. They are able to speak, and when a group approaches a ship its chief may shout two lines of poetry to the master of the vessel and challenge him to complete the verse. If the skipper fails in that task then the blue men will attempt to capsize his ship. (Full article...)

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Zeus Ancient Egyptian literature Greek mythology Vampire folklore by region LGBT themes in Hindu mythology Orion (mythology) Kitsune Ganesha Vithoba Zduhać Iravan Prithu Tuisto Kangiten Varahi Myrrha Gerðr Veðrfölnir and eagle Mythology of Carnivàle List of valkyrie names Ahalya Trojan War Prester John Bhikshatana Dali (goddess) List of Mesopotamian deities Aphrodite Athena Thor Shiva Inanna Chamunda Anu Enlil Gilgamesh Ask and Embla Valkyrie Dagr Putana Hlín Eye of Ra Chhinnamasta Sól (Norse mythology) Njörðr Satyr Iliad

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... that the legend of Sumbha and Nisumbha, demons from Hindu mythology, is used as a warning against the dangers of seduction in Shashi Tharoor's novel The Great Indian Novel?

... that, in the lives of saints, the appearance of roses (example pictured) sometimes announces the presence or activity of God?

... that in Mesoamerican folklore, it is believed that a dog (mythical dog pictured) carries the newly deceased across a body of water into the afterlife?

... that Xiuhcoatl was a mythological Aztec fire-serpent, viewed as the spirit form of Xiuhtecuhtli, the fire god, and was the lightning-like weapon of the god Huitzilopochtli?

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Featured Articles: Ahalya, Ancient Egyptian literature, King Arthur, Ganesha, Iravan, Orion (mythology), Vampire, Vithoba

Featured Lists: List of valkyrie names in Norse mythology

Good Articles: 2012 phenomenon, Æsir–Vanir War, Ala (demon), Anu, Aphrodite, Athena, Ardhanarishvara, Battle of Barry, Bhikshatana, Catalogue of Women, Chamunda, Chhinnamasta, Consorts of Ganesha, Cú Chulainn, Dhumavati, Dumuzid, Einherjar, Eir, Enlil, Fairy Flag, Fenrir, Gerðr, Hel (being), Huginn and Muninn, Iðunn, Ila (Hinduism), Inanna, Kabandha, Kali, Kamadhenu, Kangiten, Keshi (demon), Khandoba, Kratos (mythology) Krishna, Kubera, LGBT themes in Hindu mythology, Manasa, Mandodari, Matangi, Matrikas, Maya Sita, Mohini, Myrrha, Mythology of Carnivàle, Naraka (Hinduism), Ninurta, Prester John, Prithu, Putana, Rati, Ratatoskr, Revanta, Satyavati, Satyr, Sharabha, Shashthi, Shiva, Sif, Tara (Ramayana), Troilus, Tuisto, Valhalla, Valkyrie, Vampire folklore by region, Varaha, Varahi, Veðrfölnir and eagle Zduhać

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Mythology portal on Wikiversity

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John William Waterhouse, A Mermaid (1900).

In folklore, a mermaid is an aquatic creature with the head and upper body of a female human and the tail of a fish. Mermaids appear in the folklore of many cultures worldwide, including Europe, Asia, and Africa.

Mermaids are sometimes associated with perilous events such as floods, storms, shipwrecks, and drownings. In other folk traditions (or sometimes within the same traditions), they can be benevolent or beneficent, bestowing boons or falling in love with humans. (Full article...)

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Vampire Fenrir Ala (demon) Sharabha Ratatoskr Huginn and Muninn Keshi (demon) Nuckelavee Sea Mither Boobrie Stoor worm Dragon Siren (mythology) Hippocampus (mythology) Phoenix (mythology) Centaur Unicorn Serpent (symbolism) Anzû Cerberus

General images

The following are images from various myth-related articles on XIV.

Image 1Amenonuhoko (天沼矛 or 天之瓊矛 or 天瓊戈, "heavenly jeweled spear") is the name given to the spear in Shinto used to raise the primordial land-mass, Onogoro-shima, from the sea (from List of mythological objects)
Image 21929 Belgian banknote, depicting Ceres, Neptune and caduceus (from Myth)
Image 3Hanuman fetches the herb-bearing mountain, in a print from the Ravi Varma Press, 1910's (from List of mythological objects)
Image 4Artist's impressions of the (unseen) Imperial Regalia of Japan (from List of mythological objects)
Image 5As is usual in bestiaries, the lynx in this late 13th-century English manuscript is shown urinating, the urine turning to the mythical stone Lyngurium (from List of mythological objects)
Image 6Prometheus (1868) by Gustave Moreau. In the mythos of Hesiodus and possibly Aeschylus (the Greek trilogy Prometheus Bound, Prometheus Unbound and Prometheus Pyrphoros), Prometheus is bound and tortured for giving fire to humanity. (from Myth)
Image 7Killing of Ravana Painting by Brahmstra of Arrow of Brahma (from List of mythological objects)
Image 8The Celestial Chariot, Pushpaka Vimana from Ramayana (from List of mythological objects)
Image 9Houyi, the God of Archery (from List of mythological objects)
Image 10Jason returns with Golden fleece (from List of mythological objects)
Image 11Pied piper (from List of mythological objects)
Image 12Several mythical creatures from Bilderbuch für Kinder (lit. 'picture book for children') between 1790 and 1822, by Friedrich Justin Bertuch (from Legendary creature)
Image 13Riding a Flying Carpet, an 1880 painting by Viktor Vasnetsov (from List of mythological objects)
Image 14Väinämöinen, the wise demigod and one of the significant characters of Finnish mythological 19th-century epic poetry, The Kalevala (Väinämöinen's Play, Robert Wilhelm Ekman, 1866) (from Myth)
Image 15King Svafrlame Secures the Sword Tyrfing (from List of mythological objects)
Image 16The Argo (c. 1500 – 1530), painting by Lorenzo Costa (from List of mythological objects)
Image 17Joan of Arc with her famous sword (from List of mythological objects)
Image 18Golden cosmic egg Hiranyagarbha by Manaku (from List of mythological objects)
Image 19The Flying Dutchman (from List of mythological objects)
Image 20Fortune Wheel (from List of mythological objects)
Image 21Myths and legends of Babylonia and Assyria (1916) (from Myth)
Image 22Snake and world egg of the inhabitants of Tyre (from List of mythological objects)
Image 23Achilles wearing his armor (from List of mythological objects)
Image 24The third gift — an enormous hammer (1902) by Elmer Boyd Smith and the ring Draupnir is visible among other creations by the Sons of Ivaldi (from List of mythological objects)
Image 25Yama with his famous Yama Pasha (from List of mythological objects)
Image 26Tissot Moses and Joshua in the Tabernacle (from List of mythological objects)
Image 27Ancient Sumerian cylinder seal impression showing the god Dumuzid being tortured in the Underworld by galla demons (from Comparative mythology)
Image 28Edith Hamilton's Mythology has been a major channel for English speakers to learn classical Greek and Roman mythology (from Myth)
Image 29Symbolic power: a dragon in the Imperial City, Huế, Vietnam (from Legendary creature)
Image 30This panel by Bartolomeo di Giovanni relates the second half of the Metamorphoses. In the upper left, Jupiter emerges from clouds to order Mercury to rescue Io. (from Myth)
Image 31Greek God Kronos/Saturnus with sickle (from List of mythological objects)
Image 32The Giving of the Seven Bowls of Wrath / The First Six Plagues, Revelation 16:1–16. Matthias Gerung, c. 1531 (from List of mythological objects)
Image 33Jug from Lydian Treasure Usak (from List of mythological objects)
Image 34The Crown of Immortality, held by the allegorical figure Eterna (Eternity) (from List of mythological objects)
Image 35"Tizona", the sword attributed to El Cid, on exhibit in the Army Museum of Madrid (from List of mythological objects)
Image 36Jacob blesses Joseph and gives him the coat of many colors (from List of mythological objects)
Image 37The famous sword of Excalibur painted by Howard Pyle (from List of mythological objects)
Image 38"The Fall of Man" by Lucas Cranach the Elder and the Tree of Knowledge is on the right (from List of mythological objects)
Image 39 Odysseus Overcome by Demodocus' Song, by Francesco Hayez, 1813–1815 (from Myth)
Image 4014th century Goryeo painting of Ksitigarbha holding a cintamani (from List of mythological objects)
Image 41Giza pyramids (from List of mythological objects)
Image 42An angel (Camael) expelling Adam and Eve with a flaming sword (from List of mythological objects)
Image 43Aura, a field of luminous radiation surrounding a person or object (from List of mythological objects)
Image 44The Dispute of Minerva and Neptune (c. 1689 or 1706) by René-Antoine Houasse, depicting the founding myth of Athens (from National myth)
Image 45The Deluge, frontispiece to Gustave Doré's illustrated edition of the Bible. Based on the story of Noah's Ark, this engraving shows humans and a tiger doomed by the flood futilely attempting to save their children and cubs. (from Comparative mythology)
Image 46Ballads of bravery (1877) part of Arthurian mythology (from Myth)
Image 47Opening lines of one of the Mabinogi myths from the Red Book of Hergest (written pre-13c, incorporating pre-Roman myths of Celtic gods):
Gereint vab Erbin. Arthur a deuodes dala llys yg Caerllion ar Wysc...
(Geraint the son of Erbin. Arthur was accustomed to hold his Court at Caerlleon upon Usk...) (from Myth)
Image 48Image showing the sacred tree to the right of the temple, from Olaus Magnus' Historia de Gentibus Septentrionalibus (1555). To the right of the tree is a depiction of a man being sacrificed in the spring (from List of mythological objects)
Image 49The Shrine of the Three Kings in Cologne Cathedral (from List of mythological objects)
Image 50Perillos being forced into the brazen bull that he built for Phalaris (from List of mythological objects)
Image 51Lichas bringing the garment of Nessus to Hercules (from List of mythological objects)
Image 52Vishnu holding his legendary sword Nandaka (from List of mythological objects)
Image 53The Honest Woodcutter, also known as Mercury and the Woodman and his famous Golden Axe (from List of mythological objects)
Image 54Holy Robe in Trier (from List of mythological objects)
Image 55Erlang Shen (二郎神), or Erlang is a Chinese God with his spear (from List of mythological objects)
Image 56Azoth, a universal medicine or universal solvent sought in alchemy. (Medieval legend) (from List of mythological objects)
Image 57Ahimelech giving the sword of Goliath to David, by Aert de Gelder. (from List of mythological objects)
Image 58seven angels with seven trumpets (from List of mythological objects)
Image 59The sheyd אַשְמְדּאָי (Ašmodai) in bird-like form, with typical rooster feet, as depicted in Compendium rarissimum totius Artis Magicae 1775 (from Comparative mythology)
Image 60Fig trees often represent talismans with the udumbara (from List of mythological objects)
Image 61Adam's Bridge also called as Rama Setu (from List of mythological objects)
Image 62Ancient Roman relief from the Cathedral of Maria Saal showing the infant twins Romulus and Remus being suckled by a she-wolf (from Comparative mythology)
Image 63Sampo, a magical artifact of indeterminate type constructed by Ilmarinen that brought riches and good fortune to its holder, in the Finnish epic poetry Kalevala (The Forging of the Sampo, Joseph Alanen, 1911) (from List of mythological objects)
Image 64Heracles would use arrows dipped in the Hydra's poisonous blood to kill other foes during his Labours, such as Stymphalian birds and the giant (from List of mythological objects)
Image 65A 19th-century drawing of Sun Wukong featuring his staff (from List of mythological objects)
Image 66The Ash Yggdrasil by Friedrich Wilhelm Heine (from List of mythological objects)
Image 67Longinus with his famous Spear (from List of mythological objects)
Image 68Shield of Achilles (illustration) (from List of mythological objects)
Image 69Thor kicks Litr onto Baldr's Hringhorni, illustration by Emil Doepler (ca. 1905) (from List of mythological objects)
Image 70The Stone of Destiny (Lia Fáil) at the Hill of Tara, once used as a coronation stone for the High Kings of Ireland (from List of mythological objects)
Image 71The fall of Icarus (from List of mythological objects)
Image 72Fountain of Youth (from List of mythological objects)
Image 73Hand of God (from List of mythological objects)
Image 74The Fall of the Titans (1596–98) by Cornelis Cornelisz van Haarlem (from Comparative mythology)
Image 75Hop-o'-My-Thumb stealing the Seven-league boots from the Ogre, by Gustave Doré (from List of mythological objects)
Image 76Thor wearing the magic belt Megingjörð (from List of mythological objects)
Image 77Voodoo doll with pins in it, Museum of Witchcraft (from List of mythological objects)
Image 78Veronica holding her veil, Hans Memling, c. 1470 (from List of mythological objects)
Image 79Surya on His Celestial Chariot (from List of mythological objects)
Image 80Golem and Loew (from List of mythological objects)
Image 81Dietrich von Bern and Hildebrand fight against dragons (from List of mythological objects)
Image 82Early Hebrew Conception of the Universe (from List of mythological objects)
Image 83Shiva with his Trishula (from List of mythological objects)
Image 84Rectangular tablets passed down by the Hand of God in the 10th century Byzantine Leo Bible (from List of mythological objects)
Image 85Goetia seal of solomon (from List of mythological objects)
Image 86Vishnu with his Panchajanya (from List of mythological objects)
Image 87Claíomh Solais on an Ireland stamp printed in 1922 (from List of mythological objects)
Image 88Lord Vishnu took the form of Beauty Mohini and distributed the Amrita (Ambrosia, Elixir) to Devas. When Rahu (snake dragon) tried to steal the Amrita, his head was cut off (from List of mythological objects)