Portal:Myths

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 religious (when they are closely linked to religion or spirituality) and secular authorities. 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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Inscription of lines 468–473, Book I. Dated 400‍–‍500 AD, from Egypt, on display at the British Museum

The Iliad (/ˈɪliəd/ ^ⓘ; Ancient Greek: Ἰλιάς, romanized: Iliás, [iː.li.ás]; lit. '[a poem] about Ilion (Troy)') is one of two major Ancient Greek epic poems attributed to Homer. It is one of the oldest extant works of literature still widely read by modern audiences. As with the Odyssey, the poem is divided into 24 books and was written in dactylic hexameter. It contains 15,693 lines in its most widely accepted version. The Iliad is often regarded as the first substantial piece of European literature and is a central part of the Epic Cycle.

Set towards the end of the Trojan War, a ten-year siege of the city of Troy by a coalition of Mycenaean Greek states, the poem depicts significant events in the war's final weeks. In particular, it traces the anger (μῆνις) of Achilles, a celebrated warrior, from a fierce quarrel between him and King Agamemnon, to the death of the Trojan prince Hector. The narrative moves between wide battleground scenes and more personal interactions. (Full article...)

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...that Chamunda (pictured), a fearsome aspect of the Hindu Divine Mother, was worshipped by ritual human and animal sacrifices along with offerings of wine?

...that Ugaritic culture hero Danel may have been a model for the Biblical Daniel of Ezekiel?

...that Maximón, a saint venerated in the highlands of Guatemala, drinks whiskey, smokes cigarettes and grants prayers for revenge?

...that according to Greek mythology, Adonis was slain by a boar at the foot of the waterfall in Apheca in modern-day Lebanon?

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Fenrir (Old Norse 'fen-dweller') or Fenrisúlfr (Old Norse "Fenrir's wolf", often translated "Fenris-wolf"), also referred to as Hróðvitnir (Old Norse "fame-wolf") and Vánagandr (Old Norse 'monster of the [River] Ván'), is a monstrous wolf in Norse mythology. In Old Norse texts, Fenrir plays a key role during the events of Ragnarök, where he is foretold to assist in setting the world aflame, resulting in the collapse of humanity and society, and killing the god Odin.

Fenrir, along with Hel and Jörmungandr, is a child of Loki and female jötunn Angrboða. He is attested in the Poetic Edda, compiled in the 13th century from earlier traditional sources, and the Prose Edda and Heimskringla, composed in the 13th century. In both the Poetic Edda and Prose Edda, Fenrir is the father of the wolves Sköll and Hati Hróðvitnisson, is a son of Loki and is foretold to kill the god Odin during the events of Ragnarök, but will in turn be killed by Odin's son Víðarr. (Full article...)

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Vampire Ala (demon) Sharabha Ratatoskr Huginn and Muninn Keshi (demon) Nuckelavee Sea Mither Boobrie Stoor worm Mermaid 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 Wikipedia.

Image 1King Svafrlame Secures the Sword Tyrfing (from List of mythological objects)
Image 2Golem and Loew (from List of mythological objects)
Image 3Snake and world egg of the inhabitants of Tyre (from List of mythological objects)
Image 4Azoth, a universal medicine or universal solvent sought in alchemy. (Medieval legend) (from List of mythological objects)
Image 5Ancient Sumerian cylinder seal impression showing the god Dumuzid being tortured in the Underworld by galla demons (from Comparative mythology)
Image 6Early Hebrew Conception of the Universe (from List of mythological objects)
Image 7Hop-o'-My-Thumb stealing the Seven-league boots from the Ogre, by Gustave Doré (from List of mythological objects)
Image 8Voodoo doll with pins in it, Museum of Witchcraft (from List of mythological objects)
Image 9Heracles 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 10Fig trees often represent talismans with the udumbara (from List of mythological objects)
Image 11Vishnu with his Panchajanya (from List of mythological objects)
Image 12Shield of Achilles (illustration) (from List of mythological objects)
Image 13Riding a Flying Carpet, an 1880 painting by Viktor Vasnetsov (from List of mythological objects)
Image 14Joan of Arc with her famous sword (from List of mythological objects)
Image 15A 19th-century drawing of Sun Wukong featuring his staff (from List of mythological objects)
Image 16seven angels with seven trumpets (from List of mythological objects)
Image 17Golden cosmic egg Hiranyagarbha by Manaku (from List of mythological objects)
Image 18Several mythical creatures from Bilderbuch für Kinder (lit. 'picture book for children') between 1790 and 1822, by Friedrich Justin Bertuch (from Legendary creature)
Image 19The Crown of Immortality, held by the allegorical figure Eterna (Eternity) (from List of mythological objects)
Image 20The Dispute of Minerva and Neptune (c. 1689 or 1706) by René-Antoine Houasse, depicting the founding myth of Athens (from National myth)
Image 21"The Fall of Man" by Lucas Cranach the Elder and the Tree of Knowledge is on the right (from List of mythological objects)
Image 22Rectangular tablets passed down by the Hand of God in the 10th century Byzantine Leo Bible (from List of mythological objects)
Image 23"Tizona", the sword attributed to El Cid, on exhibit in the Army Museum of Madrid (from List of mythological objects)
Image 24Yama with his famous Yama Pasha (from List of mythological objects)
Image 25Odysseus Overcome by Demodocus' Song, a mythological painting by Francesco Hayez, 1813–1815 (from Myth)
Image 26Perillos being forced into the brazen bull that he built for Phalaris (from List of mythological objects)
Image 27Adam's Bridge also called as Rama Setu (from List of mythological objects)
Image 28The Fall of the Titans (1596–98) by Cornelis Cornelisz van Haarlem (from Comparative mythology)
Image 29Ballads of bravery (1877) part of Arthurian mythology (from Myth)
Image 30Veronica holding her veil, Hans Memling, c. 1470 (from List of mythological objects)
Image 31The Ash Yggdrasil by Friedrich Wilhelm Heine (from List of mythological objects)
Image 32Prometheus (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 33The 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 34Thor kicks Litr onto Baldr's Hringhorni, illustration by Emil Doepler (ca. 1905) (from List of mythological objects)
Image 35Hand of God (from List of mythological objects)
Image 36Vishnu holding his legendary sword Nandaka (from List of mythological objects)
Image 37Jason returns with Golden fleece (from List of mythological objects)
Image 38Shiva with his Trishula (from List of mythological objects)
Image 39Jacob blesses Joseph and gives him the coat of many colors (from List of mythological objects)
Image 40The Celestial Chariot, Pushpaka Vimana from Ramayana (from List of mythological objects)
Image 41The 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 42An angel (Camael) expelling Adam and Eve with a flaming sword (from List of mythological objects)
Image 43The fall of Icarus (from List of mythological objects)
Image 44Thor wearing the magic belt Megingjörð (from List of mythological objects)
Image 45Achilles wearing his armor (from List of mythological objects)
Image 46The Flying Dutchman (from List of mythological objects)
Image 47Greek God Kronos/Saturnus with sickle (from List of mythological objects)
Image 48Lichas bringing the garment of Nessus to Hercules (from List of mythological objects)
Image 49Tissot Moses and Joshua in the Tabernacle (from List of mythological objects)
Image 50Amenonuhoko (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 51This 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 5214th century Goryeo painting of Ksitigarbha holding a cintamani (from List of mythological objects)
Image 53Pied piper (from List of mythological objects)
Image 54Longinus with his famous Spear (from List of mythological objects)
Image 55Opening 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 56Dietrich von Bern and Hildebrand fight against dragons (from List of mythological objects)
Image 57The 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 58Lord 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)
Image 59Tor's Fight with the Giants (1872) by Mårten Eskil Winge. Thor is the god of thunder in Norse mythology. (from Myth)
Image 60Väinämöinen, 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 61Sampo, 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 62Houyi, the God of Archery (from List of mythological objects)
Image 63Artist's impressions of the (unseen) Imperial Regalia of Japan (from List of mythological objects)
Image 64The 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 65Fountain of Youth (from List of mythological objects)
Image 66The Argo (c. 1500 – 1530), painting by Lorenzo Costa (from List of mythological objects)
Image 67As 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 68Surya on His Celestial Chariot (from List of mythological objects)
Image 69Killing of Ravana Painting by Brahmstra of Arrow of Brahma (from List of mythological objects)
Image 70Edith Hamilton's Mythology has been a major channel for English speakers to learn classical Greek and Roman mythology (from Myth)
Image 71Giza pyramids (from List of mythological objects)
Image 72Fortune Wheel (from List of mythological objects)
Image 73Goetia seal of solomon (from List of mythological objects)
Image 74Claíomh Solais on an Ireland stamp printed in 1922 (from List of mythological objects)
Image 75The Honest Woodcutter, also known as Mercury and the Woodman and his famous Golden Axe (from List of mythological objects)
Image 76Yama advances to smite Ravana with the weapon of death (from List of mythological objects)
Image 77Symbolic power: a dragon in the Imperial City, Huế, Vietnam (from Legendary creature)
Image 78The famous sword of Excalibur painted by Howard Pyle (from List of mythological objects)
Image 79Holy Robe in Trier (from List of mythological objects)
Image 80Image 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 81The Shrine of the Three Kings in Cologne Cathedral (from List of mythological objects)
Image 82Hanuman fetches the herb-bearing mountain, in a print from the Ravi Varma Press, 1910's (from List of mythological objects)
Image 83Ahimelech giving the sword of Goliath to David, by Aert de Gelder. (from List of mythological objects)
Image 84Aura, a field of luminous radiation surrounding a person or object (from List of mythological objects)
Image 85Myths and legends of Babylonia and Assyria (1916) (from Myth)
Image 86Erlang Shen (二郎神), or Erlang is a Chinese God with his spear (from List of mythological objects)
Image 87Jug from Lydian Treasure Usak (from List of mythological objects)
Image 881929 Belgian banknote, depicting Ceres, Neptune and caduceus (from Myth)
Image 89Ancient Roman relief from the Cathedral of Maria Saal showing the infant twins Romulus and Remus being suckled by a she-wolf (from Comparative mythology)