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", referring to a belief that is not true, for the veracity of folklore is not a defining criterion of it being myth.

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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The kitsune (狐, きつね; IPA: [kʲi̥t͡sɨne̞] ^ⓘ), in popular Japanese folklore, is a fox or fox spirit which possesses the supernatural ability to shapeshift or bewitch other life forms. (Full article...)

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... that Tamil Hindu parents dedicate their one-month-old children to the goddess Periyachi (pictured), who is depicted ripping a woman's womb?

...that Ewale a Mbedi may have been the first Duala leader to trade with Europeans in Cameroon?

...that Tlahuizcalpantecuhtli (pictured) was the god of the planet Venus in Aztec belief?

...that the Deluge or "flood myth" is a widespread theme in religion and mythology, with examples such as the story of Noah in the Torah or Gilgamesh flood myth?

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In Hindu mythology, Keshin (Sanskrit: केशिन्, lit. 'the hairy one/long-haired' IAST: Keśin), also called Keshi (Sanskrit: केशी IAST: Keśī) is a horse-demon, killed by Krishna, an Avatara of Vishnu. The demon was dispatched by Krishna's evil uncle Kamsa, who was destined to die at Krishna's hands.

The tale of the slaying of Keshi is told in the Hindu scriptures of Bhagavata Purana, Vishnu Purana and Harivamsa. Krishna is often praised as Keshava - the slayer of Keshi - in scriptures. (Full article...)

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

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

Image 1Jug from Lydian Treasure Usak (from List of mythological objects)
Image 2Edith Hamilton's Mythology has been a major channel for English speakers to learn classical Greek and Roman mythology (from Myth)
Image 3Thor kicks Litr onto Baldr's Hringhorni, illustration by Emil Doepler (ca. 1905) (from List of mythological objects)
Image 4Holy Robe in Trier (from List of mythological objects)
Image 5Thor wearing the magic belt Megingjörð (from List of mythological objects)
Image 6Ancient 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 7Claíomh Solais on an Ireland stamp printed in 1922 (from List of mythological objects)
Image 8Early Hebrew Conception of the Universe (from List of mythological objects)
Image 9The Celestial Chariot, Pushpaka Vimana from Ramayana (from List of mythological objects)
Image 10Veronica holding her veil, Hans Memling, c. 1470 (from List of mythological objects)
Image 11Jacob blesses Joseph and gives him the coat of many colors (from List of mythological objects)
Image 12Killing of Ravana Painting by Brahmstra of Arrow of Brahma (from List of mythological objects)
Image 13Image 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 14The 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 15Myths and legends of Babylonia and Assyria (1916) (from Myth)
Image 16Dietrich von Bern and Hildebrand fight against dragons (from List of mythological objects)
Image 17As 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 18The Crown of Immortality, held by the allegorical figure Eterna (Eternity) (from List of mythological objects)
Image 19Joan of Arc with her famous sword (from List of mythological objects)
Image 20Golem and Loew (from List of mythological objects)
Image 21The famous sword of Excalibur painted by Howard Pyle (from List of mythological objects)
Image 22Odysseus Overcome by Demodocus' Song, a mythological painting by Francesco Hayez, 1813–1815 (from Myth)
Image 23Vishnu holding his legendary sword Nandaka (from List of mythological objects)
Image 241929 Belgian banknote, depicting Ceres, Neptune and caduceus (from Myth)
Image 2514th century Goryeo painting of Ksitigarbha holding a cintamani (from List of mythological objects)
Image 26Snake and world egg of the inhabitants of Tyre (from List of mythological objects)
Image 27"Tizona", the sword attributed to El Cid, on exhibit in the Army Museum of Madrid (from List of mythological objects)
Image 28Surya on His Celestial Chariot (from List of mythological objects)
Image 29Giza pyramids (from List of mythological objects)
Image 30Opening 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 31seven angels with seven trumpets (from List of mythological objects)
Image 32Achilles wearing his armor (from List of mythological objects)
Image 33Rectangular tablets passed down by the Hand of God in the 10th century Byzantine Leo Bible (from List of mythological objects)
Image 34Hop-o'-My-Thumb stealing the Seven-league boots from the Ogre, by Gustave Doré (from List of mythological objects)
Image 35King Svafrlame Secures the Sword Tyrfing (from List of mythological objects)
Image 36Ancient Sumerian cylinder seal impression showing the god Dumuzid being tortured in the Underworld by galla demons (from Comparative mythology)
Image 37Ahimelech giving the sword of Goliath to David, by Aert de Gelder. (from List of mythological objects)
Image 38The fall of Icarus (from List of mythological objects)
Image 39Fortune Wheel (from List of mythological objects)
Image 40"The Fall of Man" by Lucas Cranach the Elder and the Tree of Knowledge is on the right (from List of mythological objects)
Image 41The Ash Yggdrasil by Friedrich Wilhelm Heine (from List of mythological objects)
Image 42Greek God Kronos/Saturnus with sickle (from List of mythological objects)
Image 43Hanuman fetches the herb-bearing mountain, in a print from the Ravi Varma Press, 1910's (from List of mythological objects)
Image 44Heracles 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 45Lord 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 46The Flying Dutchman (from List of mythological objects)
Image 47Voodoo doll with pins in it, Museum of Witchcraft (from List of mythological objects)
Image 48The Dispute of Minerva and Neptune (c. 1689 or 1706) by René-Antoine Houasse, depicting the founding myth of Athens (from National myth)
Image 49Symbolic power: a dragon in the Imperial City, Huế, Vietnam (from Legendary creature)
Image 50The 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 51Fig trees often represent talismans with the udumbara (from List of mythological objects)
Image 52Perillos being forced into the brazen bull that he built for Phalaris (from List of mythological objects)
Image 53Yama advances to smite Ravana with the weapon of death (from List of mythological objects)
Image 54Goetia seal of solomon (from List of mythological objects)
Image 55Tissot Moses and Joshua in the Tabernacle (from List of mythological objects)
Image 56The 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 57The Fall of the Titans (1596–98) by Cornelis Cornelisz van Haarlem (from Comparative mythology)
Image 58The 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 59Sampo, 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 60The Shrine of the Three Kings in Cologne Cathedral (from List of mythological objects)
Image 61Ballads of bravery (1877) part of Arthurian mythology (from Myth)
Image 62Shield of Achilles (illustration) (from List of mythological objects)
Image 63This 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 64The Honest Woodcutter, also known as Mercury and the Woodman and his famous Golden Axe (from List of mythological objects)
Image 65Lichas bringing the garment of Nessus to Hercules (from List of mythological objects)
Image 66An angel (Camael) expelling Adam and Eve with a flaming sword (from List of mythological objects)
Image 67Longinus with his famous Spear (from List of mythological objects)
Image 68Riding a Flying Carpet, an 1880 painting by Viktor Vasnetsov (from List of mythological objects)
Image 69Shiva with his Trishula (from List of mythological objects)
Image 70Yama with his famous Yama Pasha (from List of mythological objects)
Image 71Hand of God (from List of mythological objects)
Image 72Thor's Fight with the Giants (1872) by Mårten Eskil Winge. Thor is the god of thunder in Norse mythology. (from Myth)
Image 73Erlang Shen (二郎神), or Erlang is a Chinese God with his spear (from List of mythological objects)
Image 74Adam's Bridge also called as Rama Setu (from List of mythological objects)
Image 75Several legendary creatures from Bilderbuch für Kinder (lit. 'picture book for children') between 1790 and 1822, by Friedrich Justin Bertuch (from Legendary creature)
Image 76Azoth, a universal medicine or universal solvent sought in alchemy. (Medieval legend) (from List of mythological objects)
Image 77Pied piper (from List of mythological objects)
Image 78Houyi, the God of Archery (from List of mythological objects)
Image 79Artist's impressions of the (unseen) Imperial Regalia of Japan (from List of mythological objects)
Image 80Golden cosmic egg Hiranyagarbha by Manaku (from List of mythological objects)
Image 81Väinämöinen, 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 82Prometheus (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 83Jason returns with Golden fleece (from List of mythological objects)
Image 84A 19th-century drawing of Sun Wukong featuring his staff (from List of mythological objects)
Image 85Aura, a field of luminous radiation surrounding a person or object (from List of mythological objects)
Image 86Amenonuhoko (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 87The Argo (c. 1500 – 1530), painting by Lorenzo Costa (from List of mythological objects)
Image 88Fountain of Youth (from List of mythological objects)
Image 89Vishnu with his Panchajanya (from List of mythological objects)