Portal:Myths

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Myth is a genre of folklore or theology consisting primarily of narratives that play a fundamental role in a society, such as foundational tales or origin myths. For folklorists, historians, philosophers or theologians this is very different from the use of "myth" simply indicating that something is not true. Instead, the truth value of a myth is not a defining criterion.

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

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Carnivàle is an American television series set in the United States during the Great Depression. The series traces the disparate storylines of a young carnival worker named Ben Hawkins and Brother Justin Crowe, a preacher in California. The overarching story is built around a good and evil theme, which serves as a human-scaled metaphor within a complex structure of myth and allegory. Samson, the carnival's dwarf manager, sets up the show's mythology with a prologue in the pilot episode, talking of "a creature of light and a creature of darkness" being born "to each generation" preparing for a final battle.

Most mythological elements in Carnivàle relate to so-called Avatars (or Creatures of Light and Darkness), fictional human-like beings with supernatural powers who embody good and evil. In its first season Carnivàle does not reveal its characters as Avatars beyond insinuation, and makes the nature of suggested Avatars a central question. By the second season it is established that Ben is a Creature of Light and Brother Justin a Creature of Darkness. Other than through the characters, the show's good-and-evil theme manifests in the series' contemporary religion, the Christian military order Knights Templar, tarot divination, and in historical events like the Dustbowl and humankind's first nuclear test. Show creator Daniel Knauf did not respond to questions about the mythology but did provide hints about the mythological structure to online fandom both during and after the two-season run of Carnivàle. Nevertheless, many of the intended clues remained unnoticed by viewers. Knauf left fans a production summary of Carnivàle's first season two years after cancellation. This so-called Pitch Document, originally written to give HBO and Knauf's co-writers an overview of the intended storyline, backed up and expanded upon the assumed mythological rules. (Full article...)

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... that on every Wednesday and Saturday, the demons of Sri Lanka assemble to give an account of their activities to their king?

... that in Inuit mythology, an Angakkuq, or shaman, is told to be able to fly with the assistance of a spirit companion, or tuurngaq?

... that the pre-Columbian Zapotec storm god Cocijo was said to have created the world from his breath?

... that Xiuhtecuhtli (mask pictured), the Aztec god of fire, was one of the nine Lords of the Night even though he was a solar deity?

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The nuckelavee ( /nʌklɑːˈviː/) or nuckalavee is a horse-like demon from Orcadian folklore that combines equine and human elements. British folklorist Katharine Briggs called it "the nastiest" of all the demons of Scotland's Northern Isles. The nuckelavee's breath was thought to wilt crops and sicken livestock, and the creature was held responsible for droughts and epidemics on land despite being predominantly a sea-dweller.

A graphic description of the nuckelavee as it appears on land was given by an islander who claimed to have had a confrontation with it, but accounts describing the details of the creature's appearance are inconsistent. In common with many other sea-monsters, it is unable to tolerate fresh water, therefore, those it is pursuing have only to cross a river or stream to be rid of it. The nuckelavee is kept in confinement during the summer months by the Mither o' the Sea, an ancient Orcadian spirit, and the only one able to control it. (Full article...)

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Vampire Fenrir Ala (demon) Sharabha Ratatoskr Huginn and Muninn Keshi (demon) 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 1Vishnu holding his legendary sword Nandaka (from List of mythological objects)
Image 2Perillos being forced into the brazen bull that he built for Phalaris (from List of mythological objects)
Image 3A 19th-century drawing of Sun Wukong featuring his staff (from List of mythological objects)
Image 4Ancient 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 5Thor kicks Litr onto Baldr's Hringhorni, illustration by Emil Doepler (ca. 1905) (from List of mythological objects)
Image 6As 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 7Longinus with his famous Spear (from List of mythological objects)
Image 8Goetia seal of solomon (from List of mythological objects)
Image 9Symbolic power: a dragon in the Imperial City, Huế, Vietnam (from Legendary creature)
Image 10Vishnu with his Panchajanya (from List of mythological objects)
Image 11Voodoo doll with pins in it, Museum of Witchcraft (from List of mythological objects)
Image 12Edith Hamilton's Mythology has been a major channel for English speakers to learn classical Greek and Roman mythology (from Myth)
Image 13The 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 141929 Belgian banknote, depicting Ceres, Neptune and caduceus (from Myth)
Image 15Prometheus (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 16"Tizona", the sword attributed to El Cid, on exhibit in the Army Museum of Madrid (from List of mythological objects)
Image 17Amenonuhoko (天沼あまぬま矛ほこ or 天てん之の瓊矛 or 天てん瓊戈, "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 18Myths and legends of Babylonia and Assyria (1916) (from Myth)
Image 19Lichas bringing the garment of Nessus to Hercules (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 21Ballads of bravery (1877) part of Arthurian mythology (from Myth)
Image 22Jacob blesses Joseph and gives him the coat of many colors (from List of mythological objects)
Image 23Shiva with his Trishula (from List of mythological objects)
Image 24Väinämöinen, 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 25The 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 26The Honest Woodcutter, also known as Mercury and the Woodman and his famous Golden Axe (from List of mythological objects)
Image 27Tissot Moses and Joshua in the Tabernacle (from List of mythological objects)
Image 28The 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 29The famous sword of Excalibur painted by Howard Pyle (from List of mythological objects)
Image 30Fortune Wheel (from List of mythological objects)
Image 31Fig trees often represent talismans with the udumbara (from List of mythological objects)
Image 32Veronica holding her veil, Hans Memling, c. 1470 (from List of mythological objects)
Image 33Azoth, a universal medicine or universal solvent sought in alchemy. (Medieval legend) (from List of mythological objects)
Image 34Several mythical creatures from Bilderbuch für Kinder (lit. 'picture book for children') between 1790 and 1822, by Friedrich Justin Bertuch (from Legendary creature)
Image 35Giza pyramids (from List of mythological objects)
Image 36Jason returns with Golden fleece (from List of mythological objects)
Image 37Greek God Kronos/Saturnus with sickle (from List of mythological objects)
Image 38The fall of Icarus (from List of mythological objects)
Image 39Hop-o'-My-Thumb stealing the Seven-league boots from the Ogre, by Gustave Doré (from List of mythological objects)
Image 40Jug from Lydian Treasure Usak (from List of mythological objects)
Image 41Dietrich von Bern and Hildebrand fight against dragons (from List of mythological objects)
Image 42The Fall of the Titans (1596–98) by Cornelis Cornelisz van Haarlem (from Comparative mythology)
Image 43The Celestial Chariot, Pushpaka Vimana from Ramayana (from List of mythological objects)
Image 44The Shrine of the Three Kings in Cologne Cathedral (from List of mythological objects)
Image 45This 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 46Lord 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 47Hand of God (from List of mythological objects)
Image 48Joan of Arc with her famous sword (from List of mythological objects)
Image 49Heracles 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 50"The Fall of Man" by Lucas Cranach the Elder and the Tree of Knowledge is on the right (from List of mythological objects)
Image 51Thor wearing the magic belt Megingjörð (from List of mythological objects)
Image 52The Flying Dutchman (from List of mythological objects)
Image 53The 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 54Ahimelech giving the sword of Goliath to David, by Aert de Gelder. (from List of mythological objects)
Image 55An angel (Camael) expelling Adam and Eve with a flaming sword (from List of mythological objects)
Image 56Image 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 57Houyi, the God of Archery (from List of mythological objects)
Image 58Fountain of Youth (from List of mythological objects)
Image 59Early Hebrew Conception of the Universe (from List of mythological objects)
Image 60Ancient Sumerian cylinder seal impression showing the god Dumuzid being tortured in the Underworld by galla demons (from Comparative mythology)
Image 61Riding a Flying Carpet, an 1880 painting by Viktor Vasnetsov (from List of mythological objects)
Image 62Snake and world egg of the inhabitants of Tyre (from List of mythological objects)
Image 63 Odysseus Overcome by Demodocus' Song, by Francesco Hayez, 1813–1815 (from Myth)
Image 64Hanuman fetches the herb-bearing mountain, in a print from the Ravi Varma Press, 1910's (from List of mythological objects)
Image 65Aura, a field of luminous radiation surrounding a person or object (from List of mythological objects)
Image 66seven angels with seven trumpets (from List of mythological objects)
Image 67The Ash Yggdrasil by Friedrich Wilhelm Heine (from List of mythological objects)
Image 68The Crown of Immortality, held by the allegorical figure Eterna (Eternity) (from List of mythological objects)
Image 69Shield of Achilles (illustration) (from List of mythological objects)
Image 70Adam's Bridge also called as Rama Setu (from List of mythological objects)
Image 71Rectangular tablets passed down by the Hand of God in the 10th century Byzantine Leo Bible (from List of mythological objects)
Image 72Golden cosmic egg Hiranyagarbha by Manaku (from List of mythological objects)
Image 73Pied piper (from List of mythological objects)
Image 74Killing of Ravana Painting by Brahmstra of Arrow of Brahma (from List of mythological objects)
Image 75Golem and Loew (from List of mythological objects)
Image 76Achilles wearing his armor (from List of mythological objects)
Image 77Yama with his famous Yama Pasha (from List of mythological objects)
Image 78Artist's impressions of the (unseen) Imperial Regalia of Japan (from List of mythological objects)
Image 79King Svafrlame Secures the Sword Tyrfing (from List of mythological objects)
Image 8014th century Goryeo painting of Ksitigarbha holding a cintamani (from List of mythological objects)
Image 81Holy Robe in Trier (from List of mythological objects)
Image 82Erlang Shen (二郎じろう神かみ), or Erlang is a Chinese God with his spear (from List of mythological objects)
Image 83Sampo, 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 84Opening 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 85Surya on His Celestial Chariot (from List of mythological objects)
Image 86Claíomh Solais on an Ireland stamp printed in 1922 (from List of mythological objects)
Image 87The Argo (c. 1500 – 1530), painting by Lorenzo Costa (from List of mythological objects)