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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Aravan worshipped at Sri Mariamman Temple, Singapore. A cobra hood is sheltering Aravan's head.

Iravan also known as Iravat and Iravant, is a minor character from the Hindu epic Mahabharata. The son of Pandava prince Arjuna (one of the main heroes of the Mahabharata) and the Naga princess Ulupi, Iravan is the central deity of the cult of Kuttantavar (Kuttandavar) which is also the name commonly given to him in that tradition—and plays a major role in the sect of Draupadi. Both these sects are of Tamil origin, from a region of the country where he is worshipped as a village deity and is known as Aravan. He is also a patron god of well-known transgender communities called Alis (also Aravani in Tamil, and Hijra throughout South Asia).

The Mahabharata portrays Iravan as dying a heroic death on the 8th day of the 18-day Kurukshetra War (Mahabharata war), the epic's main subject. However, the South Indian traditions have a supplementary practice of honouring Aravan's self-sacrifice to the goddess Kali to ensure her favour and the victory of the Pandavas in the war. The Kuttantavar tradition focuses on one of the three boons granted to Aravan by the god Krishna in honour of this self-sacrifice. Aravan requested that he be married before his death. Krishna satisfied this boon in his female form, Mohini. In Koovagam, Tamil Nadu, this incident is re-enacted in an 18-day festival, first by a ceremonial marriage of Aravan to Alis and male villagers (who have taken vows to Aravan) and then by their widowhood after ritual re-enactment of Aravan's sacrifice. (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 Ugaritic culture hero Danel may have been a model for the Biblical Daniel of Ezekiel?

... that the origin of the Postclassic K'iche' Maya patron deity Jacawitz has been traced back to a historical event at the city of Seibal?

... that in classical mythology, Cerberus (pictured) is a monstrous dog with multiple heads that guards the gates to the underworld?

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To farmers of eastern Europe, the ala was a demon who led hail and thunderstorms over their fields, ruining their crops.

An ala or hala (plural: ale or hali) is a female mythological creature recorded in the folklore of Bulgarians, Macedonians, and Serbs. Ale are considered demons of bad weather whose main purpose is to lead hail-producing thunderclouds in the direction of fields, vineyards, or orchards to destroy the crops, or loot and take them away. Extremely voracious, ale particularly like to eat children, though their gluttony is not limited to Earth. It is believed they sometimes try devouring the Sun or the Moon, causing eclipses, and that it would mean the end of the world should they succeed. When people encounter an ala, their mental or physical health, or even life, are in peril; however, her favor can be gained by approaching her with respect and trust. Being in a good relationship with an ala is very beneficial, because she makes her favorites rich and saves their lives in times of trouble.

The appearance of an ala is diversely and often vaguely described in folklore. A given ala may look like a black wind, a gigantic creature of indistinct form, a huge-mouthed, humanlike, or snakelike monster, a female dragon, or a raven. An ala may also assume various human or animal shapes, and can even possess a person's body. It is believed that the diversity of appearances described is due to the ala's being a synthesis of a Slavic demon of bad weather and a similar demon of the central Balkans pre-Slavic population. In folk tales with a humanlike ala, her personality is similar to that of the Russian Baba Yaga. Ale are said to live in the clouds, or in a lake, spring, hidden remote place, forest, inhospitable mountain, cave, or gigantic tree. While ale are usually hostile towards humans, they do have other powerful enemies that can defeat them, like dragons. In Christianized tales, St. Elijah takes the dragons' role, but in some cases the saint and the dragons fight ale together. Eagles are also regarded as defenders against ale, chasing them away from fields and thus preventing them from bringing hail clouds overhead. (Full article...)

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Vampire Fenrir 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 1Thor wearing the magic belt Megingjörð (from List of mythological objects)
Image 2Greek God Kronos/Saturnus with sickle (from List of mythological objects)
Image 3Image 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 414th century Goryeo painting of Ksitigarbha holding a cintamani (from List of mythological objects)
Image 5 Odysseus Overcome by Demodocus' Song, by Francesco Hayez, 1813–1815 (from Myth)
Image 6Rectangular tablets passed down by the Hand of God in the 10th century Byzantine Leo Bible (from List of mythological objects)
Image 7Edith Hamilton's Mythology has been a major channel for English speakers to learn classical Greek and Roman mythology (from Myth)
Image 8An angel (Camael) expelling Adam and Eve with a flaming sword (from List of mythological objects)
Image 9The fall of Icarus (from List of mythological objects)
Image 10Voodoo doll with pins in it, Museum of Witchcraft (from List of mythological objects)
Image 11Shiva with his Trishula (from List of mythological objects)
Image 12Tissot Moses and Joshua in the Tabernacle (from List of mythological objects)
Image 13Heracles 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 14Several mythical creatures from Bilderbuch für Kinder (lit. 'picture book for children') between 1790 and 1822, by Friedrich Justin Bertuch (from Legendary creature)
Image 15Azoth, a universal medicine or universal solvent sought in alchemy. (Medieval legend) (from List of mythological objects)
Image 16Adam's Bridge also called as Rama Setu (from List of mythological objects)
Image 17Shield of Achilles (illustration) (from List of mythological objects)
Image 18"The Fall of Man" by Lucas Cranach the Elder and the Tree of Knowledge is on the right (from List of mythological objects)
Image 19Jug from Lydian Treasure Usak (from List of mythological objects)
Image 20Aura, a field of luminous radiation surrounding a person or object (from List of mythological objects)
Image 21Ancient 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 22Erlang Shen (二郎神), or Erlang is a Chinese God with his spear (from List of mythological objects)
Image 23Vishnu holding his legendary sword Nandaka (from List of mythological objects)
Image 24Sampo, 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 25Dietrich von Bern and Hildebrand fight against dragons (from List of mythological objects)
Image 26The 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 27The famous sword of Excalibur painted by Howard Pyle (from List of mythological objects)
Image 28Fountain of Youth (from List of mythological objects)
Image 29Lichas bringing the garment of Nessus to Hercules (from List of mythological objects)
Image 30Prometheus (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 31Perillos being forced into the brazen bull that he built for Phalaris (from List of mythological objects)
Image 32Golem and Loew (from List of mythological objects)
Image 33Surya on His Celestial Chariot (from List of mythological objects)
Image 34King Svafrlame Secures the Sword Tyrfing (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 36Giza pyramids (from List of mythological objects)
Image 37A 19th-century drawing of Sun Wukong featuring his staff (from List of mythological objects)
Image 38Ahimelech giving the sword of Goliath to David, by Aert de Gelder. (from List of mythological objects)
Image 39Artist's impressions of the (unseen) Imperial Regalia of Japan (from List of mythological objects)
Image 40Joan of Arc with her famous sword (from List of mythological objects)
Image 41The Flying Dutchman (from List of mythological objects)
Image 42Ballads of bravery (1877) part of Arthurian mythology (from Myth)
Image 43Opening 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 44The Crown of Immortality, held by the allegorical figure Eterna (Eternity) (from List of mythological objects)
Image 45Jason returns with Golden fleece (from List of mythological objects)
Image 46Pied piper (from List of mythological objects)
Image 47Amenonuhoko (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 481929 Belgian banknote, depicting Ceres, Neptune and caduceus (from Myth)
Image 49Riding a Flying Carpet, an 1880 painting by Viktor Vasnetsov (from List of mythological objects)
Image 50The Argo (c. 1500 – 1530), painting by Lorenzo Costa (from List of mythological objects)
Image 51The Ash Yggdrasil by Friedrich Wilhelm Heine (from List of mythological objects)
Image 52The Celestial Chariot, Pushpaka Vimana from Ramayana (from List of mythological objects)
Image 53Fortune Wheel (from List of mythological objects)
Image 54Achilles wearing his armor (from List of mythological objects)
Image 55The Honest Woodcutter, also known as Mercury and the Woodman and his famous Golden Axe (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 57Väinämöinen, 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 58Early Hebrew Conception of the Universe (from List of mythological objects)
Image 59Vishnu with his Panchajanya (from List of mythological objects)
Image 60Lord 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 61Veronica holding her veil, Hans Memling, c. 1470 (from List of mythological objects)
Image 62Houyi, the God of Archery (from List of mythological objects)
Image 63Myths and legends of Babylonia and Assyria (1916) (from Myth)
Image 64Jacob blesses Joseph and gives him the coat of many colors (from List of mythological objects)
Image 65Ancient Sumerian cylinder seal impression showing the god Dumuzid being tortured in the Underworld by galla demons (from Comparative mythology)
Image 66The 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 67seven angels with seven trumpets (from List of mythological objects)
Image 68Symbolic power: a dragon in the Imperial City, Huế, Vietnam (from Legendary creature)
Image 69Longinus with his famous Spear (from List of mythological objects)
Image 70The 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 71Fig trees often represent talismans with the udumbara (from List of mythological objects)
Image 72Snake and world egg of the inhabitants of Tyre (from List of mythological objects)
Image 73Hop-o'-My-Thumb stealing the Seven-league boots from the Ogre, by Gustave Doré (from List of mythological objects)
Image 74Hanuman fetches the herb-bearing mountain, in a print from the Ravi Varma Press, 1910's (from List of mythological objects)
Image 75Thor kicks Litr onto Baldr's Hringhorni, illustration by Emil Doepler (ca. 1905) (from List of mythological objects)
Image 76The Dispute of Minerva and Neptune (c. 1689 or 1706) by René-Antoine Houasse, depicting the founding myth of Athens (from National myth)
Image 77The Shrine of the Three Kings in Cologne Cathedral (from List of mythological objects)
Image 78As 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 79Holy Robe in Trier (from List of mythological objects)
Image 80Goetia seal of solomon (from List of mythological objects)
Image 81Killing of Ravana Painting by Brahmstra of Arrow of Brahma (from List of mythological objects)
Image 82Golden cosmic egg Hiranyagarbha by Manaku (from List of mythological objects)
Image 83This 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 84Claíomh Solais on an Ireland stamp printed in 1922 (from List of mythological objects)
Image 85Hand of God (from List of mythological objects)
Image 86The Fall of the Titans (1596–98) by Cornelis Cornelisz van Haarlem (from Comparative mythology)
Image 87Yama with his famous Yama Pasha (from List of mythological objects)