The Myths Portal
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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 or 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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In Greek mythology, Orion (/əˈraɪən/; Ancient Greek: Ὠρίων or Ὠαρίων; Latin: Orion) was a giant huntsman whom Zeus (or perhaps Artemis) placed among the stars as the constellation of Orion.
Ancient sources told several different stories about Orion; there are two major versions of his birth and several versions of his death. The most important recorded episodes are his birth in Boeotia, his visit to Chios where he met Merope and raped her, being blinded by Merope's father, the recovery of his sight at Lemnos, his hunting with Artemis on Crete, his death by the bow of Artemis or the sting of the giant scorpion which became Scorpius, and his elevation to the heavens. Most ancient sources omit some of these episodes and several tell only one. These various incidents may originally have been independent, unrelated stories, and it is impossible to tell whether the omissions are simple brevity or represent a real disagreement. (Full article...)Did you know? -
- ...that according to Hindu mythology, the deity Revanta (pictured) was born from the union of the sun-god Surya and his wife Saranya in the form of horse and mare?
- ...that Ewale a Mbedi may have been the first Duala leader to trade with Europeans in Cameroon?
- ... 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 Ovid's Metamorphoses, the love between Acis and Galatea ended when a jealous suitor named Polyphemus killed Acis with a boulder?
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Ahalya,
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List of valkyrie names in Norse mythology
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Ala (demon),
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Catalogue of Women,
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Hel (being),
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LGBT themes in Hindu mythology,
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Vampire folklore by region,
Varaha,
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Veðrfölnir and eagle
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Things you can do
- Help with the myth and folklore missing articles project.
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- Help assessment at Wikipedia:WikiProject Mythology/Assessment.
- Place the project banner {{WikiProject Mythology}} on the talk pages of all relevant articles.
- Check the recent changes for recent improvements, vandalism, and other changes.
- Answer requests for mythology articles needing attention: Category:Mythology articles needing attention
- Answer requests for mythology articles needing expert attention: Category:Mythology articles needing expert attention
- Expand articles tagged as mythology stubs: Category:Mythology stubs
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- Add requested photographs of mythology subjects: Category:Wikipedia requested photographs of mythology subjects
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