Portal:Myths

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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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Attic red-figure plate from Vulci, Etruria, dated c. 520–500 BC, showing an ithyphallic satyr holding an aulos, a kind of ancient Greek woodwind instrument.

In Greek mythology, a satyr (Greek: σάτυρος, translit. sátyros, pronounced [sátyros]), also known as a silenus or silenos (Greek: σειληνός, translit. seilēnós [seːlɛːnós]), and sileni (plural), is a male nature spirit with ears and a tail resembling those of a horse, as well as a permanent, exaggerated erection. Early artistic representations sometimes include horse-like legs, but, by the sixth century BC, they were more often represented with human legs. Comically hideous, they have mane-like hair, bestial faces, and snub noses and they always are shown naked. Satyrs were characterized by their ribaldry and were known as lovers of wine, music, dancing, and women. They were companions of the god Dionysus and were believed to inhabit remote locales, such as woodlands, mountains, and pastures. They often attempted to seduce or rape nymphs and mortal women alike, usually with little success. They are sometimes shown masturbating or engaging in bestiality.

In classical Athens, satyrs made up the chorus in a genre of play known as a "satyr play", which was a parody of tragedy and known for its bawdy and obscene humor. The only complete surviving play of this genre is Cyclops by Euripides, although a significant portion of Sophocles's Ichneutae has also survived. In mythology, the satyr Marsyas is said to have challenged the god Apollo to a musical contest and been flayed alive for his hubris. Although superficially ridiculous, satyrs were also thought to possess useful knowledge, if they could be coaxed into revealing it. The satyr Silenus was the tutor of the young Dionysus and a story from Ionia told of a silenos who gave sound advice when captured. (Full article...)

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... that the self-decapitated Hindu goddess Chhinnamasta (pictured) standing on a copulating couple signifies that life, death and sex are interdependent?

... that in Hindu mythology, the demoness Putana (pictured, centre) tried to kill the infant-god Krishna by breastfeeding him poisoned milk?

...that in Colombian folklore the legendary Alligatorman (Hombre Caiman) is said to be a fisherman converted by the spirit of the Magdalena River into an alligator, that returns every year on St. Sebastian´s Day to hunt human victims?

...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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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 1Rectangular tablets passed down by the Hand of God in the 10th century Byzantine Leo Bible (from List of mythological objects)
Image 2Fig trees often represent talismans with the udumbara (from List of mythological objects)
Image 3The famous sword of Excalibur painted by Howard Pyle (from List of mythological objects)
Image 4Joan of Arc with her famous sword (from List of mythological objects)
Image 5This 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 6Ballads of bravery (1877) part of Arthurian mythology (from Myth)
Image 7The Dispute of Minerva and Neptune (c. 1689 or 1706) by René-Antoine Houasse, depicting the founding myth of Athens (from National myth)
Image 8Myths and legends of Babylonia and Assyria (1916) (from Myth)
Image 9The Shrine of the Three Kings in Cologne Cathedral (from List of mythological objects)
Image 10Aura, a field of luminous radiation surrounding a person or object (from List of mythological objects)
Image 11Azoth, a universal medicine or universal solvent sought in alchemy. (Medieval legend) (from List of mythological objects)
Image 12 Odysseus Overcome by Demodocus' Song, by Francesco Hayez, 1813–1815 (from Myth)
Image 13Ancient Sumerian cylinder seal impression showing the god Dumuzid being tortured in the Underworld by galla demons (from Comparative mythology)
Image 14Giza pyramids (from List of mythological objects)
Image 15Early Hebrew Conception of the Universe (from List of mythological objects)
Image 161929 Belgian banknote, depicting Ceres, Neptune and caduceus (from Myth)
Image 17Opening 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 18Holy Robe in Trier (from List of mythological objects)
Image 19Väinämöinen, 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 20Jug from Lydian Treasure Usak (from List of mythological objects)
Image 21Goetia seal of solomon (from List of mythological objects)
Image 22The sheyd אַשְמְדּאָי (Ašmodai) in bird-like form, with typical rooster feet, as depicted in Compendium rarissimum totius Artis Magicae 1775 (from Comparative mythology)
Image 23Vishnu holding his legendary sword Nandaka (from List of mythological objects)
Image 24Lord 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 25Jacob blesses Joseph and gives him the coat of many colors (from List of mythological objects)
Image 26The Crown of Immortality, held by the allegorical figure Eterna (Eternity) (from List of mythological objects)
Image 27The 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 28Greek God Kronos/Saturnus with sickle (from List of mythological objects)
Image 29Lichas bringing the garment of Nessus to Hercules (from List of mythological objects)
Image 30Snake and world egg of the inhabitants of Tyre (from List of mythological objects)
Image 31An angel (Camael) expelling Adam and Eve with a flaming sword (from List of mythological objects)
Image 32Voodoo doll with pins in it, Museum of Witchcraft (from List of mythological objects)
Image 33Hanuman fetches the herb-bearing mountain, in a print from the Ravi Varma Press, 1910's (from List of mythological objects)
Image 34Killing of Ravana Painting by Brahmstra of Arrow of Brahma (from List of mythological objects)
Image 35Hand of God (from List of mythological objects)
Image 36Artist's impressions of the (unseen) Imperial Regalia of Japan (from List of mythological objects)
Image 37The Fall of the Titans (1596–98) by Cornelis Cornelisz van Haarlem (from Comparative mythology)
Image 38Prometheus (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 39Hop-o'-My-Thumb stealing the Seven-league boots from the Ogre, by Gustave Doré (from List of mythological objects)
Image 40The 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 41"Tizona", the sword attributed to El Cid, on exhibit in the Army Museum of Madrid (from List of mythological objects)
Image 42Edith Hamilton's Mythology has been a major channel for English speakers to learn classical Greek and Roman mythology (from Myth)
Image 43Symbolic power: a dragon in the Imperial City, Huế, Vietnam (from Legendary creature)
Image 44Thor kicks Litr onto Baldr's Hringhorni, illustration by Emil Doepler (ca. 1905) (from List of mythological objects)
Image 45Riding a Flying Carpet, an 1880 painting by Viktor Vasnetsov (from List of mythological objects)
Image 46Erlang Shen (二郎神), or Erlang is a Chinese God with his spear (from List of mythological objects)
Image 47The 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 48Ancient 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 49Fortune Wheel (from List of mythological objects)
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 51The Celestial Chariot, Pushpaka Vimana from Ramayana (from List of mythological objects)
Image 52Shiva with his Trishula (from List of mythological objects)
Image 53Several mythical creatures from Bilderbuch für Kinder (lit. 'picture book for children') between 1790 and 1822, by Friedrich Justin Bertuch (from Legendary creature)
Image 54The Flying Dutchman (from List of mythological objects)
Image 55Golden cosmic egg Hiranyagarbha by Manaku (from List of mythological objects)
Image 56Longinus with his famous Spear (from List of mythological objects)
Image 57The Argo (c. 1500 – 1530), painting by Lorenzo Costa (from List of mythological objects)
Image 58Yama with his famous Yama Pasha (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 60Pied piper (from List of mythological objects)
Image 61A 19th-century drawing of Sun Wukong featuring his staff (from List of mythological objects)
Image 62Tissot Moses and Joshua in the Tabernacle (from List of mythological objects)
Image 63Houyi, the God of Archery (from List of mythological objects)
Image 64Adam's Bridge also called as Rama Setu (from List of mythological objects)
Image 65Amenonuhoko (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 66Thor wearing the magic belt Megingjörð (from List of mythological objects)
Image 67"The Fall of Man" by Lucas Cranach the Elder and the Tree of Knowledge is on the right (from List of mythological objects)
Image 68Jason returns with Golden fleece (from List of mythological objects)
Image 69Perillos being forced into the brazen bull that he built for Phalaris (from List of mythological objects)
Image 70The Ash Yggdrasil by Friedrich Wilhelm Heine (from List of mythological objects)
Image 71The Honest Woodcutter, also known as Mercury and the Woodman and his famous Golden Axe (from List of mythological objects)
Image 72Shield of Achilles (illustration) (from List of mythological objects)
Image 73Image 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 74Achilles wearing his armor (from List of mythological objects)
Image 75Vishnu with his Panchajanya (from List of mythological objects)
Image 76Claíomh Solais on an Ireland stamp printed in 1922 (from List of mythological objects)
Image 77The fall of Icarus (from List of mythological objects)
Image 78Veronica holding her veil, Hans Memling, c. 1470 (from List of mythological objects)
Image 79King Svafrlame Secures the Sword Tyrfing (from List of mythological objects)
Image 80Surya on His Celestial Chariot (from List of mythological objects)
Image 81Fountain of Youth (from List of mythological objects)
Image 82Ahimelech giving the sword of Goliath to David, by Aert de Gelder. (from List of mythological objects)
Image 83Dietrich von Bern and Hildebrand fight against dragons (from List of mythological objects)
Image 84As 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 8514th century Goryeo painting of Ksitigarbha holding a cintamani (from List of mythological objects)
Image 86Golem and Loew (from List of mythological objects)
Image 87seven angels with seven trumpets (from List of mythological objects)
Image 88Heracles 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)