Portal:Myths

Portal topics: Activities; Culture; Geography; Health; History; Mathematics; Nature; People; Philosophy; Religion; Society; Technology; Random portal

The Myths Portal

Myth is a genre of folklore consisting primarily of narratives that play a fundamental role in a society, such as foundational tales or origin myths. For scholars, this is very different from the vernacular usage of the term "myth" that simply refers to a belief that 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...)

Refresh with new selections below (purge)

Selected article - show another

In Norse mythology, Ask and Embla (Old Norse: Askr ok Embla)—man and woman respectively—were the first two humans, created by the gods. The pair are attested in both the Poetic Edda, compiled in the 13th century from earlier traditional sources, and the Prose Edda, composed in the 13th century. In both sources, three gods, one of whom is Odin, find Ask and Embla and bestow upon them various corporeal and spiritual gifts. A number of theories have been proposed to explain the two figures, and there are occasional references to them in popular culture. (Full article...)

List of selected articles

Did you know? - show different entries

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

... that according to Hindu mythology, the "first king" Prithu chased the Earth in the form of a cow (pictured), who eventually agreed to yield her milk as all the world's grain and vegetation?

... that human sacrifices to the K'iche' Maya patron deity Tohil had their severed heads placed on a rack in front of the temple?

...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?

More did you know facts

Recognised content

Featured Articles: Ahalya, Ancient Egyptian literature, King Arthur, Ganesha, Iravan, Orion (mythology), Vampire, Vithoba

Featured Lists: List of valkyrie names in Norse mythology

Good Articles: 2012 phenomenon, Æsir–Vanir War, Ala (demon), Anu, Aphrodite, Athena, Ardhanarishvara, Battle of Barry, Bhikshatana, Catalogue of Women, Chamunda, Chhinnamasta, Consorts of Ganesha, Cú Chulainn, Dhumavati, Dumuzid, Einherjar, Eir, Enlil, Fairy Flag, Fenrir, Gerðr, Hel (being), Huginn and Muninn, Iðunn, Ila (Hinduism), Inanna, Kabandha, Kali, Kamadhenu, Kangiten, Keshi (demon), Khandoba, Kratos (mythology) Krishna, Kubera, LGBT themes in Hindu mythology, Manasa, Mandodari, Matangi, Matrikas, Maya Sita, Mohini, Myrrha, Mythology of Carnivàle, Naraka (Hinduism), Ninurta, Prester John, Prithu, Putana, Rati, Ratatoskr, Revanta, Satyavati, Satyr, Sharabha, Shashthi, Shiva, Sif, Tara (Ramayana), Troilus, Tuisto, Valhalla, Valkyrie, Vampire folklore by region, Varaha, Varahi, Veðrfölnir and eagle Zduhać

...Recognised content on Wikipedia

Wikiversity

Mythology portal on Wikiversity

Selected creature - show another

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...)

List of selected creatures
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

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 2Several mythical creatures from Bilderbuch für Kinder (lit. 'picture book for children') between 1790 and 1822, by Friedrich Justin Bertuch (from Legendary creature)
Image 3Jug from Lydian Treasure Usak (from List of mythological objects)
Image 4Jason returns with Golden fleece (from List of mythological objects)
Image 5The Celestial Chariot, Pushpaka Vimana from Ramayana (from List of mythological objects)
Image 6The Shrine of the Three Kings in Cologne Cathedral (from List of mythological objects)
Image 7The 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 8Fig trees often represent talismans with the udumbara (from List of mythological objects)
Image 9Giza pyramids (from List of mythological objects)
Image 10Early Hebrew Conception of the Universe (from List of mythological objects)
Image 11Fortune Wheel (from List of mythological objects)
Image 12Snake and world egg of the inhabitants of Tyre (from List of mythological objects)
Image 13Ahimelech giving the sword of Goliath to David, by Aert de Gelder. (from List of mythological objects)
Image 14The Fall of the Titans (1596–98) by Cornelis Cornelisz van Haarlem (from Comparative mythology)
Image 15Shield of Achilles (illustration) (from List of mythological objects)
Image 16Lichas bringing the garment of Nessus to Hercules (from List of mythological objects)
Image 17Ancient Sumerian cylinder seal impression showing the god Dumuzid being tortured in the Underworld by galla demons (from Comparative mythology)
Image 18Greek God Kronos/Saturnus with sickle (from List of mythological objects)
Image 19Houyi, the God of Archery (from List of mythological objects)
Image 20Hop-o'-My-Thumb stealing the Seven-league boots from the Ogre, by Gustave Doré (from List of mythological objects)
Image 21Adam's Bridge also called as Rama Setu (from List of mythological objects)
Image 22Veronica holding her veil, Hans Memling, c. 1470 (from List of mythological objects)
Image 23Prometheus (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 24Voodoo doll with pins in it, Museum of Witchcraft (from List of mythological objects)
Image 25Tissot Moses and Joshua in the Tabernacle (from List of mythological objects)
Image 26Golem and Loew (from List of mythological objects)
Image 27The Ash Yggdrasil by Friedrich Wilhelm Heine (from List of mythological objects)
Image 28This 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 29The Argo (c. 1500 – 1530), painting by Lorenzo Costa (from List of mythological objects)
Image 30As 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 31Claíomh Solais on an Ireland stamp printed in 1922 (from List of mythological objects)
Image 32Killing of Ravana Painting by Brahmstra of Arrow of Brahma (from List of mythological objects)
Image 33Longinus with his famous Spear (from List of mythological objects)
Image 34Image 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 3514th century Goryeo painting of Ksitigarbha holding a cintamani (from List of mythological objects)
Image 36Hand of God (from List of mythological objects)
Image 37The 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 38Aura, a field of luminous radiation surrounding a person or object (from List of mythological objects)
Image 39Edith Hamilton's Mythology has been a major channel for English speakers to learn classical Greek and Roman mythology (from Myth)
Image 40Yama with his famous Yama Pasha (from List of mythological objects)
Image 41 Odysseus Overcome by Demodocus' Song, by Francesco Hayez, 1813–1815 (from Myth)
Image 42Golden cosmic egg Hiranyagarbha by Manaku (from List of mythological objects)
Image 43Sampo, 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 44Rectangular tablets passed down by the Hand of God in the 10th century Byzantine Leo Bible (from List of mythological objects)
Image 45The fall of Icarus (from List of mythological objects)
Image 46Symbolic power: a dragon in the Imperial City, Huế, Vietnam (from Legendary creature)
Image 47Vishnu with his Panchajanya (from List of mythological objects)
Image 48Dietrich von Bern and Hildebrand fight against dragons (from List of mythological objects)
Image 49A 19th-century drawing of Sun Wukong featuring his staff (from List of mythological objects)
Image 50Joan of Arc with her famous sword (from List of mythological objects)
Image 51Amenonuhoko (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 52Myths and legends of Babylonia and Assyria (1916) (from Myth)
Image 531929 Belgian banknote, depicting Ceres, Neptune and caduceus (from Myth)
Image 54Lord 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 55Thor kicks Litr onto Baldr's Hringhorni, illustration by Emil Doepler (ca. 1905) (from List of mythological objects)
Image 56Ballads of bravery (1877) part of Arthurian mythology (from Myth)
Image 57Ancient 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 58"The Fall of Man" by Lucas Cranach the Elder and the Tree of Knowledge is on the right (from List of mythological objects)
Image 59"Tizona", the sword attributed to El Cid, on exhibit in the Army Museum of Madrid (from List of mythological objects)
Image 60Achilles wearing his armor (from List of mythological objects)
Image 61Holy Robe in Trier (from List of mythological objects)
Image 62King Svafrlame Secures the Sword Tyrfing (from List of mythological objects)
Image 63Jacob blesses Joseph and gives him the coat of many colors (from List of mythological objects)
Image 64Artist's impressions of the (unseen) Imperial Regalia of Japan (from List of mythological objects)
Image 65The Crown of Immortality, held by the allegorical figure Eterna (Eternity) (from List of mythological objects)
Image 66The Dispute of Minerva and Neptune (c. 1689 or 1706) by René-Antoine Houasse, depicting the founding myth of Athens (from National myth)
Image 67Surya on His Celestial Chariot (from List of mythological objects)
Image 68Shiva with his Trishula (from List of mythological objects)
Image 69Vishnu holding his legendary sword Nandaka (from List of mythological objects)
Image 70An angel (Camael) expelling Adam and Eve with a flaming sword (from List of mythological objects)
Image 71Väinämöinen, 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 72Riding a Flying Carpet, an 1880 painting by Viktor Vasnetsov (from List of mythological objects)
Image 73Fountain of Youth (from List of mythological objects)
Image 74Opening 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 75Erlang Shen (二郎神), or Erlang is a Chinese God with his spear (from List of mythological objects)
Image 76seven angels with seven trumpets (from List of mythological objects)
Image 77The Honest Woodcutter, also known as Mercury and the Woodman and his famous Golden Axe (from List of mythological objects)
Image 78The 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 79Pied piper (from List of mythological objects)
Image 80Heracles 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 81The 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 82Hanuman fetches the herb-bearing mountain, in a print from the Ravi Varma Press, 1910's (from List of mythological objects)
Image 83Azoth, a universal medicine or universal solvent sought in alchemy. (Medieval legend) (from List of mythological objects)
Image 84Goetia seal of solomon (from List of mythological objects)
Image 85The famous sword of Excalibur painted by Howard Pyle (from List of mythological objects)
Image 86The Flying Dutchman (from List of mythological objects)
Image 87Perillos being forced into the brazen bull that he built for Phalaris (from List of mythological objects)