Portal:Myths

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The Myths Portal

Myth is a folklore genre consisting of narratives that play a fundamental role in a society, such as foundational tales or origin myths.

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.

The main characters in myths are usually non-humans, such as gods, demigods, and other supernatural figures. Others include humans, animals, or combinations in their classification of myth. Stories of everyday humans, although often of leaders of some type, are usually contained in legends, as opposed to myths. Myths are sometimes distinguished from legends in that myths deal with gods, usually have no historical basis, and are set in a world of the remote past, very different from that of the present. (Full article...)

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In Norse mythology, Hlín is a goddess associated with the goddess Frigg. Hlín appears in a poem in the Poetic Edda, compiled in the 13th century from earlier traditional sources, the Prose Edda, written in the 13th century by Snorri Sturluson, and in kennings found in skaldic poetry. Scholars have debated whether the stanza referring to her in the Prose Edda refers to Frigg. Hlín serves as a given name in Iceland, and Hlín receives veneration in the modern era in Germanic paganism's modern extension, Heathenry. (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 Inuit mythology, an Angakkuq, or shaman, is told to be able to fly with the assistance of a spirit companion, or tuurngaq?

...that according to Inca mythology, lunar eclipses are caused by animals attacking Mama Quilla, the goddess of the moon?

...that the Ancient Greeks credited Broteas, the ugly son of Tantalus, with an ancient rock-cut cliff-face carving of the Great Mother of the Gods in modern Turkey?

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Ninurta with his thunderbolts pursues Anzû stealing the Tablet of Destinies from Enlil's sanctuary (Austen Henry Layard Monuments of Nineveh, 2nd Series, 1853)

Anzû, also known as ^dZû and Imdugud (Sumerian: 𒀭𒅎𒂂 AN.IM.DUGUD^MUŠEN), is a monster in several Mesopotamian religion. He was conceived by the pure waters of the Apsu and the wide Earth, or as son of Siris. Anzû was depicted as a massive bird who can breathe fire and water, although Anzû is alternately depicted as a lion-headed eagle.

Stephanie Dalley, in Myths from Mesopotamia, writes that "the Epic of Anzu is principally known in two versions: an Old Babylonian version of the early second millennium [BC], giving the hero as Ningirsu; and 'The Standard Babylonian' version, dating to the first millennium BC, which appears to be the most quoted version, with the hero as Ninurta". However, the Anzu character does not appear as often in some other writings, as noted below. (Full article...)

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Vampire Fenrir Ala (demon) 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) Cerberus

General images

The following are images from various myth-related articles on Wikipedia.

Image 1Heracles 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 2Prometheus (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 3The Honest Woodcutter, also known as Mercury and the Woodman and his famous Golden Axe (from List of mythological objects)
Image 4Surya on His Celestial Chariot (from List of mythological objects)
Image 5Giza pyramids (from List of mythological objects)
Image 6Azoth, a universal medicine or universal solvent sought in alchemy. (Medieval legend) (from List of mythological objects)
Image 7Väinämöinen, 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 8Vishnu with his Panchajanya (from List of mythological objects)
Image 9Goetia seal of solomon (from List of mythological objects)
Image 10Golden cosmic egg Hiranyagarbha by Manaku (from List of mythological objects)
Image 11Opening 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 12Ballads of bravery (1877) part of Arthurian mythology (from Myth)
Image 13Yama with his famous Yama Pasha (from List of mythological objects)
Image 14Veronica holding her veil, Hans Memling, c. 1470 (from List of mythological objects)
Image 15Jason returns with Golden fleece (from List of mythological objects)
Image 16Several mythical creatures from Bilderbuch für Kinder (picture book for children) between 1790 and 1822, by Friedrich Justin Bertuch (from Legendary creature)
Image 17The 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 18Artist's impressions of the (unseen) Imperial Regalia of Japan (from List of mythological objects)
Image 19Adam's Bridge also called as Rama Setu (from List of mythological objects)
Image 20An angel (Camael) expelling Adam and Eve with a flaming sword (from List of mythological objects)
Image 21Tissot Moses and Joshua in the Tabernacle (from List of mythological objects)
Image 22Sampo, 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 23Fig trees often represent talismans with the udumbara (from List of mythological objects)
Image 24Aura, a field of luminous radiation surrounding a person or object (from List of mythological objects)
Image 25Houyi, the God of Archery (from List of mythological objects)
Image 26"Tizona", the sword attributed to El Cid, on exhibit in the Army Museum of Madrid (from List of mythological objects)
Image 27The Crown of Immortality, held by the allegorical figure Eterna (Eternity) (from List of mythological objects)
Image 28Thor wearing the magic belt Megingjörð (from List of mythological objects)
Image 29Hand of God (from List of mythological objects)
Image 30The 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 31Thor kicks Litr onto Baldr's Hringhorni, illustration by Emil Doepler (ca. 1905) (from List of mythological objects)
Image 32Erlang Shen (二郎神), or Erlang is a Chinese God with his spear (from List of mythological objects)
Image 33The Fall of the Titans (1596–98) by Cornelis Cornelisz van Haarlem (from Comparative mythology)
Image 34Longinus with his famous Spear (from List of mythological objects)
Image 35Vishnu holding his legendary sword Nandaka (from List of mythological objects)
Image 36Pied piper (from List of mythological objects)
Image 37Amenonuhoko (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 38Image 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 39The Ash Yggdrasil by Friedrich Wilhelm Heine (from List of mythological objects)
Image 40The fall of Icarus (from List of mythological objects)
Image 41 Odysseus Overcome by Demodocus' Song, by Francesco Hayez, 1813–15 (from Myth)
Image 42Dietrich von Bern and Hildebrand fight against dragons (from List of mythological objects)
Image 43Joan of Arc with her famous sword (from List of mythological objects)
Image 44Claíomh Solais on an Ireland stamp printed in 1922 (from List of mythological objects)
Image 45The Shrine of the Three Kings in Cologne Cathedral (from List of mythological objects)
Image 46Holy Robe in Trier (from List of mythological objects)
Image 47Lord 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 48Voodoo doll with pins in it, Museum of Witchcraft (from List of mythological objects)
Image 49Jacob blesses Joseph and gives him the coat of many colors (from List of mythological objects)
Image 50The Celestial Chariot, Pushpaka Vimana from Ramayana (from List of mythological objects)
Image 51King Svafrlame Secures the Sword Tyrfing (from List of mythological objects)
Image 52Fortune Wheel (from List of mythological objects)
Image 53"The Fall of Man" by Lucas Cranach the Elder and the Tree of Knowledge is on the right (from List of mythological objects)
Image 54This 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 55Hanuman fetches the herb-bearing mountain, in a print from the Ravi Varma Press, 1910's (from List of mythological objects)
Image 56Myths and legends of Babylonia and Assyria (1916) (from Myth)
Image 57Ancient Sumerian cylinder seal impression showing the god Dumuzid being tortured in the Underworld by galla demons (from Comparative mythology)
Image 58Early Hebrew Conception of the Universe (from List of mythological objects)
Image 59The famous sword of Excalibur painted by Howard Pyle (from List of mythological objects)
Image 60Lichas bringing the garment of Nessus to Hercules (from List of mythological objects)
Image 61The 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 62Perillos being forced into the brazen bull that he built for Phalaris (from List of mythological objects)
Image 63As 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 64Shield of Achilles (illustration) (from List of mythological objects)
Image 651929 Belgian banknote, depicting Ceres, Neptune and caduceus (from Myth)
Image 66Hop-o'-My-Thumb stealing the Seven-league boots from the Ogre, by Gustave Doré (from List of mythological objects)
Image 67seven angels with seven trumpets (from List of mythological objects)
Image 68Snake and world egg of the inhabitants of Tyre (from List of mythological objects)
Image 69The Argo (c. 1500 – 1530), painting by Lorenzo Costa (from List of mythological objects)
Image 70Fountain of Youth (from List of mythological objects)
Image 71Achilles wearing his armor (from List of mythological objects)
Image 72The Flying Dutchman (from List of mythological objects)
Image 73Golem and Loew (from List of mythological objects)
Image 74Symbolic power: a dragon in the Imperial City, Huế, Vietnam (from Legendary creature)
Image 75The 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 76Ancient 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 77Greek God Kronos/Saturnus with sickle (from List of mythological objects)
Image 78Jug from Lydian Treasure Usak (from List of mythological objects)
Image 79Rectangular tablets passed down by the Hand of God in the 10th century Byzantine Leo Bible (from List of mythological objects)
Image 80Riding a Flying Carpet, an 1880 painting by Viktor Vasnetsov (from List of mythological objects)
Image 81The Dispute of Minerva and Neptune (c. 1689 or 1706) by René-Antoine Houasse, depicting the founding myth of Athens (from National myth)
Image 82Killing of Ravana Painting by Brahmstra of Arrow of Brahma (from List of mythological objects)
Image 8314th century Goryeo painting of Ksitigarbha holding a cintamani (from List of mythological objects)
Image 84A 19th-century drawing of Sun Wukong featuring his staff (from List of mythological objects)
Image 85Shiva with his Trishula (from List of mythological objects)