Portal:Myths

The Myths Portal

Myth is a genre of folklore consisting primarily of narratives that play a fundamental role in a society. For scholars, this is totally different from the ordinary sense of the term myth, meaning a belief that is not true, as the veracity of a piece of folklore is entirely irrelevant to determining whether it constitutes a myth.

Myths are often endorsed by religious and secular authorities, and may be natural or supernatural in character. 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...)

Refresh with new selections below (purge)

Selected article - show another

Inscription of lines 468–473, Book I. Dated 400‍–‍500 AD, from Egypt, on display at the British Museum

The Iliad (/ˈɪliəd/ ^ⓘ; Ancient Greek: Ἰλιάς, romanized: Iliás, [iː.li.ás]; lit. '[a poem] about Ilion (Troy)') is one of two major ancient Greek epic poems attributed to Homer. It is one of the oldest extant works of literature still widely read by modern audiences. Like the Odyssey, the poem is divided into 24 books and was written in dactylic hexameter. It contains 15,693 lines in its most widely accepted version. The Iliad is often regarded as the first substantial piece of European literature and is a central part of the Epic Cycle.

Set toward the end of the Trojan War, a 10-year siege of the city of Troy by a coalition of Mycenaean Greek states, the poem depicts significant events in the war's final weeks. In particular, it traces the anger (μῆνις) of Achilles, a celebrated warrior, from a fierce quarrel between him and King Agamemnon, to the death of the Trojan prince Hector. The narrative moves between wide battleground scenes and more personal interactions. (Full article...)

List of selected articles

Did you know? - show different entries

... that Tamil Hindu parents dedicate their one-month-old children to the goddess Periyachi (pictured), who is depicted ripping a woman's womb?

... that the supreme god of the southern African Bushmen is Cagn, a trickster who shapeshifts into a praying mantis?

...that Maximón, a saint venerated in the highlands of Guatemala, drinks whiskey, smokes cigarettes and grants prayers for revenge?

...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

Fenrir (Old Norse 'fen-dweller') or Fenrisúlfr (Old Norse "Fenrir's wolf", often translated "Fenris-wolf"), also referred to as Hróðvitnir (Old Norse "fame-wolf") and Vánagandr (Old Norse 'monster of the [River] Ván'), is a monstrous wolf in Norse mythology. In Old Norse texts, Fenrir plays a key role during the events of Ragnarök, where he is foretold to assist in setting the world aflame, resulting in the collapse of humanity and society, and killing the god Odin.

Fenrir, along with Hel and Jörmungandr, is a child of Loki and female jötunn Angrboða. He is attested in the Poetic Edda, compiled in the 13th century from earlier traditional sources, and the Prose Edda and Heimskringla, composed in the 13th century. In both the Poetic Edda and Prose Edda, Fenrir is the father of the wolves Sköll and Hati Hróðvitnisson, is a son of Loki and is foretold to kill the god Odin during the events of Ragnarök, but will in turn be killed by Odin's son Víðarr. (Full article...)

List of selected creatures

General images

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

Image 1Prometheus (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 2Azoth, a universal medicine or universal solvent sought in alchemy. (Medieval legend) (from List of mythological objects)
Image 3The Fall of the Titans (1596–98) by Cornelis Cornelisz van Haarlem (from Comparative mythology)
Image 4Perillos being forced into the brazen bull that he built for Phalaris (from List of mythological objects)
Image 5Thor kicks Litr onto Baldr's Hringhorni, illustration by Emil Doepler (ca. 1905) (from List of mythological objects)
Image 6Odysseus Overcome by Demodocus' Song, a mythological painting by Francesco Hayez, 1813–1815 (from Myth)
Image 7Early Hebrew Conception of the Universe (from List of mythological objects)
Image 8Rectangular tablets passed down by the Hand of God in the 10th century Byzantine Leo Bible (from List of mythological objects)
Image 9Hanuman fetches the herb-bearing mountain, in a print from the Ravi Varma Press, 1910's (from List of mythological objects)
Image 10As 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 11Myths and legends of Babylonia and Assyria (1916) (from Myth)
Image 12Pied piper (from List of mythological objects)
Image 13Edith Hamilton's Mythology has been a major channel for English speakers to learn classical Greek and Roman mythology (from Myth)
Image 14Joan of Arc with her famous sword (from List of mythological objects)
Image 15"The Fall of Man" by Lucas Cranach the Elder and the Tree of Knowledge is on the right (from List of mythological objects)
Image 16Lichas bringing the garment of Nessus to Hercules (from List of mythological objects)
Image 17Voodoo doll with pins in it, Museum of Witchcraft (from List of mythological objects)
Image 18Väinämöinen, 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 19Shiva with his Trishula (from List of mythological objects)
Image 20King Svafrlame Secures the Sword Tyrfing (from List of mythological objects)
Image 21Lord 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 22Thor wearing the magic belt Megingjörð (from List of mythological objects)
Image 23Jacob blesses Joseph and gives him the coat of many colors (from List of mythological objects)
Image 24The famous sword of Excalibur painted by Howard Pyle (from List of mythological objects)
Image 25Ahimelech giving the sword of Goliath to David, by Aert de Gelder. (from List of mythological objects)
Image 26The Dispute of Minerva and Neptune (c. 1689 or 1706) by René-Antoine Houasse, depicting the founding myth of Athens (from National myth)
Image 271929 Belgian banknote, depicting Ceres, Neptune and caduceus (from Myth)
Image 28The Ash Yggdrasil by Friedrich Wilhelm Heine (from List of mythological objects)
Image 29Jason returns with Golden fleece (from List of mythological objects)
Image 30Fig trees often represent talismans with the udumbara (from List of mythological objects)
Image 31Vishnu holding his legendary sword Nandaka (from List of mythological objects)
Image 32The fall of Icarus (from List of mythological objects)
Image 33Tissot Moses and Joshua in the Tabernacle (from List of mythological objects)
Image 34Vishnu with his Panchajanya (from List of mythological objects)
Image 35The Honest Woodcutter, also known as Mercury and the Woodman and his famous Golden Axe (from List of mythological objects)
Image 36Longinus with his famous Spear (from List of mythological objects)
Image 37Snake and world egg of the inhabitants of Tyre (from List of mythological objects)
Image 38Golden cosmic egg Hiranyagarbha by Manaku (from List of mythological objects)
Image 3914th century Goryeo painting of Ksitigarbha holding a cintamani (from List of mythological objects)
Image 40Ancient 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 41Golem and Loew (from List of mythological objects)
Image 42Erlang Shen (二郎神), or Erlang is a Chinese God with his spear (from List of mythological objects)
Image 43Yama advances to smite Ravana with the weapon of death (from List of mythological objects)
Image 44The 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 45Sampo, 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 46"Tizona", the sword attributed to El Cid, on exhibit in the Army Museum of Madrid (from List of mythological objects)
Image 47Claíomh Solais on an Ireland stamp printed in 1922 (from List of mythological objects)
Image 48Fortune Wheel (from List of mythological objects)
Image 49The Crown of Immortality, held by the allegorical figure Eterna (Eternity) (from List of mythological objects)
Image 50Houyi, the God of Archery (from List of mythological objects)
Image 51The 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 52Hop-o'-My-Thumb stealing the Seven-league boots from the Ogre, by Gustave Doré (from List of mythological objects)
Image 53Opening lines of one of the Mabinogi myths from the Red Book of Hergest (written pre-13th century, 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 54Several legendary creatures from Bilderbuch für Kinder (lit. 'picture book for children') between 1790 and 1822, by Friedrich Justin Bertuch (from Legendary creature)
Image 55Ancient Sumerian cylinder seal impression showing the god Dumuzid being tortured in the Underworld by galla demons (from Comparative mythology)
Image 56Goetia seal of solomon (from List of mythological objects)
Image 57This 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 58Holy Robe in Trier (from List of mythological objects)
Image 59Achilles wearing his armor (from List of mythological objects)
Image 60Fountain of Youth (from List of mythological objects)
Image 61Adam's Bridge also called as Rama Setu (from List of mythological objects)
Image 62Killing of Ravana Painting by Brahmstra of Arrow of Brahma (from List of mythological objects)
Image 63Hand of God (from List of mythological objects)
Image 64Shield of Achilles (illustration) (from List of mythological objects)
Image 65Ballads of bravery (1877) part of Arthurian mythology (from Myth)
Image 66The Argo (c. 1500 – 1530), painting by Lorenzo Costa (from List of mythological objects)
Image 67A 19th-century drawing of Sun Wukong featuring his staff (from List of mythological objects)
Image 68Amenonuhoko (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 69Giza pyramids (from List of mythological objects)
Image 70Symbolic power: a dragon in the Imperial City, Huế, Vietnam (from Legendary creature)
Image 71Aura, a field of luminous radiation surrounding a person or object (from List of mythological objects)
Image 72Jug from Lydian Treasure Usak (from List of mythological objects)
Image 73Veronica holding her veil, Hans Memling, c. 1470 (from List of mythological objects)
Image 74Surya on His Celestial Chariot (from List of mythological objects)
Image 75Artist's impressions of the (unseen) Imperial Regalia of Japan (from List of mythological objects)
Image 76An angel (Camael) expelling Adam and Eve with a flaming sword (from List of mythological objects)
Image 77Riding a Flying Carpet, an 1880 painting by Viktor Vasnetsov (from List of mythological objects)
Image 78Yama with his famous Yama Pasha (from List of mythological objects)
Image 79seven angels with seven trumpets (from List of mythological objects)
Image 80The Flying Dutchman (from List of mythological objects)
Image 81Thor's Fight with the Giants (1872) by Mårten Eskil Winge. Thor is the god of thunder in Norse mythology. (from Myth)
Image 82The Celestial Chariot, Pushpaka Vimana from Ramayana (from List of mythological objects)
Image 83Greek God Kronos/Saturnus with sickle (from List of mythological objects)
Image 84alt=Spiral hieroglyphic inscriptions on the Phaistos Disc (from Comparative mythology)
Image 85The 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 86Heracles 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 87Image 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 88The Shrine of the Three Kings in Cologne Cathedral (from List of mythological objects)
Image 89The 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 90Dietrich von Bern and Hildebrand fight against dragons (from List of mythological objects)