Portal:Myths

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Myth is a genre of folklore or theology consisting primarily of narratives that play a fundamental role in a society, such as foundational tales or origin myths. For folklorists, historians, philosophers or theologians this is very different from the use of "myth" simply indicating that something 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...)

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Basohli miniature, c. 1730. National Museum, New Delhi

Ganesha (Sanskrit: गणेश, IAST: Gaṇeśa), also spelled Ganesh, and also known as Ganapati, Vinayaka, and Pillaiyar, is one of the best-known and most worshipped deities in the Hindu pantheon and is the Supreme God in the Ganapatya sect. His depictions are found throughout India. Hindu denominations worship him regardless of affiliations. Devotion to Ganesha is widely diffused and extends to Jains and Buddhists and beyond India.

Although Ganesha has many attributes, he is readily identified by his elephant head and four arms. He is widely revered, more specifically, as the remover of obstacles and thought to bring good luck; the patron of arts and sciences; and the deva of intellect and wisdom. As the god of beginnings, he is honoured at the start of rites and ceremonies. Ganesha is also invoked as a patron of letters and learning during writing sessions. Several texts relate anecdotes associated with his birth and exploits. (Full article...)

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... that the legend of Sumbha and Nisumbha, demons from Hindu mythology, is used as a warning against the dangers of seduction in Shashi Tharoor's novel The Great Indian Novel?

...that Ewale a Mbedi may have been the first Duala leader to trade with Europeans in Cameroon?

... that the pre-Columbian Zapotec storm god Cocijo was said to have created the world from his breath?

... that the worshippers of Xipe Totec (pictured), the Aztec god of renewal, wore the flayed skins of their sacrificial victims?

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

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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 11929 Belgian banknote, depicting Ceres, Neptune and caduceus (from Myth)
Image 2Giza pyramids (from List of mythological objects)
Image 3The 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 4Ancient 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 5Jacob blesses Joseph and gives him the coat of many colors (from List of mythological objects)
Image 6Hop-o'-My-Thumb stealing the Seven-league boots from the Ogre, by Gustave Doré (from List of mythological objects)
Image 7Golem and Loew (from List of mythological objects)
Image 8Vishnu holding his legendary sword Nandaka (from List of mythological objects)
Image 9The Honest Woodcutter, also known as Mercury and the Woodman and his famous Golden Axe (from List of mythological objects)
Image 10Goetia seal of solomon (from List of mythological objects)
Image 11Killing of Ravana Painting by Brahmstra of Arrow of Brahma (from List of mythological objects)
Image 12Hanuman fetches the herb-bearing mountain, in a print from the Ravi Varma Press, 1910's (from List of mythological objects)
Image 13Fountain of Youth (from List of mythological objects)
Image 14An angel (Camael) expelling Adam and Eve with a flaming sword (from List of mythological objects)
Image 15Lichas bringing the garment of Nessus to Hercules (from List of mythological objects)
Image 16Rectangular tablets passed down by the Hand of God in the 10th century Byzantine Leo Bible (from List of mythological objects)
Image 17Yama with his famous Yama Pasha (from List of mythological objects)
Image 18Prometheus (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 19The Fall of the Titans (1596–98) by Cornelis Cornelisz van Haarlem (from Comparative mythology)
Image 20Ahimelech giving the sword of Goliath to David, by Aert de Gelder. (from List of mythological objects)
Image 21Thor kicks Litr onto Baldr's Hringhorni, illustration by Emil Doepler (ca. 1905) (from List of mythological objects)
Image 22"Tizona", the sword attributed to El Cid, on exhibit in the Army Museum of Madrid (from List of mythological objects)
Image 23Shiva with his Trishula (from List of mythological objects)
Image 24Greek God Kronos/Saturnus with sickle (from List of mythological objects)
Image 25The Flying Dutchman (from List of mythological objects)
Image 26The 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 27Sampo, 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 28Dietrich von Bern and Hildebrand fight against dragons (from List of mythological objects)
Image 2914th century Goryeo painting of Ksitigarbha holding a cintamani (from List of mythological objects)
Image 30Shield of Achilles (illustration) (from List of mythological objects)
Image 31Snake and world egg of the inhabitants of Tyre (from List of mythological objects)
Image 32seven angels with seven trumpets (from List of mythological objects)
Image 33Edith Hamilton's Mythology has been a major channel for English speakers to learn classical Greek and Roman mythology (from Myth)
Image 34Azoth, a universal medicine or universal solvent sought in alchemy. (Medieval legend) (from List of mythological objects)
Image 35Riding a Flying Carpet, an 1880 painting by Viktor Vasnetsov (from List of mythological objects)
Image 36Myths and legends of Babylonia and Assyria (1916) (from Myth)
Image 37Jason returns with Golden fleece (from List of mythological objects)
Image 38The Crown of Immortality, held by the allegorical figure Eterna (Eternity) (from List of mythological objects)
Image 39Fortune Wheel (from List of mythological objects)
Image 40Ballads of bravery (1877) part of Arthurian mythology (from Myth)
Image 41Image 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 42As 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 43Houyi, the God of Archery (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 45The Dispute of Minerva and Neptune (c. 1689 or 1706) by René-Antoine Houasse, depicting the founding myth of Athens (from National myth)
Image 46Several mythical creatures from Bilderbuch für Kinder (lit. 'picture book for children') between 1790 and 1822, by Friedrich Justin Bertuch (from Legendary creature)
Image 47Symbolic power: a dragon in the Imperial City, Huế, Vietnam (from Legendary creature)
Image 48Veronica holding her veil, Hans Memling, c. 1470 (from List of mythological objects)
Image 49 Odysseus Overcome by Demodocus' Song, by Francesco Hayez, 1813–1815 (from Myth)
Image 50Erlang Shen (二郎神), or Erlang is a Chinese God with his spear (from List of mythological objects)
Image 51The famous sword of Excalibur painted by Howard Pyle (from List of mythological objects)
Image 52Opening 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 53Adam's Bridge also called as Rama Setu (from List of mythological objects)
Image 54Amenonuhoko (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 55Väinämöinen, 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 56Holy Robe in Trier (from List of mythological objects)
Image 57Voodoo doll with pins in it, Museum of Witchcraft (from List of mythological objects)
Image 58Longinus with his famous Spear (from List of mythological objects)
Image 59Claíomh Solais on an Ireland stamp printed in 1922 (from List of mythological objects)
Image 60Perillos being forced into the brazen bull that he built for Phalaris (from List of mythological objects)
Image 61The Shrine of the Three Kings in Cologne Cathedral (from List of mythological objects)
Image 62"The Fall of Man" by Lucas Cranach the Elder and the Tree of Knowledge is on the right (from List of mythological objects)
Image 63This 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 64Aura, a field of luminous radiation surrounding a person or object (from List of mythological objects)
Image 65Heracles 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 66Pied piper (from List of mythological objects)
Image 67Achilles wearing his armor (from List of mythological objects)
Image 68Jug from Lydian Treasure Usak (from List of mythological objects)
Image 69Fig trees often represent talismans with the udumbara (from List of mythological objects)
Image 70The 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 71Golden cosmic egg Hiranyagarbha by Manaku (from List of mythological objects)
Image 72Vishnu with his Panchajanya (from List of mythological objects)
Image 73The Celestial Chariot, Pushpaka Vimana from Ramayana (from List of mythological objects)
Image 74The fall of Icarus (from List of mythological objects)
Image 75The Ash Yggdrasil by Friedrich Wilhelm Heine (from List of mythological objects)
Image 76Ancient Sumerian cylinder seal impression showing the god Dumuzid being tortured in the Underworld by galla demons (from Comparative mythology)
Image 77King Svafrlame Secures the Sword Tyrfing (from List of mythological objects)
Image 78Joan of Arc with her famous sword (from List of mythological objects)
Image 79Lord 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 80Tissot Moses and Joshua in the Tabernacle (from List of mythological objects)
Image 81The Argo (c. 1500 – 1530), painting by Lorenzo Costa (from List of mythological objects)
Image 82Thor wearing the magic belt Megingjörð (from List of mythological objects)
Image 83Artist's impressions of the (unseen) Imperial Regalia of Japan (from List of mythological objects)
Image 84Hand of God (from List of mythological objects)
Image 85Surya on His Celestial Chariot (from List of mythological objects)
Image 86Early Hebrew Conception of the Universe (from List of mythological objects)
Image 87A 19th-century drawing of Sun Wukong featuring his staff (from List of mythological objects)