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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In Norse mythology, Gerðr (Old Norse: [ˈɡerðz̠]; "fenced-in") is a jötunn, goddess, and the wife of the god Freyr. Gerðr is attested in the Poetic Edda, compiled in the 13th century from earlier traditional sources; the Prose Edda and Heimskringla, written in the 13th century by Snorri Sturluson; and in the poetry of skalds. Gerðr is sometimes modernly anglicized as Gerd or Gerth.

In both the Poetic Edda and the Prose Edda, Freyr sees Gerðr from a distance, becomes deeply lovesick at the sight of her shimmering beauty, and has his servant Skírnir go to Jötunheimr (where Gerðr and her father Gymir reside) to gain her love. In the Poetic Edda Gerðr initially refuses, yet after a series of threats by Skírnir she is forced to yield. In the Prose Edda, no mention of threats is made. In both sources, Gerðr agrees to meet Freyr at a fixed time at the location of Barri and, after Skírnir returns with Gerðr's response, Freyr laments that the meeting could not occur sooner. In both the Poetic Edda and the Prose Edda, Gerðr is described as the daughter of Gymir and the jötunn Aurboða. (Full article...)

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... that the demon Maha Sohona, whose head has been replaced with that of a bear, haunts graveyards and feasts on human flesh?

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

... that in Hopi mythology, the Kachina Nataska enforces good behavior among children?

...that Apaliunas, a Luwian deity of Wilusa (Troy) attested among gods in a treaty inscription, ca. 1280 BCE, is a likely precursor of Apollo of Greek mythology?

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Centauress, by John La Farge

A centaur (/ˈsɛntɔːr, ˈsɛntɑːr/ SEN-tor, SEN-tar; Ancient Greek: κένταυρος, romanized: kéntauros; Latin: centaurus), occasionally hippocentaur, also called Ixionidae (Ancient Greek: Ἰξιονίδαι, romanized: Ixionídai, lit. 'sons of Ixion'), is a creature from Greek mythology with the upper body of a human and the lower body and legs of a horse that was said to live in the mountains of Thessaly. In one version of the myth, the centaurs were named after Centaurus, and, through his brother Lapithes, were kin to the legendary tribe of the Lapiths.

Centaurs are thought of in many Greek myths as being as wild as untamed horses, and were said to have inhabited the region of Magnesia and Mount Pelion in Thessaly, the Foloi oak forest in Elis, and the Malean peninsula in southern Laconia. Centaurs are subsequently featured in Roman mythology, and were familiar figures in the medieval bestiary. They remain a staple of modern fantastic literature. (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) Unicorn Serpent (symbolism) Anzû Cerberus

General images

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

Image 1Väinämöinen, 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 2Adam's Bridge also called as Rama Setu (from List of mythological objects)
Image 3Yama advances to smite Ravana with the weapon of death (from List of mythological objects)
Image 4Lord 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 5Erlang Shen (二郎神), or Erlang is a Chinese God with his spear (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 7Achilles wearing his armor (from List of mythological objects)
Image 8The Fall of the Titans (1596–98) by Cornelis Cornelisz van Haarlem (from Comparative mythology)
Image 9The Flying Dutchman (from List of mythological objects)
Image 101929 Belgian banknote, depicting Ceres, Neptune and caduceus (from Myth)
Image 11Claíomh Solais on an Ireland stamp printed in 1922 (from List of mythological objects)
Image 12Image 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 13Thor kicks Litr onto Baldr's Hringhorni, illustration by Emil Doepler (ca. 1905) (from List of mythological objects)
Image 14Hanuman fetches the herb-bearing mountain, in a print from the Ravi Varma Press, 1910's (from List of mythological objects)
Image 15Vishnu holding his legendary sword Nandaka (from List of mythological objects)
Image 16Early Hebrew Conception of the Universe (from List of mythological objects)
Image 17Several mythical creatures from Bilderbuch für Kinder (lit. 'picture book for children') between 1790 and 1822, by Friedrich Justin Bertuch (from Legendary creature)
Image 18Jacob blesses Joseph and gives him the coat of many colors (from List of mythological objects)
Image 19Amenonuhoko (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 20Riding a Flying Carpet, an 1880 painting by Viktor Vasnetsov (from List of mythological objects)
Image 21Longinus with his famous Spear (from List of mythological objects)
Image 22An angel (Camael) expelling Adam and Eve with a flaming sword (from List of mythological objects)
Image 23Greek God Kronos/Saturnus with sickle (from List of mythological objects)
Image 24Myths and legends of Babylonia and Assyria (1916) (from Myth)
Image 25Golden cosmic egg Hiranyagarbha by Manaku (from List of mythological objects)
Image 26Rectangular tablets passed down by the Hand of God in the 10th century Byzantine Leo Bible (from List of mythological objects)
Image 27Odysseus Overcome by Demodocus' Song, a mythological painting by Francesco Hayez, 1813–1815 (from Myth)
Image 28Thor wearing the magic belt Megingjörð (from List of mythological objects)
Image 29Ahimelech giving the sword of Goliath to David, by Aert de Gelder. (from List of mythological objects)
Image 30Azoth, a universal medicine or universal solvent sought in alchemy. (Medieval legend) (from List of mythological objects)
Image 31Giza pyramids (from List of mythological objects)
Image 32Fortune Wheel (from List of mythological objects)
Image 33King Svafrlame Secures the Sword Tyrfing (from List of mythological objects)
Image 34Artist's impressions of the (unseen) Imperial Regalia of Japan (from List of mythological objects)
Image 35Jug from Lydian Treasure Usak (from List of mythological objects)
Image 36Shiva with his Trishula (from List of mythological objects)
Image 37Ancient Sumerian cylinder seal impression showing the god Dumuzid being tortured in the Underworld by galla demons (from Comparative mythology)
Image 38Aura, a field of luminous radiation surrounding a person or object (from List of mythological objects)
Image 39Symbolic power: a dragon in the Imperial City, Huế, Vietnam (from Legendary creature)
Image 40The Celestial Chariot, Pushpaka Vimana from Ramayana (from List of mythological objects)
Image 41The Honest Woodcutter, also known as Mercury and the Woodman and his famous Golden Axe (from List of mythological objects)
Image 42The Ash Yggdrasil by Friedrich Wilhelm Heine (from List of mythological objects)
Image 43Pied piper (from List of mythological objects)
Image 44Vishnu with his Panchajanya (from List of mythological objects)
Image 45Killing of Ravana Painting by Brahmstra of Arrow of Brahma (from List of mythological objects)
Image 46Lichas bringing the garment of Nessus to Hercules (from List of mythological objects)
Image 47The Argo (c. 1500 – 1530), painting by Lorenzo Costa (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 49Holy Robe in Trier (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 51Fountain of Youth (from List of mythological objects)
Image 52Tor's Fight with the Giants (1872) by Mårten Eskil Winge. Thor is the god of thunder in Norse mythology. (from Myth)
Image 53Edith Hamilton's Mythology has been a major channel for English speakers to learn classical Greek and Roman mythology (from Myth)
Image 54The famous sword of Excalibur painted by Howard Pyle (from List of mythological objects)
Image 55Sampo, 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 56Heracles 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 57The Shrine of the Three Kings in Cologne Cathedral (from List of mythological objects)
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 59Ballads of bravery (1877) part of Arthurian mythology (from Myth)
Image 60Veronica holding her veil, Hans Memling, c. 1470 (from List of mythological objects)
Image 61Golem and Loew (from List of mythological objects)
Image 6214th century Goryeo painting of Ksitigarbha holding a cintamani (from List of mythological objects)
Image 63"Tizona", the sword attributed to El Cid, on exhibit in the Army Museum of Madrid (from List of mythological objects)
Image 64The 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 65The 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 66Fig trees often represent talismans with the udumbara (from List of mythological objects)
Image 67Houyi, the God of Archery (from List of mythological objects)
Image 68The Dispute of Minerva and Neptune (c. 1689 or 1706) by René-Antoine Houasse, depicting the founding myth of Athens (from National myth)
Image 69Surya on His Celestial Chariot (from List of mythological objects)
Image 70Joan of Arc with her famous sword (from List of mythological objects)
Image 71The fall of Icarus (from List of mythological objects)
Image 72This 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 73Dietrich von Bern and Hildebrand fight against dragons (from List of mythological objects)
Image 74Voodoo doll with pins in it, Museum of Witchcraft (from List of mythological objects)
Image 75The Crown of Immortality, held by the allegorical figure Eterna (Eternity) (from List of mythological objects)
Image 76Snake and world egg of the inhabitants of Tyre (from List of mythological objects)
Image 77Opening 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 78Prometheus (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 79Hand of God (from List of mythological objects)
Image 80Shield of Achilles (illustration) (from List of mythological objects)
Image 81Yama with his famous Yama Pasha (from List of mythological objects)
Image 82Goetia seal of solomon (from List of mythological objects)
Image 83seven angels with seven trumpets (from List of mythological objects)
Image 84Jason returns with Golden fleece (from List of mythological objects)
Image 85As 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 86A 19th-century drawing of Sun Wukong featuring his staff (from List of mythological objects)
Image 87Tissot Moses and Joshua in the Tabernacle (from List of mythological objects)
Image 88The 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 89Perillos being forced into the brazen bull that he built for Phalaris (from List of mythological objects)