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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In Norse mythology, a valkyrie (from Old Norse: valkyrja, lit. 'chooser of the slain') is one of a host of female figures who guide souls of the dead to the god Odin's hall Valhalla. There, the deceased warriors become einherjar (Old Norse "single (or once) fighters"). When the einherjar are not preparing for the cataclysmic events of Ragnarök, the valkyries bear them mead. Valkyries also appear as lovers of heroes and other mortals, where they are sometimes described as the daughters of royalty, sometimes accompanied by ravens and sometimes connected to swans or horses.

Valkyries are attested in the Poetic Edda (a book of poems compiled in the 13th century from earlier traditional sources), the Prose Edda, the Heimskringla (both by Snorri Sturluson) and the Njáls saga (one of the Sagas of Icelanders), all written—or compiled—in the 13th century. They appear throughout the poetry of skalds, in a 14th-century charm, and in various runic inscriptions. (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 Inuit mythology, an Angakkuq, or shaman, is told to be able to fly with the assistance of a spirit companion, or tuurngaq?

...that Tlahuizcalpantecuhtli (pictured) was the god of the planet Venus in Aztec belief?

...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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In Greek mythology, sirens (Ancient Greek: singular: Σειρήν, Seirḗn; plural: Σειρῆνες, Seirênes) are humanlike beings with alluring voices; they appear in a scene in the Odyssey in which Odysseus saves his crew's lives. Roman poets place them on some small islands called Sirenum scopuli. In some later, rationalized traditions, the literal geography of the "flowery" island of Anthemoessa, or Anthemusa, is fixed: sometimes on Cape Pelorum and at others in the islands known as the Sirenuse, near Paestum, or in Capreae. All such locations were surrounded by cliffs and rocks.

Sirens continued to be used as a symbol for the dangerous temptation embodied by women regularly throughout Christian art of the medieval era. "Siren" can also be used as a slang term for a woman considered both very attractive and dangerous. (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 Hippocampus (mythology) Phoenix (mythology) Centaur Unicorn Serpent (symbolism) Anzû Cerberus

General images

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

Image 1The Flying Dutchman (from List of mythological objects)
Image 2Goetia seal of solomon (from List of mythological objects)
Image 3Edith Hamilton's Mythology has been a major channel for English speakers to learn classical Greek and Roman mythology (from Myth)
Image 4Sampo, 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 5The Celestial Chariot, Pushpaka Vimana from Ramayana (from List of mythological objects)
Image 6Several mythical creatures from Bilderbuch für Kinder (lit. 'picture book for children') between 1790 and 1822, by Friedrich Justin Bertuch (from Legendary creature)
Image 7Claíomh Solais on an Ireland stamp printed in 1922 (from List of mythological objects)
Image 8"The Fall of Man" by Lucas Cranach the Elder and the Tree of Knowledge is on the right (from List of mythological objects)
Image 9Early Hebrew Conception of the Universe (from List of mythological objects)
Image 10Jug from Lydian Treasure Usak (from List of mythological objects)
Image 11Azoth, a universal medicine or universal solvent sought in alchemy. (Medieval legend) (from List of mythological objects)
Image 12Lord 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 13Väinämöinen, 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 14Houyi, the God of Archery (from List of mythological objects)
Image 15Perillos being forced into the brazen bull that he built for Phalaris (from List of mythological objects)
Image 16As 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 17The Shrine of the Three Kings in Cologne Cathedral (from List of mythological objects)
Image 18The 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 19Tissot Moses and Joshua in the Tabernacle (from List of mythological objects)
Image 20Greek God Kronos/Saturnus with sickle (from List of mythological objects)
Image 21Golden cosmic egg Hiranyagarbha by Manaku (from List of mythological objects)
Image 22seven angels with seven trumpets (from List of mythological objects)
Image 23Ancient Sumerian cylinder seal impression showing the god Dumuzid being tortured in the Underworld by galla demons (from Comparative mythology)
Image 24Shiva with his Trishula (from List of mythological objects)
Image 25This 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 26Joan of Arc with her famous sword (from List of mythological objects)
Image 27The 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 28Vishnu with his Panchajanya (from List of mythological objects)
Image 29Jason returns with Golden fleece (from List of mythological objects)
Image 30Surya on His Celestial Chariot (from List of mythological objects)
Image 31Dietrich von Bern and Hildebrand fight against dragons (from List of mythological objects)
Image 32Adam's Bridge also called as Rama Setu (from List of mythological objects)
Image 33Snake and world egg of the inhabitants of Tyre (from List of mythological objects)
Image 34A 19th-century drawing of Sun Wukong featuring his staff (from List of mythological objects)
Image 35Voodoo doll with pins in it, Museum of Witchcraft (from List of mythological objects)
Image 3614th century Goryeo painting of Ksitigarbha holding a cintamani (from List of mythological objects)
Image 37"Tizona", the sword attributed to El Cid, on exhibit in the Army Museum of Madrid (from List of mythological objects)
Image 38The 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 39Symbolic power: a dragon in the Imperial City, Huế, Vietnam (from Legendary creature)
Image 40Killing of Ravana Painting by Brahmstra of Arrow of Brahma (from List of mythological objects)
Image 41Heracles 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 42The Honest Woodcutter, also known as Mercury and the Woodman and his famous Golden Axe (from List of mythological objects)
Image 43Image 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 44Thor kicks Litr onto Baldr's Hringhorni, illustration by Emil Doepler (ca. 1905) (from List of mythological objects)
Image 45An angel (Camael) expelling Adam and Eve with a flaming sword (from List of mythological objects)
Image 46Fountain of Youth (from List of mythological objects)
Image 47Rectangular tablets passed down by the Hand of God in the 10th century Byzantine Leo Bible (from List of mythological objects)
Image 48Erlang Shen (二郎神), or Erlang is a Chinese God with his spear (from List of mythological objects)
Image 49Longinus with his famous Spear (from List of mythological objects)
Image 50Shield of Achilles (illustration) (from List of mythological objects)
Image 51The fall of Icarus (from List of mythological objects)
Image 52Ballads of bravery (1877) part of Arthurian mythology (from Myth)
Image 53The Dispute of Minerva and Neptune (c. 1689 or 1706) by René-Antoine Houasse, depicting the founding myth of Athens (from National myth)
Image 54Fig trees often represent talismans with the udumbara (from List of mythological objects)
Image 55Ahimelech giving the sword of Goliath to David, by Aert de Gelder. (from List of mythological objects)
Image 56Hanuman fetches the herb-bearing mountain, in a print from the Ravi Varma Press, 1910's (from List of mythological objects)
Image 57The Crown of Immortality, held by the allegorical figure Eterna (Eternity) (from List of mythological objects)
Image 58Ancient 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 59Artist's impressions of the (unseen) Imperial Regalia of Japan (from List of mythological objects)
Image 60Golem and Loew (from List of mythological objects)
Image 61Holy Robe in Trier (from List of mythological objects)
Image 62Amenonuhoko (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 63Pied piper (from List of mythological objects)
Image 64Yama with his famous Yama Pasha (from List of mythological objects)
Image 65The Ash Yggdrasil by Friedrich Wilhelm Heine (from List of mythological objects)
Image 66Fortune Wheel (from List of mythological objects)
Image 67The famous sword of Excalibur painted by Howard Pyle (from List of mythological objects)
Image 68Hand of God (from List of mythological objects)
Image 69The Argo (c. 1500 – 1530), painting by Lorenzo Costa (from List of mythological objects)
Image 70Jacob blesses Joseph and gives him the coat of many colors (from List of mythological objects)
Image 71 Odysseus Overcome by Demodocus' Song, by Francesco Hayez, 1813–1815 (from Myth)
Image 72Prometheus (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 73The Fall of the Titans (1596–98) by Cornelis Cornelisz van Haarlem (from Comparative mythology)
Image 74King Svafrlame Secures the Sword Tyrfing (from List of mythological objects)
Image 75Lichas bringing the garment of Nessus to Hercules (from List of mythological objects)
Image 76The 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 77Myths and legends of Babylonia and Assyria (1916) (from Myth)
Image 78Riding a Flying Carpet, an 1880 painting by Viktor Vasnetsov (from List of mythological objects)
Image 791929 Belgian banknote, depicting Ceres, Neptune and caduceus (from Myth)
Image 80Opening 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 81Vishnu holding his legendary sword Nandaka (from List of mythological objects)
Image 82Veronica holding her veil, Hans Memling, c. 1470 (from List of mythological objects)
Image 83Thor wearing the magic belt Megingjörð (from List of mythological objects)
Image 84Aura, a field of luminous radiation surrounding a person or object (from List of mythological objects)
Image 85Hop-o'-My-Thumb stealing the Seven-league boots from the Ogre, by Gustave Doré (from List of mythological objects)
Image 86Giza pyramids (from List of mythological objects)
Image 87Achilles wearing his armor (from List of mythological objects)