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 Hindu mythology, there are deities or heroes whose attributes or behavior can be interpreted as lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender (LGBT) or have elements of gender variance and non-heterosexual sexuality. Traditional Hindu literary sources do not speak of homosexuality directly, but changes of sex, homoerotic encounters, and intersex or third gender characters are often found both in traditional religious narratives such as the Vedas, Mahabharata, Ramayana and Puranas as well as in regional folklore.

Hindu mythology has many examples of deities changing gender, manifesting as different genders at different times, or combining to form androgynous or hermaphroditic beings. Gods change sex or manifest as an avatar of the opposite sex in order to facilitate sexual congress. Non-divine beings also undergo sex-changes through the actions of the gods, as the result of curses or blessings, or as the natural outcome of reincarnation. (Full article...)

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... that the Engkanto, a Philippine mythical creature, might be based on early encounters with European friars?

... that, in the lives of saints, the appearance of roses (example pictured) sometimes announces the presence or activity of God?

... that the origin of the Postclassic K'iche' Maya patron deity Jacawitz has been traced back to a historical event at the city of Seibal?

...that in Ovid's Metamorphoses, the love between Acis and Galatea ended when a jealous suitor named Polyphemus killed Acis with a boulder?

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In Norse mythology, Ratatoskr (Old Norse, generally considered to mean "drill-tooth" or "bore-tooth") is a squirrel who runs up and down the world tree Yggdrasil to carry messages between the eagles perched atop it and the serpent Níðhöggr who dwells beneath one of the three roots of the tree. Ratatoskr is attested in the Poetic Edda, compiled in the 13th century from earlier traditional sources, and the Prose Edda, written in the 13th century by Snorri Sturluson. (Full article...)

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Vampire Fenrir Ala (demon) Sharabha Huginn and Muninn Keshi (demon) Nuckelavee 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 1Hand of God (from List of mythological objects)
Image 2The Shrine of the Three Kings in Cologne Cathedral (from List of mythological objects)
Image 3An angel (Camael) expelling Adam and Eve with a flaming sword (from List of mythological objects)
Image 4Voodoo doll with pins in it, Museum of Witchcraft (from List of mythological objects)
Image 5As 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 6Fig trees often represent talismans with the udumbara (from List of mythological objects)
Image 7Surya on His Celestial Chariot (from List of mythological objects)
Image 8Veronica holding her veil, Hans Memling, c. 1470 (from List of mythological objects)
Image 9Shiva with his Trishula (from List of mythological objects)
Image 10Thor wearing the magic belt Megingjörð (from List of mythological objects)
Image 11This 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 12Houyi, the God of Archery (from List of mythological objects)
Image 13Several mythical creatures from Bilderbuch für Kinder (lit. 'picture book for children') between 1790 and 1822, by Friedrich Justin Bertuch (from Legendary creature)
Image 14Lichas bringing the garment of Nessus to Hercules (from List of mythological objects)
Image 15Image 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 16King Svafrlame Secures the Sword Tyrfing (from List of mythological objects)
Image 17Symbolic power: a dragon in the Imperial City, Huế, Vietnam (from Legendary creature)
Image 18Jason returns with Golden fleece (from List of mythological objects)
Image 19Pied piper (from List of mythological objects)
Image 20Prometheus (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 21The Fall of the Titans (1596–98) by Cornelis Cornelisz van Haarlem (from Comparative mythology)
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 23Achilles wearing his armor (from List of mythological objects)
Image 24"The Fall of Man" by Lucas Cranach the Elder and the Tree of Knowledge is on the right (from List of mythological objects)
Image 25Riding a Flying Carpet, an 1880 painting by Viktor Vasnetsov (from List of mythological objects)
Image 26Perillos being forced into the brazen bull that he built for Phalaris (from List of mythological objects)
Image 27The Crown of Immortality, held by the allegorical figure Eterna (Eternity) (from List of mythological objects)
Image 28Jug from Lydian Treasure Usak (from List of mythological objects)
Image 29Hanuman fetches the herb-bearing mountain, in a print from the Ravi Varma Press, 1910's (from List of mythological objects)
Image 30Golem and Loew (from List of mythological objects)
Image 31Vishnu with his Panchajanya (from List of mythological objects)
Image 32Ballads of bravery (1877) part of Arthurian mythology (from Myth)
Image 33Giza pyramids (from List of mythological objects)
Image 34Lord 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 35Fortune Wheel (from List of mythological objects)
Image 36A 19th-century drawing of Sun Wukong featuring his staff (from List of mythological objects)
Image 37Adam's Bridge also called as Rama Setu (from List of mythological objects)
Image 38The Celestial Chariot, Pushpaka Vimana from Ramayana (from List of mythological objects)
Image 39Tissot Moses and Joshua in the Tabernacle (from List of mythological objects)
Image 40The Argo (c. 1500 – 1530), painting by Lorenzo Costa (from List of mythological objects)
Image 41 Odysseus Overcome by Demodocus' Song, by Francesco Hayez, 1813–1815 (from Myth)
Image 42Heracles 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 43The Ash Yggdrasil by Friedrich Wilhelm Heine (from List of mythological objects)
Image 44Hop-o'-My-Thumb stealing the Seven-league boots from the Ogre, by Gustave Doré (from List of mythological objects)
Image 45Rectangular tablets passed down by the Hand of God in the 10th century Byzantine Leo Bible (from List of mythological objects)
Image 46The Flying Dutchman (from List of mythological objects)
Image 47Shield of Achilles (illustration) (from List of mythological objects)
Image 48The famous sword of Excalibur painted by Howard Pyle (from List of mythological objects)
Image 49Dietrich von Bern and Hildebrand fight against dragons (from List of mythological objects)
Image 50Erlang Shen (二郎神), or Erlang is a Chinese God with his spear (from List of mythological objects)
Image 51Greek God Kronos/Saturnus with sickle (from List of mythological objects)
Image 52The Dispute of Minerva and Neptune (c. 1689 or 1706) by René-Antoine Houasse, depicting the founding myth of Athens (from National myth)
Image 53Jacob blesses Joseph and gives him the coat of many colors (from List of mythological objects)
Image 54Väinämöinen, 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 5514th century Goryeo painting of Ksitigarbha holding a cintamani (from List of mythological objects)
Image 56The Honest Woodcutter, also known as Mercury and the Woodman and his famous Golden Axe (from List of mythological objects)
Image 57Vishnu holding his legendary sword Nandaka (from List of mythological objects)
Image 58Killing of Ravana Painting by Brahmstra of Arrow of Brahma (from List of mythological objects)
Image 59Ancient 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 60Opening 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 61Early Hebrew Conception of the Universe (from List of mythological objects)
Image 62Joan of Arc with her famous sword (from List of mythological objects)
Image 63Edith Hamilton's Mythology has been a major channel for English speakers to learn classical Greek and Roman mythology (from Myth)
Image 64Snake and world egg of the inhabitants of Tyre (from List of mythological objects)
Image 65Azoth, a universal medicine or universal solvent sought in alchemy. (Medieval legend) (from List of mythological objects)
Image 66Golden cosmic egg Hiranyagarbha by Manaku (from List of mythological objects)
Image 67Goetia seal of solomon (from List of mythological objects)
Image 68Claíomh Solais on an Ireland stamp printed in 1922 (from List of mythological objects)
Image 69Longinus with his famous Spear (from List of mythological objects)
Image 70The 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 71Ancient Sumerian cylinder seal impression showing the god Dumuzid being tortured in the Underworld by galla demons (from Comparative mythology)
Image 72Fountain of Youth (from List of mythological objects)
Image 73Thor kicks Litr onto Baldr's Hringhorni, illustration by Emil Doepler (ca. 1905) (from List of mythological objects)
Image 74The 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 751929 Belgian banknote, depicting Ceres, Neptune and caduceus (from Myth)
Image 76Artist's impressions of the (unseen) Imperial Regalia of Japan (from List of mythological objects)
Image 77Amenonuhoko (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 78Myths and legends of Babylonia and Assyria (1916) (from Myth)
Image 79Holy Robe in Trier (from List of mythological objects)
Image 80seven angels with seven trumpets (from List of mythological objects)
Image 81Yama with his famous Yama Pasha (from List of mythological objects)
Image 82The fall of Icarus (from List of mythological objects)
Image 83"Tizona", the sword attributed to El Cid, on exhibit in the Army Museum of Madrid (from List of mythological objects)
Image 84Aura, a field of luminous radiation surrounding a person or object (from List of mythological objects)
Image 85The 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 86Ahimelech giving the sword of Goliath to David, by Aert de Gelder. (from List of mythological objects)
Image 87The 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)