Portal:Myths

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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 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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Statue of Shiva at Shivoham Shiva Temple, Bangalore, Karnataka

Shiva (/ˈʃɪvə/; Sanskrit: शिव, lit. 'The Auspicious One', IAST: Śiva [ɕɪʋɐ]), also known as Mahadeva (/məˈhɑː ˈdeɪvə/; Sanskrit: महादेव:, lit. 'The Great God', IAST: Mahādevaḥ, [mɐɦaːd̪eːʋɐh]) or Hara, is one of the principal deities of Hinduism. He is the Supreme Being in Shaivism, one of the major traditions within Hinduism.

Shiva is known as The Destroyer within the Trimurti, the Hindu trinity which also includes Brahma and Vishnu. In the Shaivite tradition, Shiva is the Supreme Lord who creates, protects and transforms the universe. In the goddess-oriented Shakta tradition, the Supreme Goddess (Devi) is regarded as the energy and creative power (Shakti) and the equal complementary partner of Shiva. Shiva is one of the five equivalent deities in Panchayatana puja of the Smarta tradition of Hinduism. (Full article...)

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...that the Tigmamanukan, a Philippine mythological bird, can be a good or bad omen depending on the direction of its flight?

... that in Chinese mythology, Wu Gang had to chop down a tree on the moon that always healed itself, forcing him to keep trying forever?

...that according to Inca mythology, lunar eclipses are caused by animals attacking Mama Quilla, the goddess of the moon?

... that Xiuhcoatl was a mythological Aztec fire-serpent, viewed as the spirit form of Xiuhtecuhtli, the fire god, and was the lightning-like weapon of the god Huitzilopochtli?

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The boobrie is a mythological shapeshifting entity inhabiting the lochs of the west coast of Scotland. It commonly adopts the appearance of a gigantic water bird resembling a cormorant or great northern diver, but it can also materialise in the form of various other mythological creatures such as a water bull.

A generally malevolent entity, the boobrie typically preys on livestock being transported on ships, but it is also fond of otters, of which it consumes a considerable number. In its manifestation as a water horse the creature is able to gallop across the top of lochs as if on solid ground. During the summer months it is seen infrequently as a large insect, sucking the blood of horses. (Full article...)

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Vampire Fenrir Ala (demon) Sharabha Ratatoskr Huginn and Muninn Keshi (demon) Nuckelavee Sea Mither 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 1Fortune Wheel (from List of mythological objects)
Image 2Dietrich von Bern and Hildebrand fight against dragons (from List of mythological objects)
Image 3Surya on His Celestial Chariot (from List of mythological objects)
Image 4The Fall of the Titans (1596–98) by Cornelis Cornelisz van Haarlem (from Comparative mythology)
Image 5Killing of Ravana Painting by Brahmstra of Arrow of Brahma (from List of mythological objects)
Image 6Adam's Bridge also called as Rama Setu (from List of mythological objects)
Image 7Longinus with his famous Spear (from List of mythological objects)
Image 8Golem and Loew (from List of mythological objects)
Image 9Odysseus Overcome by Demodocus' Song, a mythological painting by Francesco Hayez, 1813–1815 (from Myth)
Image 10Jug from Lydian Treasure Usak (from List of mythological objects)
Image 11Sampo, 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 12Thor wearing the magic belt Megingjörð (from List of mythological objects)
Image 13The Dispute of Minerva and Neptune (c. 1689 or 1706) by René-Antoine Houasse, depicting the founding myth of Athens (from National myth)
Image 14Snake and world egg of the inhabitants of Tyre (from List of mythological objects)
Image 15Myths and legends of Babylonia and Assyria (1916) (from Myth)
Image 16Prometheus (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 17Rectangular tablets passed down by the Hand of God in the 10th century Byzantine Leo Bible (from List of mythological objects)
Image 18Holy Robe in Trier (from List of mythological objects)
Image 19Ballads of bravery (1877) part of Arthurian mythology (from Myth)
Image 20The Honest Woodcutter, also known as Mercury and the Woodman and his famous Golden Axe (from List of mythological objects)
Image 21Fig trees often represent talismans with the udumbara (from List of mythological objects)
Image 22Veronica holding her veil, Hans Memling, c. 1470 (from List of mythological objects)
Image 231929 Belgian banknote, depicting Ceres, Neptune and caduceus (from Myth)
Image 24Several mythical creatures from Bilderbuch für Kinder (lit. 'picture book for children') between 1790 and 1822, by Friedrich Justin Bertuch (from Legendary creature)
Image 25"Tizona", the sword attributed to El Cid, on exhibit in the Army Museum of Madrid (from List of mythological objects)
Image 26An angel (Camael) expelling Adam and Eve with a flaming sword (from List of mythological objects)
Image 27Artist's impressions of the (unseen) Imperial Regalia of Japan (from List of mythological objects)
Image 28Erlang Shen (二郎神), or Erlang is a Chinese God with his spear (from List of mythological objects)
Image 29Riding a Flying Carpet, an 1880 painting by Viktor Vasnetsov (from List of mythological objects)
Image 30Ahimelech giving the sword of Goliath to David, by Aert de Gelder. (from List of mythological objects)
Image 31Shiva with his Trishula (from List of mythological objects)
Image 32The 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 33Azoth, a universal medicine or universal solvent sought in alchemy. (Medieval legend) (from List of mythological objects)
Image 34Voodoo doll with pins in it, Museum of Witchcraft (from List of mythological objects)
Image 35Symbolic power: a dragon in the Imperial City, Huế, Vietnam (from Legendary creature)
Image 36Golden cosmic egg Hiranyagarbha by Manaku (from List of mythological objects)
Image 37"The Fall of Man" by Lucas Cranach the Elder and the Tree of Knowledge is on the right (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 39Greek God Kronos/Saturnus with sickle (from List of mythological objects)
Image 40Aura, a field of luminous radiation surrounding a person or object (from List of mythological objects)
Image 41The fall of Icarus (from List of mythological objects)
Image 42Jason returns with Golden fleece (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 44Hop-o'-My-Thumb stealing the Seven-league boots from the Ogre, by Gustave Doré (from List of mythological objects)
Image 45Lord 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 4614th century Goryeo painting of Ksitigarbha holding a cintamani (from List of mythological objects)
Image 47Giza pyramids (from List of mythological objects)
Image 48Tor's Fight with the Giants (1872) by Mårten Eskil Winge. Thor is the god of thunder in Norse mythology. (from Myth)
Image 49Lichas bringing the garment of Nessus to Hercules (from List of mythological objects)
Image 50The famous sword of Excalibur painted by Howard Pyle (from List of mythological objects)
Image 51Edith Hamilton's Mythology has been a major channel for English speakers to learn classical Greek and Roman mythology (from Myth)
Image 52Achilles wearing his armor (from List of mythological objects)
Image 53Shield of Achilles (illustration) (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 55Claíomh Solais on an Ireland stamp printed in 1922 (from List of mythological objects)
Image 56Jacob blesses Joseph and gives him the coat of many colors (from List of mythological objects)
Image 57The Flying Dutchman (from List of mythological objects)
Image 58Hand of God (from List of mythological objects)
Image 59As 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 60Ancient Sumerian cylinder seal impression showing the god Dumuzid being tortured in the Underworld by galla demons (from Comparative mythology)
Image 61Yama with his famous Yama Pasha (from List of mythological objects)
Image 62A 19th-century drawing of Sun Wukong featuring his staff (from List of mythological objects)
Image 63The Ash Yggdrasil by Friedrich Wilhelm Heine (from List of mythological objects)
Image 64seven angels with seven trumpets (from List of mythological objects)
Image 65Fountain of Youth (from List of mythological objects)
Image 66The Argo (c. 1500 – 1530), painting by Lorenzo Costa (from List of mythological objects)
Image 67The Crown of Immortality, held by the allegorical figure Eterna (Eternity) (from List of mythological objects)
Image 68Goetia seal of solomon (from List of mythological objects)
Image 69Early Hebrew Conception of the Universe (from List of mythological objects)
Image 70Heracles 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 71King Svafrlame Secures the Sword Tyrfing (from List of mythological objects)
Image 72Vishnu with his Panchajanya (from List of mythological objects)
Image 73Ancient 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 74The Shrine of the Three Kings in Cologne Cathedral (from List of mythological objects)
Image 75Opening 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 76Vishnu holding his legendary sword Nandaka (from List of mythological objects)
Image 77Houyi, the God of Archery (from List of mythological objects)
Image 78The Celestial Chariot, Pushpaka Vimana from Ramayana (from List of mythological objects)
Image 79Tissot Moses and Joshua in the Tabernacle (from List of mythological objects)
Image 80Perillos being forced into the brazen bull that he built for Phalaris (from List of mythological objects)
Image 81Pied piper (from List of mythological objects)
Image 82The 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 83Yama advances to smite Ravana with the weapon of death (from List of mythological objects)
Image 84This 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 85Hanuman fetches the herb-bearing mountain, in a print from the Ravi Varma Press, 1910's (from List of mythological objects)
Image 86Thor kicks Litr onto Baldr's Hringhorni, illustration by Emil Doepler (ca. 1905) (from List of mythological objects)
Image 87Joan of Arc with her famous sword (from List of mythological objects)
Image 88The 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 89Väinämöinen, 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)