Portal:Myths

The Myths Portal

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" which simply meaning something that 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...)

Selected article -

In Norse mythology, a valkyrie (from Old Norse valkyrja "chooser of the fallen") is one of a host of female figures who decide who will die in battle. Selecting among half of those who die in battle (the other half go to the goddess Freyja's afterlife field Fólkvangr), the valkyries bring their chosen to the afterlife hall of the slain, Valhalla, ruled over by the god Odin. There, when the einherjar are not preparing for the 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.

The Old Norse poems Völuspá, Grímnismál, Darraðarljóð, and the Nafnaþulur section of the Prose Edda book Skáldskaparmál provide lists of valkyrie names. Other valkyrie names appear solely outside these lists, such as Sigrún (who is attested in the poems Helgakviða Hundingsbana I and Helgakviða Hundingsbana II). Valkyrie names commonly emphasize associations with battle and, in many cases, with the spear—a weapon heavily associated with the god Odin. Scholars such as Hilda Ellis Davidson and Rudolf Simek propose that the names of the valkyries themselves contain no individuality, but are rather descriptive of the traits and nature of war-goddesses, and are possibly the descriptive creations of skalds, a type of traditional Scandinavian poet. (Full article...)

List of selected articles

Did you know? -

...that Chamunda (pictured), a fearsome aspect of the Hindu Divine Mother, was worshipped by ritual human and animal sacrifices along with offerings of wine?

...that the most popular deity worshipped by the Duala peoples of Cameroon is a mermaid called a jengu?

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

... that in Maya mythology, wayob were the powerful spirit forms of lords, priests and gods?

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

Featured Lists: List of valkyrie names in Norse mythology

Good Articles: 2012 phenomenon, Æsir–Vanir War, Ala (demon), Anu, Aphrodite, Athena, Ardhanarishvara, Battle of Barry, Bhikshatana, Catalogue of Women, Chamunda, Chhinnamasta, Consorts of Ganesha, Cú Chulainn, Dhumavati, Dumuzid, Einherjar, Eir, Enlil, Fairy Flag, Fenrir, Gerðr, Hel (being), Huginn and Muninn, Iðunn, Ila (Hinduism), Inanna, Kabandha, Kali, Kamadhenu, Kangiten, Keshi (demon), Khandoba, Kratos (mythology) Krishna, Kubera, LGBT themes in Hindu mythology, Manasa, Mandodari, Matangi, Matrikas, Maya Sita, Mohini, Myrrha, Mythology of Carnivàle, Naraka (Hinduism), Ninurta, Prester John, Prithu, Putana, Rati, Ratatoskr, Revanta, Satyavati, Satyr, Sharabha, Shashthi, Shiva, Sif, Tara (Ramayana), Troilus, Tuisto, Valhalla, Valkyrie, Vampire folklore by region, Varaha, Varahi, Veðrfölnir and eagle Zduhać

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Selected creature -

Ninurta with his thunderbolts pursues Anzû stealing the Tablet of Destinies from Enlil's sanctuary (Austen Henry Layard Monuments of Nineveh, 2nd Series, 1853)

Anzû, also known as ^dZû and Imdugud (Sumerian: 𒀭𒅎𒂂 AN.IM.DUGUD^MUŠEN), is a monster in several Mesopotamian religions. He was conceived by the pure waters of the Abzu and the wide Earth, or as son of Siris. Anzû was depicted as a massive bird who can breathe fire and water, although Anzû is alternately depicted as a lion-headed eagle.

Stephanie Dalley, in Myths from Mesopotamia, writes that "the Epic of Anzu is principally known in two versions: an Old Babylonian version of the early second millennium [BC], giving the hero as Ningirsu; and 'The Standard Babylonian' version, dating to the first millennium BC, which appears to be the most quoted version, with the hero as Ninurta". However, the Anzu character does not appear as often in some other writings, as noted below. (Full article...)

List of selected creatures
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) Centaur Unicorn Serpent (symbolism) Cerberus

General images

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

Image 1Claíomh Solais on an Ireland stamp printed in 1922 (from List of mythological objects)
Image 2Symbolic power: a dragon in the Imperial City, Huế, Vietnam (from Legendary creature)
Image 3Ancient Sumerian cylinder seal impression showing the god Dumuzid being tortured in the Underworld by galla demons (from Comparative mythology)
Image 4As 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 5Houyi, the God of Archery (from List of mythological objects)
Image 6Fortune Wheel (from List of mythological objects)
Image 7Golden cosmic egg Hiranyagarbha by Manaku (from List of mythological objects)
Image 8Golem and Loew (from List of mythological objects)
Image 9The Celestial Chariot, Pushpaka Vimana from Ramayana (from List of mythological objects)
Image 10Holy Robe in Trier (from List of mythological objects)
Image 11Goetia seal of solomon (from List of mythological objects)
Image 12Surya on His Celestial Chariot (from List of mythological objects)
Image 13Greek God Kronos/Saturnus with sickle (from List of mythological objects)
Image 14Aura, a field of luminous radiation surrounding a person or object (from List of mythological objects)
Image 15Ahimelech giving the sword of Goliath to David, by Aert de Gelder. (from List of mythological objects)
Image 16Ballads of bravery (1877) part of Arthurian mythology (from Myth)
Image 17Thor kicks Litr onto Baldr's Hringhorni, illustration by Emil Doepler (ca. 1905) (from List of mythological objects)
Image 18Amenonuhoko (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 19Early Hebrew Conception of the Universe (from List of mythological objects)
Image 20Thor wearing the magic belt Megingjörð (from List of mythological objects)
Image 21The Flying Dutchman (from List of mythological objects)
Image 221929 Belgian banknote, depicting Ceres, Neptune and caduceus (from Myth)
Image 23The Ash Yggdrasil by Friedrich Wilhelm Heine (from List of mythological objects)
Image 24Rectangular tablets passed down by the Hand of God in the 10th century Byzantine Leo Bible (from List of mythological objects)
Image 25Several mythical creatures from Bilderbuch für Kinder (lit. 'picture book for children') between 1790 and 1822, by Friedrich Justin Bertuch (from Legendary creature)
Image 26Jason returns with Golden fleece (from List of mythological objects)
Image 27Vishnu holding his legendary sword Nandaka (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 29Sampo, 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 30Pied piper (from List of mythological objects)
Image 31The 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 32"The Fall of Man" by Lucas Cranach the Elder and the Tree of Knowledge is on the right (from List of mythological objects)
Image 33Hop-o'-My-Thumb stealing the Seven-league boots from the Ogre, by Gustave Doré (from List of mythological objects)
Image 34Väinämöinen, 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 35Killing of Ravana Painting by Brahmstra of Arrow of Brahma (from List of mythological objects)
Image 36Longinus with his famous Spear (from List of mythological objects)
Image 37The Honest Woodcutter, also known as Mercury and the Woodman and his famous Golden Axe (from List of mythological objects)
Image 38This 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 39The 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 40Achilles wearing his armor (from List of mythological objects)
Image 41Giza pyramids (from List of mythological objects)
Image 42Opening 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 43A 19th-century drawing of Sun Wukong featuring his staff (from List of mythological objects)
Image 44Riding a Flying Carpet, an 1880 painting by Viktor Vasnetsov (from List of mythological objects)
Image 45Shield of Achilles (illustration) (from List of mythological objects)
Image 46Lichas bringing the garment of Nessus to Hercules (from List of mythological objects)
Image 47Shiva with his Trishula (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 49Jug from Lydian Treasure Usak (from List of mythological objects)
Image 50King Svafrlame Secures the Sword Tyrfing (from List of mythological objects)
Image 51seven angels with seven trumpets (from List of mythological objects)
Image 52Tissot Moses and Joshua in the Tabernacle (from List of mythological objects)
Image 53Image 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 54"Tizona", the sword attributed to El Cid, on exhibit in the Army Museum of Madrid (from List of mythological objects)
Image 55Fig trees often represent talismans with the udumbara (from List of mythological objects)
Image 56Voodoo doll with pins in it, Museum of Witchcraft (from List of mythological objects)
Image 57The fall of Icarus (from List of mythological objects)
Image 5814th century Goryeo painting of Ksitigarbha holding a cintamani (from List of mythological objects)
Image 59Snake and world egg of the inhabitants of Tyre (from List of mythological objects)
Image 60The Dispute of Minerva and Neptune (c. 1689 or 1706) by René-Antoine Houasse, depicting the founding myth of Athens (from National myth)
Image 61Jacob blesses Joseph and gives him the coat of many colors (from List of mythological objects)
Image 62Artist's impressions of the (unseen) Imperial Regalia of Japan (from List of mythological objects)
Image 63Azoth, a universal medicine or universal solvent sought in alchemy. (Medieval legend) (from List of mythological objects)
Image 64An angel (Camael) expelling Adam and Eve with a flaming sword (from List of mythological objects)
Image 65Joan of Arc with her famous sword (from List of mythological objects)
Image 66Dietrich von Bern and Hildebrand fight against dragons (from List of mythological objects)
Image 67The Shrine of the Three Kings in Cologne Cathedral (from List of mythological objects)
Image 68 Odysseus Overcome by Demodocus' Song, by Francesco Hayez, 1813–1815 (from Myth)
Image 69Yama with his famous Yama Pasha (from List of mythological objects)
Image 70Edith Hamilton's Mythology has been a major channel for English speakers to learn classical Greek and Roman mythology (from Myth)
Image 71Myths and legends of Babylonia and Assyria (1916) (from Myth)
Image 72The 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 73The Fall of the Titans (1596–98) by Cornelis Cornelisz van Haarlem (from Comparative mythology)
Image 74Prometheus (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 75The Argo (c. 1500 – 1530), painting by Lorenzo Costa (from List of mythological objects)
Image 76Perillos being forced into the brazen bull that he built for Phalaris (from List of mythological objects)
Image 77Hand of God (from List of mythological objects)
Image 78The famous sword of Excalibur painted by Howard Pyle (from List of mythological objects)
Image 79The Crown of Immortality, held by the allegorical figure Eterna (Eternity) (from List of mythological objects)
Image 80Heracles 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 81Veronica holding her veil, Hans Memling, c. 1470 (from List of mythological objects)
Image 82The 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 83Adam's Bridge also called as Rama Setu (from List of mythological objects)
Image 84Fountain of Youth (from List of mythological objects)
Image 85Vishnu with his Panchajanya (from List of mythological objects)
Image 86Lord 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 87Hanuman fetches the herb-bearing mountain, in a print from the Ravi Varma Press, 1910's (from List of mythological objects)

Subcategories

Myths

Astronomical myths

Christ myth theory

Longevity myths

Malay ghost myth

Mesopotamian myths

Origin myths

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Wikiproject of Mythology
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