Portal:Myths
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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" 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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Ganesha (Sanskrit: गणेश, IAST: Gaṇeśa), also spelled Ganesh, and also known as Ganapati, Vinayaka, and Pillaiyar, is one of the best-known and most worshipped deities in the Hindu pantheon and is the Supreme God in the Ganapatya sect. His depictions are found throughout India. Hindu denominations worship him regardless of affiliations. Devotion to Ganesha is widely diffused and extends to Jains and Buddhists and beyond India.
Although Ganesha has many attributes, he is readily identified by his elephant head and four arms. He is widely revered, more specifically, as the remover of obstacles and thought to bring good luck; the patron of arts and sciences; and the deva of intellect and wisdom. As the god of beginnings, he is honoured at the start of rites and ceremonies. Ganesha is also invoked as a patron of letters and learning during writing sessions. Several texts relate anecdotes associated with his birth and exploits. (Full article...)Did you know? - show different entries
- ... that the self-decapitated Hindu goddess Chhinnamasta (pictured) standing on a copulating couple signifies that life, death and sex are interdependent?
- ... 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 according to Inca mythology, lunar eclipses are caused by animals attacking Mama Quilla, the goddess of the moon?
- ... that the worshippers of Xipe Totec (pictured), the Aztec god of renewal, wore the flayed skins of their sacrificial victims?
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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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Fenrir (Old Norse 'fen-dweller') or Fenrisúlfr (Old Norse "Fenrir's wolf", often translated "Fenris-wolf"), also referred to as Hróðvitnir (Old Norse "fame-wolf") and Vánagandr (Old Norse 'monster of the [River] Ván'), is a monstrous wolf in Norse mythology. In Old Norse texts, Fenrir plays a key role during the events of Ragnarök, where he is foretold to assist in setting the world aflame, resulting in the collapse of humanity and society, and kill the god Odin.
Fenrir, along with Hel and the World Serpent, is a child of Loki and female jötunn Angrboða. He is attested in the Poetic Edda, compiled in the 13th century from earlier traditional sources, and the Prose Edda and Heimskringla, composed in the 13th century. In both the Poetic Edda and Prose Edda, Fenrir is the father of the wolves Sköll and Hati Hróðvitnisson, is a son of Loki and is foretold to kill the god Odin during the events of Ragnarök, but will in turn be killed by Odin's son Víðarr. (Full article...)General images
- Image 1Killing of Ravana Painting by Brahmstra of Arrow of Brahma (from List of mythological objects)
- Image 3Ancient 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 4Longinus with his famous Spear (from List of mythological objects)
- Image 5Dietrich von Bern and Hildebrand fight against dragons (from List of mythological objects)
- Image 6Amenonuhoko (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 7Heracles 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 8The Celestial Chariot, Pushpaka Vimana from Ramayana (from List of mythological objects)
- Image 9Surya on His Celestial Chariot (from List of mythological objects)
- Image 10Perillos being forced into the brazen bull that he built for Phalaris (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 12Several mythical creatures from Bilderbuch für Kinder (lit. 'picture book for children') between 1790 and 1822, by Friedrich Justin Bertuch (from Legendary creature)
- Image 13The 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 14King Svafrlame Secures the Sword Tyrfing (from List of mythological objects)
- Image 16The Honest Woodcutter, also known as Mercury and the Woodman and his famous Golden Axe (from List of mythological objects)
- Image 17Vishnu with his Panchajanya (from List of mythological objects)
- Image 19Ancient Sumerian cylinder seal impression showing the god Dumuzid being tortured in the Underworld by galla demons (from Comparative mythology)
- Image 20Ahimelech giving the sword of Goliath to David, by Aert de Gelder. (from List of mythological objects)
- Image 21The Ash Yggdrasil by Friedrich Wilhelm Heine (from List of mythological objects)
- Image 22Opening 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 24 Odysseus Overcome by Demodocus' Song, by Francesco Hayez, 1813–1815 (from Myth)
- Image 25Fountain of Youth (from List of mythological objects)
- Image 26The 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 27Yama with his famous Yama Pasha (from List of mythological objects)
- Image 28Tissot Moses and Joshua in the Tabernacle (from List of mythological objects)
- Image 29Fortune Wheel (from List of mythological objects)
- Image 30Joan of Arc with her famous sword (from List of mythological objects)
- Image 31The Fall of the Titans (1596–98) by Cornelis Cornelisz van Haarlem (from Comparative mythology)
- Image 32Hand of God (from List of mythological objects)
- Image 34Early Hebrew Conception of the Universe (from List of mythological objects)
- Image 35An angel (Camael) expelling Adam and Eve with a flaming sword (from List of mythological objects)
- Image 3614th century Goryeo painting of Ksitigarbha holding a cintamani (from List of mythological objects)
- Image 37Houyi, the God of Archery (from List of mythological objects)
- Image 38Lichas bringing the garment of Nessus to Hercules (from List of mythological objects)
- Image 39Prometheus (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 40Artist's impressions of the (unseen) Imperial Regalia of Japan (from List of mythological objects)
- Image 41Giza pyramids (from List of mythological objects)
- Image 42Goetia seal of solomon (from List of mythological objects)
- Image 43Rectangular tablets passed down by the Hand of God in the 10th century Byzantine Leo Bible (from List of mythological objects)
- Image 44Shield of Achilles (illustration) (from List of mythological objects)
- Image 45Holy Robe in Trier (from List of mythological objects)
- Image 46Pied piper (from List of mythological objects)
- Image 47Lord 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 48Jason returns with Golden fleece (from List of mythological objects)
- Image 49Edith Hamilton's Mythology has been a major channel for English speakers to learn classical Greek and Roman mythology (from Myth)
- Image 50The Dispute of Minerva and Neptune (c. 1689 or 1706) by René-Antoine Houasse, depicting the founding myth of Athens (from National myth)
- Image 52As 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 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 54seven angels with seven trumpets (from List of mythological objects)
- Image 55Achilles wearing his armor (from List of mythological objects)
- Image 56A 19th-century drawing of Sun Wukong featuring his staff (from List of mythological objects)
- Image 57Jug from Lydian Treasure Usak (from List of mythological objects)
- Image 58Golden cosmic egg Hiranyagarbha by Manaku (from List of mythological objects)
- Image 59Claíomh Solais on an Ireland stamp printed in 1922 (from List of mythological objects)
- Image 60Thor kicks Litr onto Baldr's Hringhorni, illustration by Emil Doepler (ca. 1905) (from List of mythological objects)
- Image 61Hanuman fetches the herb-bearing mountain, in a print from the Ravi Varma Press, 1910's (from List of mythological objects)
- Image 62Voodoo doll with pins in it, Museum of Witchcraft (from List of mythological objects)
- Image 63Hop-o'-My-Thumb stealing the Seven-league boots from the Ogre, by Gustave Doré (from List of mythological objects)
- Image 64Riding a Flying Carpet, an 1880 painting by Viktor Vasnetsov (from List of mythological objects)
- Image 65The fall of Icarus (from List of mythological objects)
- Image 66Erlang Shen (二郎神), or Erlang is a Chinese God with his spear (from List of mythological objects)
- Image 68Shiva with his Trishula (from List of mythological objects)
- Image 69Adam's Bridge also called as Rama Setu (from List of mythological objects)
- Image 70Azoth, a universal medicine or universal solvent sought in alchemy. (Medieval legend) (from List of mythological objects)
- Image 71This 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 72Snake and world egg of the inhabitants of Tyre (from List of mythological objects)
- Image 73Jacob blesses Joseph and gives him the coat of many colors (from List of mythological objects)
- Image 74Fig trees often represent talismans with the udumbara (from List of mythological objects)
- Image 75Thor wearing the magic belt Megingjörð (from List of mythological objects)
- Image 76Väinämöinen, 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 77Vishnu holding his legendary sword Nandaka (from List of mythological objects)
- Image 78The Flying Dutchman (from List of mythological objects)
- Image 79The 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 81"The Fall of Man" by Lucas Cranach the Elder and the Tree of Knowledge is on the right (from List of mythological objects)
- Image 82Aura, a field of luminous radiation surrounding a person or object (from List of mythological objects)
- Image 83Golem and Loew (from List of mythological objects)
- Image 84The 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 85"Tizona", the sword attributed to El Cid, on exhibit in the Army Museum of Madrid (from List of mythological objects)
- Image 86The Crown of Immortality, held by the allegorical figure Eterna (Eternity) (from List of mythological objects)
- Image 87Greek God Kronos/Saturnus with sickle (from List of mythological objects)
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