Portal:Mythology

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The Myths Portal

Myth is a folklore genre consisting of narratives that play a fundamental role in a society, such as foundational tales or origin myths.

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.

The main characters in myths are usually non-humans, such as gods, demigods, and other supernatural figures. Others include humans, animals, or combinations in their classification of myth. Stories of everyday humans, although often of leaders of some type, are usually contained in legends, as opposed to myths. Myths are sometimes distinguished from legends in that myths deal with gods, usually have no historical basis, and are set in a world of the remote past, very different from that of the present. (Full article...)

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Basohli miniature, c. 1730. National Museum, New Delhi.

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. 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...)

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Zeus Ancient Egyptian literature Greek mythology Vampire folklore by region LGBT themes in Hindu mythology Orion (mythology) Kitsune Vithoba Zduhać Iravan Prithu Tuisto Kangiten Varahi Myrrha Gerðr Veðrfölnir and eagle Mythology of Carnivàle List of valkyrie names Ahalya Trojan War Prester John Bhikshatana Blue men of the Minch Dali (goddess) List of Mesopotamian deities Aphrodite Athena Thor Shiva Inanna Chamunda Anu Enlil Gilgamesh Ask and Embla Valkyrie Dagr Putana Hlín Eye of Ra Chhinnamasta Sól (Norse mythology) Njörðr Satyr Iliad

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... that Reeri Yakseya, who is believed to be the most cruel and powerful demon in Sinhalese folklore, can assume 18 different apparitions?

... 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 in Hopi mythology, the Kachina Nataska enforces good behavior among children?

... that in classical mythology, Cerberus (pictured) is a monstrous dog with multiple heads that guards the gates to the underworld?

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The nuckelavee (/nʌklɑːˈviː/) or nuckalavee is a horse-like demon from Orcadian folklore that combines equine and human elements. British folklorist Katharine Briggs called it "the nastiest" of all the demons of Scotland's Northern Isles. The nuckelavee's breath was thought to wilt crops and sicken livestock, and the creature was held responsible for droughts and epidemics on land despite being predominantly a sea-dweller.

A graphic description of the nuckelavee as it appears on land was given by an islander who claimed to have had a confrontation with it, but accounts describing the details of the creature's appearance are inconsistent. In common with many other sea-monsters, it is unable to tolerate fresh water, therefore, those it is pursuing have only to cross a river or stream to be rid of it. The nuckelavee is kept in confinement during the summer months by the Mither o' the Sea, an ancient Orcadian spirit, and the only one able to control it. (Full article...)

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Vampire Fenrir Ala (demon) Sharabha Ratatoskr Huginn and Muninn Keshi (demon) 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 1Lichas bringing the garment of Nessus to Hercules (from List of mythological objects)
Image 2 Odysseus Overcome by Demodocus' Song, by Francesco Hayez, 1813–15 (from Myth)
Image 3Heracles 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 4The Fall of the Titans (1596–98) by Cornelis Cornelisz van Haarlem (from Comparative mythology)
Image 5Greek God Kronos/Saturnus with sickle (from List of mythological objects)
Image 6Several mythical creatures from Bilderbuch für Kinder (picture book for children) between 1790 and 1822, by Friedrich Justin Bertuch (from Legendary creature)
Image 7Golem and Loew (from List of mythological objects)
Image 8Houyi, the God of Archery (from List of mythological objects)
Image 9seven angels with seven trumpets (from List of mythological objects)
Image 10Aura, a field of luminous radiation surrounding a person or object (from List of mythological objects)
Image 11Thor wearing the magic belt Megingjörð (from List of mythological objects)
Image 12Prometheus (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 13Rectangular tablets passed down by the Hand of God in the 10th century Byzantine Leo Bible (from List of mythological objects)
Image 14Amenonuhoko (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 1514th century Goryeo painting of Ksitigarbha holding a cintamani (from List of mythological objects)
Image 16Tissot Moses and Joshua in the Tabernacle (from List of mythological objects)
Image 17The Honest Woodcutter, also known as Mercury and the Woodman and his famous Golden Axe (from List of mythological objects)
Image 18Hand of God (from List of mythological objects)
Image 19Thor kicks Litr onto Baldr's Hringhorni, illustration by Emil Doepler (ca. 1905) (from List of mythological objects)
Image 20Vishnu holding his legendary sword Nandaka (from List of mythological objects)
Image 21Goetia seal of solomon (from List of mythological objects)
Image 22Hanuman fetches the herb-bearing mountain, in a print from the Ravi Varma Press, 1910's (from List of mythological objects)
Image 23Early Hebrew Conception of the Universe (from List of mythological objects)
Image 241929 Belgian banknote, depicting Ceres, Neptune and caduceus (from Myth)
Image 25Jug from Lydian Treasure Usak (from List of mythological objects)
Image 26A 19th-century drawing of Sun Wukong featuring his staff (from List of mythological objects)
Image 27Symbolic power: a dragon in the Imperial City, Huế, Vietnam (from Legendary creature)
Image 28Dietrich von Bern and Hildebrand fight against dragons (from List of mythological objects)
Image 29Veronica holding her veil, Hans Memling, c. 1470 (from List of mythological objects)
Image 30The famous sword of Excalibur painted by Howard Pyle (from List of mythological objects)
Image 31Claíomh Solais on an Ireland stamp printed in 1922 (from List of mythological objects)
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 33Jason returns with Golden fleece (from List of mythological objects)
Image 34Fountain of Youth (from List of mythological objects)
Image 35Fortune Wheel (from List of mythological objects)
Image 36Opening 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 37Pied piper (from List of mythological objects)
Image 38The Shrine of the Three Kings in Cologne Cathedral (from List of mythological objects)
Image 39Vishnu with his Panchajanya (from List of mythological objects)
Image 40Fig trees often represent talismans with the udumbara (from List of mythological objects)
Image 41Perillos being forced into the brazen bull that he built for Phalaris (from List of mythological objects)
Image 42The Dispute of Minerva and Neptune (c. 1689 or 1706) by René-Antoine Houasse, depicting the founding myth of Athens (from National myth)
Image 43Shield of Achilles (illustration) (from List of mythological objects)
Image 44Holy Robe in Trier (from List of mythological objects)
Image 45Myths and legends of Babylonia and Assyria (1916) (from Myth)
Image 46Lord 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 47Golden cosmic egg Hiranyagarbha by Manaku (from List of mythological objects)
Image 48Image 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 49The 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 50Snake and world egg of the inhabitants of Tyre (from List of mythological objects)
Image 51Giza pyramids (from List of mythological objects)
Image 52Artist's impressions of the (unseen) Imperial Regalia of Japan (from List of mythological objects)
Image 53Voodoo doll with pins in it, Museum of Witchcraft (from List of mythological objects)
Image 54The Flying Dutchman (from List of mythological objects)
Image 55Ancient Sumerian cylinder seal impression showing the god Dumuzid being tortured in the Underworld by galla demons (from Comparative mythology)
Image 56Longinus with his famous Spear (from List of mythological objects)
Image 57The 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 58Joan of Arc with her famous sword (from List of mythological objects)
Image 59Jacob blesses Joseph and gives him the coat of many colors (from List of mythological objects)
Image 60This 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 61The Crown of Immortality, held by the allegorical figure Eterna (Eternity) (from List of mythological objects)
Image 62Surya on His Celestial Chariot (from List of mythological objects)
Image 63The Celestial Chariot, Pushpaka Vimana from Ramayana (from List of mythological objects)
Image 64Azoth, a universal medicine or universal solvent sought in alchemy. (Medieval legend) (from List of mythological objects)
Image 65Adam's Bridge also called as Rama Setu (from List of mythological objects)
Image 66Riding a Flying Carpet, an 1880 painting by Viktor Vasnetsov (from List of mythological objects)
Image 67King Svafrlame Secures the Sword Tyrfing (from List of mythological objects)
Image 68As 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 69Erlang Shen (二郎神), or Erlang is a Chinese God with his spear (from List of mythological objects)
Image 70Hop-o'-My-Thumb stealing the Seven-league boots from the Ogre, by Gustave Doré (from List of mythological objects)
Image 71Sampo, 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 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 73"Tizona", the sword attributed to El Cid, on exhibit in the Army Museum of Madrid (from List of mythological objects)
Image 74Shiva with his Trishula (from List of mythological objects)
Image 75Yama with his famous Yama Pasha (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 77An angel (Camael) expelling Adam and Eve with a flaming sword (from List of mythological objects)
Image 78Ancient 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 79The fall of Icarus (from List of mythological objects)
Image 80The Ash Yggdrasil by Friedrich Wilhelm Heine (from List of mythological objects)
Image 81Achilles wearing his armor (from List of mythological objects)
Image 82The Argo (c. 1500 – 1530), painting by Lorenzo Costa (from List of mythological objects)
Image 83The 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 84Killing of Ravana Painting by Brahmstra of Arrow of Brahma (from List of mythological objects)
Image 85Ballads of bravery (1877) part of Arthurian mythology (from Myth)

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