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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A contemporary image of Varahi

Varahi (Sanskrit: वाराही, IAST:Vārāhī) is one of the Matrikas, a group of seven mother goddesses in the Hindu religion who bears the head of a sow. In Nepal, she is called Barahi. In Rajasthan and Gujarat, she is venerated as Dandini.

Varahi is more commonly venerated in the sect of the Goddess-oriented Shaktism, but also in Shaivism (devotees of Shiva) and Vaishnavism (devotees of Vishnu). She is usually worshipped at night, using secretive Vamamarga Tantric practices. Her forms can be seen in Buddhism as well, like the Buddhist goddesses Vajravārāhī and Marichi (Full article...)

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... that Tamil Hindu parents dedicate their one-month-old children to the goddess Periyachi (pictured), who is depicted ripping a woman's womb?

... 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 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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In Greek mythology, sirens (Ancient Greek: singular: Σειρήν, Seirḗn; plural: Σειρῆνες, Seirênes) are female humanlike beings with alluring voices; they appear in a scene in the Odyssey in which Odysseus saves his crew's lives. Roman poets place them on some small islands called Sirenum scopuli. In some later, rationalized traditions, the literal geography of the "flowery" island of Anthemoessa, or Anthemusa, is fixed: sometimes on Cape Pelorum and at others in the islands known as the Sirenuse, near Paestum, or in Capreae. All such locations were surrounded by cliffs and rocks.

Sirens continued to be used as a symbol for the dangerous temptation embodied by women regularly throughout Christian art of the medieval era. "Siren" can also be used as a slang term for a woman considered both very attractive and dangerous. (Full article...)

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Vampire Fenrir Ala (demon) Sharabha Ratatoskr Huginn and Muninn Keshi (demon) Nuckelavee Sea Mither Boobrie Stoor worm Mermaid Dragon Hippocampus (mythology) Phoenix (mythology) Centaur Unicorn Serpent (symbolism) Anzû Cerberus

General images

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

Image 1Ahimelech giving the sword of Goliath to David, by Aert de Gelder. (from List of mythological objects)
Image 2A 19th-century drawing of Sun Wukong featuring his staff (from List of mythological objects)
Image 3Jacob blesses Joseph and gives him the coat of many colors (from List of mythological objects)
Image 4Opening 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 5Joan of Arc with her famous sword (from List of mythological objects)
Image 6Myths and legends of Babylonia and Assyria (1916) (from Myth)
Image 7Jason returns with Golden fleece (from List of mythological objects)
Image 8The sheyd אַשְמְדּאָי (Ašmodai) in bird-like form, with typical rooster feet, as depicted in Compendium rarissimum totius Artis Magicae 1775 (from Comparative mythology)
Image 9"Tizona", the sword attributed to El Cid, on exhibit in the Army Museum of Madrid (from List of mythological objects)
Image 10Snake and world egg of the inhabitants of Tyre (from List of mythological objects)
Image 11Edith Hamilton's Mythology has been a major channel for English speakers to learn classical Greek and Roman mythology (from Myth)
Image 12The Fall of the Titans (1596–98) by Cornelis Cornelisz van Haarlem (from Comparative mythology)
Image 13"The Fall of Man" by Lucas Cranach the Elder and the Tree of Knowledge is on the right (from List of mythological objects)
Image 14Symbolic power: a dragon in the Imperial City, Huế, Vietnam (from Legendary creature)
Image 15Ancient Sumerian cylinder seal impression showing the god Dumuzid being tortured in the Underworld by galla demons (from Comparative mythology)
Image 16Thor wearing the magic belt Megingjörð (from List of mythological objects)
Image 17Sampo, 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 18The 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 19Väinämöinen, 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 20Heracles 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 21Yama with his famous Yama Pasha (from List of mythological objects)
Image 22Perillos being forced into the brazen bull that he built for Phalaris (from List of mythological objects)
Image 23Dietrich von Bern and Hildebrand fight against dragons (from List of mythological objects)
Image 24The Honest Woodcutter, also known as Mercury and the Woodman and his famous Golden Axe (from List of mythological objects)
Image 25Hand of God (from List of mythological objects)
Image 26Several mythical creatures from Bilderbuch für Kinder (lit. 'picture book for children') between 1790 and 1822, by Friedrich Justin Bertuch (from Legendary creature)
Image 27Voodoo doll with pins in it, Museum of Witchcraft (from List of mythological objects)
Image 28Achilles wearing his armor (from List of mythological objects)
Image 29The famous sword of Excalibur painted by Howard Pyle (from List of mythological objects)
Image 30Claíomh Solais on an Ireland stamp printed in 1922 (from List of mythological objects)
Image 31Fountain of Youth (from List of mythological objects)
Image 32As 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 33Vishnu holding his legendary sword Nandaka (from List of mythological objects)
Image 34The 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 35The 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 36Ballads of bravery (1877) part of Arthurian mythology (from Myth)
Image 37Erlang Shen (二郎神), or Erlang is a Chinese God with his spear (from List of mythological objects)
Image 38The fall of Icarus (from List of mythological objects)
Image 39 Odysseus Overcome by Demodocus' Song, by Francesco Hayez, 1813–1815 (from Myth)
Image 40Riding a Flying Carpet, an 1880 painting by Viktor Vasnetsov (from List of mythological objects)
Image 41The Shrine of the Three Kings in Cologne Cathedral (from List of mythological objects)
Image 42Golden cosmic egg Hiranyagarbha by Manaku (from List of mythological objects)
Image 43Veronica holding her veil, Hans Memling, c. 1470 (from List of mythological objects)
Image 44Amenonuhoko (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 45Fig trees often represent talismans with the udumbara (from List of mythological objects)
Image 46Golem and Loew (from List of mythological objects)
Image 47This 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 48Azoth, a universal medicine or universal solvent sought in alchemy. (Medieval legend) (from List of mythological objects)
Image 49King Svafrlame Secures the Sword Tyrfing (from List of mythological objects)
Image 50Image 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 51Adam's Bridge also called as Rama Setu (from List of mythological objects)
Image 52The Argo (c. 1500 – 1530), painting by Lorenzo Costa (from List of mythological objects)
Image 53Goetia seal of solomon (from List of mythological objects)
Image 54The Dispute of Minerva and Neptune (c. 1689 or 1706) by René-Antoine Houasse, depicting the founding myth of Athens (from National myth)
Image 55An angel (Camael) expelling Adam and Eve with a flaming sword (from List of mythological objects)
Image 56Killing of Ravana Painting by Brahmstra of Arrow of Brahma (from List of mythological objects)
Image 57Thor kicks Litr onto Baldr's Hringhorni, illustration by Emil Doepler (ca. 1905) (from List of mythological objects)
Image 58Early Hebrew Conception of the Universe (from List of mythological objects)
Image 59Houyi, the God of Archery (from List of mythological objects)
Image 601929 Belgian banknote, depicting Ceres, Neptune and caduceus (from Myth)
Image 61Pied piper (from List of mythological objects)
Image 62Tissot Moses and Joshua in the Tabernacle (from List of mythological objects)
Image 63Surya on His Celestial Chariot (from List of mythological objects)
Image 64Hanuman fetches the herb-bearing mountain, in a print from the Ravi Varma Press, 1910's (from List of mythological objects)
Image 65Giza pyramids (from List of mythological objects)
Image 66The Crown of Immortality, held by the allegorical figure Eterna (Eternity) (from List of mythological objects)
Image 67Ancient 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 68Jug from Lydian Treasure Usak (from List of mythological objects)
Image 69Longinus with his famous Spear (from List of mythological objects)
Image 7014th century Goryeo painting of Ksitigarbha holding a cintamani (from List of mythological objects)
Image 71seven angels with seven trumpets (from List of mythological objects)
Image 72The 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 73Artist's impressions of the (unseen) Imperial Regalia of Japan (from List of mythological objects)
Image 74Shiva with his Trishula (from List of mythological objects)
Image 75Lichas bringing the garment of Nessus to Hercules (from List of mythological objects)
Image 76Vishnu with his Panchajanya (from List of mythological objects)
Image 77Fortune Wheel (from List of mythological objects)
Image 78Prometheus (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 79Greek God Kronos/Saturnus with sickle (from List of mythological objects)
Image 80Holy Robe in Trier (from List of mythological objects)
Image 81Hop-o'-My-Thumb stealing the Seven-league boots from the Ogre, by Gustave Doré (from List of mythological objects)
Image 82Rectangular tablets passed down by the Hand of God in the 10th century Byzantine Leo Bible (from List of mythological objects)
Image 83Aura, a field of luminous radiation surrounding a person or object (from List of mythological objects)
Image 84Shield of Achilles (illustration) (from List of mythological objects)
Image 85The Ash Yggdrasil by Friedrich Wilhelm Heine (from List of mythological objects)
Image 86The Flying Dutchman (from List of mythological objects)
Image 87The Celestial Chariot, Pushpaka Vimana from Ramayana (from List of mythological objects)
Image 88Lord 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)