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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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Prester John (Latin: Presbyter Ioannes) was a legendary Christian patriarch, presbyter, and king. Stories popular in Europe in the 12th to the 17th centuries told of a Church of the East patriarch and king who was said to rule over a Christian nation lost amid the pagans and Muslims in the Orient. The accounts were often embellished with various tropes of medieval popular fantasy, depicting Prester John as a descendant of the Three Magi, ruling a kingdom full of riches, marvels, and strange creatures.

At first, Prester John was imagined to reside in India. Tales of Church of the East Christians' evangelistic success there and of Thomas the Apostle's subcontinental travels as documented in works like the Acts of Thomas probably provided the first seeds of the legend. After the coming of the Mongols to the Western world, accounts placed the king in Central Asia, and eventually Portuguese explorers came to believe that the term was a reference to Ethiopia, by which time it had been an isolated Christian "exclave" distant from any other Christian-ruled territory. (Full article...)

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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 Ugaritic culture hero Danel may have been a model for the Biblical Daniel of Ezekiel?

...that in Colombian folklore the legendary Alligatorman (Hombre Caiman) is said to be a fisherman converted by the spirit of the Magdalena River into an alligator, that returns every year on St. Sebastian´s Day to hunt human victims?

...that the Ancient Greeks credited Broteas, the ugly son of Tantalus, with an ancient rock-cut cliff-face carving of the Great Mother of the Gods in modern Turkey?

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

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Mythology portal on Wikiversity

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The phoenix, "unica semper avis" (ever-singular bird), 1583

The phoenix is an immortal bird that cyclically regenerates or is otherwise born again. While it is part of Greek mythology, it has analogs in many cultures, such as Egyptian and Persian. Associated with the sun, a phoenix obtains new life by rising from the ashes of its predecessor. Some legends say it dies in a show of flames and combustion, while others that it simply dies and decomposes before being born again. In the Motif-Index of Folk-Literature, a tool used by folklorists, the phoenix is classified as motif B32.

The origin of the phoenix has been attributed to Ancient Egypt by Herodotus and later 19th-century scholars, but other scholars think the Egyptian texts may have been influenced by classical folklore. Over time, the phoenix motif spread and gained a variety of new associations; Herodotus, Lucan, Pliny the Elder, Pope Clement I, Lactantius, Ovid, and Isidore of Seville are among those who have contributed to the retelling and transmission of the phoenix motif. Over time, extending beyond its origins, the phoenix could variously "symbolize renewal in general as well as the sun, time, the Empire, metempsychosis, consecration, resurrection, life in the heavenly Paradise, Christ, Mary, virginity, the exceptional man, and certain aspects of Christian life". Some scholars have claimed that the poem De ave phoenice may present the mythological phoenix motif as a symbol of Christ's resurrection. (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 Siren (mythology) Hippocampus (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 2Jacob blesses Joseph and gives him the coat of many colors (from List of mythological objects)
Image 3Image 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 4 Odysseus Overcome by Demodocus' Song, by Francesco Hayez, 1813–1815 (from Myth)
Image 5Lord 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 6The sheyd אַשְמְדּאָי (Ašmodai) in bird-like form, with typical rooster feet, as depicted in Compendium rarissimum totius Artis Magicae 1775 (from Comparative mythology)
Image 7Fig trees often represent talismans with the udumbara (from List of mythological objects)
Image 8Dietrich von Bern and Hildebrand fight against dragons (from List of mythological objects)
Image 9Hanuman fetches the herb-bearing mountain, in a print from the Ravi Varma Press, 1910's (from List of mythological objects)
Image 10The Flying Dutchman (from List of mythological objects)
Image 11The 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 12Perillos being forced into the brazen bull that he built for Phalaris (from List of mythological objects)
Image 13Early Hebrew Conception of the Universe (from List of mythological objects)
Image 14Ballads of bravery (1877) part of Arthurian mythology (from Myth)
Image 15King Svafrlame Secures the Sword Tyrfing (from List of mythological objects)
Image 16seven angels with seven trumpets (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 18A 19th-century drawing of Sun Wukong featuring his staff (from List of mythological objects)
Image 19An angel (Camael) expelling Adam and Eve with a flaming sword (from List of mythological objects)
Image 20Several mythical creatures from Bilderbuch für Kinder (lit. 'picture book for children') between 1790 and 1822, by Friedrich Justin Bertuch (from Legendary creature)
Image 2114th century Goryeo painting of Ksitigarbha holding a cintamani (from List of mythological objects)
Image 22Ahimelech giving the sword of Goliath to David, by Aert de Gelder. (from List of mythological objects)
Image 23The Shrine of the Three Kings in Cologne Cathedral (from List of mythological objects)
Image 24Hop-o'-My-Thumb stealing the Seven-league boots from the Ogre, by Gustave Doré (from List of mythological objects)
Image 25Opening 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 26This 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 27Giza pyramids (from List of mythological objects)
Image 28Edith Hamilton's Mythology has been a major channel for English speakers to learn classical Greek and Roman mythology (from Myth)
Image 29As 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 30Heracles 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 31"Tizona", the sword attributed to El Cid, on exhibit in the Army Museum of Madrid (from List of mythological objects)
Image 32The Crown of Immortality, held by the allegorical figure Eterna (Eternity) (from List of mythological objects)
Image 33Golem and Loew (from List of mythological objects)
Image 34Amenonuhoko (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 35Prometheus (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 36Azoth, a universal medicine or universal solvent sought in alchemy. (Medieval legend) (from List of mythological objects)
Image 37Joan of Arc with her famous sword (from List of mythological objects)
Image 38The Dispute of Minerva and Neptune (c. 1689 or 1706) by René-Antoine Houasse, depicting the founding myth of Athens (from National myth)
Image 391929 Belgian banknote, depicting Ceres, Neptune and caduceus (from Myth)
Image 40Pied piper (from List of mythological objects)
Image 41Myths and legends of Babylonia and Assyria (1916) (from Myth)
Image 42The fall of Icarus (from List of mythological objects)
Image 43Riding a Flying Carpet, an 1880 painting by Viktor Vasnetsov (from List of mythological objects)
Image 44The 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 45Vishnu with his Panchajanya (from List of mythological objects)
Image 46Thor kicks Litr onto Baldr's Hringhorni, illustration by Emil Doepler (ca. 1905) (from List of mythological objects)
Image 47Ancient Sumerian cylinder seal impression showing the god Dumuzid being tortured in the Underworld by galla demons (from Comparative mythology)
Image 48Adam's Bridge also called as Rama Setu (from List of mythological objects)
Image 49Thor wearing the magic belt Megingjörð (from List of mythological objects)
Image 50Jug from Lydian Treasure Usak (from List of mythological objects)
Image 51The Celestial Chariot, Pushpaka Vimana from Ramayana (from List of mythological objects)
Image 52Surya on His Celestial Chariot (from List of mythological objects)
Image 53The Ash Yggdrasil by Friedrich Wilhelm Heine (from List of mythological objects)
Image 54Symbolic power: a dragon in the Imperial City, Huế, Vietnam (from Legendary creature)
Image 55Holy Robe in Trier (from List of mythological objects)
Image 56Yama with his famous Yama Pasha (from List of mythological objects)
Image 57Fortune Wheel (from List of mythological objects)
Image 58Shield of Achilles (illustration) (from List of mythological objects)
Image 59Rectangular tablets passed down by the Hand of God in the 10th century Byzantine Leo Bible (from List of mythological objects)
Image 60Snake and world egg of the inhabitants of Tyre (from List of mythological objects)
Image 61Vishnu holding his legendary sword Nandaka (from List of mythological objects)
Image 62The Fall of the Titans (1596–98) by Cornelis Cornelisz van Haarlem (from Comparative mythology)
Image 63Killing of Ravana Painting by Brahmstra of Arrow of Brahma (from List of mythological objects)
Image 64The 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 65Hand of God (from List of mythological objects)
Image 66Fountain of Youth (from List of mythological objects)
Image 67Sampo, 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 68Goetia seal of solomon (from List of mythological objects)
Image 69Claíomh Solais on an Ireland stamp printed in 1922 (from List of mythological objects)
Image 70Väinämöinen, 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 71Aura, a field of luminous radiation surrounding a person or object (from List of mythological objects)
Image 72Veronica holding her veil, Hans Memling, c. 1470 (from List of mythological objects)
Image 73Tissot Moses and Joshua in the Tabernacle (from List of mythological objects)
Image 74The Argo (c. 1500 – 1530), painting by Lorenzo Costa (from List of mythological objects)
Image 75Longinus with his famous Spear (from List of mythological objects)
Image 76Achilles wearing his armor (from List of mythological objects)
Image 77Shiva with his Trishula (from List of mythological objects)
Image 78"The Fall of Man" by Lucas Cranach the Elder and the Tree of Knowledge is on the right (from List of mythological objects)
Image 79Jason returns with Golden fleece (from List of mythological objects)
Image 80Golden cosmic egg Hiranyagarbha by Manaku (from List of mythological objects)
Image 81The 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 82Voodoo doll with pins in it, Museum of Witchcraft (from List of mythological objects)
Image 83Artist's impressions of the (unseen) Imperial Regalia of Japan (from List of mythological objects)
Image 84Greek God Kronos/Saturnus with sickle (from List of mythological objects)
Image 85The famous sword of Excalibur painted by Howard Pyle (from List of mythological objects)
Image 86Erlang Shen (二郎神), or Erlang is a Chinese God with his spear (from List of mythological objects)
Image 87Houyi, the God of Archery (from List of mythological objects)
Image 88Ancient Roman relief from the Cathedral of Maria Saal showing the infant twins Romulus and Remus being suckled by a she-wolf (from Comparative mythology)