Portal:Myths

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 religious (when they are closely linked to religion or spirituality) and secular authorities. 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...)

Refresh with new selections below (purge)

Selected article - show another

Kangiten holding an axe and a radish

Kangiten or Kankiten (Japanese: 歓喜天, "god of bliss"; Sanskrit (IAST): Nandikeśvara), also known as Binayaka (毘那夜迦; Skt. Vināyaka), Ganabachi (誐那鉢底, alternatively Ganahachi or Ganahattei; Skt. Gaṇapati), or more commonly, Shōten or Shōden (聖天, lit. "sacred god" or "noble god"), is a deva (ten) venerated mainly in the Shingon and Tendai schools of Japanese Buddhism who is the Buddhist equivalent of the Hindu deity Ganesha.

Although Kangiten (Shōten) and Ganesha share a common origin and a number of traits, there are also some marked differences between the two. For instance, the Buddhist Vinayaka was (at least at first) negatively portrayed as the creator of obstacles and the leader of a class of malignant demons who obstructed Buddhist practice called vinayakas, though later tradition made an attempt to distinguish between the vinayakas and their lord, who became seen as a manifestation of the bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara (Kannon in Japanese) and/or the buddha Vairochana. (Full article...)

List of selected articles

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 some modern K'iche' Maya revere rival syncretised forms of the pre-Columbian Moon goddess Awilix that are said to be the lovers of St. James?

...that Tlahuizcalpantecuhtli (pictured) was the god of the planet Venus in Aztec belief?

...that according to Greek mythology, Adonis was slain by a boar at the foot of the waterfall in Apheca in modern-day Lebanon?

More did you know facts

Recognised content

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

...Recognised content on Wikipedia

Wikiversity

Mythology portal on Wikiversity

Selected creature - show another

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 of 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...)

List of selected creatures
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 1Riding a Flying Carpet, an 1880 painting by Viktor Vasnetsov (from List of mythological objects)
Image 2Tor's Fight with the Giants (1872) by Mårten Eskil Winge. Thor is the god of thunder in Norse mythology. (from Myth)
Image 3The Dispute of Minerva and Neptune (c. 1689 or 1706) by René-Antoine Houasse, depicting the founding myth of Athens (from National myth)
Image 4Surya on His Celestial Chariot (from List of mythological objects)
Image 5Edith Hamilton's Mythology has been a major channel for English speakers to learn classical Greek and Roman mythology (from Myth)
Image 6Achilles wearing his armor (from List of mythological objects)
Image 7The fall of Icarus (from List of mythological objects)
Image 8Ancient 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 9The Ash Yggdrasil by Friedrich Wilhelm Heine (from List of mythological objects)
Image 10This 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 11The Argo (c. 1500 – 1530), painting by Lorenzo Costa (from List of mythological objects)
Image 12Ahimelech giving the sword of Goliath to David, by Aert de Gelder. (from List of mythological objects)
Image 13Killing of Ravana Painting by Brahmstra of Arrow of Brahma (from List of mythological objects)
Image 14Holy Robe in Trier (from List of mythological objects)
Image 15The Honest Woodcutter, also known as Mercury and the Woodman and his famous Golden Axe (from List of mythological objects)
Image 16Prometheus (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 17The 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 18Voodoo doll with pins in it, Museum of Witchcraft (from List of mythological objects)
Image 19Early Hebrew Conception of the Universe (from List of mythological objects)
Image 20Ballads of bravery (1877) part of Arthurian mythology (from Myth)
Image 2114th century Goryeo painting of Ksitigarbha holding a cintamani (from List of mythological objects)
Image 22Vishnu with his Panchajanya (from List of mythological objects)
Image 23The 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 241929 Belgian banknote, depicting Ceres, Neptune and caduceus (from Myth)
Image 25Fountain of Youth (from List of mythological objects)
Image 26Aura, a field of luminous radiation surrounding a person or object (from List of mythological objects)
Image 27Vishnu holding his legendary sword Nandaka (from List of mythological objects)
Image 28Lord 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 29Dietrich von Bern and Hildebrand fight against dragons (from List of mythological objects)
Image 30Claíomh Solais on an Ireland stamp printed in 1922 (from List of mythological objects)
Image 31Odysseus Overcome by Demodocus' Song, a mythological painting by Francesco Hayez, 1813–1815 (from Myth)
Image 32Yama with his famous Yama Pasha (from List of mythological objects)
Image 33Artist's impressions of the (unseen) Imperial Regalia of Japan (from List of mythological objects)
Image 34Myths and legends of Babylonia and Assyria (1916) (from Myth)
Image 35The 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 36Tissot Moses and Joshua in the Tabernacle (from List of mythological objects)
Image 37The Celestial Chariot, Pushpaka Vimana from Ramayana (from List of mythological objects)
Image 38Lichas bringing the garment of Nessus to Hercules (from List of mythological objects)
Image 39Image 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 40An angel (Camael) expelling Adam and Eve with a flaming sword (from List of mythological objects)
Image 41Jug from Lydian Treasure Usak (from List of mythological objects)
Image 42The Flying Dutchman (from List of mythological objects)
Image 43Azoth, a universal medicine or universal solvent sought in alchemy. (Medieval legend) (from List of mythological objects)
Image 44Fig trees often represent talismans with the udumbara (from List of mythological objects)
Image 45Perillos being forced into the brazen bull that he built for Phalaris (from List of mythological objects)
Image 46Golden cosmic egg Hiranyagarbha by Manaku (from List of mythological objects)
Image 47Jacob blesses Joseph and gives him the coat of many colors (from List of mythological objects)
Image 48Golem and Loew (from List of mythological objects)
Image 49As 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 50Longinus with his famous Spear (from List of mythological objects)
Image 51Yama advances to smite Ravana with the weapon of death (from List of mythological objects)
Image 52"The Fall of Man" by Lucas Cranach the Elder and the Tree of Knowledge is on the right (from List of mythological objects)
Image 53Adam's Bridge also called as Rama Setu (from List of mythological objects)
Image 54seven angels with seven trumpets (from List of mythological objects)
Image 55Veronica holding her veil, Hans Memling, c. 1470 (from List of mythological objects)
Image 56Houyi, the God of Archery (from List of mythological objects)
Image 57Several legendary creatures from Bilderbuch für Kinder (lit. 'picture book for children') between 1790 and 1822, by Friedrich Justin Bertuch (from Legendary creature)
Image 58A 19th-century drawing of Sun Wukong featuring his staff (from List of mythological objects)
Image 59Ancient Sumerian cylinder seal impression showing the god Dumuzid being tortured in the Underworld by galla demons (from Comparative mythology)
Image 60"Tizona", the sword attributed to El Cid, on exhibit in the Army Museum of Madrid (from List of mythological objects)
Image 61Thor wearing the magic belt Megingjörð (from List of mythological objects)
Image 62Jason returns with Golden fleece (from List of mythological objects)
Image 63The 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 64Heracles 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 65Shiva with his Trishula (from List of mythological objects)
Image 66Giza pyramids (from List of mythological objects)
Image 67Greek God Kronos/Saturnus with sickle (from List of mythological objects)
Image 68Hand of God (from List of mythological objects)
Image 69Goetia seal of solomon (from List of mythological objects)
Image 70The Shrine of the Three Kings in Cologne Cathedral (from List of mythological objects)
Image 71Hop-o'-My-Thumb stealing the Seven-league boots from the Ogre, by Gustave Doré (from List of mythological objects)
Image 72Amenonuhoko (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 73Rectangular tablets passed down by the Hand of God in the 10th century Byzantine Leo Bible (from List of mythological objects)
Image 74Fortune Wheel (from List of mythological objects)
Image 75Joan of Arc with her famous sword (from List of mythological objects)
Image 76Hanuman fetches the herb-bearing mountain, in a print from the Ravi Varma Press, 1910's (from List of mythological objects)
Image 77Erlang Shen (二郎神), or Erlang is a Chinese God with his spear (from List of mythological objects)
Image 78Shield of Achilles (illustration) (from List of mythological objects)
Image 79King Svafrlame Secures the Sword Tyrfing (from List of mythological objects)
Image 80Thor kicks Litr onto Baldr's Hringhorni, illustration by Emil Doepler (ca. 1905) (from List of mythological objects)
Image 81Väinämöinen, 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 82Opening 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 83Pied piper (from List of mythological objects)
Image 84Snake and world egg of the inhabitants of Tyre (from List of mythological objects)
Image 85The Crown of Immortality, held by the allegorical figure Eterna (Eternity) (from List of mythological objects)
Image 86The famous sword of Excalibur painted by Howard Pyle (from List of mythological objects)
Image 87Sampo, 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 88The Fall of the Titans (1596–98) by Cornelis Cornelisz van Haarlem (from Comparative mythology)
Image 89Symbolic power: a dragon in the Imperial City, Huế, Vietnam (from Legendary creature)