Relish Folkore
Wonderland of myths
Myth and mythologies - Relish Folkore
Myth and Mythologies

by ejceasar

Myth and Mythologies. Myths can be classified as origin myths, cultural myths and political myths and mythology is a collection of myths belong to a time period, region or religion

Famous Myths
The Great Flood

A flood myth also known as deluge myth is a narrative in which great flood, usually sent by a deity or deities to destroy civilizations as an act of divine retribution. Flood myths are common across a wide range of cultures, extending back to Bronze Age and Neolithic prehistory.

Creation Myths

Every mythology has its own version of creation myths, or other wise commonly known as how the world came in to existence. In Egyptian Mythology, the creation myth starts with an egg in the ocean. There was a single egg floating in the ocean and the egg hatched and the son of Ra was born. According to the Indian Mythology, the universe was created by Lord Brahma out of himself.

Epic cosmic battles

The idea of an unimaginable war that threatens to tear apart the cosmos connects with us so deeply that it still powers our epic stories. The Lord of the Rings, Avengers, Hobbits, and countless others all feature this age-old trope. It can be found in the legends of almost every ancient culture.

The Atlantis Myth

We all know the myth of Atlantis: a utopian city wiped out in a single night thanks to an unearthly cataclysm. But Atlantis is only the most famous of mythical lost cities. Near-identical stories crop up with such regularity that it’s tempting to think they must be somehow related.Take Iram (also known as Ubar). A fabled city in the deserts of modern Saudi Arabia, Iram is said to have been wiped out in a single night when Allah buried it under a flood of sand. In other words, it’s the Atlantis myth translated to a world without water. Then you have Ys off the coast of France, which was supposedly flooded around the 5th century by a mythical warrior king. And that’s before we get onto the story of Sodom and Gomorrah and the Hindu myth of Tripura, which both involve gods wiping out immoral cities in a rain of fire.In short, the idea of a city obliterated overnight is so powerful it seems to show up everywhere. Are these half-remembered tragedies with some basis in fact (like Pompeii) or just stories that play to the apocalyptic fantasist in all of us? We’ll leave it to you to decide.

Resurrection

Jesus’s resurrection is the big selling point of Christianity, a unique moment that established Christ as the one true savior. At least that’s the idea. In reality, the idea of a dying deity or important human who is later resurrected has been around for millennia.Most famously, this includes the story of Osiris, the ancient Egyptian god whose birth was heralded by a star, who was betrayed by a friend, was murdered, and was later resurrected. But there are less explicit versions too. The Greek cult of Dionysus had their figurehead killed off every two years, only to rise again at a later date. Persephone also died regularly, and many pagan traditions from Scandinavia to Central America involved gods dying and returning to life or men dying and coming back as deities.Perhaps most interestingly of all, a historical tablet known as “Gabriel’s Revelation” allegedly tells the story of a Jewish rebel known as Simon who was killed by the Romans, only to be resurrected three days later. The catch? It was written in 4 BC, over 30 years before Jesus allegedly pulled off the same trick. Either it’s a mistranslation, or the Son of God was building on centuries of groundwork by other deities.

Mythical Creatures

Dragons are likely the most traveled creature in all of mythology. Even more than vampires, they have a habit of turning up in societies and cultures so far apart in time and space you’d think it was impossible. There are ancient Sumerian tablets that record the act of dragon-slaying, Greek tales of dragons cavorting with other monsters, and an entire science built around the uses of their bones in China. In Central America, the Mayans worshipped the feathered snake Quetzalcóatl, while both Norse and Christian mythologies specifically mention dragons.As late as 1886, Victorian scientists still held that dragons had once existed but had gone extinct. Not until dinosaurs became firmly established in the public mind did people see the probable link between ancient fossils and dragon myths. Currently, our best guess is that various cultures all stumbled over dino bones at some point and translated them into gigantic mythological beasts.

The Hero’s Quest

Thanks to the occasional self-indulgent movie adaptation, most of us probably have a vague knowledge of the poems of Homer. Considered the earliest examples of Western literature, his Iliad and Odyssey are epic myths of tortured heroes fighting their way across oceans and continents in search of metaphorical salvation—and they appear in near-identical form in almost every culture.It’s called the “hero’s journey,” and just about all epic stories throughout history have followed the specific model. Famously, George Lucas deliberately based the first Star Wars on it, and you can find its influence in The Lord of the Rings, the Oz books, and even Harry Potter. But this archetypal myth was around even before fancy-pants anthropologists handed it over to lazy scriptwriters.The Sumerian Epic of Gilgamesh, the story of Sinbad the Sailor in the 1,001 Nights, the legend of King Arthur, the tale of the Argonauts . . . all of these and plenty more fit the structure of the hero’s journey just like Homer’s awesome poems above. In fact, nearly every single culture in recorded history has myths that fall into this category. Even Moses’s epic wanderings in the Bible fit this model. We as a species truly are lazy storytellers.

Underworld

Cultural myths don’t just entertain us and record historical events. They also serve to explain why the world is the way it is. Hence the prevalence of stories designed to give a reason for some mystery of existence.In the Bible, we have the Tower of Babel, which explains why we have different languages. God’s speech prior to expelling Adam and Eve from Eden is another example, giving a reason for both the agony of childbirth and why ancient man had to toil all day in the fields. Wander across traditions into the stories of the Ancient Greeks and the legend of Prometheus demonstrates why fire is so valuable, while the story of Pandora gives a reason for the existence of disease and suffering.Start looking for them and you’ll find these explanatory myths scattered across every culture in history. There are myths that explain why rhinoceroses have no hairs, why incest is forbidden, and how medicine came into existence. Anything you can think of has some poetic explanation somewhere. In an unscientific age, poetry was often all we had.

Apocalypse

Everything that begins has an end, and our ancient ancestors knew that as simply as we do. No surprise then that most cultures carry an End of Times myth to counter their creation story—a sort of consolation prize for those who won’t live to see the actual end (i.e. everyone).For Christians, this apocalypse is a gigantic epic that plays out over many, many years and involves so many disasters, wars, and calamities that it’s hard to keep track. Same with the Norse Ragnarok, which is a collection of disasters and battles that results in the Earth being drowned and recreated afresh. In Hinduism, it’s another epic battle followed by a rebooted universe, while Buddhism annihilates the world in a pyrotechnic fireworks display so amazing it deserves its own Michael Bay film.In other words, most humans throughout history have lived with their own personal vision of the end of everything, one that makes sense in the context of their lives and cultures. And that’s all these myths really are: ways for us humans to make sense of the world we live in, no matter when or where we are. It’s just an added bonus that some of them make absolutely awesome stories, too.

Mythology Facts

Learn a few fun facts

Mythology facts.

"Interesting facts on mythology"
Scarlet Woman

The red clothes worn by Hindu brides are associated with "scarlet women" in Christianity

Symbol of Purity

The white clothes that represent virginity and purity in the Christian mythosphere are associated with spirituality and otherworldliness in the Hindu mythosphere; are restricted to monks, priests, and widows; and do not form part of household rituals.

Symbol of Virility

The goat, the symbol of virility that is sacrificed to the Hindu Goddess, is the symbol of the devil in the biblical worldview.

Yoginis

The yoginis of Hinduism, who are handmaidens of the Goddess and are wild erotic creatures, recall the witches coven of the Christian mythosphere.

Pentagram

The pentagram is the symbol of Lakshmi, Hindu goddess of wealth, and Shukra, guru of demons, and is associated with Venus, wealth, fertility, creativity, and erotic power in Hindu astrology, but is considered the mark of the devil in Christianity.

Dark drinker of the blood

'described in Western literature as the "dark drinker of blood" and is associated with witchcraft.

The Serpent

The serpent, which is associated with earth's fertility and occult wisdom in Hinduism, is considered a manifestation of the devil in biblical traditions.

Swastika

To the Western eye the swastika is the symbol of Hitler and the Holocaust. To Hindus it is associated with auspiciousness and fertility.

Demon

Demon in Judeo-Christian-Islamic Paradigm is Evil being who opposes God but in Hindu Paradigm Demon is a Being who lives under-ground in bejeweled cities, fights gods, and possess the secret of rejuvenation

Gods

Gods in Judeo-Christian-Islamic Paradigm False deities worshipped by nonbelievers and pagans whereas in Hindu Paradigm Celestial beings who live above ground or in the skies, fight demons, and have consumed the elixir of immortality

Bantu Mythology

The Bantu believe that fire was brought to earth by a god or goddess, who gave it to humans as a gift.

"The Bantu believe that fire was brought to earth by a god or goddess, who gave it to humans as a gift."

The Bantu Mythology

The Bantu mythology is the system of myths and legends of the Bantu peoples of Africa. Although Bantu peoples account for several hundred different ethnic groups, there is a high degree of homogeneity in Bantu cultures and mythologies, just as in Bantu languages.

The Bantu people, who live in many parts of Africa, have a rich and diverse mythology that includes many different stories and legends. Here are a few examples of famous myths from Bantu mythology: The Creation Myth

The Bantu believe that the world was created by a god or gods, who formed the earth, sky, and all living things. Different Bantu groups have different creation stories, but they often involve the god or gods creating the world out of chaos or darkness.

The Myth of the First Human

According to Bantu legend, the first human, named Likumbi, was created by the god or gods. Different Bantu groups have different stories about how the first human was created, but they often involve the god or gods fashioning the first human out of clay or dust.

The Myth of the First Fire

The Bantu believe that fire was brought to earth by a god or goddess, who gave it to humans as a gift. Different Bantu groups have different stories about how fire was brought to earth, but they often involve a trickster figure stealing fire from the gods or a god or goddess giving fire to humans as a reward for good behavior.

The Myth of the First Rain

The Bantu believe that the first rain was brought to the world by a god or goddess, who sent it to earth as a gift. Different Bantu groups have different stories about how rain was brought to earth, but they often involve a god or goddess opening up the sky to let the rain fall or sending a messenger to earth to bring the rain.

The Myth of the Afterlife

The Bantu people have different beliefs about the afterlife, but some of the most common are a belief in a heaven and hell, a belief that the dead go to the land of the ancestors or a belief that the soul is reincarnated.

Slavic Mythology

Perun is undoubtedly the highest god of the Slavic Pantheon.

"Perun is undoubtedly the highest god of the Slavic Pantheon."

Slavic paganism or Slavic religion define the religious beliefs, godlores and ritual practices of the Slavs before the formal Christianisation of their ruling elites.

Famous Myths of Slavic Mythology

  • The myth of Perun

    Perun is the god of thunder and lightning in Slavic mythology, he is often seen as the chief deity and protector of the tribe.

  • The myth of Veles

    Veles is the god of earth, waters, and the underworld in Slavic mythology, he is often associated with the power of magic and witchcraft.

  • The myth of Svarog

    Svarog is the god of fire, metalworking and fate in Slavic mythology, he was considered as the father of the gods and the creator of the world.

  • The myth of Dazhbog

    Dazhbog is the god of the sun, warmth and light in Slavic mythology, he was often associated with the power of fertility and agriculture.

  • The myth of Baba Yaga

    Baba Yaga is a witch-like figure in Slavic mythology, known for her supernatural powers and her ability to fly. She is sometimes seen as a helpful figure, while other times she is seen as a malevolent force.

  • The myth of Kostroma

    Kostroma is a goddess of fertility and love in Slavic mythology, she was often associated with the power of spring and renewal.

Finnish Mythology

Finnish mythology is a commonly applied description of the folklore of Finnish paganism

"Finnish mythology is a commonly applied description of the folklore of Finnish paganism"

Finnish mythology is a commonly applied description of the folklore of Finnish paganism, of which a modern revival is practiced by a small percentage of the Finnish people. Finnish mythology is the traditional belief system of the Finnish people, and it is closely related to the mythology of other Finno-Ugric peoples such as the Estonians and the Hungarians. Here are a few examples of famous myths from Finnish mythology:

The story of the creation of the world: According to Finnish mythology, the world was created by Ilmatar, a primal goddess of the air and the sky.

The story of Väinämöinen: Väinämöinen is a powerful and wise sorcerer in Finnish mythology, who is considered as one of the main characters of the Kalevala, a traditional epic poem of Finland. He is known for his wisdom and his role as a culture hero.

The story of Kullervo: Kullervo is a tragic hero of the Finnish mythology and is considered as one of the main characters of the Kalevala. He is known for his misfortune, his tragic fate and his power.

The story of Joukahainen: Joukahainen is a rival of Väinämöinen in the Kalevala, who is known for his arrogance and his defeat by Väinämöinen

The story of Lemminkäinen: Lemminkäinen is another character of the Kalevala, known for his romantic adventures and his quest to win the hand of the Maiden of the North.

These myths, along with others, are used by the Finnish people to explain the origins of their people and their customs and to reinforce their traditional beliefs and values. The Finnish traditional religion was a mixture of animism, nature worship, and ancestor worship.

Mesopotamian mythology

Seven gods who decree: An, Enlil, Enki, Ninhursag, Nanna, Utu, and Inanna.

"Seven gods who decree: An, Enlil, Enki, Ninhursag, Nanna, Utu, and Inanna."

Mesopotamian Religion

Mesopotamian religion refers to the religious beliefs and practices of the civilizations of ancient Mesopotamia, particularly Sumer, Akkad, Assyria and Babylonia between circa 3500 BC and 400 AD, after which they largely gave way to Syriac Christianity.

Some of the most famous myths of Mesopotamian mythology include the creation myth Enuma Elish, the epic of Gilgamesh, and the story of Inanna's descent to the underworld. Enuma Elish describes the creation of the world and the gods by the god Marduk, while the epic of Gilgamesh tells the story of a king's quest for immortality. The story of Inanna's descent to the underworld tells of the goddess's journey to the land of the dead and her eventual return to the world of the living. Other notable myths include the story of the god Enki and the goddess Ninhursag, the myth of Ishtar's descent to the underworld, and the story of the god Dumuzid and his sister Geshtinanna.

The Epic of Gilgamesh

The Epic of Gilgamesh is one of the most famous and important works of ancient Mesopotamian literature. It is an epic poem that tells the story of Gilgamesh, the king of Uruk, and his quest for immortality. The poem is thought to have been written around 2100 BCE, in the Sumerian language, but it was later translated into Akkadian.

The epic tells the story of Gilgamesh's adventures, including his friendship with the wild man Enkidu and their journey to the Cedar Forest to fight the monster Humbaba. After Enkidu's death, Gilgamesh becomes obsessed with the fear of his own mortality and sets out on a journey to find the secret of immortality. He eventually meets Utnapishtim, the only human who has been granted immortality by the gods, and learns the secret of eternal life but fails to achieve it.

The epic also explores themes of friendship, loss, and the human condition, and it is considered one of the earliest known works of literature in world history. The poem was widely read in ancient Mesopotamia and had a significant influence on later literature in the region. The epic of Gilgamesh is still widely read and studied today, both for its historical and literary significance.

Hittite mythology

Hittite sun goddess, the principal deity and patron of the Hittite empire and monarchy.

"Hittite sun goddess, the principal deity and patron of the Hittite empire and monarchy."

Hittite mythology and Hittite religion were the religious beliefs and practices of the Hittites, who created an empire centered in what is now Turkey from c. 1600 BC to 1180 BC.

Hittite mythology

Hittite mythology is the set of myths and religious beliefs of the ancient Hittites, an Indo-European people who lived in Anatolia (modern-day Turkey) from around 1600 BCE to 1200 BCE. Some of the most famous myths of Hittite mythology include:

  • The story of Kumarbi

    This is the Hittite version of the "cosmogonic cycle" which tells the story of the god Kumarbi, who overthrows his father Anu and becomes the ruler of the gods. Kumarbi also impregnates the mother goddess and gives birth to the storm god Teshub and other deities.

  • The story of Teshub and the dragon

    The god Teshub fought and defeated the dragon Illuyanka, a symbol of chaos and destructive forces.

  • The story of Telipinu

    This is the story of the god Telipinu, who is responsible for the fertility of the land and the well-being of the people. Telipinu goes into a rage and causes a drought, but he is eventually placated and returns to bring fertility back to the land.

  • The story of the Sun-goddess of Arinna

    This is the story of the Sun-goddess of Arinna, one of the most important deities of the Hittite pantheon. She is the goddess of the sun, and her daily journey across the sky was seen as a representation of the cycle of life and death.

  • The story of the god of the underworld

    The god of the underworld, known as Allani or "the god of the land of the dead" is an important figure in Hittite mythology. He is responsible for the afterlife and the fate of the souls of the dead.

These myths were an important part of Hittite religion and were often depicted in art and referenced in religious texts and rituals. They played a significant role in shaping the beliefs and worldview of the Hittite people. The Hittite myths were passed down through oral tradition, and many of them were recorded in the Hittite language on clay tablets. They are still studied today for their historical and cultural significance.

Gods and Goddesses

Mythological legends and deities

Roc

Arabian-mythology

"roc"

A giant mythical bird of prey in Arabian mythology, said to be able to carry off elephants and other large animals.

Scheherazade

Arabian-mythology

"scheherazade"

A legendary queen and storyteller in Arabian Nights, known for her ability to captivate a king with her tales and thereby saving her own life.

Euphorbus

Greek-mythology

"euphorbus"

In Greek mythology, Euphorbus (Ancient Greek: or Euforbo) was a Trojan hero during the Trojan War.

Butes

Greek-mythology

"butes"

Butes, a Thracian, Boreas's son, who was hostile towards his stepbrother Lycurgus and was driven out of the country by him. He settled in the island of Strongyle (Naxos) with a bunch of men, and proceeded to attack those who sailed past the island.

Sekhmet

egyptian-mythology

"Sekhmet"

Lioness-headed goddess of war and healing

Trophonius

Greek-mythology

"trophonius"

Trophonius was a figure in Greek mythology associated with the Oracle of Delphi. He was the son of the god Apollo and a mortal woman, and was believed to have been the founder of two shrines at the site of Delphi. Legend states that Trophonius was a skilled architect, and he was responsible for the construction of a temple to Apollo at Delphi. He was also said to have built a temple to the goddess Demeter at Lebadea. It was believed that Trophonius could foretell the future and provide advice to those seeking it from the Oracle of Delphi. He was also said to have been a great healer and an advisor to kings.

Electryone

Greek-mythology

"electryone"

In Greek mythology, Electryone (Ancient Greek: Ἠλεκτρυώνην) or Alectrona (Doric form) was a daughter of Helios and Rhodos, and sister to the Heliadae. She died a virgin and was worshipped as a heroine on the island of Rhodes. She was possibly a goddess of the sunrise, or of man's waking sense.

Illuyanka

Hittite-Mythology

"illuyanka"

Illuyanka is a serpent-like dragon in Hittite mythology, often depicted as a formidable adversary. He engaged in battles with the storm god Teshub.

Mbombo

Bantu-mythology

"mbombo"

The creator god in Bantu mythology, believed to have vomited out the sun, moon, stars, and the first living creatures.

Ndriananahary

Bantu-mythology, Malagasy-mythology

"ndriananahary"

The supreme creator god in Malagasy mythology, responsible for the creation of the world and all living things.

Durga Devi

hindu-mythology

"durga_devi"

Durga Devi is a powerful, even frightening goddess who fights fiercely in order to restore dharma (moral order). Yet, while Durga is terrifying to her adversaries, she is full of compassion and love for her devotees.

Arma

Hittite-Mythology

"arma"

Arma is the Hittite god of the moon, associated with night and darkness. He is often depicted as a mysterious and elusive deity.

Mythology in pop culture

Movies inspired by Mythology

The Legend of Hercules

Every man has a destiny

"The Legend of Hercules"

In Ancient Greece 1200 B.C., a queen succumbs to the lust of Zeus to bear a son promised to overthrow the tyrannical rule of the king and restore peace to a land in hardship. But this prince, Hercules, knows nothing of his real identity or his destiny. He desires only one thing: the love of Hebe, Princess of Crete, who has been promised to his own brother. When Hercules learns of his greater purpose, he must choose: to flee with his true love or to fulfill his destiny and become the true hero of his time. The story behind one of the greatest myths is revealed in this action-packed epic - a tale of love, sacrifice and the strength of the human spirit. Written by Millennium Entertainment The origin story of the mythical Greek hero. Betrayed by his stepfather, the King, and exiled and sold into slavery because of a forbidden love, Hercules must use his formidable powers to...

Lara Croft Tomb Raider: The Cradle of Life

The power of Pandora's Box is in her hands

"Lara Croft Tomb Raider: The Cradle of Life"

Off the coast of the volcanic island of Santorini, the intrepid archaeologist, Lara Croft, makes the unexpected discovery of a throbbing golden orb able to guide its holder to the mythical Pandora's Box. As the legendary artefact contains ancient mysteries of unfathomable power, Lara needs to make sure it doesn't fall into the wrong hands, especially the unscrupulous former Nobel Prize winner and now a bio-weapons dealer, Jonathan Reiss. With the aid of the former agent, Terry Sheridan, the fearless adventurer travels the world in pursuit of the precious item; however, can she retrieve it in time to save the day? Written by Nick Riganas Adventurer Lara Croft goes on a quest to save the mythical Pandora's Box, before an evil scientist finds it, and recruits a former Marine turned mercenary to assist her.

The Forbidden Kingdom

The path is unsafe. The place is unknown. The journey is unbelievable.

"The Forbidden Kingdom"

An American teenager who is obsessed with Hong Kong cinema and kung-fu classics makes an extraordinary discovery in a Chinatown pawnshop: the legendary stick weapon of the Chinese sage and warrior, the Monkey King. With the lost relic in hand, the teenager unexpectedly finds himself traveling back to ancient China to join a crew of warriors from martial arts lore on a dangerous quest to free the imprisoned Monkey King. Written by Anonymous A discovery made by a kung fu obsessed American teen sends him on an adventure to China, where he joins up with a band of martial arts warriors in order to free the imprisoned Monkey King.

Thor: Ragnarok

No Hammer. No Problem.

"Thor: Ragnarok"

Thor (Chris Hemsworth) is imprisoned on the other side of the universe and finds himself in a race against time to get back to Asgard to stop Ragnarök, the destruction of his homeworld and the end of Asgardian civilization, at the hands of an all-powerful new threat, the ruthless Hela (Cate Blanchett). Written by ahmetkozan Imprisoned on the planet Sakaar, Thor must race against time to return to Asgard and stop Ragnarök, the destruction of his world, at the hands of the powerful and ruthless villain Hela.

The Librarian III: The Curse of the Judas Chalice

The world's most unlikely hero is back for his biggest adventure.

"The Librarian III: The Curse of the Judas Chalice"

After retrieving the philosopher's stone at an auction but losing his girlfriend, The Librarian Flynn Carsen has a breakdown. Charlene and Judson ask him to spend some time on vacation. Flynn travels to New Orleans and he has a crush on a French singer (Simone Renoir). However he discloses that she is the guardian of a key to access the Judas Chalice that is capable to resurrect vampires. Meanwhile the former Russian Minister of Defense Sergei Kubichek is seeking the chalice to revive Vlad the vampire with the support of Professor Lazlo. Also to raise an army of undead to bring Russia back to the top of the world. When Simone reveals that she is a vampire, Flynn question whether she is not using him to reach the chalice and increase her power. Written by Claudio Carvalho, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Losing his girlfriend because he was at an auction dramatically getting the magical philosopher's stone instead of a date, he needs a vacation - New Orleans but finds himself busy saving...