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Myths & Legends

All over the world there are extraordinary stories—stories that once upon a time were believed to be true but are today limited to the sphere of ancient myths and legends. The question remains, are those myths and legends something that existed in the minds of our ancestors, or were they based on true events? It is true that most of those ancient myths and legends appear to the scientific world to be fictitious products of vivid imaginations whose goals were purely to explain phenomena beyond their comprehension. Yet is it not arrogant to accuse our ancestors of being uncivilised and ignorant in one breath, then offer them praise and admiration over their monuments, buildings, art, sculptures, and societies in the next? This only proves that our modern society has two contradictory attitudes toward our past.

In this section we will explore some of the most amazing myths and legends from around the world—legends that may hold truths that can unlock the secrets of our ancient origins.

‘King Arthur’ (1903) by Charles Ernest Butler.

King Arthur: A Very British Messiah?

King Arthur is undoubtedly one of the most enduringly popular heroes to come out of the medieval era, and he has meant many things to many people for hundreds of years. Over time, the mythology of...
Lake Parime: The Legendary Lake of El Dorado

Lake Parime: The Legendary Lake of El Dorado

Gold has long been regarded as a precious object and has been equated with kingship and authority. As gold was rare, and sometimes not locally available, people often travelled over great distances...
Are We Any Closer to Fathoming Plato’s Atlantis?

Are We Any Closer to Fathoming Plato’s Atlantis?

For centuries, the legendary lost city of Atlantis has captivated the human imagination. Its first description by the ancient Greek philosopher Plato in 360 BC made it seem incredibly advanced and...
Apsara sculpture on the wall of Angkor Wat, Seam Reap, Cambodia.

Femme Fatales - Goddesses of Love, Beauty & Passion

This video explores legendary femme fatales across Greek and Hindu mythologies. These women, known for their irresistible beauty and cunning, have been central figures in shaping epic tales, from the...
An illustration of K'awiil, the Maya god of storm, on pottery.

Maya Storm God Huracán Taught That When We Damage Nature, We Damage Ourselves

By James L. Fitzsimmons /The Conversation The ancient Maya believed that everything in the universe, from the natural world to everyday experiences, was part of a single, powerful spiritual force ...
Silhouettes of African aborigines at sunset.

Ancient Historians and Their Tales of Bizarre Tribes

Ancient Greek and Roman historians captivated their audiences with accounts of bizarre tribes dwelling on the periphery of the known world. Their customs were odd and their appearances even more...
Representation of a haunted castle.

Haunted Castles and Their Ghostly Residents

Who doesn’t love a good ghost story? Travel to any city in the world and you’re likely to find haunted landmarks and the ghost tours to go with them. Whether or not you’re a believer, the history...
The rape of Persephone.

The Power of Demeter: a Mother’s Stand Against Zeus (Video)

In ancient Greece, every grain of wheat sown was more than just a seed; it was a tribute to Demeter, the revered goddess of agriculture. But her world of golden fields was thrown into chaos when her...
Depiction of Pharaohs and Egyptian gods.

Egyptian Elysium: Connecting the Realms of the Living and the Dead in the Greco-Roman Period

The long history of Egyptian afterlife writings began during the 3rd millennium BC, when the body of compositions known as the Pyramid Texts were carved onto the walls and coffins of the pyramids of...
Orpheus charming the animals, mosaic.

Orpheus - Beyond the Mythological Veil

Born in Greek mythology, Orpheus is an ancient Thracian prophet, the founder of religious-philosophical teaching Orphism, and according to ancient authors he was also a singer, musician, and poet...
What Made the Griffin a Timeless Symbol of Power and Protection?

What Made the Griffin a Timeless Symbol of Power and Protection?

The griffin is a legendary creature with the head and wings of an eagle, and the body, tail, and hind legs of a lion. As the eagle was considered the ‘king of the birds,’ and the lion the ‘king of...
AI representation of Genesis 1:1: “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.”

The Rise of Monotheism in the Ancient Near East

For centuries, our distant ancestors believed in a plethora of gods and goddesses, having a close relationship with the nature around them and personifying many natural occurrences. But there were...
The cast of Kaos

Historian Explains the Real Oracles that Inspired the Show Kaos

By Ellie Mackin Roberts /The Conversation This article contains spoilers for series one of Kaos. Central to the plot of Netflix’s new series, Kaos, are four prophecies. In the lore of the series, all...
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Podcast: History Fuzz: Episode 03: Professor Charles Stanish. Peru Pt 1. Chincha and Nazca Valley geoglyphs

In this episode of our podcast, we delve into the rich tapestry of ancient Andean societies with Charles Stanish, a prominent scholar whose career has spanned influential roles in archaeology and...
Odin with his two ravens, Huginn and Munninn.

Gods of Sacrifice: Physical Impairments in Norse Myth and Society

In Norse mythology, the themes of impairment and sacrifice were imbued with deep, arcane meaning, illuminating the relationship between human existence and the divine. The Norse gods , formidable and...
Thracian Tomb of Sveshtari.

The Enigma of the Thracians and the Orpheus Myth

The passage of the millennia has brought us traces of ancient civilizations that shone enough to make their cultural glimpses last through the ages. Humanity itself has featured in the art, culture,...
Hoia Baciu forest, Romania.

Romania’s Bermuda Triangle: The Creepy Hoia Forest

Outside of Romania, especially in the English-speaking world, Transylvania is a land associated with vampires, specifically Dracula. Inside Romania, where Vlad the Impaler is a national hero, his...
5 Of The Most Violent Stories In Norse Mythology (Video)

5 Of The Most Violent Stories In Norse Mythology (Video)

Norse mythology is brimming with violent stories, many of which feature brutal battles and gruesome punishments. One of the earliest and most notable tales involves Ymir , the first being in the...
Five Aspects of Kaos That Might or Might Not be from Greek Myth

Five Aspects of Kaos That Might or Might Not be from Greek Myth

By Emily Hauser /The Conversation Kaos is a modern-day, darkly comic reworking of Greek myth. If, like me, you got hooked on it, you might be wondering what was actually taken from myth and what was...
Child’s Anti-Vampire Burial Found in Chełm, Poland

Child’s Anti-Vampire Burial Found in Chełm, Poland

Archaeologists in Chełm, Poland, have uncovered two children's skeletal remains, one of which exhibits signs of an anti-vampire burial, dating back to the 13th century. The discovery was made during...
Seven Lucky Gods of Japanese mythology.

The Shichifukujin: Japan's Seven Lucky Gods

The Seven Lucky Gods, or Fukujin, are a revered group of deities in Japanese culture, each symbolizing various aspects of fortune and prosperity. Originating from a mix of Buddhist, Shinto, and...
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Podcast: History Fuzz: Episode 02: Professor Stephen Lekson. Chaco Pt 1. America's most controversial meridian

In this latest episode of our podcast, we delve into the intriguing concept of the Chaco Meridian, a north-to-south alignment that traverses the southwestern United States and is marked by the...
1499 depiction of Aztec ritual sacrifice.

Blood for the Gods: Ritual Sacrifice in the Ancient World

Since the dawn of humanity, countless civilizations have engaged in ritual sacrifice. Often, these sacrifices involved other humans, and were so common they were considered a normal aspect of life...
Two sirens

Enchanting Women of the Odyssey: From Seductive Sirens to Wicked Witches

Of the monsters and mythological creatures Odysseus encounters during his long voyage from Troy to Ithaca, among the fiercest are female. Three of these are Circe, the Sirens and Calypso, who all...

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