Questions tagged [myth-identification]
For questions about identifying a particular myth based on certain known facts or a basic description of its context, characters and events.
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How does one search for patterns/motifs in folklore or mythology?
I'm currently attempting to research how often a specific type of story (i.e. a motif) occurs in the global corpus of folklore (mythology). For instance, I might be interested in whether there are ...
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Are there stories of a hero or god fighting off old age?
I recently learned of Geras, the personification of old age. The deity is primarily known from vase depictions that show him with Heracles. One example is this Attic red-figured neck-amphora1:
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How common is a vertical many-layered cosmos in world mythology? Do any mythologies particularly emphasize this structure?
Background: A very common motif in mythology and folklore is for worlds to be layered one on top of each other. The most obvious example is of the three world system of hell, earth, and heaven. The ...
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Myths of the Wind Impregnating Women
What examples do you know of from Greco-Roman myths in which the wind as such impregnates a woman (could be mortal or a goddess)? I'm aware of examples where the wind personalized as a god (e.g., ...
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Are there any deities or mythological beasts inspired by snow leopards?
I don't know a lot about the mythology of central Asian cultures (where the snow leopard comes from). I'm trying to find more information on the cultural impact the animal could have.
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Who was the swift woman from from Irish Mythology described as having backward knees?
This question got me thinking about the Irish depiction of legs in mythology.
I remember one woman, in particular, from (I believe) the Ulster Cycle, described as having backward legs, similar to a ...
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What is the story of the Chimera?
The Neo-Hittite Chimera (850–750 BC) from Karkemish is housed in the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations in Ankara, Turkey:
"Museum of Anatolian Civilizations080" by Georges Jansoone (JoJan) - Self-...
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What's the earliest recorded story of a human woman giving birth to a monster?
In Greek mythology, a human woman gave birth to the Minotaur, a "monster".
I know timelines get fuzzy with mythology, but are there any other instances of a human woman giving birth to a "monster" ...
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Is there a Sami legend of a Shaman using human body parts to ward off demons?
The second season of the television series Fortitude revolves around a presumably Sami1 legend of a murderous Shaman. The legend is described in episode 6:
There's a legend among the people here ...
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Is there a real myth behind Michael Moorcock story about these Kwll and Rhynn?
The story describes the two gods, brothers, with highly different abilities (one able to see anything, another to do anything). Most of the time they live friendly life, co-operating with each other, ...
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Are there any other mythology with female warriors like Durga from the Hindu Mythology?
In Hindu Mythology, Durga takes on an entire army of Demons, and slays them all singlehandedly at the last moment. She also takes on Mahishashur (Buffalo Demon) and slays him as well, earning her ...
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Humans' missing piece myth identification
Does anyone know a myth that refers/explains the feeling of incompleteness that humans have, and which drives us, makes us seekers of a missing something/fulfillment?
Ideally an ancient or primitive ...
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Are there any saints or heroes in mythology who ally with death?
I am looking for any information about mythical heroes or holy figures who ally with death.
I found list of Death Deities on Wikipedia.
But I do not know, where to start searching information about '...
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A mythical/legendary/demonic creature that steals talents or abilities
I swear I heard about this a long time ago but I can't remember it for the life of me (to the point that I am beginning to doubt if it exists). I faintly remember some type of monster that was able to ...
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Are there any deities that personify realms other than the earth or sky?
Many mythologies have deities whom either personify the earth or sky (e.g. Gaia and Uranus). However, are there any deities that represent other realms, like how Tartarus is the personification of ...
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What deities/creatures personify the universe in the aspect that it manifests as varied duplexity (that serve the same symbolic function as Yin/Yang)?
I'm looking for deities or mythological creatures that symbolize the universe in the aspect that it manifests as a duality (which is for example symbolized by the Yin/Yang), but as a fictional ...
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Are there any Greek myths of a god permanently turning into a mortal as punishment?
I'm looking for a Greek myth in which an immortal god, no matter how minor, turns into a mortal immediately because of a punishment.
Things I am not looking for:
A temporary punishment- Apollo ...
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Is there an Indian Wild Hunt myth?
In the Wikipedia Wild Hunt article, an Indian related myth is mentioned1:
M.M. Banks cautioned against viewing the Wild Hunt as a peculiarly European phenomenon, identifying a similar tale of ...
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Virgin goddesses outside of the Greek and Roman traditions?
The Greeks and Romans seem to have had something of an obsession with virgin goddesses, which seems somewhat counter to pagan traditions in general. Who are some virgin goddesses not from Greek or ...
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Are there any myths of little girls with the head of a wolf?
I keep seeing a girl with the head of a wolf, with red eyes, and long hair.
As I'm a very impressionable person I probably saw an image in a mythology book, or a movie, and I can't get this girl out ...
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What was the earliest werewolf myth?
So, the earliest werewolf I can find is in Greek times.
But, was there ever an earlier werewolf myth?
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Are there any instances where non-Greco-Roman goddesses fall in love with mortals?
However, I will not be taking into account the Greco-Roman and Mesopotamian stories as they are the only stories that I know of in which a goddess loves a human.
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Mythologies with a warrior afterlife, similar to Valhalla?
So I am currently researching into ancient war gods and goddesses of various ancient religions and also learning about all the various afterlives the dead go to.
I'm trying to learning something ...
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What Phoenician story could be the inspiration of the cosmic story of five Titanes?
This is from Bleh's answer (quoting theoi.com):
The cosmic story of five Titanes--four holding the corners of heaven--may be Phoenician in origin.
What Phoenician story could be the basis for the ...
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What is the source of the fable of Thor’s attempt to drink up a small spring?
Moncure D. Conway references the tale in passing in the introduction to his “Demonology and Devil-lore”:
The fable of Thor’s attempt to drink up a small spring, and his failure because it was fed ...
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Is there a story on a goddess marrying a monster?
I am looking for a story on a goddess who married a monster.I remember reading the story a few years ago but I can't seem to remember it.In the story,a goddess marries a monster in order to stop him ...
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Are there any mythologic Gods, creatures or equipment that have "exponential" characteristics?
The hydra is classically described as growing two heads back for every one cut down. Mjolnir, theoretically, became exponentially heavier to the unworthy.
What other Gods, creatures or equipment have ...
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Are there any other gods that permanently had an eye removed, other than Odin?
Are there any other gods that permanently had an eye removed, other than Odin?
I can't find any other gods that had one of their eyes other than Horus, which wasn't even permanent.
Looked here ...
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Myths of the Bermuda Triangle and its validity
The enigma of the Bermuda triangle is a time old tale and it is often even called the Devil's triangle. There are tales of a sea monster living in that area, extraterrestrial actions, etc., happening ...
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Battle between the Sun and the Moon forces?
I remember reading about a mythic battle between the forces of the moon and the sun. Not conflicts between Sun and Moon, but a war between armies of the sun and of the moon.
One of them, the sun ...
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How rare is a dead god?
Someone was telling me about deicide and I wondered, because gods are so powerful by definition, which of them are killed or from what culture are mortal gods prevalent. The only example I could think ...
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Are there any Asian variants of dying-and-rising god?
You probably have heard about stories about dying-and-rising gods, like Inanna and Dumuzi and Aphrodite and Adonis. Some examples are also given in this question. Fundamentally,they represent ...
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Is there a myth of someone living in the sun?
Is there a Greek myth of some sort of a god, human, or other creature living in the sun?
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Who was the goddess, pregnant with Zeus' child or children, who was denied sanctuary?
A certain goddess, having been impregnated by Zeus, was driven from her home by the ever-angry Hera, and forced to flee, with her children or child, unsure. Everywhere she went she was rejected in ...
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Story of a man who slept in a tree and awoke to a plagued city
When I was a child my grandmother told me a myth of old times. I've read the myth (in a somewhat alternated version) in a book in my teenage years.
It goes like this:
A shepherd goes out to tend ...
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Is there a mythological basis for the idea of a unicorn princess?
I'm starting a roleplaying game soon where all of the players play as princesses from various myths, stories, fables, etc. I had the idea of trying to play as a unicorn princess, but I can't find a ...
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What does this ear stud show in Chinese Mythology?
Does someone know what this ear stud shows?
Because of the Yin/Yang symbol it should be chinese - so no Yōkai.
Could it be a Yaoguai? A Huli jing?
I have absolutely no idea but I just want to know ...
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Does anyone know of myths which are critical/skeptical of technology?
The closest I've found would be something like the Prometheus myth, or perhaps even the story of Eden, where man is punished by a deity for poking his nose where it doesn't belong. But this isn't ...
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Which Mythic Heroes Returned in the Spring?
It's that time of year: I'm looking for examples in the hero cycle where the hero returns in the spring. Also where gods (other than "dying and resurrecting gods") make an appearance/reappearance in ...
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Are there stories of punishment for challenging an oracle?
Are there any myths or stories where someone asks an oracle (or prophet or deity) tricky questions in order to test/trick/falsify it, which results in punishment of the doubter?
Two examples, which ...
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Are there any Greek myths related to the creation or use of numbers?
See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greek_numerals for reference;
So the Greek Mythology played a part in almost everything, like
The ocean (Oceanus)
Northern Europe (Europa)
And a whole bunch of ...
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Etymology of "charming" ("Encantadora" in spanish) seeing from the Greek mythology point of view
I originally posted this question in the Spanish StackExchange but it seems it fits more in here, even though the significance of the word looks more direct in Spanish than English.
My doubt rose ...
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What is the earliest recorded example of religion
Let me begin this answer by defining two words. The definition of these two words might not be the definition used by scholars, but they are the definitions that I would like to use for the purposes ...
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Is there a creature in mythology that is a frost bird or a frost phoenix?
I searched a lot but I couldn't find a creature that is similar to a frost phoenix or a frost bird, or a giant creature similar to a frost bird for example.
It's for a project (I like to keep real ...
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Looking for source: Woman refuses to drink from the River Lethe
I saw a "story from Greek mythology" referenced in my morning paper, and I'd never heard it before.
A woman came to the River Styx and asked to be taken across into that dark land. [The ...
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What myth explains animal sacrifices to the Olympian gods?
I seem to remember a particular ancient Greek myth that used to explain how animal sacrifices to the Olympian gods were performed. In particular, when poultry or mammals was sacrificed, the humans ...
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What is this myth: elderly couple unwittingly feed gods, changed into tree
I studied Latin in 7th grade, and my teacher used to read some stories from Greek and Roman mythology to us. There is one of those that I wanted to learn more about, but haven't been able to find. ...
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Are people who drown/die in the Nile deified (or divinized in some way)?
Many blogs and websites say that people who die on the Nile by drowning or being eaten by a crocodile are deified. They are chosen by Osiris and are somehow involved in the flooding of the Nile or ...
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Did the Gauls have a magic potion that made them strong?
I recently listened to Purcell's "King Arthur", and at one point in the libretto, the Saxons sing of the "juice that makes the Britons bold" (at 11:40 in the linked video; the movement starts at 11:00)...
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Are there Pastafarian myths which explain their religious attire?
I'm thinking specifically of the viral news stories about various Pastafarians being allowed to wear a spaghetti strainer as religious headgear at work or in a driver's license photo.
Many religious ...
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