Myths and legends from around the world share stories of amazing gods and goddesses with special powers and unique weapons. Who were these figures, and why did they matter to people in the past?
Stories also mention mythological creatures and mysterious ancient places. While historians, archaeologists, and scientists have confirmed some myths, many characters, creatures, and locations remain a mystery. Still, these myths continue to hold cultural and historical importance for many people.
In this section, we will explore some of the most interesting stories and step into the magical world of myths and legends.
Ellen Lloyd – AncientPages.com – Ancient myths and legends tell a remarkable story about a place that became known as home of the gods. According to the legend, about 13,000 B.C. shining ships suddenly emerged in the skies. A loud thunder
A. Sutherland – AncientPages.com – Throughout history, the ancient Egyptians believed in life after death and that Osiris, the god of the afterlife, the underworld, and the dead, would judge you. Preparing the dead bodies for eternal existence in joy
Ellen Lloyd – AncientPages.com – Native Americans have many very intriguing stories about beings who they encountered. These creatures are often very unusual in their appearance and they mostly live underground. We have previously read about the mysterious Moon-Eyed people, an
Ellen Lloyd – AncientPages.com – Last time, in part 1 of this series, we discovered that we know virtually nothing about the mysterious founder of the controversial religion that was banned. We know there are various locations that may be regarded
A. Sutherland – AncientPages.com – Lugh, whose name means “the shining,” is one of the greatest heroes of Irish folklore. Different names are known for him, but he is usually referred to as Lugh of the Long Arms (sometimes “Long
A. Sutherland – AncientPages.com – In Norse mythology, Kvasir was an amazing being created from the saliva of the Aesir and the Vanir gods. Emil Doepler younger (1855-1922)-‘Odin and Gunnlöd’- illustration Public Domain Kvasir is mentioned in the 13th-century “Prose
A. Sutherland – AncientPages.com – In Norse mythology, giant Mimir usually appears in the company of Odin, the most powerful and wisest of the gods. The giant Mimir, however, can easily compete with Odin because he – like the Norns – possesses the wisdom
A. Sutherland – AncientPages.com – The Aesir were warlike gods who lived in total separation from the Vanir, the gods of fertility. The Aesir lived in Asgard, and the Vanir, who existed long before the first Aesir gods appeared, lived
A. Sutherland – AncientPages.com – The Norse creation myth in the Poetic Edda tells how the gods were born and how the earth was created. It is said that there was nothing, only an empty void without any existence at
A. Sutherland – AncientPages.com – Fenrir (the Wolf) is the oldest of three terrible children of Loki, according to the literary works Poetic Edda (the Icelandic medieval manuscript known as the Codex Regius), Snorri Sturluson’s Prose Edda, and Heimskringla. The god
Ellen Lloyd – AncientPages.com – The Völuspá, the first poem in the Codex Regius of the Poetic Edda, is one of the most outstanding literary achievements in the Norse world. Left: God Odin meets the Völva – Credit: Illustration by
A. Sutherland – AncientPages.com – One of the fearsome offspring of the cunning god Loki is Hel, a towering giantess and goddess of death. She reigns over Niflheim, a shadowy realm where the dead reside, hidden among the Nine Worlds
A. Sutherland – AncientPages.com – Askeladden (in English: ‘Ash Lad’) is a charming, the youngest of all brothers, and the least resourceful figure from ancient mythological beliefs. When we hear that someone is ‘least resourceful,’ we immediately think of an
Thalia Lightbringer – AncientPages.com – The Cherokee have many wonderful legends. Some of the most interesting stories involve people who looked just like normal Cherokee but were apparently supernatural beings called the Nunnehi (Nunne’hi). They were not nature spirits or
Ellen Lloyd – AncientPages.com – The Hopi await the return of Pahana, their lost white brother, who will come back dressed in red and bring with him a missing section of a sacred Hopi tablet. Pahana will come from the
A. Sutherland – AncientPages.com – Frey is one of the most important gods of Norse mythology. Frey and his twin sister, Freya, are the most famous members of the Vanir tribe. When the war between the Aesir and Vanir finally
