Mythology & Folklore Stack Exchange
Mythology & Folklore Stack Exchange

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.

See Is asking for resources and myth identification allowed? for information about .

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What is the earliest known dragon myth?

The myth of dragons can be found in many different traditions, with the major two being the European dragon and the Chinese dragon. "There are two distinct cultural traditions of dragons: the European dragon, derived from European folk traditions…
logic
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Who invented writing, or who taught writing to the mortals, according to Greek myths?

There are legends in several mythologies about who invented writing, or a particular writing system (script). For example, the futhark runes used to write Norse were invented by the god Odin, and there is a legend recounting how the humans came to…
Matt Cloudy-grid
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Did any Greek mythological hero father a son who surpassed him in fame?

I can't think of any case of a Greek mythological hero having a son who achieved more fame, glory and "heroic status" than him. Looking the descendency of Perseus, Heracles, Theseus, Jason, Achilles, Odysseus, etc, they all had sons. Some of them…
Rodia
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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 mythology in my story) and I want something as close…
Yann Chabot
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What is the story behind Thor wearing a wedding dress to get Mjölnir back?

I often hear of a story of Loki taking Mjölnir away from Thor and selling it to giants. Thor then gets angry and makes Loki join him in wearing wedding dresses to enter the giants place unnoticed to get it back. What is the actual story behind this…
AlienDev
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Is it Lucifer or Venus?

Which deity, according to Greek and Roman mythology, is represented by the planet that we call Venus? Is it the goddess Venus (Aphrodite in Greek) or is someone named Lucifer?
Reb Chaim HaQoton
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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-photographed. Licensed under Public Domain via…
yannis
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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 cavalry being heard on the wind that was located in the…
yannis
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In what Native American myth does the Sun stand still?

In this answer, I saw this in a quote-in-a-quote: during the Third Age [equivalent to the Age in which the Popol Vuh places the invention of shooting out such magical darts], the sun stood still for one full day without moving from its place; -…
El'endia Starman
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Mythologies with goddesses as the main deity?

In most mythologies, there is often a male god who is the chief god, like Zeus of Greek mythology and Ra of Egyptian mythology. As far as I know, the only mythology that has a female ruler of the universe is Ameteratsu, the Sun goddess of the Shinto…
user1385
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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 already: Disabled Deities Eyepatch of Power EyeScream -…
Malady
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Looking for an obscure myth where Zeus kills one of Apollo's male lovers

I remember reading a myth as a child, but have not been able to find it again ever since. It starts like a typical Apollo myth: Apollo has a young best friend/lover, and they are inseparable. Then the young man's sixteenth birthday approaches (or…
rumtscho
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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), which immediately made me think of Asterix…
Dolda2000
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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 outfits or articles of clothing have a stated…
Ixrec
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Greek/Latin mythology with two brothers who die as reward for hard labor

I have heard this particular greek/latin myth in school but I can't quite recall what it was called. Can you perhaps help me find it. So as far as I can recall the myth went as follows: Two brothers had to plow a field because the ox didn't want…
Benedikt Bünz
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