Mulan: China’s Legendary Woman Warrior
The earliest Ballad of Mulan tells of a daughter who serves in her father’s place, while later plays, novels, and films reshape her legendary life.
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Mythic Beings
Odysseus Greek Odyssey's Cunning Hero
Odysseus is the king of Ithaca and the central traveler of Homer’s Odyssey. He is known for endurance, persuasive speech, disguise, planning, and deception. These qualities can save lives or cause harm, and the poem does not reduce him to a flawless hero. Odysseus in the surviving tradition After the Trojan War, Odysseus spends ten
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Hades Greek Underworld Ruler
Hades is both the name of the ancient Greek god who rules the dead and a common name for the underworld itself. He is a brother of Zeus and Poseidon and the husband of Persephone in the dominant literary tradition. Hades in the surviving tradition After the defeat of the Titans, the three brothers divide
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Horus Egyptian Sky God
Peer into the celestial realm of Horus, the Egyptian Sky God, and unravel the intriguing tales of divine power, royalty, and ancient mythology.
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Cihuateteo Aztec Malevolent Female Spirits
Awaken the mysteries of the Cihuateteo, Aztec malevolent female spirits, and delve into their dark influence on Aztec rituals and beliefs.
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Boudica Iceni Queen and Revolter
Harnessing fierce courage, Boudica, the Iceni Queen, launched an unprecedented revolt against Rome; delve into her compelling tale of rebellion and resilience.
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Achilles: Rage, Mortality, and the Hero of the Iliad
Achilles is a formidable Greek warrior, but “invincible” is a misleading description of the hero in Homer’s Iliad. The poem shows him wounded, grieving, dependent on divine help, and conscious that his life will end. His extraordinary power matters because it does not free him from loss. The Iliad follows the consequences of his anger
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Huli Jing Chinese Fox Spirit
Huli jing are fox spirits in Chinese tradition. Stories range from dangerous seducers to loyal partners, scholars, tricksters, and beings seeking spiritual refinement. Treating every fox spirit as evil leaves out much of the record. Huli jing in the surviving tradition Chinese texts associate foxes with transformation, longevity, graves, omens, and sexuality. A fox may
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Minotaur Myth Analysis
The Minotaur is a creature of Greek myth associated with King Minos of Crete, the Labyrinth built by Daedalus, and the Athenian hero Theseus. Ancient authors and artists did not preserve one perfectly consistent version. The number and timing of the Athenian victims, the Minotaur’s name, and details of the killing vary across the tradition.
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Selkie Scottish Seal Folk Spirit
Selkies are seal people in the folklore of Orkney, Shetland, and parts of northern Scotland and Ireland. On land they can take human form by removing a seal skin. The hidden skin is the key to many marriage and escape stories. Selkies in the surviving tradition A common tale begins when a man finds a
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