Mythology

   For thousands of years people have associated objects in the sky, the Earth, and aspects of their physical world with the gods and goddesses of their cultures. Through these pages, find out about the gods and goddesses of different cultures around the world, and the works of art people have created to give them expression.
Left section of the east frieze of the Siphnian Treasury (c. 525 B.C.) depicting from left to right <a href="/mythology/Definitions_gods/Venus_def.html&edu=elem&dev=1"> Venus</a>, <a href="/mythology/Diana_def.html&edu=elem&dev=1"> Diana</a>, and <a href="/mythology/Definitions_gods/Apollo_def.html&edu=elem&dev=1"> Apollo</a>. This portion of the frieze shows the gods sitting, watching the Greeks raid Troy.<p><small><em> Image courtesy of the Superintendency (Ephoria) of Prehistoric and Classical Antiquities in Delphi. Greek Ministry of Culture-Archaeological Receipt Fund. (c) Greek Ministry of Culture.</em></small></p>The artist, Peter Paul Rubens, painted this image, Neptune Calming the Tempest, in 1635. Rubens is known for the style of painting termed, "baroque". Rubens (1577-1640) combined the tradition of Flemish painting with the themes of the Renaissance.<p><small><em>Image credit: (c)1996 President and Fellows of Harvard College, Harvard University Art Museums, Courtesy of the Fogg Art Museum, Harvard University Art Museums Alpheus Hyatt Fund. To be reproduced only by permission of the Harvard University Art Museums, </em></small></p>For the Aztecs, who lived in central Mexico, <a href="/mythology/tonatiuh.html&edu=elem&dev=1">Tonatiuh</a> was a <a href="/sun/sun.html&edu=elem&dev=1">Sun</a> god. Aztecs believed that four suns had been created in four previous ages, and all of them had died at the end of each cosmic era. Tonatiuh was the fifth sun and the present era is still his. The carvings on this sunstone represent the four cycles of creation and destruction in the Aztec creation story. The skull at the center depicts the god Tonatiuh.<p><small><em> Image courtesy of Corel Corporation.</em></small></p>"Temple of Jupiter" by Giovanni Battista Cipriani. In Roman mythology, Jupiter (Zeus in Greek mythology) was the king of heaven and Earth and of all the Olympian gods. He was also known as the god of justice.<p><small><em> Image courtesy of Corel Corporation.</em></small></p>Pegasus was a winged horse that came out of Medusa when she was be-headed by <a href="/mythology/perseus.html&edu=elem&dev=1">Perseus</a>. This is a mural of Pegasus from Turkey.<p><small><em> Image courtesy of Corel corporation.</em></small></p>Side view of an ancient Aztec carving depicting Quetzalcoatl, the Plumed Serpent. The carving is from the Quetzalcoatl Temple at Teotihuacan, Mexico.<p><small><em> Image courtesy of Corel Corporation.</em></small></p>

Explore Mythology

Myths about Sun

Many cultures around the world have interesting myths about the Sun, reflecting its importance ...Read more

Myths about Earth

In cultures around the world, humans have developed stories to help them understand how the ...Read more

Myths about Moon

Many cultures around the world have interesting myths about the Moon, reflecting its prominence ...Read more

Myths about the Solar System

Explore mythology associated with the planets of the solar system. ...Read more

Sky, Constellations, and Stars

Since long ago, people around the world have associated the heavens, the stars, and the patterns ...Read more

Classical Mythology

Compare the Greek and Roman pantheons, and learn which gods and goddesses are equivalent. ...Read more

Family Trees

Explore the family trees of the Greek, Norse, and Roman pantheons. ...Read more

World Mythology

Explore myths about other cultures from around the world. ...Read more

Mythology Hangman

Are you a genius when it comes to mythology? Can you spell all those names? Try our hangman ...Read more

Mythology Links

Explore other websites about mythology and art. ...Read more

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Did you know?

Did you know that, in Japanese and Inuit mythology, there is a Sun goddess rather than a Sun god?

Did you know that the ancient Greeks revered Gaea as the Earth goddess, and that she was the mother of the Titans and the first humans?

 

Earth and Space Science Concept of the Day

Do you know what this word or phrase means?

Graben
xGraben : A graben is a down-dropped block of the earth's crust resulting from extension, or pulling, of the crust.

Click on the word to find out!

Research Highlights

A Star Is Born... But How?

Created in the first three minutes after the Big Bang, hydrogen and helium gave rise to all other elements in the universe.  Stars made this possible. Through nuclear fusion, stars generated elements such...Read more


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