Culture, Myth and Art

Objects in the sky and other natural phenomena have inspired people throughout the ages. Browse our collection of myths, folk tales, and stories of many types about the Earth and sky. Check out artwork, poetry, books, and movies that portray the natural world.
Dutch painter Jan Vermeer painted the town of Delft, Holland where he lived for his entire life (1632-1675). Above the town, he painted <a href="/earth/Atmosphere/clouds/stratocumulus.html&edu=high&dev=">stratocumulus clouds</a> in the sky. Stratocumulus clouds usually produce only light precipitation, in the form of <a href="/earth/Atmosphere/precipitation/drizzle.html&edu=high&dev=">drizzle</a>.<p><small><em>Image courtesy of Corel</em></small></p>For the Aztecs, who lived in central Mexico, <a href="/mythology/tonatiuh.html&edu=high&dev=">Tonatiuh</a> was a <a href="/sun/sun.html&edu=high&dev=">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>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=high&dev="> Venus</a>, <a href="/mythology/Diana_def.html&edu=high&dev="> Diana</a>, and <a href="/mythology/Definitions_gods/Apollo_def.html&edu=high&dev="> 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>British painter John Constable (1776-1837) made many paintings of clouds. It looks like he depicted towering <a href="/earth/Atmosphere/clouds/cumulus.html&edu=high&dev=">cumulus clouds</a> in this painting of Weymouth Bay. These clouds may have turned into <a href="/earth/Atmosphere/clouds/cumulonimbus.html&edu=high&dev=">cumulonimbus</a> and a <a href="/earth/Atmosphere/tstorm.html&edu=high&dev=">storm</a> later in the day.<p><small><em> Public domain/Wikipedia</em></small></p>There are over 900 <a href="/the_universe/uts/megalith.html&edu=high&dev=">rings of stone</a> located in the British Isles. The most famous of these stone rings is of course, <a href="/the_universe/uts/stonehenge.html&edu=high&dev=">Stonehenge</a>. The stones of Stonehenge were put in place between 3,000 B.C and 2,000 B.C. by neolithic people.Some speculate that the site was built as a temple of worship of the ancient Earth deities. Some say it was used as an <a href="/the_universe/uts/stonehenge_astro.html&edu=high&dev=">astronomical observatory</a> of sorts. Still others say it was a burial ground.<p><small><em> Image courtesy of Corel Photography.</em></small></p>

Explore Culture, Myth and Art

Mythology

   For thousands of years people have associated objects in the sky, the Earth, and aspects ...Read more

Stories

Explore stories and folklore about the Aurora Borealis, Meteors, and the Moon, and more. ...Read more

Poetry

This is a brief collection of poetry that relates to space and/or mythology. ...Read more

Poetry & Pictures

Submit your own poem about this month’s featured weather image. ...Read more

Books

Explore Science, Art, Mythology and other subjects further in the books recommended here. ...Read more

Movies

Find a great science- or space-related movie to watch. ...Read more

Clouds in Art

Landscape painters have been representing clouds in their art for centuries. Different artists ...Read more

Mythology Art Archive

See examples of famous mythology-related works of art. ...Read more

Mythology and Art Links

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

People Art Archive

See images of famous scientists and philosophers. ...Read more

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Did you know?

Did you know that you can sometimes identify the types of clouds in famous landscape paintings?

Do you know what the Greek goddess, Persephone, has to do with the seasons and the underworld?

 

Earth and Space Science Concept of the Day

Do you know what this word or phrase means?

Plate tectonics
xPlate tectonics : The theory supported by a wide range of evidence that considers the Earth's crust and upper mantle to be composed of several large, thin, relatively rigid plates that move relative to one another.

Click on the word to find out!

Research Highlights

Soil Microbes Produce Less Atmospheric Carbon Dioxide Than Expected With Global Warming

In dark, rich soils on every continent, microbes dealing with the effects of climate change aren't accelerating global warming the way scientists had predicted, a study by researchers at the University...Read more


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