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Mythology Studies
Narnia and early Middle-earth were pancake-esque — but their creators took differing views on de-globalization.
In a remarkably similar way, conspiracy theories around the world cast doubt on the existence of real places.
Gladiators fought in rounds, and there were referees to enforce rules. Only rarely were gladiators killed.
The history of hell doesn't begin with the Old Testament. Instead, hell took shape in the 2nd century from Mediterranean cultural exchange.
Discover how the threads of myth, legend, and artistry have been woven together by storytellers to craft history.
Serving as the inspiration for the modern horror classic “The Blair Witch Project,” what does our fascination with this unsolvable mystery tell us about our modern psyche?
The toilet “is a portal to a mysterious otherworld.”
Was the terror of Biscayne Bay a man who escaped slavery, an African chieftain, or a marketing ploy that went viral?
His crime was so great, he was not only sentenced to death but his name was to be erased from memory.
It's a bird! It's a plane! It's a medieval airship!
The mountain can generate lenticular clouds, which may contribute to its supernatural reputation.
Legend holds that newly elected popes in the Middle Ages had to present their genitals for inspection to confirm that they were male.
The One Ring has its own agency and sentience — and it opens up a wonderful philosophy of things beyond our comprehension.
Nero’s reputation as one of the most malevolent emperors in Roman history might be partly slander.
Explore how belief shapes destiny, from Oedipus Rex to modern geopolitics.
Almost all royal lines try to legitimize their rule with legendary origin stories. Here are five of the strangest examples.
The Te’omim Cave in the Jerusalem Hills is filled with skulls and oil lamps — objects a new study says may have been used in dark rituals.
Aiming to unlock the secrets of his unconscious mind, Jung experimented with intensive daydreaming.
Ignoring the legacy of William Shakespeare is difficult for any writer, let alone one as quintessentially English as "Lord of the Rings" author J.R.R. Tolkien.
People discovered prehistoric fossils long before Charles Darwin published "On the Origin of Species." The remains of these unknown creatures often puzzled their discoverers.
Dante’s epic journey through hell and heaven reveal how the poet felt about his own country.
The crisis of the Anthropocene challenges our traditional narratives and myths about humanity's place in the world. Citizen science can help.
John Templeton Foundation
Gods and angels have been replaced with hi-tech extraterrestrials.
John Templeton Foundation
Before Rome was an empire, it was a republic. And before it was a republic, it was a kingdom ruled by seven mythical kings — some better than others.
But make sure you bring the fossegrim the proper offering—or else.
To protect yourself, you need an antifungal rather than an amulet.
Zombies aren't a modern-day obsession. Throughout history, fear of the undead led to bizarre burial rituals all over the world.
Monsters have always represented societal fears, but narrative art also casts doubt on whether we fully understand our monsters — and their slayers.
What is Captain America doing in ancient Mesopotamia?