Questions tagged [mythology]
Mythology should be used for questions involving stories or the origin of stories which will be important to some culture.
5
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10answers
319 views
Earth-elemental gods who wielded a hammer
The world I'm crafting is an extension of human mythology and I am drawing a blank on mythological gods who wielded a hammer and represented the earth element. And if possible the water element.
I ...
6
votes
3answers
268 views
Why would dragons who predates humans hoard gold? [closed]
EDIT: I have been asked to create a more concise and specific question.
The question I would ask is what would be a (good) reason for my dragons as a species, having no inherent reason to share human ...
5
votes
7answers
584 views
Historical or mythological Monster Hunter organization
My search for "Monster Hunter" invariably gives me a ton of results related to the videogame and this is making my research a bit tricky.
What I'm looking for is any instance in history of a real ...
1
vote
3answers
101 views
In a universe created by and controlled by malevolent or passive non-humanoid beings, what would cause the creation of humanoid gods? [closed]
Forgive me if a question like this is too general and isn't accepted here.
I'm currently working on creating a new universe to possibly be used in a D&D or RPG setting. I've been working on the ...
29
votes
14answers
7k views
Why would nature spirits be naked? [closed]
In the world I'm writing about, nature spirits such as dryads and nymphs are real. I want them to appear undressed to those humans who encounter them. In the course of the narrative, one of the dryads ...
5
votes
4answers
942 views
Who administers soul exchanges? [closed]
Mythology is replete with examples of people selling their soul to the devil. Except... how does that actually work, mechanically?
Let's say you sign a contract agreeing that the devil may take your ...
7
votes
6answers
436 views
How would the existence of multiple mythological and religious pantheons be justified?
It's common trend for many stories within the Urban Fantasy genre to feature various mythological pantheons co-existing with one another. For example, High School DxD has a universe where Judeo-...
0
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2answers
121 views
Realistic Mythical Creatures [closed]
What mythological creatures could be realistically created? In my world, there are people capable of advanced genetic creation and manipulation. I was just wondering what creatures would be plausible ...
8
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4answers
228 views
References to evil star myths?
I'm in a D&D campaign where astronomy plays a big deal. I want to name drop and reference some good astrology myths about evil or cursed stars, but I'm having an awful time finding anything. The ...
2
votes
1answer
95 views
Which deities in Hinduism could be most closely equated to Titania and Oberon (fairy king & queen)? [closed]
I am looking to create a version of Titania & Oberon, the Queen & King of the Fairies in Midsummer Night's Dream, that would have context in India. Probably deities or mythological beings ...
8
votes
8answers
3k views
Why might modern demigods be unable to use guns? [closed]
In Percy Jackson and the Titan’s Curse, Annabeth’s dad, Dr. Chase comes in at the end of his book and uses a machine gun on his Sopwith Camel, along with some celestial bronze bullets he created in ...
-2
votes
2answers
112 views
Rosie the Riveter [closed]
Is Rosie the Riveter best thought of as a myth or propaganda?
Propaganda is information that is not objective and is used primarily to influence an audience and further an agenda.
Myths are the ...
31
votes
25answers
9k views
Why would an army of angels with air superiority fight demons on the ground?
Angel society is militaristic with all individuals serving as warriors in some capacity. They are locked in an eternal battle against demons from hell over control of the mortal plane. Angels have ...
1
vote
0answers
79 views
What kind of cultures would develop on a moon of a gas giant? [closed]
Picture yourself a gas giant which has a system of many moons. on the probably closest moon, which has an atmosphere close to earth's, its orbital period is close to earth's rotation period (Mimas of ...
-1
votes
2answers
126 views
How different are seasons perceived in a Mediterranean climate when compared to a North European climate? [closed]
My conculture is set in an area similar to the Mediterranean Sea, only it's almost double the west-east width of it, on a longitute around the same as Rome and Athens and a similar climate (let's take ...
4
votes
3answers
171 views
How would you explain an eclipse in a world where all our myths are true? [closed]
In a world parallel to ours, equal in both technology and philosophy, how would you explain an eclipse but still have science behind in all parts of the world?
How would I be able to tie in all these ...
6
votes
2answers
839 views
Anatomically Correct Nachtkrapp
The Nachtkrapp is a german version of the bogeyman or in a more general term a kind of bugbear. Nacht is the german word for night and Krapp is used in southern germany and austria as a word for raven....
-6
votes
1answer
350 views
The 12 Zodiac Elements (magic-casting chart idea) [closed]
12 Zodiac Elements (Fire, Earth, Water, Air, Cardinal, Fixed, & Mutable)
Recently I've had the idea to make my elemental magic chart for one of my fantasy stories based off the Zodiac's ...
5
votes
6answers
972 views
Is this a realistic creation story for a matriarchal society?
Im going for a culture which endorses and emphasizes gender roles in society. Men and women are equal, but in the complementary rather than egalitarian sense. Magic is only accessible by women. Like ...
40
votes
16answers
6k views
How can asymmetrically powerful states be balanced? (AKA why don't legendary heroes rule the world)
We've all heard the stories. The unbelievably chaste Sir Prancealot having the strength of ten men. The undefeatable members of the Kung Few, equal to any five hundred lesser mortals. The frankly ...
0
votes
3answers
130 views
We're up to our ears in after-lives. What about a before-life? [closed]
If we assume the human soul doesn't end with the body, it might be fun to entertain the idea that it doesn't begin with the body either. Suppose it exists in some dimension or realm before it is born. ...
24
votes
3answers
3k views
Naming the forces of the Purgatory?
I'm trying to build a world loosely based on ideas about afterlife in Christianity. In my world God is nowhere to be found and supernatural forces are split into three factions: Hell, Heaven & ...
0
votes
2answers
220 views
How different would life be in India if all of the myths would be true [closed]
India has a rich cultural heritage and mythology. 330000000 gods (Acoording to Hymns) and many many legends. How different would life be in Ancient (not Indus Valley) India if all these legends would ...
0
votes
3answers
180 views
How to explain polytheistic gods in a world with a monotheistic origin [closed]
My world was created by a single God who (at the moment) has no physical form.
But there are also humanoids gods with physical bodies. They have similar powers to the creator God but they are a lot ...
18
votes
7answers
4k views
Anatomically Correct Sleipnir
Sleipnir is Odin's steed - an eight-legged horse in Norse mythology. How and where to place its legs to make it faster than four-legged horses? What other benefits or drawbacks may arise from the ...
3
votes
1answer
224 views
How would the existence of the Yokai phenomenon change society? [closed]
By "yokai phenomenon" I mean the way anything, anyone or even concepts/ideas can become magical, animate, sentient and possibly predatory, as commonly depicted in Japanese mythology and modern fiction....
1
vote
2answers
144 views
Trying to make a dreamscape/dreamworld with real-world inspirations…? [closed]
I am trying to craft a story around the idea that, when we dream, we actually access another indeterminable plane of existence, a kind of repository into which the dreams and thoughts of all living ...
2
votes
5answers
452 views
Creation Myth Development Help [closed]
C.W Lewis's Narnia and J.R.R Tolkien's Middle-Earth series all had creation myths for their characters to believe.
I want to have a go for one of my projects but I'm stuck.
I would like suggestions, ...
1
vote
3answers
260 views
How can I explain a sudden rediscovery of magical capability on humans? [closed]
First I apologize if this question or similar already exists.
In my world, humans are naturally very powerful creatures (think of it as in "magic" since it's not really important in the question ...
6
votes
5answers
1k views
Demons come from another planet instead of “Hell”. How would this affect human's beliefs, mythology?
I want demons to appear in my story, but having them originate from Hell was never appealing. Anyways, these "demons" are summoned to Earth- a planet that's only just discovering magic.
They are- in ...
2
votes
1answer
158 views
How can I re-fit the Atlantis story to a location in the Caribbean?
Atlantis is mentioned in Plato's Timaeus and Critias dialogues.
I would like to know how I can set the story to a location in or around the Caribbean, during a time frame that would "fit" the story ...
7
votes
4answers
611 views
Anatomically Correct Jackalope
The jackalope is a mythical animal of North American folklore described as a jackrabbit with an antelopes horns. It's a popular mythological creature in hill folk culture and it made me ask a question,...
3
votes
6answers
501 views
How do I make Tantalus' punishment real?
Tantalus is a character from Greek mythology who did some bad things (trying to feed his son to the gods), and in turn was punished in Tartarus:
Tantalus (Ancient Greek: Τάνταλος, Tántalos) was a ...
33
votes
9answers
7k views
Anatomically Correct Medusa
Medusa is a legendary myth about a woman with snakes for hair that turns anything she looks at into stone. How can I achieve both of those features in an animal realistically? And how would these ...
9
votes
1answer
338 views
Practicality of Hybrid Hecaton Humanoids
In the vein of this question here, I was wondering about the practicality of the mythical Grecian concept of the Hecatonchires. Forget, for a moment, that these monsters are supposed to be invincible. ...
19
votes
9answers
2k views
Culturally Correct Myth Design
Every culture has its myths and myths always fit in with the culture they belong to. From the Native Americans and their stories of respecting nature to the blood and brutal of the Aztecs. If I had ...
