Questions tagged [mythology]
Mythology should be used for questions involving stories or the origin of stories which will be important to some culture.
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A weapon to kill angels
I'm working in a novel based on Arabian folklore and a part of the history tells the war between angels and jinn (genies although closer to the original arab folklore than the pop culture Disney ...
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Is it okay to use real-world literary figures? [closed]
In my world's lore and history, there a mythical figures and heroes in it. My world is not Earth, but rather a different world (think ATLA or skyrim kind of different). I was wondering if I am able to ...
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A gold-proof suit for King Midas
As we all know, King Midas wished that everything he touched would turn to gold - his wish was granted by the god Dionyssus. This proved to be his undoing. He couldn't eat because his food turned to ...
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How can a hypostatic union be the preferred fusion between gods and mortals?
The Great Wheel is a planar cosmology which defines how the planes, worlds, and realms of the multiverse are connected to one another. Throughout this multiverse, there are various gods that exist ...
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Need help figuring out gods with a theme of hammers or foxes [closed]
So, I'm writing a story about a group of superheroes, and all of the heroes have codenames based on different mythical gods and goddesses (ex., the stealth-based one is Nyx, the flying one is Horus, ...
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An anthropomorphic personification of the new year [closed]
We humans have a long tradition of inventing personifications for otherwise impersonal events... such as Santa Claus, Krampus, the Easter Bunny, Jack Frost, the Tooth Fairy, Time, Death, Pestilence, ...
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Werewolves have the same fur color as their human form's hair color. What gave humans the idea that they're all gray?
In my setting, every mythical humanoid creature humanity ever came up with (and most of the non-humanoid ones too, though it's more complicated there) either exists, or at one point used to exist ...
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If the Roman Empire in the Year 90 AD Found a Living Tyrannosaurus Rex, What Creature in Their Mythology Would They Most Likely Mistake It For?
I'm writing a story where a group of mischievous aliens teleport iconic creatures to inappropriate time periods. (Dimetrodons in colonial Germany, Pterodactyls in the medieval Ottoman Empire, ...
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How Would my World Have Religious Differences if Everyone Knows the Gods Exist? [duplicate]
In my science-fantasy series, there are dozens, even hundreds of different cultures scattered amongst the stars. However, there is one set pantheon of Gods (as well as a bunch of other divine beings, ...
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It is feasible that a (human) civilization at the end of time uses English, Latin, etc. words but considers earth history as a myth? [closed]
When universe is close to ending (only few solar systems remain), I can see how Earth history (or the current galactic civilization beginnings) could become a myth. However, does that mean that some ...
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How to create a floating rock
How to create a floating rock?
This question is inspired from the Indian Sanskrit epic Ramayana, in which Lord Ram builds a bridge Rama Setu connecting India and Sri Lanka, which was entirely made of ...
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Could a Species Survive Getting Nutrition Only by Smelling Things?
In Greek and Roman mythology, the Astomi, also known as the Gangines, are an ancient legendary race of people who had no need to eat or drink anything at all. They survived by smelling apples and ...
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Would the demigods birthed by goddesses be different from the demigods sired by the gods? [closed]
In Greek mythology and many fantasy stories, they are treated as the same. But I can't help but feel they shouldn't...
If we assume that gods can take any physical form, how do you explain it to ...
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Anatomically correct Gigantes [duplicate]
A creature from Greek Mythology; giants with legs that resemble snakes that fought the gods and Heracles in a war (not to be confused with the Titans). Is such a creature possible to make anatomically ...
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What are some examples of fae-like creatures in Native American folklore
In my story I'm setting up a cold war between a faction of Fae and the Native American equivalent. The Fae are your typical Unseelie Court where one should watch their words or get bamboozled.
The ...
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Does God as depicted in Jewish/Christian/Muslim sources have any weaknesses? [closed]
I've heard a few stories, like Left Beyond Quest and the plot of the game Messiah, in which humanity attempts to fight/conquer Heaven and Hell. The general consensus is that, since there aren't any ...
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Resource Request: Myths and Believable Exaggerations, Creation
So, a lot of conflict in my story comes from misunderstanding and false information, here's a small sample:
Myth: Dragons represent the sin of greed
Fact: Being partly modeled after lace monitors ...
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How big do bird wings have to be relative to the size of the bird? [duplicate]
How do you estimate the ration of the torso of a bird to its wings? A bird in my world, the aquatic roc, is essentially a collasal pelican, big enough to scoop an average galleon, a ship of 160 feet. ...
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Is there a name for a Satyr like creature with equine features
I created a character who is centaur-like. His upper body is completely human however his legs and horse-like and he has two legs. This makes him similar to a Satyr, however, Satyr's have Goat like ...
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(Legit) Online Sources on Epiales, the Greek Spirit of Nightmares
I'm doing research for one of the stories I'm working on and found the Greek deity Epiales, the god/spirit of nightmares. I'm trying to implement him into a story as an antagonist to where he seeks ...
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(Online) Sources for Traditional Lore to Base Creatures on
I'm currently working on a fantasy world with a medieval/mythological setting, and I'm trying to do a bunch of research for several non-human races (dwarves, mermaids, etc.).
However I don't want to ...
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What are some resources for mythopoesis?
I would greatly appreciate any info or resources for building an appropriate artificial mythology for a world.
For reference, I am reading "The Gods of Pegana" and I already went through the ...
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How can you make someone forget that he has superpowers and lock his powers?
How can you make someone forget that he has superpowers and lock his powers?
My question is inspired by the Sanskrit epic of ancient India, Ramayana.
In the story of Ramayana, Hanuman is a well-...
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Why do Ichisongas hate elephants and hippos?
In the mythology of the Lambas people of Zambia, there is a creature called the Ichisonga. It is a herbivore, and very rhinoceros-like in appearance.
Upon hearing a hippopotamus, it allegedly sneaks ...
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What could be a means to defeat a child’s nightmare? [closed]
In my world, there is a monster that materializes as a childhood nightmare (nothing specific, just this general fear children feel when they are alone in the dark). I wonder what would be a nice way ...
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How big is my Giant?
The hero saves the captured giant, and as a reward, the giant presents the hero with a magic ring... However, the ring is made for giant fingers, so the hero decides to wear it as an armband instead.
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How can there be endangered humanoid species? [closed]
In my urban fantasy, I have several human species that coexist with humans. I'd imagine some like species such as who're classified as Faeries have a stronghold to have intercommunication with humans. ...
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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 ...
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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 ...
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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 ...
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Justifying why a troll's skin would turn to stone in sunlight
It's a fairly common legend that trolls turn to stone when exposed to daylight, and I was thinking about using such a creature in a story. I'm searching for a plausible way of justifying such a ...
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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 ...
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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 ...
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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 ...
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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-...
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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 ...
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Could a humanoid species exist with vastly different heights?
Many mythological humans vary in depictions. Let's use Trolls from Scandinavia as an example. Some are said to be giants compared to humans (I'd imagine twice the height), and some, like Danish Trolls,...
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Anatomically Correct Satyrs
Satyrs are creatures from Greek mythology said to resemble a human with the ears, horns and lower half of a goat. They are known for throwing wild parties, heavily drinking and a fondness for music. ...
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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 ...
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Would centaurs shoot more accurately than a cavalryman from horseback?
The question is fairly simple. If a Mongol and a Centaur ride by and shoot at you, who has the better chance of giving an arrow a new home in your gizzard?
That is, given equal skill in shooting, ...
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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 ...
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Anatomically Correct Typhon
Please avoid the obvious jokes.
Now I know there are different versions of the Greek monster Typhon, so first I will try to describe its properties.
Incredibly large roughly 50-100 feet tall, ...
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Would centaurs HAVE to cook meat? [duplicate]
The way I depict centaurs are like very wild people like Tarzan - living in the wild with no clothes equipment, hunting with their hands and hooves. I'm wondering though if a centaur could eat raw ...
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How does a gorgon sleep?
Weird question but with a head of snakes, do they have to sleep with their head turned to the side? Would it hurt? Do they need an incredibly fluffy pillow?
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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 ...
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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 ...
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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 ...
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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 ...
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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 ...
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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 ...
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