In the final episode of our Misunderstood Monsters season, we explore the story of Arachne: It’s usually presented as one of hubris: a cautionary tale against pride. But can we revisit her story in the light of our Misunderstood Monsters theme? We'll also meet some other spider-folk from across the world, including West Africa, the American Southwest, and Japan, and we'll wrap up the Gauntlet of the Gorgon with a look at how Medusa is having a real moment in modern book publishing. Visit the World of Mythik website to learn more and to contribute your theories to our board! All stories told on Myths & Muses are original family-friendly adaptations of ancient myths and legends. Stories from ancient mythology can also sometimes deal with complicated topics for young listeners — to the mortal parents and caretakers reading this, we encourage listening along with your young demigods to help them navigate those topics as they explore these epic tales. Transcript for Episode 12 If you'd like to submit something creative you've done inspired by the stories in Myths & Muses, use this form (with a Mortal Guardian's permission!). ----more---- Stuff to Read:  Medusa Middle Grade novels: Medusa and The Gods' Revenge by Katharine Marsh Young Adult novel: Medusa by Jessie Burton Adult novels: Stone Blind by Natalie Haynes, Medusa by Nataly Gruender and I, Medusa by Ayana Gray Book Riot: Medusa: The Gorgon’s Story Adapted 4 Ways How ‘Percy Jackson and the Olympians’ Changes the Book’s Medusa Myth Arachne:  On Mythopedia and World History Encyclopedia Madeline Miller: Myth of the Week: Arachne Quotes from original Greek and Latin sources (translated to English) from THEOI Anansi:  Myth Matters: A World without Stories and the Trickster Anansi All Stories are Anansi's Other Spiderfolk: Neith: The Goddess Who Created the World Wisdom, War, and Weaving: The Egyptian Spider Goddess The Native American Story of Spider Woman: A Journey of Discovery World History Encyclopedia: Iktomi Tales Yokai.com: Jorogumo Stuff to Watch: Our curated YouTube playlist for this episode!

Our feature monster for this episode is that curiosity of the Caribbean – and other regions across Central America and the American Southwest – El Chupacabra. We'll explore its relatively recent identification and its potential mythological roots in Taino and Aztec stories. We'll also introduce a few other cryptids of the Americas! Visit the World of Mythik website to learn more and to contribute your theories to our board! All stories told on Myths & Muses are original family-friendly adaptations of ancient myths and legends. Stories from ancient mythology can also sometimes deal with complicated topics for young listeners — to the mortal parents and caretakers reading this, we encourage listening along with your young demigods to help them navigate those topics as they explore these epic tales. Transcript for Episode 11 If you'd like to submit something creative you've done inspired by the stories in Myths & Muses, use this form (with a Mortal Guardian's permission!). ----more---- Stuff to Read:  El Chupacabra American Natural History Museum: Modern Myths How Stuff Works: El Chupacabra: Legend, Sightings & Facts  National Geographic: Chasing chupacabras? You may find something even more extraordinary here. Xolotl: Xolotl: Aztec God for the Motion of Life X is for Xolotl (Folktales of Endangered Species) Cryptids: Cryptids of North America Map of Cryptids in America Squonkapalooza Festival Stuff to Watch: Our curated YouTube playlist for this episode! Images: 

The Minotaur is a total icon, one of the fiercest and most well-known monsters in Greek mythology. So what’s his story? We'll explore it, plus meet some astonishing bovines from other cultures, such as the Mesopotamian Bull of Heaven and Donn Cuailnge, the bull at the center of Irish mythology's greatest battle. Visit the World of Mythik website to learn more and to contribute your theories to our board! All stories told on Myths & Muses are original family-friendly adaptations of ancient myths and legends. Stories from ancient mythology can also sometimes deal with complicated topics for young listeners — to the mortal parents and caretakers reading this, we encourage listening along with your young demigods to help them navigate those topics as they explore these epic tales. Transcript for Episode 10 If you'd like to submit something creative you've done inspired by the stories in Myths & Muses, use this form (with a Mortal Guardian's permission!). ----more---- Stuff to Read:  The Minotaur On Mythopedia and World History Encyclopedia Quotes from original Greek and Roman sources (translated to English!) Theseus and the Minotaur: More than a Myth? Ashmolean Museum: Myths of the Labyrinth The Labyrinth Society The Bull of Heaven From World History Encyclopedia From The Metropolitan Museum of Art Epic of Gilgamesh, Tablet VI The Cattle Raid of Cooley An Táin Bó Cúailnge: Ireland’s National Epic Irish Road Trip: The Legend of the Cattle Raid of Cooley On Mythopedia: Cu Chulainn English translation of "The Combat of Ferdiad and Cuchulain" from An Táin Bó Cúailnge Stuff to Watch: Our curated YouTube playlist for this episode!

It's a very special bonus episode of Myths & Muses! We're interviewing Rob Rokicki, who you listeners might know from The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical. He's also behind Monstersongs, a synthesis of art, music, and performance that is right in line with our summer theme of Misunderstood Monsters. Listen as he discusses the stories that inspire him, the heart that goes into his work, and his own memories of summer camp. About Our Guest: Rob Rokicki is a New York based writer and composer/lyricist whose songs “live at that perfect intersection of musical theatre and radio rock” (Adam Gwon).  Rob wrote the music, lyrics and co-orchestrated the Broadway show The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical (book by Joe Tracz). The show was nominated for Lortel, Off-Broadway Alliance, and three Drama Desk Awards, including Outstanding Musical, before touring across North America.  The original cast recording had the highest pre-sale in Broadway Records history and the show is licensed globally.

Our feature monster for this episode is that hairy hide-and-seek champion of the cryptids: Bigfoot. We'll also look at some of his possible origins in the tales of Indigenous North Americans, as well as the tradition of the "wild man" in China, Roman mythology, medieval Europe, and Scottish folklore. And we'll learn a little more about Enkidu, the companion of Gilgamesh in Mesopotamian mythology. Visit the World of Mythik website to learn more and to contribute your theories to our board! All stories told on Myths & Muses are original family-friendly adaptations of ancient myths and legends. Stories from ancient mythology can also sometimes deal with complicated topics for young listeners — to the mortal parents and caretakers reading this, we encourage listening along with your young demigods to help them navigate those topics as they explore these epic tales. Transcript for Episode 9 If you'd like to submit something creative you've done inspired by the stories in Myths & Muses, use this form (with a Mortal Guardian's permission!). ----more---- Stuff to Read:  Bigfoot How the Bigfoot Legend Began Bigfoot Was Investigated by the FBI. Here’s What They Found BFRO Geographical Database of Bigfoot Sightings & Reports Before Bigfoot:  BBC: The true origins of Sasquatch American Museum of Natural History: Beyond Bigfoot World History Encyclopedia: Tsul'kălû', The Slant-Eyed Giant Enkidu and Gilgamesh: World History Encyclopedia: Gilgamesh The Chinese Yeren Wild Men of the Ancient World: Legends Across the Globe Tell of a Humanoid Beast – Are They Real? Am Fear Liath Mor Stuff to Watch: Our curated YouTube playlist for this episode!

Our feature monster this week is one whose stories are spun out of urban legends, making him a more recent addition to the monster roster. It’s time to talk about the mysterious Mothman. And while we're at it, we'll meet some other mythological figures of fate, destiny, and bad luck from Greek, Celtic, and Germanic mythologies. Visit the World of Mythik website to learn more and to contribute your theories to our board! All stories told on Myths & Muses are original family-friendly adaptations of ancient myths and legends. Stories from ancient mythology can also sometimes deal with complicated topics for young listeners — to the mortal parents and caretakers reading this, we encourage listening along with your young demigods to help them navigate those topics as they explore these epic tales. Transcript for Episode 8 If you'd like to submit something creative you've done inspired by the stories in Myths & Muses, use this form (with a Mortal Guardian's permission!). ----more---- Stuff to Read:  Mothman:  Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage: An Ode to a Hometown Creature: Mothman of Point Pleasant, West Virginia  Paranormal West Virginia: The Legend of Mothman The Mothman Festival Banshee:  Irish Myths: What Is a Banshee? The Mythic Origins of Ireland’s Most Infamous Shrieking Spirit  The Irish Post: Exploring Irish Mythology: The Banshee History Cooperative: The Banshee  Spectral Dogs: 6 Folktales about Black Dogs Britain’s Black Dog Legends – 7 Spooky Canines & Hellhounds ‘They called them the demon dogs’- the Cwn Annwn, Welsh Hounds of Hell Wild Hunt:  Norse Mythology: The Wild Hunt  History Today: The Wild Hunt of Odin  Monster of the Week: The Wild Hunt Moros:  At THEOI and Olympoi Stuff to Watch: Our curated YouTube Playlist for this episode!

Our feature story in this episode takes us to the Highlands of Scotland, where we’ll meet the elusive Loch Ness Monster, AKA Nessie. We'll also learn about some other Nessie-like creatures across the world, and some different water-dwelling creatures in the British Isles, Scandinavia, and western and central Africa. Visit the World of Mythik website to learn more and to contribute your theories to our board! All stories told on Myths & Muses are original family-friendly adaptations of ancient myths and legends. Stories from ancient mythology can also sometimes deal with complicated topics for young listeners — to the mortal parents and caretakers reading this, we encourage listening along with your young demigods to help them navigate those topics as they explore these epic tales. Transcript for Episode 7 If you'd like to submit something creative you've done inspired by the stories in Myths & Muses, use this form (with a Mortal Guardian's permission!). ----more---- The "Surgeon's Photograph": Stuff to Read: Nessie:  Visit Inverness: The Loch Ness Monster History Channel: The First Sighting of the Loch Ness Monster NPR: 55-year-old camera set up to track the Loch Ness monster found in Scotland The Official Loch Ness Monster Sightings Register The Loch Ness Centre Kelpies:  Historic UK: The Kelpie Ancient Myth in Modern Art Folklore of Scotland: Kelpies Jormungandr and the Kraken Jormungandr at World History Encyclopedia Jormungandr: The Midgard Serpent in Norse Mythology Ancient Origins: Jörmungandr: The Misunderstood Midgard Serpent of Norse Mythology Sea monsters and their inspiration: serpents, mermaids, the kraken and more Ninki Nanka Gambian Folktales: The Ninki Nanka BBC: The Hunt for Gambia's Mythical Dragon CNN: Here be monsters: The search for Africa’s mythical beasts Coffee and Creatures: It’s Hard to Keep Things Straight With the Ninki-Nanka Mokele Mbembe Cryptid Archives: Mokole-Mbembe Sightings Of The Legendary Mokele-Mbembe "Dinosaur" Of The Congo Are Increasing. What Is Going On? How Stuff Works: Mokele-Mbembe: The Truth Behind Africa's Mythical River Monster Stuff to Watch: Our curated YouTube Playlist for this episode!

In this episode, it's time to meet some slithering serpentine monsters! We start with the many-headed Hydra, who had the misfortune to be one of Heracles's many targets, but who got the consolation prize of becoming a constellation. Then we'll look at that constellation's story in Mesopotamian mythology and we'll meet an eight-headed serpent-dragon from Japanese mythology. Visit the World of Mythik website to learn more and to contribute your theories to our board! All stories told on Myths & Muses are original family-friendly adaptations of ancient myths and legends. Stories from ancient mythology can also sometimes deal with complicated topics for young listeners — to the mortal parents and caretakers reading this, we encourage listening along with your young demigods to help them navigate those topics as they explore these epic tales. Transcript for Episode 6 If you'd like to submit something creative you've done inspired by the stories in Myths & Muses, use this form (with a Mortal Guardian's permission!). ----more---- Stuff to Read: Hydra:  At Mythopedia and Perseus at Tufts Original Greek literature quotes about the Hydra Bašmu & Ninurta:  More on Bašmu Ninurta at World History Encyclopedia Enki and Enlil Yamata no Orochi: From yokai.com The Eight-Headed Eight-Tailed Serpent Stuff to Watch: Check out our curated Youtube playlist for this episode!

Since this episode is dropping just before Mother’s Day in the US, it seemed like the perfect time to talk about Echidna, the Mother of All Monsters. Or… at least an awful lot of the Greek ones. We'll also look at some other monstrous mothers in Mesopotamian, Norse, and Germanic mythology! Visit the World of Mythik website to learn more and to contribute your theories to our board! All stories told on Myths & Muses are original family-friendly adaptations of ancient myths and legends. Stories from ancient mythology can also sometimes deal with complicated topics for young listeners — to the mortal parents and caretakers reading this, we encourage listening along with your young demigods to help them navigate those topics as they explore these epic tales. Transcript for Episode 5 If you'd like to submit something creative you've done inspired by the stories in Myths & Muses, use this form (with a Mortal Guardian's permission!). ----more---- Stuff to Read: Echidna Summaries at Mythopedia and Ancient Origins Quotes from original Greek texts at THEOI Echidna: Half Woman, Half Snake of Greece Angrboda: From Vikingr Chaos, and Destruction: The Symbolism of Angrboda in Norse Mythology and Beyond Tiamat Summary from World History Encyclopedia  From The Met: Mesopotamian Creation Myths Dungeons & Dragons: The History Of Bahamut And Tiamat Grendel’s Mother: Beowulf and Grendel’s Mother Stuff To Watch: Check out our curated YouTube playlist for this episode!

This episode features that enigma wrapped in a mystery, the Sphinx. We'll discuss her famous riddle and examine how the Greek Sphinx is different from the one you see in Egyptian statues. We'll also look at some of her feline relations across not just Greece but also Persia, Assyria, medieval Europe, and China. Visit the World of Mythik website to learn more and to contribute your theories to our board! All stories told on Myths & Muses are original family-friendly adaptations of ancient myths and legends. Stories from ancient mythology can also sometimes deal with complicated topics for young listeners — to the mortal parents and caretakers reading this, we encourage listening along with your young demigods to help them navigate those topics as they explore these epic tales. Transcript for S3E4 If you'd like to submit something creative you've done inspired by the stories in Myths & Muses, use this form (with a Mortal Guardian's permission!). ----more---- Stuff to Read:  More on Apotropaic Devices: Medusa in Ancient Greek Art Medusa at the Getty Museum The full story of Perseus at Mythopedia More on the Sphinx: From Mythopedia Quotes about the Sphinx from ancient literature Lots of different Sphinxes at World History Encyclopedia The Sphinx in Mythology: Myths, Legends, and Powers More on the Chimera:  At Mythopedia The Chimera of Arezzo What is chimerism in science? What is an African Violet chimera? More on Lamassu: From Ancient Near East to Dungeons and Dragons: Lamassu, The Mesopotamian Gatekeeper Lamassu at the British Museum and the Louvre More on the Pixiu:  From Cultural China Legend of Pixiu from Visit Beijing The Basic Principles of Feng Shui Pixiu Meaning in Feng Shui Stuff To Watch: Check out our curated YouTube playlist for this episode!

This episode explores one of the cleverest monsters on our list: the Nine-Tailed Fox of East Asian mythology! But how do you tell a kitsune from a huli jing from a gumiho? We'll try to sort it all out! The fox's reputation as a trickster is world-wide, though, so we'll also look at foxes in Aesop's Fables, medieval stories from France, and the folklore of Eastern Europe. Visit the World of Mythik website to learn more and to contribute your theories to our board! All stories told on Myths & Muses are original family-friendly adaptations of ancient myths and legends. Stories from ancient mythology can also sometimes deal with complicated topics for young listeners — to the mortal parents and caretakers reading this, we encourage listening along with your young demigods to help them navigate those topics as they explore these epic tales. Transcript for S3E3 If you'd like to submit something creative you've done inspired by the stories in Myths & Muses, use this form (with a Mortal Guardian's permission!). ----more---- Stuff to Read:  More on Kitsune:  The Enigmatic Fox of Japanese Folklore From Yokai.com Legend of the Fox The Tale of the Nine-Tailed Fox More on Huli Jing:  The Supernatural Fox Sisters Tale of the Huli Jing: A Feminist Story from Chinese Myth More on Gumiho: From Gods and Monsters From MythLok Other Asian Fox-Spirits Aesop's Fables about Foxes Reynard:  The Fox, the Trickster, the Peasant Hero Reynard the Fox, Or Why the Best Robin Hood is a Fox   Stuff To Watch: Check out our curated YouTube playlist for this episode!

In this episode, we talk about monstrous and mythical forms a much-maligned animal: the wolf. We’ll begin with the biggest and most dangerous of them all: the Great Wolf Fenrir from Norse mythology, prophesied to destroy the world by swallowing the sun. We also look at fairy tale wolves, the raijū of Japanese folklore, and the crucial role that wolves play in many stories of indigenous North American cultures. Visit the World of Mythik website to learn more and to contribute your theories to our board! All stories told on Myths & Muses are original family-friendly adaptations of ancient myths and legends. Stories from ancient mythology can also sometimes deal with complicated topics for young listeners — to the mortal parents and caretakers reading this, we encourage listening along with your young demigods to help them navigate those topics as they explore these epic tales. Transcript for S3E2 If you'd like to submit something creative you've done inspired by the stories in Myths & Muses, use this form (with a Mortal Guardian's permission!). ----more---- Stuff to Read:  More on Fenrir:  On Norse Mythology Tyr and Fenrir on Mythopedia The Binding of Fenrir Fenrir on World History Encyclopedia Fairy Tale Wolves: Fairy Tales with Wolves: A Falsely Maligned Villain? Wolves in Aesop's Fables Little Red Riding Hood by Charles Perrault The Wolf and the Seven Young Kids by Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm Versions of The Three Little Pigs Wolves of Indigenous North American Cultures The Pawnee Creation Legend Native American Wolf Mythology Stuff To Watch: Check out our curated YouTube playlist for this episode!

Welcome to Season 3 of Myths & Muses! This season, we're focusing on monsters -- and, for better or worse, we've had some help in targeting which monsters to focus on from... Medusa. Because she's invited a bunch of them to our camps for our "Misunderstood Monsters" theme. You can see her first letter to us and the "tour poster" for the monsters on the World of Mythik theory board. We're starting with Polyphemus, the one-eyed monster best known for getting blinded by Odysseus. Polyphemus, the one-eyed giant best known for the role he plays in the story of the Greek hero Odysseus. And because we're not sure we quite trust Medusa to have shown us her whole hand, we'll talk about some other giants from across the world, too! Visit the World of Mythik website to learn more and to contribute your theories to our board! All stories told on Myths & Muses are original family-friendly adaptations of ancient myths and legends. Stories from ancient mythology can also sometimes deal with complicated topics for young listeners — to the mortal parents and caretakers reading this, we encourage listening along with your young demigods to help them navigate those topics as they explore these epic tales. Transcript for S3E1 If you'd like to submit something creative you've done inspired by the stories in Myths & Muses, use this form (with a Mortal Guardian's permission!). ----more---- Stuff to Read:  Polyphemus and Cyclopes: Book 9 of The Odyssey The Gigantomachy The Laestrygonians Jotnar:  Yggdrasil  Story of The Theft of Thor’s Hammer Thyrsi and Skadi Aztec giants:  The Quinametzin  More on the Quinametzin Help with Nahuatl pronunciation Stuff to Watch: See our curated playlist for this episode!

Season 3: Misunderstood Monsters starts on March 13th! Medusa has thrown down a challenge: The Gauntlet of the Gorgon. She's invited twelve different monsters to visit Mythik Camps this summer! The Muses are super-excited about the potential for mayhem and the great stories that will come out of it. Since Medusa's given us a hint about which monsters will be coming, each episode of Season 3 will focus on one of them! ...And we're also going to cover a few more, just to be on the safe side.  With these stories, we hope demigods everywhere will be ready to face down monsters of all kinds, whether you’ve found your way to a camp or not. So if you are at Camp Half-Blood, Camp Jupiter, Daring Girls, or Camp Mythik this summer, you’ll need this information to prepare for the Quests of Medusa's Gauntlet – and if you’re not at camp, you need it even more since you’re out there as a solo hero. Who knows where those monsters might end up? So make sure you’re subscribed! Episode One will be available to stream or download in two weeks, on March 13th, 2025! Until then, stay brave, demigods!

In this episode of Myths & Muses, in honor of the holiday season, we explore monsters who prowl the snow and ice from the Himalayas to Austria, from the Great Lakes to Japan. From chilling terrors to mischievous troublemakers, we’ll tell you what to watch out for this winter! Plus: Find out what has the Muses a little too excited about next summer’s potential adventures… Visit the World of Mythik website to learn more! All stories told on Myths & Muses are original family-friendly adaptations of ancient myths and legends. Stories from ancient mythology can also sometimes deal with complicated topics for young listeners — to the mortal parents and caretakers reading this, we encourage listening along with your young demigods to help them navigate those topics as they explore these epic tales. Transcript for 2024 Holiday Bonus Episode If you'd like to submit something creative you've done inspired by the stories in Myths & Muses, use this form (with a Mortal Guardian's permission!). Stuff to Read:  The letter from Medusa Book club sign-up link More on the Yeti At How Stuff Works The hunt for the Abominable Snowman: what's the history of the Yeti legend? From Go to Tibet PBS Storied: Monstrum Yuki-Onna From Yokai.com PBS Storied: Monstrum Overly Sarcastic Productions: Fables and Folktales More on the Wendigo More on Krampus: From History.org Who is Krampus? National Geographic PBS Storied: Monstrum Gryla, Yule Cat, and Yule Lads: PBS Storied: Monstrum Extra Mythology

In this final episode, we’re going to look at a few stories about recovering from – and remembering – loss. Then, we’ll look back over this Comeback Kids season and think about what it really means for a hero to find their way home – and how that’s not always as easy as it might seem. We start with Achilles, greatest of the Greek heroes, then explore some myths from civilizations around the Arctic Circle. Visit the World of Mythik website to learn more and to contribute your theories to our board! All stories told on Myths & Muses are original family-friendly adaptations of ancient myths and legends. Stories from ancient mythology can also sometimes deal with complicated topics for young listeners — to the mortal parents and caretakers reading this, we encourage listening along with your young demigods to help them navigate those topics as they explore these epic tales. Transcript for Comeback Kids Episode 10 If you'd like to submit something creative you've done inspired by the stories in Myths & Muses, use this form (with a Mortal Guardian's permission!). ----more---- Stuff to Read:  More on Achilles and Patroclus: Achilles at Mythopedia and the World History Encyclopedia Patroclus at World History Encyclopedia Q&A with Madeline Miller, author of The Song of Achilles On the Northern Lights:  Aurora myths, legends, and misconceptions History of the Northern Lights: Myths and Legends Aurora Zone: Mythology of the Northern Lights On Nostos:  The Journey Home, by Dylan Nathaniel Ozmore Middle Earth Diaries: The Return to the Shire Stuff to Watch:   Learn more about the stories in this episode with our curated YouTube playlist! Cool Images:  The Wrath of Achilles, by Michel-Martin Drolling (1810) The Triumph of Achilles by Franz von Matsch (1892) Patroclus and Achilles in Troy (2004)

In this episode, we explore gods who have made sacrifices -- some of them on purpose, for the sake of wisdom or another advantage, and some of them less-intentionally. We'll explore three stories showing just how far Odin will go for wisdom, then we'll find out why Tyr, the Norse god of law and justice, and Nuada, a leader of the Celtic Tuatha Dé Danann, lost their hands. Then we'll finish with a coda to the story of Osiris, Horus, and Set. Visit the World of Mythik website to learn more and to contribute your theories to our board! All stories told on Myths & Muses are original family-friendly adaptations of ancient myths and legends. Stories from ancient mythology can also sometimes deal with complicated topics for young listeners — to the mortal parents and caretakers reading this, we encourage listening along with your young demigods to help them navigate those topics as they explore these epic tales. Transcript for Comeback Kids Episode 9 If you'd like to submit something creative you've done inspired by the stories in Myths & Muses, use this form (with a Mortal Guardian's permission!). ----more---- Stuff to Read:  More on Odin: At Mythopedia and the World History Encyclopedia "How Odin Sacrificed His Eye at Mimir's Well" From Norse Mythology for Smart People: Why Odin is One-Eyed, The Mead of Poetry, and Odin's Discovery of the Runes About Runes: Futhark Runes: Names, Meanings, and How to Use Them Runes at Norse Mythology for Smart People (includes origins, meanings, and some book recommendations What Are and How to Make Bind Runes About Tyr & Fenrir:  Tyr at Mythopedia and Norse Mythology for Smart People "The Binding of Fenrir" About Nuada:  At Mythopedia and Timeless Myths Tuatha dé Danann: The Story of Ireland’s Fiercest Tribe Uncovering the Origins of the Tuatha Dé Danann Horus at Mythopedia Stuff to Watch:   Learn more about the stories in this episode with our curated YouTube playlist! Cool Images:  Odin the Wanderer, Georg von Rosen (1886) Óðinn throws his spear at the Vanir host, by Lorenz Frølich (1895) Odin Fighting Fenrir, Emil Doepler (1905) Norse god Tyr sacrificing his arm to Fenrir the wolf, John Albert Bauer (1911)  

It’s time to finish up our “come back from the Underworld” mini-series! In this episode, we’ll be covering stories of some mythological figures whose trips to the Underworld were… unintentional. And not of natural causes. But they all manage to come back! Just usually with a little outside help. You'll hear two major stories from Egyptian and Norse mythology, and then a couple of lesser-known tales from Japan and Finland. Visit the World of Mythik website to learn more and to contribute your theories to our board! All stories told on Myths & Muses are original family-friendly adaptations of ancient myths and legends. Stories from ancient mythology can also sometimes deal with complicated topics for young listeners — to the mortal parents and caretakers reading this, we encourage listening along with your young demigods to help them navigate those topics as they explore these epic tales. Transcript for Comeback Kids Episode 8 If you'd like to submit something creative you've done inspired by the stories in Myths & Muses, use this form (with a Mortal Guardian's permission!). ----more---- Stuff to Read:  More on Osiris: At Mythopedia and World History Encyclopedia From the Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum A little bit about Demeter, Demophon, and the Eleusinian Mysteries More on Baldr:  At Mythopedia and World History Encyclopedia The Death of Baldr (Norse Mythology for Smart People) More on Onamuji From New World Encyclopedia Ōkuninushi, the Master of the Land Lemminkäinen at the Finnish Folklore Wiki Stuff to Watch:   Learn more about the stories in this episode with our curated YouTube playlist! Cool Images:  Statue of Osiris Osiris and the Egyptian Resurrection (1911 reproduction of ancient tomb wall art) "Death of Baldr" (c. 1750) “Baldur’s Death” by Christoffer Wilhelm Eckersberg (1817) "Each arrow overshot his head" (1902)

Our Underworld mini-series continues! This time, we’ll meet some mythological figures who make that harrowing trip maybe to learn something, maybe to make a point, or, in one case, to make sure the sun still rises. It’s never an easy trip, and they have to face down some serious dangers along the way. We'll follow a Sumerian goddess there and back, chart a recurring trip in Egypt, and see how a famous Greek hero made a really terrible choice. Visit the World of Mythik website to learn more and to contribute your theories to our board! All stories told on Myths & Muses are original family-friendly adaptations of ancient myths and legends. Stories from ancient mythology can also sometimes deal with complicated topics for young listeners — to the mortal parents and caretakers reading this, we encourage listening along with your young demigods to help them navigate those topics as they explore these epic tales. Transcript for Comeback Kids Episode 7 If you'd like to submit something creative you've done inspired by the stories in Myths & Muses, use this form (with a Mortal Guardian's permission!). ----more---- Stuff to Read:  More on Inanna:  From World History Encyclopedia and Britannica Inanna's Descent: A Sumerian Tale of Injustice Seven Top-Ranking Gods of the Sumerian Pantheon More on Ra and the Solar Barge: From Mythopedia and World History Encyclopedia Ra as Creator God The Egyptian Afterlife More on Pirithous and Theseus: Pirithous at GreekMythology.com Theseus at Mythopedia Stuff to Watch:   Learn more about the stories in this episode with our curated YouTube playlist! Cool Images:  Ninshubur and Inanna (24th-22nd century BCE) Sculpture that may be Ishtar or Erishkigal (19th-18th century BCE) from Lewis Spence’s Myths and Legends of Babylonia and Assyria (1916) Ishtar by Yliade (2021) The sun god Ra in his solar barque, protected by the coils of a serpent (14th-13th century BCE) The ram-headed form of Ra traveling through the Duat (13th century BCE) Sun Barge of Ra by MichaelJaecks on Deviant Art (2009)

Stories of coming back from the Underworld are some of the biggest, most dramatic comebacks of all! And there are so many of them that they won't all fit in one episode! In this one, we’re exploring stories of heroes who went to the underworld and back for the sake of love. We already talked about the most famous story of this kind, Orpheus and Eurydice, back in Season 1 -- but he’s definitely not the only one! You'll meet a beautiful, adventurous princess, a loyal wife, and a pair of Japanese primordial deities, all of whom face down death in one way or another. Visit the World of Mythik website to learn more and to contribute your theories to our board! All stories told on Myths & Muses are original family-friendly adaptations of ancient myths and legends. Stories from ancient mythology can also sometimes deal with complicated topics for young listeners — to the mortal parents and caretakers reading this, we encourage listening along with your young demigods to help them navigate those topics as they explore these epic tales. Transcript for Comeback Kids Episode 6 If you'd like to submit something creative you've done inspired by the stories in Myths & Muses, use this form (with a Mortal Guardian's permission!). ----more---- Stuff to Read:  More on Cupid and Psyche: Psyche, Greek Goddess of the Soul at THEOI Psyche at World History Encyclopedia The Myth of Cupid and Psyche at ThoughtCo Eros and Psyche: The Greek Origin of Fairy-tales That You Never Knew, from The Collector Original story (in translation) by Lucius Apuleius Alcestis at World History Encyclopedia More on Izanagi and Izanami:  At World History Encyclopedia At Mythopedia The Story of Izanagi and Izanami: A Japanese Creation Myth, at Owlcation More on Shintoism:  About Religions in Japan, from Japan Tours Shinto Beliefs and Holidays, from Diversity Resources Shinto at a Glance, from the BBC Video from Cogito Stuff to Watch:   Learn more about the stories in this episode with our curated YouTube playlist! Cool Images:  Roman Mosaic of Cupid and Psyche from the Poseidon Villa (2nd-3rd century) Psyche Honoured by the People, Luca Giordano (1695) Psyche Revived by Cupid's Kiss, Antonia Canova (1794) Psyche, Yliade (2023) Admetus Mourning Alcestis, Johann Heinrich Tischbein (1780) The God Izanagi and the Goddess Izanami, Nishikawa Sukenobu (18th century) The Gods Izanagi and Izanami on the Floating Bridge of Heaven, Utagawa Hiroshige (1850)