How did you find us?

Diana

Member
I was looking up information on Celtic mythology and found a link for the site, I looked around and joined because it looked like an interesting place to learn from.
 

Myrddin

Well-Known Member
From trading in my cow for some magic beans! Just kidding. Google searched mythology forum, and felt lucky. I wanted a place where I could inquire about specific mythological topics. So I signed up.
 

mythlvr

New Member
surfing the internet because I was looking at Clash of the Titans on TV and was curious about some of the characters (medusa for one). Google is a wonderful thing!!!
 
I think I remembered seeing a sponsored ad on Facebook for a forum on Greek Mythology, but didn't give it much thought.

A few days ago, I discovered that Yahoo Answers had a Mythology & Folklore section, and I avidly posted answers in there for a few days, but grew disillusioned with it, since half of the questions consisted of the following: "am i a vampre cuz i thin i am?"(sic), "What is happening to me?", "Did Miniature Humans Populate Earth 12,000 Years Ago?", "Is there a mermaid spell that TRULEY!!! Works?"(sic), "You know anywhere I can discuss Mythology & Folklore in an semi-educated and largely troll-less environment?", "do gingers have souls?". . . And these are some of questions that have been asked only in the last five hours. I can't tell you how many "Am I a [insert vampire, werewolf, mermaid, or demigod here]? questions I've seen, and I daresay most of you could tell which was the question I posed to the group. the last straw was when my knowledgeable answers (not trying to sound vain, but don't quite know how else to put it), and in some instances excerpts directly copied from one of my reference books (and given proper credit, of course) were repeatedly given "thumbs down."

Anyway, earlier, I googled "mythology forum," and this was a top result. I also found the Greek Mythology forum, but it didn't seem too spectacular. Hopefully this website will be free from the Percy Jackson and Twilight-obsessed teeny-bopper yahoos that infested Yahoo Answers. :)
 

Myrddin

Well-Known Member
I searched google for forums concerning about myths
That is a very good definition of the word myth. In fact, probably the best way to put it. Congrats!

So, now, what about the difference between a myth and a legend? Two words that should not be confused.

E. M.
 
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Myth Scan

New Member
That is a very good definition of the word myth. In fact, probably the best way to put it. Congrats!

So, now, what about the difference between a myth and a legend? Two words that should not be confused.

E. M.
Thank you, E.M.
I would say that a legend is a story, or a popular belief (a.k.a. myth) that deserves proper analysis in order to scan for all the truth that it may contain.

My opinion:
  • Legends are obviously fabricated stories that contain largely unrealistic characters and events, but may contain truth about people's way of life in the far past; but
  • Myths are not obviously fabricated stories, they contain more realistic characters and events, and they may or may not be true as a whole or in parts.
So, legends are definitely fabrications that may contain some truth, but myths are more realistic, not definitely fabrications, and usually more recent.
 
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Myrddin

Well-Known Member
Thank you, E.M.
I would say that a legend is a story, or a popular belief (a.k.a. myth) that deserves proper analysis in order to scan for all the truth that it may contain.

My opinion:
  • Legends are obviously fabricated stories that contain largely unrealistic characters and events, but may contain truth about people's way of life in the far past; but
  • Myths are not obviously fabricated stories, they contain more realistic characters and events, and they may or may not be true as a whole or in parts.
So, legends are definitely fabrications that may contain some truth, but myths are more realistic, not definitely fabrications, and usually more recent.
Keep in mind that legends are fabricated stories based around some nugget of truth. The Arthurian legends, for example, take place around a man, or many men, who changed the course of history and forged a government of some sort, that we today call the Knights of the Round Table. Now, of course, with all the fiction and magic that has been built up around it, we aren't sure what is the truth and what is made up. All we do know for sure is that there is some truth, somewhere, deep at the core of the stories. In some tales, Hadrian's Wall is featured, in others, Stone Henge. Some versions may contain both -- or neither.

Back to my main point: When it comes to legends, it's not a question of whether or not they contain some truth, but rather what the truth, or truths, is, or are.

Myths we know are fabricated stories, with gods and goddesses and their interactions with the heroes -- stories told to explain what the ancient cultures didn't know how to explain otherwise. Essentially what you said on your site.

The words you used above in the bullets are perfect but, in my opinion, backwards. That's just the way I see it, though.

E. M.
(Emrys Myrddin)
 

Misa

Member
I googled Hebe's sons by Herakles (Alexiares and Anicetus/Aniketos) looking for children by them (Hippodamia, daughter of Anicetus was a lover of Zeus according to Clement in Recognitions) and that turned up in the "Impossible questions database" thread.
 
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