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The Contest between Odin & Thor
The poem called The Lay of Greybeard (Old Norse: Hárbarðsljóð) is one story from Norse mythology that relates an intriguing verbal fight between two of its essential gods, Thor and Odin. The poem consists of 60 stanzas and is found complete...
Article
Uʻtlûñ′tă, the Spear-Finger
Uʻtlûñ′tă, the Spear-Finger is a legend of the Cherokee nation, defined as a wonder story – a tale involving a supernatural entity – in which higher powers contend with each other or mortals must navigate the supernatural world or defend...
Article
The Norse in America: Fact and Fiction
The idea that it was the Norse who discovered America first emerged in the late 18th century, long before there was any public awareness of the sagas on which such claims were based. In the course of the 19th century, evidence for a Norse...
Interview
Interview: Ariadne by Jennifer Saint
World History Encyclopedia is joined by Jennifer Saint, who is going to tell us all about her debut novel Ariadne. Kelly (WHE): Do you want to tell us a little bit about the book? Jennifer Saint (author): The book is a retelling of the...
Article
The Bronze Bells of Ancient Korea
The metalworkers of ancient Korea were highly skilled artists and some of their finest surviving works are the large bronze bells cast for use in Buddhist temples and monasteries. Both the Unified Silla kingdom and Goryeo kingdom produced...
Video
The Odyssey Summarised - Context, Themes and Importance
The Odyssey is the second epic poem, following the Iliad, attributed to the ancient Greek poet Homer, a poem both epic in length and in content with the Hero Odysseus facing numerous monsters, goddesses, and even a trip to the underworld...
Image Gallery
4 Maps of Epic Ancient Quests
In this gallery, we cross the ancient Mediterranean world four times to follow the adventures of four great heroes from Greek and Roman mythology. Here are visual representations of timeless tales of heroism, divine challenges, and fearsome...
Collection
Unsolved Ancient Mysteries
We know a lot about our past but some things, despite research, archaeology and endless debate, still remain largely unknown. This collection looks at some of the great unsolved mysteries from the ancient world to try and discover the facts...
Image
Bellerophon riding Pegasus and the Chimera
Red-figure plate showing Bellerophon riding Pegasus and chasing the Chimera, by the Baltimore painter, second half of the 4th century BCE. (Photo taken at the "Monsters. Fantastic Creatures of Fear and Myth" exhibition, Palazzo Massimo alle...
Image
The Lernaean Hydra & Hercules
Hydria (ceramic water container) with Hercules and the Lernaean Hydra (an ancient serpent-like water monster), from Etruria, attributed to the Painter of Aquila, 530-500 BCE. Photo taken at the "Monsters. Fantastic Creatures of Fear and...