Top 100 Myths and Legends

"Discover the stories that have shaped cultures, inspired art, and captured imaginations."

Throughout history, myths and legends have been used to explain the unexplainable, teach lessons, and entertain. These tales, whether rooted in truth or entirely fictional, reveal much about the cultures from which they originate. This list explores the top 100 myths and legends from around the world, offering a glimpse into the diverse ways humanity has sought to understand the world and our place in it.

Topics

• Top 100 Myths and Legends
  • Topics
  • Overview
  • Cheat
  • Topic 1: "The Hero's Journey"
  • Topic 2: "Tricksters and Deceivers"
  • Topic 3: "Creation Myths"
  • Topic 4: "Underworld and Afterlife"
  • Topic 5: "Divine Beings and Gods"
  • Top 100 List
  • Conclusion

Overview

• Title: "The Hero's Journey: Epic Quests in Mythology"
• Subtitle: "Exploring legendary heroes across cultures"
• Tagline: "The timeless tale of the hero's journey"
• Description: "From Hercules to King Arthur, explore the stories of legendary heroes who faced impossible odds."
• Keywords: Hero, Quest, Mythology, Epic, Journey, Hercules, King Arthur, Gilgamesh, Culture, Storytelling

Cheat

# Top 100 Myths and Legends
- Subtitle: "Exploring the most fascinating myths and legends from around the world"
- Tagline: "Discover the stories that have shaped cultures, inspired art, and captured imaginations."
- Description: A dive into the world of myths and legends, covering 5 key topics.

## Topics
- Hero's Journey: Hero, Quest, Mythology, Epic, Journey...
- Tricksters: Trickster, Deception, Folklore, Anansi, Loki...
- Creation Myths: Creation, Origin, World, Mythology, Genesis...
- Underworld and Afterlife: Underworld, Afterlife, Myth, Hades, Osiris...
- Divine Beings: Gods, Deities, Mythology, Divine, Olympus...

Topic 1: "The Hero's Journey"

"The timeless tale of the hero's journey"

The Hero's Journey is a common narrative archetype found across cultures, featuring a hero who embarks on an adventure, faces and overcomes a crisis, and returns transformed. These stories often serve as metaphors for personal growth and resilience.

1. Hercules: The demigod known for his strength and twelve labors.
2. King Arthur: The legendary British leader who pulled the sword from the stone.
3. Gilgamesh: The ancient Sumerian king whose epic tale is one of the oldest known.
4. Beowulf: The hero of the Anglo-Saxon epic, known for slaying Grendel.
5. Odysseus: The Greek hero whose journey home from Troy took ten years.
6. Siegfried: The Germanic hero of the Nibelungenlied, famous for slaying a dragon.
7. Jason and the Argonauts: The tale of a hero's quest for the Golden Fleece.
8. Perseus: The Greek hero who defeated Medusa.
9. Theseus: The founder-hero of Athens, known for defeating the Minotaur.
10. Cuchulainn: The Irish hero of the Ulster Cycle.
11. Rama: The protagonist of the Ramayana, an epic of ancient India.
12. Sigurd: The Norse hero who killed Fafnir the dragon.
13. El Cid: The Spanish knight and national hero.
14. Achilles: The greatest warrior of the Greeks in the Trojan War.
15. Sun Wukong: The Monkey King, a central figure in Chinese mythology.
16. Roland: The Frankish hero of "The Song of Roland."
17. Karna: A key figure in the Mahabharata, known for his unmatched generosity and valor.
18. Rustam: The Persian hero from the Shahnameh, who performed great deeds.
19. Moses: The prophet who led the Israelites out of Egypt.
20. Samson: A biblical hero known for his incredible strength.

Topic 2: "Tricksters and Deceivers"

"The cunning characters who shape their worlds with wit"

Trickster figures appear in many cultures, embodying cleverness, deception, and often, a bit of mischief. These characters often challenge the status quo, using their wits to outsmart stronger opponents or escape difficult situations.

1. Loki: The Norse god of mischief and chaos.
2. Anansi: The spider trickster from West African folklore.
3. Coyote: The Native American trickster, often portrayed as a clever but foolish animal.
4. Eshu: The Yoruba god of mischief and communication.
5. Hermes: The Greek god who was also a cunning trickster.
6. Maui: The Polynesian demigod who slowed the sun and pulled islands from the sea.
7. Reynard the Fox: The anthropomorphic fox from European folklore known for his cunning.
8. Br'er Rabbit: The trickster figure in African American folklore.
9. Puck: The mischievous fairy from Shakespeare's "A Midsummer Night's Dream."
10. Kitsune: The Japanese fox spirit known for its shape-shifting abilities.
11. Raven: The trickster and culture hero in Native American mythology.
12. Nanabozho: The Anishinaabe trickster and culture hero.
13. Krishna: The Hindu god known for his playful and mischievous childhood.
14. Tyl Eulenspiegel: A German trickster figure who played pranks on townsfolk.
15. Zomo: The West African hare who outsmarts other animals.
16. Susanoo: The Japanese god who once tricked Amaterasu.
17. Sun Wukong: The Monkey King, also a trickster in Chinese mythology.
18. Crow: A trickster figure from various Native American myths.
19. Thoth: The Egyptian god of wisdom, who sometimes played the role of a trickster.
20. Eris: The Greek goddess of discord, who famously started the Trojan War.

Topic 3: "Creation Myths"

"Stories of how the world and humanity came to be"

Creation myths are a universal phenomenon, offering explanations for the origins of the world, the gods, and humanity. These stories are foundational to the belief systems of many cultures and often reflect deep-seated values and worldviews.

1. Genesis: The Judeo-Christian account of the creation of the world in seven days.
2. The Big Bang (Scientific Theory): The modern scientific explanation for the origin of the universe.
3. The Enuma Elish: The Babylonian creation myth involving the god Marduk.
4. Norse Creation Myth: The story of Ymir and the creation of the world from his body.
5. Māori Creation Myth: The separation of the sky father Rangi and earth mother Papa.
6. Aztec Creation Myth: The story of the Five Suns and the creation of the world.
7. Hopi Creation Myth: The story of Spider Woman and the emergence from the underworld.
8. Chinese Creation Myth: The tale of Pangu, who separated the sky from the earth.
9. Inca Creation Myth: The story of Viracocha and the creation of the world.
10. Hindu Creation Myth: The cosmic egg and the birth of the universe.
11. Greek Creation Myth: The story of Chaos and the birth of the gods.
12. Japanese Creation Myth: The birth of the islands from the gods Izanagi and Izanami.
13. Zoroastrian Creation Myth: The dualistic creation by Ahura Mazda and Angra Mainyu.
14. Sumerian Creation Myth: The story of the gods creating humans to serve them.
15. Egyptian Creation Myth: The emergence of the world from the primordial waters of Nun.
16. Navajo Creation Myth: The journey through multiple worlds before reaching the current one.
17. Yoruba Creation Myth: The story of Obatala and the creation of land and humans.
18. Kabbalistic Creation Myth: The concept of Ein Sof and the creation through emanations.
19. Mayan Creation Myth: The story of the Popol Vuh and the creation of the Maya people.
20. Aboriginal Dreamtime: The creation of the world through the actions of ancestral spirits.

Topic 4: "Underworld and Afterlife"

"Exploring the realms beyond death"

The concept of an afterlife, whether as a place of reward, punishment, or continued existence, is a common theme in many mythologies. These myths often reflect cultural values and beliefs about justice, morality, and the nature of the soul.

1. Hades: The Greek underworld ruled by the god of the same name.
2. Valhalla: The Norse hall of the slain, where warriors go after death.
3. Duat: The Egyptian underworld, where souls are judged by Osiris.
4. Yomi: The Japanese land of the dead.
5. Helheim: The Norse realm for those who did not die in battle.
6. Tartarus: The deepest, darkest part of the Greek underworld.
7. Elysium: The

Greek concept of paradise in the afterlife. 8. Purgatory: The Christian concept of a temporary state of purification. 9. Mictlan: The Aztec underworld. 10. The Fields of Aaru: The Egyptian paradise for the righteous. 11. The River Styx: The river in Greek mythology that souls must cross to reach the underworld. 12. The Tibetan Bardo: The state between death and rebirth in Tibetan Buddhism. 13. The Plains of Asphodel: The part of the Greek underworld where ordinary souls reside. 14. The House of Hades: The entire Greek underworld, where all dead souls go. 15. Naraka: The Hindu and Buddhist concept of hell. 16. The Chinese Diyu: The underworld in Chinese mythology, ruled by Yama. 17. The Roman Tartarus: Similar to the Greek Tartarus, a place of punishment for the wicked. 18. The Norse Niflheim: The world of fog and mist, associated with the dead. 19. The Christian Heaven: The eternal paradise for the saved souls. 20. The Abyss: The bottomless pit in Christian eschatology.

Topic 5: "Divine Beings and Gods"

"The powerful beings who shape the universe"

Across the world, gods and divine beings hold immense power, shaping the universe and influencing the fate of humanity. These deities often embody natural forces, moral principles, or abstract concepts.

1. Zeus: The king of the Greek gods.
2. Odin: The chief god in Norse mythology.
3. Ra: The Egyptian sun god.
4. Vishnu: The Hindu preserver god.
5. Thor: The Norse god of thunder.
6. Apollo: The Greek god of the sun, music, and prophecy.
7. Shiva: The Hindu god of destruction and transformation.
8. Hera: The Greek goddess of marriage and family.
9. Athena: The Greek goddess of wisdom and war.
10. Anubis: The Egyptian god of mummification and the afterlife.
11. Poseidon: The Greek god of the sea.
12. Aphrodite: The Greek goddess of love and beauty.
13. Freya: The Norse goddess of love, beauty, and fertility.
14. Loki: The Norse trickster god.
15. Horus: The Egyptian god of the sky.
16. Brahma: The Hindu creator god.
17. Hephaestus: The Greek god of fire and craftsmanship.
18. Isis: The Egyptian goddess of magic and motherhood.
19. Kali: The Hindu goddess of time and destruction.
20. Ares: The Greek god of war.

Top 100 List

1. Hercules (Hero's Journey)
2. Loki (Tricksters)
3. Genesis (Creation Myths)
4. Hades (Underworld and Afterlife)
5. Zeus (Divine Beings)
6. King Arthur (Hero's Journey)
7. Anansi (Tricksters)
8. The Big Bang (Creation Myths)
9. Valhalla (Underworld and Afterlife)
10. Odin (Divine Beings)
11. Gilgamesh (Hero's Journey)
12. Coyote (Tricksters)
13. The Enuma Elish (Creation Myths)
14. Duat (Underworld and Afterlife)
15. Ra (Divine Beings)
16. Beowulf (Hero's Journey)
17. Eshu (Tricksters)
18. Norse Creation Myth (Creation Myths)
19. Yomi (Underworld and Afterlife)
20. Vishnu (Divine Beings)
21. Odysseus (Hero's Journey)
22. Hermes (Tricksters)
23. Māori Creation Myth (Creation Myths)
24. Helheim (Underworld and Afterlife)
25. Thor (Divine Beings)
26. Siegfried (Hero's Journey)
27. Maui (Tricksters)
28. Aztec Creation Myth (Creation Myths)
29. Tartarus (Underworld and Afterlife)
30. Apollo (Divine Beings)
31. Jason and the Argonauts (Hero's Journey)
32. Reynard the Fox (Tricksters)
33. Hopi Creation Myth (Creation Myths)
34. Elysium (Underworld and Afterlife)
35. Shiva (Divine Beings)
36. Perseus (Hero's Journey)
37. Br'er Rabbit (Tricksters)
38. Chinese Creation Myth (Creation Myths)
39. Purgatory (Underworld and Afterlife)
40. Hera (Divine Beings)
41. Theseus (Hero's Journey)
42. Puck (Tricksters)
43. Inca Creation Myth (Creation Myths)
44. Mictlan (Underworld and Afterlife)
45. Athena (Divine Beings)
46. Cuchulainn (Hero's Journey)
47. Kitsune (Tricksters)
48. Hindu Creation Myth (Creation Myths)
49. The Fields of Aaru (Underworld and Afterlife)
50. Anubis (Divine Beings)
51. Rama (Hero's Journey)
52. Raven (Tricksters)
53. Greek Creation Myth (Creation Myths)
54. The River Styx (Underworld and Afterlife)
55. Poseidon (Divine Beings)
56. Sigurd (Hero's Journey)
57. Nanabozho (Tricksters)
58. Japanese Creation Myth (Creation Myths)
59. The Tibetan Bardo (Underworld and Afterlife)
60. Aphrodite (Divine Beings)
61. El Cid (Hero's Journey)
62. Krishna (Tricksters)
63. Zoroastrian Creation Myth (Creation Myths)
64. The Plains of Asphodel (Underworld and Afterlife)
65. Freya (Divine Beings)
66. Achilles (Hero's Journey)
67. Tyl Eulenspiegel (Tricksters)
68. Sumerian Creation Myth (Creation Myths)
69. The House of Hades (Underworld and Afterlife)
70. Loki (Divine Beings)
71. Sun Wukong (Hero's Journey)
72. Zomo (Tricksters)
73. Egyptian Creation Myth (Creation Myths)
74. Naraka (Underworld and Afterlife)
75. Horus (Divine Beings)
76. Roland (Hero's Journey)
77. Susanoo (Tricksters)
78. Navajo Creation Myth (Creation Myths)
79. The Chinese Diyu (Underworld and Afterlife)
80. Brahma (Divine Beings)
81. Karna (Hero's Journey)
82. Sun Wukong (Tricksters)
83. Yoruba Creation Myth (Creation Myths)
84. The Roman Tartarus (Underworld and Afterlife)
85. Hephaestus (Divine Beings)
86. Rustam (Hero's Journey)
87. Crow (Tricksters)
88. Kabbalistic Creation Myth (Creation Myths)
89. The Norse Niflheim (Underworld and Afterlife)
90. Isis (Divine Beings)
91. Moses (Hero's Journey)
92. Thoth (Tricksters)
93. Mayan Creation Myth (Creation Myths)
94. The Christian Heaven (Underworld and Afterlife)
95. Kali (Divine Beings)
96. Samson (Hero's Journey)
97. Eris (Tricksters)
98. Aboriginal Dreamtime (Creation Myths)
99. The Abyss (Underworld and Afterlife)
100. Ares (Divine Beings)

Here is the full table of the "Top 100 Myths and Legends" from the LAD:

Rank	Name	Topic	Tagline
1	Hercules	Hero's Journey	"The demigod known for his strength"
2	Loki	Tricksters	"The Norse god of mischief and chaos"
3	Genesis	Creation Myths	"The Judeo-Christian creation story"
4	Hades	Underworld and Afterlife	"The Greek underworld"
5	Zeus	Divine Beings	"The king of the Greek gods"
6	King Arthur	Hero's Journey	"The legendary British leader"
7	Anansi	Tricksters	"The spider trickster from West Africa"
8	The Big Bang	Creation Myths	"The modern scientific origin story"
9	Valhalla	Underworld and Afterlife	"The Norse hall of the slain"
10	Odin	Divine Beings	"The chief god in Norse mythology"
11	Gilgamesh	Hero's Journey	"The ancient Sumerian king"
12	Coyote	Tricksters	"The Native American clever animal"
13	The Enuma Elish	Creation Myths	"The Babylonian creation myth"
14	Duat	Underworld and Afterlife	"The Egyptian underworld"
15	Ra	Divine Beings	"The Egyptian sun god"
16	Beowulf	Hero's Journey	"The Anglo-Saxon epic hero"
17	Eshu	Tricksters	"The Yoruba god of mischief"
18	Norse Creation Myth	Creation Myths	"The story of Ymir and the world"
19	Yomi	Underworld and Afterlife	"The Japanese land of the dead"
20	Vishnu	Divine Beings	"The Hindu preserver god"
21	Odysseus	Hero's Journey	"The Greek hero's journey home"
22	Hermes	Tricksters	"The Greek god of thieves and messengers"
23	Māori Creation Myth	Creation Myths	"The separation of the sky and earth"
24	Helheim	Underworld and Afterlife	"The Norse realm for the dead"
25	Thor	Divine Beings	"The Norse god of thunder"
26	Siegfried	Hero's Journey	"The dragon-slayer from Germanic legend"
27	Maui	Tricksters	"The Polynesian demigod who slowed the sun"
28	Aztec Creation Myth	Creation Myths	"The Five Suns and the creation of the world"
29	Tartarus	Underworld and Afterlife	"The Greek place of punishment"
30	Apollo	Divine Beings	"The Greek god of the sun and prophecy"
31	Jason and the Argonauts	Hero's Journey	"The quest for the Golden Fleece"
32	Reynard the Fox	Tricksters	"The cunning fox of European folklore"
33	Hopi Creation Myth	Creation Myths	"The emergence from the underworld"
34	Elysium	Underworld and Afterlife	"The paradise for the blessed"
35	Shiva	Divine Beings	"The Hindu god of destruction and renewal"
36	Perseus	Hero's Journey	"The slayer of Medusa"
37	Br'er Rabbit	Tricksters	"The trickster of African American folklore"
38	Chinese Creation Myth	Creation Myths	"Pangu and the separation of heaven and earth"
39	Purgatory	Underworld and Afterlife	"The temporary state of purification"
40	Hera	Divine Beings	"The Greek goddess of marriage"
41	Theseus	Hero's Journey	"The founder-hero of Athens"
42	Puck	Tricksters	"The mischievous fairy from Shakespeare"
43	Inca Creation Myth	Creation Myths	"Viracocha and the creation of humanity"
44	Mictlan	Underworld and Afterlife	"The Aztec underworld"
45	Athena	Divine Beings	"The Greek goddess of wisdom"
46	Cuchulainn	Hero's Journey	"The hero of the Ulster Cycle"
47	Kitsune	Tricksters	"The shape-shifting fox of Japan"
48	Hindu Creation Myth	Creation Myths	"The cosmic egg and the birth of the universe"
49	The Fields of Aaru	Underworld and Afterlife	"The Egyptian paradise for the righteous"
50	Anubis	Divine Beings	"The Egyptian god of mummification"
51	Rama	Hero's Journey	"The hero of the Ramayana"
52	Raven	Tricksters	"The trickster and culture hero of Native America"
53	Greek Creation Myth	Creation Myths	"Chaos and the birth of the gods"
54	The River Styx	Underworld and Afterlife	"The river separating the living and the dead"
55	Poseidon	Divine Beings	"The Greek god of the sea"
56	Sigurd	Hero's Journey	"The Norse hero who killed the dragon Fafnir"
57	Nanabozho	Tricksters	"The Anishinaabe culture hero and trickster"
58	Japanese Creation Myth	Creation Myths	"Izanagi and Izanami creating the islands"
59	The Tibetan Bardo	Underworld and Afterlife	"The state between death and rebirth in Tibetan Buddhism"
60	Aphrodite	Divine Beings	"The Greek goddess of love and beauty"
61	El Cid	Hero's Journey	"The Spanish knight and national hero"
62	Krishna	Tricksters	"The playful and mischievous Hindu god"
63	Zoroastrian Creation Myth	Creation Myths	"The dualistic creation by Ahura Mazda and Angra Mainyu"
64	The Plains of Asphodel	Underworld and Afterlife	"The place where ordinary souls reside in Greek mythology"
65	Freya	Divine Beings	"The Norse goddess of love and fertility"
66	Achilles	Hero's Journey	"The greatest warrior of the Greeks"
67	Tyl Eulenspiegel	Tricksters	"The prankster of German folklore"
68	Sumerian Creation Myth	Creation Myths	"The gods creating humans to serve them"
69	The House of Hades	Underworld and Afterlife	"The Greek underworld as a whole"
70	Loki	Divine Beings	"The Norse trickster god"
71	Sun Wukong	Hero's Journey	"The Monkey King from Chinese mythology"
72	Zomo	Tricksters	"The West African hare who outsmarts other animals"
73	Egyptian Creation Myth	Creation Myths	"The emergence of the world from the primordial waters"
74	Naraka	Underworld and Afterlife	"The Hindu and Buddhist concept of hell"
75	Horus	Divine Beings	"The Egyptian god of the sky"
76	Roland	Hero's Journey	"The Frankish hero of 'The Song of Roland'"
77	Susanoo	Tricksters	"The Japanese god who once tricked Amaterasu"
78	Navajo Creation Myth	Creation Myths	"The journey through multiple worlds to reach the present one"
79	The Chinese Diyu	Underworld and Afterlife	"The Chinese underworld ruled by Yama"
80	Brahma	Divine Beings	"The Hindu creator god"
81	Karna	Hero's Journey	"The heroic figure from the Mahabharata"
82	Sun Wukong	Tricksters	"The clever and powerful Monkey King"
83	Yoruba Creation Myth	Creation Myths	"Obatala and the creation of land and humans"
84	The Roman Tartarus	Underworld and Afterlife	"The place of punishment for the wicked"
85	Hephaestus	Divine Beings	"The Greek god of fire and craftsmanship"
86	Rustam	Hero's Journey	"The Persian hero of the Shahnameh"
87	Crow	Tricksters	"The Native American trickster"
88	Kabbalistic Creation Myth	Creation Myths	"The concept of Ein Sof and creation through emanations"
89	The Norse Niflheim	Underworld and Afterlife	"The world of fog and mist for the dead"
90	Isis	Divine Beings	"The Egyptian goddess of magic and motherhood"
91	Moses	Hero's Journey	"The prophet who led the Israelites out of Egypt"
92	Thoth	Tricksters	"The Egyptian god of wisdom and writing"
93	Mayan Creation Myth	Creation Myths	"The Popol Vuh and the creation of the Maya people"
94	The Christian Heaven	Underworld and Afterlife	"The eternal paradise for saved souls"
95	Kali	Divine Beings	"The Hindu goddess of destruction and time"
96	Samson	Hero's Journey	"The biblical hero with immense strength"
97	Eris	Tricksters	"The Greek goddess of discord"
98	Aboriginal Dreamtime	Creation Myths	"The ancestral spirits creating the world"
99	The Abyss	Underworld and Afterlife	"The bottomless pit in Christian eschatology"
100	Ares	Divine Beings	"The Greek god of war"

Conclusion

This list explores the rich tapestry of myths and legends that have shaped human culture. From heroic quests to creation stories, these tales reveal universal themes and the enduring power of storytelling.