Mysteries of Mythology

Jinn explained: the hidden beings of Islamic mythology that live alongside us unseen.Are jinn really genies, or something far more unsettling and dangerous?Jinn are some of the most mysterious and feared beings in Islamic mythology and Middle Eastern folklore. Often confused with genies, these hidden entities are believed to live alongside humans, created from smokeless fire with free will just like us. In this video, we explore what jinn really are, where the idea of genies came from, their different types like ifrit, marid, and qareen, and the chilling belief that they can influence, mislead, or even possess humans.

The people of ancient Mesopotamia believed that knowledge was given to them by seven teacher figures who emerged from the sea. This video explores these ancient civilisations, examining their origins and divine status within Mesopotamian mythology. We trace this history through various reliefs, figurines, and depictions of ancient cities, offering a deeper look into the ancient history of Sumer and Babylon.In the earliest myths of Mesopotamia, knowledge wasn’t discovered—it was given. The Apkallu stand at the centre of that belief, bridging gods and humans as bringers of order, wisdom, and civilisation itself. From fish-cloaked sages rising from the sea to the tragic story of Adapa and the lost chance at immortality, their story reveals how one of the world’s first civilisations understood its own origins—and its limits.

Mermaids have appeared in myths from Mesopotamia to Japan, but their true origin is far stranger than most people realise.In this episode, we trace the history of mermaids from ancient gods and sea sages to sailors’ sightings and global folklore.From Oannes and Atargatis to Sirens, medieval carvings, Columbus, Suvannamaccha, ningyo, jiaoren, Mami Wata, and Pania of the Reef, this is the long and surprising story of how the mermaid became one of the world’s most enduring mythical beings. The deeper we go, the less familiar she becomes.

The Greek god Pan wasn’t always a famous Greek god. He nearly vanished from history until one shocking story (and one runner) dragged him back into the spotlight.From Arcadian caves to the Battle of Marathon, discover how the nature god became the face of “panic,” wild freedom, and the fading of the old gods.Pan is the goat-footed god you think you know… but his real story is stranger: a “backwoods” Arcadian spirit mocked by city Greeks, suddenly adopted by Athens after Marathon, then reborn again through Roman poetry, eerie folklore, and one haunting announcement—“Great Pan is dead.”

Fairies were never one “species”—they were a warning label for whatever lived beside us, didn’t belong, and could ruin your life if you got it wrong.From Tinker Bell to the Aos Sí, we’re tracing the REAL fairy traditions of Britain & Ireland—England, Wales, Scotland, and Ireland.The fairies of folklore aren’t cute, tiny, and winged—they’re human-sized, rule-bound, easily offended, and dangerously literal. In this long-form deep dive, we peel back the modern “sparkly” image and travel region by region through Britain and Ireland’s most influential fairy beliefs: elf-shot and fairy rings, pixie-led travellers, changelings, Welsh lake maidens, Ireland’s mound-dwelling Aos Sí, and Scotland’s Seelie/Unseelie courts—where a single mistake can cost you years… or your life.

The dragon didn’t start as a fire-breathing castle-burner — it began as a sacred water serpent tied to rain, crops, and survival. In Part 2, we trace that path from ancient Africa to China, Europe, and beyond, and ask: what was the first “dragon” really like?Explore how a helpful rain-snake became a world-serpent, a river-maker, and finally the monster heroes had to slay.Across rock art, archaeology, and old stories, we find a core pattern: a giant serpent linked to storms and rivers that later splits into “good” and “evil” forms. This episode keeps the language simple and the evidence front-and-centre — so you can see how one idea travelled the world and changed shape while it moved.

The eerie “knock… knock…” in Cornwall’s tin mines—warning, trickster, or something older? Meet the Knockers, the goblin-like mine spirits whose legend spread from Britain to the Americas and the Andes.From pasty offerings to the rule of “no whistling,” discover why miners treated them like coworkers—and sometimes like gods.A rhythmic tap in the dark. Vanishing tools. Warnings before cave-ins. This episode follows the Knockers from Cornish shafts to American “Tommyknockers,” then across the world to Bluecaps, Kobolds, the Peruvian Muqui, and Bolivia’s fearsome El Tío. We balance folklore with science—acoustics, pareidolia, and deep-time fears—and ask: why are these stories so eerily consistent across continents?

“Am I beautiful?” In Japan, those three words belong to Kuchisake-Onna—the Slit-Mouthed Woman—an urban legend that triggered a real-life panic in 1979.From Edo-era whispers to modern schoolyard dread, discover her origins, the infamous Gifu scare, and the eerie “tricks” people swear will save you.

Ride-or-die gods, ghostly hounds, and a sky full of storm riders... this is the untamed legend of the Wild Hunt.From Odin’s furious host to Wales’ soul-snatching Cŵn Annwn, discover why medieval Europe slammed its shutters when horns echoed overhead. Centuries of winter fears, shamanic flights, and church warnings fused into one unstoppable myth: a phantom army tearing across the night. In this episode, we trace the Hunt’s deep roots, its many leaders - Odin, Gwyn ap Nudd, Herne the Hunter - and the way it still rides through paintings, poems, and pop culture today.

The Epic of Gilgamesh is the world’s first great story — a demigod king’s journey through love, loss, and the desperate search for immortality.But what wisdom does this 5,000 year old Sumerian tale still hold for us today?The Epic of Gilgamesh is humanity’s first recorded epic — older than the Bible, older than Homer. From the tyrannical king of Uruk to his bond with Enkidu, from slaying monsters to defying the gods, this tale asks the ultimate question: Can we ever conquer death, or only accept life as it is? Join us as we uncover the myths, monsters, and timeless lessons of the world’s oldest story.

Aphrodite is remembered as the Greek goddess of love and beauty… but her true story is far older, darker, and far more powerful than you think. From a warrior goddess to a Phoenician import, Aphrodite’s journey reveals how myths evolve with the cultures that worship them.Aphrodite wasn’t just a goddess of love—she was desire, war, and even empire. From the apple of discord that sparked the Trojan War to her Phoenician roots as Astarte, her legacy shaped both Greek and Roman culture. This video uncovers the myths, rivalries, and transformations of one of mythology’s most misunderstood figures.

Skinwalkers—the chilling Navajo legend of taboo and power. What would you give up for dark power? This isn’t fiction—it’s a real, terrifying part of Diné culture.Step into Navajo tradition and uncover the truth behind the yee naaldlooshii: a human who abandons everything sacred—family, tradition, balance—for power. Discover how they’re made, what they can do, and why these stories still haunt communities today.

Sekhmet: Egypt’s lioness of flame, plague, and healing—did her blood-soaked legend inspire the very idea of the vampire?Travel back 4,000 years as we trace the “Eye of Ra,” red beer, and a goddess who turns from destroyer to healer—and why her myth still bites today.Explore more legends in the Creatures & Monsters (Cross-Cultural) playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLikECI8lazL0W7QESLTLZrYyMAk91giJxFrom the “Book of the Heavenly Cow” to Karnak’s Festival of Intoxication, we pull on threads of bloodlust, transformation, and divine wrath to ask a juicy question: are vampires the night-shadow of a sun goddess? Stay for the psychology, archaeology, and the moment beer (dyed red!) saved humanity—at least, according to the ancients.