Mythology Explained

For as long as we’ve walked the earth, humans have looked up at the night sky and wondered: Where did all this come from? The stars, the earth, the strange spark of life — and our own ability to even ask the question. Some say it’s all coincidence. That the universe emerged by chance — no plan, no purpose. Others argue that such order, beauty, and consciousness can’t possibly be accidental — that something greater must lie behind it. As the philosopher Aristotle once wrote, “The first philosophy is the search for causes and principles.” Across centuries, thinkers from every culture — from Greek philosophers to modern physicists — have wrestled with the same question: is there evidence, rational evidence, that gods — or something like them — could exist? Today, we’re going to explore five of the most compelling arguments ever made for the existence of the divine. Not through faith or myth, but through reason — through what the world itself seems to suggest. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Welcome to Mythology Explained. Today, we’re going to be discussing the Greek God Priapus. Before we dive into this I feel as though the elephant in the room needs to be addressed - or rather the anaconda in the room. Yes, that second one seems most appropriate. You would think that, applying your contemporary prism to the issue, that Priapus, being the well-endowed god that he was, probably did pretty well with the ladies. But you see, his massive organ wasn’t a genetic gift. Rather, it was but one symptom of a very permanent and very encompassing curse. Yes, his appearance was overflowing with more virility than a stampede of marauding centaurs. But when it came to it, he became, shall we say, deflated. He was cursed with Impotence. His exaggerated physical form wasn’t a blessing — it was part of a cruel curse. Though he appeared to embody vitality, the irony was that he could never actually fulfill it. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Out of the void came the first truly tangible being: Gaia- the Earth itself, alive and fertile, the ground beneath every myth. To the ancient Greeks, Gaia was not merely soil and stone; she was the very foundation of reality, the ever-enduring mother of gods and monsters alike. She nourished, protected, and gave life — but she also schemed, rebelled, and unleashed creatures that nearly ended Olympus before it began. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

When it comes to the Bible, the roles of its central figures seem obvious. God is the creator, the sustainer, the giver of life, and Satan… He’s the deceiver, the destroyer, & the murderer of mankind. Given that Satan is called a ‘murderer from the beginning’ in John 8:44, you’d probably assume that he’s the one responsible for claiming more lives. But what if I told you that the text itself paints a very different picture? Because when we look past assumptions and actually count the deaths, the numbers tell a shocking story. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Most people today believe that ‘Lucifer’ and ‘Satan’ are one and the same- with both names representing the complete and total archetype of evil. In fact, this misconception runs so deep that the names are regularly used interchangeably in books, movies, and even sermons. But what if I told you that this is actually…Wrong information? Because in truth, the Bible itself never explicitly identifies Lucifer with Satan. That connection only came later, through centuries of interpretation, translation, and literature. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Hey everyone, welcome to Mythology Explained. Today’s video is the start of a new series where I’ll be reading classic retellings of Greek myths by respected authors from over a century ago. These stories come straight from the public domain, and the goal here is to give you something you can listen to while winding down, studying, or just getting lost in the world of ancient Greece. The following is an excerpt from Myths and Legends Of Ancient Greece and Rome by E.M. Berens, published in 1880. If you’d like to read the full text, please check out the link in the pinned comment. https://www.gutenberg.org/files/22381/22381-h/22381-h.htm See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

We’ve all seen them. Greek Statues. Huge slabs of muscle, perfect proportions, nearly 0 bodyfat to speak of, and a casual reminder that we’re not QUITE in the shape that we thought we were. An idealistic version of the human form — chiseled from marble, frozen in time, that still somehow judges us centuries later. In modern bodybuilding, the physiques seen in Greek statues are often the end goal — the ultimate Grecian ideal: to look like a “Greek god” or a “Greek statue.” But I’ve often wondered..Why? See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

There are many punishments in Greek mythology…But few are as chilling — or as deserved — as the one from this particular myth. In this tale - A king, beloved by the gods, was granted a seat at their table. He had their trust. Their favor. Their ear. But then… he did the unthinkable: he betrayed them. In this story, the actions of this man were so twisted, so vile, that even the Olympians were horrified. And for his crimes, he was given perhaps one of the greatest and most creative punishments inflicted on any being in Greek Mythology- eventually becoming a symbol of eternal punishment. But what exactly did he do? Why did a man so privileged risk everything? And what became of the gods who once welcomed him as their guest? Today, we uncover the truth behind one of the most disturbing myths in the ancient world. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In myth and legend, there exist forces even gods must answer to. Time. Destiny. But above all…Fate. A force so powerful that even God and Satan had to answer to it. But what if I told you that it was three beings who were responsible for fate itself? Not gods of thunder or war. Not angels or demons. But something else... See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In the last video, we discussed biblically accurate angels — and it was there that we unearthed a shocking truth: they’re not winged babies or glowing men in robes… But in fact, terrifying, often-alien looking beings that radiate divine power. And today, we’ll be taking a look at the other side of the coin.. Because if THOSE things were the messengers of divine order… Then what could the opposite possibly look like? Red skin? Horns? Maybe a pitchfork? Well… the truth is, that’s Hollywood. Because when it comes to the bible, or at least other ancient texts- Demons get way stranger — and most importantly: way more disturbing. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Today we’re going to be diving DEEP down the rabbit hole- all the way to the depths of hell- and discussing the seven MAIN princes that reside there. The concept of hell exists across nearly all mythologies- a place where the deceased go after a life of sin- a place where you are subjected to eternal suffering in order to PAY for your wrongdoings. In Greek Myth we see hell go by another name- Tartarus, and in Norse myth we see hell go by a very similar name- ‘Hel’- which also happens to be personified by a female Norse Goddess. However, in today’s video we’re going to be discussing Hell in the context of Demonology- and unravelling aspects of the traditional concept of ‘hell’ that most of us are accustomed to. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Hey everyone, welcome to Mythology Explained. The topic of this video is Geras, the Greek god of old age, especially the frailty and feebleness of old age. He was depicted as a bent and brittle man, kept upright only by the grace of his staff, vigour and vitality sapped. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Hey everyone, welcome to Mythology Explained. In today’s video, we’re going to dive into the Divine Comedy and discuss the 9th circle of hell: the circle reserved for traitors, the frozen heart of hell where Satan is torturously trapped, and the place in all of creation most sundered from the light and love and God. Here, we’ll see Satan depicted in superlative fashion, virtually as massive, monstrous, and malevolent as can be, the horror of him beyond Dante’s ability to fully describe. We’re going to begin by quickly outlining how Hell is structured, then jumping into the story when Dante and Virgil enter the 8th circle, covering their entry into the 9th circle, their encounter with Satan, and their arrival at Mt. Purgatory. Alright, let’s get into it. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.