Myths and Muses: A Mythik Camps Podcast

Welcome to Season 4 of Myths & Muses! This summer, the epic storyteller and cycle-breaker Shahrazad has taken the liberty of signing us up for some ImpossibleQuests. I know that might seem a little odd. But here’s what I know about Shahrazad: When she makes a plan, it works. Whatever she has in mind for us, I know she wouldn’t be putting us in this position if she didn’t think we could take on the challenge. And I’m sure she’ll have our backs along the way. In case you don't know why I trust Shahrazad so much on this, though, I'm using this first episode to tell you her story. The rest of the season, I'll be doing my best to guide you all based on the titles of the ImpossibleQuests we'll apparently be facing at camp this summer. Visit the World of Mythik website to learn more and to contribute your theories to our board! All stories told on Myths & Muses are original family-friendly adaptations of ancient myths and legends. Stories from ancient mythology can also sometimes deal with complicated topics for young listeners — to the mortal parents and caretakers reading this, we encourage listening along with your young demigods to help them navigate those topics as they explore these epic tales. [Transcript for Episode 1] If you'd like to submit something creative you've done inspired by the stories in Myths & Muses, use this form (with a Mortal Guardian's permission!). ----more---- Stuff to Read: Scheherazade: the story of a storyteller | Art UK Heroines, Stories, and Shahrazad - The Carterhaugh School of Folklore and the Fantastic Arabian Nights: Scheherazade The Arabian Nights retold by Wafa' Tarnowska with illustrations by Carole Henáff (Picture book, 8+, Lebanese author; available on Hoopla)

In the final tie-in minisode for Disney's Percy Jackson and the Olympians Season 2, we look at the magical item that drove the action of that season: the Golden Fleece. [Transcript for Minisode 8] ----more---- More on the Golden Fleece: Jason at Mythopedia His story from TedED, on YouTube Chrysomallos at THEOI The Ancient Kingdom of Colchis

Our tie-in minisode series for Percy Jackson and the Olympians Season 2 continues! This time, we meet Tantalus -- the worst substitute teacher ever -- and find out more about his background and his legacy. [Transcript for Minisode 6] ----more---- More on Tantalus: From Mythopedia From World History Encyclopedia The Torment of Tantalus: Animated Video

In the final episode of our Misunderstood Monsters season, we explore the story of Arachne: It’s usually presented as one of hubris: a cautionary tale against pride. But can we revisit her story in the light of our Misunderstood Monsters theme? We'll also meet some other spider-folk from across the world, including West Africa, the American Southwest, and Japan, and we'll wrap up the Gauntlet of the Gorgon with a look at how Medusa is having a real moment in modern book publishing. Visit the World of Mythik website to learn more and to contribute your theories to our board! All stories told on Myths & Muses are original family-friendly adaptations of ancient myths and legends. Stories from ancient mythology can also sometimes deal with complicated topics for young listeners — to the mortal parents and caretakers reading this, we encourage listening along with your young demigods to help them navigate those topics as they explore these epic tales. Transcript for Episode 12 If you'd like to submit something creative you've done inspired by the stories in Myths & Muses, use this form (with a Mortal Guardian's permission!). ----more---- Stuff to Read: Medusa Middle Grade novels: Medusa and The Gods' Revenge by Katharine Marsh Young Adult novel: Medusa by Jessie Burton Adult novels: Stone Blind by Natalie Haynes, Medusa by Nataly Gruender and I, Medusa by Ayana Gray Book Riot: Medusa: The Gorgon’s Story Adapted 4 Ways How ‘Percy Jackson and the Olympians’ Changes the Book’s Medusa Myth Arachne: On Mythopedia and World History Encyclopedia Madeline Miller: Myth of the Week: Arachne Quotes from original Greek and Latin sources (translated to English) from THEOI Anansi: Myth Matters: A World without Stories and the Trickster Anansi All Stories are Anansi's Other Spiderfolk: Neith: The Goddess Who Created the World Wisdom, War, and Weaving: The Egyptian Spider Goddess The Native American Story of Spider Woman: A Journey of Discovery World History Encyclopedia: Iktomi Tales Yokai.com: Jorogumo Stuff to Watch: Our curated YouTube playlist for this episode!

The Minotaur is a total icon, one of the fiercest and most well-known monsters in Greek mythology. So what’s his story? We'll explore it, plus meet some astonishing bovines from other cultures, such as the Mesopotamian Bull of Heaven and Donn Cuailnge, the bull at the center of Irish mythology's greatest battle. Visit the World of Mythik website to learn more and to contribute your theories to our board! All stories told on Myths & Muses are original family-friendly adaptations of ancient myths and legends. Stories from ancient mythology can also sometimes deal with complicated topics for young listeners — to the mortal parents and caretakers reading this, we encourage listening along with your young demigods to help them navigate those topics as they explore these epic tales. Transcript for Episode 10 If you'd like to submit something creative you've done inspired by the stories in Myths & Muses, use this form (with a Mortal Guardian's permission!). ----more---- Stuff to Read: The Minotaur On Mythopedia and World History Encyclopedia Quotes from original Greek and Roman sources (translated to English!) Theseus and the Minotaur: More than a Myth? Ashmolean Museum: Myths of the Labyrinth The Labyrinth Society The Bull of Heaven From World History Encyclopedia From The Metropolitan Museum of Art Epic of Gilgamesh, Tablet VI The Cattle Raid of Cooley An Táin Bó Cúailnge: Ireland’s National Epic Irish Road Trip: The Legend of the Cattle Raid of Cooley On Mythopedia: Cu Chulainn English translation of "The Combat of Ferdiad and Cuchulain" from An Táin Bó Cúailnge Stuff to Watch: Our curated YouTube playlist for this episode!

Our feature monster for this episode is that hairy hide-and-seek champion of the cryptids: Bigfoot. We'll also look at some of his possible origins in the tales of Indigenous North Americans, as well as the tradition of the "wild man" in China, Roman mythology, medieval Europe, and Scottish folklore. And we'll learn a little more about Enkidu, the companion of Gilgamesh in Mesopotamian mythology. Visit the World of Mythik website to learn more and to contribute your theories to our board! All stories told on Myths & Muses are original family-friendly adaptations of ancient myths and legends. Stories from ancient mythology can also sometimes deal with complicated topics for young listeners — to the mortal parents and caretakers reading this, we encourage listening along with your young demigods to help them navigate those topics as they explore these epic tales. Transcript for Episode 9 If you'd like to submit something creative you've done inspired by the stories in Myths & Muses, use this form (with a Mortal Guardian's permission!). ----more---- Stuff to Read: Bigfoot How the Bigfoot Legend Began Bigfoot Was Investigated by the FBI. Here’s What They Found BFRO Geographical Database of Bigfoot Sightings & Reports Before Bigfoot: BBC: The true origins of Sasquatch American Museum of Natural History: Beyond Bigfoot World History Encyclopedia: Tsul'kălû', The Slant-Eyed Giant Enkidu and Gilgamesh: World History Encyclopedia: Gilgamesh The Chinese Yeren Wild Men of the Ancient World: Legends Across the Globe Tell of a Humanoid Beast – Are They Real? Am Fear Liath Mor Stuff to Watch: Our curated YouTube playlist for this episode!

Our feature story in this episode takes us to the Highlands of Scotland, where we’ll meet the elusive Loch Ness Monster, AKA Nessie. We'll also learn about some other Nessie-like creatures across the world, and some different water-dwelling creatures in the British Isles, Scandinavia, and western and central Africa. Visit the World of Mythik website to learn more and to contribute your theories to our board! All stories told on Myths & Muses are original family-friendly adaptations of ancient myths and legends. Stories from ancient mythology can also sometimes deal with complicated topics for young listeners — to the mortal parents and caretakers reading this, we encourage listening along with your young demigods to help them navigate those topics as they explore these epic tales. Transcript for Episode 7 If you'd like to submit something creative you've done inspired by the stories in Myths & Muses, use this form (with a Mortal Guardian's permission!). ----more---- The "Surgeon's Photograph": Stuff to Read: Nessie: Visit Inverness: The Loch Ness Monster History Channel: The First Sighting of the Loch Ness Monster NPR: 55-year-old camera set up to track the Loch Ness monster found in Scotland The Official Loch Ness Monster Sightings Register The Loch Ness Centre Kelpies: Historic UK: The Kelpie Ancient Myth in Modern Art Folklore of Scotland: Kelpies Jormungandr and the Kraken Jormungandr at World History Encyclopedia Jormungandr: The Midgard Serpent in Norse Mythology Ancient Origins: Jörmungandr: The Misunderstood Midgard Serpent of Norse Mythology Sea monsters and their inspiration: serpents, mermaids, the kraken and more Ninki Nanka Gambian Folktales: The Ninki Nanka BBC: The Hunt for Gambia's Mythical Dragon CNN: Here be monsters: The search for Africa’s mythical beasts Coffee and Creatures: It’s Hard to Keep Things Straight With the Ninki-Nanka Mokele Mbembe Cryptid Archives: Mokole-Mbembe Sightings Of The Legendary Mokele-Mbembe "Dinosaur" Of The Congo Are Increasing. What Is Going On? How Stuff Works: Mokele-Mbembe: The Truth Behind Africa's Mythical River Monster Stuff to Watch: Our curated YouTube Playlist for this episode!

Since this episode is dropping just before Mother’s Day in the US, it seemed like the perfect time to talk about Echidna, the Mother of All Monsters. Or… at least an awful lot of the Greek ones. We'll also look at some other monstrous mothers in Mesopotamian, Norse, and Germanic mythology! Visit the World of Mythik website to learn more and to contribute your theories to our board! All stories told on Myths & Muses are original family-friendly adaptations of ancient myths and legends. Stories from ancient mythology can also sometimes deal with complicated topics for young listeners — to the mortal parents and caretakers reading this, we encourage listening along with your young demigods to help them navigate those topics as they explore these epic tales. Transcript for Episode 5 If you'd like to submit something creative you've done inspired by the stories in Myths & Muses, use this form (with a Mortal Guardian's permission!). ----more---- Stuff to Read: Echidna Summaries at Mythopedia and Ancient Origins Quotes from original Greek texts at THEOI Echidna: Half Woman, Half Snake of Greece Angrboda: From Vikingr Chaos, and Destruction: The Symbolism of Angrboda in Norse Mythology and Beyond Tiamat Summary from World History Encyclopedia From The Met: Mesopotamian Creation Myths Dungeons & Dragons: The History Of Bahamut And Tiamat Grendel’s Mother: Beowulf and Grendel’s Mother Stuff To Watch: Check out our curated YouTube playlist for this episode!

This episode explores one of the cleverest monsters on our list: the Nine-Tailed Fox of East Asian mythology! But how do you tell a kitsune from a huli jing from a gumiho? We'll try to sort it all out! The fox's reputation as a trickster is world-wide, though, so we'll also look at foxes in Aesop's Fables, medieval stories from France, and the folklore of Eastern Europe. Visit the World of Mythik website to learn more and to contribute your theories to our board! All stories told on Myths & Muses are original family-friendly adaptations of ancient myths and legends. Stories from ancient mythology can also sometimes deal with complicated topics for young listeners — to the mortal parents and caretakers reading this, we encourage listening along with your young demigods to help them navigate those topics as they explore these epic tales. Transcript for S3E3 If you'd like to submit something creative you've done inspired by the stories in Myths & Muses, use this form (with a Mortal Guardian's permission!). ----more---- Stuff to Read: More on Kitsune: The Enigmatic Fox of Japanese Folklore From Yokai.com Legend of the Fox The Tale of the Nine-Tailed Fox More on Huli Jing: The Supernatural Fox Sisters Tale of the Huli Jing: A Feminist Story from Chinese Myth More on Gumiho: From Gods and Monsters From MythLok Other Asian Fox-Spirits Aesop's Fables about Foxes Reynard: The Fox, the Trickster, the Peasant Hero Reynard the Fox, Or Why the Best Robin Hood is a Fox Stuff To Watch: Check out our curated YouTube playlist for this episode!

Welcome to Season 3 of Myths & Muses! This season, we're focusing on monsters -- and, for better or worse, we've had some help in targeting which monsters to focus on from... Medusa. Because she's invited a bunch of them to our camps for our "Misunderstood Monsters" theme. You can see her first letter to us and the "tour poster" for the monsters on the World of Mythik theory board. We're starting with Polyphemus, the one-eyed monster best known for getting blinded by Odysseus. Polyphemus, the one-eyed giant best known for the role he plays in the story of the Greek hero Odysseus. And because we're not sure we quite trust Medusa to have shown us her whole hand, we'll talk about some other giants from across the world, too! Visit the World of Mythik website to learn more and to contribute your theories to our board! All stories told on Myths & Muses are original family-friendly adaptations of ancient myths and legends. Stories from ancient mythology can also sometimes deal with complicated topics for young listeners — to the mortal parents and caretakers reading this, we encourage listening along with your young demigods to help them navigate those topics as they explore these epic tales. Transcript for S3E1 If you'd like to submit something creative you've done inspired by the stories in Myths & Muses, use this form (with a Mortal Guardian's permission!). ----more---- Stuff to Read: Polyphemus and Cyclopes: Book 9 of The Odyssey The Gigantomachy The Laestrygonians Jotnar: Yggdrasil Story of The Theft of Thor’s Hammer Thyrsi and Skadi Aztec giants: The Quinametzin More on the Quinametzin Help with Nahuatl pronunciation Stuff to Watch: See our curated playlist for this episode!

In this episode of Myths & Muses, in honor of the holiday season, we explore monsters who prowl the snow and ice from the Himalayas to Austria, from the Great Lakes to Japan. From chilling terrors to mischievous troublemakers, we’ll tell you what to watch out for this winter! Plus: Find out what has the Muses a little too excited about next summer’s potential adventures… Visit the World of Mythik website to learn more! All stories told on Myths & Muses are original family-friendly adaptations of ancient myths and legends. Stories from ancient mythology can also sometimes deal with complicated topics for young listeners — to the mortal parents and caretakers reading this, we encourage listening along with your young demigods to help them navigate those topics as they explore these epic tales. Transcript for 2024 Holiday Bonus Episode If you'd like to submit something creative you've done inspired by the stories in Myths & Muses, use this form (with a Mortal Guardian's permission!). Stuff to Read: The letter from Medusa Book club sign-up link More on the Yeti At How Stuff Works The hunt for the Abominable Snowman: what's the history of the Yeti legend? From Go to Tibet PBS Storied: Monstrum Yuki-Onna From Yokai.com PBS Storied: Monstrum Overly Sarcastic Productions: Fables and Folktales More on the Wendigo More on Krampus: From History.org Who is Krampus? National Geographic PBS Storied: Monstrum Gryla, Yule Cat, and Yule Lads: PBS Storied: Monstrum Extra Mythology

In this episode, we explore gods who have made sacrifices -- some of them on purpose, for the sake of wisdom or another advantage, and some of them less-intentionally. We'll explore three stories showing just how far Odin will go for wisdom, then we'll find out why Tyr, the Norse god of law and justice, and Nuada, a leader of the Celtic Tuatha Dé Danann, lost their hands. Then we'll finish with a coda to the story of Osiris, Horus, and Set. Visit the World of Mythik website to learn more and to contribute your theories to our board! All stories told on Myths & Muses are original family-friendly adaptations of ancient myths and legends. Stories from ancient mythology can also sometimes deal with complicated topics for young listeners — to the mortal parents and caretakers reading this, we encourage listening along with your young demigods to help them navigate those topics as they explore these epic tales. Transcript for Comeback Kids Episode 9 If you'd like to submit something creative you've done inspired by the stories in Myths & Muses, use this form (with a Mortal Guardian's permission!). ----more---- Stuff to Read: More on Odin: At Mythopedia and the World History Encyclopedia "How Odin Sacrificed His Eye at Mimir's Well" From Norse Mythology for Smart People: Why Odin is One-Eyed, The Mead of Poetry, and Odin's Discovery of the Runes About Runes: Futhark Runes: Names, Meanings, and How to Use Them Runes at Norse Mythology for Smart People (includes origins, meanings, and some book recommendations What Are and How to Make Bind Runes About Tyr & Fenrir: Tyr at Mythopedia and Norse Mythology for Smart People "The Binding of Fenrir" About Nuada: At Mythopedia and Timeless Myths Tuatha dé Danann: The Story of Ireland’s Fiercest Tribe Uncovering the Origins of the Tuatha Dé Danann Horus at Mythopedia Stuff to Watch: Learn more about the stories in this episode with our curated YouTube playlist! Cool Images: Odin the Wanderer, Georg von Rosen (1886) Óðinn throws his spear at the Vanir host, by Lorenz Frølich (1895) Odin Fighting Fenrir, Emil Doepler (1905) Norse god Tyr sacrificing his arm to Fenrir the wolf, John Albert Bauer (1911)

Our Underworld mini-series continues! This time, we’ll meet some mythological figures who make that harrowing trip maybe to learn something, maybe to make a point, or, in one case, to make sure the sun still rises. It’s never an easy trip, and they have to face down some serious dangers along the way. We'll follow a Sumerian goddess there and back, chart a recurring trip in Egypt, and see how a famous Greek hero made a really terrible choice. Visit the World of Mythik website to learn more and to contribute your theories to our board! All stories told on Myths & Muses are original family-friendly adaptations of ancient myths and legends. Stories from ancient mythology can also sometimes deal with complicated topics for young listeners — to the mortal parents and caretakers reading this, we encourage listening along with your young demigods to help them navigate those topics as they explore these epic tales. Transcript for Comeback Kids Episode 7 If you'd like to submit something creative you've done inspired by the stories in Myths & Muses, use this form (with a Mortal Guardian's permission!). ----more---- Stuff to Read: More on Inanna: From World History Encyclopedia and Britannica Inanna's Descent: A Sumerian Tale of Injustice Seven Top-Ranking Gods of the Sumerian Pantheon More on Ra and the Solar Barge: From Mythopedia and World History Encyclopedia Ra as Creator God The Egyptian Afterlife More on Pirithous and Theseus: Pirithous at GreekMythology.com Theseus at Mythopedia Stuff to Watch: Learn more about the stories in this episode with our curated YouTube playlist! Cool Images: Ninshubur and Inanna (24th-22nd century BCE) Sculpture that may be Ishtar or Erishkigal (19th-18th century BCE) from Lewis Spence’s Myths and Legends of Babylonia and Assyria (1916) Ishtar by Yliade (2021) The sun god Ra in his solar barque, protected by the coils of a serpent (14th-13th century BCE) The ram-headed form of Ra traveling through the Duat (13th century BCE) Sun Barge of Ra by MichaelJaecks on Deviant Art (2009)