Wednesday, 12. October 2005
Centaurs Actually Existed

Myths of Ancient Greece and Rome also tell us about animal men, and centaurs are the most frequent ones. These are creatures with the human torso transforming into the feet of a horse or some other animal, a bull, a donkey, a sheep and even a goat. The word centaur is a compound of KEN (kenw) meaning "I kill" and TAUROS meaning "bull", and it reveals astronomic knowledge of our ancestors. When the constellation of Sagittarius (Centaurus throwing a spear) appears in the night skies, we can no longer see Taurus, one of the Sun symbols.

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"Centaur" by Boris Vallejo


Researchers insist that centaurs actually existed by Prawda. (English)
Category: Myths & Sagas | News & Stories |




Tuesday, 04. October 2005
Dragons

Beyond the chains of mortality, pushing the envelope of the human mind and bending the boundaries of freedom, the dragon is a creature apart.
After years of ongoing research, seeking this most elusive of mythical monsters, we welcome you to Sommerland, a website dedicated to the dragon.

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This website is the accumulation of countless hours poring through the pages of dusty folklore, history and mythology books, earnestly searching for the scent of dragon. Here, we save you the trouble. Read about the timeless battle between dragon and man, the anatomy and lifestyle of these elusive serpents, or explore the mystery of their existence. Alternatively, the art gallery showcases fantasy, science fiction and wildlife artwork, executed in traditional medias.

On Dragons by Sommerland, Amanda & Donna Quinn. (English)

Excellent!


The Dragon Stone by Polenth Blake bring you dragons of Ancient Times, dragons of Modern Fantasy and other dragons. Let's begin with the basic information - What is a Dragon? (English)

This essay aims to give a basic idea of what a dragon is. It is split into two main sections. The first deals with the problems of defining dragons, and traits common among dragons. The second section covers what dragons are not. Modern misconceptions about how dragons must be are listed. Also some creatures which share many traits with dragons, but are not dragons, are described.
Extensive!

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Dragons from Western Folk Tales, from Eastern Folk Tales and in Children's Books:
Dragon Stories - An Annotated List, compiled, summarized or retold by Roxanne Hsu Feldman. (English)


For a detailed description of the different anatomy of Eastern or Western Dragons, go to Advanced Dragon Description by Dragnix.Net. (English)


And: A Concise Directory of Famous Dragons by Dragonorama. (English)

Category: Myths & Sagas |




Tuesday, 09. August 2005
Dragons in the Tibet Sky

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A photo of two peculiar dragon-shaped objects taken from a plane flying over Tibet’s Himalayas piqued many users’ interest when displayed on a Chinese website ... Looking at the photo, these two objects appear to have the characteristics of crawling creatures: The bodies seem to be covered by scales, the backs have spine-like protuberances, and also they have gradually thinning rear ends. Although the photo caught only a portion of the entire scene, it was sufficient create the appearance of two gigantic dragons flying in the clouds ...

Dragons in the Tibet Sky by The Epoch Times.


Update 17.09.05 @ 17.44 Uhr

... Li estimates the object to have been over ten meters long. It was at the altitude of an airplane but was much bigger and flying very fast. At first the flying object radiated a low metallic light. It then became more and more dazzling over the next two minutes before it disappeared into the southeast. “Seeing the flying object, I instantly took out my cellphone and captured its picture,” Li said emotionally.
Li was not the only person to see the dragon that evening. Law students Li Bing and Zhao saw it also. Li Bing said, “When I was leaving the library, I heard a girl yelling ‘Look! A dragon is flying in the clouds!’ I looked up, and I saw a red dragon-shaped object flying southeast. After just a minute, it flew away.” Zhao added, “The sky was completely illuminated at that moment.”

Dragon-shaped Flying Object Appears in Jilin Province by The Epoch Times. WITH PICS.
Category: Myths & Sagas | News & Stories |


Friday, 29. July 2005
Mystery and myths in weird Wales

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Scotland is home to some of the weirdest phenomena in Britain, according to a magazine devoted to strange and mysterious occurrences.
With a history of Celts, fairies, standing stones, ghosts, mermaids and a host of other phenomena, Scotland is the ultimate place to satisfy curiosity about the paranormal, says the Fortean Times.

It's strange but true: Scotland is home to some weird places by The Scotsman.

Elsewhere:
Mystery and myths in weird Wales
by BBC News.

What About North Wales? by icNothWales.

Category: Myths & Sagas | News & Stories |


Thursday, 21. July 2005
A New Case for Atlantis

The first scientific congress of the history about Atlantis happend 11 - 13 July 2005 on the Greek island of Milos.
This Conference aimed to serve as a forum for the presentation and constructive discussion of all the issues related to the hypothesis of the lost land of Atlantis. The purpose of the meeting was to gather specialists of all the different disciplines involved in highlighting the scientific aspects of this fascinating subject.
Greece was the most appropriate location for hosting this conference, as the ancient Greek great mind Plato formulated the Atlantis hypothesis.

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Atlantis's Keywords. Georgeos Díaz-Montexano's Map


At the moment, most of the abstracts for Atlantis 2005 are online.
A wonderful lunchtime browse and a demonstration of how creative people can be.

“The same conference will be organised again in three years in order to establish what progress has been made in research about the Lost Land and it will probably be then that the scientific community will be ready to bring to light the secret of Atlantis”, stated Mr. Kostas Konstantinidis, Managing Director of Heliotopos Conferences, who also had the original idea of the conference ...The eagerly awaited Conference Proceedings will include all of the presentations and will be the first book about Atlantis to contain such a wide range of views and approaches to the Atlantis hypothesis. The book will be published within a few months ...

Press Release: 18 July 2005


UPDATE 09.08.05 @ 12.03 Uhr

Analysis reveals a large earthquake and tsunami hit Spartel Island about 12,000 years ago.

"Geological records revealed that in the geographic region chosen by Plato for his narrative, there are recurrent great earthquakes (magnitude 8.5-9) which create enormous tsunamis, with waves 5-15 meters in height. One such catastrophic event occurred around 10,000 B.C.," Gutscher told Discovery News.

When the people of Atlantis became wicked and decadent, the gods punished them by sending "violent earthquakes and floods."
"The power came forth out the Atlantic Ocean ... In a single day and night of misfortune ... the island of Atlantis disappeared in the depths of the sea," wrote Plato.

Study: Atlantis Sinking Has Scientific Basis by Discovery News

By the way: Marc-André Gutscher of the University of Western Brittany in Plouzané, France was involved in the conference above.
Category: Myths & Sagas |


Wednesday, 20. July 2005
Nibelungen - Nibelungs

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Nachdem er einen schrecklichen Drachen getötet und den riesigen Schatz der Nibelungen erobert hat, kommt der junge Siegfried aus Xanten an den Königshof von Worms. Dort will er Kriemhild heiraten, die Schwester des Königs Gunther. Der König stimmt unter der Bedingung zu, dass Siegfried im Gegenzug ihm selbst hilft, Brünhild, die Königin von Island, zur Frau zu gewinnen.


Brünhild hat übermenschliche Kräfte und nimmt nur den zum Mann, der sie in drei Wettkämpfen besiegt. Mit Hilfe der unsichtbar machenden Tarnkappe kann Siegfried Brünhild besiegen: Brünhild erkennt Gunther als ihren Gatten an und zieht mit ihm nach Worms ...

Die Nibelungensage (in Kürze) vom Nibelungen Museum Worms.
(German version)

After slaying a terrible dragon, and conquering the gigantic treasure of the Nibelungs, young Siegfried from Xanten comes to the royal court of Worms. There he wishes to marry Kriemhild, King Gunther's sister. The King agrees, on condition that Siegfried in return helps him to win Brünhild, the Queen of Iceland, as his bride. Brünhild has superhuman powers, and will only accept as her husband the man who vanquishes her in three challenges. With the aid of the magic hat of invisibility, Siegfried is able to defeat Brünhild: Brünhild acknowledges Gunther as her husband, and moves to Worms with him ...

The Saga of the Nibelungs (in brief) by The Nibelungen Museum Worms. (English version)

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"Es ass der Hochgemuthe, das Drachenherz
zum Mahl" - Illustration aus: Der huernen
Siegfried von G. Goerres, 1843


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Nibelungen - Sagen & Deutungen
von Eichfelder. (German)


Sehr schön gemacht!


Die Nibelungenlied-Handschrift C digital von der Badischen Landesbibliothek. Faksimile. (German)


There is probably no poem of German literature that has excited such universal interest, or that has been so much studied and discussed, as the "Nibelungenlied". In its present form it is a product of the age of chivalry, but it reaches back to the earliest epochs of German antiquity, and embraces not only the pageantry of courtly chivalry, but also traits of ancient Germanic folklore and probably of Teutonic mythology.

The Nibelungenlied: Online Medieval and Classical Library Release #31, Translation by Daniel Bussier Shumway (Houghton- Mifflin Co., New York, 1909) (English)
Category: Myths & Sagas |


Saturday, 16. July 2005
The Medieval Bestiary

In the Middle Ages, animal stories were immensely popular throughout Europe, North Africa, and the Middle East. The people of the time were, of course, dependent on wild and domestic animals for their survival, and so had an obvious interest in the animals around them.
But there is more to it than just a requirement for knowledge of the animals they knew and used; there is a distinctly spiritual and even mystical aspect to the animal lore of the Middle Ages.

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The Medieval Bestiary - Animals in the Middle Ages by David Badke. (English)
Category: Myths & Sagas |


Tuesday, 05. July 2005
Manannan Mac Lir

Manannan is a Manx/Celtic God from a time and a pagan religion that precedes Christianity and even the written word. He comes from a time when man's relationship with the Earth was vital for daily survival, and where mutual respect for the elements was of great importance. He was known in many lands as the God of Oceans, a lord of storms and weather, a master of magic, and a friend to all who let themselves dream. Manannan walked the lands and was known as a personality full of mirth, humor, as well as wisdom.
Little has changed over time. Manannan still thrives as a god to this day, offering his protection, guidance, and companionship to a new generation as well as souls that have lived through many lifetimes.
I hope this temple functions not only a tribute to Manannan, but also a source of valuable information.

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I have myths and stories here, my own feelings and experiences, instructions on speaking with deities as well as information about the mystical arts.

Welcome to the Temple of Manannan Mac Lir
Category: Gods & Goddesses | Myths & Sagas |


Tuesday, 14. June 2005
Mythical Creatures and Places

Man has always lived with animals, and sought to understand them. Early cave paintings from before the Ice Age depict antelopes, bison, giraffes, and other animals, some of which are now extinct. Ancient Egyptians were fascinated by animals and treated them with religious reverence. It was not until Aristotle (382-322 BC) created his History of Animals that zoology became a science. In his work, he collected all the known facts about approximately 500 animals, and devised the first known classification system.

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Dave's Mythical Creatures and Places
Category: Myths & Sagas |


Monday, 30. May 2005
The Arthurian Legends

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Arthurian legend has fascinated us from its earliest inception. Yet it owes so little to its historical roots that many doubt whether there even was such a person as Arthur. He is, rather, a creation of the storytellers who rescued him, whoever he really was, from the obscurity that engulfed so many figures in the Dark Ages. In their hands he and his followers have grown to represent, even amidst disappointment and defeat, amidst darkness and despair, the dream of a brighter world.

The Arthurian Legends by The Camelot Project at the University of Rochester. (English)

Arthurian texts, images, bibliographies and basic information

Arthurian Resources by Thomas Green. (English)

Arthur: A Man for the Ages by David White - Explorations in the History and Legends of Arthur. (English)

Arthurian Legend by Françoise Taylor - features illustrations for Le Morte d'Arthur, Pictures by the 20th century. (English)

Es war einmal, vor langer Zeit, ein mächtiger und gerechter König namens Artus. Sein prächtiges Schloss trug den Namen Camelot, und dort versammelten sich die edelsten und tapfersten Ritter des Landes. Man nannte sie: Die Ritter der Tafelrunde.
Der Ratgeber Artus' war der weise Zauberer Merlin, der den jungen König vor der Hochzeit mit Ginevra, in welche dieser sich verliebt hatte, warnte. Doch Artus befolgte den Rat des Magiers nicht und heiratete Ginevra. Diese verliebte sich in Lancelot, den besten und treuesten Ritter des Königs, und bald brachte die verbotene Liebe dem Reich den Untergang ...

Arthuriana - Auf der Suche nach König Artus (German)

Arthur, der König der Menschen von Stefan Kähmzow, Celtic Spirit. (German)
Category: Myths & Sagas |


Saturday, 14. May 2005
The Holy Grail - Der Heilige Gral

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Der "Heilige Gral": es gibt kaum ein anderes Symbol in der abendländischen Kultur, um das sich so viele Legenden ranken, wie um den Gral. Eine der gängigsten Theorien ist: bei dem Gral handelt es sich um den Kelch des letzten Abendmahls Christi. Einige Forscher sehen in dem Gral wiederum einen Hinweis auf die Blutlinie Christi, andere sprechen gar von einem "Kessel der Wiedergeburt", der auf die Kelten zurückgehen soll, oder von dem biblischen Zacken aus der Krone Luzifers. Doch: was ist der Gral tatsächlich? Existiert er überhaupt? Oder ist er ganz einfach nur im Reich der Legenden und Mythen zuhause?


Der "Heilige Gral" von Rennes-le-Château - und das Geheimnis der Gralslegende. (German)
Das ist die beste deutschsprachige Seite dazu im Netz!

The Holy Grail is generally considered to be the cup from which Christ drank at the Last Supper and the one used by Joseph of Arimathea to catch his blood as he hung on the cross. This significance, however, was introduced into the Arthurian legends by Robert de Boron in his verse romance Joseph d'Arimathie (sometimes also called Le Roman de l'Estoire dou Graal), which was probably written in the last decade of the twelfth century or the first couple of years of the thirteenth. In earlier sources and in some later ones, the grail is something very different. The term "grail" comes from the Latin gradale, which meant a dish brought to the table during various stages (Latin "gradus") or courses of a meal. In Chrétien and other early writers, such a plate is intended by the term "grail." Chrétien, for example, speaks of "un graal," a grail or platter and thus not a unique item.

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Wolfram von Eschenbach's Parzival presents the grail as a stone which provides sustenance and prevents anyone who beholds it from dying within the week. In medieval romance, the grail was said to have been brought to Glastonbury in Britain by Joseph of Arimathea and his followers. In the time of Arthur, the quest for the Grail was the highest spiritual pursuit.

The Holy Grail by The Camelot Project at the University of Rochester (English)

The Grail, according to my own interpretation, is the goblet used at the Last Supper in which Joseph of Arimathea caught the Saviour's blood on the Cross.
[Richard Wagner, letter to Mathilde Wesendonk]

The Grail Legend: from ancient stories to Wagnerian opera by Derrick Everett (English)

Grail Legend by Timeless Myths (English)

Great Sites!
Category: Myths & Sagas |


Wednesday, 20. April 2005
Atlantis

Have you heard the story of the lost continent of Atlantis? Its people were beautiful, tall, athletic, and rich beyond compare. The buildings of its cities had walls covered with gleaming gold and roofs set with sparkling many-colored gems. Many streets were flower-lined canals crowded with ships flying silken banners that shimmered in the sun. But all was lost in a single horrible day of earthquakes and gigantic waves when the entire continent sank beneath the dark waves of the Atlantic ocean.

The Search for Atlantis by Pat Linse

A critical view.

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Ignatius Donnelly wrote a popular book in 1882 that inspired an entire movement: the search for a mystical Atlantis. He was a dreamer and an idealist. In 1857 he tried to found a utopian society in Minnesota, but it failed. He was elected to Congress and spent much of his time in Washington D.C. at the Library of Congress researching his theory that Atlantis was the original Garden of Eden.

The complete book: Atlantis, the Antediluvian World by Ignatius Donnelly (1882)

Kommentierte Linkographie zu Atlantis - More than 150 links to Atlantis pages: Thorwald's Atlantis-Seiten (German and English)

Highly recommend!

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Leider gibt es das Originalbuch von Ignatius Donnelly online nur in Englisch. Doch folgende deutschen Seiten sind Juwelen:


Atlantis - wer hat nicht schon einmal davon gehört oder gelesen. Jene versunkene Kultur zieht die Menschen seit Jahrhunderten magisch an, zahlreiche Forscher versuchten, Atlantis zu finden, unzählige Bücher überschwemmten den Markt, und auch Filmemacher wurden von der Faszination dieses Themas angesteckt. Doch was steckt dahinter? Hat es Atlantis wirklich gegeben? Oder ist alles nur eine Fiktion, ein Mythos, erdacht von einem griechischen Philosophen im fünften vorchristlichen Jahrhundert?

Atlantis - Der 8. Kontinent, versunkene Kultur, Mythos? von Dr. Klaus Richter

Wer sich mit der Frage nach Atlantis beschäftigt, stößt früher oder später auf ein ernstes Problem: Nicht der Mangel an Ideen, was es mit Atlantis auf sich haben könnte, sondern im Gegenteil die chaotische Überfülle an Hypothesen , die sich im Laufe der Jahrhunderte zu diesem Thema gebildet haben, macht uns rat- und orientierungslos. Dieser Artikel versucht, diesen Missstand durch eine geeignete Klassifizierung der Hypothesen zu Atlantis zu beheben.

Klassifizierung der Hypothesen zu Atlantis von Thorwald C. Franke
Category: Myths & Sagas |


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