Mysteries of Mythology

Baba Yaga is one of the most feared witches in Slavic folklore. But why does she help some travellers and try to eat others?

Deep in the Russian forest, her mysterious house stands on chicken legs, surrounded by human bones. And the truth about her origins may be stranger than the stories themselves.

Baba Yaga has haunted Russian fairy tales for centuries, but she's far more complicated than the wicked witch we recognise today. In some stories, she threatens to cook and eat children. In others, she gives heroes the magical objects, knowledge or help they need to survive. Through traditional tales including Vasilisa the Fair, Marya Morevna and The Frog Queen, we explore the contradictions behind this mysterious figure. Why does Baba Yaga travel in a mortar and pestle? What inspired her extraordinary house on chicken legs? And could she have originated as something other than a witch? Drawing on the Russian folktales collected by Alexander Afanasyev and the research of Vladimir Propp, Marija Gimbutas and Andreas Johns, we investigate the history, folklore and possible origins of Baba Yaga.

Chapters
00:00 Vasilisa and Baba Yaga
06:02 How Baba Yaga Tests Heroes
11:26 Tracing Baba Yaga’s Origins
15:29 Propp and the Chicken-Legged Hut
18:57 Nature, Psychology and Baba Yaga

Listen next: The REAL creature that inspired Dracula. Investigate another familiar figure whose origins are harder to trace than the popular story suggests.
https://open.spotify.com/episode/2sJeweGG5uvtYffm9HiSTR

Hachishakusama is famous as Japan’s eight-foot-tall woman: a pale, towering figure who stalks young people and calls out with a strange “po… po… po…”

But the supposed ancient legend appears to begin in 2008 — even though Japanese folklore already contained some remarkably similar giant women.

Hachishakusama, or the “Eight-Shaku Woman”, is often treated as a traditional Japanese yōkai, yet her recorded history leads back to a single anonymous 2channel post from 26 August 2008. That makes her a modern internet legend — but perhaps not one created from nothing. Long before Hachishakusama appeared online, folklorist Kunio Yanagita recorded enormous women in Japanese mountain traditions, including figures around seven or eight shaku tall. Yamauba, or yamamba, could also be gigantic, dangerous and connected with remote places and children, while the Edo-period Taka-onna offers another striking image of an impossibly tall woman. Then, only months after Hachishakusama appeared, Slender Man emerged from another internet forum. The similarities raise a bigger question: when does an invented horror story become genuine folklore?

Chapters

00:00 Hachishakusama’s Internet Origins
00:56 The Original 2channel Story
03:07 The Night and the Escape
07:42 Earlier Giant Women in Folklore
11:57 When Horror Becomes Folklore

Listen next: Why Baba Yaga Helps Some People... and Eats Others
Explore another feared figure whose stories are more complicated than her reputation.

On the English-Scottish border, the Redcap was said to haunt ruined castles, outrun travellers and kill anyone unlucky enough to enter its home.

But the blood-soaked hat, iron boots and strange link to Hermitage Castle may hide a more complicated history than the familiar monster story suggests.

The Redcap, also called Redcomb or Bloody Cap, is one of the darker creatures of British and Scottish Border folklore. William Henderson described a small, powerful old man with eagle-like claws, enormous teeth, a pike and heavy iron boots, lurking in castles already associated with cruelty and bloodshed. But earlier traditions suggest “Redcap” may once have meant something broader: a class of spirits haunting ruined Scottish strongholds.

From the violent world of the Border reivers and the lonely ruins of Hermitage Castle to William de Soulis and his supernatural servant Old Redcap Sly, the legend blurs history, folklore and later storytelling. And perhaps its strangest detail is not how the creature killed its victims, but what people believed could stop it.

Chapters

00:00 Redcap and the Borderlands
04:02 The Redcap’s Habits and Origins
11:15 William de Soulis and Old Redcap
14:05 How People Escaped the Redcap

Listen next: Why Vikings Feared Their Own Dead | The Draugr
Discover another dangerous figure from northern European folklore, drawn from the Icelandic sagas.

Bram Stoker’s Dracula is often linked to Vlad the Impaler, but the evidence is far less certain than popular culture suggests.

Could an Irish revenant called Abhartach offer another clue to the origins of the world’s most famous vampire?

Dracula’s origins are more complicated than the familiar story of Vlad III of Wallachia inspiring Bram Stoker’s Count. Stoker certainly encountered the name “Dracula”, yet his surviving research notes reveal surprisingly little interest in Vlad the Impaler himself. That leaves room for other influences, including Gothic fiction, European vampire folklore and a disturbing Irish legend from County Derry. Abhartach was described by Patrick Weston Joyce as a tyrannical dwarf and magician who repeatedly returned from his grave until he was buried upside down. Later retellings transformed him into something even closer to a vampire, demanding blood from the living and becoming associated with the neamh-mairbh, or walking dead. Folklorist Bob Curran argued that Stoker might have encountered the tale through Ireland’s literary and folklore circles. But how much of that connection can actually be proved?

Listen next: The Redcap Goblin of the Scottish Borderlands
Explore another dark legend shaped by local history, folklore and later retellings.

The Draugr wasn't just a Viking zombie. It remembered who you were, where it lived, and exactly who still owed it money. Discover the terrifying Norse undead from Icelandic sagas, where the dead returned with their grudges intact.

A Draugr was one of the most feared creatures in Norse folklore because it was never a mindless monster. Drawn from Icelandic sagas including Grettis Saga and Eyrbyggja Saga, this episode explores the terrifying stories of Þórólfr Twist-Foot, Glámr, Grettir Ásmundarson and the monstrous bull Glæsir. Learn why Viking Age traditions feared the restless dead, how burial mounds, treasure, revenge and ancient funeral customs shaped beliefs about Draugar, and why fire became the final defence against them. Rather than simply telling ghost stories, these medieval Icelandic tales reveal a haunting idea: death did not always change a person's character. Sometimes the dead came back exactly as they were, only far stronger and far more dangerous.

Chapters

00:00 What Is a Draugr?
03:14 Þórólfr Twist-Foot
06:52 Glámr and the Restless Dead
11:08 Why the Dead Were Feared

Listen next: The REAL creature that inspired Dracula
Investigate another revenant tradition and the uncertain origins of a familiar vampire.

Medusa wasn't always the snake-haired monster most people imagine. The oldest Greek myths tell a very different story.Was Medusa born a Gorgon, or did a Roman poet completely reshape one of mythology's most famous legends? The story of Medusa has changed more than almost any other figure in Greek mythology. This episode follows her journey from Hesiod's earliest account through Homer, Perseus, the Gorgons, Athena and Poseidon, before reaching Ovid's Metamorphoses, the version that shaped the modern world. Along the way you'll discover why ancient Gorgons looked nothing like today's image, why Medusa's head became a protective symbol, how Pegasus and Chrysaor were born, and why there was never just one "correct" version of the myth. If you've ever wondered whether Athena cursed Medusa, whether Ovid invented the famous transformation, or why the Greeks accepted multiple versions of the same story, this episode reveals how one of history's most recognisable myths evolved across nearly three thousand years.

Pazuzu was one of the most feared demons of ancient Mesopotamia—but people hung his image in their homes for protection.Why would the king of the evil wind demons become a guardian against even darker supernatural forces?

Pazuzu is one of the most recognisable figures from Mesopotamian mythology, largely because of The Exorcist. Yet the real story is far stranger than the horror films. In this video, we explore the origins of Pazuzu in ancient Assyria and Babylonia, his role as the king of the evil wind demons, and why his terrifying image appeared on protective amulets across the ancient Near East. You'll also meet Lamashtu, the child-stealing demon feared by pregnant women and families, and discover why people believed only Pazuzu could drive her away. Drawing on archaeology, ancient inscriptions and Mesopotamian beliefs, this episode separates Hollywood fiction from the mythology that inspired it.

Dionysus was far more than the Greek god of wine. Discover how theatre, mystery cults, rebirth, Bacchus in Rome, and one of Greece's oldest gods shaped ancient religion in ways that still fascinate today.

Dionysus is best known as the Greek god of wine, but his influence reached far beyond feasting and celebration. In this video, we explore how Dionysus became the patron of ancient Greek theatre, why the City Dionysia gave rise to the tragedies of Aeschylus, Sophocles, and Euripides, and how later traditions linked him with Zagreus, rebirth, and the hope of life beyond death. We also examine his journey into the Underworld to rescue Semele, his Roman identity as Bacchus, the Senate's famous crackdown on the Bacchanalia, and why modern historians question parts of Livy's dramatic account. Finally, we look at the Linear B evidence showing that Dionysus was already worshipped in Mycenaean Greece, revealing that the mysterious outsider may have been one of Greece's oldest gods all along.

Credits:

Shadows And Dust by Scott Buckley | www.scottbuckley.com.au

Music promoted by https://www.chosic.com/free-music/all/

Creative Commons CC BY 4.0

https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

For centuries, people across the world have reported seeing their own doubles. Known as doppelgängers, these mysterious figures appear in folklore, mythology, literature, paranormal accounts, and even modern neuroscience. In this video, we explore the famous case of Emilie Sagée, the spectral doubles of Norse and Celtic tradition, Abraham Lincoln’s strange mirror vision, Helen’s phantom double from Greek mythology, and the scientific explanations behind autoscopic hallucinations, mirrored self-misidentification, and the strange-face illusion. Are doppelgängers supernatural beings, fragments of the soul, warnings of death, or simply tricks of the brain?

The Tengu is one of Japan’s strangest mythological beings. From heavenly omens and bird-like demons to mountain guardians and samurai teachers, this yokai changed completely over more than a thousand years.Hidden behind the “Japanese Goblin” emoji is a creature tied to Buddhism, mountain ascetics, martial arts legends, and supernatural possession stories from medieval Japan.

From the ancient Nihon Shoki to the martial arts legends of Minamoto no Yoshitsune, the Tengu evolved into one of the most important creatures in Japanese folklore. This video explores the origins of the Tengu, its connection to the Chinese Tiangou, Buddhist demonology, yamabushi mountain monks, yokai traditions, and the famous long-nosed spirits linked to Mount Kurama and Mount Atago. Discover how these supernatural beings transformed from terrifying omens into protectors of sacred mountains and masters of hidden knowledge.

Herne the Hunter may be one of Britain’s strangest legends: a ghostly rider with antlers, black hounds, and ties to Windsor Forest.But was Herne a real spirit, a forgotten pagan god like Cernunnos or Odin, or something Shakespeare helped invent?In this video, we explore the legend of Herne the Hunter, the mysterious horned figure said to haunt Windsor Forest at night. From Shakespeare’s Merry Wives of Windsor to later links with the Wild Hunt, Odin, Gwyn ap Nudd, and Cernunnos, this story crosses folklore, ghost stories, Celtic mythology, and medieval legend. We look at the earliest evidence for Herne, how the myth grew over time, and whether this antlered hunter was ever part of a much older pagan tradition.

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.

Oshun is the Yoruba river goddess of love, beauty, fertility, and balance, and according to myth, the world could not flourish without her.Discover the powerful story of Oshun, from the Yoruba creation myth to the sacred Osun-Osogbo Grove and her lasting influence across Africa and the Americas.

In this episode, we explore the mythology of Oshun, one of the most important Orishas in Yoruba religion. More than a goddess of love and beauty, Oshun represents the life-giving force that brings harmony, healing, fertility, prosperity, and balance to the world. From the creation story to her sacred river, her warning floods, the Osun-Osogbo Sacred Grove in Nigeria, and her journey through the African diaspora as Oxum and Ochún, this is the story of why Oshun still matters today.

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.

What was the original ghoul in Arabic folklore—and how did it become the graveyard monster we know today?In this deep dive into ghoul mythology, we explore its desert origins, ties to jinn, shape-shifting tricks, and terrifying journey into modern horror.The ghoul is one of the most misunderstood monsters in mythology. Long before it became a zombie-like graveyard creature in modern horror, the ghoul was a shape-shifting predator from Arabic folklore that haunted deserts, ruins, and lonely roads. In this episode, we uncover the original ghoul legend, its connection to jinn, the eerie tale of Sidi Nouman, and the strange way this ancient Middle Eastern monster transformed as it entered European storytelling.

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.

One ancient god has become one of the biggest puzzles in European religion, and his name might not even be complete.Meet Cernunnos, the antlered “Horned One” found on a forgotten pillar beneath Notre Dame… with no surviving myths.

In this episode of Mysteries of Mythology, we follow the clues historians actually have—inscriptions, reliefs, torcs, antlers, and the eerie ram-headed serpent—to reconstruct what Cernunnos might have meant to the Celtic-speaking peoples of Roman Gaul. The truth is stranger than any modern “horned god” story… because the story is missing.

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.”

Centaurs in Greek Mythology: Savage Beasts or Noble Teachers?During a recent trip to Athens, there was one creature more prevalent in art than Athena herself. From violent wedding massacres to the tragic death of Heracles, discover the dark origins and hidden meaning of the half-man, half-horse creatures of ancient Greece.Centaurs are some of the most recognisable creatures in mythology — but the truth behind them is far darker than modern fantasy suggests. In this deep dive, we explore their ancient Mesopotamian roots, the twisted punishment of King Ixion, the savage Centauromachy, the deadly revenge of Nessus, and the tragic sacrifice of Chiron. Were centaurs symbols of uncontrollable instinct? Foreign “barbarians”? Or a warning about what happens when civilisation loses control?

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.

When is slaying a dragon an act of heroism… and when is it a crime against nature?From Nezha and Ao Bing to Saint George and the Tarasque, this episode looks at dragon slayers as mirrors of their cultures.In China, dragons bring rain and life; in medieval Europe, dragons are chaos that must be destroyed. In this final part of the dragon origins series, we follow heroes like Nezha, Hou Yi, Erlang Shen, Saint George and Saint Martha to ask a bigger question: do we see ourselves as part of nature… or its conquerors? Stick around to the end for the idea that dragons aren’t just beasts in stories, but reflections of our fear, faith, and place in the world.

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.

Here be dragons… but why do cultures everywhere imagine the same giant serpent? Discover how evolution, migration, and geology forged humanity’s oldest monster.From hardwired snake detection to fire-breathing gas vents, we unpack the science behind dragons you’ve always felt.Our journey traces the dragon back to a primal serpent: a creature our eyes evolved to spot in an instant, a fear our stories magnified, and a myth the Earth itself “confirmed” with fossils and flames. From Greek chimaeras and Turkish fire hills to Chinese “dragon bones,” see how one serpent became many dragons—yet stayed strangely the same.

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?

Filipino Mythology is... different. And nothing is more shocking than the Manananggal.Discover its chilling origins, strange “black chick” curse, and the colonial history that may have turned healers into “monsters.”Manananggal lore runs deep across the Visayas—bat-like wings, a proboscis tongue, and a severed torso hunting by night. In this episode, we unpack how to spot (and stop) one, why a tiny black chick lives at the heart of the curse, and how Spanish-era values may have reshaped women’s roles into demonic myths. Stay to the end for eerie modern echoes in film, comics, and TV.

“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.

Bloody Mary: mirror ritual, real history, and the brain science that makes us see her. Halloween urban legend meets folklore, queens, and countesses in one chilling deep dive.Discover Mary Tudor, Elizabeth Báthory, Mary Worth, and the eerie psychology that convinces us she’s really there.From summoning steps and variant chants to plausible “real” Marys and centuries-old love-divination games, this episode connects the myth to history and to Giovanni Caputo’s mirror-illusion studies. Was “Bloody Mary” a queen, a countess, a witch… or a misfired glimpse of ourselves? Watch and decide.

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.

Nuckelavee: the skinless Devil of the Sea of the Orkney Islands—half man, half horse, and wholly merciless. What ancient fears forged a monster whose very breath was said to spread plague and famine?The Nuckelavee isn’t your typical water horse—it’s a raw, skinless embodiment of winter hunger, disease, and storm-tossed seas. In this episode, we trace the legend from Walter Traill Dennison’s 19th-century account to modern Orkney, unpacking how kelp fires, “mortasheen” horse-plague, and the Sea Mither vs. Teran cycle shaped a nightmare that still rides our imagination.

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.

Hel isn’t a horned villain; she’s the keeper of the threshold between life and what comes after. In this video, we peel back the distortions to meet the quiet queen of the Norse dead, on her own terms.

Hel’s story isn’t fire and brimstone; it’s frost, silence, and balance. We trace her origins from “the grave” as a place, through Snorri’s reshaping, to Baldr’s fateful petition, Naglfar’s ominous launch, and her modern reinvention. Along the way, we compare original texts with archaeology and scholarship to separate myth from… later myths.

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.

Why did it take Odysseus ten years to get home after the Trojan War? Homer's Odyssey follows a Greek hero whose journey back to Ithaca brings him face to face with dangerous creatures, powerful gods and choices that could cost him everything.

Discover the original ancient Greek story behind Christopher Nolan's 2026 film, explore its unforgettable characters, and understand why this nearly 3,000-year-old epic still fascinates us today.

A sweeping journey from temple steps to kitchen tables... why did so many cultures offer gifts, feasts, and even lives to the gods?Discover how sacrifice evolved from simple offerings to cosmic bargains—and why the idea still grips us today.

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.

Why do dragons hoard gold and other treasures?From the cursed dwarf Fáfnir of Norse legend to the sacred pearl-guarding dragons of East Asia, these creatures aren't merely greedy—they reflect something profoundly human.In this video, we explore the psychological, cultural, and mythological roots of the dragon’s hoard. Is it about greed, duty, or fear?

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.

Before Odin ruled, there was Týr, the sky-born judge whose very name once meant “god.”Was he the original Allfather, a one-handed oath-keeper quietly overshadowed by Odin’s rise?Explore more legends in the Norse Myths: From https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLikECI8lazL0y80EqDGH_evhNOMGtsHr- and https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLikECI8lazL0W7QESLTLZrYyMAk91giJxTýr isn’t just “the guy who lost a hand.” In this deep dive, we trace his Indo-European roots, the Fenrir binding, the rune of victory (ᛏ), and the old hints that he once presided over war, law, and the Thing itself. From place-names and runestones to Roman inscriptions of “Mars Thingsus,” we explore why such a steadfast god faded from centre stage—and why his brand of honour matters now more than ever.

Ares, the Greek god of war, is one of the most controversial and misunderstood figures in all of mythology. Known for his temper, chaotic nature, and frequent defeats, Ares was often mocked by his fellow Olympians and defeated by mortals despite his divine strength. But was Ares really just a ruthless, one-dimensional villain?In this video, we explore the myths that shaped his reputation, his difficult childhood under Zeus and Hera, and his humiliating defeats at the hands of giants, mortals, and even his own siblings. Why did the Greeks have such a complicated relationship with their god of war, and what was the deeper story behind the most hated Olympian?From Homer’s epic character assassination in the Iliad to the surprising respect Ares earned in Sparta — and his transformation into Mars in Roman culture — we’ll uncover why Ares continues to intrigue us today.

If you're experiencing strange occurrences in your home, you might be hosting Kikimora!In Slavic mythology, Kikimora is a troublesome household spirit known for playing tricks and causing chaos. But what if it's not just a myth?In this episode of Mysteries of Mythology, we reveal the chilling story of Kikimora, where she came from, what she represents, and why this quiet house spirit still lingers in stories today.The eerie origins of KikimoraHer connection to the goddess MokoshWhy spinning thread means more than houseworkWhat she does when your home is out of balanceHow folklore hides deep truths about order, gender, and fear✨ Whether you're into Slavic myth, domestic folklore, or just love unsettling stories from the past, one's for you.

She created the gods. Then they tried to bury her.Long before Olympus, before Zeus ruled the skies, there was Gaia-the primordial Earth Mother of Greek mythology. She wasn't born. She simply was. The land itself. The first force of creation.So why was she erased from myth?

Can a name shape your fate? Mythology and science say yes.From Babylonian creation epics to Egyptian curse rituals, this episode of Mysteries of Mythology uncovers how names have been seen as vessels of divine power, social control, and even personal identity across cultures. Discover why knowing a name could summon gods, bind demons, or destroy enemies—and how we still live by these ancient truths today.Explore how names create reality in Babylon, command spirits in Egypt, and curse rivals in Greece. Learn why Odin suffered for the runes, why parents use decoy names, and how the names we whisper—even today—might be shaping who we become.Watch until the end to uncover what your own name might mean—and the ancient power it still holds.

Have you ever wondered why vampires can't come in unless invited?

Was the legend of the Moon-Eyed People just Cherokee folklore—or one of the most effective pieces of propaganda in American history? This video explores the eerie tale of pale-skinned, blue-eyed beings said to have lived in the Appalachian Mountains before both European settlers and Native American tribes.Some claimed they were descendants of Welsh explorers, others thought they were victims of war—or even something otherworldly. But what happens when a myth is repurposed to justify conquest, erase Indigenous achievements, and reshape national identity?

Greek mythology is full of divine wrath, but some punishments handed down by the gods go far beyond cruel—they’re downright disturbing. From eternal liver-eating to cosmic labor, this video explores seven of the most terrifying and symbolic punishments ever inflicted in the ancient world.In this episode, we dive into the dark side of Greek mythology to uncover the stories behind seven mythological figures who suffered fates worse than death. You’ll meet Prometheus, whose gift to humanity earned him a torment that never ends, and Sisyphus, condemned to a life of meaningless toil. We revisit the gruesome tales of Tantalus, Ixion, and the Danaids, each trapped in ironic and agonizing punishments that reflect their crimes. And for those who think mythology can’t get weirder, just wait until you hear about King Minos and the wooden cow—possibly the strangest punishment ever devised by the gods.

What are elves, really? Are they radiant spirits from Norse legend, master smiths with dark revenge in their hearts, or the jolly toy-makers of the North Pole? This deep-dive explores the ancient and ever-evolving identity of elves in mythology, from the Poetic Edda to Tolkien—and everything in between.

What did Atlas really hold up—and why has his punishment echoed through centuries of myth, art, and philosophy?In this deep dive into the myth of Atlas, we unravel the misunderstood story of the Titan condemned to carry the sky. Often mistaken as the one who holds the Earth, Atlas's true burden and his role in the Titanomachy—the war between the Titans and Olympians—paint a far more complex picture. Discover how Atlas rose as a war general, why Zeus selected him for this unique and eternal punishment, and how his legacy has evolved from a symbol of rebellion to one of endurance and cosmic responsibility.

Every winter in the Swedish town of Gävle, a 13-meter-tall straw goat is erected in the town square—and almost every year, someone tries to burn it down. But this strange tradition has deep roots in ancient mythology. In this episode, we explore the legend of the Yule Goat and uncover how a fiery Nordic prank traces back to pagan rituals, Norse gods, and harvest spirits.

What happens after we die? Throughout history, cultures around the world have created gods of the dead, guardians of the afterlife, and judges of the soul. In this video, we explore the mythology of death gods like Hades, Osiris, Odin, Ereshkigal, Yanluo Wang, and many more. Discover how different societies have understood death, judgment, and the afterlife across time and continents.

Meet the Morrigan: Ireland’s Mysterious Goddess of Death and Battle.