In this episode, it's time to meet some slithering serpentine monsters! We start with the many-headed Hydra, who had the misfortune to be one of Heracles's many targets, but who got the consolation prize of becoming a constellation. Then we'll look at that constellation's story in Mesopotamian mythology and we'll meet an eight-headed serpent-dragon from Japanese 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 6

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!).

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Stuff to Read:

• Hydra:
  • At Mythopedia and Perseus at Tufts
  • Original Greek literature quotes about the Hydra
• Bašmu & Ninurta:
  • More on Bašmu
  • Ninurta at World History Encyclopedia
  • Enki and Enlil
• Yamata no Orochi:
  • From yokai.com
  • The Eight-Headed Eight-Tailed Serpent

Stuff to Watch: Check out 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!).

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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 features that enigma wrapped in a mystery, the Sphinx. We'll discuss her famous riddle and examine how the Greek Sphinx is different from the one you see in Egyptian statues. We'll also look at some of her feline relations across not just Greece but also Persia, Assyria, medieval Europe, and China.

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 S3E4

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!).

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Stuff to Read:

• More on Apotropaic Devices:
  • Medusa in Ancient Greek Art
  • Medusa at the Getty Museum
  • The full story of Perseus at Mythopedia
• More on the Sphinx:
  • From Mythopedia
  • Quotes about the Sphinx from ancient literature
  • Lots of different Sphinxes at World History Encyclopedia
  • The Sphinx in Mythology: Myths, Legends, and Powers
• More on the Chimera:
  • At Mythopedia
  • The Chimera of Arezzo
  • What is chimerism in science?
  • What is an African Violet chimera?
• More on Lamassu:
  • From Ancient Near East to Dungeons and Dragons: Lamassu, The Mesopotamian Gatekeeper
  • Lamassu at the British Museum and the Louvre
• More on the Pixiu:
  • From Cultural China
  • Legend of Pixiu from Visit Beijing
  • The Basic Principles of Feng Shui
  • Pixiu Meaning in Feng Shui

Stuff To Watch: Check out our curated YouTube playlist for this episode!