greek-mythology

A snowman burns as part of a Swiss celebration of spring

Want to call in some good luck this spring? Try killing the first snake you see—or any of these other springtime traditions from around the world.

You’ll need to look back to Ancient Roman history to learn how the modern-day months got their names—and what they were called before.

A speech bubble with the word “money” in it

You might be surprised to learn that many words have origins from ancient Greek and Roman mythological creatures. Here are 12 examples.

Equal parts strange and terrifying: these are some of the many monsters that have haunted Greek mythology since antiquity.

These trails will really get your heart pumping.

Some of these weird and spooky tales are based on actual events. But can you separate fact from fiction?

Bigfoot can’t be in the crosshairs here.

Skamania County isn’t the only place to have outlawed the killing of undiscovered creatures—but why does anyone feel it’s necessary in the first place?

This certainly looks like an opening to hell.

Has someone told you to “go to hell?” If so, let us direct you to these potential portals to the underworld.

Here's how the cornucopia went from ancient gods to American dinner tables.

Everyone from lexicographer Samuel Johnson to Prime Minister Winston Churchill has used the phrase—but where does it come from? Why a black dog?

The cover of Emily Wilson’s translation of ‘The Iliad.’

This all-new translation of the Homer epic is six years in the making.

The Greek youth Antinous drowned in the Nile—but he would go on to have one of the most remarkable afterlives in history.

A photo of the Pompeii ruins from November 2019.

Before the Mount Vesuvius eruption of 79 C.E., these homes in Pompeii featured gardens and impressive art collections.

Lucas Cranach the Elder via Wikimedia // Public Domain

Their huge size evokes ideas of superhuman strength, yet in many legends the giant is in fact a tragic character.

Michael Maggs via Wikimedia Commons // CC BY 3.0

Like proud parents, scientists often give their discoveries the biggest, most impressive names they can think of.

There are two questions that have haunted wannabe astronomers for decades: “Why is our galaxy called the Milky Way?” and “Does it have anything to do with the delicious candy bar?”

11 Springtime Superstitions, From Balancing Eggs to Burning Snowmen

Where Do Months Get Their Names?

15 Words Derived From Mythological Creatures—From “Money” to “Cereal”

6 of the Strangest Creatures in Greek Mythology

Mapped: Spooky Hiking Trails Across the U.S.

Quiz: Can You Guess Which of These Urban Legends Are Based on True Events?

The County in Washington Where It’s Illegal to Kill Bigfoot

10 Entrances to Hell You Can Actually Visit

Horns Aplenty: The Ancient Greek Origins of the Cornucopia

Why Is Depression Sometimes Called “The Black Dog”?

A New Translation of ’The Iliad’ Is Bringing a Truer Ancient Greece to Modern Readers

Sex Symbol: How Antinous Became a Gay Code Word in the Victorian Era

Explore Two of Pompeii’s Excavated Homes in This Virtual Tour

10 Mythical Giants From Around the World

7 Animals With Grand Mythological Names

Why Do We Call Our Galaxy the Milky Way?