The top 10 mythologies of the world offer rich narratives that explain creation, morality, natural phenomena, and the human condition. Rooted in diverse cultures across time and geography, these belief systems blend gods, heroes, monsters, and cosmic cycles to shape identity, ritual, and worldview—leaving enduring legacies in literature, art, and collective imagination.
Greek mythology centers on a pantheon of anthropomorphic gods residing on Mount Olympus, led by Zeus, god of the sky. Stories explore themes of fate, hubris, love, and justice through figures like Prometheus, who defied the gods for humanity, and heroes such as Heracles and ... Show More
+ Comment ( 1 )+ Votes ( 2 )Norse mythology, preserved in texts like the Poetic Edda and Prose Edda, depicts a rugged cosmos of Nine Worlds linked by Yggdrasil, the World Tree. Populated by gods (Aesir and Vanir), giants, dwarves, and monsters, it emphasizes courage, fate, and cyclical destruction. ... Show More
+ Comment+ Vote ( 1 )Egyptian mythology revolved around maintaining maat—cosmic order, truth, and balance—against chaos (isfet). Gods like Ra (sun), Osiris (afterlife), Isis (magic), and Horus (kingship) governed natural and spiritual realms. Creation myths varied by city: in Heliopolis, ... Show More
+ Comment+ Vote ( 1 )Hindu mythology, drawn from texts like the Vedas, Puranas, Mahabharata, and Ramayana, presents a vast, cyclical cosmos governed by Trimurti: Brahma (creator), Vishnu (preserver), and Shiva (destroyer/transformer). Avatars like Rama and Krishna embody dharma (righteous duty) ... Show More
+ Comment+ Vote ( 1 )Mesopotamian mythology, among the world’s oldest, emerged in ancient Iraq’s river valleys. The Epic of Gilgamesh—humanity’s earliest known literary work—explores mortality, friendship, and the quest for immortality. Creation myths like Enuma Elish describe cosmic ... Show More
+ Comment+ Vote ( 1 )Celtic mythology, preserved orally and later in medieval Irish/Welsh manuscripts, features a fluid pantheon of nature-linked deities, heroes, and supernatural beings like the Tuatha De Danann. Gods such as Lugh (skill), Brigid (healing/poetry), and Cernunnos (horned god of ... Show More
+ Comment+ Vote ( 1 )Japanese mythology, codified in the 8th-century Kojiki and Nihon Shoki, blends indigenous Shinto beliefs with Buddhist and Chinese influences. It begins with primordial chaos giving birth to kami (spirits/gods), including Izanagi and Izanami, who create Japan’s islands. ... Show More
+ Comment+ Vote ( 1 )Aztec mythology, practiced in 14th–16th century central Mexico, depicted a fragile cosmos sustained by sacrifice. The world had been destroyed and recreated five times; the current “Fifth Sun” required constant nourishment—especially human blood—to prevent ... Show More
+ Comment+ Vote ( 1 )Yoruba mythology, originating in present-day Nigeria and Benin, centers on Olodumare (supreme creator) and a dynamic pantheon of Orishas—intermediary deities embodying natural and social forces. Key Orishas include Ogun (iron/war), Yemoja (ocean/motherhood), Shango ... Show More
+ Comment+ Vote ( 1 )Polynesian mythology, spanning Hawaii, New Zealand (Maori), Samoa, and Tahiti, shares common roots yet adapts locally. Central is the concept of mana—spiritual power in people, places, and objects—and tapu (taboo), regulating sacred boundaries. Creation often begins ... Show More
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