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Myths and Legends

Discover the connection between myths and science, history and religion. These resources cover legends from around the world from the past and include monsters, fairies, signs, ghosts, superstition, taniwha and patupaiarehe. SCIS no. 1822241

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Legend of the voyage to New Zealand

Legend of the voyage to New Zealand

This romantic oil painting of 1912 shows a fleet of double-hulled, ocean-going canoes hauling ashore in New Zealand from a still lagoon. Images such as this helped to popularise the myth of a Great...

Myths on the origin of women

Was the first woman made from ivory, clay or wood?

Phantom canoe

Asset ID: 28228 Topic: Mount Tarawera Topic: Lake Tarawera Copy negative number: c/n E2097/22 (23?) Filename: 2578_01_006A Title: The Phantom Canoe, as seen on Lake Tarawera Photographer: Burton Br...

Mythology and its connections with science, history and religion.

Figure of a mythical beast

Figure of a mythical beast

Japanese mythical beast in the form of a dragon headed horse.

Big cat mystery

Big cat mystery

Mystery of big cats roaming the Australian Bush.

The Swastika sign

The journey, myth and symbolism of the swastika.

Aeneas and Anchises

Aeneas and Anchises

Image of Aeneas carrying his father Anchises from Troy.

Icarus

conte 544 x 383 mm - EDMUND J. SULLIVAN /06 (LL) (u/lined) Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki, purchased 1942

The Fall of Icarus

The Fall of Icarus

Purchased 1996 Acrylic on canvas 2005 x 2165 x 36mm 96/19 ...

Trojan horse

Shows the Beehive representing 'Parliamentary sovereignty' under siege. The Beehive is being defended by members of parliament with swords and shields. The besiegers are, on the left, a gang of law...

Aboriginal superheroes

Aboriginal superheroes

A futuristic drama with roots in Aboriginal mythology.

The bunyip, a famous animal of Australian mythology.

Ramayana story

Dramatisation of Ramayana, an Indian legend.

New Zealand legends

New Zealand legends

New Zealand Māori legends

Santa Claus myth

Explaining St Nicholas as the Christmas figure.

The superstitions around the opal, and a queen who refuted its unlucky claim.

Ghosts of Gondwana

Ghosts of Gondwana

Palaeontology and Māori myth reveal these 'Ghosts of Gondwana'.

Australian myths

Aboriginal myth about water in Australia.

Concerning ghosts

Myths around the existence of ghosts.

Do we use only 10 percent of our brain?

Myth or fact that we use only part of our brain.

Science and religion

Science and religion

Galileo’s dilemma, Darwinian debates and a challenge of modern myths.

The seat of King Arthur

The seat of King Arthur

Archaeologists working in Cornwall have unearthed the remains of a Dark Age royal palace which is firing fresh interest in the legend of King Arthur. We're joined by Win Scutt of English Heritage.

Hutu and Kawa

The fantasy world of the Hutu and Kawa books has an understanding of ecology and a strong conservationist ethos.

New Zealand flower babies

New Zealand flower babies

Hutu and Kawa (babies with skirts and headdresses resembling pohutukawa in bloom) play on a flowering pohutukawa with a fantail. There is a beach in the background Extended Title - From The advent...

Manaaki patupaiarehe sculptures, 2001

Manaaki patupaiarehe sculptures, 2001

The artist Dion Hitchens, of Māori (Ngāi Tūhoe, Ngāti Porou) and Chinese descent, has sculpted representations of patupaiarehe, the fairies of the forest. He often uses

Patupaiarehe

The creature illustrated on this stamp is one of the patupaiarehe – sometimes translated as ‘fairies’ or ‘goblins’. However, these terms are not accurate as patupaiarehe were generally described as...

Children of the mist

Children of the mist

Wellington City Ballet is shown performing Children of the mist in 1960. Based on a Māori legend, and choreographed by Leigh Brewer, the ballet follows a mortal, Ihenga, who falls in love with Maia...

So free

Classic monster squad sends a damsel in distress.

Effect of full moon on people

Effect of full moon on people

Cartoon of a man who changes into a werewolf.

SUPERSTITION ABOUT GEMS. (Marlborough Express, 10 April 1894)

Telemachus and Calypso

Telemachus and Calypso

Painting of Calypso the Greek nymph and Telemachus, son of Odysseus.

Down the gurgler

Watch water, dyed red, go down the same plughole, clockwise then anti-clockwise. It dispels the myth that water swirls down a plughole in one direction in the southern hemisphere and in the opposit...

Tall tales and true

Tall tales and true

New Zealand’s legends told in graphic novel format.

Another sea serpent sighted

Departure of the six canoes from Raratonga for New Zealand

Departure of the six canoes from Raratonga for New Zealand

oil on canvas 1075 x 2140 mm - Kennett Watkins 1906 (l.l.) Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki, gift of Mr John Marshall, 1914

Poutini and Waitaiki

Poutini and Waitaiki

Poutini is the name of the taniwha (water spirit) that, according to legend, swims up and down the West Coast, protecting both the people and the mauri (life force) of pounamu (greenstone) that is ...

The legend of Hatupatu and the bird-woman

The legend of Hatupatu and the bird-woman

When Hatupatu was hunting one day for birds in the forest, he met a woman who was spearing birds for herself. This woman had wings on her arms, and claws instead of fingers. Her lips were long and ...

Hatupatu’s Rock

Hatupatu’s Rock

A family stop at Hatupatu’s Rock, beside the main road from Tokoroa to Taupō. Sometimes Māori leave offerings such as leaves or sweets at the rock, which features in one of the legendary adventures...

Hinemoa

Northland taniwha mascot

Northland taniwha mascot

This is a modern interpretation of a taniwha, known as Tāne. It is the mascot of the Northland Rugby Union.

The Kawautahi taniwha

The Kawautahi taniwha

Kawautahi is a small lake 15 kilometres up Rētāruke River, a tributary of the Whanganui. It was avoided by Māori because a ferocious taniwha was said to live in it. In 1892 a surveyor employed thre...

A writer of myths, legends and fairy stories!

A writer of myths, legends and fairy stories!

The role of press secretary is to provide guidance on media issues, news stories and to help maintain a positive image of one’s employer. They are usually appointed to government officials and beco...

This story describes the significance of the tradition of tattooing within Samoan society. Login required.

Māori mythologies of creation

Tales from the mythologies of creation, including Maui and Aoraki.

Digital legends

Pasifika digital legends retold by students in three formats - video, audio and text.

Audio and text versions of Greek myths.

New Zealand police

Some hoaxes and urban legends.

The Phantom canoe: a legend of lake Tarawera

Just what was the ghostly, fully-manned waka gliding across Lake Tarawera?

Ancient myths and legends

Creation myths, urban legends and mythical creatures.

Every area has its own urban legends.

Modern mythology

Modern myths that are based on excitement, mystery and terror.

New Zealand’s bigfoot.

Art inspired by mythology

Art drawn from classical mythology.

Creepy clown craze hits NZ

Woman assaulted in Hamilton as creepy clown craze hits NZ.

New Zealand legendary creatures

Sightings in New Zealand of legendary creatures.

Greecey slopes

Atlas was one of the Greek Titans who lost their battle against the Olympians. As punishment Atlas was condemned by Zeus to eternally stand on the Gaea (Earth) holding Uranus on his shoulders.

Legend of the tea plant

Legend of the tea plant

The legend of the tea plant connects India, China and Japan. Buddhism began in India and was based on the teaching of an Indian prince Siddharta Gautama who lived around 500 BC. He became Buddha th...

The legendary Great Barrier Island giants.

Myths, fairy-tales and legends:

Lesson plans to interpret and develop ideas on myths and legends.

World myths and legends in art

Extensive curriculum resource about how artists have been inspired by myths and legends.

Monster halts highway construction

A swamp-dwelling taniwha has forced workers to stop construction

Myths & legends

A gallery of items related to myths and legends.

Myths and legends

This site is for pupils, teachers and all those who enjoy myths and storytelling.

Top 10 most popular mythical animals

Mythical animals from dragons to mermaids.

Chinese zodiac story

Slideshow based on the myth of the Chinese zodiac calendar.

The hunt For NZ’s big cats

Are some of New Zealand’s missing trampers victims of leopard or cougar attacks in the South Island?

Top 10 Irish myths and legends

Irish mythology covering beasts, fairies and changelings etc.

Pharaoh in the form of Osiris

Pharaoh in the form of Osiris

This is an image of King Tutankhamen who was ruler of Egypt around 1324 B.C. His tomb was found in the Valley of Kings by archaeologist Howard Carter in 1922. His is depicted in the form of Osiris ...

The myth surrounding Helen of Troy.

Bigfoot

Two men say they have found the body of a Bigfoot.

Children's corner

The myth of Cupid and Psyche.

What made Rip van Winkle fall asleep for so long

What made Rip van Winkle fall asleep for so long

Rip Van Winkle was written by Washington Irving. Even though the story is set in America, it roots are from European myth and legend.

Loch Ness monster

Loch Ness Monster or Nessie is a mythical aquatic creature said to live in Loch Ness in the highlands of Scotland. A monk was the first person to have sighted the creature in the seventh century. I...

Atlantis, the city that disappeared in a day and a night.

Pandora's Knox

Pandora’s box in Greek mythology was a large box given to Pandora containing special gifts from the Gods. Pandora was forbidden from opening the box. Unfortunately, unable to contain her curiosity ...

What we do in the shadows

What we do in the shadows

Trailer about a group of vampires flatting in Wellington.

Olympiakos Athina

Olympiakos Athina

The Games of the XXVIII Olympiad were held in Athens in Greece. A tour guide shows a mosaic of Greek athletes of the first Olympic games looking like Greek mythological creatures, Cyclops, Medusa, ...

The legend of Hatupatu and the bird-woman

The legend of Hatupatu and the bird-woman

The Māori legend of Hatupatu, the son of a Māori chief, is told by the use of plasticine puppets. Hatupatu’s people lose their mauri and Hatupatu finds it in the lair of Kurangaituku, the Bird Woma...

EPIC contains a number of databases with useful information related to New Zealand history and first contact between Polynesian, Māori and Pakeha including the Bridget Williams Books collections.

Myth lesson plans

Pdf with mythology lesson plans, flowcharts and worksheets.

Taniwha related images on Pinterest.

Oban’s myths & legends

The difference between myths, legends, fables and folktales.

King Arthur’s knights

King Arthur – hero, and historical figure.

How did our legends really begin?

A theory about similarities in myths suggests common origin.

Myths and legends

This page on Many Answers has links to reviewed websites and databases about myths and legends.

Boilerplate was a mechanical man developed by Professor Archibald Campion.

European legends

Legends from Europe that have inspired movies and attracted.

Myths, folktales & fairy tales

Explore myths from different countries or create your own.

What is an urban legend?

Urban legends are a type of folklore.

Totara Grove school

Art work based on Māori myths and legends.

Legend vs. myth

Meaning and comparisons about myths and legends.

Japanese folk legends about boy heroes, ogres and animals etc.

Scary and funny urban legends from America that could have some truth.

Legend of the Indian paintbrush

Classic children's book "Legend of the Indian Paintbrush" by Tomie de Paola.

Myths and legends poems

Poems on some of the popular myths and legends.

Tales of strange otter-like creatures from the South Island of New Zealand.

Adventures of Ulysses

Greek mythical adventures about Ulysses.

Scottish myths & legends

The Scottish landscape is rich with myths from loch to glen.

Top 10 mythical things that likely existed

10 mythical things that at first were thought to be figments of our imagination.

International children's digital library

The ICDL has a number of digitised books featuring myths and legends from around the world.

Greek mythology

The origins of Greek mythology.

Australian dreaming stories and the relationships between land, animals and people.

New Zealand artists

Some of artist John Welsh’s paintings re-present Māori myths.

Mythological symbols

Mythological symbols that help understand a culture and their diverse concepts.

The mythology behind Moana.

The real mythology that inspired the characters Moana, Māui, Te Ka and the adorable Kakamora.

Greek myths plays

A pdf with theatre scripts tips and activities based on Greek myths.

BBC myths and legends

A selection of myths and legends from around the world.

Myths and legends

Lesson plans and activities to help students understand and construct their own myths and legends.

The great myth about the ancient civilisation of Atlantis.