Myths And Legends

The story of a weaving contest between a goddess and a woman challenging the cruelty and tyranny of the Olympians leads us into three more stories: Pandora's box; the great flood of the ancient Greek world; and the love story of Idas and Marpessa, two people who saw the gods taking whatever and whoever they wanted, and said "no."  The creature this week is the rolling calf. It's neither rolling nor a calf. Discuss.  --  Music: “Dense” by Podington Bear “At Our Best Alone” by Blue Dot Sessions “Constellation” by Podington Bear “Matamoscas” by Blue Dot Sessions “Little Black Cloud” by Podington Bear “Four and Fourteen” by Blue Dot Sessions “Broken Branch” by Podington Bear Support the show: https://www.mythpodcast.com/membership

A short supplemental that finishes the story of Lady White Snake...because there wasn't enough story left for a full episode. There's still a full Myths and Legends episode coming out on Wednesday! The Myths and Legends store: http://www.mythpodcast.com/store Music: "Louver" by Blue Dot SessionsSupport the show: https://www.mythpodcast.com/membership See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Xu Xian is dead. He discovered the truth about his wife and he died. I mean, yeah, he's dead...but he's also unwittingly married to a 1700 year old magical demon snake on a redemption arc, so...you know...something might happen. Seriously, though, this is a packed episode. There are magical (if not wholly unexpected) resurrections, crustacean armies, Doctor Strange ripoffs, and that's just in the first half.  The creature this time is the suppon no yūrei, and probably a good idea to give up eating turtle altogether.  --  Music: “Throughput” by Blue Dot Sessions “Storm Passing” by Podington Bear “Threshold” by Podington Bear “John Stockton Slow Drag” by Chris Zabriskie “Undercover Vampire Policeman” by Chris Zabriskie Support the show: https://www.mythpodcast.com/membership

The legend of the White Snake is one of the four great folktales of China. Today, we start that with an act of kindness, demons lurking in the places we can’t look, and a (misguided?) monk hoping to bring justice.  When the creature this week has time off, it prefers crashing funerals and projectile vomiting on strangers.  Support the show: https://www.mythpodcast.com/membership

There's a surprising amount to the story of Hansel and Gretel. There's your average fairy tale weirdness, like load-bearing cake and aquatic duck Uber, but there's an unexpected humanity in the story that I think is overlooked. I hope you like it.  The creature is punyaiama, from India, and she's the reason you can't get drunk in your own home.  --  "Re:Joyce" by Podington Bear "Running on Empty" by Podington Bear "Tarnish" by Podington Bear "Warbled Reflection" by Podington Bear "The Snowgarden" by Blue Dot Sessions "Stack Me Up" by Blue Dot Sessions "The Highride" by Blue Dot Sessions Support the show: https://www.mythpodcast.com/membership

The story of the 47 Ronin is a historical tale where a powerful daimyo is shamed and killed by a greedy official…the only issue? The victim had dozens of loyal samurai, and they’re not about to forget what happened to the man they served.  The creature is Pricolici, from Romania, a were-dog that is anything but man’s best friend.  --  “Bell Solo” by Blue Dot Sessions “Cicle Vascule” by Blue Dot Sessions “Cover Letter” by Blue Dot Sessions “Doubled” by Blue Dot Sessions “Vik Fenceta Lan” by Blue Dot Sessions “Waypoint” by Blue Dot Sessions Support the show: https://www.mythpodcast.com/membership

Two stories from Japanese folklore today dealing with the consequences of our actions. The first has a woman chasing a dumpling across her floor…and into a mysterious, far-away land. The second is what happens when a horrible tragedy brings two people together…only to have their fates tear them apart. The creature is the Peluda, a vicious turtle dragon (not Bowser, though) who’s mad about not being allowed on Noah’s ark. He’s working out his emotions in…less than healthy ways (by killing everything). -- Jizo article:  http://www.orderofthegooddeath.com/cabinet-curiosities-jizo-statues-japan —  Music: “Dog and Pony Show” by Podington Bear “Evenhanded” by Podington Bear “Order of Entrance” by Blue Dot Sessions “Clouds at the Gap” by Blue Dot Sessions “Um Pepino” by Blue Dot Sessions “Min” by Blue Dot Sessions “Releasing the Sculpture” by Podington Bear Support the show: https://www.mythpodcast.com/membership

There's something in the forest in 16th century Scotland. It's been there for years. Anyone who sees it doesn't live to tell about it, and it moves seamlessly between land and sea, leaving nothing but body parts in its wake. With a body count in the thousands, it's a legendary historical horror story that's supposedly true.  The creature is a goblin spider. It's a goblin who's also a spider...or, is it? We'll see that things aren't always what they seem on an extended creature of the week. --  Music: “An Accumulation” by Blue Dot Sessions “Emmit Sprak” by Blue Dot Sessions “Cicle Veroni” by Blue Dot Sessions Support the show: https://www.mythpodcast.com/membership

The story of Rip Van Winkle is more than just a guy taking a long, alcohol-induced nap. It's a story about a changing time and a man struggling to keep up. It's a story about lost love and and a second chance. It's a story about one of the most insufferable fictional protagonists that you didn't know you hated: Rip Van Winkle.  The creature is the Polong, from Malaysian folklore, the little one-inch tall woman who will cut a hole in your side and just run around inside you, messing all sorts of things up. --  Music: "Dark Water" by Podington Bear “Blossoming” by Podington Bear “Go to Sleep” by Podington Bear “Tumbler” by Podington Bear “Toil” by Podington Bear “Cake” by Podington Bear Support the show: https://www.mythpodcast.com/membership

This week, we’re back on the boat to the Trojan War where Agamemnon has a problem. I mean, he always has a lot of problems, but this one involves a bunch of warriors with nothing to do but wait for the winds to pick up, and they're not going to pick up until Agamemnon does what needs to be done.  The creature this week is pollo maligno, the evil chicken. He's honestly perfect for this segment. --  Music: “Triana” by Blue Dot Sessions “Matamoscas” by Blue Dot Sessions “Vela Vela” by Blue Dot Sessions “Talltell” by Blue Dot Sessions “Lonely Stairwell” by Blue Dot Sessions Support the show: https://www.mythpodcast.com/membership

Jack the giant killer is back, and he’s less Jack the giant killer than Jack the let’s-just-sit-here-and-let-the-giants-die-from-their-own-unforced-errors guy. That’s way less catchy, though.  The creature (pixui) is a constipated robber with daddy issues.  --  Music: “Popism” by Blue Dot Sessions “The Gall” by Podington Bear “Mello D” by Podington Bear “Flatlands 4th” by Blue Dot Sessions “Twosome” by Podington Bear “Scallat” by Podington Bear “Rope Swing” by Podington Bear “Indian Paintbrush” by Podington Bear Support the show: https://www.mythpodcast.com/membership

Two stories, one from Italy, one from England. In the one from italy, Costanza is born which would usually be pretty great...except her parents are already in retirement and have given everything away to her older sisters, so she sets out on her own in the wild medieval world. The second story is Molly Whuppie, whose parents have left her and her two sisters in the forest to die. Then things get worse. The creature this week is hoop snake, a snake that's a hoop and also really confused as to why you're diving through it. -- Music: “Climbing the Mountain” by Podington Bear “Airliner” by Podington Bear “In the Box” by Blue Dot Sessions “Lakkalia” by Blue Dot Sessions “Ice pack” by Podington Bear “So it goes” by Podington Bear “Hardboil” by Blue Dot Sessions “Box Canyon” by Podington Bear -- Hoop Snake story: https://web.archive.org/web/20060629012039/http://www.naturalhistorymag.com/editors_pick/1925_01-02_pick.html Support the show: https://www.mythpodcast.com/membership

Two stories of terrible parents. One decides to get rich by strapping a gemstone to an infant's head, and the other let her son do whatever he wanted until the day came when she needed him to do one little thing: babysit a chicken. It did not go well.  The creature is the phooka, from Ireland, and it will fly you to the moon...but not in the charming Sinatra way, but in the literal way where you suffocate.  --  Music: “Wonder Happens” by Podington Bear “Order of Entrance” by Blue Dot Sessions “Highride” by Blue Dot Sessions “Pives and Flarinet” by Podington Bear “Minor Islands” by Podington Bear “Blue Blanket” by Podington Bear Support the show: https://www.mythpodcast.com/membership

Hrolf Kraki must avenge his father by confronting his step-father...and brother-in-law. Don't worry, though, the weirdness of last week gets ironed out when we enter more familiar territory for the Viking legends. Our wonderful one-eyed wanderer makes an appearance, kings battle kings, and berserkers battle trolls, draugr, other berserkers, random bystanders, and, well, just about everyone. The creature this week is Penny Dragon, a dragon that will leave you pennies and maybe also burn down your home. -- Sponsors: Simplisafe home security is my absolute favorite. They're easy to set up, no hidden fees, and for just $15/month you can protect just about everything in your home. Check them out at https://simplisafe.com/legends and you'll get free shipping and a 60-day risk-free trial. Test prep for standardized tests doesn't have to be stressful, boring, or expensive. Visit https://magoosh.com and enter the code MYTHS for a 15% off discount. -- Music: “Lost Shoe” by Blue Dot Sessions “I Recall” by Blue Dot S

We’re back in the Norse Sagas with witches, trolls, Norns, magic, elves, and this one-eyed wanderer who definitely isn’t named Odin but have you heard about how awesome Odin is? No? We’ll he’s happy to tell you. This is the saga of Hrolf Kraki and his twelve legendary berserkers.  The creature is the reason you should actually follow that strange creature into the dark forest (free all-you-can-eat shrimp!)  —  Music: “Keo Keo” by Blue Dot Sessions “Convoy Lines” by Blue Dot Sessions “Degradation” by Podington Bear “Den” by Podington Bear “Senseless” by Podington Bear “Relinquish” by Podington Bear “The Things We Save” by Podington Bear Support the show: https://www.mythpodcast.com/membership

A boy is born, fated to be one who brings strife. Two sons seek to outrun a family curse. A wife is spared the grisly fates of her husband and son...only if she will marry the one who committed the atrocities. A daughter is saved from certain death...by judgy ducks. These are the stories of the names that would go down in legend: Odysseus, Agamemnon, Menelaus, Clytemnestra, and Penelope, and their lives before the event that would make them all famous: the Trojan War.  The creature this week is a dragon who is living his best life in Ireland.  --  Music: "Lakkalia" by Blue Dot Sessions "Last Lights" by Blue Dot Sessions "Hedgeliner" by Blue Dot Sessions "Children by the Creek" by Chad Crouch "Barefoot" by Chad Crouch "Song Sparrow Serenade" by Chad Crouch "Headwaters" by Chad Crouch Support the show: https://www.mythpodcast.com/membership

Things are going well for King Arthur for once. He’s in complete control over the island of Great Britain, he’s got a bunch of awesome knights, and dragon attacks are down. What could go wrong? King Arthur should know to never ever ask that question, because twelve men from the definitely not defunct and/or fictional Roman Empire are here to show him exactly what can go wrong.  The creature this time is orphan bird, because when you can turn a bird that abandons her children into an religious allegory, why not?  —  Music: “Drifting” by Chad Crouch “Daybreak” by Chad Crouch “Order of Entrance” by Blue Dot Sessions “The Snowgarden” by Blue Dot Sessions “Three Stories” by Blue Dot Sessions “The Bluff Trail (Instrumental)” by Chad Crouch Support the show: https://www.mythpodcast.com/membership

Faust decides that if he's going to have these powers, he's really going to enjoy them so, in no particular order, he gives himself: A Doctor Strange cloak Telekinesis A demon common law wife and baby A get-out-of-debt plan that involves humorously tearing off his own limbs And grapes. In the winter. Crazy, right?   Seriously, though, we take the somewhat more grounded story of last week...and then completely go off the rails while Faust (and the writer of the chapbook...mostly the writer of the chapbook) imagines all the things he can do with powers from the devil, and then does them.  The creature this week is the ophies pteretos, and you might feel bad for them...if they weren't angry flying snakes. - --  Music: "Ghost Byzantine" by Blue Dot Sessions "Hardboil" by Blue Dot Sessions "Ballad of the Blackbirds" by Chad Crouch "Pacing" by Chad Crouch "Small Hours" by Chad Crouch "Undying" by Blue Dot Sessions Support the show: https://www.mythpodcast.com/membership

The story of Faust and his infamous deal is one that has survived for hundreds of years. Beginning as whispers in Germany in the 1500s, it grew to plays and, most famously, a play by the German writer Goethe, largely considered to be one of the greatest works of German literature.  The story has been done and redone, and the phase Faustian bargain is still in use to this day. In today's episode, we're getting back to the very beginning - to the legends behind the masterpieces, and the story of a doctor who just wanted every question answered and desire granted. Was that too much to ask? If you don't mind trading your soul, apparently it's not too much to ask.  The creature this week is the onocentaur...a sad donkey centaur that needs to put down whatever he's carrying in order to run like a weird little bug.  --  Music: "Cover Letter" by Blue Dot Sessions "The 49th Street Galleria" by Chris Zabriskie Support the show: https://www.mythpodcast.com/membership

From the end of the world to the underworld and Armageddon itself, Kalevipoeg does way too many things.  The creature will throw acres of caustic feces in your direction.  Support the show: https://www.mythpodcast.com/membership