American Museum of Natural History
Poison For Good...Poison For Evil
The myths of Hercules and the Hydra and Jason and Medea open a resource about how poisons can be used as weapons of destruction or for beneficial purposes. After watching animated videos of the myths, users take a short quiz that tests...
TED-Ed
The Imaginary King Who Changed the Real World
Lead by a letter circulating through Europe, early Portuguese explorers searched for the Fountain of Youth and the Tower of Babel in an area in Ethiopia ruled by an emperor called Prester John. Viewers learn more about the Portuguese...
TED-Ed
The Greek Myth of Talos, the First Robot
A short video introduces viewers to the Greek myth of Talos, the first robot. The story also connects Talos to the myth of Jason, Medea, and the argonauts.
TED-Ed
The Egyptian Myth of Isis and the Seven Scorpions
You don't step on Superman's cape, and you don't slam the door in the face of an old woman flanked by seven giant scorpions! Find out why in a short retelling of an Egyptian myth about Isis.
TED-Ed
The Legend of Annapurna, Hindu Goddess of Nourishment
The legend of Annapurna, Hindu Goddess of Nourishment, is a complex tale that incorporates some of Hinduism's basic beliefs. In this version of the tale, Parvati, wife of Shiva, represents energy, growth, and transformation and brings...
TED-Ed
The Myth of Jason and the Argonauts
Travel with Jason and the Argonauts in a short, animated TEDEd video that recounts the adventures of the crew as they journey to retrieve the Golden Fleece.
PBS
The Chronicles of Narnia
C.S. Lewis' The Chronicles of Narnia is about far more than the adventures of a group of children in an imaginary kingdom. Find out what else it's about in a short Great American Read video.
TED-Ed
The Maya Myth of the Morning Star
The Mayan Myth of the Morning Star is not only a tale of fraternal jealousy but also an astronomy story based on the Mayan calendar and the movements of the planets and the sun. Check out an amazing animated video that details the myth.
TED-Ed
The Chinese Myth of the Immortal White Snake
Do you believe in true love? Could you love a monster? What would you sacrifice for someone you love? An ancient Chinese myth poses these cosmic questions in a retelling of "The Myth of the Immortal White Snake."
TED-Ed
The Aztec Myth of the Unlikeliest Sun God
How did the sun arrive in the sky? Learners watch a short film that describes the myth of Nanahuatl, a weak Aztec god who sacrificed himself to become the fifth sun for his people.
TED-Ed
The Myth of Sisyphus
Having an eagle eat your liver sounds like a form of cruel and unusual punishment. As explained in an interesting video lesson, it's nothing compared to the punishments doled out in "The Myth of Sisyphus." A summary introduces the...
Crash Course
Mythical Language and Idiom: Crash Course World Mythology #41
Learning about mythological idioms can be quite an odyssey. The 41st and final installment in the Crash Course World Mythology series makes the topic manageable and interesting. Scholars explore the language of mythology and investigate...
Crash Course
Witches and Hags: Crash Course World Mythology #39
Where did the term nightmare originate? According to Norse mythology, hags (known as "mares") come at night and are responsible for bad dreams. Scholars explore the topic further using the 39th of 41 videos in the Crash Course World...
Crash Course
Cities of Myth: Crash Course World Mythology #35
Grab a compass and road map ... it's time to explore some mythological cities! With the 35th video of 41 from the Crash Course World Mythology series, viewers meet two characters from Roman mythology, Romulus and Remus. Scholars also...
Crash Course
Mythical Trees: Crash Course World Mythology #34
Hopefully scholars won't make like a tree and leave before watching the 34th video in the Crash Course World Mythology series. Pupils analyze stories about mythical trees from Biblical, Norse, Hindu, and Buddhist traditions. In addition,...
Crash Course
The Epic of Gilgamesh: Crash Course World Mythology #26
Meet a scary demon named Humbaba in the 26th installment of the 41-episode Crash Course World Mythology series. Scholars learn about The Epic of Gilgamesh, an ancient Mesopotamian poem. Viewers also consider how the epic relates to...
Crash Course
The Apocalypse: Crash Course World Mythology #23
Beasts, dragons, natural disasters ... modern-day zombie thrillers just don't measure up to ancient apocalypse stories! The 23rd video from the Crash Course World Mythology series is all about the end of days. Scholars learn about...
Crash Course
Hermes and Loki and Tricksters Part 2: Crash Course World Mythology #21
Cunning characters are so much fun, and that's no trick! The 21stt video in the 41-part Crash Course World Mythology series discusses how tricksters are culture heroes. Pupils learn about the trickster gods Hermes, from Greece, and Loki,...
Crash Course
Tricksters: An Introduction: Crash Course World Mythology #20
From Bart Simpson to Bugs Bunny to Jack Sparrow, people love a good trickster. With the 20th video from the Crash Course World Mythology series, scholars explore the mythological trickster archetype. Viewers also listen to the story of...
Crash Course
Yu the Engineer and Flood Stories from China: Crash Course World Mythology #17
Ancient China is flooded with myths about deluges. Scholars explore Chinese flood myths using the 17th video from the Crash Course World Mythology series. Learners meet an emperor named Yu the Engineer, who worked tirelessly to end...
Crash Course
Theories of Myth: Crash Course World Mythology #12
The 12th installment from the 41-part Crash Course World Mythology series addresses the topic of interpreting myths. Viewers learn all about the theories of myths according to philosophers like Plato, Tertullian, and Clement.
Crash Course
African Pantheons and the Orishas: Crash Course World Mythology #11
Ogiyan is the African god of crushed cassava—how specific! Using the 11th video from the Crash Course World Mythology series, scholars learn about African pantheons. They explore some of the orishas from the myths of the Yoruba religion...
Crash Course
Freud, Jung, Luke Skywalker, and the Psychology of Myth: Crash Course World Mythology #40
How were modern thinkers influenced by ancient mythology? Scholars investigate the topic with the 40th of 41 videos in the Crash Course World Mythology series. Viewers meet two psychologists, Sigmund Freud and Carl Jung, and learn about...
Crash Course
Serpents and Dragons: Crash Course World Mythology #38
What role do giant, winged, fire-breathing dragons play in ancient mythology? The 38th installment in the 41-episode Crash Course World Mythology series is all about slithering serpents and fiery dragons. Learners explore dragons from...