Discover the MythCloud
Explore our growing archive of emblematic artefacts, myths, and stories from across Europe and beyond. Search, filter, or browse the collection in full to uncover unique perspectives, shared values, and unexpected connections.
In Mitologia współczesna (Contemporary Mythology), Marcin Napiórkowski argues that myths are not relics of the past but living narratives that continue to shape modern Polish society.
He examines how myths influence cultural values and collective identity by exploring everyday phenomena, from the popularity of kebabs to the iconic status of ski jumper Adam Małysz. Napiórkowski also delves into national practices such as charitable events and urban legends, demonstrating how contemporary myths reflect societal concerns and provide a framework for understanding reality. Using a structuralist approach, he invites readers to critically engage with these pervasive myths and their role in shaping perceptions.
For a deeper exploration of Napiórkowski's insights, you can read the full article on Mitologia współczesna below.
Adrian Musiał’s *Mitologia współczesnych Polaków* examines how contemporary Polish political discourse shapes national identity through the manipulation of historical events.
Central to his analysis are the myths surrounding the "cursed soldiers" and the Smoleńsk disaster, both of which have been leveraged by political actors to serve specific agendas. Musiał explores how these events are reinterpreted and mythologized to evoke national pride, sacrifice, and resilience, while simultaneously being used to consolidate political power.
Through his critical lens, Musiał highlights the ways in which these manipulated myths have become deeply ingrained in Poland's collective memory and national consciousness. He argues that such myths are not merely historical retellings but powerful tools in the ongoing political narrative, designed to strengthen social cohesion and influence electoral outcomes. Musiał’s work invites readers to reflect on the role of mythology in shaping political realities and the potential dangers of manipulating history for present-day gain.
For centuries, Irish communities have relied on the bounty of seas, rivers, and lakes for both physical sustenance and economic survival.
This episode of Blúiríní Béaloidis sees Jonny Dillon and Claire Doohan turn their attention to one of Ireland’s most celebrated aquatic creatures: the noble salmon. Revered in both practical and symbolic terms, the salmon—known as 'the silvery fellow,' 'the king,' and 'the plum of the sea'—has inspired a wealth of lore, customs, and beliefs.
Distinct from its aquatic counterparts, the salmon’s ability to traverse both freshwater rivers and saltwater seas places it in a unique position in Irish tradition. Jonny and Claire explore tales of daring poachers, dangerous plants, superstitious fishermen, and even taboos surrounding the fish’s name. They uncover intriguing 15th-century riddles that persisted into the 20th-century oral tradition, revealing how deeply embedded this creature is in Irish storytelling.
From the mythic Salmon of Life (Bradán na Beatha) to the renowned Salmon of Knowledge, the episode reflects on how these tales intersect with 10th-century Irish-Norse relations and broader Indo-European narrative traditions. Listeners are invited to delve into this rich heritage and uncover the enduring cultural significance of Ireland’s most legendary fish.
The mythology surrounding Ireland’s Italia 90 exploits holds a special place in Irish popular memory, a phenomenon where sporting achievement transcends the event itself to become a form of national storytelling.
In the summer of 1990, Ireland reached the quarter-finals of the FIFA World Cup under manager Jack Charlton, igniting unprecedented celebrations across the country. This football success, set against a backdrop of economic hardship and political tension, seemed to offer a release valve for collective anxieties, fostering a surge in national pride and unity.
In mythology terms, Ireland’s journey to the quarter-finals became a narrative of underdog triumph—a classic motif in heroic tales. The team, not fancied to progress far, found itself facing powerhouse nations, and each victory, each draw, became a chapter in an unfolding epic. Fans viewed players as warriors on a global stage, competing not just in sport but for Ireland’s symbolic position in the world. The images of packed pubs, crowded streets, and families gathering to watch matches are now iconic, imprinted as ritualistic scenes that still evoke a sense of unity and joy in recollection.
Italia 90 also helped recalibrate perceptions of Irish identity. The tournament was followed closely by a diaspora hungry for Irish representation, and this football moment brought together communities far and wide. The phenomenon sits alongside other transformative Irish cultural touchstones, contributing to the nation’s ongoing narrative of resilience and pride in times of adversity. Like all mythic stories, it’s less about factual accomplishments and more about the symbolic resonance these events held, creating a memory that endures in Irish cultural consciousness as much more than a football achievement.
An article on artistic alter egos, the motives of the alter ego.
The article examines where the attempted escape from the self can artistically lead. With the images used, it makes a connection to the myth of Narcissus. It also shortly likens alter ego’s to mythical figures, a mythically enhanced personality of the artist.
Irish football supporters have gained international recognition for their distinctive approach to fandom, marked by joy, resilience, and a camaraderie that often transcends the outcomes of games.
Renowned for transforming moments of defeat into scenes of shared humour and positivity, they are widely regarded as goodwill ambassadors who regularly cheer for opponents, sing in the streets, and turn matches into events of communal celebration.
This reputation solidified during World Cups such as Italia 90, USA 1994, Japan 2002, and Euro 2016, where their warmth and good humour garnered global admiration. The enduring perception of Irish fans is one of loyal and optimistic supporters who celebrate each game as a communal experience, projecting a distinctive, resilient national identity that endures beyond the sport itself.
The sakmė about greed and deception tells of two mothers, each with a child. One day, a wife went to rake hay in the fields. In her haste to finish before the rain, she forgot her child in the meadow. When she returned, she found the child’s clothes neatly placed, with the child swaddled in silk and cradled by hags, who sang a lullaby about the "forgotten one."
A neighbour, hearing of this strange occurrence, also went to rake hay the next day, but this time, with the intention of abandoning her child. Upon her return, she found her child beheaded, and the hags, holding the lifeless body, sang a different lullaby about the "purposely forgotten one."
This tale reflects the consequences of greed and the dangers of deception, particularly when one acts with ill intent. The story was compiled and edited from How the Earth Came to Be: Lithuanian Etiological Legends (Kaip atsirado žemė: lietuvių etiologinės sakmės) by Norbertas Vėlius.
The folk tale about the origin of the Milky Way is a sakmė, or etiological legend, that explains the presence of a light band in the sky, which appears in autumn.
In Lithuanian mythology, this light is known as the Bird's Way, a pathway that guides migrating birds southward. Since birds cannot see clearly during their long journey, God created this celestial light to help them navigate. The light appears during autumn, providing the birds with a visual guide as they travel.
This narrative, like many others in Lithuanian mythology, reflects the deep connection between the natural world and divine influence. The story intertwines natural phenomena, like the migration of birds and the seasonal appearance of the Milky Way, with the beliefs and values of the culture, in this case, the importance of divine care and guidance in the life cycles of creatures.
For more on the cultural context of such sakmės, refer to works like How the Earth Came to Be: Lithuanian Etiological Legends by Norbertas Vėlius, where these legends are compiled and explored in greater depth.
