Are there other examples of stories in which a lover travels to the underworld/heaven/hell to rescue their dead love? I'm idly working on a play based on Orpheus and Eurydice, and would like to collect more versions of that storyline.
posted by stray on Dec 6, 2009 - 40 answers

What have you heard about werewolves? [more inside]
posted by Ambrosia Voyeur on Oct 28, 2009 - 59 answers

What is the name of this fantasy book that I only vaugely remember? [more inside]
posted by tylerfulltilt on Sep 18, 2009 - 2 answers

Graffiti Filter: Looking for a photo or confirmation of a myth of an epic and humorous piece of graffiti. [more inside]
posted by GJSchaller on Jul 22, 2009 - 4 answers

Where did I read about a book footed vampire? [more inside]
posted by brownbat on Nov 7, 2008 - 3 answers

Pequeninos, Thranx, Fithp, Psychlos, Aalaag, Hani, Mahendo'sat, Kif, etc. Do you recall if any of these science fiction aliens (or any other sf aliens) have their own creation myth? At first glance it seemed a easy research assignment. I have no trouble in coming up with creation myths for real cultures, but I'm coming up with 0 in imaginary cultures.
posted by francesca too on Oct 5, 2008 - 17 answers

Academic papers and books on the topic of myth in screenwriting? [more inside]
posted by sumo on Sep 30, 2008 - 5 answers

What was going on with the occult and belief in the supernatural in Civil War-era America? [more inside]
posted by robocop is bleeding on Sep 18, 2008 - 18 answers

Is anyone familiar with ancient Native American legends of giant frogs riding people? [more inside]
posted by kittens for breakfast on May 8, 2008 - 3 answers

Is the Wendigo purely a Northeast American (and Canadian) myth? If so is there a Northwest equivalent?
posted by Artw on Apr 29, 2008 - 15 answers

My new doctor is one of those older doctors who believe that vegetarian diets lack protein unless you eat the "right" things. I would like to find an article to give her about how there is protein in everything. [more inside]
posted by AllieTessKipp on Feb 20, 2008 - 28 answers

When I was a kid there was this idea that if you pissed in a public swimming pool the water around you will turn blue and follow you around. Today I asked a few friends and everyone got told the same thing. Is this just a myth invented to stop kids from doing this or is it real? [more inside]
posted by dydecker on Dec 28, 2007 - 15 answers

Obsessivewordenthusiastfilter: I'm writing a paper and I'm trying to portray a certain situation which I feel would be best conveyed with the use of an allusion, preferably to a Greek or Roman myth. More inside! [more inside]
posted by Lockeownzj00 on Dec 9, 2007 - 19 answers

I am searching for examples of The Infinite, or the immeasurably large, in our mythologies and archetypes. I am also interested in the categories of Truth which came out of the emergence of Western, ontological thought. Does the trust in a rationally conceivable reality deny us the infinity of the mythological realm? By rooting ourselves in the present, and denying atemporal mythologies, do we also deny the infinite origins from where we came? [more inside]
posted by 0bvious on Nov 28, 2007 - 22 answers

I know that House is a TV construct but I'm wondering, are there doctors that perform this role in real life? [more inside]
posted by tellurian on Aug 4, 2007 - 20 answers

BookFilter: Looking for a book a friend once found containing every myth, fable, and legend the author could find from multiple cultures, with analysis breaking them down into (I believe) a hundred or so archetypes. [more inside]
posted by Andrhia on Jun 18, 2007 - 14 answers

I was told a story once, about an American stealing Non-obese Diabetic (NOD) mice from a Japanese lab, and smuggling them back to the States. But I can't find the story anywhere on the web. [more inside]
posted by kisch mokusch on May 25, 2007 - 4 answers

Is there academic research that claims that viewing of advertising material a ritual of genderization? [more inside]
posted by bilabial on Apr 28, 2007 - 25 answers

If Medusa was in a beauty pageant, what location would be on her sash? [more inside]
posted by Jezztek on Apr 3, 2007 - 8 answers

How can I find more information about this Seneca Indian legend? [more inside]
posted by magodesky on Mar 7, 2007 - 4 answers

What are some ways that history or myths have been used to justify events happening in the present (or in the recent past)?
posted by friendlyfire on Nov 20, 2006 - 15 answers

Can anyone help me find Indian / Hindi folklore? [more inside]
posted by Medieval Maven on Aug 15, 2006 - 20 answers

Does the cable modem really need to be unplugged for 30 seconds? (Urban Myth or Truth?) [more inside]
posted by postergeist on Aug 9, 2006 - 25 answers

I once heard a belief, a tale, a myth (not sure which it falls under) that there are a certain fixed number of "pure" or "perfect" souls roaming the earth, and that the existance of these people is the one thing keeping God from throwing the towel in. Where did I hear this? Have any of you heard a tale like this? Can anyone tell me more? [more inside]
posted by Windigo on Aug 3, 2006 - 11 answers

The Protagonist: What can you tell me? [more inside]
posted by 0bvious on Jun 8, 2006 - 17 answers

Gross Filter: I remember hearing a couple years ago about a couple incidents involving swimmers and badly maintained swimming pool filters wherein the swimmer would be sitting on the bottom of the pool, on the filter, and the filter cover would give out, resulting in the most horrific situation I can think of. [more inside]
posted by heavenstobetsy on Apr 5, 2006 - 22 answers

I need a bunch of evidence/information to educate a friend about the diamond industry; why it is a monopoly, how it has fueled civil wars in African nations, the current state of diamond mining, etc. I thought there was also a famous photojournalist (Salgado?) who took photos of a diamond mine in Africa as well. Can anyone help me gather information on why diamonds should not be purchased? Thank you in advance.
posted by gen on Feb 20, 2006 - 15 answers

Who are the 21st century Muses? [more inside]
posted by rwhe on Jan 12, 2006 - 14 answers

I'm looking for a certain story or legend about a woman who's village was invaded by troops. She kills them with kindness (or, more probably, knives) [more inside]
posted by blueberry on Dec 30, 2005 - 9 answers

Fact or fiction : All (or most) NYC restaurants get their fish deliveries on the same day every week. [more inside]
posted by afroblanca on Oct 16, 2005 - 25 answers

In a roman myth, Apollo is walking on a beach. Evening is coming and he needs a place to spend the evening. He sees an old man and women ands asks if he could spend the night with them. They take him into their home and give up everything that they own for his comfort. In the morning Apollo wants to reward them for their generosity but does not want to reveal his identity. He decides his gift will be for them to pass away together. Who are these people? Does this myth have a name? How can greek and roman myths be referenced through a description such as this?
posted by Raybun on Oct 11, 2005 - 7 answers

My massage therapist always tells me "drink lots of water to get rid of the toxins released during the massage". Does anyone know of any evidence to support this claim? Any sites that debunk it?
posted by pornucopia on Aug 13, 2005 - 18 answers

What songs actually have messages when played backwards, or at least are popularly rumored to do so?
posted by apple scruff on May 20, 2005 - 11 answers

I remember reading a while back, possibly in Cosmic Trigger or some other such book, that the pyramid shape is naturally conducive to the sharpening of blades. According to this source, if you put dull blades inside a pyramid-shaped object, they will naturally sharpen over time. I don't think it matters what material the pyramid is made from, or how big it is. Anyway, as implausible as this idea seems, I know that I've heard it at least a few times, and cannot find anything about it on Snopes. So my question to the MeFi Mythbusters- real or urban legend?
posted by afroblanca on Feb 20, 2005 - 24 answers

What are some great novels and/or myths that feature two heroes? [more inside]
posted by _sirmissalot_ on Apr 13, 2004 - 32 answers