Culture

Fate & Fabled

Join Dr. Moiya McTier & Emily Zarka and dig into the stories and characters of ancient mythologies to explore why such tales were crafted, and investigate mythology’s influence on humanity.

Why Does Every Culture Have Myths About Trees?

10m 12s

Cultures around the world have venerated trees for thousands of years, often seeing them as gifts from or manifestations of Gods. With their impressive size, longevity, and ability to support life, it’s hard not to see trees as divine. But unlike the gods they sometimes represent, trees rely on us almost as much as we rely on them.

Episodes

  • Why Does Every Culture Have Myths About Trees?: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    Why Does Every Culture Have Myths About Trees?

    S2 E10 - 10m 12s

    Cultures around the world have venerated trees for thousands of years, often seeing them as gifts from or manifestations of Gods. With their impressive size, longevity, and ability to support life, it’s hard not to see trees as divine. But unlike the gods they sometimes represent, trees rely on us almost as much as we rely on them.

  • The Unbelievably Tragic Story of Cú Chulainn: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    The Unbelievably Tragic Story of Cú Chulainn

    S2 E9 - 9m 2s

    In Irish folklore, Cú Chulainn was one of the greatest warriors ever to live. From his first battle against a vicious hound at the age of 6 to his last against an entire army just two decades later, Cú Chulainn lived a legendary, but short life. Some might call him a tragic hero, but is it tragic to get everything you ever wanted?

  • The Surprising Centuries-old Origins of the Unicorn: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    The Surprising Centuries-old Origins of the Unicorn

    S2 E8 - 8m 20s

    Unicorns aren’t all pretty white horses, some of them have scales, fangs, or ox tails. It turns out, cultures around the world have tales of mythical one-horned creatures who often rule over the other beasts of their land. Over time, these often sinister characters morphed into a symbol of rarity and resilience.

  • Why Prometheus Risked Everything For Humans: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    Why Prometheus Risked Everything For Humans

    S2 E7 - 7m 30s

    Greek Gods are notorious for petty squabbling, brutal punishments, and meddling in people’s love lives. But in the myth of Prometheus, an immortal makes the ultimate sacrifice for the sake of humankind. A wily Titan who stole fire from the Gods and gave it to humans, Prometheus represents risk, progress, and generally sticking it to the man — Zeus.

  • Music of the Gods: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    Music of the Gods

    S2 E6 - 8m 23s

    In many mythologies, music is associated with the explosion of life and bursts of creativity. But it’s also used to explore the dark side of human nature: the desire to manipulate our surroundings, or to control others.

  • The Many Gods of Yoruba Lore: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    The Many Gods of Yoruba Lore

    S2 E5 - 11m 38s

    In recent years we have seen a very welcome uptick in the number of fantasy books inspired by West African folklore. The Afrofuturism and Africanfuturism movements have paved the way for Black authors across the diaspora to build worlds and tell stories influenced by their heritage, allowing wider audiences to finally meet the spirits of Yoruba lore.

  • Gaia: The Mother of Creation: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    Gaia: The Mother of Creation

    S2 E4 - 9m 53s

    Imagine being the mother to every single living thing. What would you do if one of your children threatened the safety of the others? Would you kill or imprison your progeny to save the world? Gaia would know. As Greek mythology’s original Mother Earth, with the unique ability to create life from nothing, it was often Gaia’s burden to save the world from the cruelty of her immortal children.

  • Valkyries: The Real Story Behind These Warriors of Legend: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    Valkyries: The Real Story Behind These Warriors of Legend

    S2 E3 - 8m 45s

    Vikings were some of the fiercest fighters in human history, using their impressive battle prowess to spread Norse influence between the 8th and 11th centuries. Their bravery as warriors was driven by one ultimate desire: to join Odin in Valhalla. Only the most worthy Vikings would get to spend their afterlives in that hallowed hall, and the choice of who made the cut fell to a group of powerful,

  • Chinnamasta: The Headless Goddess of Self-Sacrifice: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    Chinnamasta: The Headless Goddess of Self-Sacrifice

    S2 E2 - 10m 38s

    The Buddhist and Hindu Tantric goddess Chinnamasta is an audacious incarnation of divine feminine energy. She teaches us about giving and receiving, self-preservation and sacrifice, reproduction and death.

  • How Mountains Inspire Mythology: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    How Mountains Inspire Mythology

    S2 E1 - 10m 53s

    Majestic, mysterious forms that hold the secrets of the universe? Or big, inscrutable rocks that take a lot of effort to climb? In pretty much every culture, it’s all about majesty and mystery when it comes to mountains. Home to mighty deities, sacred grounds, and sublime phenomena, mountains loom large in our collective imagination.

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