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