Mythology Explained

Today, we’re talking about Zeus — the thunder-wielding ruler of Olympus and so-called king of the gods.To most, he’s the ultimate symbol of divine power.But the truth is, his reign was built on borrowed fire.And I think that without it, the so-called king of the gods might’ve been nothing more than another name lost to myth.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Welcome to Mythology Explained. Today, we’re going to be discussing the Greek God Priapus. Before we dive into this I feel as though the elephant in the room needs to be addressed - or rather the anaconda in the room. Yes, that second one seems most appropriate. You would think that, applying your contemporary prism to the issue, that Priapus, being the well-endowed god that he was, probably did pretty well with the ladies. But you see, his massive organ wasn’t a genetic gift. Rather, it was but one symptom of a very permanent and very encompassing curse. Yes, his appearance was overflowing with more virility than a stampede of marauding centaurs. But when it came to it, he became, shall we say, deflated. He was cursed with Impotence. His exaggerated physical form wasn’t a blessing — it was part of a cruel curse. Though he appeared to embody vitality, the irony was that he could never actually fulfill it.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Hey everyone, welcome back to Mythology Explained. In the last video of this style, we explored some absolute titans of terror in Greek myth: Typhon, the hundred-handed Hecatoncheires, the war-born Giants, the petrifying Medusa, and the mighty Cyclopes whose craftsmanship armed the gods themselves. Those creatures shaped the very balance of power between gods and Titans, between order and the primordial chaos of the earth.But the truth is.. Greek mythology didn’t stop inventing nightmares after the first cosmic wars were won. Beyond those famous five, there are other monsters — some born of divine spite, some older than the Olympians themselves — whose power forced gods to strategize, heroes to innovate, and, in some cases, Olympus to tread very carefully. Today, we’re diving into five more of the most formidable monsters in all of Greek mythology — beings so dangerous that they changed the course of wars, made even the gods hesitate, and left scars on the mythic world long after their deaths.Let’s get into it.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Out of the void came the first truly tangible being: Gaia- the Earth itself, alive and fertile, the ground beneath every myth. To the ancient Greeks, Gaia was not merely soil and stone; she was the very foundation of reality, the ever-enduring mother of gods and monsters alike. She nourished, protected, and gave life — but she also schemed, rebelled, and unleashed creatures that nearly ended Olympus before it began.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Before there were gods, before there were Titans, before even the earth or sky — there was only silence. An endless, gaping expanse. The Greeks called it Chaos: not disorder, but the raw void out of which reality itself would be born.Chaos wasn’t a god in the way we imagine Zeus or Poseidon, but rather the very first principle of existence — the source from which everything else emerged: earth, sky, gods, monsters, even fate itself. Yet Chaos was not always imagined the same way. Some traditions describe it as the offspring of Chronos, Time itself — not to be confused with Cronus, the Titan king. Others saw Chaos as a shapeless mass of matter and energy, waiting to be molded into the universe. And in yet another version, Chaos was thought of as the lower layer of air surrounding the earth, lying beneath the bright upper sky called Aether.Today, we’re going to be addressing all of these different accounts, and more, as we unpack Chaos: the FIRST Primordial Deity.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

When it comes to the Bible, the roles of its central figures seem obvious. God is the creator, the sustainer, the giver of life, and Satan… He’s the deceiver, the destroyer, & the murderer of mankind. Given that Satan is called a ‘murderer from the beginning’ in John 8:44, you’d probably assume that he’s the one responsible for claiming more lives.But what if I told you that the text itself paints a very different picture? Because when we look past assumptions and actually count the deaths, the numbers tell a shocking story.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

For millennia, mankind has worshipped gods — beings of power, wisdom, and immortality. We’ve prayed to them, feared them, and shaped our civilizations around their stories.But in every culture, there comes a moment when man looks up at the heavens and dares to ask: Why not me? So today, we’re diving into the myths and legends of different religions and cultures to confront one of humanity’s oldest—and most dangerous—questions: What happens when man tries to become god?Let’s dive in to it.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Most people today believe that ‘Lucifer’ and ‘Satan’ are one and the same- with both names representing the complete and total archetype of evil. In fact, this misconception runs so deep that the names are regularly used interchangeably in books, movies, and even sermons. But what if I told you that this is actually…Wrong information? Because in truth, the Bible itself never explicitly identifies Lucifer with Satan. That connection only came later, through centuries of interpretation, translation, and literature.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Where do we go when we die?It’s one of humanity’s oldest questions.Across nearly every culture, every religion, and every age of human history, people have looked to the sky and wondered: What lies beyond this life? And almost universally, civilizations have imagined an idyllic realm of peace and perfection—an eternal paradise. This vision echoes through many of the world’s predominant religions, where Heaven is described as the ultimate reward, the place where suffering ends and harmony begins.But not every depiction of Heaven is the paradise you might expect. In fact, in some traditions, Heaven isn’t endless peace at all—it’s strange, unsettling, and even exhausting. Today we’re going to be diving into the world’s visions of the afterlife- taking a closer look at how different cultures, religions and mythologies perceive life after death.Let’s dive in to it.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Hey everyone, welcome to Mythology Explained. Today’s video is the start of a new series where I’ll be reading classic retellings of Greek myths by respected authors from over a century ago. These stories come straight from the public domain, and the goal here is to give you something you can listen to while winding down, studying, or just getting lost in the world of ancient Greece.The following is an excerpt from Myths and Legends Of Ancient Greece and Rome by E.M. Berens, published in 1880. If you’d like to read the full text, please check out the link in the pinned comment.https://www.gutenberg.org/files/22381/22381-h/22381-h.htmSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Long before the Olympians ruled from their thrones on Mount Olympus, the cosmos was shaped by older forces — vast, silent, and unknowable.These were the Primordial Deities or Protogenoi: the first powers of existence, embodying fundamental aspects of reality itself.And out of the first void came something deeper than shadow. A presence, not just of absence, but of power. She wasn’t the goddess of one place or domain. She didn’t rule the sea or the sky. She simply was — there before the stars, before time, before anything had a name.Even Zeus, king of the gods, knew better than to cross her.Because this wasn’t just nightfall.It was Night itself.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

We’ve all seen them. Greek Statues. Huge slabs of muscle, perfect proportions, nearly 0 bodyfat to speak of, and a casual reminder that we’re not QUITE in the shape that we thought we were. An idealistic version of the human form — chiseled from marble, frozen in time, that still somehow judges us centuries later.In modern bodybuilding, the physiques seen in Greek statues are often the end goal — the ultimate Grecian ideal: to look like a “Greek god” or a “Greek statue.”But I’ve often wondered..Why?See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

When people think of the Underworld, they think of Hades — the god draped in shadow, brother to Zeus and ruler of the dead, his realm carved from silence and sealed away from Olympus.But the truth is… he wasn’t the first.Because long before Olympus rose… before the Titans fell… before even light existed… there was something else.A presence.A force.A god.But this ‘being’ didn’t rule with a scepter or a crown… or sit on a throne.It simply was. A suffocating darkness so complete… that even the gods feared it.And while time has tried to erase it from memory — buried beneath the myths of younger, more palatable deities — its shadow still lingers.This… is the story of the one who ruled before Hades.The one who gave birth to death, to night, to fate itself…The one who was the darkness.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

There are many punishments in Greek mythology…But few are as chilling — or as deserved — as the one from this particular myth.In this tale - A king, beloved by the gods, was granted a seat at their table.He had their trust. Their favor. Their ear.But then… he did the unthinkable: he betrayed them.In this story, the actions of this man were so twisted, so vile, that even the Olympians were horrified.And for his crimes, he was given perhaps one of the greatest and most creative punishments inflicted on any being in Greek Mythology- eventually becoming a symbol of eternal punishment.But what exactly did he do? Why did a man so privileged risk everything?And what became of the gods who once welcomed him as their guest?Today, we uncover the truth behind one of the most disturbing myths in the ancient world.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

When most people think of powerful Greek gods, one name tends to rise above the rest: Zeus. King of Olympus. Wielder of lightning. Slayer of Titans. The ultimate divine authority.Or… so we’re told.But the truth is — Zeus isn’t all that he was chalked up to be. Sure, he was powerful. Charismatic. But the most powerful god in Greek mythology?Not even close.He could be outwitted. He could be resisted. And in some cases, he was straight-up afraid.And for these reasons, and more, Zeus was far from the top of the divine food chain.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In myth and legend, there exist forces even gods must answer to. Time. Destiny. But above all…Fate.A force so powerful that even God and Satan had to answer to it.But what if I told you that it was three beings who were responsible for fate itself?Not gods of thunder or war. Not angels or demons.But something else...See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

“Before the Great Flood… before the Ten Commandments… a different kind of rebellion took place. One that started not on Earth—but in the heavens.”Long before the floodwaters rose… before Moses parted the sea… before even Abraham’s covenant with God—there was a story. A story of 200 divine beings who descended to Earth on Mount Hermon.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In the last video, we discussed biblically accurate angels — and it was there that we unearthed a shocking truth: they’re not winged babies or glowing men in robes… But in fact, terrifying, often-alien looking beings that radiate divine power.And today, we’ll be taking a look at the other side of the coin..Because if THOSE things were the messengers of divine order…Then what could the opposite possibly look like?Red skin? Horns? Maybe a pitchfork?Well… the truth is, that’s Hollywood.Because when it comes to the bible, or at least other ancient texts- Demons get way stranger — and most importantly: way more disturbing.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

What if I told you that the angels you see in paintings, Christmas cards, and stained-glass windows... Have nothing to do with how angels are actually described in the Bible?They aren’t cute little babies with wings or gentle, glowing humans in white robes strumming harps.In fact, that’s not even close.Because in reality, biblical angels are terrifying.They often appeared with multiple sets of wings, faces of beasts, and bodies covered in eyes.And in almost every story — their very presence causes fear.I mean..If they weren’t terrifying, why would Gabriel’s first words to Mary be:“Do Not Be Afraid”See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Today we’re going to be diving DEEP down the rabbit hole- all the way to the depths of hell- and discussing the seven MAIN princes that reside there. The concept of hell exists across nearly all mythologies- a place where the deceased go after a life of sin- a place where you are subjected to eternal suffering in order to PAY for your wrongdoings. In Greek Myth we see hell go by another name- Tartarus, and in Norse myth we see hell go by a very similar name- ‘Hel’- which also happens to be personified by a female Norse Goddess. However, in today’s video we’re going to be discussing Hell in the context of Demonology- and unravelling aspects of the traditional concept of ‘hell’ that most of us are accustomed to.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.