Myths and legends

SEE ALSO
▸▸ Ancient Egypt
p.17

Myths and legends are stories. In the past, people ▸▸ Ancient Greece
p.18
invented myths to answer big questions, such as where
▸▸ Storytelling
our world came from. Unlike myths, legends are often pp.42–43
based on real events, but the details have changed a lot ▸▸ Books p.44
over time, so there is not much truth left! ▸▸ Writing p.280

Mythical creatures Legendary heroes

Myths often include strange creatures, Many myths and legends tell
which sometimes have a mix of features from the stories of brave people
different animals. Mythical creatures can be called heroes. Hua Mulan is
terrifying monsters, or friendly beasts like the the hero of a Chinese legend.
Chinese dragon. She pretends to be a man
and takes her elderly
father’s place as a soldier.
Minotaur
The minotaur is a
scary monster with
a human body and
the head of a bull. This is a modern statue
He appears in an of Hua Mulan. Her story
ancient Greek myth. has been told in many
books and films.

Chinese dragon
The Chinese dragon
has four legs and a
long, snakelike body. “Myth” comes
In China, dragons are a from the Greek
symbol of good luck.
word “mythos,”
which simply
means “story.”
Griffin
The griffin is part lion
and part eagle. In Greek
myths, griffins stand
guard over treasures.

Creation myth
Many myths are about how the
world was created. An Egyptian
myth says that the first people
in the world were shaped out of
clay on a potter’s wheel, by a
ram-headed god called Khnum.

178