Legend
The Many Myths of the Man Who 'Discovered'—and Nearly Destroyed—Troy
In the 1870s, amateur archaeologist Heinrich Schliemann inflicted irreparable damage on the site of the legendary city
Possible Royal Graves Dated to the Time of King Arthur Found in Great Britain
New research brings the number of potential burial sites of early medieval Celtic rulers from 2 to more than 20
The Myth of Agent 355, the Woman Spy Who Supposedly Helped Win the Revolutionary War
A single reference in the historical record has spawned an array of adaptations, most of which overstate the anonymous figure's role in the Culper Spy Ring
How Much Medieval Literature Has Been Lost Over the Centuries?
A new analysis suggests that just 9 percent of manuscripts produced in Europe during the Middle Ages survive today
Did the Vikings Actually Torture Victims With the Brutal 'Blood Eagle'?
New research reveals the feasibility of the infamous execution method
Why Dragons Dominated the Landscape of Medieval Monsters
The mythical beasts were often cast as agents of the devil or demons in disguise
When People Carved Turnips Instead of Pumpkins for Halloween
Revelers in Ireland transformed the root vegetables into lanterns designed to ward off dark spirits
Researchers Are Unraveling the Mystery of the Ancient Greek Tomb of 'Nestor's Cup'
New analysis suggests the 2,800-year-old burial held the remains of at least three adults, not a child as previously believed
Rediscovered Medieval Manuscript Offers New Twist on Arthurian Legend
The 13th-century pages, found by chance at a British library, show a different side of Merlin, the magician who advised Camelot's king
Neolithic Monument Linked to King Arthur Is Older Than Stonehenge
New research suggests Arthur's Stone was built around 3700 B.C.E. as part of an intricate ceremonial landscape
Rare Boundary Stone Dated to Emperor Claudius' Reign Unearthed in Rome
The 2,000-year-old travertine slab marked the sacred outer limits of the ancient city
'The Green Knight' Adopts a Medieval Approach to 'Modern' Problems
A new film starring Dev Patel as Gawain feels more like a psychological thriller than a period drama
New Maryland Museum Dives Into the Mythology of Mermaids
Blending history, pop culture and folklore, the attraction features a Feejee mermaid, original artworks and more
A Folklorist Explains Loki's Place in Mythology's Pantheon of Trickster Heroes
Smithsonian's James Deutsch says that behind the character in the new Marvel Studios series lies the oft-told story of "guile" outsmarting authority
Men Have Feared Women for Millennia. Just Look at the Monsters of Greek Mythology
A new collection of essays considers how the villainous women of classical antiquity, from Medusa to the Sphinx, resonate in contemporary Western society
Molly Pitcher, the Most Famous American Hero Who Never Existed
Americans don't need to rely on legends to tell the stories of women in the Revolution
Did a Viking Woman Named Gudrid Really Travel to North America in 1000 A.D.?
The sagas suggest she settled in Newfoundland and eventually made eight crossings of the North Atlantic Sea
Archaeologists Unearth 600-Year-Old Golden Eagle Sculpture at Aztec Temple
The artwork is the largest bas-relief engraving found at the Templo Mayor to date
Meet the Real Animals Behind Mermaids, Dragons and Other Mythical Creatures
You can now take a virtual tour of a "Harry Potter"–inspired exhibition exploring the origins of fantastical beings
Altar to Ancient Greek God Pan Found Embedded in Wall of Byzantine Church
Christians in what is now northern Israel may have repurposed the basalt structure as a deliberate affront to pagan worshippers
