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
Ruins of Eighth-Century Pagan Temple Found in Norway
The structure—built to honor Norse gods like Thor and Odin—is the first of its kind discovered in the country
Why a New Statue of Medusa Is So Controversial
The gorgon, seen holding Perseus’ severed head, stands across from the court where Harvey Weinstein was tried
Renovations Reveal 19th-Century Mayor’s Heart Entombed in Belgian Fountain
Workers unearthed a metal box thought to contain the local leader’s organ last month
The Little-Known Role of Slavery in Viking Society
A new book looks at the legendary Scandinavians through their own eyes
You Could Be the Next Owner of Ireland’s ‘Most Haunted House’
Local legend claims that the devil visited Loftus Hall, now on sale for $2.87 million, during the 18th century
Researchers Uncover New Evidence That Warrior Women Inspired Legend of Mulan
Nearly 2,000 years ago, women who rode horseback and practiced archery may have roamed the steppes of Mongolia
Amid Pandemic, Artists Invoke Japanese Spirit Said to Protect Against Disease
Illustrators are sharing artwork of Amabie, a spirit first popularized during the Edo period, on social media
Ancient Inscription Unveils the King Who May Have Toppled Midas
A newly discovered stone hints that a lost civilization defeated the ancient Turkish kingdom of Phrygia around the eighth century B.C.
Archaeologists Unearth Possible Shrine to Romulus, Rome’s Legendary Founder
An underground temple and sarcophagus discovered in the Roman Forum may pay homage to the mythical figure
Tomb Containing Three Generations of Warrior Women Unearthed in Russia
The four Scythians were buried together some 2,500 years ago
When the Yankees Got the Larger-Than-Life Babe Ruth
It was a fateful December a century ago, when the Red Sox-Yankees trade launched a dynasty; a Smithsonian curator reflects on the legendary home-run hitter
A Smithsonian Folklorist Delves Into the Rituals and Rewards at the Academy Awards
Folk belief holds that if you have won one Oscar, your odds of ever winning a second are greatly diminished by the dreaded “Oscar Jinx”
Fragments of Early Arthurian Legend Found in 16th-Century Book
The seven manuscript fragments, which date to the 13th century, tell the story of Merlin leading a battle charge
When Do Children Give Up on Santa?
A preview of a new international study explores when kids stop believing and how, after the jig is up, it impacted them psychologically
Why a New Robin Hood Arises Every Generation
Troubled times always bring out the noble bandit who, in the face of tyranny and corruption, robs from the rich to give back to the people
The Nazi Werewolves Who Terrorized Allied Soldiers at the End of WWII
Though the guerrilla fighters didn’t succeed in slowing the Allied occupation of Germany, they did sow fear wherever they went
Why Do So Many People Still Want to Believe in Bigfoot?
The appeal of the mythical, wild man holds strong
Illuminating the Shadowy Art of Armenian Puppet Theater
Tricksters and beasts dance across the imagination in these silhouetted puppet shows
A Search for Mysteries and Monsters in Small Town America
How monster festivals became American pilgrimage sites
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