Myths and Muses: A Mythik Camps Podcast

In this episode, we're exploring stories of heroes who lost themselves in some way and had to find themselves again. We'll see how Heracles's Twelve Labors -- the things that made him one of the most famous demigods of all time -- only happened because of something he did while under a terrible curse. We'll also see how going into a frenzy makes some Norse warriors much more fearsome, and some Arthurian knights very much the opposite, and we'll hear a little about a mysterious prophecy making its way through the mythical world. Visit the World of Mythik website to learn more and to contribute your theories to our board! All stories told on Myths & Muses are original family-friendly adaptations of ancient myths and legends. Stories from ancient mythology can also sometimes deal with complicated topics for young listeners — to the mortal parents and caretakers reading this, we encourage listening along with your young demigods to help them navigate those topics as they explore these epic tales. Transcript for Comeback Kids Episode 3 If you'd like to share your Comeback Kids story with us, get a Mortal Guardian to help you record it here! If you'd like to submit something creative you've done inspired by the stories in Myths & Muses, use this form (with a Mortal Guardian's permission!). ----more---- Stuff to Read: MythopediaTwelve LaborsBerserkers and Other Shamanic WarriorsMyths and Reality of Berserkers and UlfhednarKnightsLancelot Stuff to Watch: our curated YouTube playlist Cool Images: Bronze Hercules, 2nd century: Megara and Hercules, 3rd century: Hercules constellation, by Johann Bayer (1603): Hercules from an Italian film (1958) Disney's Hercules and Megara (1997) Drawing taken from a Swedish bronze plate (c. 900) Berserker depicted as a chess piece (12th century): "Guinevere Scorns Lancelot's Gift", George Wooliscroft Rhead and Louis Rhead (1898) "The Madman of the Forest who was Sir Launcelot", Howard Pyle (1907) "Sir Lancelot in His Madness", Innes Fripp (1912) "Sir Launcelot and the Queen Talked Sadly Together", Arthur Dixon (1921)

In this episode, the Muses have decreed that we’ll be looking at stories of heroes who were exiled from their homes and had to fight to regain what they had lost. There are a lot of epic tales that feature this theme, and it provides a great opportunity to send the hero on some sort of journey, where they can encounter monsters and challenges and all the exciting conflicts that make a story! We'll start with Sundiata Keita, a hero of the Mandinka people, and then explore a few other heroes from around the world. All stories told on Myths & Muses are original family-friendly adaptations of ancient myths and legends. Stories from ancient mythology can also sometimes deal with complicated topics for young listeners — to the mortal parents and caretakers reading this, we encourage listening along with your young demigods to help them navigate those topics as they explore these epic tales. Transcript for Comeback Kids Episode 2 If you'd like to share your Comeback Kids story with us, get a Mortal Guardian to help you record it here! If you'd like to submit something creative you've done inspired by the stories in Myths & Muses, use this form (with a Mortal Guardian's permission!). ----more---- Stuff to Read: "The true story behind The Lion King"World History EncyclopediaNational Geographic EducationNational Geographic Educationthe BBCThe Robin Hood ProjectThe Merry Adventures of Robin HoodOwlcationWorld History EncyclopediaJasonMedeaGreek MythologyWorld History Encyclopedia Stuff to Watch: our curated YouTube playlist Cool Images: Sundiata Keita by Carlos Varejão on ArtStation Sundiata Keita as he appears in the video game Civilization VI Some Victorian-era images of Robin Hood: Reynard the Fox: Disney's Robin Hood: A Statue of Arjuna in Bali: Karna and Arjuna (1899) Arjuna and a heavenly maiden (1900) Athena helping to build the Argo (1st century CE, Roman) Jason arriving in Pelias's palace (1st century AD, Roman) Medea by William Wetmore Story (1868) Jason and Medea by John William Waterhouse (1907) Poster for the 1963 film Jason and the Argonauts Jason battling skeletons in 1963's Jason and the Argonauts

Season Two of Myths & Muses kicks off with the tale of a hero who lost it all and had to start again somewhere new! Aeneas rises from the ashes almost literally, leaving the destruction of Troy behind and setting off on an adventure that takes him all over the Mediterranean and even to the Underworld. Driving him all the way is his looming destiny: to found a nation whose legacy will last for millennia. All stories told on Myths & Muses are original family-friendly adaptations of ancient myths and legends. Stories from ancient mythology can also sometimes deal with complicated topics for young listeners — to the mortal parents and caretakers reading this, we encourage listening along with your young demigods to help them navigate those topics as they explore these epic tales. Transcript for Comeback Kids Episode 1 If you'd like to share your Comeback Kids story with us, get a Mortal Guardian to help you record it here! If you'd like to submit something creative you've done inspired by the stories in Myths & Muses, use this form (with a Mortal Guardian's permission!). ----more---- Stuff to Read: MythopediaWorld History EncyclopediaThe Underworld Adventure of AeneasAeneas's Trip to the Underworld Stuff to Watch: YouTube playlist Cool Images: The Journey of Aeneas (by Simeon Netchev for World History Encyclopedia) Aeneas Carrying Anchises, black-figure pottery (c. 520 BCE) Aeneas, Anchises, and Ascanius, by Gian Lorenzo Bernini (1618) Aeneas Carrying His Father Anchises, by Ludolph Büsinck (1643) Aeneas Carrying Anchises, by Charles-Andre Van Loo (1729) The Meeting of Dido and Aeneas, by Nathaniel Dance-Holland (18th century)

Season 2: The Comeback Kid starts on April 25th! Hello, demigods! I’m Cass, host of the Myths & Muses podcast and daughter of Clio, the muse of history, here to announce that Season 2 will be launching soon! The Muses have pointed me in a really interesting direction for this season. They sent me on a bunch of research trips over the winter, and then I got home to discover that they’re all a-flutter over … an Egg. But this is not just any egg. It’s a Phoenix Egg. Actually, it’s a bunch of Phoenix Eggs that have just… appeared all over the mythical world this spring. None of us are… really sure what’s going on with that, but the Muses have proclaimed themselves inspired. They love what the Phoenix stands for: rising from the ashes, from the lowest point of failure and despair – to the bright flames of new life, new beginnings, and reinvention. What does it mean to fail, pick yourself up, and try again? What gods and heroes have stories of triumphing over adversity that might be inspirational to us? Those are the tales we’ll be exploring in Season 2: The Comeback Kid. These stories can also provide essential guidance for demigods everywhere, whether you’ve found your way to a camp or not. So if you are at Camp Half-Blood, Camp Jupiter, Daring Girls, or Camp Mythik this summer, you’ll need this information so you’re prepared for the Quests you might face– and if you’re not at camp, you need it even more since you’re out there as a solo hero. Whatever you’re facing, we hope that the stories this season will inspire you. So make sure you’re subscribed! Episode One will be available to stream or download in one week, on April 25th, 2024! Until then, stay brave, demigods!

In this fourth minisode inspired by Percy Jackson and the Olympians from Disney+, we explore the Greek and Roman traditions of prophecy and foretelling. [Transcript for Minisode 4] ----more---- More on Oracles: Oracle of Delphi: Why Was It So Important To Ancient Greeks?The Cave of the SibylDodonathe PythiaA Day in the Life of the Oracle of Delphi

In this third minisode inspired by Percy Jackson and the Olympians from Disney+, we explore a classic part of a hero's journey: entering the Underworld! The journey that Percy, Annabeth, and Grover take looks a little different from what some classical heroes encountered – although they do encounter some of the same figures and obstacles. [Transcript for Minisode 3] ----more---- More on the Underworld: 14 Journeys to the Underworld in Greek and Roman MythologyInanna's DescentIzanagi and IzanamiThe Twins Who Tricked the Maya Gods of DeathThe Death of OsirisCerberusthe Styxthe other RiversA Tour of the Greek UnderworldLegends Summarized: Underworld Myths

In this second minisode inspired by Percy Jackson and the Olympians from Disney+, we get to know the stories behind the monster Medusa. But... is she really as terrible as her legend claims? [Transcript for Minisode 2] ----more---- More on Medusa: MedusaMedusaMedusa in Ancient Greek Art"The Many Faces of Medusa""Medusa: Victim or Villain?""Miscellaneous Myths: Perseus"

With the release of Percy Jackson and the Olympians on Disney+, the Muses thought our listeners might like to know the stories behind some of the characters and creatures they'll meet in the series! In Minisode 1, we meet the Furies: goddesses of vengeance, tormenters of the wicked, and protectors of Athens. [Transcript for Minisode 1] ----more---- More on the Furies: Erinyes (Furies)The Furies: Goddesses of Vengeance or Justice?Furies"Furies (Erinyes): The Terrible Avenging Deities""The Moirai and Erinyes of Greek Mythology"

Throughout its evolution, Halloween has remained a time when the world gets a little … well, weird! For one night, the regular everyday world falls away, and it feels like anything could happen. That sense of possibility – maybe both frightening and exciting! – is central to the theme of transformation around this holiday and its central creatures. Whether it’s the world transforming to winter, the dead transforming back to the living world, the human turning into a wolf, the vampire turning into a bat, or you, yourself, turning into Darth Vader or Wonder Woman or a robot or a cat or anything else you can imagine! The idea of change lives behind so many of the myths, legends, and traditions we associate with Halloween -- and that's what we're exploring in this episode! This episode's interview features Lisa Longo, the administrative mermaid at Mythik Camps, who has also worked as a guide for ghost tours! Lisa shares some favorite ghost stories and shares why she thinks scary stories are something we enjoy. If you'd like to submit a story or artwork to be featured on Myths & Muses, use this form (with a Mortal Guardian's permission!). [Transcript for Episode 10] ----more---- Stuff to Read: The Ancient Origins of WerewolvesWerewolves in HistoryThe Long, Hidden History of the Viking Obsession With WerewolvesCarnegie Museum's Booseum on VampiresVampire HistoryHistory of Halloweenhistory of HalloweenA timeline of Halloween's development Stuff to Watch: YouTube Playlist for Episode 10 Cool Images: An Athenian vase depicting a man in a wolf skin, circa 460 BC: The "werewolves of Ossory", c. 1200 CE:

The history of sports is deeply woven into the stories humanity has told, from its earliest days. In this episode, we look at the mythological tie-ins of the Olympic Games, how wrestling shows up in many ancient stories, and a particularly wild sport from Minoan civilization. We also explore some of the most popular modern sports -- and how some of those have ancient origins, too! This episode's interview features Anna Willenbrock, a Camp Mythik and Camp Half-Blood Brooklyn Counselor who has a deep love of athletics! She's done everything from discus to sword-fighting, and she wants demigods to hear that athleticism can be for everyone. If you'd like to submit a story or artwork to be featured on Myths & Muses, use this form (with a Mortal Guardian's permission!). [Transcript for Episode 9] ----more---- Stuff to Read: The official modern Olympic guide to the ancient gamesThe history of the games from World History EncyclopediaA look at the Olympic Games from the Metropolitan Museum of ArtBulls and bull-leaping in the Minoan worldBull-Leaping in Bronze Age CreteThe Mystery of Minoan Bull-LeapingViking Games and SportsThe Great Wrestling Matches of MythWrestling in Mythology: Gilgamesh vs Enkidu Stuff to Watch: YouTube Playlist for Episode 9 Cool Images: Ancient stadium in Olympia, Greece: Olympic Boxers, c. 550 BCE (The Cleveland Museum of Art) Prize amphora showing horse-racing, c. 510 BCE (The Met) Heracles wrestling Triton (from theoi.com) Heracles wrestling Antaeus, c. 150 BCE Ullr on skis with a bow, 11th century: Ullr on skis with his bow, 18th century: The Bull-Leaping Fresco from the Great Palace at Knossos, Crete, c. 1600-1450 BCE: Minoan Bull-Leaper statue, c. 1500 BCE: Minoan gold ring showing a man leaping over a bull, c. 1400 BCE:

Music is something that we as humans have used to express ourselves for millennia – and it works its way into many of the stories we tell, too! Many myths speak to the power of music to change minds, charm beasts, and even create magic. In this episode, we explore some famous and some less-well-known tales about mythological musicians and dancers. This episode's interview features Kelly Branco, child of the Muses and a demigod with quite a bit of experience bringing music to others! You can find Kelly on her website, www.kellybranco.com, or on Instagram @kellybranxo. You can also find her epic playlists on Spotify and listen to "The Sound" on 89.1WFDU-HD3 Mondays and Thursdays 7-9pm. If you'd like to submit a story or artwork to be featured on Myths & Muses, use this form (with a Mortal Guardian's permission!). [Transcript for Episode 8] ----more---- Stuff to Read: MythopediaWorld History EncyclopediaAncient Greek musicdancethe Irish harpthe Norse god BragiThe fantastic adventures of VainamoinenKalevalathe Australian bullroarerthe Vietnamese lithophone19 of the world's oldest instruments Stuff to Watch: YouTube Playlist for Episode 8 Cool Images: Euterpe and Terpsichore from a fresco in Pompeii, c. 70 CE Euterpe, by Simon Voulet, c. 1640: Greek vase with muse playing the phorminx, a type of lyre, c. 440 BCE Recreations of Greek lyres from Luthieros: 1845 calotype photograph of the Irish harper Pádraig Dall Ó Beirn A modern Celtic harp: Two modern five-string kanteles: "The Kantele Player" by Pekka Halonen, 1892: Apsara dancers at the Bassac Theatre in 2012:

With summer at an end, the Muses have asked me to do an episode focusing on going back to school! As you might imagine, the Muses are all big fans of education. So many of the artistic things they inspire get studied in schools – books and poems and movies and paintings – but they also know that learning can inspire creativity. In this episode, we'll explore some stories about famous mythological teachers -- the figures who helped heroes become heroes -- and about some other gods of wisdom, knowledge, and learning. This episode's interview features Jordana Elias, daughter of Aphrodite and National Program Director for Plato Learning. In her mortal guise, Jordana has also worked as a classroom teacher! She shares insights on how teachers prepare to go back-to-school and assures us that they do not, in fact, hibernate in their classrooms. If you'd like to submit a story or artwork to be featured on Myths & Muses, use this form (with a Mortal Guardian's permission!). [Transcript for Episode 7] ----more---- Stuff to Read: MythopediaWorld History EncyclopediaA short audio versionTáin Bó CúalngeSeshat at the World History Encyclopediaa prayer to Thoth and Seshat for skill in writing!MythopediaWorld History EncyclopediaYggdrasilOdin's sacrifice upon the tree Stuff to Watch: YouTube Playlist for Episode 7 Cool Images: Possible location of Scáthach's school (from Undiscovered Scotland) Reproductions of images of Seshat and Thoth from temple walls: Seshat by Yliade on DeviantArt Orunmila by Noire 3000 / James C. Lewis Orunmila by Christopher Pompey on ArtStation Oden som vandringsman, or Odin as Wanderer by Georg von Rosen (1886)

Whether it’s dogs, cats, birds, fish, lizards – all kinds of pets today are a frequent inspiration for artistic expression, from Instagram photos to movies. And that’s always been true. As long as humans have had pets, we’ve wanted to work them into the stories we tell! In this episode of Myths & Muses, we look at some of mythology's most daring dogs and fabulous felines. This week's interview features a very special guest, joining us straight from the depths of Tartarus! [Transcript for Episode 6] If you'd like to submit a story or artwork to be featured on Myths & Muses, use this form (with a Mortal Guardian's permission!). ----more---- Stuff to Read: Cerberus"No, Internet, Kerberos is Probably Not 'Spot'"GarmXolotlBastet"Cats in Ancient Egypt: The Wild Companions Who Became Gods""Cats in Japanese History and Art""The fascinating history of Japan's railway station cats" Stuff to Watch: YouTube playlist for Episode 6 Cool Images: The Third Princess with her Cat, from The Tale of Genji, by Tsukioka Settei (18th century) The Story of Nippondaemon and the Cat, by Utagawa Toyokuni (1835) Hazy Moon Cats, by Utagawa Toyokuni (1846) Maneki-neko in Tokyo (2005) A collection of maneki-neko:

Our demigods are known for their swordplay, so it's only natural that we devote an episode of the podcast to the arts of war and battle! Epic fights have played a role in so many amazing stories from mythology through the ages, from the poems of Homer to modern movies. In this episode, we talk about the key PVP fight of the Trojan War, between Hector and Achilles, as well as several other major fights from Egyptian, Aztec, and Chinese mythology. This week's interview features Laine Flores, who works for Hermes as a logistics coordinator for Plato Learning, making sure that all our demigods get their swords and shirts every summer! But elsewhere in life, Laine is an expert in stage combat! Learn all about what that means in this episode. If you'd like to submit a story or artwork to be featured on Myths & Muses, use this form (with a Mortal Guardian's permission!). [Transcript for Episode 5] ----more---- Stuff to Read: Read the original story from the IliadHector of Troy: Legendary Hero of the Trojan WarHector vs Achilles: Comparing the Two Great WarriorsHorusSetTezcatlipocaQuetzalcoatlAztec creation storyNuwa Stuff to Watch: YouTube Playlist for Episode 5 Cool Images: Achilles Slays Hector, painting by Peter Paul Rubens (c. 1630) Eric Bana as Hector and Brad Pitt as Achilles in Troy (2004) From the throne of a statue of King Sesostri I, showing Horus and Seth binding together the symbolic plants of Upper and Lower Egypt. ca. 1961 -1917 BCE. Quetzalcoatl and Tezcatlipoca, art reproduced from the Codex Borbonicus (c. 1500)

From ancient board games to modern video games and tabletop role-playing games, this episode looks at how demigods play -- and the role that games have sometimes played in mythological stories! From the Hero Twins of the Maya Popol Vuh and their ball game that you can really lose your head over to the Egyptian game of senet and its role in the Egyptian calendar, we explore some ancient origins of gaming. Then, we bring it all the way forward, exploring how modern video games and tabletop role-playing games incorporate mythology, often putting the player right in the role of an epic hero. And, of course, no episode on demigod gaming would be complete without discussing Mytho, Mythik Camps' very own tabletop role-playing game. This week's interview features Shann Smith, child of Dionysus, who also runs our Mytho programming! Shann discusses their love for the community-building and improvisational aspects of tabletop gaming, as well as their work developing their own games. If you'd like to submit a story or artwork to be featured on Myths & Muses, use this form (with a Mortal Guardian's permission!). [Transcript for Episode 4] ----more---- Stuff to Read: The Maya Ball GameSenet and Twenty SquaresHounds and JackalsMehenThe Royal Game of Urplay online!MythoAeonD&D: 10 Monsters Inspired By Real World MythologyBoard games inspired by mythology Stuff to Watch: Youtube Playlist for Episode 4 Cool Images: Ball court at Chichen Itza: Maya ball court in Belize: Senet game board and pieces, ca. 1550–1295 B.C. From Egypt, Abydos (The Metropolitan Museum of Art)

Siblings! They can be the absolute best... or the absolute worst, especially when we're talking about families with divine powers. In this episode, we'll explore some of the most famous tales of sibling rivalry, like that of Romulus and Remus, as well as stories where the siblings manage to pull together! We'll also talk about how the importance of twins carry down from the divine to mortal life in Yoruba culture, and we explore some of the common sibling-themes found in fairy tales and folklore across the world. This episode's interview features Sarah Ryan, daughter of Athena and someone who has a special understanding with Baba Yaga. Sarah shares some of the important sibling and sibling-esque relationships in her own life, as well as her observations of how all the demigod siblings at our camps work together! If you'd like to submit a story or artwork to be featured on Myths & Muses, use this form (with a Mortal Guardian's permission!). [Transcript for Episode 3] ----more---- Stuff to Read: overview from World History Encyclopediastory as PlutarchCastor and Pollux's storyTips for finding Geministory of Nut and Gebcreation myth of Izanagi and Izanami"In Praise of the Lesser-Known Siblings of Mythology,"3 stories from Korea, Japan, and Turkistan1 from Ukraine1 from SerbiaFrom the Brothers Grimm"Three Brothers Who Followed the Sun," Stuff to Watch: YouTube playlist for Episode 3 Cool Images: Images of Ere ibeji: See some and read more about them at The Met

Art is amazing! The creative impulse has spurred humanity for thousands of years. We naturally want to tell stories, paint pictures, shape metal and stone into beautiful objects, and perform through song, dance, and theatre. In this episode, we explore the mythological connections to all those ways of expressing creativity! From the Muses of Greece to the Hindu goddess Saraswati, from Anansi the spider to Celtic metalworkers, we'll introduce some of the most epic figures related to arts and crafting. This episode's interview features Elle Vallejos, daughter of Aphrodite, former Daring Girls Counselor, and current Hiring & Recruiting Manager for Plato Learning! Elle is an illustrator and costumer, and she shares some of her journey as a creative artist. If you'd like to submit a story or artwork to be featured on Myths & Muses, use this form (with a Mortal Guardian's permission!). [Transcript for Episode 2] ----more---- Stuff to Read: general overview of the MusesHomer's invocations of the Museswriting promptIntroduction to AnansiFibbed"Kwaku Anansi: The only folklore character to travel out of Africa and become a global symbol of resistance"Ancient Celtic ArtBrigidLughSaraswatiActing and Greek Theatre: Honoring Dionysus Stuff to Watch: Our Episode 2 Youtube playlist! With features on the Muses, Anansi and his stories, Athena, Hephaestus, Lugh and Celtic artwork, Homer and oral storytelling, and Saraswati! Cool Images: Artwork from Elle Vallejos: The Snettisham Great Torc, Britain, 1st century BCE The Celtic Lochar Moss torc, Scotland. 1st-2nd century CE. The god Cernunnos on the Gundestrup Cauldron, Denmark, 1st century BCE: Killamery High Cross, Ireland, 9th century CE Painting of the Goddess Saraswati by Raja Ravi Varma, 1896

What happens when the Muses of Greek mythology want to have a podcast... but they don't actually want to do the work of making one? They conscript a demigod, of course! In the inaugural episode of Myths and Muses: A Plato Learning Podcast, we start at the very beginning: origin stories and myths of creation! Whether it's stories of how the whole world and all the gods came to be, or stories with a smaller focus, like the creation of a particular flower, origin stories can tell us a lot about a culture. They're also Origin something we humans seem to find endlessly fascinating – at least if all the Batman and Wolverine movies are anything to go by! We'll look at a few examples, then dive into the origins of storytelling itself. This episode's interview features Persephone and her mortal alter-ego, Plato Learning founder Crystal Bobb-Semple! If you'd like to submit a story or artwork to be featured on Myths & Muses, use this form (with a Mortal Guardian's permission!). [Transcript for Episode 1] ----more---- Stuff to Read: 25 Creation Stories from around the WorldWhere did writing come from?Visible WritingIn the Beginning: Creation Stories from Around the WorldPopol Vuh: A RetellingThe Storytelling Animal: How Stories Make Us HumanMore information on our summer camps and other programming! Stuff to Watch: Myths & Muses Episode 1 tie-in YouTube playlistTED Ed: Why do we tell stories? Cool Images: Cave painting: Chauvet Cave, France. 30,000 to 28,000 BCE. Cave Painting: Serra da Capivara, Brazil. 28,000 to 6,000 BCE. Cave Painting: Cumberland Valley Caves, Tennessee, U.S. Dated to: 4,000 BCE. Cave Painting: Cueva de las Manos, Argentina. 7,300 BCE to 700 CE. Cave Painting: Lubang Jeriji Saléh, Indonesia. More than 40,000 years old. Cuneiform tablet, Shuruppak, circa 2600 BCE Egyptian hieroglyphs, c. 3000 BCE: Oracle Bone Script, China, c. 1250 BCE: Maya codices, c. 900-1500 CE: