One of the well - known Japanese mythology stories is about Amaterasu. She is the sun goddess. According to the myth, her brother Susanoo's actions made her hide in a cave, which plunged the world into darkness. The other gods had to come up with a plan to lure her out. They created a mirror and made a lot of noise outside the cave. Amaterasu peeked out to see what was going on, saw her reflection in the mirror which was so beautiful that she came out, bringing light back to the world.
There is a story about the Tengu. Tengu are often considered to be mountain - dwelling spirits with long noses and wings. In some tales, they are seen as protectors of the mountains and forests. However, in other stories, they can be quite naughty. They might play tricks on humans who venture into their territory, like leading them astray in the mountains.
Another love story is that of Kushinada - hime and Susanoo. Susanoo was banished from heaven and on his journey, he saved Kushinada - hime from an eight - headed serpent. He then married her. Their story is also a significant part of Japanese mythology, showing how love can emerge from a heroic rescue.
Well, in the top mythology stories, the story of King Arthur in Celtic mythology is quite famous. It involves the magical sword Excalibur, the Knights of the Round Table, and their quests. Also, the Hindu myth of Rama and Sita is a great one. Rama has to rescue his wife Sita from the demon king Ravana. Then there's the Chinese myth of Pangu, who created the world by separating the sky from the earth.
One of the top mythology stories is the Greek myth of Pandora's Box. Pandora was given a box by the gods and was told not to open it. But curiosity got the better of her, and when she opened it, all the evils in the world were released, like sickness, death, and sorrow. Only hope remained inside the box.
The settings are typically in spooky, traditional Japanese locations such as old temples, dark forests or abandoned villages. These places add to the overall sense of horror. And many of the creatures in these stories have unique and disturbing physical features, like the Noppera - Bo with no face.
For beginners, the story of Theseus and the Minotaur is a great start. Theseus volunteered to go into the Labyrinth to slay the Minotaur, a half - man half - bull monster. He managed to find his way out of the Labyrinth with the help of Ariadne's thread. It's a simple yet exciting story that showcases heroism. Another beginner - friendly story is about Demeter and Persephone. Demeter, the goddess of the harvest, was devastated when her daughter Persephone was abducted by Hades. This led to the seasons on Earth, as Demeter refused to let anything grow while her daughter was in the underworld.
The story of Pandora's Box is quite famous. Pandora, the first woman created by the gods, was given a box (actually a jar in the original) and was told not to open it. But curiosity got the better of her, and when she opened it, all the evils of the world were released, leaving only hope inside. Then there is the story of Orpheus and Eurydice. Orpheus, a talented musician, went to the underworld to retrieve his dead wife Eurydice. His music was so powerful that it charmed Hades, the god of the underworld, but in the end, he lost her again due to his own mistake.
Among the top 10 Roman mythology stories, the story of Juno is significant. She was the queen of the gods and the wife of Jupiter. She was a powerful figure, often jealous of Jupiter's affairs with other goddesses and mortals. She was also associated with marriage and childbirth. Another story is that of Mars, the god of war. He was a symbol of military might and was highly revered by the Romans. His temples were places where soldiers would go to pray for victory before battles.
In Roman mythology, the story of Vulcan is quite interesting. Vulcan was the god of fire and metalworking. He was known for his skill in forging amazing weapons and objects. He was also married to Venus, which led to some rather complex and dramatic stories within the mythology. The story of Minerva, the goddess of wisdom, is also among the top. She was highly respected and was often associated with knowledge, art, and strategic warfare. Her temple was a place of great learning and reverence in Rome.