TED-Ed
TED-Ed: Can you solve the cursed dice riddle? | Dan Finkel
Ah, spring. As Demeter, Goddess of the Harvest, it's your favorite season. Humans and animals look to you to balance the bounty of the natural world which, like any self-respecting Goddess, you do with a pair of magical dice. But then,...
Crash Course
Ma'ui, Oceania's Hero: Crash Course World Mythology
In which Mike Rugnetta teaches you about Ma'ui, prominent hero of many cultures in Oceania, aka the Pacific Island nations. Ma'ui is just the kind of hero we're interested in here at Crash Course. He's a culture hero, he's a an...
TED-Ed
TED-ED: The legend of Annapurna, Hindu goddess of nourishment - Antara Raychaudhuri and Iseult Gillespie
Historically, the union between Shiva and Parvati was a glorious one: a sacred combination which brought fertility and connection to all living things. Yet a rift had grown between these two forces. Setting out to prove the importance of...
TED-Ed
TED-ED: The myth of Arachne and Athena - Iseult Gillespie
From sailors who were turned into pigs, nymphs that sprouted into trees, and a gaze that converted the beholder to stone, Greek mythology brims with shape-shifters. The powerful Gods usually changed their own forms at will - but for...
TED-Ed
TED-Ed: The myth of the moon goddess | Cynthia Fay Davis
The sun god was in love with the moon goddess, Ix Chel. But the goddess' grandfather was very possessive, and would not let the sun god anywhere near his beloved granddaughter. Desperate to be together, they escaped and were ready to...
TED Talks
Charles Fleischer: All things are Moleeds
In a presentation that can only be described as epic, comedian Charles Fleischer delivers a hysterical send-up of a time-honored TED theme: the map. Geometry, numbers, charts and stamp art also factor in (somehow), as he weaves together...
TED-Ed
TED-Ed: A day in the life of an ancient Egyptian doctor - Elizabeth Cox
It's another sweltering morning in Memphis, Egypt. As the sunlight brightens the Nile, Peseshet checks her supplies. Honey, garlic, cumin, acacia leaves, cedar oil -- she's well stocked with the essentials she needs to treat her...
TED-Ed
The epic of Gilgamesh, the king who tried to conquer death | Soraya Field Fiorio
In 1849, in the ancient city of Nineveh in Iraq, archaeologists sifted through dusty remains, hoping to find records to prove that Bible stories were true. What they found instead was a 4,000-year-old story inscribed on crumbling clay...
TED-Ed
TED-ED: Who were the Vestal Virgins, and what was their job? - Peta Greenfield
In ancient Rome, Vestal Virgins were tasked with keeping vigil over the flame of Vesta, the virgin goddess of the hearth. The flame represented two things: the continuation of Rome as a power in the world and the continuing virginity of...
Crash Course
Fire and Buffalo Goddesses: Crash Course World Mythology
This week, we're continuing our talk about the characteristics of Goddesses, and we're going to look in depth at two stories from parts of the world we haven't visited much in this series so far. From Hawaii, we're going to hear a story...
TED Talks
TED: What's so sexy about math? | Cedric Villani
Hidden truths permeate our world; they're inaccessible to our senses, but math allows us to go beyond our intuition to uncover their mysteries. In this survey of mathematical breakthroughs, Fields Medal winner Cedric Villani speaks to...
TED-Ed
TED-ED: The Cambodian myth of lightning, thunder, and rain - Prumsodun Ok
"Moni Mekhala Ream Eyso" is the most sacred dance drama in Cambodia. It is performed every year in the buong suong ceremony, and explains the origins of lightning, thunder and rain according to the Khmer people. Prumsodun Ok tells this...
Crash Course
Cosmic Sexy Time, Eggs, Seeds, and Water: Crash Course World Mythology
In which Mike teaches you about the creation of the universe, with sex. This week we're talking about creations stories from Egypt, West Africa, Greece, China, and Persia that have a lot in common with human sexual reproduction. And also...
TED-Ed
TED-ED: The Egyptian myth of Isis and the seven scorpions - Alex Gendler
A woman in rags emerged from a swamp flanked by seven giant scorpions and approached a magnificent mansion to beg for food. But the mistress of the house took one look at her grimy clothes and unusual companions and slammed the door in...
Crash Course
Indian Pantheons: Crash Course World Mythology
In which Mike Rugnetta continues our unit on pantheons with the complex Indian pantheon, focusing on stories that were written in Sanskrit. We start with a violent creation story. We talk about the concept of Brahman, and the...
Crash Course
The Epic of Gilgamesh: Crash Course World Mythology
This week, we're continuing our discussion of heroes by talking about Gilgamesh, star of one of the earliest written hero stories, The Epic of Gilgamesh. Gilgamesh was a terrible ancient king who left his kingdom seeking adventure, and...
Crash Course
The Norse Pantheon: Crash Course World Mythology
This week, we're headed north. To check out the gods of the Northmen. Or the Norse. That's right, we're talking Thor, Loki, Freyr, Freya, Odin, Frigg, Baldr, and Tyr. And Fenrir. And the Frost Giants. There's a lot to cover here, and...
Crash Course
Great Goddesses: Crash Course World Mythology
Great Goddesses: Crash Course World Mythology #13
TED-Ed
TED-Ed: A day in the life of an ancient Greek architect | Mark Robinson
The year is 432 BCE. As dawn breaks over Athens, Pheidias is already late for work. He is the chief builder for the Parthenon — Athens' newest and largest temple— and when he arrives onsite, city officials accuse him of embezzling gold...
Crash Course
Pantheons of the Ancient Mediterranean: Crash Course World Mythology
In which Mike Rugnetta begins our unit on pantheons, which are families of gods. We further define pantheons and talk about why they're important. Then, we discuss pantheons from the myths of the ancient Mediterranean, starting with...
Crash Course
The Greeks and Romans - Pantheons Part 3: Crash Course World Mythology
This week, we continue our look at various Pantheons, and Mike digs deep into the gods of the ancient Greeks. We're talking Zeus, Hera, Poseidon, Hades, Artemis, Hephaestos, Ares, and Apollo. We're also talking Jupiter, Juno, Neptune,...
Weird History
Mythical Origin of Words
Have you ever wondered why the days of the week are named the way they are? Sunday and Monday are named after the sun and moon, which makes sense, but then we've also got Saturday, which is named after the Roman god Saturn. And then,...
Curated Video
The Origins of the Months: Unraveling the Stories Behind the Names
In this video, the teacher explains the origins of the names of the months of the year. From January to December, each month is associated with a specific deity or event from ancient Roman culture. The video highlights interesting facts...
Curated Video
Landmarks - Parthenon
PARTHENON THE PARTHENON INATHENS IS ONE OF THE BEST-KNOWN LANDMARKS IN THE WORLD TOWERING OVER CENTRAL ATHENS ON ACROPOLIS HILL IT IS KNOWN TO BE ONE OF, IF NOT THE ACTUAL, BIRTH PLACE OF DEMOCRACY. BUILT AT THE HEIGHT OF GREEK...