Mythology & Folklore

The Celtic Dragon Myth (St. George by Gustave Moreau Public Domain Image ) This story has elements about dragons that I think would be interesting to use in my own stories. Not only does it contain dragons but other mythical creatures such as giants, mermaids, and fairies. It also has a lot of symbolism that would be very interesting to use in my own writing, such as the significance of the number 3 and black horses and dogs.  I want to compare dragon myths and tales from many cultures and this Celtic story was very interesting in that regard. Source: The Celtic Dragon Myth by J.F. Campbell (1911) How Beowulf Overcame the Dragon (Dragon GIF created with Giphy from Beowulf (2007)) This story has so many interesting points that I could use to weave new stories. I always like turning the perspective of stories around so maybe I could write a story from the Dargon's perspective - making Beowulf the villain and the dragon the hero. Source: Stories of Beowulf T...

(Clockwork Girl & Boy by Milo ) “They call me a magician,” he grumbled to himself as he stared down into the Jewish ghetto below. Beyond the ghetto stood the towering heights of the city-proper. He sat in his leather chair in his dimly lit study twirling the end of his bushy mustache around the tip of his finger.  The Sabbath was approaching and he had no one to assist him. The people feared him - so much that none would work for him.   They were afraid not because he was an evil man but because he was a learned man, a man of science. Drawings of fantastical flying machines on yellowed parchment littered his desk. The people feared Rabbi Lion and his experiments. His genius was not yet understood. Bright flashes of light sometimes shone from his windows. The lay people attributed these flashes of light to demons so none were willing to enter his service.   “Pfft, if I were able to wield magic why would I not just command someone to serve me,” he thought. ...

"The Sleep of One Hundred Years" Rabbi Onias is travelling to Jerusalem the city ravaged by war, the first temple destroyed travelled by camel with a basket of dates and a leather bottle of water did not eat in case he came across someone who needed it more the land around the city was deserted except for a man planting a carob tree at the bottom of a hill must replant his destroyed vineyards so that the land may live again Onias passed the man and continued his journey reaches the top of the hill and sees the once beautiful city of Jerusalem is now destroyed begins to weep lays down at sunset with his head on his camel falls into a deep sleep sleeps for days, then weeks, then months, then years birds and wind dropped seeds around Onias as he slept grew into a thick hedge around him hiding him from sight date in his basket fell out and grew a large date palm that provided shade slept for 100 years awoke and stretched aching bones very confused ...