Look at this picture. What do you see? A human? A monkey? This is Bigfoot. According to myths, he lives in the forests of North America. People say they have seen him before. But science says he doesn't exist. It says that people who see him are confusing him for another creature. What do you think?
Bigfoot is an example of a myth. A myth is an old story. Some myths try to explain a natural phenomenon. Some myths try to explain the origin of a creature.
Myths can be found all over the world. Let's look at ancient Greece. Ancient Greece has so many myths. We call it ancient Greek mythology. This is the name for the collection of Greek myths. Greek mythology contains stories about gods, animals, and much more.
This bird might look like it flew too close to the sun, but it has a special power! This bird is called a phoenix. It is magical and lives for hundreds of years. When it dies, it bursts into flames. Then it is reborn from its ashes. It is a symbol of fire and the rising sun.
Another animal in ancient Greek mythology is the centaur. Centaurs have the upper body of a man and the lower body of a horse. Imagine if it were the other way round!
Mythology tells us that they are the children of Ixion, a king, and a Nephele, a female goddess. Centaurs lived in the forest and did not follow the laws of humans. They were wild. They were controlled by their animal passions. They followed advice from the stars and trusted their visions.
But not all myths are ancient. Like Bigfoot, Ogopogo - or Oggy - is a myth from modern-day North America. It is a lake monster living in the Okanagan Lake in British Columbia, Canada. Some say the myth goes back to First Nation stories.
In the 1980s, a tourism agency offered money for good footage of Oggy. Lots of people sent their videos. However, lots of these videos were hoaxes. A hoax is when you fake something to fool others. Today, Oggy is used to make people visit the region.
Looking at this animal, you may think it is harmless. But don't be mistaken. According to Scottish myths, this is a kelpie. A kelpie is a spirit which can change shapes. It lives in the water. They are said to haunt rivers and streams.
The myth says that the kelpie sits by rivers. It looks attractive to children. But when children get on its back, they cannot get off! They are dragged into the water and eaten by the kelpie. So next time you see a horse next to the water, be careful!
As you know, science tells us these myths are not true. But what do you think?