Ferrous Friend or Foe? How Iron Became the Enemy of Fairy Folk
Iron bands around coffin of a witch were believed to prevent them from escaping their tombs. Yet iron has also been the saviour of many church bell ringers.
The Cretan Labyrinth – Myth, History, and Archaeology
The labyrinth has a long history. Depictions in rock art may date back as far as 10,500-4800 BCE. But the most famous labyrinth is that of ancient Crete.
#PhallusThursday – The Penis as Potent Symbol
Many classical sculptures today have lost their penises to time and prudery but the ancient world was awash with explicit graphic imagery.
Oaxacan Ruin Lore: When the Stones Come For You
Mitla is a Zapotec town in Oaxaca, a state in southern Mexico. Its name is derived from the Aztec place-name, Mictlan, which means, “land of the dead,” and is also incidentally the name for the Aztec underworld.
Angels and Devils: The Legend of the Holy Mountain
The Skirrid Fawr Hill near Abergavenny in Wales is no ordinary hill, but a place of myth, legend, strong religious connection, and black deeds.