The invention of paper is attributed to ancient China. Papermaking is traditionally believed to have been invented by Cai Lun, a Chinese eunuch and official during the Eastern Han Dynasty, around 105 CE. Cai Lun’s contribution to papermaking involved the refinement of the process, making it more consistent and practical for widespread use. This invention …
Chinese mythology refers to the myths, legends, and folklore of the collective regions that make up modern China. Originating from rich oral tradition, Chinese mythology and the vibrant history surrounding it are eons old. Today, most of China practices some form of folk religion, Buddhism, or Taoism. Other mainstay religions include Christianity and Islam. What …
The princes in the Tower were the two child princes imprisoned and later killed during the War of the Roses in England. Their story is a very tragic and mysterious one. With so many power-hungry players and ambitious men featured in the story, historians still have not been able to figure out exactly what happened …
Medusa is a famous monster from Greek mythology. This fearsome creature with a head of snakes and the power to turn men to stone has been a recurring feature of popular fiction and, in modern consciousness, one of the staples of Greek myth. But there is more to Medusa than her monstrous gaze. Her history …
Valkyries are powerful female mythical beings from Norse mythology. They were considered handmaidens of Odin, the All-Father and chief god in Norse mythology. Valkyries were often depicted as fierce and beautiful women, often riding winged horses and wearing armor. They were skilled warriors in their own right, and some stories suggest they would also join …
Though the Norse pantheon is vast, many of its members remain somewhat obscure. Norse myths were transferred orally in the pre-Christian era, and in those centuries before the written word, stories and their characters tended to be lost, changed, or supplanted by something that came later. So, while names like Odin or Loki are familiar …