Trials myths and legends

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Jason’s Yoking of the Fire-Breathing Bulls in Colchis

🏛️ Greek MythologyAncient Phasis (Poti), GeorgiaJason • Medea • Aeëtes

To claim the Golden Fleece, the hero Jason was tasked by King Aeëtes of Colchis with taming two fire-breathing, bronze-hoofed bulls known as the Khalkotauroi. With the assistance of the sorceress Medea and her magical protective ointment, Jason successfully yoked the beasts and plowed the Field of Ares. This feat led to the sowing of dragon teeth and the eventual retrieval of the Fleece.

Susanoo Chasing Okuninushi but Ultimately Blessing His Union with Suserihime

⛩️ Japanese MythologyYomotsu Hirasaka, Shimane, JapanOnamuchi (Okuninushi) • Suserihime • Susanoo-no-Mikoto

This myth tells of the young god Onamuchi, later known as Okuninushi, who flees to the underworld to escape his murderous brothers. There, he falls in love with Suserihime, the daughter of the storm god Susanoo, who subjects Onamuchi to a series of deadly trials. After escaping with Suserihime and Susanoo's sacred treasures, Onamuchi is chased to the gates of the underworld, where Susanoo...

Susanoo Testing Okuninushi by Locking Him in a Chamber Full of Venomous Snakes

⛩️ Japanese MythologyIzumo Region, Shimane, JapanSusanoo-no-Mikoto • Okuninushi • Suseri-hime

Seeking the hand of Princess Suseri-hime, the earthly god Okuninushi travels to Ne-no-Kuni, the underworld realm of her father, the storm god Susanoo. Susanoo subjects Okuninushi to a series of deadly trials, beginning by locking him in a chamber filled entirely with venomous snakes. With the help of Suseri-hime's magical scarf, Okuninushi survives this and subsequent trials to eventually...

Princess Suserihime Falling in Love with Okuninushi When He Flees to Ne-no-kuni

⛩️ Japanese MythologySuga Shrine, Shimane, JapanOkuninushi • Suserihime • Susanoo

This myth recounts how the young deity Okuninushi fled the murderous plots of his eighty jealous brothers and sought refuge in Ne-no-kuni, the dark netherworld ruled by Susanoo. Upon his arrival, Okuninushi met Susanoo's daughter, Princess Suserihime, and the two immediately fell in love. Despite the grueling and lethal trials Susanoo forced upon his daughter's suitor, Suserihime's devotion...

Set Challenging Horus to a Boat Race Using Ships Made of Stone

🏺 Egyptian MythologyNile River, EgyptHorus • Set • Isis

As part of a long legal and physical struggle for the throne of Egypt, the god Set challenged his nephew Horus to a race using boats carved from stone. While Set attempted to craft a massive vessel out of a literal mountain, the clever Horus constructed a wooden boat and disguised it with plaster to appear like stone. When the race began on the Nile, Set's heavy ship immediately sank, while...

Lu Dongbin Passing the Ten Grueling Tests of Character to Become an Immortal

🐉 Chinese MythologyYellow Crane Tower, Wuhan, ChinaLu Dongbin • Zhongli Quan • Bai Mudan

The scholar Lu Dongbin encounters the immortal Zhongli Quan and undergoes ten rigorous trials designed to test his detachment, virtue, and resolve. From facing the illusion of his family's death to resisting the temptations of wealth and lust, Lu proves his worthiness for the Tao. His success leads to his transformation into one of the legendary Eight Immortals, often associated with the...