Myth Madness

Nathan Rutherford
  • 5.0 (3)
  • HISTORY
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Myths from around the world with some history on the people and civilizations that told them.

  1. 4D AGO

    Garshasp's Indian Cruise

    In this section of the Garshaspnama, Garshasp and his Iranian troops embark on a naval voyage of “India”. This India is an exotic magical place. A place of strange people, marvellous sights, and miracles as imagined by the medieval Persians.

    36 min

  2. JAN 19

    Garshasp Goes To India

    This episode (70) continues with the next part of the Garshaspnama. Previously, Garshasp faced a dragon which blocked passage to India. With the dragon slain, and the path to India clear, it is only natural that Garshasp’s next adventures will be in India as he battles against warlords and embarks on conquest.

    29 min

  3. JAN 5

    Garshasp the Dragon-Slayer

    This episode (69) introduces my retelling of the Garshaspnama, a Persian epic poem completed around 1066 AD. This work was likely inspired by the earlier Shahnameh but focuses on a completely different story. The Garshaspnama covers the exploits of a hero named Garshasp who is almost completely absent from the Shahnameh but who is very important in the even more ancient Zoroastrian Avesta. In this part, Garshasp faces a monstrous dragon and I discuss his Avestan counterpart.

    23 min

  4. 12/22/2025

    Jamshid's Fate in the Garshaspnama

    The last two episodes featured Jamshid, a legendary king of the world in Persian mythology. According to the Shahnameh, for many years Jamshid enjoyed the favour of the Creator and invented many aspects of civilization for the first people. However, hubris brought Jamshid’s downfall and he was eventually deposed by the monstrous tyrant Zahhak. After his overthrow, Jamshid disappeared for 100 years but was eventually found and executed by Zahhak. The Shahnameh does not say what Jamshid did for those 100 years. For that we have to look to another epic poem called the Garshaspnama...

    24 min

  5. 12/08/2025

    Zahhak - The Serpent-Shouldered

    After Jamshid was pushed from the throne, the monstrous Zahhak rose to power and the accursed tyrant ushered in a Dark Age. It was a backwards world where virtue was shunned and cruelty celebrated. However, hope was never far away. This episode (67) details the story of Zahhak as presented in the Shahnameh and the rise of the hero Fereydun.

    37 min

  6. 11/24/2025

    Jamshid

    One of the best sources for Persian myths is the Shahnameh or “Book of Kings”. This epic poem was composed in 1010 AD and is one of the most important examples of Iranian literature. It tells a legendary history of Persia, starting with creation and the doings of the first kings, and then covers stories of successive generations of kings and their heroic champions.  This episode (66) covers one of the most significant kings – Jamshid, and his rise and ultimate fall after he succumbs to hubris.

    27 min

  7. 11/10/2025

    Hushang & Tahmuras – Persian Mythology's Demon-Slayer Kings

    The struggle between Good and Evil is a central theme of Persian mythology. This is not just a human struggle. Persian myths and legends often feature divs, creatures who work mischief on behalf of the evil spirit Ahriman. In this episode (65) I talk about divs, how they made trouble for the early humans and how two legendary Persian kings – Hushang and Tahmuras – fought against the divs and defeated them.

    29 min

  8. 10/27/2025

    The Origin of Humans in Zoroastrianism

    In this episode (64) I cover the creation of humans according to ancient Zoroastrian religious texts. I talk about the role of Gayomart (aka Keyumars), the prototypical First Man, and how he fought against the supreme evil spirit Ahriman. To understand how these myths changed over time, I compare the Zoroastrian version to what is written in the Shahnameh, a medieval Persian epic poem. I also discuss the first couple Mashya and Mashyana and how their descendants spread over the Earth.

    19 min
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5
out of 5
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About

Myths from around the world with some history on the people and civilizations that told them.

Information

  • Creator
    Nathan Rutherford
  • Years Active
    2022 - 2026
  • Episodes
    71
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Myth Madness
  • Show Website
    Myth Madness