Legendary Tales or Once Upon a Myth
Take a deep dive into the realms of arcane legends that have captivated the human race for countless generations. Step into a world where the past converses with the present. Be mesmerised with intrigue, magic and often murder as Susanna bravely embarks on timeless tales of fabled heroes, dreaded beasts and powerful gods.
Episodes
27 episodes
Consider the Egg
The glorious egg, with its deep links to Creation mythology, is one of the oldest symbols of life and rebirth known.Have you ever looked, really looked, at an egg? We are used to seeing the egg on our breakfast table, or ready to whisk i...
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6:28
The Merman who laughed
Three times the merman laughed, and the fisherman wanted to know why. A tale from Iceland
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4:58
The Truth about Saint Patrick
Propaganda is a mighty tool, as powerful in historical times as it is today. Hagiographers, those writers who specialise in chronicling saints' lives, invented Patrick, the ancient super hero - endowing him with a magic staff which could ...
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7:48
The Betrothal of Destiny
Adventure, misadventure, kidnappings and kings all combine into a betrothal. Destiny is all.
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13:03
The Grave of Gelert
The origins of most old tales would fail today’s standards and would be rated as inappropriate for children but many of these stories have some basis in truth. Is there any truth in the Welsh story of Gelert?
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4:51
How the Frog made the Flood
In this tale from Australia, a frog had swallowed all the water in the land causing a dreadful drought. To release the water, someone had to make the frog laugh.
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7:30
Tristan and Isolde
A legendary love story. A nervous bride, a magic potion, forbidden love, deceit in the night and the usual medieval misogyny
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6:17
The Oldest Love Story in the World
Pyramus and Thisbe is a familiar tale, it's the story of young lovers whose union is thwarted by their opposing parents and whose lives end in double suicide based on a misunderstanding.
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6:09
The Lovers and the Enchanted Glass
A nasty tale of evil sisters, enchanted glass and ogre's fat.
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3:26
The Manx Miller
On the Isle of Man, a miller takes on a strange mill hand who willingly works without wages.
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6:57
The Wooden Shoe
A Christmas Story. Once upon a time there was a little orphan boy whose name was Wolff. Although he was treated harshly by a nasty old aunt, a nasty schoolmaster and even nastier schoolboys, little Wolff had great charity in his heart.
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11:43
Fionn mac Cumhail and the Causeway
And a better fighting man than Fionn never struck his hand into a king’s hand, and whatever anyone ever said of him, he was three times better. This is how Fionn won the fight against the Scottish giant, but you don't have to fight to win...
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4:29
Too Lazy to Spin
It's not difficult to spin flax, just boring. Especially if you're lazy. But sometimes laziness can pay off. A tale from Germany.
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8:11
Death in a Nutshell
In the days before the beanstalk, Jack wrestles Death and finds out about life. A tale from Scotland.
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10:34
Bast
Bast and her feast day are overlooked in modern times but you could perhaps say that Halloween is celebrated on the Feast of Bast.
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6:35
The Pukwedgie
Pukwudgies are mysterious creatures hidden deep in the forests of North America
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3:30