What is a legend? A legend is...

What is a legend? A legend is a traditional story rooted in history, often involving real events or people, embellished with imaginative or supernatural elements.

Like myths, legends aim to explain the origin of certain things. However, legends are usually smaller in scale than myths. More often, they cover a short time span — such as a hero’s journey or feat, the founding of a city, the appearance or transformation of a landscape, and so on.

Legends also usually describe events that take place in real, identifiable locations. Additionally, they may mention actual historical figures. All of this sets legends apart from fairy tales and other genres, giving them a distinctive charm — where it’s difficult to distinguish fiction from fact.

Other Questions About Mythology

• What is a myth?
• What is mythology?

Legends from World Mythologies

Go to the Slavic Myths and Legends

Slavic Myths and Legends

Go to the Egyptian Myths and Legends

Egyptian Myths and Legends

Go to the Greek Myths and Legends

Greek Myths and Legends

Go to the Roman Myths and Legends

Roman Myths and Legends

Go to the Norse Myths and Legends

Norse Myths and Legends

Go to the Celtic Myths and Legends

Celtic Myths and Legends