Culture, Myth and Art

Objects in the sky and other natural phenomena have inspired people throughout the ages. Browse our collection of myths, folk tales, and stories of many types about the Earth and sky. Check out artwork, poetry, books, and movies that portray the natural world.
Dutch painter Jan Vermeer painted the town of Delft, Holland where he lived for his entire life (1632-1675). Above the town, he painted <a href="/earth/Atmosphere/clouds/stratocumulus.html&edu=high&dev=1">stratocumulus clouds</a> in the sky. Stratocumulus clouds usually produce only light precipitation, in the form of <a href="/earth/Atmosphere/precipitation/drizzle.html&edu=high&dev=1">drizzle</a>.<p><small><em>Image courtesy of Corel</em></small></p>For the Aztecs, who lived in central Mexico, <a href="/mythology/tonatiuh.html&edu=high&dev=1">Tonatiuh</a> was a <a href="/sun/sun.html&edu=high&dev=1">Sun</a> god. Aztecs believed that four suns had been created in four previous ages, and all of them had died at the end of each cosmic era. Tonatiuh was the fifth sun and the present era is still his. The carvings on this sunstone represent the four cycles of creation and destruction in the Aztec creation story. The skull at the center depicts the god Tonatiuh.<p><small><em> Image courtesy of Corel Corporation.</em></small></p>Left section of the east frieze of the Siphnian Treasury (c. 525 B.C.) depicting from left to right <a href="/mythology/Definitions_gods/Venus_def.html&edu=high&dev=1"> Venus</a>, <a href="/mythology/Diana_def.html&edu=high&dev=1"> Diana</a>, and <a href="/mythology/Definitions_gods/Apollo_def.html&edu=high&dev=1"> Apollo</a>. This portion of the frieze shows the gods sitting, watching the Greeks raid Troy.<p><small><em> Image courtesy of the Superintendency (Ephoria) of Prehistoric and Classical Antiquities in Delphi. Greek Ministry of Culture-Archaeological Receipt Fund. (c) Greek Ministry of Culture.</em></small></p>British painter John Constable (1776-1837) made many paintings of clouds. It looks like he depicted towering <a href="/earth/Atmosphere/clouds/cumulus.html&edu=high&dev=1">cumulus clouds</a> in this painting of Weymouth Bay. These clouds may have turned into <a href="/earth/Atmosphere/clouds/cumulonimbus.html&edu=high&dev=1">cumulonimbus</a> and a <a href="/earth/Atmosphere/tstorm.html&edu=high&dev=1">storm</a> later in the day.<p><small><em> Public domain/Wikipedia</em></small></p>There are over 900 <a href="/the_universe/uts/megalith.html&edu=high&dev=1">rings of stone</a> located in the British Isles. The most famous of these stone rings is of course, <a href="/the_universe/uts/stonehenge.html&edu=high&dev=1">Stonehenge</a>. The stones of Stonehenge were put in place between 3,000 B.C and 2,000 B.C. by neolithic people.Some speculate that the site was built as a temple of worship of the ancient Earth deities. Some say it was used as an <a href="/the_universe/uts/stonehenge_astro.html&edu=high&dev=1">astronomical observatory</a> of sorts. Still others say it was a burial ground.<p><small><em> Image courtesy of Corel Photography.</em></small></p>

Explore Culture, Myth and Art

Mythology

   For thousands of years people have associated objects in the sky, the Earth, and aspects ...Read more

Stories

Explore stories and folklore about the Aurora Borealis, Meteors, and the Moon, and more. ...Read more

Poetry

This is a brief collection of poetry that relates to space and/or mythology. ...Read more

Poetry & Pictures

Submit your own poem about this month’s featured weather image. ...Read more

Books

Explore Science, Art, Mythology and other subjects further in the books recommended here. ...Read more

Movies

Find a great science- or space-related movie to watch. ...Read more

Clouds in Art

Landscape painters have been representing clouds in their art for centuries. Different artists ...Read more

Mythology Art Archive

See examples of famous mythology-related works of art. ...Read more

Mythology and Art Links

Explore other websites about mythology and art. ...Read more

People Art Archive

See images of famous scientists and philosophers. ...Read more

Historical Events

Full Earth and Space Science    History Calendar (Members only)

Teacher Opportunities

Full Teacher Events Calendar (Educator Members only)

Did you know?

Did you know that you can sometimes identify the types of clouds in famous landscape paintings?

Did you know that the Maya believed that the Earth was flat, and that there was a jaguar called a bacab in each corner that supported the sky?

 

Earth and Space Science Concept of the Day

Do you know what this word or phrase means?

Orographic lift
xOrographic lift : Occurs when an air mass is forced to rise over geographic relief from a lower elevation. As the air mass rises it expands and cools adiabatically, which can raise the relative humidity to 100%, create clouds and precipitation.

Click on the word to find out!

Research Highlights

Unprecedented Warming in East Africa's Lake Tanganyika

Lake Tanganyika, the second-oldest and second-deepest lake in the world, could be in for some rough waters. Geologists have determined that the East African rift lake has experienced unprecedented warming...Read more


Windows to the Universe, a project of the National Earth Science Teachers Association, is sponsored in part is sponsored in part through grants from federal agencies (NASA and NOAA), and partnerships with affiliated organizations, including the American Geophysical Union, the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, the Earth System Information Partnership, the American Meteorological Society, the National Center for Science Education, and TERC. The American Geophysical Union and the American Geosciences Institute are Windows to the Universe Founding Partners. NESTA welcomes new Institutional Affiliates in support of our ongoing programs, as well as collaborations on new projects. Contact NESTA for more information. NASA ESIP NCSE HHMI AGU AGI AMS NOAA