Myths and Mythical Creatures

Shadow of a Childless Woman: The Mythic Roots of Strauss’s ‘Frau’

What’s behind the strange emphasis on childlessness in “Die Frau ohne Schatten,” the Strauss-Hofmannsthal opera now at the Met? Look to the ancients.

By Wendy Doniger

On a family tour of Greece, the writer followed the small footsteps of some of ancient mythology’s biggest fans.

By Reif Larsen

A journey through a country where felines are revered, adored and sometimes seen as actual demons.

By Hanya Yanagihara and Kyoko Hamada

In taking on the male-dominated theatrical craft, contemporary women carvers are changing the face of a centuries-old tradition.

By Hannah Kirshner and Bon Duke