Faust is based on Johann Georg Faust (c. 1480-1540), a German alchemist. Faust makes a pact with the Devil for unlimited knowledge and worldly pleasures. Early versions portray Faust as irrevocably damned for preferring human knowledge
Legend dates back to Middle Ages in Hamelin, Lower Saxony, Germany. Story begins with 130 children disappearing from Hamelin in 1284. Piper dressed in multicolored clothing was hired to catch rats. Mayor refused to pay full 1,000 guilders, leading to children's disappearance
Legend tells story of Cornish knight Tristan and Irish princess Iseult. Earliest known tradition from Thomas of Britain's 1173 poem. Béroul's 1150-1190 version represents earliest common branch tradition. Legend likely originated from Celtic sources, possibly Persian story
Aphrodite, the jealous goddess of love, tried to prevent Cupid and Psyche's marriage. Psyche was sacrificed to a monster by her father's king. Cupid freed Psyche and married her, keeping his divine form secret
Herobrine is a Minecraft legend dating back to alpha days. First widely-known sighting was from alpha post about mysterious character. Players believed he was Notch's dead brother or unlucky miner
Romulus and Remus were twins born to Rhea Silvia and Mars/Hercules. King Amulius forced Rhea Silvia to become a Vestal Virgin. The twins were saved by the river Tiber and found by a she-wolf. They grew up as shepherds and eventually became brothers