Meaning “messenger,” the word angel refers to the messengers of Judeo-Christian belief, but they're also seen in the Muslim Koran as well as the religions of ancient Syria. Created from light and protectors of good, each mythology has different classifications of angels. The angels of Hebrew mythology are broken into 10 categories; in the Koran, angels are given different functions in Heaven and on Earth; and the ancient Syrians placed nine types of angels into designations of upper, middle, and lower classes. Science fair projects on angels may provide overviews of their origins as explained in different mythologies. In addition, students may analyze evidence of the existence of angels in modern life by reviewing historical sightings such as one along the river Thames in England.
Half man and half beast, centaurs were more wild than civilized; they exist in the forest and come into contact with man throughout Greek mythology. The children of the coupling of king Ixion and a cloud, they're occasionally referred to as Ixionidae. Following the god Dionysus, centaurs are associated with drunken behavior and absconding with young women. Projects on centaurs can study their unique body structure and make informed hypotheses on their physical behavior. In addition, students may wish to catalog famous centaurs throughout history, including Cherion, known as “The Great Teacher.”
Existing in many cultures worldwide, fairies are most commonly identified as nature spirits with small human-like bodies and small wings. In Christian mythology, fairies are believed to be fallen angels, while African mythology defines them as the soul of the dead. In addition to airborne varieties such as sprites and brownies, there are also wingless variations such as pixies. Leprechauns, gnomes and trolls are also classified as fairies. Science fair projects on fairies should provide overviews of their different types, with students giving a general overview or concentrating on legends from a specific geographical area. Fairy sightings offer students additional project sources, allowing for projects focusing on whether these creatures actually exist.
Present in Native American, Chinese, Russian, and Egyptian mythology, the Phoenix is a symbol of rebirth. Surviving only on air, the phoenix was a bird that lived for 1,000 years before diving into a funeral pyre, only to rise again from the ashes after nine days. In classical Arabian literature, the Phoenix could live for even longer, but lived a lonely existence since only one of the birds could live at any one time. The phoenix allows for various scientific project approaches, including the concept of reincarnation or archeological-based projects analyzing the bird's real and metaphorical significance to ancient civilizations. Project goals may include developing hypotheses on the development of the myth and the importance of reincarnation in different cultures.