Stories of humanity appearing in the world vary wildly. They range from man appearing naturally, springing from the earth or emerging from the sea, through to their creation by accident, or their conscious creation by a deity. There is also the contrast with how the gods treat these newcomers.

What can legendary creatures such as centaurs and satyrs add to a created world

Mythical materials, such as adamantine and orichalcum, have a long history in mythologies, as do sacred trees. They often explain the unknown or provide reasoning for natural phenomena. Often, they are woven into stories as plot devices. There can be esoteric reasons given for their placement, the gods gifting something to mankind, or there can be more grounded reasoning, they are the core behind some physical effect, a stronger metal that creates a more durable weapon.

Thoughts on the various succession myths and what they mean and how to capture them in our own worldbuilding.

Thoughts on world building and populating a universe with gods and myths