Mythology

[Jaseph]

I want to explore mythology. I love norse, greek, egyptian, roman, mesoamerican, aboriginal, native american (etcetera) mythology. So I am interested in a lot. I want to find inspiration in the stories; they contain such beautiful metaphores. Also I'm interested in exploring my pagan roots, to find out what gave meaning in the life of my ancestors (before xtianity). Not to become pagan myself, but the topic is just fascinating to me!

 

Do you like mythology?

 

What books can you recommend?

[Ellinas]

Well, for all that his analysis tends to be unfashionable these days, Robert Graves' Greek myths will give you a good digest of the stories.

 

Geddes & Grosset do some useful encyclopaedia type books - Celtic Mythology, Ancient Egypt

 

You could look for translations of the old texts - Homer (Iliad & Odyssey),  Hesiod (Theogony) etc.  Penguin Classics usually do decent priced translations.

 

There are online resources:

http://www.pantheon.org/

http://www.library.theoi.com/

http://www.pyramidtextsonline.com/index.html

[TrueFreedom]

I enjoy Homer and Joseph Campbell.

[Ravenstar]

Oh goodness where to start? The Epic of Gilgamesh, anything by Homer, Hesiod, The Enuma Elish, Plato, The Edda's, Pyramid texts...

 

http://www.native-languages.org/maya-legends.htm

 

http://www.pantheon.org

 

have fun!

[Leo]

I've really gotten into the Norse mythology and reading up on the druids. Even the conquering Romans had to acknowledge the egalitarian and democratic nature of many of the people groups. There is a Bard academy online but you have to believe in the religion. In the past couple of years I've really started to dig and learn as much as I could about Pre-Christian Europe.

[Penguin]

I always found Hades to be my favorite, though I've rarely seen him in literature (and even then in brief shots). He got more of a part in Disney's "Hercules" than I've ever seen him in before.