LibGuides: Religion, Mythology, and Folklore: Mythology Resources

Mythology

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Background Information

Myths are regarded as fictional stories containing deeper truths, expressing collective attitudes to fundamental matters of life, death, divinity, and existence (sometimes deemed to be ‘universal’). Myths are usually distinguished from legends in that they have less of an historical basis, although they seem to have a similar mode of existence in oral transmission, re-telling, literary adaptation, and allusion.

Source: The Oxford Dictionary of Literary Terms (4 ed.)

"Yggdrasil" by Oluf Bagge (From Northern Antiquities) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

Classical Mythology: A Very Short Introcduction by Helen Morales
Explores the rich history and diverse interpretations of classical mythology. It is a wide-ranging account, examining how classical myths are used and understood in both high art and popular culture, taking the reader from the temples of Crete to skyscrapers in New York, and finding classical myths in a variety of unexpected places.
Complete Idiot's Guide to Classical Mythology by Dana L. Burgess; Kevin Osborn
Dictionary of Classical Mythology by Jennifer R. March

Streaming Videos

Websites

Theoi Project
Reference guide to the gods (theoi), spirits (daimones), fabulous creatures (theres) and heroes of ancient Greek mythology and religion.
Perseus Digital Library
Covers the history, literature and culture of the Greco-Roman world.

Egyptian Myth by Geraldine Pinch
This text explains the cultural and historical background to the fascinating and complex world of Egyptian myth, with each chapter dealing with a particular theme.
Handbook of Egyptian Mythology by Geraldine Pinch
In this comprehensive introduction to Egyptian mythology, author Geraldine Pinch shows how the mythology of Ancient Egypt must be pieced together from a variety of written and visual sources.
The Routledge Dictionary of Egyptian Gods and Goddesses by George Hart
Contains one of the most comprehensive listings and descriptions of Egyptian deities
Stories from Ancient Egypt by Joyce A. Tyldesley; Julian Heath
Some of the most interesting and entertaining myths and legends from Ancient Egypt are given a lively re-telling by Joyce Tyldesley. These include stories about the gods, such as The Creation of the World, Hathor and the Red Beer, and the myths about Osiris, Isis and Horus.

From Asgard to Valhalla: The Remarkable History of the Norse Myths by Heather O'Donoghue
Shows how the Norse myths have resonated from era to era: from Viking-age stories of ice and fire to the epic poetry of Beowulf; and from Wagner's "Ring" to Marvel Comics' "Mighty Thor".
The Heroes of Asgard: Tales from Scandinavian Mythology - the Original Classic Edition by Annie Keary
A classic retelling of the Scandinavian myths. The book includes many famous stories and characters such as Thor, Frey, Freyja, Frenrir, Loki, and many more.
Norse Mythology by John Lindow
Explores the magical myths and legends of Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Iceland and Viking-Age Greenland--outlining along the way the prehistoric tales and beliefs from these regions that have remained embedded in the imagination of the world.
Norse Mythology by Neil Gaiman
Gaiman fashions these primeval stories into a novelistic arc that begins with the genesis of the legendary nine worlds and delves into the exploits of deities, dwarfs, and giants.
Old Norse Mythology by John Lindow
An innovative and accessible overview of how ancient Scandinavians understood and made use of their mythological stories.