World Mythology Book Pdf
Chris Richard
Mythologies from around the world have played an important part in shaping the traditions and history of the places from where they have originated. Every culture, region and geographical location around the world has their own distinct mythology that they have passed down from generation to generation. There are even multiple distinct mythologies within a particular mythology. which we have broken down and explored. They might have a common ancestor but has diversified over time and in its current form different from the source.
Some mythologies had to be extracted from the core group and presented as a separate one. This because these mythologies were complete comprehensive works on their own. They had a obvious influence on the others but the mythology itself was so vast that they warranted a sport of their own. This includes Indian Mythology being pulled out from the Asian list, Egyptian mythology being separated from the African Myths and Norse mythology gaining a stand alone spot from the European collection. Over time we will extract more mythologies from their collective terms as the popularity and cosmology increases.
Stay tuned to this page whenever we introduce a new mythology. We aim to showcase as many distinct myths from around the world including rare and not so popular ones. We will not be covering stories from modern religions like Christianity and Islam as we believe that they are not regional or cultural stories but part of an organised religion. They would be completely different are of study and interest.
Even in modern times, we turn to our superheroes and science fiction epics, our own versions of mythology, for comfort. All use mythic themes.The world is home to a wide variety of cultures and beliefs. Whether you are looking for the stories of Native Americans, ancient Greek Mythology or Japanese folklore, we have compiled a list of some of the most popular mythologies from around the world!
If we were to narrow the definition a little more, I would define the following:
- Myth: A story with deep societal meaning, usually dealing with god(s) and explaining the origin of things.
- Legend: A story with possible historical origins, though likely inflated over time.
- Folklore: Stories not meant to be taken as historical, involving the blending of the supernatural with regular people.
- Fairytale: The same as a folktale, but clearly written down by a specific author.
- Mythology: A vast collection of stories and lore that can span all four of the above types of storytelling.
One of the most well-known Greek myths is the story of the Trojan War. It tells the tale of the beautiful Helen, who was abducted by the Trojan prince Paris, leading to a war between the city of Troy and the Greeks. The war ended when the Greeks used the Trojan Horse to trick the Trojans and conquer their city.Another important figure in Greek mythology is the hero Hercules, who was the son of Zeus and a mortal woman. He is famous for his incredible strength and for completing the Twelve Labors, a series of difficult tasks assigned to him by the gods.The Greek myths continue to inspire and captivate people to this day through literature, art, and popular culture.
Some related mythologies include:
- Roman Mythology
- Etruscan Mythology
The Norse myths continue to inspire and captivate people to this day through literature, art, and popular culture.Some related mythologies include:
- Finnic Mythology
- Germanic Mythology
Another important figure in Egyptian mythology is the sun god Ra, who was the most powerful deity in the pantheon. He was said to travel across the sky in a boat during the day and through the underworld at night.The Egyptian myths continue to inspire and captivate people to this day through literature, art, and popular culture.Some related mythologies include:
- Berber Mythology
- Dedun (Nubian) Mythology
One of the most well-known Celtic myths is the story of the hero C Chulainn, who was the greatest warrior of Ulster. He was known for his incredible strength and courage, and for his weapon, the Gae Bolg, which could strike its enemies from a distance.Another important figure in Celtic mythology is the god Lugh, who was the god of the sun, the sky, and the arts. He was said to be a skilled warrior, a master craftsman, and a powerful magician.Celtic mythology is still important today because of the role it plays in modern day neopaganism, which includes people who practice Gaelic reconstructionism and Gaelic revivalism as well as Wiccans or witches.
Some included and related mythologies include:
- Elamite mythology
- Hittite mythology
- Iranian mythology
- Kurdish mythology
- Persian mythology
Another important figure in Hindu mythology is the goddess Durga, who is a warrior goddess who protects the world from evil. She is said to be the mother of the universe and to have the power to defeat even the most powerful demons.The Hindu myths continue to inspire and captivate people to this day through literature, art, and popular culture.Some related mythologies include:
- Scythian mythology
- Ayyavazhi mythology
- Tamil mythology
- Vedic mythology
- Buddhist mythology
- Manipuri mythology
- Romani mythology
One of the most well-known Slavic myths is the story of the god Perun, who was the god of thunder and the sky. He was said to wield a powerful thunderbolt and to be the protector of the Slavic people.Another important figure in Slavic mythology is the creature Baba Yaga, who is a witch-like figure who lives in the forest. She is known for her magic powers and her ability to help or hinder those who seek her out.The Slavic myths continue to inspire and captivate people to this day through literature, art, and popular culture.
Some related mythologies include:
- Baltic mythology
- Latvian mythology
- Lithuanian mythology
- Prussian mythology
- Albanian mythology
- Dacian religion
- Illyrian mythology
- Thracian religion