Myths and Legends: An Illustrated Guide to Their Origins and Meanings (DK Compact Culture Guides)

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I was completely obsessed with Tintin as a child and this book was my favourite. Something I think is so great about all the Tintin books is how on their surface they are pure adventure but they inspire the reader to learn more about the world Tintin discovers. This book was no different and i ended up convincing my mum to buy other books about Egyptian mythology so I could discover the story that inspired Hergé - the 1922 discovery of Pharaoh Tutankhamun's tomb and the urban myth than anyone connected with the discovery was cursed. From the tombs of the Pharaoh to the legend of Medusa, houses with legs to shape-shifting animals, we're endlessly fascinated by ancient myth and magic from all over the world. Author and illustrator Joe Todd-Stanton shares some of his favourites. Hardcover Women of Myth: From Deer Woman and Mami Wata to Amaterasu and Athena, Your Guide to the Amazing and Diverse Women from World Mythology by Jenny Williamson and Genn McMenemy Alongside gorgeous art by Kotaro Chiba, Tales of Japan: Traditional Stories of Monsters and Magic regales the audience with 15 folktales. All tales are derived from earlier 20th-century collections by Lafcadio Hearn and Yei Theodora Ozaki. Organized between “Journeys,” “Ghosts and Monsters,” and “Justice,” each chapter within this book offers insight into the oral traditions of ancient Japan.

If you’re a fan of mythology and are interested in learning more about the women of world myths, this book is for you. Information about goddesses, heroines, queens, and monsters is paired with gorgeous art by Sara Richard. You’ll get a pronunciation guide, appearances, and alternative names these important figures go by. With its concise delivery and clear organization, Women of Myth is a book fit for audiences from all walks of life. Like many other mythologies we’ll be discussing, Celtic mythology had almost been lost to time. As a culture that relied on oral tradition as means to communicate valued stories, the Celts were among the many ethnic groups that were susceptible to fragmented history. And, it wasn’t by their own doing, either.None of this is a surprise. These are stories that have captivated millions of people for thousands of years and continue to do so, both in traditional and more contemporary formats.

It is also worth adding that The Kane Chronicles is getting its very own Netflix adaptation. The release date has yet to be announced – we are certainly keeping an eye out for it! A beautiful book that takes the most famous Greek myths and makes them fun and easy to digest. Marcia Williams uses a comic book format to tell each story and doesn’t shy away from the darker elements without it ever being too much for a child to process. My favourite was always Arachne. It showed me how the Greeks believed the gods could be just as spiteful and vain as humans which inspired the story of my last book Leo and the Gorgon’s Curse. The Codex Borgia is considered, by far, one of the best sources for pre-Columbian religion. Now, fully restored in color allows for a modern audience to gain a new appreciation for the 16th-century manuscript. These tales are thought to have a much more ancient provenance, being passed down through the generations by word of mouth by the early Welsh bards. These early Welsh or Celtic storytellers wandered Britain and beyond, swapping their many tales for board and lodging. The tales they told tended to be memorised only in outline, the details being filled in and embellished as the story unfolded.

Human creativity is one of the markers of our species. There are countless dazzling tales from around the world; folklore, fairy tales, myths, and legends alike. Myths and legends are the stories we tell about ourselves: how we came to be, what we care about, the ways in which we behave, the ideas and places that are important to us. Either religious or secular, myths are fundamental to our sense of self, and that is why reading (or listening to) myths from different cultures is a fantastic way to get a bit closer to people and places which might not be that familiar to us. Five of the remaining stories involve the legend of Arthur and his knights. The setting for Culhwych and Olwen is Arthur’s Court and includes a list of his knights. Arthur’s Court is again the setting in The Dream of Rhonabwy, which tells of a story involving Arthur and his knights, fairy heroes and Celtic warriors. Many books have brought inspiration from myths into new times and places. Recent examples include the Who Let the Gods Outseries by Maz Evans, Louie Stowell’s Loki series and Davina Tijani and Adam Douglas-Bagley’s Yomi and the Fury of Ninki Nanka. They all bring some of the strength and magic of legend closer to today’s readers in different and exciting formats. Neil Gaiman is a prolific author as it is. He regularly draws inspiration from ancient mythologies for his works. When his Norse Mythology was announced, it became an instant classic.

Based on archaeological evidence discovered in numerous tombs, Egyptian mythology dates to at least 4000 BCE. However, throughout history, other mythologies made their way to North Africa through extensive trade. With the natural sharing of ideas and beliefs, mythology evolved. At some point, Greco-Roman gods were introduced, expanding the Egyptian pantheon. A fantastic choice for students and those new to mythology overall, World Mythology: An Anthology of Great Myths and Epics (3rd Edition) is the book to have. Rosenberg has impressively gathered more than 50 epic legends from around the world. The audience will be able to learn about cultures across Greece, Rome, the Middle East, the Far East and Pacific islands, the British Isles, Northern Europe, Africa, and the Americas through a handful of their most treasured myths.The other Arthurian stories The Lady of the Fountain, Geraint the Son of Erbin and Peredur the Son of Evrawc,are mainly concerned with the quests and adventures of Arthur’s knights. The latter even includes one of the earliest references to the Grail legend. Straight from Penguin Classics is this collection of Irish myths and legends, taken and translated from their 8th-century CE manuscript. Wonderfully capturing the legendary history of ancient Ireland, Early Irish Myths and Sagas are among the finest resources for early Celtic literature. As one can imagine, Neil Gaiman’s Norse Mythology can tell the reader a Norse legend or two. Told in unmistakable prose with a spot-on characterization of the gods, Gaiman’s book breathes new life into the myths of ancient Scandinavia.

Author-illustrator Thiago de Moraes discusses why myths and legends are so important for children to read and listen to. There are several things to look out for when searching for the best overall mythology books. A good mythology book captures the heart of myths. These tales are timeless. These gods? Ancient! It takes nothing short of the real deal to share the stories of old with a new generation. We get it: this sounds like a pretty intimidating undertaking for those who are newer to Japanese mythology. Thankfully, with translations provided by Gustav Heldt, the origins of traditional Japanese myths have never been more accessible. As with most things, religion and beliefs shift with the passage of time. Some folklore is adapted to an ever-changing world. We’ve gathered four of the top-notch mythology books on ancient Egyptian myth. Conceptions of God in Ancient Egypt: The One and the Many by Erik Hornung The four ‘mabinogi’ tales, from which the Mabinogion takes its name, are thought to be the earliest dating from the 11th century. These include:- Pwyll, which tells of how a Prince of Dyfed takes the place of the King of the Underworld; Branwen, which tells how the unjust treatment of a queen starts a war in Ireland; Manawydan involves overcoming an enchanter and the rescue of a mother and child, and Math the Lord of Gwynedd who ends up turning his nephews into beasts.Egyptian Mythology acts as an all-in-one guide to, well, Egyptian myth. It offers a conclusive mythical timeline, which is certainly handy for keeping myths organized. Moreover, Pinch provides a complete (alphabetized!) compendium of various deities, demons, and religious motifs found throughout Egyptian mythology. This illustrated guide to some of the world’s most fascinating mythologies is no joke. The audience is provided with illustrations, photos, maps, and charts that enrich their current understanding of global myths. Covering everything from a civilization’s creation story to its cultural heroes, World Mythology: The Illustrated Guide gives the audience all the information a mythology aficionado could hope to gain. Chinese Mythology: Classic Stories of Chinese Myths, Gods, Goddesses, Heroes, and Monsters by Scott Lewis