Best mythologies

[bulfinch]

I recently got obssesed with Norse mythology and was looking out for other mythologies that are as complete and 'deep' as Norse mythology is.

any suggestions?

[Pierre Menard]

Many, many cultures have deep and interesting mythologies.

A good place to start is obviously Greek Mythology, arguably the most influential on Western Culture. I'm sure a number of other posters will be able to talk more in-depth about their personal favourites.

[Lokasenna]

If you enjoyed Old Norse mythology (my personal favourite as well), perhaps you could try two of its sister mythologies: Finnish and Celtic? Have a read of the Kalevala for Finnish stuff, or the Mabinogi for the Celtic. There's also a lot of very interesting Irish mythology extant.

Also, what have you read in terms of Old Norse mythology? Perhaps I can suggest some other texts you have not read yet.

[cafolini]

Many, many cultures have deep and interesting mythologies.

A good place to start is obviously Greek Mythology, arguably the most influential on Western Culture. I'm sure a number of other posters will be able to talk more in-depth about their personal favourites.

I could argue that the mythologies mentioned by Lokasenna were far more influencial in effectivity than Greek and Roman mythologies. By effectivity I mean profitable ways.

[krishna_lit]

I recently got obssesed with Norse mythology and was looking out for other mythologies that are as complete and 'deep' as Norse mythology is.

any suggestions?

plz give the names of the books you're read and made you fall in love with Norse mythologies...

[krishna_lit]

If you enjoyed Old Norse mythology (my personal favourite as well), perhaps you could try two of its sister mythologies: Finnish and Celtic? Have a read of the Kalevala for Finnish stuff, or the Mabinogi for the Celtic. There's also a lot of very interesting Irish mythology extant.

Also, what have you read in terms of Old Norse mythology? Perhaps I can suggest some other texts you have not read yet.

plz mention the names of all the interesting mythologies... if u have ebooks of the same i would be very thankful to you if u can mail them to [email protected]

[krishna_lit]

I love mythologies, fortunately I got to lay my hands on a book written by Isaac Asimov about how modern English language, Sciences like Chemistry adopted many vocabulary/words from the mythologies of ancient Greek and Roman. Awesome book, it's name is: 'Words from the Myths' By Isaac Asimov. I saw on the internet that he wrote many more books on mythology.

[Calidore]

The Sacred Texts website is, I quote, "the largest freely available archive of online books about religion, mythology, folklore and the esoteric on the Internet. The site is dedicated to religious tolerance and scholarship, and has the largest readership of any similar site on the web. " Beware, once you start browsing, it's hard to stop.

http://www.sacred-texts.com/

[Big Dante]

When it comes to ancient Greek mythology it depends what aspect of it interests you more. The deities themselves, or their relationships with humans. Homer and the playwrights such as Sophocles observe the relationship between deity and man, whereas Hesiod's Theogony would be my recommendation if you are more interested in the deities themselves.

[JuniperWoolf]

I think we should get familiar with as many as we can, make it a lifelong hobby. It's fun and we'll understand ourselves, our origins and society better. After Norse I'd go for Greek, that's a mythology staple. Some would say it's overplayed, but there's a reason Greek mythology has been referenced so often.

[bulfinch]

Thanks for the suggestions all. In regards to what I have read on Norse Mythology, includes various stuff from the Internet and wikipedia references, also some compilations of Norse folk tales, and the original texts (translated of course) of the Prose Edda and some of the Poetic Edda.

[hannah_arendt]

Has anybody ever tried to read slavic mythology?

[jmanu86]

America is full of interesting mythologies. Such as the Mayan's, which by the way, is very alike with the Norse's. In fact, I believe that they could've met each other at some point. South America has many great stories and Gods all over. Give a try to Maya, Aztec and Inca civilizations, you'll find lots of good stuff!

[Zagreus]

As a lot of people have already said before, you should try Greek/Roman mythology. It's stories and archetypes and actually it's everything played a major role shaping Western culture. If you want a book suggestion, I'd say you should read Ovid's Metamorphoses. Many of the most important Greco-Roman myths are told in it and if you get a good translation it's a smooth, nice read.

[Gilliatt Gurgle]

You might consider looking into native American (north American) "indian" cultures and their belief system.
I'm reluctant to use the term mythologies since, what we might consider to be mythological, they consider sacred to their culture and religeous beliefs.
I'm particularly fascinated with the Zuni and Navajo peoples of the U.S Southwest.
Look into the Zuni Kachinas and the creation story and the Navajo creation story.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zuni_mythology

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Din%C3%A9_Bahane%CA%BC

Read how "Shiprock" (rock with wings) delivered the Navajo to their current lands.

"Shiprock" in NW New Mexico from Wikipedia:


http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/0b/Shiprock.snodgrass3.jpg/640px-Shiprock.snodgrass3.jpg