This is a call for submissions!
O.K.! If you run across any mythology-related book, commercial, product, mascot, business, whatever - let me know by commenting here or e-mailing me at lordalford@gmail.com.
Got or found a website for me to review? Tell me!
Got a book I should look at? Tell me!
Got a favorite god, reclic, culture, whatever you'd like to see done here? Tell me!
This is an open call, so no matter how old this post may be, comment! I'll know!
2 comments:
A book I've read a number of times titled 'Comparative Mythology' by Jaan Puhvel is worth checking out.
Although it only compares Indo-European mythology, rather than all mythologies. It's a difficult read, in palaces, with loads of scholarly etymological stuff, although after dipping into to it a few more times, I've got quite a lot of info out of it.
I'd recommend all four volumes of Campbell's 'Masks of God'. I agree with bananabrain, that Joseph Campbell is a bit ignorant of Judaism (as well as Christianity), and favours Oriental religions, such as Upanishadic Hinduism, Buddhism, Daoism, etc, over Occidental Monotheism. His main focus is on the universal ideas behind religious symbols (masks of god), rather than the local reformed ideas.
Another author I love is Robert Graves. 'The White Goddess' is compulsive reading, but a hopelessly impossible book to follow. But it does contain some real gems. Two chapters I love are 'the single poetic theme', and 'the bull foot god'. Graves is a storehouse of mythology, but 'The White Goddess' is not academic fact. Graves himself says that it's the poet's job to deal in truth, rather than fact, and much of his work is based on his own unorthodox intuitive methods.
Anything by Mircea Eliade.
The nature of Greek Myths by K.S. Kirk.
The World of Odysseus By Moses I. Finley
The Flood Myths of Early China by by Mark Edward Lewis
The Ancient Mysteries: A Sourcebook: Sacred Texts of the Mystery Religions by Marvin W. Meyer
Myth and Method by by Laurie L. Patton, Wendy Doniger (I haven't read it be it looks pretty good)
To name by a few of the wonderful books that are out there :D
While I have a few Joseph Campbell books, I'll have to go out and find the rest. Thanks for the ideas!
The Comparative Mythology book looks the most interesting. I have a similar book (in theme though it is very simplistic in writing(not meant as an insult)) called Parallel Myths that addresses the similarities in all myth cultures, and, unlike Campbell, doesn't mind throwing Judaism and Christianity in for comparative purposes.
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