|
|
Post by Olive on Jun 1, 2011 9:05:35 GMT -5
Because it's the backbone of most classic literature.
Discuss your favorite mythologies (Norse? Classical? Native American?), your favorite myths, your favorite re-tellings and interpretations.
And as a final note: I greatly enjoy the fact that my boss refers to me as Persephone. He even started doing that before he knew about my obsession with pomegranates...
|
|
|
|
Post by cyanea on Jun 1, 2011 9:42:55 GMT -5
I've always had a bit of a minor obsession with Japanese mythology, mostly because how it's shaped so much of Japan today.
When it comes to Europe, I've always wanted to learn more and more about pre-Christian pagan mythology. Right now I'm craving Norse because I just watched Thor and have been reading American Gods for the second time.
|
|
|
|
Post by ashleeoh on Jun 1, 2011 9:53:56 GMT -5
I absolutely adore everything to do with Ancient Greece. I've read Edith Hamilton's Mythology and Bulfinch's Stories of Gods and Heroes but what really got me was Gustav Schwab's Gods and Heroes of Ancient Greece.
My favorite myth right now is Apollo and Daphne. Thanks, Bernini, for making me fall deeper in love with the idea of eros than I already was!
|
|
callmeishmael
Young Armadillo
Believe it or not, I use this username on other forums as well.
Posts: 66
|
Post by callmeishmael on Jun 1, 2011 9:57:58 GMT -5
I was dragged to see Thor by one of my buddies and spent the first thirty minutes talking about how incorrect it was in my head. After I focused on Natalie Portman and the fact that it's a comic book, I actually enjoyed it a bit.
I'm a Greek and Norse guy myself. Norse mythology just has such an intense beauty to it that I simply cannot do justice. Most people think of vikings as these murderous pillagers, but when you look at their myths, you see an extremely dedicated and caring group of gods in Asgard, and it blows me away.
Odin is my absolute favorite god of all time. Thor is honestly sort of lame, and I think no one cannot be stoked when they put him in a dress and marry him off to a giant.
|
|
|
|
Post by cyanea on Jun 1, 2011 10:03:14 GMT -5
I wasn't a huge fan of the movie either (STOP TALKING, START FIGHTING! ARE YOU THE GOD OF THUNDER OR THE GOD OF AWKWARD ROMANCE?! KISSING ISN'T FIGHTING!), but as happens with that sort of thing...I get REALLY interested in finding out the truth behind it.
|
|
callmeishmael
Young Armadillo
Believe it or not, I use this username on other forums as well.
Posts: 66
|
Post by callmeishmael on Jun 1, 2011 10:09:40 GMT -5
Well if you want to know the truth here's a simple list:
-The Bifrost is not a giant spinning catapult .
-Loki is well aware that he's part giant, and isn't a whiny baby about it
-Odin is way more hardcore than how is portrayed in the movie
-Ice giants don't have magic boxes that give them power
-Asgard isn't this majestic futuristic city in the clouds
There's more of course. That's what I can name off the top of my head though.
|
|
|
|
Post by flute88 on Jun 1, 2011 10:16:01 GMT -5
Does anyone have any recommendations for good mythology books? I love mythology but I seem to have a hard time finding books that make myths sound more interesting than a surgical procedure, lol.
I learned a lot of Japanese mythology in my Japanese history class, and I think it's fascinating. I've absorbed a lot of Greek mythology just because it's so prominent in literature and culture. I'd love to read up on Norse mythology more - I really don't know anything about it aside from some of the names of the gods. And my grandfather (and a lot of his family) is from Norway, so I would like to know more about it than I do.
|
|
|
|
Post by Olive on Jun 1, 2011 10:18:21 GMT -5
Does anyone have any recommendations for good mythology books? I love mythology but I seem to have a hard time finding books that make myths sound more interesting than a surgical procedure, lol. I learned a lot of Japanese mythology in my Japanese history class, and I think it's fascinating. I've absorbed a lot of Greek mythology just because it's so prominent in literature and culture. I'd love to read up on Norse mythology more - I really don't know anything about it aside from some of the names of the gods. And my grandfather (and a lot of his family) is from Norway, so I would like to know more about it than I do. For Classical, Edith Hamilton's Mythology is a very good place to start. My copy is beat to hell, and I love it :-D |
|
callmeishmael
Young Armadillo
Believe it or not, I use this username on other forums as well.
Posts: 66
|
Post by callmeishmael on Jun 1, 2011 10:25:32 GMT -5
Seconded. It gives a pretty nice overview of the general mythological vibe, in my opinion.
For Norse specifically, while there is a tiny bit included in Mythology, what you would really want to check out are the Poetic and Prose Eddas. The Poetic can be a bit dry at first when it rambles about lineages a bit, but once you hit the stories it's fascinating. The Poetic was written before the Christian missionaries started to arrive in Scandinavia, and you can tell when it's compared to the Prose which was written post-Christian. You'll find interesting myths in either though. There's just more of a, "These are the mythologies of our ancestors" vibe in the Prose Edda than the, "these are the stories of our religion" vibe found in the Poetic Edda.
|
|
|
|
Post by onlyaworkingtitle on Jun 1, 2011 10:34:06 GMT -5
I'm a fan of all mythology, though Greek is what I (and most of Western culture, probably) know best. Also, for fans of the Olympian pantheon, here is a beautifully drawn webcomic that delves into some of the stories: myth.smackjeeves.com/comics/ It's done Hades/Persephone and Poseidon/Amphitrite, and is now working on the myth of Zeus's rise to power. |
|
|
|
Post by cyanea on Jun 1, 2011 11:20:07 GMT -5
|
|
|
|
Post by Dodger Thirteen on Jun 1, 2011 11:20:32 GMT -5
*purrs and sprawls out in thread like her namesake* Dear gods, I love mythology. You don't even know.... I was dragged to see Thor by one of my buddies and spent the first thirty minutes talking about how incorrect it was in my head. I did that, only I did it out loud. My friends didn't know whether to laugh or cry. Mostly they just yelled at me that it's a comic book. Whatever, it's still based on the original mythology and YOU'RE DOING IT WRONG. As for my own personal likes and dislikes...I love all of it (seriously). I think I mentioned somewhere but I actually went so far as to create a student group at my uni to find others who like to discuss mythology. If I could find a damned place that offers a folkloric study (other than Harvard - lucky bastards), that's where I'd be going. Immediately. Without hesitation. The things I'm most familiar with are Greco-Roman (obvs) and creature mythology. A friend of mine help runs NERO and she was asking my advice on how to best represent a succubus because they're including one in their most recent plot. I gave her a few options, including basing them on other mythological creatures (since it's a "separate world"), including a La Llorana or Woman in White. I've studied mythology for nearly all of my life, to the point where I can no longer remember how I know most of the stuff I know. It's just been absorbed over time. My favourite mythological creature, though, is the Black Dog. I could (and have) give a fifteen minute, condensed "lecture" of these creatures off the top of my head. They're fascinating. |
|
callmeishmael
Young Armadillo
Believe it or not, I use this username on other forums as well.
Posts: 66
|
Post by callmeishmael on Jun 1, 2011 13:03:12 GMT -5
Ah see, you're into the mythological creatures. I'm personally into the gods themselves.
I'm not very religious--in fact I'm not religious at all--so it just blows my mind to see how cultural religions have developed and the thoughts regarding the existence of the world and mankind pertaining to their creation.
However, this only goes for pagan religions. I have absolutely no interest in modern day religious
studies.
So here's my proposed sub-thread to this thread: Who is your favorite god from the major mythologies and why?
For me: Odin, and Hermes.
(P.S. Age of Mythology was perhaps my favorite video game ever as a result of my fascination. The servers are still up, and if anyone wants to play, I'm always down.)
(P.S Part II: I can't even comprehend the first part of what I wrote, but it seems to make sense. I'm currently in between finals, so my mind is not here)
|
|
|
|
Post by Marina on Jun 1, 2011 13:26:36 GMT -5
I love Greek mythology, and after watching Thor (which I enjoyed, but I think only because I barely know anything about Norse mythology) I want to learn more about Norse mythology. I used to like Egyptian gods too, but somehow my interest in it has waned. I have Hamilton's mythology, but she only has a small section on Norse myths.
Also, after taking a few classes which talk about Greek mythology in detail, and being a Christian, I find it fascinating how many stories are similar. And I want to learn more! Any type of myths intrigue me.
I gotta say Hades is my favorite. Mostly because he is so misunderstood and misinterpreted/represented in popular culture, which drives me nuts sometimes. After watching Clash of the Titans, I was almost foaming at the mouth I was so annoyed. Not to mention Disney's Hercules. I can't even watch it for simple enjoyment anymore. I hate it when they make Hades the bad guy.
I gotta say the Iliad was my favorite mythological story though, I never expected it to be so enjoyable. My friend and I also had a Hector vs. Achilles debate, I sided with Achilles, but had to forfeit after taking a Classics class in college, after I found about how much of a sicko Achilles was.
|
|
|
|
Post by Olive on Jun 1, 2011 13:34:59 GMT -5
Also, after taking a few classes which talk about Greek mythology in detail, and being a Christian, I find it fascinating how many stories are similar. And I want to learn more! Any type of myths intrigue me. Watching the faces of fellow students as they slowly realized that Christianity stole a lot of it's lore from... every previous culture... was absolutely priceless. Oh, I miss my Myth class! |
|
