Mythology Favorites

[iosonochesono]

I was wondering of the different types of mythological stories out there, which ones have you been most interested in reading? Some basics on Greek and/or Roman gods and goddesses tend to play some part in Western education, so we end up being at least acquainted with some mythological figures and stories.

But there are also the mythological figures and stories throughout every region of the world. So what are some favorite mythological things you know of, and where did they come from? Is there any particular set of mythological figures and stories that you are drawn to most, or are you usually content with any mythology you find?

Comments

[randombastary]

I've always been really drawn to the Norse pantheon, with a special affection for Loki. I think that my attraction may come down to the fact that they are all doomed, they know they're doomed, and they still fight on anyway.

[iosonochesono]

Are there any particular books do you read for Loki and the Norse pantheon in general, or do you pull most of it from the internet and articles?

I used to love reading various mythologies from indigenous American nations when I was a kid, but obviously as I got older I realized it wasn't all that wonderful from an educational perspective because most of the books I had easiest access to sort of washed all the legends and mythologies together as one generic religion. (At least, those nations from regions that are now the US; they didn't include central or south American mythological stories.)

[randombastary]

Generally, I enjoy reading books about the religion itself that are written in kind of an academic sort of way (and if it's by someone who actually follows the religion itself, I like it even more ... like Exploring the Northern Tradition). I'm also rather interested to check out Our Troth: History and Lore, which I haven't gotten around to yet. And I also tend to check around Wikipedia, God Checker and Encyclopedia Mythica when I'm needing to confirm info for the fics I write.

What are some of your favorite ones?

[iosonochesono]

Well, when I was a kid I would get books when visiting reservations on say, children's stories. (Such as Tricky Rabbit, or the different myths of the world and people's creation.) When I got older I read Native American Myths and Legends, and now I have been reading things more from just essays for an anthropological perspective? But am always keeping my eyes out for other books.

Plus, I'd like to try and get things that are specific to certain nations and regions and really know their history. Like I said, books on indigenous American nations and said mythologies are often written by Westerners unfortunately, which deals with a bunch of consequences in basically watering it all down as though it were one culture.

I should give Nordic stories a try though, and after mythologies from around here historically I've always liked learning about Egyptian mythological figures; I should probably give it a try sometime... Among others!

[randombastary]

There are so many different religions to check out that are freaking cool!!

[iosonochesono]

Yeah, and even when you sort of know about them, it gets awesome to see it and take a deeper interest. I mean, Avatar: The Last Airbender is a great example. I would love to start learning more about religious and/or mythological figures, definitions, and relationships stemming from Indian and far-East regions. Though that unfortunately is also pretty difficult because we tend to learn about them like they were all one big religion with some sort of sacred text and that's not really how it worked at all, it was a lot of complex stories, cultures, etc.

So I have some stuff on my list, definitely.

[randombastary]

Hinduism is rather cool, and one of the guys that I work with was raised in a Hindu family, and there have been several times when I've gone to him and asked him questions about different gods and things that they have done. And I keep meaning to check out Zoroastrianism, but keep getting distracted by other things.

[iosonochesono]

It is easy to be distracted, to be sure XD

[randombastary]

This is fact. lol

ETA: I thought you might also be interested in the com that I run called godfic. It's not terribly active, but there is some mythology based fic up there.

[muladhara]

As the commenter above me said, Norse mythology is a biggie - and I like Loki, too. He's one of the characters I fall back on to draw from time to time (the other being a generic fool, but that's more about Tarot symbolism than anything else).

Aztec myths: I used to like stories about Quetzelcoatl, but now I'm more drawn to Tezcatlipoca (because he is represented as a black jaguar, and jaguars are my favourite big cats).

Egyptian myths: I particularly like the story of Set and Osiris. There's all sorts of bits and pieces that I like from that mythology (because, I suppose, it's the one I've read the most about).

I mean, really, I like all mythologies, and know random bits from all sorts of things, so this comment could go on forever ;) so to speak. I mean, I even like the stories about Anansi, even though I'm not fond of spiders (but I think that's more to do with him being a trickster god than anything else).

Um, I don't know if I answered your question all that well?

[iosonochesono]

You answered fine! I just thought I'd get a discussion going to get this community to pop up a bit and see what users were watching the place. Plus, it can give me an idea of where maybe future posts can go, if no one else is getting at all active. I thought this was one community I would really like to see as more active and so I was hoping there were people watching it and that might respond, you know?

I like the idea of Tezcatlipoca, and I get what you mean. Dionysus and Poseidon or pretty much any Greek or Roman mythological figure charged with the creation of dolphins in any story were my favorite. I don't know if there was ever a 'dolphin god' though.

Also: I love your icon XD

[muladhara]

Hee, thanks. I know I tend to ramble occasionally quite a lot. Heh.

Ah, good idea. I wish I had something to post (although maybe I better join first, huh? ;) ), but...I don't know. I like seeing what other people have to say about the subject (also I tend to think nobody is interested in what I'm saying).

Hmm, yeah, I don't know about a dolphin god, but there could be one in some Australasian or Pacific mythos that we just haven't heard about.

re: the icon - thank you! I wish I could lay claim to having made it, but someone more talented than me did that (although they are credited on my icon page).

[iosonochesono]

I'm not even sure having comment-worthy post topics are all that important right now so much as going, "HEY! PEOPLE! THERE ARE COMMUNITIES HERE! JOIN, POST, COMMENT AND BE MERRY!"

I don't think there are any 'dolphin gods/goddesses' but there are gods and goddesses attributed to the creation of dolphins, and I think there might be some creation stories somewhere that involve dolphins.

Or... Maybe I'm thinking about some art.