Can vampires enter the houses of other vampires without being invited in?
posted by violetk on Nov 5, 2009 - 29 answers

I'd like to read a book about the Dreamtime of the Australians. I was kind of thinking about reading Chatwin, but these comments have made a little wary; I don't particularly want to read about another outsider's spiritual journey, and I don't want a New Agey attempt-at-universal-religion haphazardly mixed in with basic anthropological records. Can you recommend a solid book about Dreamtime?
posted by Greg Nog on Oct 19, 2009 - 10 answers

I'm trying to remember a folktale (Possibly of native American origin) about how someone (I'm pretty sure it was a trickster figure) got to be keeper of the worlds stories. [more inside]
posted by emperor.seamus on Sep 23, 2009 - 5 answers

Any anthropologists, classicists, or world literature historians out there? Looking for stories (from any culture, era, or part of the globe) featuring what we would consider to be moral violations (human sacrifice, incest, slavery etc.), but which the culture or author would have considered morally righteous. [more inside]
posted by Arthur "Two Sheds" Jackson on Aug 14, 2009 - 30 answers

The titles for the show "Hotbox" remind me of a wiki-based community site I saw a while ago. Every article on the site is a dry, passive-voice case study of some (usually hilariously dangerous) fictional occult object or person, and the site itself is allegedly run by some giant MIB-style organization. The site has very specific acronyms and vocabulary, and I can't remember any of it except that agents are called agents and there's a running joke about appropriate euphemisms for when they're killed. [more inside]
posted by sixswitch on Aug 11, 2009 - 6 answers

What are some educational (yet interesting) podcasts? [more inside]
posted by Dreamcast on Jul 22, 2009 - 20 answers

What are the best books on mythology (all kinds)? [more inside]
posted by fantine on Jun 27, 2009 - 28 answers

What books or series spur their own mythology or philosophy? I love getting lost in the world of a book or movie. Past books and series such as "Harry Potter," "The Da Vinci Code," "Lost," "The Matrix" movies, "Buffy" and "Star Wars" come with their own universe - people analyze them, look for mythological/philosophical undertones, solve puzzles and come up with their own theories. [more inside]
posted by adverb on Apr 24, 2009 - 69 answers

Does anyone know of a spoken word explanation track that explains the entire mythology of the X-Files? [more inside]
posted by codybaldwin on Apr 8, 2009 - 7 answers

I’m trying to remember the name of a set of themed encyclopedias for children from my childhood. [more inside]
posted by studentbaker on Mar 9, 2009 - 11 answers

Looking for a particular French poem about Aphrodite. [more inside]
posted by paduasoy on Feb 21, 2009 - 4 answers

Mythology/historical question - I'm looking for the interrelation and correlation between Astarte and Astaroth. [more inside]
posted by FatherDagon on Dec 15, 2008 - 8 answers

I'm looking for some good mythology books to read to my kids. I grew up reading greek mythology, and I would like some suggestions of good greek (and non-greek) mythology books that break the stories up into sections. I have a few books on my shelf, but I would consider them a bit higher level then what I am looking for. [more inside]
posted by Jonsnews on Oct 22, 2008 - 30 answers

Where do I start with ancient classic literature, especially accessible versions of mythological or vaguely historical tales? Preferably from Anglo-Saxon or Norse traditions, but I'm open to anything really good. [more inside]
posted by rocks009 on Oct 3, 2008 - 26 answers

Academic papers and books on the topic of myth in screenwriting? [more inside]
posted by sumo on Sep 30, 2008 - 5 answers

Do we have any evidence about whether people believed in the gods of Greek & Roman mythology as people today believe in the gods of Christianity, Islam, etc?
posted by xmutex on Jul 29, 2008 - 28 answers

A question about creating literary mythologies and the antagonistic forces within them. [more inside]
posted by Navelgazer on Jul 4, 2008 - 17 answers

The etymology of Greek "glory" names... [more inside]
posted by clockzero on May 29, 2008 - 2 answers

What schools other than Pacifica offer a Ph.D. program in comparative mythology? My Google-fu has failed me. I understand that certain institutions offer interdisciplinary studies that can be bent in the direction of mythology, as can certain programs in English. But I can't seem to find any that offer the richness of mythological courses found at Pacifica. Surely that isn't the only university out there!
posted by jackypaper on Jan 25, 2008 - 9 answers

Got any great books about luck? [more inside]
posted by Andrhia on Dec 26, 2007 - 18 answers

I'm looking for a good reference book on the Phoenix (mythological bird), preferably with plenty of color pictures, as this is for a child. Any suggestions? Thanks.
posted by scubbadubba on Nov 27, 2007 - 2 answers

I'm looking for a concise and readable overview/guide of what could be considered "classic literature" for a mature ESL student. [more inside]
posted by Phire on Nov 15, 2007 - 7 answers

MythologyFilter: In Norse mythology, is there an object that serves as the 'key' to anything important? [more inside]
posted by phaded on Oct 19, 2007 - 15 answers

Please recommend some 9/11 literature. [more inside]
posted by archimago on Sep 18, 2007 - 17 answers

Mythology (?) question: I'm looking for a story or creature that must destroy or consume itself in order to either become stronger or to reveal its true form/essence. [more inside]
posted by ferociouskitty on Jun 28, 2007 - 25 answers

BookFilter: Looking for a book a friend once found containing every myth, fable, and legend the author could find from multiple cultures, with analysis breaking them down into (I believe) a hundred or so archetypes. [more inside]
posted by Andrhia on Jun 18, 2007 - 14 answers

I'm looking for some good books/websites/journals etc dealing with Breton and/or Acadian mythology. [more inside]
posted by Biblio on May 17, 2007 - 6 answers

NordicFolkMusicFilter: I'm writing about folk legends and myths in Scandinavia and the development of Nordic music (both in the past and in the modern era). Two bands that I think deserve specific recognition for their blending of ancient and modern, and for which I plan to highlight, are Garmarna and Sorten Muld. The only problem is, I'm not finding a lot of detail about the myths/legends these bands allegedly take their texts from. [more inside]
posted by dmaterialized on May 9, 2007 - 7 answers

What are the similarities between Hindu and Chinese mythology? [more inside]
posted by mordecai on Mar 28, 2007 - 7 answers

Looking for mythological, fictional, and / or non-fictional characters and / or stories of a certain nature. [more inside]
posted by almostcool on Mar 7, 2007 - 36 answers

Why does Greek mythology ostensibly lack many of the "survivalistic" traits of the Bible? [more inside]
posted by wireless on Jan 8, 2007 - 34 answers

Know any books that treat conspiracy theory as mythology? [more inside]
posted by Bookhouse on Jan 6, 2007 - 21 answers

Wikipedia posits the mid- to late-1800s as the time when we first started seeing time travel in literature. Are there older examples? Is there an analog from antiquity -- some similar concept articulated in an ancient culture or mythology? A folk tale?
posted by blueshammer on Nov 20, 2006 - 13 answers

Are there any cultures that don't anthropomorphize animals and other things (living or otherwise) in their myths, legends, folktales, etc.? Is this a universal thing? And if it is universal, are there any layman accessible books or articles on why?
posted by PinkStainlessTail on Sep 25, 2006 - 20 answers

Egyptologists and other experts: are the works of E. A. Wallis Budge on ancient Egyptian religion still considered somewhat accurate? If he has been superceded, who are the new authorities? [more inside]
posted by PinkStainlessTail on Sep 17, 2006 - 6 answers

Douglas Adams and Neil Gaiman both mused on the idea of ancient gods who continued to exist despite their waning popularity. Who came up with this idea first? Either of them? Someone else? [more inside]
posted by es_de_bah on Jul 26, 2006 - 31 answers

The Protagonist: What can you tell me? [more inside]
posted by 0bvious on Jun 8, 2006 - 17 answers

Points for a comparison essay between Apollo and Dionysus? [more inside]
posted by northernsoul on Apr 26, 2006 - 6 answers

I'm working on a boardgame in which gods punish mortals, and am looking for examples from throughout mythology that demonstrate divinely disproportionate responses to human action. Can someone point me to particularly useful references, or offer up good examples? The game will probably be Greek mythology-themed, but I'm curious about examples of the phenomenon from any culture.
posted by blueshammer on Apr 11, 2006 - 30 answers

I'm looking for a book not by Joseph Campbell, but interpreting his works. It outlined the steps of the "hero's journey" and identified the archetypes. It leaned heavily on the Odyssey, Star Wars and the Wizard of Oz as examples of Campbell's model. Does anyone know the name of the book?
posted by scaryblackdeath on Mar 27, 2006 - 12 answers

I am trying to remember a specific story (possibly a myth) where the object that is desired and sought after transforms into something or someone quite different when removed from its place of origin. [more inside]
posted by coevals on Feb 1, 2006 - 26 answers

Who are the 21st century Muses? [more inside]
posted by rwhe on Jan 12, 2006 - 14 answers

Is there a roman equivalent to the figure orpheus in greek mythology? [more inside]
posted by punch_the_mayor on Nov 15, 2005 - 9 answers

Is there a greek goddess of olfaction? Or at least some sort of ancient figure associated with perfumes or odors or the nose? (Perhaps with an affiliated myth or story to go along with the association?) [more inside]
posted by mowglisambo on Sep 15, 2005 - 7 answers

Can you tell me what the mythological creature on the case back of my Omega Speedmaster is? [more inside]
posted by sled on Apr 25, 2005 - 16 answers

When I was around 15 I read a book on Norse mythology. It concluded with a quote attributed to Snorri Sturluson that was along the lines of: This is the end. If there is more to know I don't know it. Go and have a merry life. [more inside]
posted by Chuckles on Apr 9, 2005 - 8 answers

I have recently developed an interest in Celtic (Irish/Celtic) and Welsh Mythology as well as in books like _The King of Elfland's Daughter_ by Dunsany and _The Once and Future King_ by TH White. Any reocmmendations for nonfiction that covers the mythology or fiction that uses it?
posted by Apoch on Aug 6, 2004 - 14 answers

What are some great novels and/or myths that feature two heroes? [more inside]
posted by _sirmissalot_ on Apr 13, 2004 - 32 answers

I have a cat Nuala, named after a character in The Sandman books. The origin is Gaelic/Celtic meaning 'white shoulders/lovely shoulders', and considering the characters in the series i've always thought Nuala must have some kind of mythical background. Googling hasn't provided anything and The Sandman Annotations don't mention her beyond the fictional role. Does anyone here know if Nuala was a mythical figure?
posted by poopy on Dec 13, 2003 - 5 answers