34 posts tagged with mythology. (View popular tags)
Displaying 1 through 34. Subscribe: http://ask.metafilter.com/tags/mythology/rss 
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 on Jul 29, 2008 - 27 answers
A question about creating literary mythologies and the antagonistic forces within them. [more inside]
posted on Jul 4, 2008 - 17 answers ![]()
The etymology of Greek "glory" names... [more inside]
posted 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 on Jan 25, 2008 - 9 answers ![]()
Got any great books about luck? [more inside]
posted 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 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 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 on Oct 19, 2007 - 15 answers ![]()
Please recommend some 9/11 literature. [more inside]
posted 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 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 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 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 on May 9, 2007 - 7 answers
What are the similarities between Hindu and Chinese mythology? [more inside]
posted 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 on Mar 7, 2007 - 36 answers
Why does Greek mythology ostensibly lack many of the "survivalistic" traits of the Bible? [more inside]
posted on Jan 8, 2007 - 34 answers
Know any books that treat conspiracy theory as mythology? [more inside]
posted 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 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 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 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 on Jul 26, 2006 - 31 answers ![]()
The Protagonist: What can you tell me? [more inside]
posted on Jun 8, 2006 - 17 answers ![]()
Points for a comparison essay between Apollo and Dionysus? [more inside]
posted 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 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 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 on Feb 1, 2006 - 26 answers ![]()
Who are the 21st century Muses? [more inside]
posted on Jan 12, 2006 - 14 answers ![]()
Is there a roman equivalent to the figure orpheus in greek mythology? [more inside]
posted 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 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 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 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 on Aug 6, 2004 - 14 answers
What are some great novels and/or myths that feature two heroes?
posted on Apr 13, 2004 - 33 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 on Dec 13, 2003 - 5 answers