Myths and Legends: An Illustrated Guide to Their Origins and Meanings (DK Compact Culture Guides)

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This illustrated guide to some of the world’s most fascinating mythologies is no joke. The audience is provided with illustrations, photos, maps, and charts that enrich their current understanding of global myths. Covering everything from a civilization’s creation story to its cultural heroes, World Mythology: The Illustrated Guide gives the audience all the information a mythology aficionado could hope to gain.

Even better? Children of Blood and Bone isn’t only a great read for students. Adeyemi’s masterful storytelling is sure to appeal to audiences of all ages.Many books have brought inspiration from myths into new times and places. Recent examples include the Who Let the Gods Outseries by Maz Evans, Louie Stowell’s Loki series and Davina Tijani and Adam Douglas-Bagley’s Yomi and the Fury of Ninki Nanka. They all bring some of the strength and magic of legend closer to today’s readers in different and exciting formats. From girlhood to becoming a young woman, Maxine Hong Kingston describes growing up in 20th-century California in The Woman Warrior. A daughter to Chinese immigrants, Hong Kingston details her experiences interwoven with traditional Chinese history, folklore, and fairytales. As one can imagine, Neil Gaiman’s Norse Mythology can tell the reader a Norse legend or two. Told in unmistakable prose with a spot-on characterization of the gods, Gaiman’s book breathes new life into the myths of ancient Scandinavia. I love books about mythology that take a well loved story that’s been told a thousand times and completely flip it on its head. This lovely short comic is one of the best examples of this. Using the characters from David and Goliath, Tom Gauld shows us the story from the other side of battle. Revealing the life of a larger than average man who just wanted to be left alone and work in admin. It's sensitive, funny and poignant. If you’re a fan of mythology and are interested in learning more about the women of world myths, this book is for you. Information about goddesses, heroines, queens, and monsters is paired with gorgeous art by Sara Richard. You’ll get a pronunciation guide, appearances, and alternative names these important figures go by. With its concise delivery and clear organization, Women of Myth is a book fit for audiences from all walks of life.

The king of one country threatened by the beast's arrival was advised to offer it a weekly sacrifice of seven virgins. In desperation the king eventually issued a proclamation offering his kingdom, his daughter's hand in marriage and a magic sword to anyone who could destroy the monster. There are several things to look out for when searching for the best overall mythology books. A good mythology book captures the heart of myths. These tales are timeless. These gods? Ancient! It takes nothing short of the real deal to share the stories of old with a new generation. If you’re looking for a beginner’s guide to Norse mythology without the fluff, look no further. The Viking Spirit: An Introduction to Norse Mythology and Religion is as easy to understand as it is informative. That, and you’ll get 34 – trust us, that’s a lot – myths retold. Alongside gorgeous art by Kotaro Chiba, Tales of Japan: Traditional Stories of Monsters and Magic regales the audience with 15 folktales. All tales are derived from earlier 20th-century collections by Lafcadio Hearn and Yei Theodora Ozaki. Organized between “Journeys,” “Ghosts and Monsters,” and “Justice,” each chapter within this book offers insight into the oral traditions of ancient Japan. Straight from Penguin Classics is this collection of Irish myths and legends, taken and translated from their 8th-century CE manuscript. Wonderfully capturing the legendary history of ancient Ireland, Early Irish Myths and Sagas are among the finest resources for early Celtic literature.That’s right: Circe, the witch that turned Odysseus’ crew into swine and took the Greek hero as a lover. However, Circe is given depth in Miller’s work. By the end of the story, the reader will have gained a new perspective of Greek myth, the power of choice, and what it means to go against the grain. Illustration: Helen Ward The Book of Yokai: Mysterious Creatures of Japanese Folklore by Michael Dylan Foster and Shinonome Kijin Oftentimes called “Ireland’s greatest Epic,” the Tain (Táin Bó Cuailnge) is a part of the Ulster Cycle. It was first written in the 8th century CE. Brooklyn House Magician’s Manual: Your Guide to Egyptian Gods & Creatures, Glyphs & Spells, and More

Norse mythology boasts some of the most beloved Norse gods and goddesses of the ancient world. Despite this, what we really know about the Old Norse religion is still debated. Greek, Mesopotamia, Egypt & Rome: Fascinating Insights, Mythology, Stories, History & Knowledge From The World’s Most Interesting Civilizations & Empires by History Brought Alive Hardcover Egyptian Mythology: A Guide to the Gods, Goddesses, and Traditions of Ancient Egypt by Geraldine Pinch From the tombs of the Pharaoh to the legend of Medusa, houses with legs to shape-shifting animals, we're endlessly fascinated by ancient myth and magic from all over the world. Author and illustrator Joe Todd-Stanton shares some of his favourites. The other Arthurian stories The Lady of the Fountain, Geraint the Son of Erbin and Peredur the Son of Evrawc,are mainly concerned with the quests and adventures of Arthur’s knights. The latter even includes one of the earliest references to the Grail legend.

Some topics discussed are not advised for younger audiences, but that does not take away from the heart-aching beauty of The Woman Warrior. A catharsis in and of itself, Hong Kingston’s story adds further insight into the complexity of Chinese mythology and its impact. Leave it to a former lecturer at Oxford University to write one of the best mythology books on the market! As with most things, religion and beliefs shift with the passage of time. Some folklore is adapted to an ever-changing world. We’ve gathered four of the top-notch mythology books on ancient Egyptian myth. Conceptions of God in Ancient Egypt: The One and the Many by Erik Hornung The Egyptian Book of the Dead: The Book of Going Forth by Day as translated by Raymond Faulkner and Ogden Goelet Norse myths and legends were almost completely lost to us since the stories were, traditionally, told through oral tradition. Through the famous works of Snorri Sturluson and others, we have been able to salvage what knowledge we have of Norse myths.

Egyptian Mythology: A Guide to the Gods, Goddesses, and Traditions of Ancient Egypt by Geraldine Pinch The Stoor Worm, or Mester Stoor Worm, was a gigantic evil sea serpent in Orcadian folklore, capable of contaminating plants and destroying animals and humans with its putrid breath. It is probably an Orkney variant of the Norse Jormungandr, also known as the Midgard Serpent, or world serpent, and has been described as a sea dragon. Like the last recommendation this is another book that, as a child, you feel must contain some kind of magic. The illustrations and design of the book are made to look an ancient artefact and the information is presented through the lens of an explorer (Emily Sands) as she hunts for the tomb of the god Osiris, which is a perfect way to get a child invested in learning about mythology.

The Nine Maidens of Dundee 

We won’t learn much about the geography of Central America from the stories of the twins Hunapu and Xbalanque, but we do get a wonderful glimpse of the Mayan world. Everything, from the narrative and characters to the rhythm of the story, draws us close to the sense of humour, mischief and ingenuity of a whole people. Mythology (75th Anniversary Illustrated Edition): Timeless Tales of Gods and Heroes by Edith Hamilton Today, there are 574 federally recognized tribes within the United States alone. Each one has its own stories, monsters, and heroes. It is estimated that during the pre-Columbian era, there were well over 1,000 different Native American cultures thriving throughout the modern U.S., which means that Native American mythology is incomparably vast.