How to Start Studying Mythology
Have you recently been taken in by a pop culture movie or TV show inspired by mythology and want to learn more? Maybe you watched the new Percy Jackson series, listened to Epic or Hadestown, or got really into Marvel’s Thor. No matter how your interest has been peaked I welcome you to the study of world mythology. Before you dive in though, there are some things you should keep in mind.
Forget the idea that mythology is concrete stories.
Maybe you’ve seen picture books in the bookstore or library or collections of myths. The stories are neat and organized, with a set of defined characters and settings and each myth flows into the next without issue. Well, that is the furthest thing from true mythology. Think of myths as thousands of years of the telephone game. These stories have been told and retold by so many people each adding their twist on it to the point where we do not know what many original stories, ideas, or characters looked like. Mythology is a game of Clue. Trying to find similar details in each version of the myths to piece together what the original story may have been and track its evolution through the years.
Leave behind your modern-day sensibilities.
I hate to say it, but if you want to study mythology you need to understand that you are studying a different culture from thousands of years ago. Many of these cultures had different values and senses of right and wrong. We have come a long way as a species, but myths come from a time before the concept of equal rights or even rights in general in some cases. Some myths can be hard to read given their context, but remember these stories reflect the thinking of people from thousands of years and thousands of epiphanies and leaps of progress ago. Acknowledge it, but do not let it take away from all these stories can give us.
Get ready to become a researcher.
If you thought by studying myths you could get a break on research, boy were you wrong. Myths are a reflection of the culture they come from, and the myths are not going to stop and give a TED talk about their cultural nuances to help you understand. When you study a myth you also have to study its culture to truly understand the important themes and messages of a story.
Understand that sources are scarce.
Anyone who dabbles in mythology will be able to tell you that the number one frustration of the field is the lack of sources. Greco-Roman mythology is easier to study due to the cultural tradition of writing. The same goes for many Easter traditions as well such as India or China. Other cultures like the Norse and Celtic did not start writing things down until after Christianization leaving us not knowing what’s original and what’s a Christian addition. Then you have cultures, like many in Africa where the stories were considered too sacred to write down and were passed down orally through storytellers., leaving no written sources at all. Not to mention cultural drift, dying languages, and inconsiderate armies burning down libraries and books.
Have fun.
Despite the headaches and frustrations you may encounter, do not forget to have fun. Myths were humanity’s first stories, some of our first means of entertainment. There is a reason these characters and plots are still being discussed and studied thousands of years later. At the end of the day, remember to just sit back and enjoy these stories the same way our ancestors did all those years ago.
Additionally, here are some great YouTube channels/playlists to get you started:
Overly Sarcastic Production: Miscellaneous Myths
Extra History: Extra Mythology