Explore Ancient Mythology and Folklore

Updated June 2, 2026
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The Japanese myths : a guide to gods, heroes and spirits
Frydman, Joshua
Paper Book
The perfect introduction to the world of Japanese myth and legend. This is a smart and succinct guide to the rich tradition of Japanese mythology, from the earliest recorded legends of Izanagi and Izanami, their divine offspring and the creation of Japan, to medieval tales of...
The Aztec myths : a guide to the ancient stories and legends
Townsend, Camilla
Paper Book
The essential guide to the world of Aztec mythology, based on Nahuatl-language sources that challenge the colonial history passed down to us by the Spanish. How did the jaguar get his spots? What happened to the four suns that came before our own? Where was Aztlan, mythical...
The Slavic myths
Charney, Noah
Paper Book
A Pulitzer-nominated author and one of the great public intellectuals of Slavic culture bring to life the unfamiliar myths and legends of the Slavic world. Slavic cultures are far-ranging, comprising of East Slavs (Russia, Ukraine, Belarus), West Slavs (Czech Republic,...
American Indian myths and legends
Erdoes, Richard
Paper Book
American Indian myths and legends
Erdoes, Richard
Paper Book
More than 160 tales from eighty tribal groups present a rich and lively panorama of the Native American mythic heritage. From across the continent comes tales of creation and love; heroes and war; animals, tricksters, and the end of the world.  "This fine, valuable new...
The Korean myths : a guide to the gods, heroes and legends
Fenkl, Heinz Insu
Paper Book
The perfect introduction to the world of Korean myth and legend. Korean myths are a living and evolving part of society, in both the North and South. With the export of Korean film across the globe, K-pop, fashion, K-dramas, literature and comics there is a growing desire to...
Myths of the world : the illustrated treasury of the world's greatest stories
Allan, Tony
Paper Book
This beautifully illustrated book offers the most readable collection of myths on the market, perfect for readers diving into the current popularity of folklore and mythology. Handpicked from various cultures and eras, this gorgeous gift edition takes you on a journey across the globe with over...
Stories from Ancient Iraq
Dalley, Stephanie
Paper Book
This book contains twelve stories from Mesopotamian mythology. It features figures such as Inana and Gilgamesh, and also introduces lesser know figures, including Adapa to whom the gods gave eternal wisdom but not eternal life, Nergal, god of death, and Ereshkigal, queen of the underworld.
A Treasury of Irish myth, legend, and folklore
Booss, Claire.
Paper Book
Introduce yourself to the noble heroes and magical creatures of Irish mythology. Includes the two definitive works on the subject by the giants of the Irish Renaissance. W.B. Yeates' Fairy and Folk Tales of the Irish Peasantry and Lady Gregory's Cuchulain of Muirthemne.
Song of the Vikings : Snorri and the making of the Norse myths
Brown, Nancy Marie.
Paper Book
Much like Greek and Roman mythology, Norse myths are still with us. Famous storytellers from JRR Tolkien to Neil Gaiman have drawn their inspiration from the long-haired, mead-drinking, marauding and pillaging Vikings. Their creator is a thirteenth-century Icelandic chieftain by the name of...
The complete gods and goddesses of ancient Egypt
Wilkinson, Richard H.
Paper Book
The lives of pharaohs and commoners alike were dominated by the need to honor, worship, and pacify the huge pantheon of deities. From lavish tomb paintings and imposing temple reliefs to humble household shrines, countless tributes throughout Egypt reflect the richness and complexity of their...
Bulfinch's Mythology
Bulfinch, Thomas
Paper Book
Bulfinch's mythology : the classic introduction to myth and legend--complete and unabridged
Bulfinch, Thomas
Paper Book
A beautifully packaged and affordably priced edition of this classic, accessible guide to world mythology, unabridged and complete. Thomas Bulfinch collected and interpreted the legends of the world for everyday people, so that those who lacked extensive schooling could still...
Aztec and Maya myths
Taube, Karl A.
Paper Book
The myths of the Aztec and Maya derive from a shared Mesoamerican cultural tradition. This is very much a living tradition, and many of the motifs and gods mentioned in early sources are still evoked in the lore of contemporary Mexico and Guatemala. Professor Taube discusses the different...
Mythology for dummies
Blackwell, Christopher W.
Paper Book
Discover (or rediscover!) history's greatest myths and legends From Grendel and Beowulf to Poseidon, Medusa, and Hercules, the gods, monsters, and heroes of mythology are endlessly weird and fascinating. And if you're looking for a helpful companion to this wild collection of...
The Golden Road : how ancient India transformed the world
Dalrymple, William
Paper Book
INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER USA TODAY BESTSELLER Winner of the Mark Lynton History Prize 2026 * A Kirkus Reviews Best History Book of 2025 * A Library Journal Best Book of the Year * An NPR Book We Loved This Year The...
Mythopedia : a brief compendium of natural history lore
Mayor, Adrienne
Paper Book
From acclaimed folklorist and historian Adrienne Mayor, an enchanting collection of the ancient myths that emerged out of the wonders--and disasters--of the natural world Mythopedia is a fun, fact-filled A-Z treasury of myths inspired by natural events. Bringing...
I know what I saw : modern-day encounters with monsters of new urban legend and ancient lore
Godfrey, Linda S.
Paper Book
The monsters of ancient mythology, folklore, and more contemporary urban legend have long captured the popular imagination. While most people in America today relegate monsters to just that--our imaginations--we continue to be fascinated by the unknown. Linda Godfrey is one of the country's leading...
The United States of cryptids : a tour of American myths and monsters
Ocker, J. W.
Paper Book
Meet the monsters in our midst, from bigfoot to Mothman and beyond! Welcome to the United States of Cryptids, where mysterious monsters lurk in the dark forests, deep lakes, and sticky swamps of all fifty states. From the infamous Jersey Devil to the obscure Snallygaster, travel...
Killing the dead : vampire epidemics from Mesopotamia to the New World
Blair, John
Paper Book
A riveting history of vampire panics across cultures and down through the millennia--and why killing the dead is better than killing the living Killing the Dead provides the first in-depth, global account of one of the world's most widespread yet misunderstood forms of...
A dictionary of African mythology : the mythmaker as storyteller
Scheub, Harold.
Paper Book
In this marvelous collection of hundreds of fascinating, mysterious, and revealing tales, Harold Scheub captures the immense sweep and diversity of African mythology. Scheub offers an unprecedented collection of 400 stories, arranged alphabetically, that touch on virtually every aspect of...
Latin American folktales : stories from Hispanic and Indian traditions
Bierhorst, John.
Paper Book
Presents more than one hundred folktales selected from the Hispanic and Indian peoples of Latin America and the Caribbean and includes stories of mischievous tricksters, scheming witches, angels, arrogant aristocrats, humble peasants, and heroes and heroines.
Cuentos folkloricos latinoamericanos : fábulas de las tradiciones hispanas e indígenas
Bierhorst, John.
Paper Book
Extendiendo a veinte países y quinientos años, desde los mitos coloniales más tempranos hasta los cuentos orales coleccionados en el siglo veinte desde el sur de California, Florida, Texas y Nuevo México, EE.UU., Cuentos Folklóricos Latinoamericanos es la primera antología publicada en...
Latin American folktales : stories from Hispanic and Indian traditions
Bierhorst, John.
Paper Book
The wisdom and artistry of storytellers from Hispanic and Indian traditionspreserve one of the world's richest folktale traditions-combining the lore of medieval Europe, the ancient Near East, and pre-Columbian America. Gathered from twenty countries, including the United States, the stories are...

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