Questions tagged [source-request]
Questions looking for a specific text on mythology or folklore.
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What are good sources to introduce people to mythology?
I would like to learn more about mythology, but I'm unsure where to start. Could anyone recommend some good websites or books for me to take a look at?
Related meta discussion: Helping users with ...
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Looking for good information on Australian Aboriginal Mythology
Looking for good, uncomplicated sources on Australian Aboriginal Mythology - books, web, whatever.
Not heavy scholarly stuff, but with plenty of detail
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Is this Sabine name of Flora accurate?
Being a Sabine derived goddess of Rome, it's not odd to think that there is a linguistic equivalent of Flora in Sabine. I keep seeing claims that Flora was called by the Sabines as Flusia, and that ...
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Are there freely available texts of Geseriad in English?
I was trying to do some research of Geseriad (aka Epic of King Gesar/Kesar) details (for this), but while I found a couple of academic references, some even re-telling many parts of the epos, I wasn't ...
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Are there any pre-Philostratus accounts of Apollonius of Tyana?
I am interested in the life of Apollonius of Tyana, but the account by Philostratus seems a little late. Are there any other accounts of Apollonius outside Philostratus, either before him, or ...
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What sources describe the rivers of the Underworld?
Many stories about the Greco-Roman Underworld mention the rivers flowing through it: the Styx, the Acheron, the Lethe, the Pyriphlegethon, the Cocytus, the Eridanus, and sometimes others.
Sources ...
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Who is Crite of Chaldea?
Another one from Kersey Graves' The World's Sixteen Crucified Saviors:
XIV. CRITE OF CHALDEA CRUCIFIED, 1200 B.C.
The Chaldeans, as Mr. Higgins informs us, have noted in their sacred books the ...
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What are some references to Mathonwy in Welsh legends?
Mathonwy is the father of Math fab Mathony and a mother godess Dôn in Welsh legend, who is believed to be analogous to Danu from Irish and Vedic legends.
Are there any surviving sources, either ...
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What are the oldest extant influential mythology inspired books (mainly Eastern)?
Sorry if the question sounds confusing, not sure how to ask my question but I was reading an article about how Western literature is built in part on Greek and Roman mythology, on works like Homer's ...
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Trying to find a hunter myth I was told as a child
When we were small children, our grandma would tell my sister and I stories at bedtime. She loved the Greek myths and Aesop's fables, but I have no idea where this particular story comes from.
It's ...
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What is the source of the story of Hades trapping Pirithous and Theseus in the Chairs of Forgetfulness?
Apparently, there is a version of the Pirithous and Theseus story that has Hades trapping the pair in the Underworld by having them sit on the Chairs of Forgetfulness:
This happened, some think, ...
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Is there any ancient source that says the Augean Stables hadn't been cleaned for 30 years?
It is commonly stated in books (including Merriam-Webster's dictionary) that the Augean Stables hadn't been cleaned for 30 years prior to the labor of Heracles, yet none of those books list a source ...
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Who is Thulis of Egypt?
Kersey Graves in The World's Sixteen Crucified Saviors compiled a list of sixteen messianic figures that preceded Jesus and were crucified on a tree, rock or cross before ascending into heaven.
The ...
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Why is Circe in Aeaea?
In the Odyssey, the sorceress Circe lives a solitary life in Aeaea. Why is that? How did a goddess end up alone on an island? Can she leave the island, and if not, why?
Madeline Miller in her novel ...
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Sirens of Thassos ... looking for sources
I'm trying to find sources to explain the "according to ancient myth" statement that opens almost every website on the island of Thassos that it is the Island of the Sirens. I guess it could just be a ...
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Goods reads about Herakles/Hercules twelve labors?
I would like to read more about Herakles twelve labors.
I would like to know if there are any remaining work about it ?
I am looking for work dating from the Greek or Roman era.
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Are there any accounts of English folklore concerning walking willow trees?
"In English folklore, a willow tree is believed to be quite sinister, capable of uprooting itself and stalking travellers."
On the Wikipedia page for willow it has this single sentence ...
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What is the source of the story of the immaculate conception of Mars?
Kersey Graves discusses the immaculate conception of Mars:
In Malcolm's "History of Persia" the author tells us that "Zoroaster was born of an immaculate conception by a ray from the Divine Reason....
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What do we know about the Roman goddesses Adeona and Abeona?
I've been trying to research the roles of the goddesses Adeona (or Adiona) and Abeona in Roman mythology, but am having great difficulty finding primary sources, such as the texts of Roman myths and ...
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Does anyone know any good sources/books regarding ancient Armenian mythology?
I have been trying to find sources online about Armenian mythology but since the culture is so old and the Church burned so many texts about their paganism, I have difficulty finding anything. Most ...
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What source says Cleola died giving birth to Pleisthenes?
Robert Graves claims Atreus' first wife, Cleola, died giving birth to Pleisthenes as punishment for Atreus not sacrificing the golden lamb. I checked all his sources and couldn't find anything of the ...
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What are the historical sources for the Illuminati mythos?
Does anyone know anything about the sources of the Illuminati mythology?
I've heard that they're a group of people who are secret masterminds and have done some dreadful things, but is it based on ...
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Did ancient Greek authors describe any consistent details of the Olympians' appearance (hair/eye color, relative height, etc)?
Obviously there are tons of statues of various gods, but these can usually be summed up as "muscular men and beautiful women." There's not a ton of detail in terms of facial appearance, ...
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What's the best way to go about researching obscure mythologies?
So basically, I want to learn more about Zulu (or possibly some other South African culture) polytheism, among other things. Trouble is, it's hard to find a lot information about it, even from ye olde ...
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Is there a preferred, scholarly edition of the Gesta Danorum in English?
Been meaning to read this for a while, but there are quite a few translations out there.
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In what ancient source, if any, does the infant Hermes disguise himself as Ares?
According to this Answer to a Question regarding whether the Greek messenger-god Hermes was born mortal or not, the Third Vatican Mythographer, a mediaeval Latin text, knows of a version of the ...
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Any Good Sources for Aztec Mythology?
Can any kind souls please provide an easily starting point for Aztec Myths and Legends. What I’ve heard of it is interesting, but the sources I can find, I feel, heavily rely on prior knowledge of the ...
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What is the source of the legend of Herakles bathing in the spa waters of Edipsos?
Locals in the spa town of Edipsos in the north of Evia are always quick to point out that the legendary Herakles would visit their town to rejuvenate himself in its spa waters.
Here are a few sites ...
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What ancient source says Aegisthus killed Atreus at 7 years old?
I have seen multiple sites and books state that Aegisthus was only seven years old when he killed Atreus, but have been unable to find the ancient source.
I know that Robert Graves was liable to use ...
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Original Myth and translation of Hades asking to kidnap Persephone
Allow me to clarify. I found an interesting choice words on the Wikipedia article on Hades.
Hades obtained his wife and queen, Persephone, through abduction at the behest of Zeus.
Retrieved 4/19/2018
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Is there a binary index of interactions between mythical personages of classical antiquity?
In the context of Greek and Roman mythology, suppose I'm interested in finding whether two prominent mythical personages (deities, heroes or other figures) are related or not by some written narrative,...
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"Let me blind to an eye". What is the origin of the following story?
God (or a genie, or whatever) promised to a guy he would grant him a wish, under the condition that the neighbour of the guy would have been granted a DOUBLE wish.
The guy thought deeply, and finally ...
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Are Lorialets real or fictional mythological creatures?
I've been playing a game that uses a lot of mythological creatures, vampires, sphinxes, kitsune, tengu, minotaurs, etc.
But then they used Lorialets. The only easy source on it that cites things, is a ...
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On the mechanics of updating mythology?
So I have the impression that in India a lot of real life events were glorified in Indian history and entered mythology (like the Mahabharata, etc? It recounts the Kurukshetra war, which is believed ...
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Why are the Sirens the "muses of Hades"?
In Pietro Pucci's Song of the Sirens essay collection, he mentions in passing that the Sirens are "the muses of Hades" (chapter 9, page 132). As far as I can tell, there's no further ...
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Are there any good online resources for Mongolian myths in English?
I want to learn more about Mongolian mythology but am having trouble finding texts in English (I only speak English).
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What source says the Pythia warned Aegeus he would die of grief?
Robert Graves phrases her oracle to Aegeus as follows:
The Oracle warned him not to untie the of mouth his bulging wine-skin
until he reached the highest point of Athens, lest he one day die of
grief
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Sources which explore traditional mythologies and their relevance to modern times
I'm interested in finding suggestions for sources who write about exploring traditional mythologies and their relevance to modern times. This would be a book that contains analysis, interpretation, ...
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Are there any sources about defiling and/or renouncing an idol being a capital offense?
Are there any sources about defiling and/or renouncing an idol in the ancient pagan world being a capital offense?
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Does anyone know of other publications by Hertha von Dechend, co-author of "Hamlet's Mill"?
"Hamlet's Mill" emphasized the Precession and resettings for new World Ages. Where can similar views be found?
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