Category: | Our Mythical Childhood Survey

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Showing 203 entries for tag: Mythology

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John Bankston

A Kid’s Guide to Mythology (Series): Hercules

This book is part of a series of eight on different Greek deities. It tells the story of Hercules, half-man, half-god who with his god-given strength was able to overcome great obstacles. However, he was not able to overcome the greatest internal obstacle of his own anger. Starting with the episode of Hercules’ cattle being stolen, Bankston launches into a discussion of myth and the place of the myth of Hercules in the ancient world. Each chapter contains selections of the myth with other (...)

YEAR: 2016

COUNTRY: United States of America

TAGS: Admete Admetus Alcmene Amazons Amphitryon Apollo Apollodorus Apotheosis Arcadia Athens Atlas Augeas Cacus Cerberus Chiron Cithaeron Classical myth Constantine Constellations Deianeira Diana Diodorus Siculus Diomedes Electryon Erginus Erymanthus Eurystheus Eurytos Greece Hera Heracles / Herakles Hercules Hesperides Hippolyta Hydra Iolaus Juno Jupiter Lerna Linus Macedonia Minerva Minos Minyans Mythology Nessus Olympians Olympics Olympus Oracles Pholus Plato Pluto Prometheus Ptolemy Pythia Rome Sparta Thanatos Thebes Titans Virgil Zeus

Elisabeth Belomo

Abobo Ndene and Otene Nka'a

Long, long time ago, AboboNdene, the spider, and OteneNka’a, the monitor lizard, were close friends; so intimate that they shared everything: their happiness, worries and sorrows. They both believed in the same ideologies as they openly rebuked inhumane inclinations.One day, on their way back home from the farm, they engaged in a debate on the origins of good and evil. Before they realised it, they were on opposing sides: while Abobo held God responsible for good and evil, Otene attributed(...)

COUNTRY: Cameroon

TAGS: Gods Mythology

Dapo Adeleke

Adamu and His Horse

Adamu and His Horse is a Children’s fiction, didactic and with thematic thrusts yarned from oral tradition. Adamu is a young and ambitious young man. His parents migrated to Garinlafiya long time ago from their ancestral village where they were relatively wealthy but had to leave because of famine. His father had a retinue of slaves but trusted one. On the night of their departure from Garinlafiya, he tied most of his property and money which were too heavy to carry on the back of his many(...)

YEAR: 2004

COUNTRY: Nigeria

TAGS: Mythology

Jamila Gavin, David Parkins

Alexander the Great. Man, Myth, or Monster?

Alexander the Great. Man, Myth, or Monster? introduces young readers to ancient history via biography. The birth to death format follows the traditions of biography, while the narrative also moves forward and backwards in parts, with the narrator recalling previous events or anticipating events that will occur later. The story is punctuated by mythic tales which are introduced as if being told to soldiers in the story. These embedded myths are well chosen to reflect what is happening in the main(...)

YEAR: 2011

COUNTRY: United Kingdom

TAGS: Achilles Agamemnon Alexander the Great Architecture Artemis Athens Bible Daedalus Dionysus Divination Egypt Gilgamesh Gods Graeco-Persian wars Greek history Greek mythology Greek philosophy Heracles / Herakles Hercules Homer Horus Icarus Iliad Immortality Julius Caesar Midas Mythology Oracles Patroclus Reception of classical antiquity Slavery Trojan War Troy Zeus

Neil Gaiman

In American Gods, a man named Shadow is released from prison when his wife dies in a car accident. On his journey to the funeral, he meets a mysterious stranger, Mr Wednesday. Wednesday turns out to be the Norse god, Odin, and hires Shadow as a bodyguard. Wednesday tells Shadow that war is coming, a war between the "old" gods, and the "new." These old gods are the gods of myth and legend, who have come to the United States, brought in the imaginations, memories, and stor(...)

YEAR: 2001

COUNTRY: United States of America

TAGS: Architecture Classical Architecture Eurydice Hero Hero’s journey Katabasis Mythology Orpheus

Peter Numfor Ambe

An Orphan Child and Her Uncle's Wife

AN ORPHAN CHILD AND HER UNCLE’S WIFE:Long long time agoThere lived a manWho got married and hadJust one child.The gift that was given him duringHis wedding was his late sister’s daughter - A child who had been movingFrom one family member to another.The wife detested the gift butLater on accepted it.She accepted it becauseTheir only daughterWas feeling very lonely.She was still very young,And so needed company.The acceptance of this childInto the new home took place after a lot (...)

COUNTRY: Cameroon

TAGS: Mythology Nymphs

Joseph Ndipowah Teneng

An Orphan Girl and Her Stepmother

Long time agoThere was a manWho was so handsome.He had two wives.The first was very, very beautiful,The second was not so beautiful.The first wife gave birth to a girl child,The man was happy.Because that was part of his wealth.He had a friend who startedBetrothing this little girl at birth,He would always bring him firewood,And roast meat.The man planted a kola nut tree for the daughterThe daughter had everything that one can imagine.Dresses, enough food, bracelets, necklaces, and others.One da(...)

COUNTRY: Cameroon

TAGS: Mythology

Enoch Tanyi

Anansi is a myth of the people of Asante on the coast of Ghana. This myth is centered on the character and ingenuity of Anansi, who succeeded through tricks to bring stories from the gods to his people and gave them wisdom. It is believed that Anansi is a mystical figure, who acts on behalf of Nyame, his father, and the Sky Father (God). He has the ability to bring rain and to stop wild fires. In some sectors of the Asante clan, Anansi is believed to be responsible for creating the sun, the star(...)

COUNTRY: Ghana

TAGS: Gods Mythical names Mythology

Annick Ndo Medjoto

Angon Nana and Abomo Nguele

Long ago, in a certain corner of South Cameroon, was born a boy of extraordinary handsomeness, named Angon Nana. He was so handsome that upon seeing him people were cured of their psychological problems. Unfortunately, Nana’s parents died while he was still young and he became unbearably sad. He wept day and night for several years. One day, amid his tears, he felt a strange presence around him. As he turned around, a girl Abomo was looking down at him smiling. She dried his tears. As(...)

COUNTRY: Cameroon

TAGS: Gods Mythology Travel

Marios Aristopoulos, Jesse McGibney, Maciej Paprocki, Lee Vermeulen

Apotheon features the story of Nikandreos, a warrior from the village of Dion, and his journey to save his village and the Earth from the wrath of Zeus. The story begins with the ransack of Dion by invaders. Nikandreos saves his village alongside surviving soldiers and then heads to the temple, where Hera congratulates him for defeating the invaders and recruits him as her champion to take down Zeus, in revenge for her husband’s affairs with other gods and humans. He agrees to this task an(...)

YEAR: 2015

COUNTRY: Canada

TAGS: Acheron (River) Aesop’s Fables Aphrodite Apollo Ares Argonauts Artemis Athena/ Athene Atlantis Bacchus Black Figure Pottery Charon Chimaera Cocytus (River) Cyclops / Cyclopes Daphne Demeter Dionysus Greek music Greek mythology Hades Hephaestus Hera Heracles / Herakles Heraclitus Hermes Homer Hydra Iliad Immortality Kastor Labyrinth Lethe (River) Midas Mythology Nymphs Odyssey Olympus Persephone Phlegethon (River) Poseidon Satyrs Statues Styx Thetis Trident Tyrants Underworld Zeus Zeus' Throne

Joe Caramagna, Travel Foreman, Derek Fridolfs, Len O'Grady, Michael Avon Oeming

Ares. God of War

Part 1. Ares opens with a repeat of the cover image in which a Mohican-haired Ares looks down reflectively amidst a battlefield strewn with bodies. The opening text quotes Zeus in Homer's Iliad declaring Ares the most hateful of the gods. A second scene of devastation accompanies Ares' account of how the other gods called on him long ago to halt Hades' attack on Olympus. He recalls that even as Hades' hellish demons swarmed about them Hercules discouraged Zeus' appeal to(...)

YEAR: 2006

COUNTRY: United States of America

TAGS: Achilles Alexander the Great Apollo Architecture Ares Argonauts Asclepius / Asklepios Athena/ Athene Gods Greek art Greek mythology Hades Hera Heracles / Herakles Hermes Hermes' winged boots Homer Iliad Immortality Jason Katabasis Mars Mythology Odysseus/ Ulysses Olympus Reception of classical antiquity Trojan War Troy Zeus

Blue , Overly Sarcastic Productions , Red

Armchair Classics (Series): The Epic of Gilgamesh / Hecuba / Ajax

Armchair Classics is the shortest series made by Overly Sarcastic Productions – apart from the first episode, The Epic of Gilgamesh, which will be described here as an example of the series’ style and characteristics, there are only two other episodes: about Ajax and Hecuba. The series is also slightly different from the others (except Armchair History): the only drawn character is the one of the boy (Blue, we can guess), who sits in an armchair and narrates the whole story. The othe(...)

YEAR: 2015

COUNTRY: Online

TAGS: Enkidu Epic Gilgamesh Immortality Mesopotamia Mesopotamian deities Mythology Uruk

Cyprian Assam Egbe

Arrah and the Slave Girl

A long time ago, there lived a beautiful young eighteen-year old girl, Arrah, from a royal family. Her grace and charm left no young man indifferent both within and outside the village of Tinto. Her beauty was also complemented by good manners and diligent housekeeping which she learnt from her mother. As a result, a long line of suitors called on her every day to ask for her hand, but she and her parents found none worthy enough of her. Eventually, despite the fact that in those days people did(...)

COUNTRY: Cameroon

TAGS: Mythology

Tidjani Yaya

Autan and the Monster

A long time ago, in the village of Galim-Tignere, there lived a woman called Iya and her husband with their two kids. This village was being terrorised by dodo - a wild monstrous animal. The presence of this animal made it impossible for the villagers to go out very early in the morning and late at night. If anyone did, they were either killed or seriously wounded by the animal. Iya soon became pregnant for her last child. During the months of pregnancy, she would sit in front of her hut to feel(...)

COUNTRY: Cameroon

TAGS: Hero Heroism Monsters Mythology

Pierre Keubou

Bamougong Creation Myth

In the beginning was Mbu’ Ngwòŋ or Ssé*. The world was the work of Mbu’ Ngwòŋ, that is, the earth or the ground. Mbu’ Ngwòŋ is a compound word, made up of “Mbu”, which means, to make or to create, and “Ngwòŋ”, which means the world. Earth created everything: animate and inanimate. In fact, everything came into existence thanks to the Earth. According to the myth, the world is found at Nzsyè**, which means, the be(...)

COUNTRY: Cameroon

TAGS: Mythology Myths of origin

Mattel, Inc. , Linda Kyaw

Barbie® Doll as Athena

This collector’s edition doll depicts Barbie as Athena (distinct from the Goddess of Wisdom Barbie from 2000, which is not attributed to a specific goddess). Barbie wears a stylised armour-style ball gown, thigh-high gold boots and a floor length cloak. She is armed with a gold and silver spear and shield, and wears a helmet with a long plume, echoing her long black hair which falls beneath in a ponytail. Unlike the Goddess of Wisdom doll, the Athena doll is presented in a warrior-like cos(...)

YEAR: 2010

COUNTRY: United States of America

TAGS: Athena/ Athene Gorgon Jason Medusa Mythology Odysseus/ Ulysses

Mattel, Inc.

Barbie® Doll as Goddess of Wisdom™

This collector’s edition doll depicts the Goddess of Wisdom, which is not attributed to one specific goddess but could represent either the Greek Athena or Roman Minerva (or both); this doll is distinct from the 2010 Barbie as Athena doll, which is also surveyed in this database. The doll is dressed in a gold pleated sheath dress draped with ivory chiffon and an ivory cape with gold, Greek-inspired printed patterns. A metallic medallion is attached to her dress between her breasts, with a (...)

YEAR: 2001

COUNTRY: United States of America

TAGS: Mythology

Brett Bean , Lucy Coats

Beasts of Olympus (Series): Beasts Keeper; Hound of Hades | Steeds of the Gods | Dragon Healer | Centaur School | Zeus’s Eagle | Gods of the North | The Unicorn Emergency

Beast of Olympus (series). The most recent instalment published November 22, 2017:Part 1, Beasts Keeper, 2015.Part 2, Hound of Hades, 2015. Part 3, Steeds of the Gods, 2015. Part 4, Dragon Healer, 2015.Part 5, Centaur School, 2016. Part 6, Zeus’s Eagle, 2016. Part 7, Gods of the North, 2017. Part 8, The Unicorn Emergency, 2018.The protagonist of the series is a young boy called Demon (his full name is Pandemonius) who was taken from his mother by the god Pan ((...)

YEAR: 2015

COUNTRY: United Kingdom

TAGS: Mythical creatures Mythical names Mythical places Mythology

David Farris , Sandy Ransford

British Museum Fun Books (Series): Ancient Greece

This short “fun book” comprises activities based on various aspects of ancient Greek history, culture and myth. The activities include “spot-the difference” puzzles, crosswords and brainteasers, all aimed to “test and perplex” (p. 4) the reader, along with games and jokes “to keep [them] chuckling” (p. 4). A checklist towards the start gives a brief explanation of the historical and mythical figures and places that appear in the book. Most of the a(...)

YEAR: 1999

COUNTRY: United Kingdom

TAGS: Mythology Olympic Games Philosophers Religion Theatre

Brey Houzibe

In the beginning, among the Ngambays people of Mundu in the South of Chad, there lived a young pregnant woman, who constantly went out to fetch wood in a nearby forest. While in the forest, she wanted to lift a big log of wood, and suddenly her baby came out of her womb together with the placenta. In this village, the placenta was considered as a second baby. She took the placenta home and abandoned the real baby in the forest. After a long time, an old woman who had also been fetching wood in t(...)

COUNTRY: Chad

TAGS: Mythical names Mythology Slavery Slaves

Geoffrey McSkimming

Cairo Jim (Series, Book 14): Cairo Jim at the Crossroads of Orpheus

Cairo Jim is a young archaeologist who is already an established member of the fictional Old Relics Society at the commencement of the series. He is always seen wearing a pith helmet and his desert sun-spectacles.Cairo Jim at the Crossroads of Orpheus is located in mid-to-late 20th-century Pompeii. It is a whimsical adventure in which the hero and his companions (a talking macaw named Doris and a telepathic wonder-camel named Brenda) work with an archaeo-botanist Bette Noire to rediscover l(...)

YEAR: 2006

COUNTRY: Australia

TAGS: Agrigento Antiquity sites Archaeology Gods Greek mythology Mythology Orpheus Pompeii Roman mythology Romans Gods Telamon

Imogen Greenberg , Isabel Greenberg

Discover… (Series): The Ancient Greeks

Discover... began in 2016. It is part of a series offering a light-hearted introduction to a range of ancient cultures, including The Roman Empire, The Ancient Aztecs, and The Ancient Egyptians.Discover... The Ancient Greeks opens with the stated intention of exploring who the ancient Greeks really were. The book is divided into 2-page sub-sections, each discussing a different aspect of ancient Greek culture.(...)

YEAR: 2017

COUNTRY: United States of America

TAGS: Achilles Aesop Aesop’s Fables Alexander the Great Aphrodite Architecture Argo Argonauts Ariadne Athena/ Athene Athens Chorus Classical studies Crete Delos Dionysus Divination Egypt Fable Gods Golden Fleece Graeco-Persian wars Greek art Greek history Greek language Greek music Greek mythology Greek philosophy Greek theatre Hades Harpies Hector Helen of Troy Hera Heracles / Herakles Hercules Hermes Hermes' winged boots Homer Iliad Incest Jason Labyrinth Laurel wreath Maze Medea Menelaus Minos Minotaur Mythology Odysseus/ Ulysses Odyssey Oedipus Rex Olympic Games Olympus Oracles Orpheus Paris Penelope Pericles Poseidon Pythoness Reception of classical antiquity Scylla Sirens Slavery Socrates Sophocles Sparta Theseus Thetis Trident Trojan Horse (wooden) Trojan War Troy Witches Zeus

Joan Holub, Dani Jones

Do Not Open! The Story of Pandora’s Box

This is a retelling of Pandora’s myth for kids as a picture book. The pronunciation of the names is also explained by breaking them to syllables. Before the story begins, at the left page containing the publication data, opposite the first page of the story, we have a short note from the author: Dear kids, long ago, Greeks wrote stories called myths. These stories helped them to understand things that were happening in the world around them. Myths also taught lessons about right and wrong.(...)

YEAR: 2014

COUNTRY: United States of America

TAGS: Epimetheus Gods Greeks Hope Mythology Pandora Pandora’s Box

Simon Spence

Early Greek Myths (Series, Book 3): Odysseus

This is a retelling of Homer's Odyssey with myths based on the Epic Cycle used for additional material. The narrative order of the Odyssey is rejected in favour of a chronological approach. Most of the gods are helpful in this retelling. The "sea-god" alone persecutes Odysseus, and as Odysseus is not shown to be responsible for what incurred the sea-god's wrath, Odysseus appears a highly sympathetic figure. The story includes violence, but extreme violence and sex are avoided t(...)

YEAR: 2016

COUNTRY: United Kingdom

TAGS: Afterlife Architecture Athena/ Athene Charybdis Classical studies Cyclops / Cyclopes Gods Greek mythology Hades Helen Hermes Hermes' winged boots Homer Iliad Ithaca Katabasis Minerva Mythology Odysseus/ Ulysses Penelope Polyphemus Reception Scylla Sirens Telemachus Trojan War Troy Underworld Zeus

Simon Spence

Early Greek Myths (Series, Book 4): Atalanta

Atalanta offers a retelling of the myths of Atalanta the huntress for a young audience. The retelling takes a biographical form, opening with Atalanta's early childhood and ending with her living out "the rest of [her] days." This retelling might be considered a feminist retelling of the myths, as the narrator encourages the reader to approve of Atalanta's skills and independence of mind and to disagree with those who wish to limit her actions because she is female. This has th(...)

YEAR: 2016

COUNTRY: United Kingdom

TAGS: Aphrodite Architecture Argonauts Argos Centaurs Classical studies Divination Golden Fleece Greek art Greek history Greek mythology Homer Jason Mycenae Mythology Ovid Metamorphoses Peleus Reception

Simon Spence

Early Greek Myths (Series, Book 7): Persephone

The Early Greek Myths series of children’s books presents myths for very young readers. The books tell the myths in simple language. Each double page includes a full-page illustration on the left page and a page of text on the right. Stephen Fry provides a forward to Persephone. He explains that myths tell us the stories of inspirational characters and of the way things came to be. Persephone is "one of the most delightful" myths, relating "how young Persephone got lost and (...)

YEAR: 2018

COUNTRY: Ireland

TAGS: Afterlife Cerberus Ceres Demeter Eleusinian Mysteries Gods Greek art Greek history Greek mythology Hades Hades' Throne Heracles / Herakles Hercules Hermes Hermes' winged boots Katabasis Mythology Persephone Pluto Proserpina Reception of classical antiquity Sisyphus Styx Underworld – souls of the dead Zeus

Efua Theodora Sutherland

In her three-act play, Efua Sutherland, depicts the life of a traditional and influential Ghanaian man, Edufa, whose pride and stubbornness results to the death of his wife, Ampoma. Set in a little Ghanaian community, the story begins with a prologue that introduces characters and the dramatic events that will ensue. In the prologue, Edufa’s sister, Abena, patiently sits in the courtyard, gathering dew in a black pot. As the prologue reveals, the dew she collects, along the water that she (...)

YEAR: 1967

COUNTRY: Ghana United Kingdom

TAGS: Mythology

Ian Jenkins, Kate Morton

Explore the Parthenon: An ancient Greek Temple and its Sculptures

This book provides a thorough overview of the sculptures of the Parthenon along with contextual details including on ancient Athenian politics, mythology, deities and festivals. The book is divided into clear sections, each of which starts with a brief introduction in bold type, followed by an overview of the topic under discussion. Ian Jenkins’s text is complemented with photos of the sculptures and illustrations by Kate Morton. Morton’s illustrations support and clarify to some of (...)

YEAR: 2009

COUNTRY: United Kingdom

TAGS: Athens Deities Mythology Panathenaia Parthenon Religion Temple

Mofor Nchinda

Extinction of the Life Giving Grass/Extinction of the Herb of Immortality

Long time ago,There lived a woman.This woman had many children.Fifteen.(Audience retorts) FIFTEEN?(Narrator continues)You think the olden daysWere like today.A man’s richesWere measured by the numberOf children and wives he had.(Narrator turns to the audience):Can I continue?(Audience answers in chorus)Yes.(He clears his voice without thunderous cough)One day,This woman,Took all her children to the farm.They worked, worked and workedUntil,Everybody was tired and thirsty.They retired to a s(...)

COUNTRY: Cameroon

TAGS: Mythology

Graham Annable, Gregory Benton, R.O. Blechman, Vera Brosgol, Graham Chaffee, Eleanor Davis, Chris Duffy, Ulises Farinas, Tom Gauld, Sophie Goldstein, Charise Harper, Jaime Hernandez, John Kerschbaum, James Kochalka, Braden Lamb, Roger Langridge, Simone Lia, Jennifer L. Meyer, Corinne Mucha, Mark Newgarden, George O'Connor, Shelli Paroline, Israel Sanchez, Robert Sikoryak, Ricardo Siri, Maris Wicks, Keny Widjaja

Fable Comics is a fun and diverse collection of comics retelling fables in a lively, modern style. As many author/illustrators were involved, the fables have many different visual styles; many are rendered in a simplistic or impressionistic style, others are highly illustrated. The majority are told in a humorous tone. Most of the fables are from Aesop, while some are from other traditions. The origin of the story is given as a note at the beginning of each story, e.g. "From Aesop", &q(...)

YEAR: 2015

COUNTRY: United States of America

TAGS: Aesop Aesop’s Fables Afterlife Architecture Athens Cerberus Charybdis Fable Gods Greek mythology Greek philosophy Hades Hermes Hermes' winged boots Katabasis Mercury Mythology Olympus Phaedrus Poseidon Reception of classical antiquity Underworld Zeus

Desire Meha

Foose and Mbumbi

Long ago in the village of Bamendjinda, there existed only one God, Mbumbi. He looked after the village and everything the people undertook to do was successful. No one died before old age. Then came a time when children could no longer reach twenty before dying. These sudden deaths came as a result of drought, plagues, illness and wars that hit the land. The fertile soils suddenly became very arid, barren and unproductive, and famine hit the land as a result of that. Everyone became so worried,(...)

COUNTRY: Cameroon

TAGS: Gods Mythology

Daniel Orowole Olorunfemi Fagunwa

Forest of a Thousand Daemons: A Hunter’ Saga [Ògbójú Ọdẹ nínú Igbó Irúnmalẹ̀]

The novel opens with the narrator’s encounter with Akara-ogun, the great hunter of the village. Worried that he may die at any moment and that the world might forget him, the hunter asks the narrator to pick up his pen and write down his hunting story. He opens up by talking about his immediate family and his name, Akara-ogun (Compound-of-Spells). Because he has wronged God by getting married to a witch, a spirit is sent to kill him but it spares him and asks him to kill his witch wife. No(...)

YEAR: 1938

COUNTRY: Nigeria

TAGS: Gods Gods and mortals Mythical creatures Mythology

Eliza Piotrowska

Frank, Helen, Baby, and the Trojan Horse [Franek, Hela, Bobas i koń trojański]

Based on: Katarzyna Marciniak, Elżbieta Olechowska, Joanna Kłos, Michał Kucharski (eds.), Polish Literature for Children & Young Adults Inspired by Classical Antiquity: A Catalogue, Faculty of “Artes Liberales”, Warsaw: University of Warsaw, 2013, 444 pp., online: http://omc.obta.al.uw.edu.pl/omc_catalogue.Everything starts in the living room when parents realise that two of their three kids, Baby and Helen with their dog, disappeared when they got under the cupboard. Both mother(...)

YEAR: 2008

COUNTRY: Poland

TAGS: Ariadne Ariadne's thread Daedalus Greek mythology Helen Icarus Labyrinth Love Maze Mythology Odysseus/ Ulysses Odyssey Paris Roman mythology Theseus Trojan Horse (wooden) Trojan War Troy

Mathieu Djele

God and His People

Once upon a time, God used to live, chat, and eat with his people. He lived together with human beings. All things were decided by him [God] before they were done by them [the people]. One day God wanted to make a visit around the world. But before leaving his people he told them not to bury anyone who dies in his absence. They should not dare to perform any burial. God left for his tour in the planting season. Not long after, when all crops were planted, a man who had been sick for years, died.(...)

COUNTRY: Cameroon

TAGS: Gods Mythology

Justine Fontes, Ron Fontes, Steve Kurth , Barbara Schulz

Graphic Myths and Legends (Series): Demeter and Persephone. Spring Held Hostage

The myth of Demeter and Persephone is retold here to familiarise young people with the myth and with ancient Greek culture more broadly. The myth provides an aeitiology for the seasons. Persephone is abducted by Hades, god of the Underworld. Persephone's mother, the goddess Demeter, searches for her. Demeter mourns her daughter when it transpires that she has been taken to the Underworld, causing harvests to fail and plants to die. A compromise is reached in which Persephone splits her time (...)

YEAR: 2007

COUNTRY: United States of America

TAGS: Aetiology Afterlife Aphrodite Apollo Architecture Athena/ Athene Bacchus Cerberus Charon Demeter Dionysus Divination Eleusinian Mysteries Erinyes Furies Gods Greek mythology Hades Hades' Throne Hecate / Hekate Hera Hermes Hermes' winged boots Katabasis Medusa Minos Minos (King) Mythology Persephone Reception of classical antiquity Underworld Witches Zeus Zeus' Throne

Justine Fontes, Ron Fontes, Thomas Yeates

Graphic Myths and Legends (Series): Atalanta. The Race Against Destiny

The myth of Atalanta is retold here to familiarise young people with her myths and with ancient Greek culture more broadly. Atalanta is exposed as an infant, reared by a bear, then taken to live with hunters. She learns from the Delphic oracle that she will 'lose [her]self' if she marries. She takes part in the Calydonian boar hunt, challenges potential suitors to race her for her hand in marriage, and experiences metamorphosis once she finally marries. Chapter Headings:AbandonedFou(...)

YEAR: 2007

COUNTRY: United States of America

TAGS: Aphrodite Apollo Architecture Argo Argonauts Artemis Atalanta Athena/ Athene Centaurs Demeter Divination Eros Fate Gods Greek mythology Hera Jason Meleager Metamorphosis Minotaur Moirai Mythology Nestor Oracles Ovid Ovid Metamorphoses Poseidon Reception of classical antiquity Theseus Witches Zeus

Carole Hénaff, Hugh Lupton, Daniel Morden

Greek Myths: Three Heroic Tales

Greek Myths: Three Heroic Tales is a highly illustrated retelling of the myths of Demeter and Persephone, Theseus and the Minotaur, and Orpheus and Eurydice. There is at least one illustration on almost every facing pair of pages with the illustrations setting the events in antiquity. Each myth is divided into chapters in the manner of a novel.Demeter and Persephone begins by prompting the reader to imagine a tri-part world, Olympus above, the world of mortals, and the realm of the dead below. P(...)

YEAR: 2017

COUNTRY: United Kingdom

TAGS: Afterlife Architecture Ariadne Athena/ Athene Athens Classical studies Crete Daedalus Demeter Dionysus Eleusinian Mysteries Fate Gods Greek music Greek mythology Hades Hades' Throne Hermes Icarus Immortality Katabasis Labyrinth Maze Minos Minotaur Mythology Nymphs Olympus Orpheus Pasiphae Persephone Pluto Proserpina Reception of classical antiquity Theseus Underworld Zeus Zeus' Throne

Anaïs Mitchell

Hadestown (album)

Track listing: "Wedding Song" featuring Justin Vernon – 3:18"Epic (Part I)" featuring Justin Vernon – 2:22"Way Down Hadestown" featuring Justin Vernon, Ani DiFranco and Ben Knox Miller – 3:33"Songbird Intro" – 0:24"Hey, Little Songbird" featuring Greg Brown – 3:09"Gone, I'm Gone" featuring The Haden Triplets – 1:09"When the Chips are(...)

YEAR: 2010

COUNTRY: United States of America

TAGS: Eurydice Hades Mythology Orpheus Persephone Underworld

Paul Zindel

Harry and Hortense at Hormone High

Harry and Hortense at Hormone High is the story of Jason Rohr, a teenage schizophrenic who believes that he is the reincarnation of the Greek "god" Icarus. He is convinced he can save the world from apathy and decadence, beginning with the students and staff at his new high school. Jason’s charisma and evangelical enthusiasm impress Harry Hickey, an aspiring writer and the story’s narrator, and his girlfriend Hortense McCoy, who has a passion for psychology. They too long f(...)

YEAR: 1984

COUNTRY: United States of America

TAGS: Daedalus Flight Hero Icarus Joseph Campbell Monomyth Mythology Psychoanalysis

Connie Collins Morgan, Herb Leonhard

Hercules on the Bayou

This book takes the Hercules mythos and places it in Louisiana, merging Cajun and Greek myth. Hercules becomes a Louisiana native, engaging in activities close to the heart of the stereotypical Louisianan lifestyle. The book forms an aetiology for many well-known Louisianan customs. Four short adventures structure the narrative. Each labor gives a basis for Cajun practices today. Instead of focusing on the twelve labours of Hercules that make up the myth in the Classical tradition, Collins (...)

YEAR: 2016

COUNTRY: United States of America

TAGS: Classical myth Heracles / Herakles Heracles’ life Hercules Mythology

Tony Bradman , Steve May

Hercules the Hero

In five illustrated chapters, Bradman tells the story of Hercules the Hero. In Chapter One, Trouble with a goddess, we learn of Hercules’ unusual powers and Hera’s enmity towards him. In Chapter Two, Some interesting little jobs, Hercules tackles the Nemean Lion and the Hydra. In Chapter Three, A few busy weeks, Hercules captures the Deer With The Golden Horns and the Brutal Board and cleanses the Augean stables. He shoots down the Bronze Birds of Stymphalos, wrestles with the Great (...)

YEAR: 2008

COUNTRY: United Kingdom

TAGS: Amazons Atlas Cerberus Charon Classical myth Eurystheus Geryon Greece Hades Hera Heracles / Herakles Heracles’ life Hercules Mythology Thebes Zeus

Tom Kindley

Heroes of the Night Sky. The Greek Myths Behind the Constellations

This is a collection of myths told for teenagers, with emphasis on stylised illustration, constellation name aetiologies, and some moral lessons. The myths included are:Ursa Major (The Great Bear)PegasusAndromedaHerculesLyre (The Lyre)Corona Borealis (Northern Crown)Orion and ScorpiusCorvus (The Crow)Centaurus (The Centaur)Ophiucus (The Serpent Bearer)(...)

YEAR: 2016

COUNTRY: United Kingdom

TAGS: Aetiology Afterlife Andromeda Aphrodite Apollo Architecture Ariadne Artemis Asclepius / Asklepios Bellerophon Callisto Centaurs Cerberus Charon Chimaera Chiron Classical studies Dionysus Gods Greek mythology Hades Hades' Throne Heracles / Herakles Hercules Hermes Hermes' winged boots Immortality Katabasis Labyrinth Lernaean Hydra Maze Medusa Minotaur Mythology Orion Orpheus Pegasus Perseus Poseidon Prometheus Reception of classical antiquity Stymphalian Birds Theseus Twelve Labours of Heracles Underworld Zeus

Ian Trevaskis

Hopscotch (Series, Book 1): Medusa Stone

Hopscotch: Medusa Stone is the story of Australian teens, Jake and Hannah, who travel from a sleepy seaside town, “Pelican Bay,” to the world of Ancient Greek mythology, when they play a game of hopscotch, using directions from a mysterious parchment, and a magical stone (the "Medusa Stone" of the title). They find themselves in the power of a games-maker, Costas the Giant, who commands them to retrieve items from the Ancient Greek heroes - Odysseus, Perseus, and Hercules. (...)

YEAR: 2009

COUNTRY: Australia

TAGS: Athena/ Athene Cerberus Greek mythology Heracles / Herakles Hercules Medusa Mythology Odysseus/ Ulysses Polyphemus Theseus Trojan Horse (wooden)

Okot P’Bitek

Horn of My Love

Work in progress(...)

YEAR: 1974

COUNTRY: Uganda United Kingdom

TAGS: Mythology

Emmanuel Matateyou, Elias Mbome

How Dogs Came to Live as Domestic Animals

The original published version of this myth appears in the book: An Anthology of Myths, Legends and Folktales from Cameroon by Emmanuel Matateyou, published in 1997 (pp. 58-62) by The Edwin Mellen Press Ltd. Although we have the written authorization of the publisher and the author to reprint up to 10 myths in the collection for our research on “Our Mythical Childhood…”., we have chosen to summarize this particular myth because the original version is too long. We are therefor(...)

COUNTRY: Cameroon

TAGS: Mythology

Ndi-deng

How Jealousy Originated in Polygamous Homes

A long time ago,There lived a man,Who had a soft hide on his bed.When he was about to travel,He called his wives,Showed them the hide,And said,“LOOK,THIS HIDE IS VERYEXPENSIVE AND IS PART OF MY LIFE.TAKE CARELET NOBODY CLIMB ON IT.I AM SAYING SOBECAUSE THIS HIDEWAS GIVEN TO ME BY A WATER GOD.IF IT IS DIRTY,WE CAN ONLY WASH IT ATMINYENGE* RIVER.”(The audience is astonished)When the man gave his instructions, he leftAs he left,The first wife’s son climbed on the hide,And mistaken(...)

COUNTRY: Cameroon

TAGS: Mythology

Ba Venyuseh

How Jumneh Came Into Existence

In the beginning, a God called Mphih lived in the celestial realms with his three children – Yondoh, Tih and Jumneh. However, these children quarreled often and made his home too rancorous and tense for his liking. So as soon as Yondoh, Tih and Jumneh came of age, he decided to separate them. He divided the world into three parts and asked each child to choose its part. Yondo chose the trees and Tih chose the streams. Jumneh also wanted the stream and would not settle for any other thing. (...)

COUNTRY: Cameroon

TAGS: Gods Gods and mortals Mythology

Gideon Ngafi

How Lunga Went to the Sky Alive

So many years ago, when the white man arrived the Mbum land, there lived a man called Lunga. He was one of the wisest judges and lawmakers in the kingdom. He was loved by everyone because he was a good counselor and had mythic power. One day, the king summoned all his counselors and advisers in the kingdom for a meeting. The agenda of this meeting was simply to devise means to combat the new religion from the West. The major problem was the fact that the God of this new religion was proclai(...)

COUNTRY: Cameroon

TAGS: Mythology

Joseph Ndipowah Teneng

How Sickness, Old Age and Death Began

This story uses the motif of race between a fast and a slow animal, well known from the Aesopian tradition (The Hare and the Tortoise). Yet, here the consequences of the slow animal’s victory go well beyond the moral of the myth and explain why human life is ephemeral.At the beginning of the world, there was nothing like sickness, old age, and death. People lived on and on forever. There was no pain, nor sorrow and everybody lived happily. But the world was becoming almost overpopulated or(...)

COUNTRY: Cameroon

TAGS: Aesop’s Fables Mythology

Nson Ngambi

How the Earth (Land) Came to Be

In the beginning, the earth was just a vast body of water. Three gods lived in the sky: Mabea the Noble, Mabea the Labourer and Mabea the Silent. As time went by, Mabea the Noble and Mabea the Laborer created an axe which was used to build canoes in which they could sail the waters, but they did not have wood with which to build the canoes. Since the three gods were curious to know if there existed a piece of land beyond the water, Mabea the Silent was asked by the other two to go to the earth a(...)

COUNTRY: Cameroon

TAGS: Gods Mythology Myths of origin

Egbe Ifie

This myth is found in: Marriage with Gods and Goddesses (in Classical and African Myths) by Egbe Ifie, published in Ibadan by End-Time Publishing House in 1999 (pp.1-4), ISBN: 978-2163-01-5. This is only a brief summary of the story. The full text of the myth and others can be read in the book cited above.The myth of Iseregwe is about a couple who lives in a distant village and has two beautiful daughters: Omokatifi and Iseregwe. The older one, in spite of her pompous and unpleasant be(...)

COUNTRY: Nigeria

TAGS: Gods Marriage Mythology

Blair Drawson, Sheldon Oberman

Island of the Minotaur. Greek Myths of Ancient Crete

This is an interesting take on the myth of the Minotaur which places it within a wide context by telling a selection of myths that build up to the Minotaur's demise. This creates a multi-generational story which arcs from the days of Cronos until Phaedra's departure from Crete as the last queen of Knossos. The myths of Medea and Ariadne are told in contrast to each other. The work begins and ends with historicising interpretations of the myths, relating the myths' connections to Mino(...)

YEAR: 2003

COUNTRY: Canada United Kingdom

TAGS: Afterlife Apollo Architecture Argo Argonauts Ariadne Athens Atlantis Centaurs Cerberus Crete Cyclops / Cyclopes Daedalus Dionysus Europa Fate Gods Golden Fleece Greek art Greek history Greek mythology Heracles / Herakles Hercules Jason Katabasis Kronos / Cronus / Cronos Labyrinth Maze Medea Metis Minos Minos (King) Minotaur Mythology Ovid Metamorphoses Pan Pasiphae Poseidon Theseus Trident Twelve Labours of Heracles Underworld Witches Zeus

Desire Guifo

A Jengu is a water spirit which is believed to appear to people in different forms – sometimes as a beautiful black girl or a mermaid with long hair and a gap-toothed smile. The people who lived in the Southern costal parts of Cameroon (e.g. Douala, Batanga) have worshipped this spirit for centuries. Although Christianity and western culture have had a significant impact here, belief in Jengu has remained strong. Its worshippers believe that Jengu brings good fortune, healing to various ai(...)

COUNTRY: Cameroon

TAGS: Gods Mythology

Beyana Ngarbaï

Kazaye and the Horn of Abundance

There was once a hunter in the village of Lere, in the Mayo Kebi East area of N’djamena in Chad. He was called Kazaye. He always hunted to feed his family, and would keep fruits for them upon return home. One fateful day during his hunting expedition, he felt itches on his body and decided to take a bath in the river. While taking his bath, he happened to touch a hard and twisted object (a horn) inside the water. He immediately took it out of the water and out of curiosity, started singing(...)

COUNTRY: Chad

TAGS: Cornucopia Mythology

Soliey Mbezenyuy

Kilankenyuy, the Giver of Children

Kilankenyuy in Lamnso literarily means “the stone of God.” It is also the name that the Nso people give to the God who gives children.Many years ago, the benevolence of the gods in giving humans wonderful, resourceful and creative children was already known by humans. So they were expected to regularly offer sacrifices to Kilankenyuy, the stone of God, for different reasons, especially for the gift of creative and successful children. The early fathers were quite conscious of this ve(...)

COUNTRY: Cameroon

TAGS: Gods Gods and mortals Mythology Myths of origin

Clyde W. Ford

The full text of this myth is found in: The Hero with an African Face: Mythic Wisdom of Traditional Africa by Clyde W. Ford, in the United States and Canada by Bantam Books, 1999, pp. 61-67), ISBN 0-553-10544-2. This is only a brief summary of the story. The full text of the myth and others can be read in the book cited above.The hero, Kimanaueze tells his father he would marry no one else but the daughter of King Sun and Queen Moon. So, he writes a letter to King Sun and Queen Moon. He gives it(...)

COUNTRY: Angola

TAGS: Animals and historical persons as characters Hero Mythology

Alex Frith , Simona Sanfilippo

King Midas and the Gold (Usborne First Reading Series, Level 1)

King Midas and the Gold is a children's storybook written with deliberately simple language for those learning to read. It is part of a series that contains many examples of traditional myths and simplified versions of classical literature.The Midas myth is told in an extremely simplified form as the paramount focus is telling a story with very basic vocabulary. There is more emphasis on Midas' kindness than his foolishness or greed. The text states 'he was kind', accompanying a (...)

YEAR: 2008

COUNTRY: United Kingdom

TAGS: Apollo Architecture Classical studies Dionysus Gods Greek mythology Laurel wreath Midas Mythology Ovid Ovid Metamorphoses Reception of classical antiquity

Clyde W. Ford

The full text of this myth is found in: The Hero with an African Face: Mythic Wisdom of Traditional Africa by Clyde W. Ford, in the United States and Canada by Bantam Books, 1999, p. 60), ISBN 0-553-10544-2. This is only a brief summary of the story. The full text of the myth and others can be read in the book cited above.Kintu, the super-hero arrives on earth with a cow as his only source of food. Later, Nmabi, daughter of the sky god Gulu visits the earth and immediately falls for Kintu.(...)

COUNTRY: Uganda

TAGS: Hero Mythology

Egbe Ifie

The original version of this myth appears in Egbe Ifie's Marriage with Gods and Goddesses: In Classical and African Myths published by End-time Publishing House Ltd, Ibadan, 1999: pp 30-34. This is a summary of the myth. The full text can be read in the book cited above.A long time ago, in the region of Aka, in the Delta State of Nigeria, a young man named Kruku embarked on a journey to the land of immortals or Erivwin after the sacrificial death of his parents. Overwhelmed by the (...)

COUNTRY: Nigeria

TAGS: Mythology Travel Underworld

Clyde W. Ford

The full text of this myth is found in: The Hero with an African Face: Mythic Wisdom of Traditional Africa by Clyde W. Ford, in the United States and Canada by Bantam Books, 1999, pp. 21-27.), ISBN 0-553-10544-2. This is only a brief summary of the story. The full text of the myth and others can be read in the book cited above.Kwasi Benefo, a young Asante man in Ghana, by dint of hard work has acquired a lot of wealth but is unable to find a wife and have children. Finally, after a long search a(...)

COUNTRY: Cameroon Ghana

TAGS: Mythology Underworld

Aleksei Simukov, Aleksandra Snezhko-Blotskaia

Labyrinth. The Deeds of Theseus [Лабиринт. Подвиги Тесея]

Young Theseus finds his father’s sword and sandals and sets off for Athens. At the parting with Theseus, the Centaur Chiron advises him to use his strength only for good and promises a life full of great deeds. On the way to Athens, Theseus fights the Crommyonian Sow and Procrustes. Having met his father, Theseus decides to free the country from the Minotaur and travels to Crete with the other Athenians sent as tribute. He promises his father that he will put up white sails as a sign (...)

YEAR: 1971

COUNTRY: Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR)

TAGS: Aegeus Ariadne Centaurs Chiron Crete Crommyonian Sow Greek mythology Minos Minos’ Palace Minotaur Minotaur’s Maze Mintotaur’s Labyrinth Mythology Procrustes Theseus

The LEGO Company

Lego Minifigures (Series): Faun

This minifigure is of average height of around 1 inch tall. His head has curled grey horns protruding from his skull, with goat like ears and curly brown hair. On his chest, he has curly hair on his pectoral muscles. The minifigure’s skin is coloured yellow and his legs are brown and goat-like. The sole accessory that accompanies the minifigure is a short brown flute.The biography depicts Faun as carefree, living in the forest where he "plays his flute, makes up silly riddles, and dan(...)

YEAR: 2016

TAGS: Adapting the myth to modern times Classical myth Greek mythology Greek religion Mythology Myths of origin Pan Popularisation of mythology Roman mythology Roman religion

Jennifer Adams, Alison Oliver

Little Master Homer. The Odyssey

The Little Master Homer: The Odyssey takes nine episodes from Homer's Odyssey and distils each into a picture/caption/speech-bubble unit. The illustrations cross two pages; they are bold and stylised, designed to capture the attention of very young children. The first character introduced is 'Calypso, the Nymph'. She is saying, I keep Odysseus here with me since I saved him from the wine-dark sea. Next, 'Ino, the Sea Nymph', says, Take my veil and tie it around your(...)

YEAR: 2017

COUNTRY: United States of America

TAGS: Achilles Afterlife Agamemnon Charybdis Circe Classical studies Cyclops / Cyclopes Divination Fate Greek music Greek mythology Hades Homer Iliad Music Mythology Nymphs Odysseus/ Ulysses Odyssey Polyphemus Reception of classical antiquity Scylla Sirens Underworld Witches

Clyde W. Ford

The full text of this myth is found in: The Hero with an African Face: Mythic Wisdom of Traditional Africa by Clyde W. Ford, in the United States and Canada by Bantam Books, 1999, pp. 36-37), ISBN 0-553-10544-2. This is only a brief summary of the story. The full text of the myth and others can be read in the book cited above.A huge shapeless monster, called Kammapa has swallowed all the inhabitants of the land except one – a pregnant woman. She escapes into hiding and gives birth without (...)

COUNTRY: Angola

TAGS: Mythology

Musi Seth Pie

In the days of the forefathers, the Bafanji people had too many problems. Besides tribal wars, they were also faced with the problem of famine and unjustifiable deaths. One day, a man left his family at home and went hunting into the forest but never came back. His wife waited for a week and didn’t see him. So she went into the forest in search of him. After searching for hours everywhere in vain, she sat on a stone crying, and soon fell asleep. When she got up, she noticed that she w(...)

COUNTRY: Cameroon

TAGS: Gods Mythology Myths of origin

Babila Mutia

The myth of Mami-Wata is very common in West, Central and Southern African countries. According to many accounts, Mami-Wata* is a water mermaid with special interest in human affairs. Her features may vary across different locations but generally she is depicted as a very attractive and sexually appealing lady, who is sometimes half-fish and half-human and half-snake. It is believed that she is often spotted on beaches or gliding on waterfalls. According to Babila Mutia (narrator cited above) ma(...)

COUNTRY: Cameroon

TAGS: Mythology

Peter Tamukong

Once upon a time, The Akum people were living together with Mijini in Widikum.Mijini was the greatest deity and the sole protector of the Akum people.This did not, however, prevent friction with other groups in Widikum.The prevailing tension forced them to leave Widikum.But on leaving,They left behind their major deity.As they were approaching this land,Mijini suddenly joined them.The people started offering sacrifices to Mijini. (Narrator turns round to see whether everybody is attent(...)

COUNTRY: Cameroon

TAGS: Gods Gods and mortals Mythology Myths of origin

Russ Daff

Mini Myth (Series, Book 1): Perseus and Medusa

The story begins with King Acrisius locking his daughter Danae in a tower to prevent the fulfillment of a prophecy that she will conceive a child who will kill him. Meanwhile Zeus decides to teach him a lesson. He sends her energy (which appears like bright light) and she conceives a baby. As a result, she is cast away on the sea by her father, but Poseidon helps them arrive safely at the shore of Seriphos. When Perseus grows up, the King of Seriphos grows jealous of the brave Perseus and become(...)

YEAR: 2016

COUNTRY: United Kingdom

TAGS: Athena/ Athene Danae Medusa Mythology Pegasus Perseus Zeus

Russ Daff

Mini Myth (Series, Book 2): Perseus and Andromeda

This is the second book in Russ Daff’s Mini Myth series, which retells myths in comic form for children. The first book introduced Perseus and his quest to slay Medusa. This book continues the adventures of Perseus. At the end of the previous book, Perseus was rewarded by Zeus with Pegasus, the flying horse. In this book, Perseus arrives at Joppa and saves Princess Andromeda. Andromeda’s mother vainly boasts that her daughter is more beautiful than the sea nymphs. The nymphs are angr(...)

YEAR: 2017

COUNTRY: United Kingdom

TAGS: Andromeda Aphrodite Athena/ Athene Cassiopeia Danae Hera Mythology Pegasus Perseus Poseidon Zeus

Russ Daff

Mini Myth (Series, Book 3): Theseus and the Minotaur

This is the third book in Russ Daff’s Mini Myth series, which retells myths in comic form for children. In this book, Theseus is leading a group of young men who fight bandits and monsters. When they return to Athens, he hears about the horrible tribute Athens must pay to Crete. Theseus volunteers to go to Crete and save his kingdom. Ariadne, who is under Aphrodite’s love spell, helps Theseus to find his way in the labyrinth. Theseus then kills the Minotaur and the group escape to Cr(...)

YEAR: 2017

COUNTRY: United Kingdom

TAGS: Aphrodite Ariadne Athena/ Athene Minos Minotaur Mythology Poseidon Theseus Zeus

Joan Holub, Leslie Patricelli

Mini Myths (Series): Make a Wish, Midas!

The character "Midas" here is a pre-school-aged child in the modern era. He loves his green toy dinosaur and the colour yellow. Given a series of choices, he always picks the yellow option. During a painting session with yellow paint he begins to wish that all of the things in his life – his house, his car, his mother – were yellow. In a moment of impulsiveness, he turns and paints his stuffed green dinosaur yellow. Now his beloved dinosaur is painted, Midas understands his(...)

YEAR: 2015

COUNTRY: United States of America

TAGS: Architecture Dionysus Midas Mythology Ovid Ovid Metamorphoses Pan

Clyde W. Ford

Miseke and Thunder Man

The full text of this myth is found in: The Hero with an African Face: Mythic Wisdom of Traditional Africa by Clyde W. Ford, in the United States and Canada by Bantam Books, 1999, pp.55-59), ISBN 0-553-10544-2. This is only a brief summary of the story. The full text of the myth and others can be read in the book cited above.Among the Chaga people, a man called Kwisaba, goes to a distant war and leaves his pregnant wife alone at home. She falls so seriously ill that she cannot even make a fire t(...)

COUNTRY: Tanzania

TAGS: Mythology

El Hadji-Awal

Mitidi – the Snake-man

A long time ago, in a distant dark kingdom in the depths of the earth, there lived a being who could transform into both man and snake. He reigned alone very far from the light of the sun and was considered as the master of the Underworld. Meanwhile, there lived and reigned a king on earth who was well-respected for his sense of responsibility, equity and justice. This earthly king was married to three wives and had a lone daughter, a girl who was quite remarkable for her matchless beauty. In th(...)

COUNTRY: Cameroon

TAGS: Mythology

Emmanuel Matateyou, Andiensa Yuh

Mitofchuofoyn – Wiser than the King

The original published version of this myth appears in: An Anthology of Myths, Legends and Folktales from Cameroon by Emmanuel Matateyou, published in 1997 (pp. 108-116) by The Edwin Mellen Press Ltd. Although we have the written authorization of the publisher and the author to reprint up to 10 myths in the collection for our research on “Our Mythical Childhood…”., we have chosen to summarize this particular myth because the original version is too long. We are therefore (...)

COUNTRY: Cameroon

TAGS: Mythology

Amos Tutuola

My Life in the Bush of Ghosts

Just like his first novel, The Palm-wine Drinkard, Amos Tutuola’s second novel, My Life in the Bush of Ghosts has its roots in the folkloric oral tradition of the Yoruba tribe of the Southwest of Nigeria. The author uses the first person narrative technique to tell his story set in the jungle inhabited by goblins and other weird and fantastic monsters acting in the spiritual realm. As common in folklores, the basic themes of the novel are focussed around didactic instructions to (...)

YEAR: 1954

TAGS: Mythology

Thiago de Moraes

Myth Atlas: maps and monsters, heroes and gods from twelve mythological worlds

With its high quality production values, including lavish, detailed illustrations, a hardback cover and generous 33 cm tall pages, de Moraes’ Myth Atlas has the dimensions and desirability of a coffee table book. The title page ‘The Worlds of Myth’ uses a map of the world to introduce and geographically locate the twelve cultures which are showcased in the text: the Native North Americans, the Aztecs, the Irish, the South American Yanomami, the Yoruba of Western Africa, th(...)

COUNTRY: United Kingdom

TAGS: Gods Golden Fleece Hades Heracles / Herakles Heroes Jason Monsters Mythology Odysseus/ Ulysses Olympians Olympus Oracles Pegasus Theogony Titans Underworld Zeus

Pierre Ngijol

Myth of Creation of the Bassa'a

In the beginning, there was a round object and inside this object, were three other objects: a triangle, a stick and another stick with a round end. As a result of violent shocks, this big round object, which was suspended in space, fell and broke releasing its contents. The triangle opened and the stick with the round end, fertilised the triangle, giving birth to a little being.Diagram of the earth before it fell.(...)

COUNTRY: Cameroon

TAGS: Mythology Myths of origin

Anatole Ikuana

Myth of Dzàna Ngazok

In the beginning, there was a man called Dzàna Ngazok, who had a very beautiful wife called Angonomane. He loved and cherished her with all his heart and with all his soul. Unfortunately, Angonomane died. After her funeral, Dzàna Ngazok decided to follow her to the world of the dead in order to bring her back to the world of the living. He prepared himself; took his machete, his lance and his dog. He walked for days and nights traversing hills, forests and bushes. When he was tired(...)

COUNTRY: Cameroon

TAGS: Katabasis Mythical places Mythology Underworld

Moussa Khalidou

A long time ago in the Fulani kingdom of Namtari, there lived a monster which terrorized the whole community. Every attempt to get rid of it was in vain since all those who tried to penetrate its territory never returned. Terror became omnipresent in Namtari as every night, the monster visited the village to catch and devour all those who loitered around. The king promised to offer a substantial reward to anyone who would liberate the nation from this terrifying monster. The news of this terror (...)

COUNTRY: Cameroon

TAGS: Kings Monsters Mythology

Emmanuel Matateyou

Myth of Ntiteuh (the Most Beautiful Woman on Earth) Who Married the Sky King

There was a great family who lived among the Bamoumn people of Foumban. This family had nine children, all girls. The first was called Ntiteuh literally meaning Green, and she was the most beautiful. The second was known as Nkieng, literally meaning Black. Because of the popularity of this family and the extraordinary beauty of the girls they decided to live by themselves in the forest for fear of tempting anyone. As they grew up to maturity, many suitors came to ask their hands in marriage. The(...)

COUNTRY: Cameroon

TAGS: Death Mythology

Hadjia Bitamzui

Myth of the Creation of the Giziga People of Muturwa

Work in progress.(...)

COUNTRY: Cameroon

TAGS: Chaos Gods Mythology Myths of origin

NzeUmeokwonna G.C. Ezechukwu

Myth of the Departed River

In the olden times, a river wanted to come and settle in Igbo-Ukwu. It came in the form of a young heavily-bearded man on a visit to the Nhi (Nri) priest who lived before the boundary between Igbo-Ukwu and her neighbor, Oraeri. The priest offered his visitor a seat and asked his first daughter, Ada-Nhi priest, to get them kola nut and some water for washing of hands. The daughter stepped out to do her father’s bidding but took her time in doing that. After waiting for some time, the young (...)

COUNTRY: Nigeria

TAGS: Mythology Myths of origin

Gideon Mbangmoh

Myth of the Láng

Many years ago, after the great gods of the universe had finished the creation of the universe and assigned various magical responsibilities to different plants, Láng, one of the first native doctors in the Nkambe community, lived among the people. He, like others, explored the forests and realized that other strong native doctors had possessed the land and were controlling it through different grasses, trees and leafs, and that there were no plants under the sun which were not known by s(...)

COUNTRY: Cameroon

TAGS: Mythology Myths of origin Plants

George Nebachi

Myth of the Nsaani Mubaburu

The Mbebili people had their market day that they used to hold on their holy day, njwigong*. Whenever they got to the marketplace every market day, they noticed that there were people already there. They neither knew who those people were, nor where they came from. At the close of the day, they were also the last people to leave but no one equally knew where they went to. One day, at the close of the market, one Mbebili man decided to spy on these strangers in order to find out where they would (...)

COUNTRY: Cameroon

TAGS: Mythology

Bernard Kos Mbulu

Myth of the Origin of Dja and Mpomo Rivers

A long time ago, far back into the beginning of life on earth, when men could barely distinguish between good and evil after they had been sent out of the celestial home to live on earth, God started feeling lonely without his children, the humans. Every morning, he peeped through his window to check their evolution and look after them. One day, Ziem, the God of the Land, was strolling around his terrace and admiring satisfactorily the progress of his children on earth. On that day, he had (...)

COUNTRY: Cameroon

TAGS: Gods Mythology Myths of origin

Soliey Mbezenyuy

Myth of the Origin of Lake Wasibel

A long time ago in the days of the forefathers, the chief priests from all the communities in Banso gathered at the king’s palace to offer their usual annual sacrifices to the gods. After some rituals and incarnations had been performed, the Gods revealed to them to perform subsequent rituals in the motionless waters in Wasibel. The chief priests and notables were confused, because there was no such water in Wasibel. They offered more sacrifices to the gods for them to reveal the exact loc(...)

COUNTRY: Cameroon

TAGS: Gods Gods and mortals Mythology Myths of origin Sacrifice

Ndjidda Yamboui

Myth of the Origin of Suffering in Mindif

A long time ago, Motoforno’s village was a blessed village, it was compared to paradise because of the abundance of food, and especially huge quantities of usehé (meat) piled up in the form of a mountain. Everybody could eat of that meat including those from the neighboring villages. Hitherto, the gods had dished out instructions that no one should prepare and consume the meat with Mandan (salt). This restriction bothered Motoforno’s wife who would always ask her husband quest(...)

COUNTRY: Cameroon

TAGS: Gods Mythology Myths of origin Relationship between gods and mortals

Eleanor Zofoa

Myth of the Origin of the Babungo People

So many years ago, Babungo was only a dense forest with a lake in the middle, and no signs of human settlement. The lake, which was later named Lake Forghai, gurgled and roared for a few minutes and after roaring, people (two brothers, their uncle, their wives and grandfather), as well as a white goat, came out of it. The entire area was strange to them but, even so, they really needed a place to settle. Before they came out of the lake, the Gods of the lake told them to take the goat along, and(...)

COUNTRY: Cameroon

TAGS: Gods Gods and mortals Mythology Myths of origin

Marthe Satou

Myth of the Origin of the Dii

The Dii people in general and the blacksmiths in particular are considered to have fallen from the sky. This is convincing given that these people do not share similar cultural attributes with other peoples around them. When the Dii people descended from the sky, they first lived on a mountain called guu gbang sii. There, the Dii people did not have any contact with other people as they did not even know if other people existed. They lived on wild foods particularly a variety of millet called &l(...)

COUNTRY: Cameroon

TAGS: Mythology Myths of origin

Mohamadou Houlaï

Myth of the Origin of the Logone River

In the long distant time in the past, the Sao people who live in a very vast territory had all the riches that God bestowed upon them. These included fertile lands, beautiful women and physically strong men. God had an agreement with their leader, where He promised not to refuse any of their requests for additional bounties. These people were unusually very tall and well-built such that they could reach the sky, the house of God, just by stretching up their hand. In the local language it is said(...)

COUNTRY: Chad

TAGS: Giants Gods Mythology Myths of origin

Hector Nembo Fomba

Myth of the Origin of the Mbafung Chiefdom

The Mbafung community of the West Region of Cameroon was founded by hunters from the Adamawa Region. Their hunting expedition took them to an unknown place where they saw a very big hole in the ground. Suddenly, the hole started emitting fire. They tried to run away but a voice spoke to them, “Don’t run away! I am your ancestor; I want you to listen to me very carefully. When this fire stops, I will send my son who will become the head of this village. This village will be named LaaM(...)

COUNTRY: Cameroon

TAGS: Mythology Myths of origin Prophecy

Samuel Fah Lee

Myth of the Origin of the Mundang Chiefdom

Once upon a time, there was a girl named Ku Tchetche. She had never worked all her life. She lived with her parents. Each time her parents went to the farm, she stayed at home and a mystical animal called Pi Bwo would come and visit her. Whenever it came, it would sing:Ku Tchetche, where is your mother? She is in the farm.Ku Tchetche, where is your father? He is in the farm.Ku Tchetche the beautiful girl, beautiful, beautiful.Then it would tell her:“Go to the storehouse and bring some mill(...)

COUNTRY: Cameroon

TAGS: Mythology Myths of origin

Diguimbele Bagamla

Myth of the Origin of the Tupiri Clan

In the beginning, there lived a man who was married to two wives. One was fertile and the other was barren. One day, the two went into the forest to fetch wood. While in the forest, the fertile woman, who was heavily pregnant started to have labor pains. Her co-spouse came to her aid and caused her to lie on a fallen tree trunk where she could give birth in the best conditions. After - being tormented by the pains of labor, she passed out. Her co-spouse then stole the child, hid it, and claimed (...)

COUNTRY: Cameroon

TAGS: Animals and historical persons as characters Child-hero Mythology Myths of origin

Benjamin Emeada

Myth of the Oyise-Owhe Festival

The Owhe people (Otor-Owhe, Owhelogbo and Akiewhe) celebrate the feast of OYISE OWHE. It is believed that Azagba migrated to Emede due to oppression and dispossession in his hometown. He got married to Owhe of Emede. The union produced three sons: “Ovoh” who founded Otor-Owhe, Ogbe who founded Owhelogbo and Uthatho who founded Akiewhe. A myth has it that, Ithatho, the daughter of Uthatho who was married to Uruafe, saw the feather of an eagle falling from the sky in their farm. To her(...)

COUNTRY: Nigeria

TAGS: Mythology Myths of origin Omen

Saïdou Kitikil

Myth of the Sacred Fish, “Mubala”, among the Giziga People

Mubala is a sacred fish in the Giziga land, which appears in several colours and it is revered among the Giziga people in the north of Cameroon. The myth states that at the beginning of time, when the Giziga people were migrating from Sudan toward Cameroon (specifically Maroua, where they are presently settled), they had no leader to guide them. They were moving away in search of fertile land for agriculture, water body for fishing and forest for hunting. One day when they arrived at a lake at t(...)

COUNTRY: Cameroon

TAGS: Gods Gods and mortals Mythology

Rebecca N. Umeafonta

Myth of the Superior Status of the Male Gender

After Chukwu Okike (Creator God) created human beings, both man and woman. He assigned an equal social status to both genders. As time went on, conflict became a constant factor in several families and societies. The problem reached God in the sky. He sent down some of his muo-ozi (angels) to the world to investigate the cause of the incessant conflict among the humans. After observing interpersonal, familial and group relationships in the world for some time, the angels discovered the root of t(...)

COUNTRY: Nigeria

TAGS: Mythology Myths of origin

Carissa Weiser, Jason Weiser

Myths and Legends

Myths and legends is a podcast series on the “folklore that has shaped our world”. It was awarded the First Top Podcast prize in the Top Mythology Podcasts of 2020 by Feedspot (accessed: April 3, 2020). In Myths and legends legendary and folkloric traditions from all over the world and throughout different times are presented to wide audiences in informative and engaging audio episodes.Classical mythology holds a significant place in this selection. In fact, among the current 177 epi(...)

Radio & Podcast

YEAR: 2015

COUNTRY: United States of America

TAGS: Giants Greek mythology Hera Heracles / Herakles Hercules Mythology Theseus Trojan War Troy Zeus

Riccardo Francaviglia

Myths in Sicily: Thunderbolts 2 [I miti in Sicilia (vol. 2)]

This book (the second of a 2-book series) explores the Greek myths that are found in Sicily. The myths narrated in this volume are: the abduction of Persephone and the creation of the seasons; Arethusa and Alpheus; stories about Heracles: his birth and the creation of the Milky way when he bites Hera’s breast, his struggle with Erice and his tasks to bring the golden apples and Cerberus; the birth of Hephaestus; the escape of Daedalus and Icarus.The focus is on the Sicilian connections to (...)

YEAR: 2015

COUNTRY: Italy

TAGS: Alpheus Arethusa Artemis Cocalus Daedalus Demeter Erice Hades Hephaestus Hera Heracles / Herakles Hercules Icarus Labyrinth Minos Mythology Persephone Thetis

Riccardo Francaviglia

Myths in Sicily: Thunderbolts I [I miti in Sicilia (vol. 1)]

This book (the first of a 2-books series) explores the Greek myths that are found in Sicily. The myths narrated in this volume are: the creation of the world and the struggle between Titans, Gods and Giants; Odysseus in Sicily (Polyphemus, Aeolus, Scylla and Charybdis); Daphnis and Nomia; Artemis and Orion; Acis and Galatea. The focus is on the Sicilian connections to the myths (places, natural phenomena). Each story is accompanied by an illustration and also includes extra information boxe(...)

YEAR: 2015

COUNTRY: Italy

TAGS: Acis Athena/ Athene Daphnis Gaia / Gaea Galatea Heracles / Herakles Hercules Kronos / Cronus / Cronos Mythology Nomia Odysseus/ Ulysses Polyphemus Rhea Uranus Zeus

Eleanor Zofoa

So many years ago, there was a certain queen in Babungo called Nä’Si who liked eating sugar cane very much. In fact, it was said that she was always eating sugar cane and people could swear on their lives that they never met her not eating sugar cane. Whenever she was going to the farm she would get enough sugar cane to take her to the farm and back. While the other queens and women in the community farmed other crops like beans, corn and cocoyam, she would do same but would always ad(...)

COUNTRY: Cameroon

TAGS: Goddess Gods Gods and mortals Mythology

Cosmas Aza

So many years ago, there was a small black serpent that got separated from its mother. It obviously couldn’t trace its trackback to where it had come out from, and so was wandering around the village. As it slunk around the community looking for comfort and a place to stay, everyone was aggressive towards it and wanted to kill it. After so much frustration, it then crept to the Nkòsì River and sat in a distance watching the children frolicking in the river. It stayed there fo(...)

COUNTRY: Cameroon

TAGS: Mythology

Peter Ambe

A long time ago in this village,There lived a man.His name, I do not know.Even my parents did not know his name.This man grew up as a hard working farmer and hunter.He was one of the best hunters in the village.He grew up, And like any prosperous man, He was admired by many, especially women.He turned down many love advances from his female peers.However, he ended up in the arms of a woman Who was more or less an ogre.Their union produced a handsome boy.His name was Ndongbiko.Ndon(...)

COUNTRY: Cameroon

TAGS: Mythology

Rose Nanje Mande

Neither a Man nor a Woman

Work in progress.(...)

COUNTRY: Cameroon

TAGS: Mythology

Elisabeth Belomo

The Bantou are people from the southern part of Sudan, in North Africa. They lived in this part of the continent for ages in perfect serenity with neighbours. The Arabs and the Hausas then came and chased them from this place. In the course of fleeing from the Muslims, they stopped in the Central African region precisely in Cameroon and lived in the north of the country. Nanga, one of the Bantou, had many children namely Kolo Beti, Eton Beti, Mvele Beti, Fang Beti, Bika Beti, Bulu (the only girl(...)

COUNTRY: Cameroon

TAGS: Mythology

Pierre Nyobe

Ngok Lituba and the Tree of Rejuvenation

“Ngok Lituba” is a pierced rock of eight hundred meters high situated at Nyanon, a village near Edea, Cameroon. It is in the forest, close to where part of the Sanaga River flows.In the beginning, the living God, Nyambe, created all the forces. He created geniuses, spirits and the first human couple. In creating the forest, he also created that stone Ngok Lituba. This pierced stone has a tunnel. Nyambe was living in joy with his people in the tunnel. The first children were born from(...)

COUNTRY: Cameroon

TAGS: Death Gods Gods and mortals Mythology Myths of origin

Nde Fru

Long time ago,There lived a woman,Who had only one daughterThis daughter was called Ngoniton.The main occupation of this woman was fishing.Her yields were usually good whileThose of her co-spouse were often poor.Her lone daughter Ngoniton was very beautiful.She was shining like the face of the moon.Because of her beauty, her stepmother hated her.A time came when Ngoniton’s mother’s yield became low.The yield was low.It persisted for sometime.She tried, she tried again,Nothing happene(...)

COUNTRY: Cameroon

TAGS: Mythology Myths of origin

Peter Tancho

Once upon a time,At nkwih tinso’o*There lived an old man,Who owned a raffia bush.His name was Asa’ankieh,This man was an excellent tapperNobody in the village could tapThe type of wine he was producing,He could tap more than,The present chief’s tapper.THE RAFFIA BUSH HE HADCOULD COVER MORE THANFIVE MOUNTAINS.Since the raffia bush was too large,And he had numerous palms to tap a day,He was forced to construct a small hutNear the Nifo’o,Where he could stay,And carry out his(...)

COUNTRY: Cameroon

TAGS: Mythology Myths of origin Underworld

Losngar Nodjidoumngar

In ancient times, the Mbanga people lived and interacted with animals and trees in their everyday activities. Among those people, there was a man called Bath, who could transform into an owl, a hippopotamus and a lion at the same time. One day, he discovered that another man in a far off tribe, called Mongh, had the herb that could give a person the power to transform into other creatures, just like his own plant did. The challenge for Bath now was how to get to Mongh’s place and steal tha(...)

COUNTRY: Chad

TAGS: Mythology

Musi Seth Pie

Many years ago, the entire community of Bafanji used to fetch potable water from Ndawi*. One day, a child was drowned in Ndawi and the river was desecrated. The Gods of Ndawi were not happy. All those who went there to fetch water after the tragedy died mysteriously around the banks of the river. It was a pregnant woman who went to Ndawi naked and in tears, begging the Gods of Ndawi to have mercy on them. The Gods were weakened by the spirit of the unborn child in the woman’s womb, and req(...)

COUNTRY: Cameroon

TAGS: Gods Gods and mortals Mythology Myths of origin

Rachael Lum

Nyamaboh and His Aunt

Long time ago There lived a woman Who had her only son called Nyamaboh.The woman was old,But the child was still too young.A plague occurred in the village - scabies. The plague killed the old woman and many others. Upon her death, this child was handed to his aunt.The aunt had many children. Nyamaboh was always being mistreated .He became the hewer of firewood for the family. Sometime later, a prolonged rain came. People had to trek for long distancesBefore th(...)

COUNTRY: Cameroon

TAGS: Mythology

Rosa Foyenka Lukong

Nya’ti and Her Frog Lover

A long time ago, there existed a kingdom called Nseh. In this kingdom, animals talked and walked and no animal crawled, skipped or stooped, hopped or jump for movement; they all walked. In the kingdom, there lived a beautiful princess named Nya'ti. She was the most beautiful girl in the kingdom. Her beauty attracted all the young handsome men in the kingdom, and the princes in the neighboring kingdoms and beyond. It was each and every man’s wish to have her as a wife but unfortunately,(...)

COUNTRY: Cameroon

TAGS: Mythology

Clyde W. Ford

The full text of this myth is found in: The Hero with an African Face: Mythic Wisdom of Traditional Africa by Clyde W. Ford, in the United States and Canada by Bantam Books, 1999, pp. 148-155), ISBN 0-553-10544-2. This is only a brief summary of the story. The full text of the myth and others can be read in the book cited above.In the beginning, a single god-head called Orisa-nla goes downhill when it is smashed into pieces with a rolling stone pushed down by his servant, Atunda. The pieces of t(...)

COUNTRY: Cameroon Nigeria

TAGS: Gods Mythology Myths of origin

George O'Connor

Olympians (Series)

Olympians is a series of graphic novels that takes one deity per volume as the focus, retelling numerous myths related to that god.Volume 1. Zeus. King of the Gods. Featuring creation myths and the war between the Titans and Olympians. Narrator unspecified.Volume 2. Athena. Grey-Eyed Goddess. Featuring the myth of Athena's conception and birth; Pallas; the attack of the Giants; Medusa and Perseus; Arachne. Narrated by the Moirae (The Fates). Volume 3. Hera. The Goddess and her Glory. Fe(...)

YEAR: 2010

COUNTRY: United States of America

TAGS: Achilles Aeneas Aesop Aesop’s Fables Afterlife Agamemnon Amphitrite Anteros Aphrodite Apollo Apples of the Hesperides Arachne Architecture Ares Argo Argonauts Ariadne Artemis Asclepius / Asklepios Athena/ Athene Athens Atlas Bacchus Baucis Centaurs Cerberus Ceres Charybdis Chimaera Classical studies Crete Cyclops / Cyclopes Daedalus Delos Demeter Diana Dionysus Divination Egypt Epimetheus Erinyes Eris Eros Europa Fable Furies Gaia / Gaea Galatea Gods Golden Fleece Greek art Greek history Greek language Greek music Greek mythology Greek philosophy Griffins Hades Hades' Throne Harpies Hecate / Hekate Hector Helen of Troy Hephaistos Hera Heracles / Herakles Hercules Hermes Hermes' winged boots Hestia Homer Horus Icarus Iliad Immortality Jason Juno Jupiter Katabasis Kronos / Cronus / Cronos Labyrinth Laurel wreath Lernaean Hydra Leto Lyre Mars Maze Medusa Menelaus Mercury Metis Minos Minos (King) Minotaur Mythology Nymphs Odysseus/ Ulysses Odyssey Olympus Oracles Ovid Ovid Metamorphoses Pan Pandora Pandora’s Box Paris Pasiphae Patroclus Pegasus Penelope Persephone Perseus Philemon Polyphemus Poseidon Priam Prometheus Ra Reception of classical antiquity Reincarnation Sirens Sisyphus Sphinx Stymphalian Birds Styx Theseus Thetis Trojan Horse (wooden) Trojan War Troy Twelve Labours of Heracles Underworld Witches Zeus Zeus' Throne

George O'Connor

Olympians (Series, Book 1): Zeus. King of the Gods

Zeus – King of the Gods is the first instalment of the Olympians series. The series comprises stylish looking graphic-novels created in the superhero comic-book tradition. Each volume is dedicated to retelling myths about individual Greek gods, with the gods appearing in each other's volumes much as superheroes overlap in the DC or Marvel universes. While the title of this volume is Zeus – King of the Gods, the volume also establishes the Olympians universe by retelling Greek cre(...)

YEAR: 2010

COUNTRY: United States of America

TAGS: Aphrodite Architecture Classical studies Creation myths Crete Cyclops / Cyclopes Demeter Erinyes Fate Gods Greek mythology Greek philosophy Hades Hera Hestia Immortality Katabasis Kronos / Cronus / Cronos Metis Moirai Mythology Nymphs Olympus Poseidon Prometheus Reception of classical antiquity Titans Underworld Zeus Zeus' Throne

George O'Connor

Olympians (Series, Book 10): Hermes: Tales of the Trickster

This enjoyable graphic novel is the most humorous one of the Olympians series to date. The novel takes as its frame the myth of the killing of Argus Panoptes. A traveller and his dog arrive at the field that the giant, Argus, guards, where he keeps his many eyes on a lone white cow. The traveller begins to tell the giant stories:The first is the story of the dogs' complaint. Hermes arranged for dogs to make their complaint to Zeus about being under human bondage. But they "voided their (...)

YEAR: 2018

COUNTRY: United States of America

TAGS: Aesop Aesop’s Fables Afterlife Aphrodite Apollo Architecture Ares Artemis Athena/ Athene Centaurs Cerberus Dionysus Divination Egypt Fable Faun Gods Greek language Greek music Greek mythology Hephaestus Hera Hermes Hermes' winged boots Horus Lernaean Hydra Lyre Mercury Mythology Nymphs Olympus Ovid Ovid Metamorphoses Pan Penelope Phaedrus Reception of classical antiquity Zeus Zeus' Throne

George O'Connor

Olympians (Series, Book 11): Hephaistos. God of Fire

Hephaistos, an attractive graphic novel focusing on myths connected to Hephaestus, opens with hammering reverberating around mountain tops. Hephaestus is revealed, working with his hammer, but the narrator goes on to tell a story of Prometheus. The giant elemental Titans are shown and then compared to Prometheus, a small human-like child of the Titans, but with the gift of foresight and prophecy. Living under the Titans he knows what it is to feel helpless. He chooses to live amongst the humans;(...)

COUNTRY: United States of America

TAGS: Aphrodite Apollo Architecture Ares Athena/ Athene Cyclops / Cyclopes Demeter Dionysus Gods Greek art Greek mythology Hephaestus Hera Hermes Hermes' winged boots Leto Mythology Reception of classical antiquity Zeus

George O'Connor

Olympians (Series, Book 2): Athena. Grey-Eyed Goddess

These tales of Athena are narrated by the Moirae, the Fates. They are all-seeing and know what happened in the earliest times, and even what happened inside Zeus' head. They know who Athena is, and here they tell stories of her birth, followed by three stories of Athena establishing her identity: young Pallas, monster Pallas, Perseus and Medusa, and finally a story of fully-established Athena – the myth of Arachne.The Fate Klotho narrates at first. She recaps the myth of the triumph of(...)

YEAR: 2010

COUNTRY: United States of America

TAGS: Andromeda Arachne Architecture Ares Athena/ Athene Athens Classical studies Fate Gaia / Gaea Gods Graeae Sisters Greek art Greek mythology Hera Hermes Hermes' winged boots Juno Kronos / Cronus / Cronos Medusa Mercury Metamorphosis Metis Minerva Moirai Mythology Nymphs Olympus Ovid Ovid Metamorphoses Pegasus Perseus Poseidon Reception of classical antiquity Witches Zeus Zeus' Throne

George O'Connor

Olympians (Series, Book 3): Hera. The Goddess and her Glory

Hera begins with a recap of the triumph of Zeus and the other Olympians over Kronos (from Zeus. King of the Gods). New aspects of the battle are shown, including Hera's participation in the fighting and her ability to command Zeus haughtily to assist her when she does not wish to put her full effort in ("Honestly, I almost broke a nail", she complains). Aspects of Zeus' seduction of Hera, seen in Athena. Grey-Eyed Goddess, are shown with Hera's perspective now supplementing(...)

YEAR: 2011

COUNTRY: United States of America

TAGS: Afterlife Aphrodite Apollo Apples of the Hesperides Architecture Ares Argo Argonauts Atalanta Athena/ Athene Atlas Cerberus Crete Demeter Dionysus Gaia / Gaea Gods Golden Fleece Hebe Hera Heracles / Herakles Hercules Hestia Jason Katabasis Lernaean Hydra Mythology Olympus Ovid Metamorphoses Poseidon Reception of classical antiquity Stymphalian Birds Twelve Labours of Heracles Zeus Zeus' Throne

George O'Connor

Olympians (Series, Book 5): Poseidon. Earth Shaker

Poseidon. Earth Shaker has Poseidon himself as its narrator and it tells stories of the god’s offspring and of his contest to be the patron of Athens. As a first generation Olympian, Poseidon was part of the overthrow of Cronos, and the graphic novel opens with the brothers Zeus, Poseidon, and Hades looking down into the great chasm into which Cronos has been hurled. The division of the realms takes place, and "of course" (p.4), Poseidon receives the seas as his domain. There are(...)

YEAR: 2013

COUNTRY: United States of America

TAGS: Architecture Ariadne Athena/ Athene Athens Crete Cyclops / Cyclopes Daedalus Eurystheus Gods Greek art Greek history Greek mythology Hades Hera Heracles / Herakles Hercules Homer Kronos / Cronus / Cronos Labyrinth Maze Medusa Minos Minos (King) Minotaur Mythology Odysseus/ Ulysses Odyssey Oracles Pasiphae Pegasus Polyphemus Poseidon Reception of classical antiquity Theseus Trident Trojan Horse (wooden) Trojan War Twelve Labours of Heracles Zeus

George O'Connor

Olympians (Series, Book 6): Aphrodite. Goddess of Love

Aphrodite is the sixth instalment of the tremendous Olympians series. It is narrated by the Charites and begins in a time before time, with the ancient Greek creation myths – Gaea and Ouranos, unfocused Eros, and the rise of the Titans leading to Kronos' castration. "The seat of Eros' power in Ouranos" is depicted falling into the sea in a mass of pink foam. The foam churns while more of the creation story plays out. The Olympians, humans, and animals all develop and(...)

YEAR: 2014

COUNTRY: United States of America

TAGS: Achilles Aeneas Agamemnon Aphrodite Apollo Architecture Ares Argo Argonauts Artemis Athena/ Athene Athens Cerberus Charmion (handmaid) Classical studies Cupid Cupid and Psyche Cyclops / Cyclopes Demeter Dionysus Eris Eros Gaia / Gaea Galatea Gods Greek art Greek mythology Hades Helen of Troy Hephaestus Hera Hermes Hermes' winged boots Hestia Iras (handmaid) Kronos / Cronus / Cronos Mythology Olympus Ovid Metamorphoses Paris Poseidon Priam Psyche Reception of classical antiquity Sirens Thetis Trojan Horse (wooden) Trojan War Troy Venus Virgil’s Aeneid Zeus

Amos Bobe Ngong

Origin and Settlement of the Kom People

Narrator: Moghaina (Should I say a story)Audience: Sighain (Yes, say it!)A long time ago, there were massive migrations of people from the North to the South of Cameroon. As a result, the Tikars entered the Mbam plain and a fraction of this group, the Kom people, broke off from them, travelled through Bamum and settled in Babessi in the Ndop plain where they met the Babessi (Shui*) people, who were already settled in that plain. These people happily welcomed the Kom people and coexisted with the(...)

COUNTRY: Cameroon

TAGS: Hero Mythology Myths

Brey Houzibe

Origin of Ancestral Worship

In the olden days, there lived a patriarch by the name Akoa among the Garap people of Abeche in the Northern part of Chad. He was a member of the council of elders of the village. In this village there were certain hours of the afternoon which were believed to be dangerous for any person to be out in the farm or near a certain river. This hour was the time that the inhabitants of the underworld would come out to take a rest in the human world. Akoa, the patriarch violated this tradition by going(...)

COUNTRY: Chad

TAGS: Death Mythology Myths of origin

Elisabeth Belomo

Origin of EVU (Evil Spirit) and AWU (Death) Amongst the Beti-Fang, Cameroon

A long time ago, Zamba (God)*, the creator and father of humanity lived on earth among humans with a human appearance. He had a very beautiful wife (Mingon**) and a daughter. People in those days were pleased to live on earth. This pleasure was due to the fact that neither death nor hunger existed, because Zamba was always there to intervene. If a person was about to die, Zamba would revitalize him/her; he would equally go to places forbidden to men every morning in order to bring them food. Peo(...)

COUNTRY: Cameroon

TAGS: Gods Mythology Myths of origin

Raissa Tiola

Origin of Seh Lechuere

There lived a happy man called Negoue, with his family in a village called Tikato. He was very generous and kind. In fact, he was loved by everyone. He was a farmer, with very productive farms and the Gods also blessed him with many wives and children.One day, a spirit appeared to him at night and told him, “Don't feel frightened; I want to warn you of the evils that will befall this village in a few days; I advise you to leave this place together with your family and settle elsewhere.(...)

COUNTRY: Cameroon

TAGS: Gods Mythology Myths of origin

John Pepper Clark

In Ozidi, J. P. Clark depicts a series of crises in the state of Orua. The play begins with the Story-Teller, who reminiscences the death of six kings in four years in the state of Orua. The Story-Teller also relates the need for a new king on the vacant throne. The council of elders of the land (Ofe, The Short, Azezabife, The Skeleton, Agbogidi, The Nude and Oguaran, The Giant) do not listen to the elders’ plea that time be taken to select a new king. On their own decision, they proceed w(...)

YEAR: 1966

COUNTRY: United Kingdom

TAGS: Mythology

Thetis Authentics Ltd.

Pinax. Gods and Heroes [πίναξ. θεοί και Ηρωες] (Series): Heracles [Ηρακλής]

For a summary introduction to the series, please see the Pinax. Gods and Heroes. Athena [πίναξ. θεοί και Ηρωες. Αθηνά] entry in this database.This particular pinax shows Heracles fighting the Lernaean Hydra, a scene from the Twelve Labours. There is a cardboard mount that can be used to display the pieces once the scene has been assembled.(...)

YEAR: 2013

COUNTRY: Greece

TAGS: Greek art Greek mythology Heracles / Herakles Hercules Lernaean Hydra Mythology Twelve Labours of Heracles

Thetis Authentics Ltd.

Pinax. Gods and Heroes [πίναξ. θεοί και Ηρωες] (Series): Theseus [Θησέας]

For details summarising the game series, please see Pinax. Gods and Heroes. Athena [πίναξ. θεοί και Ηρωες. Αθηνά] entry in this database.This particular puzzle should have shown Theseus fighting the Minotaur, but the wrong puzzle was included in the box so that instead it features an incomplete puzzle of Odysseus blinding the Cyclops (the manufacturers have been contacted for comment). Ther(...)

YEAR: 2013

COUNTRY: Greece

TAGS: Crete Cyclops / Cyclopes Gods Greek art Greek mythology Homer Labyrinth Maze Minotaur Mythology Odysseus/ Ulysses Odyssey Polyphemus Theseus

Gabriel Okey Okonkwo, Nonso Ekene Okonkwo

Sacrifice of Hope: Part I and II

The movie Sacrifice of Hope is a sequel of the Nigerian movie Sacrifice of Tears. This sequel of the movie Sacrifice of Tears begins with Ifeoma’s father (Mazi Uche) crying and cursing at Amadioha, the god of Buchi for afflicting strange illnesses and happenings on the land and especially on his wife Ebele (Ifeoma’s mother). He cries in confusion and decides to seek answers from a renowned chief priest Agogho in Omabra village, a faraway land. His daughter Ifeoma cries and tries(...)

YEAR: 2014

COUNTRY: Nigeria

TAGS: Gods Mythology

Gabriel Okey Okonkwo, Nonso Ekene Okonkwo

Sacrifice of Tears: Part I and II

This movie is a prequel of the movie Sacrifice of Hope I & II. Part I starts with tears in Buchi as Mazi Uche shouts at his wife Ebele for not being able to bear him a child after so many years of marriage like his fellow elders. He then threatens to introduce another wife to the family. Ebele, goes and prays to Amadioha, the god of Buchi and hopes he listens to her this time as she attempts to avoid the inclusion of another wife.The next scene opens in the Okuoha village where the Igwe just(...)

YEAR: 2014

COUNTRY: Nigeria

TAGS: Gods Mythology

Kornel Makuszyński , Zbigniew Piotrowski

Satan from the Seventh Grade [Szatan z siódmej klasy]

Based on: Katarzyna Marciniak, Elżbieta Olechowska, Joanna Kłos, Michał Kucharski (eds.), Polish Literature for Children & Young Adults Inspired by Classical Antiquity: A Catalogue, Faculty of “Artes Liberales”, Warsaw: University of Warsaw, 2013, 444 pp., online: http://omc.obta.al.uw.edu.pl/omc_catalogue.Professor Gąsowski is shocked when he discovers that his students have known for a long time his scheme for questioning them during class. It turns out that it was deciphered b(...)

YEAR: 1937

COUNTRY: Poland

TAGS: Achilles Aesop Aesop’s Fables Agamemnon Ajax Alcibiades Alexander Amalthea Apelles Atlas Brutus Charon Elysian Fields Famous maxims Greek mythology Hannibal Hecatomb Iris Julius Caesar Jupiter Latin Mercury Mythology Pericles Pythagoras Roman mythology Socrates Tacitus Virgil Virgil’s Aeneid

Etienne Nguelo

A long time ago in the Banka community, there lived a child named "Siebanzhi", which means “only God knows.” He was special. His birth and deeds clearly made him outstanding. In fact, he was born seven times in different years. The first time he came to the world, he died two months later and before he was buried, a mark was put on his stomach. The next year, the mother of the house gave birth again, but to the utter dismay of the villagers, they realised that the baby had (...)

COUNTRY: Cameroon

TAGS: Mythology

Dave Filoni, George Lucas

Star Wars (Series, S01-S05): The Clone Wars

Star Wars: The Clone Wars is a 3D CGI animated television series set during the period between the Star Wars films Attack of the Clones (2002) and Revenge of the Sith (2005). The Star Wars stories are set in a distant galaxy which includes a great number of planets and which is inhabited by an enormous range of sentient, non-sentient, and robotic life-forms. A powerful energy known as "the Force" binds the galaxy together and can be channelled by "Force sensitive" living(...)

YEAR: 2008

COUNTRY: United States of America

TAGS: Aesop’s Fables Afterlife Architecture Cyclops / Cyclopes Egypt Gilgamesh Gladiator games Greek art Greek language Greek mythology Greek philosophy Griffins Harpies Julius Caesar Katabasis Labyrinth Latin Laurel wreath Maze Medusa Minotaur Monomyth Mythology Oracles Pegasus Phoenix Reception of classical antiquity Roman Empire Roman history Roman mythology Roman republic Rome Slavery Sparta Thucydides Thucydides’ History of the Peloponnesian War Trident Underworld

Carrie Beck, Dave Filoni, Simon Kinberg, George Lucas, Justin Ridge

Star Wars Rebels (Series)

Star Wars Rebels is a 2D animated series that adds to the main Star Wars saga storyline while introducing new characters and plots. The series is set in between Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith (2005) and Star Wars: Rogue One (2016), approximately fifteen years after the foundation of the Galactic Empire (for more background on the Star Wars universe, please see the entry for Star Wars. The Clone Wars). The story follows Ezra Bridger, a "Force sensitive" (i.e. supernaturally talented) te(...)

YEAR: 2014

COUNTRY: United States of America

TAGS: Afterlife Architecture Argo Argonauts Fate Gods Immortality Katabasis Laurel wreath Mythology Phoenix Punic Wars Reception of classical antiquity Roman Empire Roman history Roman republic Rome Slavery

Lisa Jane Gillespie , Emi Ordas

Sticker Greek Myths

Each 1 or 2-page section of Sticker Greek Myths presents a scene of figures within an ancient environment, accompanied by approximately fifty words of explanatory text. The child reader/viewer is invited to use stickers that are specific to that section to build-up the scene. The stickers typically feature clothing and accessories such as weapons and ropes, and scene-specific items such as Heracles' lion-skin cloak and the Chimera's heads.1. Mount Olympus: This section introduc(...)

YEAR: 2015

COUNTRY: United Kingdom

TAGS: Afterlife Apollo Architecture Argo Argonauts Ariadne Artemis Atalanta Athena/ Athene Athens Bellerophon Chimaera Chimera Classical studies Crete Cyclops / Cyclopes Daedalus Demeter Diana Dionysus Gods Golden Fleece Greek mythology Hades Hera Heracles / Herakles Hercules Hermes Hermes' winged boots Hippolyta Icarus Jason Juno Jupiter Katabasis Labyrinth Laurel wreath Maze Medusa Mercury Midas Minerva Minos Minotaur Mythology Neptune Odysseus/ Ulysses Odyssey Olympus Orpheus Pegasus Persephone Perseus Pluto Polyphemus Poseidon Proserpina Reception of classical antiquity Sirens Theseus Twelve Labours of Heracles Underworld Zeus

Clyde W. Ford

Sudika-Mbambi: The Hero Child Who Saved His Tribe

The full text of this myth is found in: The Hero with an African Face: Mythic Wisdom of Traditional Africa by Clyde W. Ford, in the United States and Canada by Bantam Books, 1999, pp. 41-45), ISBN 0-553-10544-2. This is only a brief summary of the story. The full text of the myth and others can be read in the book cited above.A certain Ambundu man, Kimanaueze goes to Luwanda to find work leaving behind his old father and young wife. While he is away, warriors from an enemy tribe, Makishi invade (...)

COUNTRY: Angola

TAGS: Hero Mythology

TED , Tim Hansen, Melanie Sirof

TED-Ed Lessons Worth Sharing, Series Behind the Curtain: 1) Music and Creativity in Ancient Greece / 2) The Battle of the Greek Tragedies

Music and Creativity in Ancient GreeceThe video states that contemporary society is obsessed with music – it is present in our religion, entertainment, emotional expression. Things worked this way also for ancient Greeks, even more so, as importance of music in their lives makes us “tame by comparison.” Then the ancient myth about Muses is introduced: they were the deities inspiring the artists and each of them had a specific area of interest, which included not only musical ar(...)

YEAR: 2013

COUNTRY: Online

TAGS: Aeschylus Athens Chorus Greek music Greek theatre Greek tragedy Muses Music Mythology Number of actors Oedipus Philocles Poetry Sophocles Thespis

Rose Nanje Mande

The Bakundu Creation Myth

In the beginning, Obase (God) created Kongwe Mountain. Since he was alone, he created the great Botu tree, which he planted on the Kongwe Mountain to produce all the species of things on earth. The branches of the great Botu tree brought forth the various creatures that exist in the world today. One of the branches brought forth the human race, another cats, another dogs, the cows, the water bodies, the rocks and every other thing that exists.The branch that brought forth humans further forked i(...)

COUNTRY: Cameroon

TAGS: Gods Gods and mortals Mythology Myths of origin

Robert Ba Ndangho Fomunyang

The Bali Creation Myth

In the beginning, Nikob (God) created the world and left it empty for a relatively long period of time. One day, he spread seeds of trees everywhere on earth. The trees grew so fast into different types and sizes. Among the so many types of trees Nikob created, there were some that were special. There were not only colossal and strange, with big as well as small roots but they were also rare to find. Nikob lived in these huge trees throughout and regularly studied the atmospheric temperature unt(...)

COUNTRY: Cameroon

TAGS: Gods Gods and mortals Mythology Myths of origin

Elechi Amadi

Attention:+18 yearsThe story takes place in Omokachi, a small Nigerian village comprising eleven family groups, each family group occupies a cluster of compounds and every compound has a path bursting into the main road running across the village. Emenike lives at Omokachi and is married to Ihuoma, a beautiful woman from another village, known as Omigwe, who is admired by the entire community because of her exemplary character. They have three children. Emenike has a disagreement with anoth(...)

YEAR: 1966

COUNTRY: Nigeria

TAGS: Kings Marriage Mythology

Marie-Christine Kappu Mandi

The Curse of Twins [La malédiction des jumeaux]

In the Far North region of Cameroon, the village of Djafado faces a severe period of famine and a wave of deaths caused by drought. The sentence of the gods is clear: "it is the twins who are responsible for the drought" and only a sacrifice could bring the village out of its sufferings, and the only person who has twins is the chief of the village. He does not hesitate to conform to the will of the "so-called gods", and burns his twins alive under the gaze of their horrified(...)

YEAR: 2008

COUNTRY: Cameroon

TAGS: Mythical creatures Mythology Sacrifice Witches

Ben Okri

The Famished Road

The Famished Road is about the life of an abiku (spirit child), Azaro, in the ghetto of an unnamed city. At the beginning of the novel, Azaro is a spirit child who lives in the spirit world also called the land of the beginning. It is a land of happiness and joy, where all unborn spirits live before they are incarnated into human bodies. In this land, exists a group called the spirit companions (Abikus), who, in order to enjoy the privileges of the spirit world forever, make a pact never to live(...)

YEAR: 1991

COUNTRY: United Kingdom

TAGS: Afterlife Mythology

Samuel Mills

The Fire Bringer

This is a retelling of the Prometheus myth told in a novel format, using a framework of a didactic opportunity in which Prometheus teaches his pupils about the origin of humanity while the gods are preparing to transition from their Greek to Roman personas. Peppered between Prometheus’ lessons are moments where Zeus sets his sites on Chastia, a young girl, and attempts to charm her by taking on different forms and capturing her. Each time Prometheus, in the guise of something else, stops h(...)

YEAR: 2009

COUNTRY: United States of America

TAGS: Actia Agenor Aphrodite Ares Athena/ Athene Chastia Crete Demetrios Epimetheus Europa Gaia / Gaea Greece Hades Hekatoncheires Helen Hephaestus Hera Heracles / Herakles Hercules Hermes Hundred-handers Io Juno Jupiter Kronos / Cronus / Cronos Leda Mars Milos Mount Caucasus Mount Olympus Mount Othrys Mount Parnassus Mythology Nereid Nike Olympians Pandora Phaidros Phoenicia Poseidon Prometheus Rhea Tartarus Themis Thesbia Thetis Titanomachy Titans Typhon Uranus Venus Vulcan Zeus

Wilfred Jackson

The Goddess of Spring

Jackson’s short animation re-tells a classical mythological story about the origins of seasons. It opens with an idyllic scene where animals, dwarfs and flowers dance around a beautiful girl, called in the song “The Goddess of Eternal Spring”. Crowned with a floral coronet by birds and sitting on a throne among nature (in the central position of the frame), she is shown as the most important (in an anthropocentric way) character in this picture. The situation changes when the e(...)

YEAR: 1934

COUNTRY: United States of America

TAGS: Classical myth Hades Mythology Myths of origin Persephone Pluto

Aloys Nkong Kima

The Gods’ Plum Tree

There was a woman in Bioleh whose name was Nkeng. She was commonly called Anyinkeng because she was a mother to twin children. She was married to a man called Kang, and the names of their twins were Ngenyi and Asonganyi. Anyinkeng had a younger sister who came to babysit the twins at birth. At that time, the Nweh people were living eternally on earth. There was no form of illness nor death in the village.In the village, there was a special plum tree reserved only for the Gods of the tribe. It wa(...)

COUNTRY: Cameroon

TAGS: Gods Gods and mortals Mortals and Immortals Mythical places Mythology

Philippe Béha, Glen Huser

The Golden Touch. A Retelling of the Legend of King Midas

The Golden Touch. A Retelling of the Legend of King Midas is a book and CD version of an opera staged in Canada in which over 200 school children performed alongside a Chroma Musika cast accompanied by The Orchestre Symphonique Pop Montréal, with narration from UK comedian Terry Jones. The opera was composed by Greek national Giannis Georgantelis, and was run as a community project under the auspices of the Government of Canada, the Government of Quebec, and the city of Laval. This w(...)

COUNTRY: Canada United Kingdom

TAGS: Apollo Architecture Bible Charybdis Classical studies Cyclops / Cyclopes Dionysus Faun Gods Greek music Greek mythology Helen of Troy Midas Mythology Ovid Ovid Metamorphoses Pan Reception of classical antiquity

Patrick Branwell Brontë

The History of the Young Men

This work opens with an extensive Introduction which details the early lives of the Brontë children and the evolution of their creative writing. There is also a section of Notes on the Text, which provides a manuscript history and images of the original. Branwell's introduction provides the history of the acquisition of the toy soldiers who formed the basis of the stories. He adds, 'this history is a statement of what Myself, Charlotte Emily and Ann really pretended did happen' (...)

COUNTRY: Australia

TAGS: Aesop Apollo Bible Carthage Gods Graeco-Persian wars Greek history Greek language Greek mythology Homer Iliad Latin Language Laurel wreath Mythology Oracles Patroclus Punic Wars Reception of classical antiquity Roman Empire Roman history Sparta Trojan War Virgil’s Aeneid

Ndi-deng

The Lake That Travelled With the Undesirable Twins

Long, long ago,There lived a coupleThat got married andHad no child.The woman was alreadyThreatened by the family of herHusband.They were calling herAn old yam,A soundless gong.The woman was alsoAnxious to have children.People were sayingThat the joy of motherhoodLies in child bearing.She struggled with the husband,But they could not hearŊyàà ŋyààŋyàà [the cry of a newborn child]In their compound.People said,It is a family curse.They washed her in all th(...)

COUNTRY: Cameroon

TAGS: Mythology

Eto’o

The Loss of The Fong Totem

A long time ago, Fong, a village in the Beti clan was constantly haunted by epidemics, which caused the mysterious deaths of loved ones and the destruction of culture. This situation forced the people to look for ways through which they could protect themselves from these attacks. So, some elders of the village took advantage of the presence of a young pregnant woman in the village and initiated her unborn baby, so that he could serve as their protector after birth. The baby was finally born, bu(...)

COUNTRY: Cameroon

TAGS: Mythology Myths of origin

Chrysantus Mboh

Mban is the dwelling place of the ancestors whose spirits incarnate in special stones. From time immemorial, it has served as a pillar of justice and truth in the community. In the early days, long before the Meta people settled in the Meta land, evil had already conquered the hearts of men. There were only twenty-nine families who were all descendants of the same paternal lineage. Twenty-nine great and honest fathers from the twenty-nine families of the land converged and came up with a code of(...)

COUNTRY: Cameroon

TAGS: Mythology Myths of origin

Clyde W. Ford

The Miracle Worker

The full text of this myth is found in: The Hero with an African Face: Mythic Wisdom of Traditional Africa by Clyde W. Ford, in the United States and Canada by Bantam Books, 1999, pp. 96-101.), ISBN 0-553-10544-2. This is only a brief summary of the story. The full text of the myth and others can be read in the book cited above.A young man fails to find any damsel beautiful enough to be his wife in his village. So, he travels to a distant village in search of a wife against the counsel of his el(...)

TAGS: Mythology Totem

Foncha Wanka’a

The Musician and His Mythic Leaves

There lived a man who had many Wives and was always directing them On what to do.He had to tell them when to work And when to harvest.He was also a musician. One day he was about to travel to the Next village for a musical show.He instructed his wives and children To harvest crops in all the farms, but for one. At the beginning they followed their husband’s advice.Later on, as the crops in the first four farms Were getting finished, Their husban(...)

COUNTRY: Cameroon

TAGS: Mythology

Egbe Ifie

The Myth of Aziza

The original version of this myth appears in Egbe Ifie's Marriage with Gods and Goddesses: in Classical and African Myths published by End-time Publishing House Ltd, Ibadan, 1999: pp 35-37. This is a summary of the myth. The full text can be read in the book cited above.Aziza was born with physical grace. His handsomeness was praised in songs and hymns all over the countryside. This made him grow up with the certitude that he had extraordinary assets. He became proud and lazy. When he got ma(...)

COUNTRY: Nigeria

TAGS: Mythology

Alfred Ngoisa Lyonga

The Myth of Efasa-Moto

Efasa-Moto is the folkloric god of the Bakweri people at the foot of the Fako Mountain. He controls the entire “hill” from the North East Coast to the West Coast on the border with Balondo land in the Meme Division. Efasa-Moto is the male counterpart of the Liengu la Mwanja or the legendary “mammy water” or jengu (water goddess). After an agreement between the two, Efasa-Moto chose to live in the mountain while Liengu la Mwanja remained in the sea. Efasa- Moto and Liengu (...)

COUNTRY: Cameroon

TAGS: Gods Mythology

Jean Njome Epole

The Myth of Ellah The Sacred Rock

A long time ago, there existed a sacred rock called “Ellah” in a village known as Nkonjnine, situated in the Mungo sub division. This sacred rock served as a shield against all invasions in the village. Whenever there was any danger, custodians of the rock would mobilize the population to take refuge in the rock. In such circumstances, the rock opened up for the villagers to enter and later closed after everybody was in. The rock could expand to contain more people as the need arises(...)

COUNTRY: Cameroon

TAGS: Mythical places Mythology Myths of origin

Egbe Ifie

The Myth of Etarunyarha

The original version of this myth appears in Egbe Ifie’s Marriage with Gods and Goddesses: in Classical and African Myths published by End-time Publishing House Ltd, Ibadan, 1999: pp 34 and 35. This is a summary of the myth. The full text can be read in the book cited above.Etarunyarha and his wife virtually subsisted on good men’s charity. One day, as Etarunyarha was strolling on the sandy bank of the river, thinking of how to bring his family out of poverty, he came across a lady w(...)

COUNTRY: Nigeria

TAGS: Hero Mythology

Ndimeh

The Myth of Lake Awing

Work in progress.(...)

COUNTRY: Cameroon

TAGS: Mythology

Peter Mkong Bongjio

The Myth of Mnkong Moteh – The Enigma

A long time ago, a man appeared around Lake Oku. No one knew where he came from. He did not have any known parents or relatives, and spent all of his time near the lake and in the sacred forest of Lumetu. His name was Mnkong Moteh, and he came up during the reign of Nghanga, son of the legendary Nyanya, founder of the Ntul dynasty. Though Nghanga had mystical powers that he inherited from his mother, Mnkong Moteh fought and won Nghanga in a spiritual war that was fought in the lake, burnt most o(...)

COUNTRY: Cameroon

TAGS: Mythology

Maurice Tangang

The Myth of the Origin of the Bambui

In the beginning,The Bambui people were with the other Tikaris.As they started moving to their present site,They had the all-powerful, The almighty Ntsu’uWho was their leader.He was very powerful;He had fought with lions and other wild animals.The people saw him as a demi-god.He had to lead them to their present site.As they started moving to the present site,There was a mysterious opening, closing and endOf the path they were following.Each time the path opened,Or each time somebody (...)

COUNTRY: Cameroon

TAGS: Hero Mythology Myths of origin

Mado Pauline Tcheutchoua

The Myth of “Nkentatet” (ŋĸØ’ta’tét)

Nkentatet (ŋĸØ’ta’tét) is a sacred worship place located in the Bamendjou-Bamenka-Bansoa* border where three great rivers meet and form a waterfall at a confluence. The Nkentatet (ŋĸØ’ta’tét) sacred place is also the name of this small river. The myth goes thus: in the distant past, Nkentatet (ŋĸØ’ta’tét) was surrounded by Baobab trees and rocks, all in a small isolated forest. When God decided to create the Bamendjou-(...)

COUNTRY: Cameroon

TAGS: Gods Gods and mortals Mythology

Jan Lewis, Saviour Pirotta

The Orchard Book of First Greek Myths

This is a very popular collection of ten retellings of ancient myths, attractively laid-out and well-written for a young audience. There is an illustrated Table of Contents at the start, which enables pre-literate children to participate in choosing the story that will be read, as well as teaching them how to use a ToC.Each story begins with an elaborate fronts-piece full of details from the story, and each story concludes with a small image that contains a key element of the myth. Both elements(...)

YEAR: 2003

COUNTRY: United Kingdom

TAGS: Arachne Architecture Argo Argonauts Ariadne Athena/ Athene Athens Bellerophon Chimaera Chimera Crete Daedalus Dionysus Epimetheus Gods Golden Fleece Graeae Sisters Greek mythology Helen of Troy Homer Icarus Jason Labyrinth Maze Medea Medusa Menelaus Midas Minerva Minos Minotaur Mythology Odysseus/ Ulysses Odyssey Ovid Ovid Metamorphoses Pan Pandora Pandora’s Box Paris Pegasus Perseus Reception of classical antiquity Theseus Trojan Horse (wooden) Trojan War Troy Witches

Tony Bradman , Tony Ross

The Orchard Book of Swords Sorcerers and Superheroes

Chapter 1. Voyage to the Edge of the World. The Story of Jason and the Golden Fleece.Chapter 2. The Magical Sword. The Story of King Arthur.Chapter 3. The Fabulous Genie. The Story of Aladdin and his Magical Lamp.Chapter 4. An Apple for Freedom. The Story of William Tell.Chapter 5. Superhero. The Story of Hercules and the Monstrous Cacus.Chapter 6. The Fantastic Voyage of Sinbad. The Story of Sinbad the Sailor and The Roc.Chapter 7. The Fearsome Dragon from the Lake. The Story of George and the (...)

YEAR: 2003

COUNTRY: United Kingdom

TAGS: Architecture Argo Argonauts Ariadne Athena/ Athene Athens Classical reception Classical studies Crete Eurystheus Golden Fleece Graeae Sisters Greek mythology Harpies Heracles / Herakles Jason Labyrinth Maze Medea Minos Minotaur Mythology Roman history Roman mythology Roman religion Rome Slavery Theseus Twelve Labours of Heracles Witches

Joseph Njong

The Origin of Black and White (Red) Races

The form of the notation reflects the rhythm of the performance. Capital letters indicate when the storyteller’s voice was high; italics indicate when the voice was low. In the beginning, God was alone.He had no company.He liked to see people.He liked to see people dance, run, play, and converse and do many things. [Aside by the storyteller] If we are living today... it is because God needed our company. [The storyteller wipes saliva that is dripping at the extreme right sid(...)

COUNTRY: Cameroon

TAGS: Gods Mythology Myths of origin

Lawrence Teneng

The Origin of Eternal Death

Long, long time ago,People used to die and come back to life.Life by then was eternal. There was resurrection after death, Old people died and came back young. (The audience interrupts),“What do you mean by dying and coming back young?”(Narrator continues), “Have you ever seen a snake, and what happens to it? At old age, it sheds the old layer and becomes young.” The period of death, was the period for the old to shed off their old coats and become young ag(...)

COUNTRY: Cameroon

TAGS: Death Gods Gods and mortals Mythology Myths of origin

Peter Mkong Bongjio

The Origin of Lake Oku

A long time ago, a wandering traveler, who had apparently been rejected in many places, arrived the Oku Chief's palace. He looked very exhausted and had unkempt hair. He was well received and after a brief stay, he expressed his desire to stay and put an end to his wandering life. The Chief of Oku showed him a site on which to settle at Itoh, not too far from the palace. He complained, indicating that he would have preferred a place much farther, so that he could have enough land for himself(...)

COUNTRY: Cameroon

TAGS: Mythology Myths of origin

Emmanuel Matateyou, Elias Mbome

The Origin of the Dry and Rainy Seasons

This is a reprint, with slight syntax changes, of the story as it appears in: An Anthology of Myths, Legends and Folktales from Cameroon by Emmanuel Matateyou, published in 1997 (pp. 46-48) by The Edwin Mellen Press Ltd. We have the permission of the publisher and the author to publish up to 10 myths in this collection in the context of our project on “Our Mythical Childhood…”. We are therefore thankful to The Edwin Mellen Press Ltd and Professor Mataeyou for granting us this (...)

COUNTRY: Cameroon

TAGS: Animals and historical persons as characters Mythology Myths of origin

Edmund Sama Titanji

The Origin of the Voma Cult in Bali Nyonga

A long time ago, in the land of Bali Nyonga, situated in the North-West Region of Cameroon, lamentations echoed throughout the village. The community was struck with unusual happenings: mothers lost their babies, wives lost their husbands, people went to the farms and never returned, the land was barren and so produced little or no crops, the villagers cried out to their fon for help because they could not stand the suffering they were undergoing. The Fon sent his ‘Nchindas*’ to go r(...)

COUNTRY: Cameroon

TAGS: Gods Mythology Myths of origin

Mvongo Biya

The Origin of Witchcraft in Maka Land

Work in progress.(...)

COUNTRY: Cameroon

TAGS: Animals and historical persons as characters Mythology Myths of origin

Philip Loh Dzadjih

The Origin of “Efiehnstemseh,” the Great Cave of Drums in Kedjom

Long long time ago, in Kedjom Ketinguh an extraordinarily beautiful girl, Shembom, was born to the Fon (or King). He named her Shembom, meaning the work of the Gods. As Shembom grew up, she became even more and more beautiful. Even as a girl, many families started competing for her hand in marriage. Her parents, however, rejected these offers. They wanted their daughter to grow up and choose a husband for herself among the most handsome men in the village. Eventually, two Gods fell in love with (...)

COUNTRY: Cameroon

TAGS: Gods Gods and mortals Mythology Myths of origin

Sama Ambe

The Power of the Magic Ring

Capital letters indicate high pitch from narrator; italics indicate low pitch from narrator:The Boy and His Bag of SaltIn the beginning, When people used to live together,Animals were also communicating With people. Then came a time, When people started sending Their childrenTo go out in quest for wealth to nearby villages. There was a man, who had many children.A certain time came,He dispatched the children To go and look for money. Most of the children w(...)

COUNTRY: Cameroon

TAGS: Mythology

Abou Manifi

The Resurrection of Omang

A long time ago, there lived a man in Begui called Omang a Ziare. He was humble, obedient and patient. These qualities catapulted him to the throne of Begui after the death of his father. Beside these virtues, he was endowed with some supernatural powers, which he used to protect his relations against any evil practices or witchcraft.One day, Omang went to a distant market from Begui and while at the market, a violent fight broke out and in the course of it, his walking staff was snatched by som(...)

COUNTRY: Cameroon

TAGS: Mythology

Pepetela

The Return of the Water Spirit

The Return of the Water Spirit presents a city called Luanda, Angola wherein the population has been witnessing a series of buildings collapsing one after another. The very first building collapse happens at Kinaxixi square, after the wedding of Joao Evangelista, son of Mateus Evangelista and grandson of Rosario Evangelista, a surname that defines their religious background. Unlike his predecessors who were pastors in an Evangelical church at Huambo, Joao desired to be an engineer, but since he (...)

YEAR: 2002

COUNTRY: Angola

TAGS: Mythical names Mythology

Eveline Keko Ngang

The Rock-Soldiers

A long time ago, when intertribal wars were still very common among migrating communities, a certain warring village attacked the Mankon warriors. Awasom Tambu, a Mankon Chief Priest, who was at the same time a prophet, chanted some incantations and transformed his warriors into a heap of rocks. The assailants arrived the battle ground only to discover that the Mankon warriors were no longer more there. They were confused about what must have become of the soldiers. They were ready to fight and (...)

COUNTRY: Cameroon

TAGS: Mythology Myths of origin

Ibrahim Mbgarouma

The Tikary Messiah

Some years back, there was a dragon which lived in a water source and had a great influence on the people living in that kingdom. Every year, the dwellers had to offer a virgin girl to appease it. When they failed to do so, it would come out of the water and devour anybody it met, whether child or adult. People lived in constant fear and starvation for they were too afraid to do either farming or trading. The king was so worried that he promised to reward, with his own crown, whoever would kill (...)

COUNTRY: Cameroon

TAGS: Mythology

Sarah Coghill

The Twelve Labors of Hercules

Sarah Coghill relates the twelve tasks of Hercules in a simple, unembellished format. She takes the twelve labors and, in twelve chapters, details the challenges which Hercules faces in accomplishing his tasks. Without stinting on detail, Coghill methodically works through the tasks, providing information on relevant details of Hercules adventures as she goes.(...)

YEAR: 2011

TAGS: Abderos Aegeus Amazons Athena/ Athene Atlas Cerberus Classical myth Demeter Diomedes Eryx Eurystheus Geryon Greece Hades Hera Heracles / Herakles Heracles’ life Hercules Heroism Hippolyta Hydra Iolaus Ladon Minos Molorchus Mythology Pasiphae Persephone Pholus Poseidon Prometheus Zeus

Theresia Abula, Emmanuel Matateyou

The Unfaithful Wife

The original published version of this myth appears in: An Anthology of Myths, Legends and Folktales from Cameroon by Emmanuel Matateyou, published in 1997 (pp. 82-87) by The Edwin Mellen Press Ltd. Although we have the written authorization of the publisher and the author to reprint up to 10 myths in the collection for our research on “Our Mythical Childhood…”., we have chosen to modify the syntax of this particular myth and to make it shorter. We are therefore very than(...)

COUNTRY: Cameroon

TAGS: Mythology

Gerd Scherm

The Wanderers [Die Irrfahrer]

The prophet and scribe Seshmosis, who saved his nation, the Tajarim, from Egyptian bondage thanks to the support of the goddess GON, god without a name, leaves Byblos with his friends in order to travel to Crete. He intends to analyse a mysterious locket there, whose origins are Cretan, and which is inscribed in a secret language. Once arrived in Crete, the adventurers meet not only Minos, the king of Crete, but also his obliging daughter Ariadne and her lover Theseus who is eager to become hims(...)

YEAR: 2007

COUNTRY: Germany

TAGS: Achilles Bible Crete Egypt Greek mythology Labyrinth Minos Minos (King) Minotaur Mythology Odysseus/ Ulysses Theseus Trojan War

Sama Ambe

The Water God “Atutu” Marries the Most Beautiful Princess

The form of the notation reflects the rhythm of the performance. Capital letters indicate when the storyteller’s voice was high; italics indicate when the voice was low. I The Princess and the SuitorsLong time agoThere lived a beautiful princess, SHE WAS TOO BEAUTIFUL. She was known for turning down All suitors.She was always refusing these suitors,And looking for the most handsome and richest men on earth.The story went round the village,People came from distant places(...)

COUNTRY: Cameroon

TAGS: Gods Mythology

Marie

In the beginning of this chiefdom (Bafou), the chief’s son waged war against the entire community because of a misunderstanding he had with his father. He was bent on killing his father, and when the population heard of the abomination, they decided to go to their chief’s rescue. In the encounter, half the population was killed since the son had extraordinary powers. The boy however never succeeded in killing his father, but seriously mutilated his face. As his punishment, the chief (...)

COUNTRY: Cameroon

TAGS: Mythology

Gabriel Sira

The Wife of God

About a thousand years ago, the god of creation, Boumvouboum, together with his wife and the entire community, sent one of their daughters to the earth to find out how humans were reproducing their progenies. They had just noticed an exponential growth in the human population given that before then, humans were few and their lack of belief led to frequent deaths. So they chose to send their daughter to be born into the family of a very young couple. As a result, this couple gave birth to two chi(...)

COUNTRY: Cameroon

TAGS: Gods Gods and mortals Mythology Myths of origin

Babila Mutia

According to Zulu myth, the Tikoloshe is a mischievous dwarf spirit that becomes invisible when it drinks water. It is said to rape women and bite people’s toes in their sleep as well as cause illness and death. Elders often use it to dissuade children from bad behaviour. It is believed that women who are harassed by witches at night offer Tikoloshe gifts such as salt and milk to keep off the witches from making love to them all night long*. Tikoloshes manifest in different forms such as d(...)

COUNTRY: Cameroon

TAGS: Mythical creatures Mythology

Philippe Béha, Glen Huser

Time for Flowers, Time for Snow. A Retelling of the Legend of Demeter and Persephone

Time for Flowers, Time for Snow is a book and CD version of an opera staged in Canada in which 180+ school children performed accompanied by The Orchestre Symphonique Pop Montréal with narration from UK comedian Terry Jones. The opera was composed by Greek national Giannis Georgantelis, and was run as a community project under the auspices of the Government of Canada, the Government of Quebec, the cities of Montreal and Laval, the Embassy of Greece to Canada, and the Embassy of Canada to (...)

COUNTRY: Canada United Kingdom

TAGS: Afterlife Architecture Cerberus Charon Classical studies Crete Daedalus Demeter Eleusinian Mysteries Gods Greek music Greek mythology Hades Hades' Throne Hermes Immortality Katabasis Mythology Olympus Persephone Pluto Proserpina Reception of classical antiquity Underworld Zeus

THQ Nordic

Titan Quest: Ragnarok

Like its predecessors, Titan Quest: Ragnarok follows a legendary warrior on their travels through the ancient world, fighting monsters and vengeful gods to protect humanity. Fresh from defeating Hades’s rebellion in the Underworld, the player is approached by Ylva, princess of Skandia. The Aesir are attacking her homeland, and she is sure only the Titansbane can stop them. Thus, a journey begins that takes its hero from Corinth to the Northlands, battling trolls, druids and axe-men to(...)

YEAR: 2017

COUNTRY: Online

TAGS: Celtic mythology Hades Loki Mythology Norse mythology Ragnarok

Mume Fua Zofoa

Weei Nyui Fesha

Many years ago, during the reign of King Fuan Forting, there was a very humble and beautiful queen in the palace called Nah. She was an exemplary queen to her co-queens and a model for so many subsequent queens. She was respectful and, though she was privileged as the first queen of the land, she was often humble and considerate towards the other queens. The king loved her so much because she had a good heart. One day, she slept and did not wake up. The king was so worried. Thus, he summoned the(...)

COUNTRY: Cameroon

TAGS: Goddess Gods Immortality Mythology

Małgorzata Karkowska , Monika Warneńska

We’ll Meet on Atlantis [Spotkamy się na Atlantydzie]

Based on: Katarzyna Marciniak, Elżbieta Olechowska, Joanna Kłos, Michał Kucharski (eds.), Polish Literature for Children & Young Adults Inspired by Classical Antiquity: A Catalogue, Faculty of “Artes Liberales”, Warsaw: University of Warsaw, 2013, 444 pp., online: http://omc.obta.al.uw.edu.pl/omc_catalogue.The story begins when the young protagonist Alekos Dragumis is travelling to Greece by train. He is the son of a deceased Greek father and a Polish mother. His father reached P(...)

YEAR: 1988

COUNTRY: Poland

TAGS: Achilles Acropolis Acropolis of Athens Alexander Archaelogists Archaeology Architecture Ariadne's thread Athens Atlantis Faras Greece Greek art Greek history Greek mythology Homer Mythology Nike Zeus

Kelsey Oseid

What We See in the Stars: An Illustrated Tour of the Night Sky

What We See in the Stars is an informative work which uses attractive illustrations and clear language to communicate about the science of space, the history of space science (including ancient science), and the mythology connected to that science. The work is explicit at the start about its mission to teach science and mythology. It begins by explaining that knowledge of the stars was initially important for agriculture and navigation, and that modern star-gazing is a way to connect with 'a(...)

COUNTRY: United Kingdom United States of America

TAGS: Argo Argonauts Centaurs Egypt Europa Gods Golden Fleece Greek art Greek history Greek mythology Hera Heracles / Herakles Hermes Hermes' winged boots Jupiter Kronos / Cronus / Cronos Latin Language Laurel wreath Lyre Mars Mercury Mythology Neptune Pan Pegasus Perseus Poseidon Reception of classical antiquity Roman mythology Trident Twelve Labours of Heracles Unicorn Zeus

Richard Ngamfu

Whatever Will Be, Will Be

So many years ago, Death had the habit of visiting people and giving them a leaf that contained the exact time they were to die. Death had visited so many people and as such was known and feared by many. Physically, he was huge, bearded and wrinkled. He lived in the great forest and was apparently the strongest youth in the world of the dead. In fact, those who saw him swore that he was three times the size of an adult human. He was hardly ever patient with those he visited, making any negotiati(...)

COUNTRY: Cameroon

TAGS: Death Mythology

Joseph Akono Ateba

Why Awae People marked their Children

In the distant past among the Ewondo people, the myth goes that the wife of God gave birth to a child and the child fell from the sky to the earth. God and His wife came down to look for the child. Before their arrival, they sent a message to the chief priest of the Awae land to announce that their time of arrival would be at mid-night the message also instructed everyone who had a baby aged between 0 - 3 days old to put a mark on the child’s forehead with a sharp object, in order to diffe(...)

COUNTRY: Cameroon

TAGS: Gods Gods and mortals Mythology Myths of origin

Godwin Doh Nuvaga

Why Birds Chirp in the Morning and at Dusk

So many years ago, God sent messages to the world through a strange red bird, called Nkub. Every year, Nkub brought annual messages from the great forests to the people. This special bird was only seen once every year and each time it flew from the forest into the land, it repeatedly sang a phrase in Mungaka, “chulog manikob” which is directly translated as “a message from God”. Whenever it flew into the land, it never landed until it got to the palace, where it delivered(...)

COUNTRY: Cameroon

TAGS: Mythology Myths of origin

Benjamin Emeada

Why Humans and Animals Co-habit the Earth

When Oghene, the Supreme Being, created the earth and the Isoko people, his initial intention was for men to live forever. However, this idea was short-lived because the earth became overpopulated by animals which were also created by him. Due to this, there was a serious controversy between the animals and men. As they gathered to make deliberations as to the way forward, “toad” suggested that men should stay while the animals leave the earth but the “dog” contradicted t(...)

COUNTRY: Nigeria

TAGS: Mythology Myths of origin

Joseph Eboa, Emmanuel Matateyou

Why Moon and Sun Live in Sky

The original published version of this myth appears in: An Anthology of Myths, Legends and Folktales from Cameroon by Emmanuel Matateyou, published in 1997 (pp. 41-43) by The Edwin Mellen Press Ltd. Although we have the permission of the publisher and the author to reprint up to 10 myths in the collection for our research on “Our Mythical Childhood…”., we have chosen to summarize this particular myth. We are therefore very thankful to The Edwin Mellen Press Ltd and Professor M(...)

COUNTRY: Cameroon

TAGS: Mythology Myths of origin

Emmanuel Matateyou, Martin Njoya

Why People Die and Do Not Come Back

The original published version of this myth appears in: An Anthology of Myths, Legends and Folktales from Cameroon by Emmanuel Matateyou, published in 1997 (pp. 31-33) by The Edwin Mellen Press Ltd. Although we have the written authorization of the publisher and the author to reprint up to 10 myths in the collection for our research on “Our Mythical Childhood…”., we have chosen to summarize this particular myth because the original version is too long. We are therefore ve(...)

COUNTRY: Cameroon

TAGS: Aesop’s Fables Mythology Myths of origin

Mvongo Biya

Why the Dead Are Respected in Maka Land

A long time ago in the Maka Land, there lived four women full of ambition and passion for wealth. One of them farmed for profit while the three others were engaged in fishing. They were very satisfied with what they made out of their activities and did not waste any opportunity that could earn them more. They devoted all their time to their activities and ignored happenings that concerned the entire community. One day, one of the old men in the village died. Usually in such situations, the (...)

COUNTRY: Cameroon

TAGS: Death Mythology Myths of origin

Beyana Ngarbaï

Why the Garap People do not eat He-Goat

A a man stayed in the forest in the land of the Garap people of Mayo Kebie-East in the South of Chad until daylight ended. According to the myth, the daylight that ended transformed itself into a he-goat and was going back home to come back the next morning. When this man saw the he-goat, he caught it and took it home believing that it was a stray animal. According to the tradition of the Garap people, if a lost property or object was found, it was to be given to the chief priest of the land. Th(...)

COUNTRY: Chad

TAGS: Mythology Myths of origin

Mofor Nchinda

Why The God Gave The Man The Cutlass and Woman The Hoe

In the beginning,God created this world.Immediately after creation,He thought everything was over.So he left and went up to live in the sky.He stayed there, stayed thereUntil his absence was noticed on earth.Chaos started.Nothing was going on well;People were quarrelling;People were fighting;Adultery was everywhere;Idleness was everywhere;There was total confusion.People wanted to know how they originated.They started complaining;Cursing themselves and the creator.God heard their worries; God he(...)

COUNTRY: Cameroon

TAGS: Gods Mythology Myths of origin

NzeUmeokwonna G.C. Ezechukwu

Why the Human Back Has a Median Line

In ancient times, the world of humans and the world of the spirits were in close communion. Spirits visited human beings and human beings returned such visits. One day, a group of people visited the land of the spirits. The spirits welcomed them very well and entertained them with well-pounded foo-foo and bitter leaf soup, garnished with a lot of dried meat and fish. They ate to their fill. The spirits then served their visitors pots of fresh palm-wine. They drank and were merry. However, becaus(...)

COUNTRY: Nigeria

TAGS: Mythology Myths of origin

Cosmas Aza

Why the People of Ngwokong No Longer Eat Frogs

In the olden days, there was a virtuous old woman in Ngwokong who was considered a model of communal morality. All the women in the community were often advised to emulate her character because she understood what it meant to be a woman and a mother. Even in her humility, her voice was the most eloquent when there was the need for women to assert their responsibilities and privileges in major traditional events. Everyone was convinced that her husband was blessed because many longed to have her (...)

COUNTRY: Cameroon

TAGS: Mythology Myths of origin

Matthew Ojongnsi

Why The Sky and The Earth Are Apart

Many years ago, when there were no trees on earth, there was an affable and visibly strong bond between Sky and Earth. They were fun of each other as the birds are to the trees. In fact, their interactions passed for a belief that they were bounded by the blood of a common pedigree. Though they both had large families, Sky had impeccably beautiful daughters with sky-like complexions while Earth had strikingly attractive sons, with muscles and fine brown skins. Since Sky and Earth were close, the(...)

COUNTRY: Cameroon

TAGS: Mythology Myths of origin

Joe Tabi Ekema, Emmanuel Matateyou

Why the Thumb is Short

This is a reprint of the story as it appears in: An Anthology of Myths, Legends and Folktales from Cameroon by Emmanuel Matateyou, published in 1997 (pp. 49-50) by The Edwin Mellen Press Ltd. We have the permission of the publisher and the author to publish up to 10 myths in this collection in the context of our project on “Our Mythical Childhood…”. We are therefore thankful to The Edwin Mellen Press Ltd and Professor Mataeyou for granting us this permission.Many, many, many y(...)

COUNTRY: Cameroon

TAGS: Mythology Myths of origin

Jacqueline Meguimgue

Why the Yemba People Do Not Farm on Certain Days of the Week

A long time ago in Dschang, the people led a peaceful life. Individual habitations were pretty far from one another. Powerful men in the village occupied vast portions of lands so that they could be heads of families and later rulers in those areas. Thus, many lived in isolated areas. This dream of living in isolation was deferred by a sudden invasion of the land by an evil spirit. After a futile struggle to combat the ravaging evil spirit, the villagers thought of one of their brothers in a dis(...)

COUNTRY: Cameroon

TAGS: Mythology Myths of origin

Ndoe

Why There are Many Kingdoms in Moumba

In distant times; the very olden days,Which no man can remember with exactitude,There lived a man and his family in the forest.This man was called Kombo and he had two wives:The first wife, Songou, gave birth to two boys,And the second, Nadamba, gave birth to one boy and many girls.Kombo was happy because he had three sons who would continue his lineage:Gbabio and Lamy were the sons of the first wife, andGarba, was the son of the second.Kombo constructed an estate where he lived with his family.(...)

COUNTRY: Cameroon

TAGS: Dragons Mythical creatures Mythology Myths of origin

Atangche Munga

Why There Is Plenty in Palaces

Long time ago,In the olden days,There lived a man and his wife.They had two children,A boy and a girl.A time came when there was Famine in the village.One day,As these children,Were coming back from their daily activities,Their parents were quarrelling,About eating one of them.The father wanted the girl to be killed;The mother wanted the boy to be killed.As the boy and girl heard the argument.They planned to escape.Never to go to their house again.They started on a journeyTo an unknown land(...)

COUNTRY: Cameroon

TAGS: Mythology

Pa Buweh , Emmanuel Matateyou

Why Tortoise Has a Cracked Shell

This is a slightly modified version of the story as it appears in: An Anthology of Myths, Legends and Folktales from Cameroon by Emmanuel Matateyou, published in 1997 (pp. 63-65) by The Edwin Mellen Press Ltd. We have permission of the publisher and the author to reprint up to 10 myths in the collection for our research on “Our Mythical Childhood…”. We are therefore very thankful to The Edwin Mellen Press Ltd and Professor Matateyou for granting us this permission.Once upon a (...)

COUNTRY: Cameroon

TAGS: Mythology Myths of origin

Maurice Tangang

Why “Kighori” Has Remained a Holy Ground for the People of Bambui

Long time ago,After the Bambui people settled here,The person who led themInto this land disappeared. Before his disappearance,He told the people, I WILL SHOW YOU PEOPLE A SIGNThe time came, And the people saw the sign. There are three principal shrines here (in Bambui),These shrines were seen through This promised sign. One day,As the people were moving around, They came to a place, Near Mfontah.A forest suddenly emerged there. (The forest is not th(...)

COUNTRY: Cameroon

TAGS: Mythical places Mythology