Category: | Our Mythical Childhood Survey

Colin King, Stephanie Turnbull

Ancient Greeks (Usborne Beginners Series)

This short book starts by introducing ‘An ancient land,’ before moving to specific sections, each covering a double spread, on: ‘Life in Greece’; ‘Clothes and fashion’; ‘What people ate’; ‘A trip to market’; ‘Feasts and fun’; ‘Gods and goddesses’; ‘Talking to the gods’; ‘Heroes and monsters’; ‘The Olympic Games’; ‘Greek plays’; ‘Mighty warriors’; ‘(...)

literary

YEAR: 2002

COUNTRY: United Kingdom

TAGS: Gods Greek Theatre Hero(es) Monsters Olympic Games Pottery / Vases

Jenny Blackford

Andromeda

Andromeda is a feminist reimagining of the story of Andromeda and the sea monster. It fleshes out the personality of the princess, who, whilst mindful of the obligations of her royal role, longs for freedom from its obligations. She has an unaccountable sense of needing something, ‘something she had been missing for such a long time’ (130). Since the onset of puberty Andromeda has suffered overwhelming fits of rage. Her maturation is symbolically tied to the sea monster, who be(...)

literary

YEAR: 2008

COUNTRY: Australia

TAGS: Andromeda Barbarians Medusa Monsters Perseus

Jan Bajtlik

Ariadne’s Thread: Myths and Labyrinths [Nić Ariadny. Mity i Labirynty]

Bajtlik’s mythical catalogue consist of numerous depictions of the labyrinth in various configurations, each alluding to classical motifs and mythological stories. In the Introduction we read that ancient Greece was one of the most fascinating countries in the world whose culture and history influenced Europe and are admired to this day (Bajtlik, 2018: 5). Labyrinths drawn and described by Batjlik ought to lead the reader through this tradition, and teach them about ancient stories and cus(...)

literary

YEAR: 2018

COUNTRY: Poland

TAGS: Gods Iliad Labyrinth Minotaur Monsters Odyssey

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(...)

oral

COUNTRY: Cameroon

TAGS: African Mythologies African Storytelling African Traditions Hero(es) Monsters

Brett Bean , Lucy Coats

Beast of Olympus (series). The most recent instalment published August 2018:· 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. · Pa(...)

literary

YEAR: 2015

COUNTRY: United Kingdom

TAGS: Cerberus Hades Monsters

Kendare Blake

Goddess War (Series, Book 1): Antigoddess

Like several other recent novels for young adults, including Aimee Carter’s The Goddess Test (2011) and Bree Despain’s Into the Dark series, Kendare Blake’s Antigoddess explores the premise that ancient gods have survived into the modern age. Ranging across both urban and natural landscapes of the United States, the novel is focalised through Athena, who is accompanied by her brother, Hermes. The pair resemble modern teenagers: Hermes wears jeans and a tight t-sh(...)

literary

YEAR: 2013

COUNTRY: United States of America

TAGS: Andromache Aphrodite Apollo Athena / Athene Cassandra Circe Demeter Hector Hera Hermes Monsters Odysseus / Ulysses Odyssey Poseidon Trojan War Troy

Kendare Blake

Goddess War (Series, Book 2): Mortal Gods

As this novel is the second in the series, it is a continuation of many of the plots developed in the first book Antigoddess, a summary of which can be found here. Picking up three months after the events of Antigoddess, Cassandra Weaver is still grieving the loss of her boyfriend, Aidan Baxter (Apollo) and is determined to avenge his death by killing Aphrodite and the remainder of the Olympians with her newly discovered, god-destroying powers.The novel begins with Athena and Demeter discus(...)

literary

YEAR: 2014

COUNTRY: United States of America

TAGS: Achilles Andromache Aphrodite Ares Athena / Athene Atropos Calypso Cassandra Clotho Fates Hector Hera Hermes Lachesis Moirai Monsters Odyssey Persephone Poseidon Trojan War

Kendare Blake

Goddess War (Series, Book 3): Ungodly

As this novel is the third in the Goddess War series, it is the culmination of several plotlines developed over the course of the first and second books in this trilogy. Summaries for the previous two novels can be found here:Goddess War (Series, Book 1): AntigoddessGoddess War (Series, Book 2): Mortal GodsUngodly begins a month after the events of Mortal Gods in which the key characters, Cassandra and Calypso, Athena, and Odysseus, as well Hermes, Henry, and Andie are all separated from on(...)

literary

YEAR: 2015

COUNTRY: United States of America

TAGS: Achilles Aeacus Andromache Aphrodite Apollo Ares Athena / Athene Atropos Calypso Cassandra Clotho Fates Furies Hades Hector Hephaestus Hera Hermes Lachesis Minos Moirai Monsters Odysseus / Ulysses Odyssey Persephone Poseidon Rhadamanthus / Rhadamanthys Thanatos Trojan War

The LEGO Company

Lego Minifigures (Series): Minotaur

The Minotaur figure is approximately 1 inch in height. The primary colour used is brown to indicate the Minotaur’s fur. The figure has two yellow eyes, with two white horns protruding from either side of its head. The only accompanying accessory is an oversized hand-axe that can be placed in a single hand. At its waist, the Minotaur wears a blue cloth with a brown and golden belt.(...)

material

YEAR: 2016

TAGS: Labyrinth Minoan Civilization Minotaur Monsters

Liv Albert

Let’s Talk about Myths, Baby! (podcast)

Let’s Talk About Myths, Baby! is a weekly podcast on ancient Greek mythology which has been awarded the prize of the Third Top Podcast within the Top Mythology Podcasts of 2020 by Feedspot (accessed: April 2, 2020). Many ancient Greek and Roman myths, along with a series on Homer’s epics and on Greek drama, are broadcast in a casual yet comprehensive enough manner by Liv, “a 30-something Millennial with a penchant for cursing and a feminist attitude”.Episodes have various(...)

Radio & Podcast

YEAR: 2017

COUNTRY: Canada

TAGS: Hero(es) Heroine(s) Homer Monsters Olympians Theogony

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(...)

literary

YEAR: 2018

COUNTRY: United Kingdom

TAGS: Gods Golden Fleece Hades Heracles Hero(es) Jason Monsters Odysseus / Ulysses Olympians Olympus Oracles Pegasus Theogony Titans Underworld Zeus

Moussa Khalidou

Myth of Issah

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 (...)

oral

COUNTRY: Cameroon

TAGS: African Mythologies African Storytelling African Traditions Monsters

The British Museum

Mythical Top Trumps

This webpage, available via the British Museum’s online “Young Explorers” resources, shows how to create a “top-trumps” game involving fantastic creatures from several cultures using easy to obtain materials: ruler, blank paper, pencil and colouring pencils/crayons. Users are told how to get started by drawing out a template left blank at the top and with several ruled lines beneath. Those creating the game are free to select any mythological figure for each card th(...)

ephemeral

COUNTRY: United Kingdom

TAGS: Cyclops / Cyclopes Monsters

Margot McGovern

Neverland

When seventeen-year-old orphan Kit Learmonth tries to commit suicide by slashing her wrists in the swimming pool of her prestigious boarding school, her uncle takes her back to her childhood home to recuperate. Before her parents drowned in an accident at sea when she was ten, Kit grew up on an idyllic island owned for generations by her wealthy, infamous family. Though its official name is Learmonth Island, everyone refers to it as Neverland. In Kit’s mind, it is a place of magic and adve(...)

literary

YEAR: 2018

COUNTRY: Australia

TAGS: Andromache Celtic Mythology Charybdis Hector Homer Iliad Metamorphoses (Ovid's) Metamorphosis Monsters Norse Mythology Odysseus / Ulysses Odyssey Ovid Plato Sappho Scylla Sirens Virgil

Rick Riordan

Percy Jackson & The Olympians (Series, Book 1): The Lightning Thief

Percy Jackson is the twelve-year-old protagonist of the series and narrates the events of the book. Percy is dyslexic and has ADHD, and his behaviour leads to his expulsion from a number of schools. His life changes dramatically after his maths teacher transforms into a fury during a school trip demanding Percy return something that has been stolen. This leads to Percy discovering that he is a demigod and that the gods, heroes and monsters of Ancient Greece are in fact real and that they inhabit(...)

literary

YEAR: 2005

COUNTRY: United States of America

TAGS: Ares Athena / Athene Centaur(s) Cerberus Charon Chimera / Chimaera Cronus / Kronos Delphic Oracle Dionysus / Dionysos Echidna Furies Hades Iris Katabasis Lotus Eaters / Lotophagoi Medusa Minotaur Monsters Nereid(s) Olympus Pan Perseus Poseidon Procrustes Satyr(s) Underworld Zeus

Rick Riordan

Percy Jackson & The Olympians (Series, Book 2): The Sea of Monsters

This second book in the Percy Jackson series opens with Percy experiencing a recurring dream about his friend Grover, who is perceived to be in danger. Percy notes that he hasn’t seen Grover since the previous summer’s events; Grover having gone on a quest to locate the missing god Pan. Percy recalls an uneventful year, which he is about to complete without being excluded from school. In the absence of Grover he has also made a new friend, Tyson, a physically strong, but emotion(...)

literary

COUNTRY: United States of America

TAGS: Argonautica Argonauts Greek Gods Hero(es) Monsters Odyssey Sea Monsters

Rick Riordan

Percy Jackson & The Olympians (Series, Book 4): The Battle of the Labyrinth

The fourth book in the Percy Jackson series finds Percy visiting another prospective school. His time here is interrupted by the appearance of two empousai disguised as cheerleaders. The ensuing battle ends with the school on fire and Percy escaping with Rachel Dare, the mortal he met the previous year at the Hoover Dam. Percy is unable to dwell on the serendipitous nature of her appearance as both Annabeth and the police arrive, with the former suggesting they should return to Camp Half-bl(...)

literary

YEAR: 2008

COUNTRY: United States of America

TAGS: Calypso Campe Daedalus Hecatoncheires / Hundred-Handed Hephaestus Hera Janus Monsters Theseus

Rick Riordan

Percy Jackson and the Olympians (Series): The Demigod Files

The Demigod Files is a selection of three short stories and ‘fact files’ which acts as a companion to the series Percy Jackson and the Olympians. The ‘fact files’ provide brief bibliographies of the main demigod characters and gods in the series. Each ‘file’ gives details on strengths and weaknesses, as well as personality traits of the individual. When discussing a god, the fact file refers to them in their ancient and modern incarnations. In the fi(...)

literary

YEAR: 2009

COUNTRY: United States of America

TAGS: Chthonic Deities Monsters Underworld

Rick Riordan

Percy Jackson and the Olympians (Series): The Last Olympian

In the final volume of the Percy Jackson series, Percy’s summer vacation is cut short by a mission to blow up the Princess Andromeda, the ship of Luke (son of Hermes). The plan goes awry and Beckendorf (son of Hephaestus) sacrifices himself to ensure the mission’s success. A dejected Percy returns to Camp Half-blood with news of Beckendorf’s death and the existence of a spy at the camp. In light of the recent events, Chiron sends Percy to the Oracle to hear the prophesy of the (...)

literary

YEAR: 2009

COUNTRY: United States of America

TAGS: Achilles Cyclops / Cyclopes Monsters Olympians Patroclus Pegasus Theseus Titans

Gerald McDermott

Sun Flight

In contrast to other retellings, which contextualise the story of Daedalus within the Cretan mythic cycle, Sun flight begins at the point at which Daedalus has completed the construction of Minos’ palace, with the labyrinth below it ‘to hide the horrible monsters of King Minos’ (no page numbers). The labyrinth is represented by a repeating pattern of Greek square spirals in shades of blue and purple, which contrasts with the warm colours of the palace buildings above, which res(...)

literary

YEAR: 1980

COUNTRY: United States of America

TAGS: Crete Daedalus Icarus Labyrinth Minos Minotaur Monsters

Daniel de Latour, Michał Rusinek

The Book of Monsters [Księga Potworów]

This bestiary is full of diverse creatures. Each page displays its own monster drawn on the entire available space, with a small reference poem about the creature. Every beast is presented as having some kind of vice which makes it look more interesting for the young reader but it also shows the monsters as rather adorable than frightening. There are monsters from Greek mythology, like Chimera, Cerberus, sirens, harpies but also see some other creatures, such as dragons or ogres. The author play(...)

literary

YEAR: 2016

COUNTRY: Poland

TAGS: Centaur(s) Cerberus Harpies Monsters Sirens

Alice Werner

The Swallowing Monster

The summary refers to the legend Khodumodumo, or Kammapa, a version of the Swallowing Monster myth according to the Basuto people (pp. 208-209)*.The swallowing monster is a South African myth that tells the story of a huge amorphous monster called Khodumodumo or Kammapa**, that swallows a whole village and is killed by a heroic little boy. According to the myth, the monster appeared in numerous villages and swallowed everything and everyone that stood in its way: cattle, goats, fowls and humans.(...)

african

YEAR: 1933

COUNTRY: United Kingdom

TAGS: African Mythologies African Storytelling African Traditions Monsters