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

COUNTRY: United Kingdom

TAGS: Gods Greek theatre Greek vases Heroes Life in Ancient Greece Monsters Olympic Games

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

Kendare Blake

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

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

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: Goddess 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: Hero Heroism Monsters Mythology

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: Classical myth Greek mythology Minoan Minoan civilization Minotaur Mintotaur’s Labyrinth Monsters Mythical creatures Popularisation of mythology

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: Greek mythology Greek playwrights Heroes Heroines Homer Monsters Olympians Roman mythology 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

COUNTRY: United Kingdom

TAGS: Gods Golden Fleece Hades Heracles / Herakles Heroes Jason Monsters Mythology 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: Kings Monsters Mythology

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: Ahuizotl Airavata Creatures Cyclops / Cyclopes Greek mythology Monsters Qilin

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 Charybdis Hector Homer Iliad Mermaids Metamorphosis Monsters Odysseus/ Ulysses Odyssey Ovid Ovid Metamorphoses Plato Plato's cave Sappho Scylla Selkies 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 Centaurs Cerberus Charon Chimaera Chimera Delphic Oracle Dionysus Echidna Furies Hades Heroic itinerary Iris Katabasis Kronos / Cronus / Cronos Land of the Lotus Eaters Lotus-eater Medusa Minotaur Monsters Nereid Olympus Pan Perseus Poseidon Procrustes Satyr 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

YEAR: 2006

COUNTRY: United States of America

TAGS: Argonautica Argonauts Greek Gods Greek mythology Hero Hero’s journey Monsters Mortal/Immortal Odyssey See 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 Daedalus Greek mythology Hekatoncheires Hephaestus Hera Heroic itinerary Janus Kampe Monsters Telkine 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

COUNTRY: United States of America

TAGS: Chthonic Deities Greek mythology Heroic itinerary 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

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

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: Centaurs Cerberus Harpies Monsters Sirens