What are some good books to read up on various mythologies?

[hiccupleftovers]

I've always been interested in mythology, but outside of some textbooks where they made a passing reference to them, I haven't delved too much into it. Can anyone recommend any? i'm talking about all kinds of mythologies, though more so Japanese, Norse, Greek/Roman, Irish, etc. with less to do with native American mythology.

 

[Moxio]

Check out your local libraries first and foremost.

 

[DarkSageRK]

Christian bookstores usually have a ton of this stuff.

 

[hiccupleftovers]

[quote name='Moxio']Check out your local libraries first and foremost.[/QUOTE]

Anything specifically to look out for though?

 

[crunchb3rry]

Read the Iliad and the Odyssey...for sure. Especially the Iliad.

 

[Dori-dori]

I took a course on world mythology last year, and this was one of the required textbooks:

http://product.half.ebay.com/World-Mythology_W0QQtgZinfoQQprZ50347065

It's not bad; good general information and the information it pretty concise with lots of pictures. It's not as in-depth as other books, but it is a nice starting point.

Libraries are great places since you can find the mythology section and look around there. Plus, it's free!

Wikipedia's a nice site to look into too, since the articles tend to have external links and books as citations.

Good luck!

 

[Lice]

Go to barnes and noble or borders in the "bargain books" there are usually a ton of books about mythologies. At my banres there is a mythology set that covers every major culture. they seem comprehensive and only $7 a book

 

[Aberforth]

I would suggest Ovid's Metamorphoses (not Kafka's) for Roman mythology. Here's a preview:
http://books.google.com/books?id=6NdpGHErhucC&printsec=frontcover&dq=metamorphosis+ovid

 

[MidnightRain]

Mythology by Edith Hamilton is excellent for Greek mythology. There's also a smaller section on Norse mythology at the end of the book. It's a good starting point if you haven't read Homer, Virgil, Ovid, etc.

The Power of Myth by Joseph Campbell is an interesting read as well.

 

[Stoneage]

[quote name='DarkSageRK']Christian bookstores usually have a ton of this stuff.[/QUOTE]

I knew it wouldn't take more than 3 replies for a comment such as this.