An Introduction to Comparative Mythology

Author(s): Jennifer Taylor

Edition: 3

Copyright: 2020

Pages: 286

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ISBN 9781792420962

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Many scholars in the last few centuries have developed theories concerning myths and their purposes.

An Introduction to Comparative Mythology focuses on what is universal among myths while at the same time honoring the local expressions of universal themes. It incorporates myths from cultures from all over the world. The publication uses myth not as a lie or untruth. Instead, it refers to something metaphorical, a higher Truth and not one that needs to be believed literally. Since myths are very much a part of culture and often of religion, you will find myths from still living traditions from around the world included in this book. In addition, it provides four functions of myths that provide a lens by which we may better view myths.

Dedication

Chapter 1 Introduction to Comparative Mythology
i. Joseph Campbell’s Four Functions of Myth

Chapter 2 Creation: The Beginning of All Things
i. Types of Creation Myths
ii. Egyptian Creation: Heliopolis
iii. Mesopotamian Creation
iv. Hebrew Creation
v. Jewish Midrash
vi. Greek Creation
vii. Japanese Creation
viii. Chinese Creation
ix. Indian Creation
x. African Creation
xi. Norse Creation
xii. Cherokee Creation
xiii. Study Questions for Chapter 2

Chapter 3 Flood Myths
i. Mesopotamian Flood
ii. Hebrew Flood
iii. Greek Flood
iv. Indian Flood
v. Chinese Flood
vi. Huichol Flood in Western Mexico
vii. Lithuanian Flood
viii. Maori Flood (New Zealand)
ix. Skokomish Flood
x. Study Questions for Chapter 3

Chapter 4 Supreme Being Archetype
i. Mesopotamia: Marduk
ii. Hebrew God: Yahweh
iii. Greek: Zeus
iv. India: Brahman
v. Persian: Ahura-Mazda
vi. Catholic: The Trinity
vii. African: Olorun and Obatala
viii. Muslim: Allah
ix. Study Questions for Chapter 4

Chapter 5 The Great Goddess Archetype
i. Egypt: Nut
ii. Egypt: Isis
iii. Mesopotamia: Tiamat
iv. Mesopotamia: Inanna
v. Greece: Gaia
vi. Greece: Demeter
vii. Greece: Athena
viii. Greece: Artemis
ix. India: Devi
x. Gaelic Myth: The Morrigan
xi. Africa: Odudua and Yemaja
xii. Study Questions for Chapter 5

Chapter 6 The Dying and Rising God Archetype
i. Egyptian: Osiris
ii. Mesopotamian: Dumuzi
iii. Greek: Orphic Version of Dionysos
iv. Greek: Adonis
v. Phrygian: Attis
vi. Greek: Persephone
vii. African: Wanjiru
viii. Norse: Balder
ix. Christian: Jesus
x. Study Questions for Chapter 6

Chapter 7 Trickster Archetype
i. Greek: Hermes
ii. African: Eshu
iii. African: Anansi
iv. Norse: Loki
v. Indian: Krishna
vi. Polynesian: Maui
vii. Native American: Coyote
viii. Study Questions for Chapter 7

Chapter 8 Hero Archetype
i. The Hero Cycle of Joseph Campbell
ii. Mesopotamia: Gilgamesh
iii. Greek: Herakles
iii. Greek: Jason
iv. Indian: Rama
v. Indian: Siddhartha Gautama, the Buddha
vi. Japanese: Momotaro
vii. Hebrew Samson
viii. Anglo-Saxon: Beowulf
ix. Study Questions for Chapter 8

Index

Jennifer Taylor

Jennifer Taylor has an MA/PhD in Mythological Studies with a Depth Psychological Emphasis from Pacifica Graduate Institute in Carpinteria, California. She also has an MA in Classical Civilizations from the Florida State University and a BA in Humanities, Summa Cum Laude, from the University of Central Florida. She is passionate about teaching, the humanities, world travel, the environment, sustainability, and living in harmony with the Earth and each other. She has traveled a number of times through most of Western Europe as well as Japan, India, and Nepal.

Many scholars in the last few centuries have developed theories concerning myths and their purposes.

An Introduction to Comparative Mythology focuses on what is universal among myths while at the same time honoring the local expressions of universal themes. It incorporates myths from cultures from all over the world. The publication uses myth not as a lie or untruth. Instead, it refers to something metaphorical, a higher Truth and not one that needs to be believed literally. Since myths are very much a part of culture and often of religion, you will find myths from still living traditions from around the world included in this book. In addition, it provides four functions of myths that provide a lens by which we may better view myths.

Dedication

Chapter 1 Introduction to Comparative Mythology
i. Joseph Campbell’s Four Functions of Myth

Chapter 2 Creation: The Beginning of All Things
i. Types of Creation Myths
ii. Egyptian Creation: Heliopolis
iii. Mesopotamian Creation
iv. Hebrew Creation
v. Jewish Midrash
vi. Greek Creation
vii. Japanese Creation
viii. Chinese Creation
ix. Indian Creation
x. African Creation
xi. Norse Creation
xii. Cherokee Creation
xiii. Study Questions for Chapter 2

Chapter 3 Flood Myths
i. Mesopotamian Flood
ii. Hebrew Flood
iii. Greek Flood
iv. Indian Flood
v. Chinese Flood
vi. Huichol Flood in Western Mexico
vii. Lithuanian Flood
viii. Maori Flood (New Zealand)
ix. Skokomish Flood
x. Study Questions for Chapter 3

Chapter 4 Supreme Being Archetype
i. Mesopotamia: Marduk
ii. Hebrew God: Yahweh
iii. Greek: Zeus
iv. India: Brahman
v. Persian: Ahura-Mazda
vi. Catholic: The Trinity
vii. African: Olorun and Obatala
viii. Muslim: Allah
ix. Study Questions for Chapter 4

Chapter 5 The Great Goddess Archetype
i. Egypt: Nut
ii. Egypt: Isis
iii. Mesopotamia: Tiamat
iv. Mesopotamia: Inanna
v. Greece: Gaia
vi. Greece: Demeter
vii. Greece: Athena
viii. Greece: Artemis
ix. India: Devi
x. Gaelic Myth: The Morrigan
xi. Africa: Odudua and Yemaja
xii. Study Questions for Chapter 5

Chapter 6 The Dying and Rising God Archetype
i. Egyptian: Osiris
ii. Mesopotamian: Dumuzi
iii. Greek: Orphic Version of Dionysos
iv. Greek: Adonis
v. Phrygian: Attis
vi. Greek: Persephone
vii. African: Wanjiru
viii. Norse: Balder
ix. Christian: Jesus
x. Study Questions for Chapter 6

Chapter 7 Trickster Archetype
i. Greek: Hermes
ii. African: Eshu
iii. African: Anansi
iv. Norse: Loki
v. Indian: Krishna
vi. Polynesian: Maui
vii. Native American: Coyote
viii. Study Questions for Chapter 7

Chapter 8 Hero Archetype
i. The Hero Cycle of Joseph Campbell
ii. Mesopotamia: Gilgamesh
iii. Greek: Herakles
iii. Greek: Jason
iv. Indian: Rama
v. Indian: Siddhartha Gautama, the Buddha
vi. Japanese: Momotaro
vii. Hebrew Samson
viii. Anglo-Saxon: Beowulf
ix. Study Questions for Chapter 8

Index

Jennifer Taylor

Jennifer Taylor has an MA/PhD in Mythological Studies with a Depth Psychological Emphasis from Pacifica Graduate Institute in Carpinteria, California. She also has an MA in Classical Civilizations from the Florida State University and a BA in Humanities, Summa Cum Laude, from the University of Central Florida. She is passionate about teaching, the humanities, world travel, the environment, sustainability, and living in harmony with the Earth and each other. She has traveled a number of times through most of Western Europe as well as Japan, India, and Nepal.