A large chunk of ancient literature is Mythology, or “other people’s religion,” according to Joseph Campbell. While most of these religions are no longer practiced, some still are, and they need to be handled with the same respect you would want others to give to your religion. Given the challenge of giving proper respect to the beliefs of others, some families may wish to wait until they feel like their children have a solid foundation in their own religion (approximately age 15). That said, it is still considered necessary to study mythology as it has played a significant role in the development of modern world culture and is necessary for a college-prep education. Given all of this, it is important for you, as the parent, to consider carefully how and when you choose to expose your children to Mythology.
Tanakh/Early Ancient
| Picture Books A Story A Story by Gail Haley Lugalbanda by Kathy Henderson The Gilgamesh Trilogy: Gilgamesh the King by Ludmila Zeman The Gilgamesh Trilogy: The Revenge of Ishtar by Ludmila Zeman The Gilgamesh Trilogy: The Last Quest of Gilgamesh by Ludmila Zeman Egyptian Myths by Jacqueline Morley D’Aulaires’ Book of Greek Myths The Pot of Wisdom: Ananse stories Ramayana: Divine Loophole by Sanjay Patel Chapter Books Mythology by Edith Hamilton Gilgamesh the Hero by Geraldine McCaughrean Tales of Ancient Egypt by Roger Green Black Ships Before Troy: The Story of ‘The Iliad’ by Rosemary Sutcliff The Wanderings of Odysseus: The Story of the Odyssey by R. Sutcliff West African Folk-Tales (Yesterday’s Classics) by W.H. Barker Ramayana: An Illustrated Retelling by Arshia Sattar Treasury of Chinese Folk Tales by Shelly Fu Original Sources The Power of Myth by Joseph Campbell Myths from Mesopotamia translated by Stephanie Dalley The Egyptian Book of the Dead translated by E.A. Wallis Budge The Iliad translated by Robert Fagles The Odyssey translated by E.V. Rieu Greek Tragedies 1 translated by David Grene Ramayana translated by Arshia Sattar Note: There are no original sources available for African and Chinese Mythology as our knowledge of them is based solely on later recordings of oral tradition; therefore, there are no recommendations of these for this level. |
Talmud/Late Ancient
| Picture Books The Storyteller by Evan Turk Roman Mythology by Evelyn Wolfson The Ballad of Mulan by Song Nan Zhang Heroes, Gods and Monsters of Celtic Mythology by Fiona Macdonald Chapter Books The Age of Fable by Thomas Bullfinch In Search of a Homeland by Penelope Lively Shapeshifters by Adrian Mitchell* The White Stag by Kate Seredy Mulan: The Legend of the Woman Warrior translated by Faye-Lynn Wu Tales from the Mabinogion by Gwyn Thomas Celtic Mythology by Philip Freeman* Original Sources The Power of Myth by Joseph Campbell The Aeneid translated by Robert Fagles Metamorphoses translated by A.D. Melville* Mulan translated by Shiamin Kwa and Wilt L. Idema The Mabinogion translated by Sioned Davies* Ancient Irish Tales by Tom Peete Cross* Note: There are no original sources available for Hungarian mythology as our knowledge of them is based solely on later recordings of oral tradition; therefore, there are no recommendations for this level. *These books are still being reviewed. Parental guidance is advised at this time. |