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Mythology & Folklore Resources

Traditional stories and legends that are passed both orally and in written form among a culture or people.

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Resources in this category are:

About.Com: Urban Legends and Folklore

http://urbanlegends.about.com/

A reference resource about urban legends and folklore. Read about the history of urban legends, read legends, and find out which ones are true. Includes many categories of legends, including computer and Internet-related hoaxes.

Author: David Emery (urbanlegends.guide@about.com)

Subjects:

Social Sciences--Customs, Etiquette, Folklore--Mythology & Folklore

Keywords: Urban myth; Urban legend

Aesop's Fables

http://www.pacificnet.net/~johnr/aesop/

"This online version of Aesop's Fables includes the full public domain texts - 655+ Fables, in Html format, indexed in Table format with morals listed." Illustrated, and eight available in sound files.

Author: John R. Long (johnr@pacificnet.net)

Subjects:

Social Sciences--Customs, Etiquette, Folklore--Mythology & Folklore

Keywords: Fables; Electronic Texts; Fairy Tales; Hans Christian Andersen

AFU & Urban Legends Archive

http://www.urbanlegends.com/

The AFU (alt.folklore.urban) and Urban Legend database is an archive of modern tales, from stolen organs to the $250 Neiman Marcus cookie recipe--that have been popularized through word of mouth. While the truth and validity of these stories is often in question, they usually contain some sort of moral that adds to their entertainment value. Legends are organized by topic.  

Author: Jason R. Heimbaugh (jrh@uillinois.edu)

Subjects:

Social Sciences--Customs, Etiquette, Folklore--Mythology & Folklore

Keywords: Urban myth; Urban legend

American Folk

http://www.americanfolk.com/

Resource devoted to the topic of American pop culture. Searchable site includes features, a directory of related sites, and an online catalog of books.

Author: American Folk (submit@americanfolk.com)

Subjects:

Arts & Humanities--Culture--Pop Culture

Social Sciences--Customs, Etiquette, Folklore--Mythology & Folklore

Keywords: Pop Culture; Folklife; Folk Art

The Assyro-Babylonian Mythology FAQ

http://pubpages.unh.edu/~cbsiren/assyrbabyl-faq.html

Details the gods and heroes of Assyrian and Babylonian mythology, including the older gods, the Anunnaki and Igigi, the cthonic gods, and the monsters. Also touches on the relationship between the Babylonian and Sumerian dieties.

Author: Christopher B. Siren (cbsiren@hopper.unh.edu)

Subjects:

Social Sciences--Customs, Etiquette, Folklore--Mythology & Folklore

Keywords: gods; heroes; monsters; Assyrian; Babylonian

Bloomsbury Magazine Research Centre

http://www.bloomsburymagazine.com/ARC/Arc_home.asp

The Bloomsbury Research Centre is a free online database of reference books (that Bloomsbury publishes) with over 17,000 entries. Resources include the Dictionary of English Literature,Biographical Quotations, Bloomsbury ThematicQuotations, Myth, the Good Word Guide, the Guide to Art, a thesaurus, and the Guide To Human Thought 
Searching is through a simple keyword box. Results arelisted in pages of twenty with an excerpt of the entryfound, source, and a link to the complete entry. Searchterms in the complete entry are highlighted in red.

Author: Bloomsbury Magazine

Subjects:

Arts & Humanities

Reference

Social Sciences--Customs, Etiquette, Folklore--Mythology & Folklore

Keywords: Literature

The Book of Gods, Goddesses, Heroes and Other Characters of Mythology

http://www.cybercomm.net/~grandpa/gdsindex.html

"An introduction to various mythologies of the world, with over 1200 characters introduced. Also includes myths and folklore of the world. Has an images section also." Includes a bibliography and an alphabetical index to all characters.

Author: PJCriss (grandpa@raven.cybercomm.net)

Subjects:

Social Sciences--Customs, Etiquette, Folklore--Mythology & Folklore

Diccionario de Mitos y Leyendas

http://www.cuco.com.ar/

A dictionary of myths and folkloric tales from the Dominican Republic and various countries and cultures in South America.

Author: Margarita Barretto et al. and NAyA

Subjects:

Social Sciences--Ethnicity, Culture, and Race--Latin American/Hispanic

Social Sciences--Customs, Etiquette, Folklore--Mythology & Folklore

Keywords: South America; Stories; Legends

Dictionary of Phrase and Fable

http://www.bibliomania.com/Reference/PhraseAndFable/

"This classic work of reference - described as a browser's joy - has been in popular demand since 1870. The Dictionary is extensively cross referenced, lending itself ideally, to the hypertext environment. This First Hypertext Edition is taken from Dr. Brewer's substantially revised and extended edition of 1894."

Author: E. Cobham Brewer

Subjects:

Reference--Dictionaries--English

Social Sciences--Customs, Etiquette, Folklore--Mythology & Folklore

Encyclopedia Mythica

http://www.pantheon.org/mythica/

"This is an encyclopedia on mythology, folklore, mysticism, and more. It contains hundreds of definitions of gods and goddesses, supernatural beings and legendary creatures and monsters from all over the world." Mythologies covered include Chinese, Greek, Latvian, Norse, Persian and Roman. Entries are browsable and searchable.

Author: M.F. Lindemans (mythica@pantheon.org)

Subjects:

Social Sciences--Customs, Etiquette, Folklore--Mythology & Folklore

Keywords: Encyclopedia

An Etymological Dictionary of Classical Mythology

http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Troy/1664/

Library and Information Services graduate Beth Wallis offers this as her site's mission: "Welcome to my home, a site dedicated to the study of word origins. Specifically, I am focusing on those English words whose origins reach far back into Ancient Greek and Roman mythology." Items can be browsed alphabetically. Wallis also provides themed lists that show how mythology influenced terms used in astronomy, calendars, popular culture, and more.

Author: Beth Wallis (ewallis@rocketmail.com)

Subjects:

Reference--Dictionaries--English

Social Sciences--Customs, Etiquette, Folklore--Mythology & Folklore

Folklore and Mythology Electronic Texts

http://www.pitt.edu/~dash/folktexts.html

Resource providing links to mythology texts. Arranged aphabetically, users can browse everything from popular fairytales to Russian ghost stories.

Author: D. L. Ashliman (dash@vms.cis.pitt.edu)

Subjects:

Arts & Humanities--Literature--Online Texts

Social Sciences--Customs, Etiquette, Folklore--Mythology & Folklore

Legends

http://www.legends.dm.net/

A collection of resources--including commentary and criticism--on the net for various legends, such as Beowulf or Robin Hood. The text of some stories and legends are also available.

Author: Paula Katherine Marmor (pkm@dm.net)

Subjects:

Social Sciences--Customs, Etiquette, Folklore--Mythology & Folklore

Keywords: Shakespeare; King Arthur; Robin Hood; fairy tales; Beowulf; ballads; literature

Myths and Legends

http://pubpages.unh.edu/~cbsiren/myth.html

"Myths and Legends contains scores of links to, and reviews of, mythology and legend-related sites. These are organized by culture. This page also serves as the home for the Sumerian, Assyro-Babylonian, and Canaanite Mythology FAQ's."

Author: Christopher B. Siren (cbsiren@hopper.unh.edu)

Subjects:

Social Sciences--Customs, Etiquette, Folklore--Mythology & Folklore

Keywords: Legends

The Realist Wonder Society

http://www.bonus.com/bonus/card/realistwonder.bottom.html

The Realist Wonder Society calls itself: "A Whistle-Stop of Imagination Between Way Stations of Reality," and its claim is confirmed by a marvelous collection of fairy tales and fables, fantastic art, and discussion of fantastic films. The emphasis is on fairy tale-related materials. The site is worth visiting if only for its inventive and beautiful design.

Author: Chuck Duffie (nakamura@rrnet.com)

Subjects:

Arts & Humanities--Fine Arts--Visual Arts--Drawing

Arts & Humanities--Literature--Online Texts

Social Sciences--Customs, Etiquette, Folklore--Mythology & Folklore

Keywords: fables; art; film; wonder; fairy tales; screenplays

Saint George in English History

http://www.angelfire.com/mi/resumeandarticles/

"Use the database to see the impact of the figure of St. George on English chivalry, literature and art. Learn about research into the origins of the saint - he really did exist. Find a wide range of books, pre-classified for you. Follow links to pursue your interest in English history and culture."

Author: Michael Collins

Subjects:

Arts & Humanities--History--Europe--Middle Ages (Medieval)

Social Sciences--Customs, Etiquette, Folklore--Mythology & Folklore

Keywords: St. George; England; Great Britain; Patron saint

Sumerian Mythology FAQ

http://pubpages.unh.edu/~cbsiren/sumer-faq.html

Discusses the Sumerian cosmology and deities, and touches upon the parallels between Biblical and Sumerian literature.

Author: Christopher B. Siren (cbsiren@hopper.unh.edu)

Subjects:

Social Sciences--Customs, Etiquette, Folklore--Mythology & Folklore

Keywords: gods; Sumerian

Superstitions

http://www.corsinet.com/trivia/scary.html

This page lists and describes many common superstitions alphabetically by object/subject. Contains separate sections for death superstitions and wedding superstitions.

Author:

Subjects:

Social Sciences--Customs, Etiquette, Folklore--Mythology & Folklore

Keywords: Superstitions

SurLaLune Fairy Tale Pages

http://members.aol.com/surlalune/frytales/

This is a site dedicated to the study of fairy tales and folklore, from "Beauty and the Beast" to "Puss in Boots." It includes annotated stories, the history of each story and cross cultural tales.

Author: Heidi Anne Heiner

Subjects:

Social Sciences--Customs, Etiquette, Folklore--Mythology & Folklore

Keywords: fairy tale; folklore; legends; beauty and the beast; bluebeard; cinderella; frog king; goose girl; hansel and gretel; jack and the beanstalk; little red riding hood; puss in boots; rapunzel; rumpelstiltzkin; sleeping beauty; snow white; seven dwarfs; twelve dancing princesses

Urban Legends Reference Pages

http://www.snopes.com/

A frequently updated database of popular myths and stories. Legends are listed by category, but the site is also searchable. Each legend is rated on its truthfulness.

Author: Barbara and David P. Mikkelson

Subjects:

Entertainment & Leisure

Social Sciences--Customs, Etiquette, Folklore--Mythology & Folklore

Keywords: Urban Legend; Urban Myth

UrbanMyths.Com

http://www.urbanmyths.com/

A collection of on- and offline urban legends, organized by subject.

Author:

Subjects:

Social Sciences--Customs, Etiquette, Folklore--Mythology & Folklore

Keywords: Urban Legends

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