Review: Mythology - The Illustrated Anthology of World Myth and Storytelling by C. Scott Littleton

Product Summary

Myths are magic mirrors in which we can see the reflection of not just our own deepest hopes and fears but also those of people form the earliest times. Lying at the roots of much of our literature, art, and religion, myths represent the heritage of the world's imagination.

Mythology is a comprehensive, illustrated anthology of more than 300 myths from around the world which have shaped humankind's collective experience. It retells the stories in a modern, accessible style, bringing the exploits of gods, goddesses, demons, monsters, heroes, and heroines vividly to life.

Mythology features more than 700 full-colour illustrations, including photographs of artifacts and ancient sites, as well as imaginative artworks recreating some of the most significant episodes from the stories.

First Impressions

I've hoarded this book for more than half a decade, reticent to share it with others. Today--in an uncommon display of kindness--I've decided to break free of my selfishness and introduce you to C. Scott Littleton's Mythology: The Illustrated Anthology of World Myth and Storytelling.

There's no other way to put this--hands down, this is the best overview of world mythology I have ever encountered.

Spanning nearly 700 pages, it is a mammoth of an encyclopedia. The text is descriptive, entertaining and carefully edited, making for a light yet informative read. The book is absolutely packed with hundreds of relevant, full colour photographs spanning many aspects of cultural, mythological and archaeological diversity. There are paintings and murals, statues and pottery, woodwork and engravings, weaponry and armour, gems and jewelry, scrolls and other ancient documents--in other words there is no shortage of pretty things to gawk at.

Unlike inferior compilations, Littleton recognizes that there is more to mythology than the Greeks and the Egyptians. As such, the book is divided among thirteen distinct categories, topically sorted under one of the following labels:

- Egypt's Divine Kingship
- Ancient Mesopotamia
- The Glories of Greece and Rome
- Celtic Deities and Heroes
- Sagas of the Norsemen
- India's Eternal Cycle
- China's Heavenly Mandate
- Japan's Realm of the Rising Sun
- North America's Mother Earth, Father Sky
- Mesoamerica's Gods of Sun and Sacrifice
- South American Kingdoms of Gold
- The Ancestral Voices of Africa
- The Unseen Worlds of Australasia

My only criticism of this anthology is that the editor carefully avoids stepping on the toes of any Abrahamic religion, despite overwhelming and undeniable evidence of their mythological influence. For example, look no further than how the Mesopotamian Epic of Gilgamesh largely shaped the story of Noah's Ark, or the multitude of dying & rising gods that parallel the more legendary accounts of Christ within the New Testament gospels. That being said, I can understand the hesitation of putting out a book that infers that Christianity emerged in a similar fashion as that of Mithras or Isis, or to suggest that certain "historical accounts" may actually be more narrative than history. Fair enough.

Final Thoughts

Mythology: The Illustrated Anthology of World Myth and Storytelling is an impressive academic achievement that serves as an invaluable resource for the student, the artist and the curious. While this anthology by no means encompasses the totality of any one of the subjects, it is without a doubt an essential overview for anyone interested in mythology the world over.