/lit/ - Literature

[Anonymous No.11471782]

What are some good books that describe ancient european gods and the meanings of myths, along with how they influenced ancient european culture? I find a lot of these books use all kinds of weird names too much and become hard to follow, or assume you already know a bunch about mythology and go too deep into stuff. I want some good intro books that encompass the myths, their meanings, and their cultural impact back in the day.

[Anonymous No.11471839]

Start with the Greeks, then read Indoeropean Poetry and Myth by West, Greek Religion by Burkert, Religions of Rome by Beard et al.
Go to http://www.theoi.com/ whenever you're lost.

[Anonymous No.11472801]

>>11471839
>Beard
hahahahahahahahahahahahaha

[Anonymous No.11472810]

[Anonymous No.11472821]

>>11471782
check out Roberto Calasso's the Weddings of Cadmus and Harmony

[a_poor_sinner !!eiHxl4pZe1i No.11472830]

>>11471782
Burkert's Greek Religion
Campbell's Primitive Mythology & Occidental Mythology (pic)
Grave's The Greek Myths (you can ignore his white goddess rambling)
Bulfinch
Edith Hamilton

[Anonymous No.11472854]

>>11472810
>>11472821
based

[Anonymous No.11472997]

>>11471782
legends of the stars by patrick moore
explains the origins of the names of constellations and the myths behind them
i loved it when i was a kid. still do

[Anonymous No.11472998]

>>11471782
start and end with the Upanishads desu

[Anonymous No.11474143]

>>11471782
Read Calasso first, then pictured, then Burkert. Each very different but in my opinion the three best. Youll very much enjoy reading them.