Best of the Web: Arts & Humanities » Mythology & Folklore

From the English translation: H.P. Paull (1872).

Searchable and browsable versions of Aesop's Fables in various languages.

"On this Website you will find not only an introduction to the activities of the American Folklife Center and its Archive of Folk Culture but also news about programs and activities, online presentations of multiformat collections, and other resources to facilitate folklife projects and study. The American Folklife Center aims to be the national center for folklife documentation and research, and this Website offers a virtual destination for those who cannot visit the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C."

Founded in 1888, the American Folklore Society serves to stimulate interest and research in all aspects of the study of folklore and folklife. The Society exists to further the discipline of folklore studies, to improve the professional well-being of itsmembers, and to increase the respect given to diverse cultures and their traditions.

Bibliographic entries are included for Papua New Guinea, ex-Irian Jaya (Papua Province of Indonesia), Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, and New Caledonia.

Online version divided into the Age of Fable, or Stories of Gods and Heroes the Age of Chivalry, or Legends of King Arthur Legends of Charlemagne, or Romance of the Middle Ages.

Arthurian texts, images, bibliographies, and basic information.

"This site is designed to draw together the ancient texts and images available on the Web concerning the major figures of Greek and Roman mythology. We were most interested in bringing together the ancient sources and illustrations, but have included some Renaissance images that were just too good to leave out. The site is primarily intended for the use of Greek and Roman Mythology students at the University of Victoria, but feel free to look around!"

Site of an art exhibit covering the religion and mythology of the Yoruba people, a culture primarily from southwestern Nigeria and Benin.

"This is an encyclopedia on mythology, folklore, legends, and more. It contains over 6000 definitions of gods and goddesses, supernatural beings and legendary creatures and monsters from all over the world. . . . The Encyclopedia Mythica has been on-line since May 15, 1995."

A searchable encyclopedia of Celtic literature including the legends, mythology, tales, and history of this ancient culture. This is an online version of the published book.

English Fairy Tales, retold by Flora Annie Steel, original edition copyright by The Macmillan Company, 1918, this edition printed in 1962 by The Macmillan Company.

Companion to a documentary film which "explores the magical 'otherworld' of fairies. Visit the places fairies live and meet some of the people who have seen and believe in them."

"The mission of Folkstreams.net is to build a national preserve of documentary films about American folk or roots culture. Produced by independent filmmakers, these hard-to-find films give voice to the arts and experience of diverse American groups. They are streamed on the website together with background materials that highlight the history and aesthetic importance of the traditions and the films."

An on-line book which "describes the religious beliefs and practices of an agricultural village of Southern Taiwan in the middle 1960s."

A "collection of myths retold by Carlos Parada, author of Genealogical Guide to Greek Mythology. . . The GML contains Texts, Images, Tables and Maps. The mythical accounts are based exclusively on ancient sources."

From the English translation: H.P. Paull (1872).

Features mythological stories, folktales, and legends.

Digitized version of the Folklore and Folk Music Archivist journal.

Site explores legends such as Robin Hood, King Arthur, Beowulf, etc.

"Ghost stories and strange folktales of the American South."

A collection of links organized by region and language group.

"The New York Folklore Society recognizes and celebrates the extraordinary in everyday life, bringing focus to the traditions of our states diverse peoples. NYFS is the leading resource for folklore and folklife by disseminating research and information throughout the state."

Provides search access to five major "debunking" sites. Useful in checking the truth in rumors, fraud, hoaxes, urban legends.

Images of books and manuscripts published before 1901. "The material will consist of the entire range of Icelandic family sagas. It will also include a very large portion of Germanic/Nordic mythology (the Eddas), the history of Norwegian kings, contemporary sagas and tales from the European age of chivalry. A great number of manuscripts contain Icelandic ballads, poetry or epigrams. These Collections are kept in The National and University Library of Iceland, The Arni Magnusson Institute in Iceland and in the Fiske Icelandic Collection at Cornell University. All manuscripts, on vellum and paper, and printed editions and translations of the Sagas as well as relevant critical studies published before 1900 will be included and available through the Internet."

Site features a hypertext version of "Snow White" which can connect to 36 alternative editions a series of illustrations excerpts on the context of fairy tales and issues in their study selected links and a bibliography.

A portal to the realm of fairy tale and folklore studies featuring annotated fairy tales. Includes the tales, their histories, similar tales from other cultures, bibliographies, and other materials.

Sir James George Frazer's "monumental study in comparative folklore, magic and religion, The Golden Bough shows parallels between the rites and beliefs, superstitions and taboos of early cultures and those of Christianity. It had a great impact on psychology and literature and remains an early classic anthropological resource."

Gallery of digital images.