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Great Mythologies of the World
- Narrated by: Grant L. Voth, Julius H. Bailey, Kathryn McClymond, Robert André LaFleur
- Length: 31 hrs and 36 mins
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Summary
The deep-seated origins and wide-reaching lessons of ancient myths built the foundation for our modern legacies. Explore the mythologies of Europe, the Americas, Asia, Africa, and the Middle East. Learn what makes these stories so important, distinctive, and able to withstand the test of time. Discover how, despite geographical implausibilities, many myths from across the oceans share themes, morals, and archetypes.
PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying reference material will be available in your Library section along with the audio.More from the same
What listeners say about Great Mythologies of the World
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- Mark
- 15-08-16
Worth Getting if You're Interested in Mythology
What did you like most about Great Mythologies of the World?
This audiobook is a great overview of world mythology. It contains lectures (of around 30-40 minutes long) on mythology from Greece, Rome, The Norse, The Bible, Egypt, Celtic Ireland, The Middle East, The Far East, Africa and The Americas.
Prior to this course I knew very little about mythology. I am keen to learn more about mythology and religion at the moment because I want to increase my mythological and religious literacy so that I am better placed to appreciate some of the great works of world literature. I have learnt much from this course. I particularly enjoyed learning about Western mythology because I mostly read Western Literature. I also enjoyed learning about the similarities and differences between one culture and another.
I have listened to 30ish different courses from The Great Courses now, and my favorite courses multiple times. I don't like to be a hater but the lecturer on African Mythology really seemed out of his depth (I honestly wondered if he was standing in for someone else). The other professors spoke confidently, as though they were talking to a group without any notes, yet still managing to be methodical and enthralling. Professor Bailey was obviously reading word for word from a script. He constantly got words mixed up and his regular mid-clause pauses were very off-putting.
Additionally, the structure of the African lectures was poor; whereas the other professors expanded of the myths by giving historical, political and cultural contexts and exploring the possible interpretations and the implications of the myths, Professor Bailey seemed to change the subject every 2 minutes, seemingly hellbent on getting through all of the African Myths ever created with far too little time for building the context, interpretation, and the impact the myth had on the various cultures of Africa. Consequently, after the third or forth lecture from him, I had to hop over to The Far East.
I still got about a days worth of good lectures, and overall I am happy with that. If you want to learn more about the various heroes, ancient gods and how the various ancient peoples of the world came up with explanations for the big questions then this is for you.
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21 people found this helpful
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- s. vandemeulebroucke
- 07-02-18
Let’s you down towards the end
Any additional comments?
The content is very interesting, although some myths get more attention with context (past and present) from the writers. However, when it gets to the series on African myths the whole thing becomes quite painful to listen and one’s perseverance is put to the test. Which is a shame as I’m very interested in the subject. The narration is an abomination and quite frankly I don’t understand why they just didn’t record those bits again. Not only the narrator’s story telling is monotonous and monotone (funny when delivery a topic which relies on story telling!) but he literally shambles all the way through. The listener then starts to anticipate the next time the narrator will drip over and stops paying attention to the story. As soon as one relaxes into it again, he trips again. Why didn’t the producer just have him read again with more fluidity? I’m so disappointed...
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16 people found this helpful
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- Joe
- 06-05-20
Not really what it says on the tin
Very interesting from a philosophical point of view, but really it should be called "condensed mythologies and a philosophical interruption of"
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5 people found this helpful
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- Celia
- 04-01-16
Interesting subject, too much popular culture
What did you like most about Great Mythologies of the World?
The best part about this course is that it covers a very wide range of mythology, and if gives you the chance to see connections between all these different areas and times yourself. I also like how they don't try to push aspects of myths into standard categories, instead they give open look into myth.
Who might you have cast as narrator instead of the narrators?
The musical introduction part between the different chapters is very annoying, and enormously sensational. I really can't see why this is necessary, as it doesn't suit the rest of the content. Another reason why I didn't like the way in which the information is brought to you, is the connections made to popular culture. It felt childish, and as someone who doesn't really like the whole celebrity culture, I often didn't even know what they were talking about. Perhaps this is good for young children, but not for young adults and adults. Also the tone of speaking is quite childish, but perhaps I saw the great courses wrongly as meant for adults.
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4 people found this helpful
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- romeo2u2001
- 17-02-20
An interesting retelling of history, culture and myth
I really enjoyed the narration from each of the lecturers who really paint a vivid picture of how rich and important story telling is to all cultures around the world.
I feel that even though it really is informative and diverse, I still feel that some really important mythology was left out. That of the Central Asians, Mongolians, Slavs and Siberians are the ones most noticeably missing and I really was looking forward to retelling of these. Nonetheless, what we are given is extremely detailed and engaging. I thoroughly enjoyed the experience.
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3 people found this helpful
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- RachelRay
- 11-08-20
Really entertaining and educational.
Great entertaining reader/lecturer. One criticism though, re. Irish mythology, It's pronounced Coo-CULL-aan. (Sorry but that was painful on the ears 😂)
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2 people found this helpful
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- Guðrún Pétursdóttir
- 08-03-19
Recommend it for anyone curious about mythology.
Loved it although it is only a introduction to world mythology it is a good jumping of point into further studies or just for someone wanting to learn about mythology beyond the Greek and Roman. A part I wished had been a bit shorter and more emphasis put on other European myths such as the Sàmi culture and their myths or more about the Celts. Another thing there is not enough about the middle and southern America myths, lumping them together in one part might have been a mistake.
But the professors are knowledgeable about their subjects and all of them great storytellers which is crucial for this type of lectures. I only wished they were longer. And because there are a few them there is bit of a repetition about what myth is and it's function, but that might not be such a bad thing.
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2 people found this helpful
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- Roxana
- 17-02-18
not well prepared
if you don't know the stories already it is hard to follow. not really worth it and the lecturers prepared their presentations assuming I had a booklet with all that info and I had general knowledge of everything they say
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2 people found this helpful
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- Amazon Customer
- 15-02-17
some sections are better th an others
I found some sections were just stories with little context. Other sections were excellent, but the bad were very poor, hence the rating.
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2 people found this helpful
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- Clay Baker
- 09-02-17
Great
But sometimes wish it would go into more detail about some of the myths, or tell them fuller. Some of the myths were amazing!
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2 people found this helpful