When and where did you learn about Greek/roman and others mythology?

[Micah Sweet]

Heh. Clash of the Titans is (coincidentally) on right now. My dog has seen a dog on TV and is transfixed!

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Clash of the Titans was the first movie I showed to my future wife shortly after we met. It's always been very special to me.

 

[Zeromaru X]

But what about you fellow forum users?

In elementary school they teached us the basics: Greco-Roman (the one that got most "coverage"), Egyptian, Norse and pre-Columbian mythologies (mostly Aztec, Mayan, Incan and then Muiscan, that's the local one in my region). But it was pretty basic. A list of gods, their relationship and a few myths. And then, obviously the "religion" assignature, in which they teached us Christian mythology and old Mesopotamian and Egyptian stuff from the Bible.

This sparked my interest, however, so I researched in the school's library, and later in the city's public library when I was a bit older (like 12 - 13). Then, there's stuff like Saint Seiya, Hercules the Legendary Journeys, Xena, and so on.

 

[Greg K]

I think I first heard of Hercules from an old 70s cartoon, The Mighty Hercules and, about the same time, I read a paperback comic style illustrated book of the Odyssey.

Later, in junior high, my 7th grade English teacher read stories about Green mythology and introduced us to Bulfinch's Mythology and a book by Edith Hamilton. This was about the same timeI discovered Holmes D&D and AD&D 1e and, a year later, Clash of the Titans (which drove me crazy despite enjoying the film).

Finally, in college, I took courses in Art History (with books by Gardner and others), Cultural Anthrpology, and a History course on ancient civiizations to the Middle Ages- all included lectures on Greek Myth. One of the anthropology courses included lectures on women warriors which led me to do a research paper on warrior women that included a section on the Greek Amazons and the role their stories played in Greek society.

 

[Ryujin]

I think I first heard of Hercules from an old 70s cartoon, The Mighty Hercules and, about the same time, I read a paperback comic style illustrated book of the Odyssey.

Later, in junior high, my 7th grade English teacher read stories about Green mythology and introduced us to Bulfinch's Mythology and a book by Edith Hamilton. This was about the same timeI discovered Holmes D&D and AD&D 1e and, a year later, Clash of the Titans (which drove me crazy despite enjoying the film).

Finally, in college, I took courses in Art History (with books by Gardner and others), Cultural Anthrpology, and a History course on ancient civiizations to the Middle Ages- all included lectures on Greek Myth. One of the anthropology courses included lectures on women warriors which led me to do a research paper on warrior women that included a section on the Greek Amazons and the role their stories played in Greek society.

This might shock you a little, but "the Mighty Hercules" is roughly the same age as me. It was first aired in 1963, though I didn't see it until some time in the late '70s.

 

[Greg K]

This might shock you a little, but "the Mighty Hercules" is roughly the same age as me. It was first aired in 1963, though I didn't see it until some time in the late '70s.

I first saw it in the '70s as well. I think it aired before I had to leave for school.

 

[Arnie_Wan_Kenobi]

My dad is an amateur stargazer, so I came to classical Greek via that, then next to my assigned seat in our library class was the mythology shelf, so after I read the Greek/Roman book that was at eye level when I turned my head, I read the Norse one, and then started in on folktales. I remember I swiped a copy of Bullfinch from the book room in high school.

 

[Thomas Shey]

Started in school (back in the 60's and 70's) and then got more in my college days during some anthropology classes.

 

[cbwjm]

When i was growing and in school, we got told the tall tales of the old west Paul Bunyan and his big blue ox, but it wasn't till high school senior year (2004) that we did Beowulf.

Whereas I heard about Beowulf as a kid, but only learned about Paul Bunyan when we published Mythological Figures & Maleficent Monsters a few years ago, and Mike Myler (the primary writer) included him. If we hadn't published that book, I still wouldn't have heard of him to this day. That is definitely a local mythological feature.

I think living in NZ we are in a somewhat unique position, because we receive so much media from both UK and USA, it meant that we came across various European folklore and mythology but also American. I think I learned about Paul Bunyan as a kid, and a bunch of other mythological characters from the days of the European settlers. Could really tell you anything about them now though.

Though I should note that this was in the 80s, no idea what it's like now and would not be surprised in most NZers born in the last couple decades have no idea who they are.

 

[SableWyvern]

I read the Iliad because of Manowar.

 

[Tonguez]

Whereas I heard about Beowulf as a kid, but only learned about Paul Bunyan when we published Mythological Figures & Maleficent Monsters a few years ago, and Mike Myler (the primary writer) included him. If we hadn't published that book, I still wouldn't have heard of him to this day. That is definitely a local mythological feature.

Disney did shorts featuring Paul Bunyan, John Henry and Pecos Bill in the 1950's. Alongside their adaptions of Robin Hood, King Arthur and "Mickey and the Beanstalk".
After thinking about it I think a lot of my early exposure to these tales may have been via Disney.

Its interesting to see what the different exposures different people have. Also I've got an entire degree in Mythology so I'm probably I bit more focussed on this subject than most.