A Taste of Mythology: From Anubis to Zeus and Everyone in Between

Interested in writing captivating fiction, crafting fantastical short stories or devising compelling characters? Take inspiration from the ultimate source: ancient mythology. With tales of creation, love, death, war and unity, there’s no topic mythology hasn’t covered. 

Falling somewhere between folklore and religion, mythology is defined as “the myths dealing with the gods, demigods, and legendary heroes of a particular people.” 

In other words, the stories about Zeus’ many antics in the ancient Grecian world can all be considered individual myths. But the collection of myths concerning Zeus, Hera and all the other Greek gods, demigods and heroes can together be called Greek mythology. 

But perhaps the most fascinating aspect of all is that each culture’s branch of mythology provides a window into its history, values and challenges. Many ancient Egyptian myths, for example, center around the cycle of life, death and judgment. In Norse mythology, however, themes of heroism and bravery tend to take center stage.  

And even if you’re not a history buff or aspiring archaeologist, there’s simply no denying that mythology is full of fun stories. Betrayal, jealousy, friendship, redemption—mythology has it all, and you can start enjoying it for yourself right now. 

While all mythologies have gods and goddesses worth learning about, some have achieved an exceptional level of fame and notoriety, even in the modern world. 

Arguably the most famous mythology of all, Greek mythology features a colorful cast of central deities. Some of the most well-known among them include:  

With their family drama and scandalous relationships, the gods of Greek mythology would be right at home in any fantasy adventure story—or any soap opera, for that matter. Case in point: Hera is Zeus’ wife and sister, and that’s just the tip of the iceberg. So if it’s entertaining tales you’re looking for, Greek mythology is the perfect place to start. 

For more background information about Greek mythology, try visiting the Encyclopedia Britannica’s page on the topic. Or to get a sense of the myths themselves, read summaries of 30 of the most famous. 

Heavily influenced by Greek mythology, Roman mythology features many of the same deities under different names. They include: 

So if you’ve ever wondered how the solar system’s planets got their names, you only need to turn to Roman mythology to find out. For example, Jupiter is the largest planet in the solar system, hence why it’s named after Zeus. Meanwhile, Mars has a blood-red hue that’s visible from earth, which explains why it’s named after the god of war. 

For more details about the gods and goddesses of Roman mythology, see National Geographic’s encyclopedic entry. 

Originating from Viking-era Scandinavia, Norse mythology tells of a group of gods and goddesses divided into two clans. Some of the most well-known among them include: 

With Norse gods being heavily featured in modern pieces of popular media such as the video game God of War, the Marvel movie Thor and more, there are more reasons than ever to get acquainted with their original portrayals. 

For a comprehensive introduction to Norse mythology, check out Life in Norway’s beginner’s guide. 

Greek, Roman and Norse mythologies might be the most famous and frequently-referenced, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t heaps of other enchanting mythologies to explore. 

From Africa to Asia to South America, these mythologies hail from all corners of the world. 

Regardless of if knowledge of ancient Egypt comes entirely from watching The Mummy or you know the name of every pharaoh in chronological order, you’ve probably heard about elements of Egyptian mythology before. 

That’s for good reason, too—with some myths originating from several millennia ago, Egyptian mythology is full or rich and spellbinding stories. 

Some of the most influential ones include: 

See the Encyclopedia Britannica’s list of 11 ancient Egyptian gods and goddesses to discover more, or visit the Glencairn Museum’s synopsis of ancient Egyptian creation myths to dive into some engrossing stories right away. 

If you’d like to become more well-read by brushing up on world literature then researching Japanese mythology will be well worth your while. Based on both Shinto and Buddhist traditions, it includes a staggering array of stories such as those about: 

Delve further into traditional Japanese myths with the New World Encyclopedia’s entry on Japanese folklore and mythology. 

Coming from the lands of modern-day Ireland, Scotland, Wales and Britain, Celtic mythology is as diverse as its origins. Some of its notable deities include: 

Check out Mythopedia’s guide to Celtic mythology to learn more about the beliefs of the Celtic peoples. 

Given China’s sheer size, it should come as no surprise that its mythology encompasses an astounding number of regions and cultures. Drawing from several belief systems, its most important gods include: 

Chinese mythology is vast, varied and complex, but the New World Encyclopedia’s page on the subject offers an approachable place to start. 

Like China, Africa is a geographically massive area. As such, its mythology has plenty of unique storylines, deities, themes and contradictions to explore. Take for example: 

See the Encyclopedia Britannica’s rundown of African mythology for more context and fascinating myths. 

Hailing from what is now Central Mexico, the Aztec people created an engrossing collection of myths to explain the world around them. Some of the most prominent include: 

For more Aztec myths, read the History Cooperative’s list of important stories and characters. 

If you’re a writer trying to come up with a compelling new story, the answer doesn’t always lie in waiting for inspiration to spring from the ether. Instead, you can take a cue from tales as old as time (and become a little more worldly in the process) by learning about mythology from around the world.