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Xuincherguixe
2007-11-13, 07:02 PM
For numerous reasons I'm looking for information on the mythologies of some of the low technology human cultures that have existed throughout history.

Primarily it's for coming up with "monster" religions. I'm alright at just making stuff up, but more background is always helpful. Also it might be helpful if I was to build non traditional campaign settings. Like a Stone Age world or Subsaharan Africa. Perhaps with such challenges such as needing to steal fire from storm demons, or negotiate with the nation of medicinal plants to cure a plague.

It's easy enough to get information on Greek or Norse Mythology, but Salish or Iroquois aren't so easy. I don't even know the names of very many of the Subsaharan groups to start looking. (Both Shadowrun and my Canadian education have given me a smidge of information about the North American Tribes). This is all fairly understandable considering that it's easier to get at information from groups with a written language.

Can anyone recommend good sources for aboriginal mythologies?

Raum
2007-11-13, 07:15 PM
This site (http://www.religioustolerance.org/var_rel.htm) may help. It's not exactly what you're looking for, not much info on tribal mythology. But it does cover several different world religions in varying detail.

Draz74
2007-11-13, 07:35 PM
Try Encyclopedia Mythica (http://www.pantheon.org). Not perfect, but an extensive resource. Oh, and there's always Wikipedia too.

For sub-Saharan African mythologies, start by looking up Anansi the spider trickster-god, then click on a bunch of random links from his page outward. That's what I did to get ideas for an African-style pantheon.

AslanCross
2007-11-13, 08:12 PM
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bathala
Here's a link to an article on native Philippine tribal mythology. Like many similar mythologies, it's very nature-based. It's full of fey-like creatures (Diwatas) and also has some undead (aswangs).

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bakunawa
Bakunawa is very similar to the Egyptian serpent Apep who devoured the sun during eclipses.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biag_ni_Lam-ang
An epic poem. (though there's no text there, sadly. I don't think there are complete translations yet)

http://www.geocities.com/marlonfx/Aliguyon.html
Aliguyon is another epic hero.