By the Gods!

This was a problem for me a few years back. The problem here is that you’re looking for an in-depth study on an enormous topic: “World Mythology.” Nobody knows everything about a subject so broad. You need to decide if you want to pursue a cursory knowledge of everything, or a more focused study of something.

If you want to understand the concept of myth from an anthropological standpoint, I’d recommend Joseph Campbell’s work (paticularly the Mask of God series). He takes a look at cultures throughout history all over the world, and the fundamental patterns (as he sees them) that developed in a parallel fashion in every religious group. 

Otherwise, you need to look into specific sources for the particular field you’re interested in. Read the classics and the primary sources, to start with. Even the most burdensome, difficult-to-read tomes come with helpful introductions and reading guides these days! Want to learn about Greek myth? Start with Homer. Norse and Germanic? Read the Volsungs, Sigurd and Gudrun, and the Eddas. Babylonian? Go for the Epic of Gilgamesh. And so on and so forth.

After reading general studies, I decided to focus on different areas. I’ve read through all of those sources I mentioned and many more, and I’ve gotta tell you— they’re absolutely thrilling. After a while, you start to pick up on similar themes, too! You’ll spot the way Mediterranean gods behave like Babylonian gods, and you’ll see that you can read the Epic of Gilgamesh’s presence in everthing.

The survey books and encyclopedias that cover the trivial information in the world of mythology are fantastic tools to get you excited on the subject, and informed insofar as the basic information goes. To get into the real nitty-gritty of the subject, though, you’ve gotta go for the primary sources.

It is handy to have an encyclopedia around, I suppose, (though you could just browse our library of articles). This is my favourite that I have kicking around. It gets the job done, I suppose.

(I definitely feel you on having trouble tracking down Celtic sources, though. Looking through the Irish sagas can provide some consistency, but quality tales can be tough to get your hands on.)