Book Review - Mythopedia: A Brief Compendium of Natural History Lore - Princeton University Press

      I am always very pleased to receive another title in the "pedia" collection. The books themselves are a visual delight, made of genuine cotton book cloth and stamped with two colours of pigment.  Until, now the entire series has been dedicated to "pure" science, and this volume deviates a little from established practice.

           Rest assured, however, it does not stray too far, and we are introduced to new academic specializations where folklore and oral tradition combine to inform science about geology, volcanology and climate history. These insights into the past are critical to understanding and coping with climate change, the seminal issue of the day in the 21st century.  

     Our guide through this relatively new discipline of geomythology is Adrienne Mayor, a folklorist and historian of ancient science. Her lively style and deep knowledge make our journey blithesome and interesting. Along the way we learn a great deal.

     The book is superbly illustrated by Michele M. Angel, whose black-and-white drawings complement and enhance the text.

     The standard format of the "pedia" series is followed, covering a cornucopia of myths from A to Z. The common theme is that these myths are based on natural phenomena, often with eyewitness testimony, and a treasure trove of knowledge can be teased out of them by appropriate experts. Who even knew that hydromythology is a recognized discipline, for example? 

     Ancient people sought to explain away terrifying natural events by attributing them to metaphysical causes, and these versions of events were passed on orally from generation to generation, right up to the present day, in a process known as Longevity of Orality.

      Skillful analysis, using sophisticated methods and equipment and computer algorithms, enables scientists to draw conclusions about the actual forces at play when disaster struck. Often, those early catastrophes cast light on subsequent developments in the history of the Earth.

     The accounts are very skillfully done. They are covered in sufficient detail to enable us to appreciate the richness of legend and oral tradition while appreciating the link that specialists are able to make to known natural events. One's curiosity is satisfied on both fronts. 

     I have found every "pedia" book very satisfying and they form a constantly used source of quick reference. This volume will only add to my pleasure.

Mythopedia: A Brief Compendium of Natural History Lore - Princeton University Press

Adrienne Mayor

US$17.95 - £12.99 - ISBN: 9780691247861

216 pages - 4.5 x 6.75 inches (11.25 x 16.875 cm)

50 black-and-white illustrations

Publication date: 07 October, 2025