In the fall, I get to teach a course I’ve been eager to teach for some time – a Humanities class called World Mythology. I’m sure you can figure out what the class will be about based on the title. 🙂 I spent what free time I could find during the end of Spring semester and then many full days once school ended creating content for the class. Our semester is sixteen weeks, and each will focus on a different area around the world. While I did opt to touch on some familiar mythologies, I wanted mostly to dive into mythologies that would be unfamiliar to my students (and to me).
This meant not using a textbook (which I also avoid as much as I can in my courses because of the added costs to students), and by the end, I had a nineteen page works and images cited (which will mean lots of links to check at the start of each semester to make sure they work 🤞🏻🤞🏻). But I think it’s worth it (even if it takes extra time ensuring I’m not breaking copyright). I had a lot of fun digging into mythologies from all over the world – and if my students enjoy them even half as much as I did, then I’ll call it a win.
I thought I’d share a couple of my favorite finds. I’d be curious if you were familiar with any of these.
The first comes from South Africa – the Tokoloshe (pronounced toe-co-lowsh), a trickster figure. While their appearance has evolved across stories and through time (ranging from human-like to primate-like), one thing remains consistent: their diminutive size (about hip-high to an adult human). They are mischievous (and sometimes dangerous), wreaking havoc – but also exist to invoke benevolence by scaring children (to make them act appropriately – perhaps you can think of such figures from your own childhood) or protecting against malevolent spirits. To learn more, check out this video:
The next comes from Slavic mythology – Baba Yaga, though variations of the name exist in several Slavic languages. In these languages, ‘baba’ means grandmother or old woman. ‘Yaga’ has a less-well-known etymology, though related terms bring about meanings of horror, anger, witch, and evil. In mythology, she was one of a trio of sisters of the same name (though in some iterations, she is solo) and had two contrasting roles. In some, she was repulsive and ferocious-looking and would fry then eat children; in others, she was a nice old woman who helped the hero. (That’s a coin flip I would never want to encounter.)
Perhaps, like me, the first time you heard this name uttered, it was in a John Wick film. The title character is said to be the one you sent in to deal with the baba yaga (though in this film, its incorrectly translated to mean ‘boogeyman’).
To learn more about this figure (and to learn her incredibly odd mode of transportation), check out this video:
In Fijian mythology, each island had a god who protected it. One such god is Rokobakaniceva, a giant octopus who protects the Naceva passage in Kadavu (an island south of Fiji’s largest island). If you know anything about the octopus, you know how intelligent and cunning they are, traits that this particular god was imbued with. She is best known for her legendary battle with Dakuwaqa, the shark god – a tale of chaos versus order. Even today, her influence continues – both as a cautionary tale for children and in ceremonies related to the sea, reinforcing the importance of respecting the water and maintaining balance in the world. To learn more about Dakuwaqa, Rokobakaniceva, and a couple other of the Fiji Island protectors, check out this video:
I’m really excited to teach this course in the fall – only time will tell if the students will enjoy it. 🤞🏻😬🤞🏻
Ami Maxine 