Is this beautifully done and well-edited? Mostly, yes. Are the myths explored really interesting? Definitely! Are ANY of them from beyond Europe? Nope.
Generally, the episodes had 3 myths: one Celtic/British, one Greek/Roman, and one Old Norse/Viking. Yet the presenters kept saying that these were illustrating the HUMAN condition, and myths about this and that are UNIVERSAL. As someone with a degree in Archaeology, none of my professors would have allowed such sweeping statements without more diverse evidence. There are SO MANY interesting myths around the world, why keep focusing on only the European ones? Especially since these are among the most quoted myths in Western education anyway.
Works great as a general introduction to some of the themes in myths and how mythology works, but for myths themselves, go somewhere else.
Generally, the episodes had 3 myths: one Celtic/British, one Greek/Roman, and one Old Norse/Viking. Yet the presenters kept saying that these were illustrating the HUMAN condition, and myths about this and that are UNIVERSAL. As someone with a degree in Archaeology, none of my professors would have allowed such sweeping statements without more diverse evidence. There are SO MANY interesting myths around the world, why keep focusing on only the European ones? Especially since these are among the most quoted myths in Western education anyway.
Works great as a general introduction to some of the themes in myths and how mythology works, but for myths themselves, go somewhere else.