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Legends and Sagas |
This section of sacred-texts archives the rich literature of Sagas and Legends. These are mostly (but not all) from Northern Europe, and primarily based on legendary events and people from the Middle Ages. Many of these narratives are based on archetypal stories that date even further back in time.
Comparative
The Myth of the Birth of the Hero
by Otto Rank [1914]
A groundbreaking application of psychoanalysis to comparative mythology.
Northern European
Teutonic Myth and Legend
by Donald Mackenzie [1912]
Arabian Nights
The 1001 Arabian NightsThis is an 'unexpurgated' version, translated from the Arabic by the Orientalist Sir Richard Burton.
The Arabian Nights' Entertainments
Edited by Andrew Lang, Illustrations by H. J. Ford [1898]
This is a version suitable for Victorian children, translated and abridged from the French version of Galland by the folklorist Andrew Lang.
1001 Arabian Nights A full etext of the 16 volume Sir Richard Burton translation. Highly recommended. [External Site]
Baltic
The Hero of Esthonia
by W. F. Kirby [1895] (2 vols)
This includes a extensive 'prose outline' of the Estonian national epic,
the Kalevipoeg, and some Estonian folklore.
by Frances Jenkins Olcott [1928]
This is a diverse collection of folklore, retold for young readers, from the Baltic region, including Finland.
Basque
Celtic
Celtic FolkloreIn order to deal properly with this extensive subject, all of the Celtic texts and books now have their own page. Topics include:
Wales
Scotland
Celtic Fairies
General Celtic
Eastern European
The Tale of the Armament of Igorby Leonard A. Magnus [1915]
parallel English/Russian
The first masterpiece of Russian literature, from the time of transition between Slavic Paganism and Christianity.
The Songs of the Russian People
by W.R.S. Ralston [1872]
A treasure trove of Russian and Slavic folklore, mythology and tradition. Covers pre-Christian Slavic Paganism.
Roumanian Fairy Tales and Legends
by E.B. Mawr [1881]
A small collection of Romanian folk tales and historical legends.
Sixty Folk-Tales from Exclusively Slavonic Sources
by A. H. Wratisalw [1890]
An excellent (and long out of print) collection of Slavic folktales, with hints of some very ancient lore.
Folk Tales From the Russian
by Verra Xenophontovna Kalamatiano de Blumenthal [1903]
Heroic Ballads of Servia
by George Rapnall Noyes and Leonard Bacon [1913]
Translations of Serbian oral poetry.
Stories of Russian Folk-Life
by Donald A. Mackenzie [1916]
The Key of Gold: 23 Czech Folk Tales
By Josef Baudis [1917].
The Man in the Panther's Skin
by Shota Rustaveli, tr. by Marjory Scott Wardrop [1912]
The Georgian National Epic.
Armenian Legends and Poems
by Zabelle C. Boyajian [1916]
A sampler of Armenian literature, legends and history.
England
EnglandAll of the texts and books about England also now have their own page. Topics include:
Anglo-Saxon
Arthurian
Finland
The Kalevala is the national saga of Finland. Pieced together (and embellished) by Elias Lönnrot from traditional storytellers in the late 19th Century, the tales which constitute the Kalevala show signs of great antiquity.
The Kalevala (English)John Martin Crawford, tr. [1888]
This etext was the first English version of the Kalevala available on the Internet; it was scanned at sacred-texts, and has been submitted to the Gutenberg project.
The Kalevala (Finnish)
Collected by Elias Lönnrot. This etext is from the Runeberg project.
Baltic Wizards
by Frances Jenkins Olcott [1928]
This includes a section on Finnish folklore.
France
The Song of Rolandtranslated by Charles Scott Moncrief [1919]
This saga depicts a pivotal episode in the conflict between the Islamic and Christian world in the late Middle ages.
Germany
Wagner's Ring of the Niblungtranslated by Margaret Armour; Illustrations by Arthur Rackham [1910].
This is an excellent translation of the librettos of Richard Wagner's operas Siegfried and Die Götterdammerung (Twilight of the Gods), with beautiful illustrations by the one of the best fairy-tale illustrators of the 19th Century.
The Nibelungenlied
translated by Daniel B. Shumway [1909]
The Nibelungenlied is derived from the Ancient Norse Eddas. The Nibelungenlied also supplied source material for Wagner's Ring opera cycle.
Hero Tales and Legends of the Rhine
by Lewis Spence [1915]
Lore of the Rhine valley, including the Nibelunglied saga.
Grimm's Household Tales
by Jakob and Wilhelm Grimm, translated by Margaret Hunt [1812]
Summer Legends
by Rudolph Baumbach, Translated by Helen B. Dole [1888]
Thanks Eliza, for donating this text! Visit her site at http://www.sacredspiral.com/ [External Site].
The Germany of Tacitus
One of the only ancient descriptions of the Germanic tribes.
Part of The Complete works of Tacitus.
Iceland
Icelandic LoreAll of the texts and books about Icelandic lore now have their own page. Subjects include:
The Sagas.
Italy
Orlando Furiosoby Ludovico Ariosto, translated by William Stewart Rose [1823-31]
Italy's most notable contribution to renaissance epic poetry.
Persia
The Shah Namahof Ferdowsi, translated by Helen Zimmern [1883]
The national epic of Persia (Iran). 460,993 bytes
Portugal
The Lusiadby Luis de Camoens, trans. by William Julius Mickle [1776, edition of 1877]
The Portuguese national epic, the tale of Vasco da Gama's voyage to India.
Roma (Gypsy)
The Roma people and their lore now have their own page:
Scandinavia
Popular Tales from the Norseby George Dasent [1904]
A superb collection of Scandinavian folklore.
The Danish History
of Saxo Grammaticus, translated by Oliver Elton [1905]
Heimskringla or The Chronicle of the Kings of Norway
by Snorri Sturlson, translated by Samuel Laing [1844]
Spain
Legends and Romances of SpainBy Lewis Spence [1920]
The Lay of the Cid
Translated by R. Selden Rose and Leonard Bacon [1919]
240,127 bytes
The Spanish national epic.