Year: | Our Mythical Childhood Survey

Bob Baker, Dave Martin , Anthony Read , Norman Stewart

Doctor Who (Series, Season 15): Underworld

‘Underworld’ was typical of mid-1970s Doctor Who (1963–1989; 2005–present), in what is still regarded as its most successful period. Scripts in the era of the Fourth Doctor (played by Tom Baker) – with his enormous, multi-coloured scarf, and the ability to switch between high comedy and serious drama – delved regularly into mythological, historical, and literary themes that were already well-known to the family audiences. These were often transposed from their(...)

audiovisual

YEAR: 1978

COUNTRY: United Kingdom

TAGS: Ancient Slavery Argonauts Heracles Hercules Jason Labyrinth Minoan Civilization Oracles Orpheus Persephone Underworld

Boris Buevsky, Volodymyr Dakhno , Eduard Kyrych

How Cossacks Became Olympians [Як козаки олімпійцями стали (Iak kozaki olimpiĭtsiami stali)]

The movie is the fifth in a series about the Cossacks produced by Volodymyr Dakhno between 1967 and 1995. The main heroes of the series are three Cossacks – Grai, the smartest and the tallest; Oko, the smallest one, but brave and a good shot (oko means “eye” in Ukrainian); Tur, the biggest and strongest, who is shy and sentimental (tur means “aurochs” in Ukrainian). The movie starts with a scene when the Cossacks are preparing kasha (a traditional Slavic&n(...)

audiovisual

YEAR: 1978

COUNTRY: Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR)

TAGS: Ares Cyclops / Cyclopes Hades Mars Olympic Games Zeus

Stephen Cosgrove, Robin James

Nitter Pitter

A didactic picture book for young readers, based on the myth of Narcissus. The story of Nitter Pitter involves a stallion so beautiful that he refuses to play with the other horses. He loves to stare at his reflection in the pond, until one day he falls in. After this, he realises that he has become muddy and ugly. He refuses to look at himself again and hides himself under a tree. Soon after, a black raven encourages him to play with the other horses, because they do not mind that he is ugly. T(...)

literary

YEAR: 1978

COUNTRY: United States of America

TAGS: Echo Metamorphoses (Ovid's) Narcissus Ovid

Rosemary Sutcliff

Song for a Dark Queen

The novel recounts the events of the Boudiccan Revolt (60/61 CE) from the perspective of the Icenian harpist Cadwan. Cadwan describes his relationship with Boudicca, from when she was a headstrong but amiable child, through to her arranged marriage to Prasutagus of the Parisi and premature elevation to the queenship, and finally Boudicca's revolt against Roman rule. Boudicca is initially resistant towards the marriage with Prasutagus, but their mutual affection grows, especially after he ris(...)

literary

YEAR: 1978

COUNTRY: United Kingdom

TAGS: Roman Britain Roman Empire Roman History

Hanna Januszewska-Moszyńska

Tales of the Four Winds [Bajki o czterech wiatrach]

Based on: Katarzyna Marciniak, Elżbieta Olechowska, Joanna Kłos, Michał Kucharski (eds.), Polish Literature for Children & Young Adults Inspired by Classical Antiquity: A Catalogue (accessed: June 11, 2021), Faculty of “Artes Liberales”, Warsaw: University of Warsaw, 2013, 444 pp.The book consists of four stories, each connected with pranks and mischief committed by one of the four winds (based on the Anemoi of classical mythology) – Boreasz [Boreas], Fawoni [Favonius], Not(...)

literary

YEAR: 1978

COUNTRY: Poland

TAGS: Boreas Dryades Eurus / Euros Notus / Notos

Patricia Miles

The Gods in Winter

The Gods in Winter draws on the retelling of the myth featured in Homeric Hymn to Demeter, which recounts Persephone’s abduction by Hades and the establishment of the seasonal cycle. While searching for her beloved daughter, Demeter disguises herself and takes on the role of nursemaid to the child of the royal family of Eleusis. Miles’ text alludes to these events taking place in 1970s England, witnessed by the Brambles, an ordinary, middle class family with a scientist father, teach(...)

literary

YEAR: 1978

COUNTRY: United States of America

TAGS: Demeter Eleusis Gods Hades Homeric Hymns Persephone Underworld

Hanna Łochocka

The Legend of Mercury [Legenda o Merkurym]

Based on: Katarzyna Marciniak, Elżbieta Olechowska, Joanna Kłos, Michał Kucharski (eds.), Polish Literature for Children & Young Adults Inspired by Classical Antiquity: A Catalogue, Faculty of “Artes Liberales”, Warsaw: University of Warsaw, 2013, 444 pp.This story explains Mercury’s role within the Roman pantheon and the genesis of his attribute: caduceus. In the presented version of the myth, Mercury stole Jupiter’s lightning and was accused of flashing out Venus&rs(...)

literary

YEAR: 1978

COUNTRY: Poland

TAGS: Apollo Caduceus Jupiter Mars Mercury Neptune Roman Gods Venus