Download or read book The Oxford Companion to World Mythology written by David Leeming and published by Oxford University Press. This book was released on 2005-11-17 with total page 508 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: An interesting and lively book that contains articles on heros, villains, mythologists and mythological approaches.
Download or read book World Mythology written by David A. Leeming and published by Oxford University Press. This book was released on 2022 with total page 161 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: "This book treats myths from all parts of the word, first from a cultural and then from a more comparative perspective. How do myths of the ancient Egyptians or Greeks, for instance, reflect the realities of the Egyptian and Greek cultures? When compared, how do they reveal certain universal themes or motifs that point to larger transcultural issues, such as the place of the human species in creation or the nature of deity as a concept? This book is organized around the universal or near universal motifs: deities, creation, the flood, the trickster, and the hero. Myths from Greek, Egyptian, Norse, Native American, African, Polynesian, Jewish, Christian, Hindu, and other cultures are retold and treated as reflections of the cultures that "dreamed" them and then are compared and discussed in such a way as to expose universal significance, creating a world mythology"--
Download or read book The Oxford Companion to Classical Civilization written by Simon Hornblower and published by Oxford Companions. This book was released on 2014 with total page 907 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Illustrated with full-color plates and 140 black-and-white pictures, an encyclopedic, exhaustive, and up-to-date guide contains finely detailed articles and short reference notes on the people, places, and events that shaped ancient Western civilization. UP.
Download or read book The World of Myth written by David Adams Leeming and published by Oxford University Press. This book was released on 1992-02-27 with total page 379 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Hercules, Zeus, Thor, Gilgamesh--these are the figures that leap to mind when we think of myth. But to David Leeming, myths are more than stories of deities and fantastic beings from non-Christian cultures. Myth is at once the most particular and the most universal feature of civilization, representing common concerns that each society voices in its own idiom. Whether an Egyptian story of creation or the big-bang theory of modern physics, myth is metaphor, mirroring our deepest sense of ourselves in relation to existence itself. Now, in The World of Myth, Leeming provides a sweeping anthology of myths, ranging from ancient Egypt and Greece to the Polynesian islands and modern science. We read stories of great floods from the ancient Babylonians, Hebrews, Chinese, and Mayans; tales of apocalypse from India, the Norse, Christianity, and modern science; myths of the mother goddess from Native American Hopi culture and James Lovelock's Gaia. Leeming has culled myths from Aztec, Greek, African, Australian Aboriginal, Japanese, Moslem, Hittite, Celtic, Chinese, and Persian cultures, offering one of the most wide-ranging collections of what he calls the collective dreams of humanity. More important, he has organized these myths according to a number of themes, comparing and contrasting how various societies have addressed similar concerns, or have told similar stories. In the section on dying gods, for example, both Odin and Jesus sacrifice themselves to renew the world, each dying on a tree. Such traditions, he proposes, may have their roots in societies of the distant past, which would ritually sacrifice their kings to renew the tribe. In The World of Myth, David Leeming takes us on a journey "not through a maze of falsehood but through a marvellous world of metaphor," metaphor for "the story of the relationship between the known and the unknown, both around us and within us." Fantastic, tragic, bizarre, sometimes funny, the myths he presents speak of the most fundamental human experience, a part of what Joseph Campbell called "the wonderful song of the soul's high adventure."
Download or read book The Oxford Illustrated Companion to World Mythology written by David Adams Leeming and published by Black Dog Publishing. This book was released on 2008 with total page 352 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Mythology.
Download or read book Mythology written by C. Scott Littleton and published by Duncan Baird. This book was released on 2004-09 with total page 688 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Myths are the timeless expression of the imagination born out of the need to make sense of the universe. Moving across the centuries, they resonate with our deepest feelings about the fragility and grandeur of existence. Mythology is a comprehensive, richly illustrated survey of the mythic imagination in all its forms around the world, from the odysseys, quests and battles of ancient Greece and Rome to the living beliefs of indigenous cultures in the Americas, Africa and Oceania. Looking at each major myth-making culture in turn, this book retells some of the most significant and captivating stories in a lively, contemporary style. Generously illustrated with more than 700 color photographs, Mythology brings you the vibrant stories that echo time and again in our lives.
Download or read book The Library of Greek Mythology written by Apollodorus and published by Oxford University Press, USA. This book was released on 1998 with total page 340 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A new translation of an important text for Greek mythology used as a source book by classicists from antiquity to Robert Graves, The Library of Greek Mythology is a complete summary of early Greek myth, telling the story of each of the great families of heroic mythology, and the various adventures associated with the main heroes and heroines, from Jason and Perseus to Heracles and Helen of Troy. Using the ancient system of detailed histories of the great families, it contains invaluable genealogical diagrams for maximum clarity.
Download or read book A Companion to World Mythology written by Richard W. Barber and published by . This book was released on 1980 with total page 312 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Includes indexes.
Download or read book World Mythology written by Roy G. Willis and published by Macmillan. This book was released on 1993 with total page 326 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The great myths of the world create meaning out of the fundamental events of human existence: birth, death, conflict, loss, reconciliation, the cycle of the seasons. They speak to us of life itself in voices still intelligible, yet compellingly strange and distant. World Mythology offers readers an authoritative and wide-ranging guide to these enduring mythological traditions, combining the pure narrative of the myths themselves with the background necessary for more complete understanding. Here, noted mythology expert Roy Willis, brings together a team of nineteen leading scholars navigate a clear path through the complexities of myth as they distill the essence of each regional tradition and focus on the most significant figures and the most enthralling stories. All aspects of the world's key mythologies are covered, from tales of warring deities and demons to stories of revenge and metamorphosis; from accounts of lustful gods and star-crossed human lovers to journeys in the underworld. All are told at length and are accompanied by illuminating and readable introductory text. Also included are summaries of important theories about the origins and meaning of myth, and an examination of themes that recur across a range of civilizations. Beautifully illustrated with more than 500 color photographs, works of art, charts, and maps, World Mythology offers readers the most accessible guide yet to the heritage of the world's imagination.
Download or read book The World of Myth written by David Adams Leeming and published by . This book was released on 2024 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: "This collection of world myths, although comprehensive, is not intended to be exhaustive and might well be supplemented by a good general encyclopedia or dictionary of mythology. The myths selected are representative of the cultures in question, with some emphasis on myths that have influenced the creative arts in Western culture. These myths are used to illustrate a process by which an approach to myth is gradually revealed. The approach, essentially archetypal in nature, will be of use to students of literature and the other arts. It should also be of interest to a general, nonacademic audience, as it stresses the connections between myth and our own everyday lives"--
Download or read book Myth written by David Adams Leeming and published by Oxford University Press, USA. This book was released on 2002 with total page 196 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: "Whether it is the "American Dream," alien abduction, or belief in virgin birth and resurrection, these "living myths" play a very therapeutic role in the development of a healthy society. In Myth: A Biography of Belief, David Leeming shows that myths are still a fitting way to capture "the soul's high adventure.""--BOOK JACKET.
Download or read book A Companion to Greek Mythology written by Ken Dowden and published by John Wiley & Sons. This book was released on 2014-01-28 with total page 672 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A Companion to Greek Mythology presents a series of essays that explore the phenomenon of Greek myth from its origins in shared Indo-European story patterns and the Greeks’ contacts with their Eastern Mediterranean neighbours through its development as a shared language and thought-system for the Greco-Roman world. Features essays from a prestigious international team of literary experts Includes coverage of Greek myth’s intersection with history, philosophy and religion Introduces readers to topics in mythology that are often inaccessible to non-specialists Addresses the Hellenistic and Roman periods as well as Archaic and Classical Greece
Download or read book The Oxford Handbook of Ancient Greek Religion written by Esther Eidinow and published by Oxford Handbooks. This book was released on 2015 with total page 737 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This handbook offers both students and teachers of ancient Greek religion a comprehensive overview of the current state of scholarship in the subject, from the Archaic to the Hellenistic periods. It not only presents key information, but also explores the ways in which such information is gathered and the different approaches that have shaped the area. In doing so, the volume provides a crucial research and orientation tool for students of the ancient world, and also makes a vital contribution to the key debates surrounding the conceptualization of ancient Greek religion. The handbook's initial chapters lay out the key dimensions of ancient Greek religion, approaches to evidence, and the representations of myths. The following chapters discuss the continuities and differences between religious practices in different cultures, including Egypt, the Near East, the Black Sea, and Bactria and India. The range of contributions emphasizes the diversity of relationships between mortals and the supernatural - in all their manifestations, across, between, and beyond ancient Greek cultures - and draws attention to religious activities as dynamic, highlighting how they changed over time, place, and context.
Download or read book Medusa written by David Leeming and published by Reaktion Books. This book was released on 2013-06-01 with total page 130 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: With her repulsive face and head full of living, venomous snakes, Medusa is petrifying—quite literally, since looking directly at her turned people to stone. Ever since Perseus cut off her head and presented it to Athena, she has been a woman of many forms: a dangerous female monster that had to be destroyed, an erotic power that could annihilate men, and, thanks to Freud, a woman whose hair was a nest of terrifying penises that signaled castration. She has been immortalized by artists from Leonardo da Vinci to Salvador Dalí and was the emblem of the Jacobins after the French Revolution. Today, she’s viewed by feminists as a noble victim of patriarchy and used by Versace in the designer’s logo for men’s underwear, haute couture, and exotic dinnerware. She even gives her name to a sushi roll on a Disney resort menu. Why does Medusa continue to have this power to transfix us? David Leeming seeks to answer this question in Medusa, a biography of the mythical creature. Searching for the origins of Medusa’s myth in cultures that predate ancient Greece, Leeming explores how and why the mythical figure of the gorgon has become one of the most important and enduring ideas in human history. From an oil painting by Caravaggio to Clash of the Titans and Dungeons and Dragons, he delves into the many depictions of Medusa, ultimately revealing that her story is a cultural dream that continues to change and develop with each new era. Asking what the evolution of the Medusa myth discloses about our culture and ourselves, this book paints an illuminating portrait of a woman who has never ceased to enthrall.
Download or read book The Oxford Companion to Fairy Tales written by Jack David Zipes and published by . This book was released on 2002 with total page 601 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Essays discuss the history and development of fairy tales in cultures from all over the world and throughout history, including adaptation for film, art, opera, ballet, music, and commercial use.
Download or read book The Cambridge Companion to Greek Mythology written by Roger D. Woodard and published by Cambridge University Press. This book was released on 2007-11-12 with total page 516 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Professor Roger Woodard brings together a group of the world's most authoritative scholars of classical myth to present a thorough treatment of all aspects of Greek mythology. Sixteen original articles guide the reader through all aspects of the ancient mythic tradition and its influence around the world and in later years. The articles examine the forms and uses of myth in Greek oral and written literature, from the epic poetry of 8th century BC to the mythographic catalogues of the early centuries AD. They examine the relationship between myth, art, religion and politics among the ancient Greeks and its reception and influence on later society from the Middle Ages to present day literature, feminism and cinema. This Companion volume's comprehensive coverage makes it ideal reading for students of Greek mythology and for anyone interested in the myths of the ancient Greeks and their impact on western tradition.
Download or read book The Handy Mythology Answer Book written by David A. Leeming and published by Visible Ink Press. This book was released on 2014-08-18 with total page 416 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Stories centuries in the making, and many centuries worth of stories, are an integral part of modern society. Whether modern or ancient, every culture has its myths. Mythology forms our understanding of our origin, history, and traditions. They tell of our heroes and deities. Myths are vehicles for understanding religion, for learning language, and for understanding society, but they can often be difficult to understand and confusing. The Handy Mythology Answer Book examines and explains, in plain English, numerous myths and mythology. From the ancient Greek and Roman to Egypt and Babylon, from Native North American Indian to Celtic, Middle Eastern, Indian, Asian, African, and the lesser known myths from around the world, The Handy Mythology Answer Book has them covered. Whether it is the modern retelling of a classic myth or an ancient story about a Norse god, this helpful resource demystifies the myth, looks at different archetypes and motifs, and even shows how myths help explain our existence and institutions. It answers nearly 600 questions and offers fun facts about the treachery and violence, the inspirational and epic, the supernatural monsters and heroic mortals found in mythology, such as How and when did myths originate? What are the three primary myth types? What is the nature of Creation Myths? How can myths be compared to dreams? Why do humans tell myths? What was the Egyptian Book of the Dead? How is the epic of Gilgamesh like later epics? Why is the biblical flood story so like the Babylonian flood myth? What was the myth of Theseus, the Labyrinth, and the Minotaur? What are the Homeric Hymns? How and why are the Odyssey and the Iliad so different from each other? What is the popular appeal of the Odyssey? Did the Greeks see these myths as religion or as entertainment? What was the background myth of the Oedipus plays? What was the nature of Roman mythology during the Roman Republic? What was the Metamorphosis? How did Christian narrative and tradition fit into and come to dominate the Roman mythological tradition? How is Celtic culture and mythology related to the culture and mythology of Greek, Roman, and other cultures? How did the Vedas contribute to Hindu mythology? Who invented Chinese writing? What was the Aztec pantheon? What is the story of the Cherokee Grandmother Sun? Who are some Native American tricksters? What is the story of Schrödinger’s Cat? How did Freud use myths? How is myth used in politics? A glossary of commonly used terms and an appendix of parallel mythology exploring universal themes, motifs, and archetypes from across various cultures further explains the world of mythology.
