Mythology (Eyewitness Guides) - Hardcover

Philip, Neil

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0751361585 ISBN 13: 9780751361582

Publisher: Dorling Kindersley Ltd, 1999

Synopsis

Why did Zeus carry a thunderbolt? Which instrument did Pan play? Where did the jackal-headed god Anubis stand guard? When did Baba Yaga use a mortar and pestle? Why did the god Maui catch the Sun in a noose? All these questions and more, are answered in this guide. For as long as humans have inhabited the world, they have tried to explain its many mysteries, from how the world was created to what happens after death. Every society, from Greek and Roman to Aztec and African, has its own collection of myths - special stories that attempt to make sense of the world around us. Although their cultures may differ, many societies tell curiously similar stories of gods, heroes, giants, and beasts with amazing powers. Such myths may be thousands of years old, passed down by word of mouth through the generations, or recorded in words or pictures. Outstanding and original photography provides a unique glimpse of hundreds of magical myths from around the world.

About this title

From the Inside Flap

From the mighty Zeus of Ancient Greece to the trickster Coyote of Native America, a host legendary icons spring to life in this comprehensive overview of world mythology.  With a cultural and topical approach, Mythology examines the various interpretations of phenomena such as creation, afterlife, deities, and heroes from the Greek, Norse, Egyptian, Native American, Asian, Celtic, African, Maya, Inca, and Hindu traditions. Stunning color photographs and a rich array of artifacts and renderings highlight the influence of mythology on the arts and world religions.

From School Library Journal

Grade 4 Up-Covering creation, the cosmos, the sun and moon, supreme beings, floods, the natural world, fertility and birth, ancestor worship, forces of evil, divine weapons, war, spirits, love and happiness, tricksters, idols, mythical beasts, death, and the end of the world, this book leaves few stones unturned. Collected from museums worldwide, lavish photos of figurines, paintings, mosaics, masks, textiles, and other treasures display a veritable gallery of culture within these pages. Philip points out similarities of world myths and provides quite a bit of introductory information, though the sound-bite presentation that makes this series so popular cannot go into the detail that the subject deserves. There is no sense that any of the practices, such as shamanism, still exist, and the overall tone of the book is rather patriarchal. Report writers may glean a few facts, but will have to look further for more information or for the actual stories mentioned. The wealth of illustration far outweighs the literary value, but as a browsing tool, this is bound to be used.
Angela J. Reynolds, West Slope Community Library, Portland, OR
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

About this edition

• Publisher: Dorling Kindersley Ltd
• Publication date: 1999
• ISBN 10: 0751361585
• ISBN 13: 9780751361582
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1