Portland Public Library

Myths & legends, an illustrated guide to their origins and meanings, John Pemberton

eng

illustrations

index present

non fiction

Myths & legends

1102478194

John Pemberton

an illustrated guide to their origins and meanings

Many ancient legends in circulation, either through verbal story-telling, ancient script or paintings, have assisted the human race in understanding the complex world we live in, even if they have been embellished over the years. They have helped us form societies and have given people reason to live, they are the blocks that when linked together can help us find the answers we as a human race have been searching for. Myths and Legends gathers together the principal mythologies, legends and folklore of ancient and modern cultures and explores the relationship that they have with their people and with the major religions of the world

Introduction -- [pt. 1:] Europe. [1.] The ancient Greeks. The Greek creation myth -- The Odyssey -- Jason and the Golden Fleece -- Orpheus in the underworld -- Pandora's Box -- Theseus and the Minotaur -- Icarus -- Atlantis -- [2.] The ancient romans. Romulus and Remus -- Cupid and psyche -- Hercules -- Vulcan -- [3.] The Celts and the British. Heroic cuchulainn -- Finn MacCool -- Banshees -- The stone of scone -- The blarney stone -- The Loch Ness monster -- The Mabinogion -- Pryderi -- Merlin -- King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table -- The Holy Grail -- The legend of Robin Hood -- Saint George and the dragon -- The white horse and Epona -- Beowulf -- Legendary lost islands of Britain -- [4.] Other European mythology. Norse creation myth -- Odin -- Thor -- Loki -- Yggdrasil -- the world tree -- Valhalla and Ragnarok -- Finnish mythology -- Slavic mythology -- Tatar mythology -- Mythology of the lowlands -- Saint Nicholas -- Basque mythology and legends -- The Green Man -- [pt. 2:] Africa & the Middle East. [5.] Ancient Egypt. Egyptian creation myths -- Thoth -- The eye of Horus -- Ancient Egyptian underworld and afterlife -- The sphinx -- The curse of Tutankhamun -- [6.] The Middle East. Ancient Mesopotamia -- Gilgamesh -- Ishtar and Inanna -- Persian mythology -- Rostam and Sohra -- [7.] Sub-Saharan Africa. African creation myths -- The elephant -- The chameleon -- Olorun and Olokun -- Mawu and Lisa -- The Tokoloshe -- The Malaika -- The queen of Sheba -- [8.] Other African mythology. African pygmies -- The Bambuti -- Voodoo -- Timbuktu -- [pt. 3:] The Americas. [9.] Native North America. Apache -- Scarface -- Blue jay -- Gluskap -- Napi -- Coyote -- Changing woman and other female spirits -- [10.] Other North American & Caribbean myths & legends. Inuit mythology -- Sedna -- Adlivun and Quidlivun -- The Sasquatch -- The Mexican day of the dead -- Caribbean myths and legends -- Caribbean voodoo -- [11.] Mesoamerican mythology. Mayan mythology -- The Maya hero twins -- Aztec creation myths -- Tezcatlipoca and Quetzalcoatl -- Human sacrifice in Aztec culture -- Montezuma ii -- Inca mythology -- Inti and Inti Raymi -- Catequil -- Human sacrifice in Inca culture -- Nazca mythology -- Moche mythology -- [pt. 4:] Asia & India. [12.] India. Indra -- The Trimurti -- The Mahabharata -- The Ramayana -- Kama -- The Kama sutra -- [13.] China. Chinese creation myths -- The jade emperor -- Sun Wukong -- Monkey -- Journey to the West -- The Chinese dragon -- Yu the great -- Chinese zodiac story -- The secret history of the Mongols -- Tibetan myths and legends -- [14.] Japan. Japanese creation myth -- Izanagi's journey to the land of Yomi -- Amaterasu and Susanowa -- The Yamato cycle and the Izumo cycle -- Emperor Jimmu -- Prince Qusu -- Chushingura -- [15.] Indigenous Australia & Pacific Island mythology. Aboriginal creation myth -- The two wise men and the seven sisters -- The rainbow serpent -- The Bunyip -- The moon -- Thukeri -- Polynesian creation myths -- Wondjina -- Dudegera -- The two trees -- Maori myths and legends -- The cannibals of Vanuatu -- The Huli people -- Sido -- The birdman of Rapa Nui -- Easter Island