Book

Philip, Neil.

The illustrated book of myths : tales & legends of the world / retold by Neil Philip ; illustrated by Nilesh Mistry.

1st American ed.

London ; New York : D. Kindersley ; Boston : Distributed by Houghton Mifflin Co., 1995.

192 pages : illustrations (some color), color maps ; 27 cm

A collection of myths from many cultures.

They tell of beginnings and ends, creation and destruction, life and death ... This beautifully illustrated book gathers together many of the most popular myths from all over the world, including a selection of the great classical tales of Greece and Rome and myths from Norse, Celtic, Egyptian, Native American, Aboriginal, African, and Asian traditions. They are retold for readers of all ages in a vivid, accessible style by Neil Philip, an authority on mythology and folklore. The illustrations by Nilesh Mistry link the main episodes of each myth, involving readers in the action and atmosphere. This exciting new approach also provides intriguing glimpses into the cultures from which these myths have sprung. Background information, accompanied by color photographs, explores the tales' historical, cultural, and geographical context. The stories are grouped together thematically -- allowing readers to appreciate not only the difference, but also the uncanny similarities between many of the world's cultures. The Illustrated Book of Myths brings together and illuminates timeless, universal stories, many of which form part of our literary heritage. Its special qualities make this collection both an important reference book for the whole family and a lasting source of inspiration and delight. Myths are grouped by theme under such headings as Creation, Fertility and Cultivation, Gods and Men, and the Afterlife, allowing readers to compare similar stories from different parts of the world and to gain insight into other cultures. Background information about historical and cultural events includes photos of places and objects mentioned in each story.

A Dorling Kindersley book

Mythology -- Juvenile literature.

Mistry, Nilesh, illustrator.

Includes index.

Creation myths. First things (Egyptian) -- The sweat of his brow (Serbian) -- Out of the ice (Norse) -- The cosmic egg (Chinese) -- The floating world (Japanese) -- Izanami and Izanagi (Japanese) -- The dreamtime (Australian, Aboriginal) -- An earthly paradise (Iranian) -- The old man of the ancients (Native American, Modoc) -- Made from mud (Siberian) -- Children of the Sun God (Native American, Navajo) -- The food of life (Sumerian) -- Beginnings. The sky world (Indonesian) -- Gilgamesh (Sumerian) -- The great flood (Serbian) The origin of the ox (Chinese) -- First creator and lone man (Native American, Mandan) -- Vainamoinen (Finnish) -- The gift of fire (Greek) -- The tree of life (Norse) -- Loki the trickster (Norse) -- Maui-of-a-Thousand-Tricks (Polynesian) -- Hunting the sun (Australian, Aboriginal -- The sky god's stories (West African, Ashanti -- The apples of youth (Norse) -- Earth-maker and coyote (Native American, Maidu -- Make me a man! (East African, Baganda) -- Why do we die? (West African, Ibo).

Fertility and cultivation. Isis and Osiris (Egyptian) -- Persephone (Greek) -- World without sun (Japanese) -- The sword in the stone (Celtic) -- Glooskap and the Wasis (Native American, Algonquin) -- Telepinu (Hittite) -- Cadmus and the sown men (Greek) -- Mother of life and death (Indian) -- Gods and people. The golden touch (Greek) -- King Midas's ears (Greek) -- Beowulf (Anglo-Saxon) -- Theseus and the Minotaur (Greek) -- The fall of Icarus (Greek) -- Taliesin (Welsh) -- Going to the palace (Haitian) -- Thor in the land of giants (Norse) -- Cuchulain (Irish) -- The labors of Heracles (Greek) -- Gods and people. The golden touch (Greek) -- King Midas's ear (Greek) -- Beowulf (Anglo-Saxon) -- Theseus and the Minotaur (Greek) -- The fall of Icarus (Greek) -- Taliesin (Welsh) -- Going to the palace (Haitian) -- Thor in the land of giants (Norse) -- Cuchulain (Irish) -- The labors of Heracles) (Greek).

Gods and animals. Romulus and Remus (Roman) -- The plumed serpent (Aztec) -- The elephant god (Indian) -- The cat goddess (Egyptian) -- King of the birds (Indian) -- The winged horse (Greek) -- Benten and the serpent king (Japanese) -- The phoenix (Chinese) -- Visions of the end. The death of King Arthur (Celtic) -- The voyage of Bran (Irish) -- The death of Balder (Norse) -- Orpheus and Eurydice (Greek) -- Sedna (Inuit) -- How big the world is! (Inuit) -- Atlantis (Greek) -- The death of Pan (Greek) -- The rainbow serpent (West African, Fon) -- Ragnarok (Norse) -- The purifying stream (Iranian) -- Gods and pantheons. Who's who in mythology.

95002156

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