Dictionary of World Myth - Softcover

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0756756561 ISBN 13: 9780756756567

Publisher: Diane Pub Co, 1995

Truly global in scope, The Dictionary of World Myth is a scholarly, yet highly accessible ready reference to all of the places, figures, and stories from every major mythological tradition on earth. The entries are enhanced by more than 200 reproductions of mythical figures and symbols as they appear on pottery, wall paintings, votive statuettes, and other sacred artifacts.

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Review

For as long as people have told stories, the same themes have recurred in every culture while taking on a distinctive local flavour. This dictionary captures the unity within the diversity of mythic characters and deities from all continents and traditions. It is also attractively illustrated and accessible, suitable for enquiring minds everywhere who want a glimpse of how others have seen the world. Cross-references allow the reader to relate concepts within or across cultures. For example:

Pale Fox, Africa, A trickster and culture hero in the mythology of the Dogon people of Mali. According to the Dogon creation myth, the creator god Amma made the fox bring both order and disorder into the world.

The entry continues with the tale of Pale Fox stealing seeds from Amma to plant in the earth, explaining how agriculture arose. The themes of culture hero and trickster allow the reader to link Pale Fox to figures carrying similar roles in other cultures, e.g., Prometheus, Loki or Father Raven.

Universal topics such as Sacred Mountains or Creation Myths are covered in feature panels, which also point the reader in the direction of specific entries. In addition, there is an index of themes, so that all the entries which concern, say, Fire Deities, Dwarves or Rebirth can be found easily. The succession of snippets from around the world is hypnotic--this is a book to jump into and get lost in. And if it leaves you wanting more, there is a bibliography arranged by regions of the world to guide you to more specialised references. --Frank Pennycook

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