Blackwell, Christopher W. 1968- creator Hackney Blackwell, Amy. text nyu New York Hungry Minds c2002 2002 monographic eng

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xxii, 360 p. : ill., map ; 24 cm. Every culture and time has its myths. You might say that myths help us to understand people, since just like people they can be inspirational and beautiful, as well as cruel and violent. If you want all the scoop on gods and goddesses, fates and furies, monsters and heroes from around the world, Mythology for Dummies is the Who's Who of mythological figures that you can't do without. It's no secret that mythology can be confusing for anyone. This book will get you up to speed on the heavy stuff-like how mythology intersects with our lives, and explores the meaning of existence. Organized into chapters on specific topics, it breaks down the common types of myths and mythological figures, and offers plain-English explanations of how myths have appeared in cultures throughout the ages. Also has helpful features like charts comparing major figures, and a tip-sheet with a timeline of world civilizations. From the Iliad to the Aeneid, from Camelot to Valhalla, this highly readable book demystifies mythologies from all over the globe. Beginning with the ancient Greeks and Romans, this book explores the lesser-known stories of northern Europe, the Middle East, Egypt, India, China, Japan, and the Americas. Introduction -- Mythology and the cradle of civilization: Truth about myths -- That's our story and we're sticking to it, the legacy -- It started here, folks, Greek mythology: Greek creation myths and really ancient Greek gods -- Taller, younger, and better looking than you, the Olympian gods -- Fairest and meanest of them all: Greek goddesses -- So fine and half divine, heroes -- Iliad, the end of the Trojan War, and the Odyssey -- Greek tragedy, the days of their lives -- Cultural spoils of an empire, Roman mythology: Will the real Roman mythology please stand up? -- Begged, borrowed, and stolen, Roman religion -- Virgil's Aeneid and the founding of Rome -- Don't go changin', Ovid's metamorphoses -- One big family feud, northern European mythology: Snow, ice, and not very nice, Norse deities -- Dragonslayers, the big northern European sagas -- Seat at the round table, King Arthur and his court -- Some sunblock, a sacrifice, a monster, and thou, non-European mythology: Floods, mud, and gods, Mesopotamian and Hebrew mythology -- Three cheers for Egypt, ra, ra, ra! -- Land of a thousand gods, India -- China, Tao wow! -- Japan, myths from the land of the rising sun -- Latin America, it'll tear your heart out -- Coyotes, thunderbirds, and bears, oh my, North American Indian myths -- Part of tens: Ten mythological monsters -- Ten mythological places -- Index. Christopher W. Blackwell and Amy Hackney Blackwell. Includes index. Mythology BL 311 B632m 2002 291.1/3 0764554328 9780764554322 2002102449 http://www.loc.gov/catdir/bios/wiley044/2002102449.html http://www.loc.gov/catdir/description/wiley038/2002102449.html http://www.loc.gov/catdir/toc/wiley024/2002102449.html http://www.loc.gov/catdir/bios/wiley044/2002102449.html http://www.loc.gov/catdir/description/wiley038/2002102449.html http://www.loc.gov/catdir/toc/wiley024/2002102449.html DLC 020215 20230410133101.0 85687