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Print Price: $58.99

Format:
Paperback
320 pp.
6" x 9"

ISBN-13:
9780190900137

Copyright Year:
2019

Imprint: OUP US

The World of Myth

Third Edition

David A. Leeming

The bestselling anthology of world mythology, updated and revised in a new Third Edition

Organized thematically, this text offers one of the most wide-ranging collections of the myths from cultures around the world including Aztec, Greek, African, Australian Indigenous, Japanese, Muslim, Hittite, Celtic, Chinese, and Persian.

Readership : Suitable for courses in world mythology or introduction to mythology offered out of Classics departments.

Reviews

"Leeming offers an amazing and extensive collection of mythology from around the world. This text will help students to understand the common themes and symbols used in myths, and also prepare them to become world citizens. There is no better exercise in critical thinking than to read another culture's mythology and compare it to one's own (or another culture's). If Joseph Campbell is correct when he says that 'We think mythically,' then Leeming's text excels at teaching its readers how to communicate with a diverse world."
--Justin Stone, Valencia State College
"The diversity of examples brought to each topic is wonderful. Including not only mythic but also scientific approaches to issues ranging from creation to the end of the world makes The World of Myth a delicious tasting plate of worldviews."
--David Fletcher, Kendall College of Art and Design
"As a lifelong aficionado of mythology, I am very impressed with how The World of Myth is comprehensive, compelling, and easy to read. As an English professor of world literature, Leeming contextualizes mythology in such a way that my students will not have a problem understanding how myths are still relevant to today's various world cultures."
--Devona Mallory, Albany State University
"One of the best things about this text is that it is not focused exclusively on ancient Greek, Roman, and Near Eastern myths. Its inclusion of Native North/South/Central American and Asian myths makes it especially compelling for a course that is truly intended to be a global exploration of ancient myth."
--Sara Craft, Florida State University

Introduction: The Dimensions of Myth
Select Bibliography
PART I COSMIC MYTHS
The Creation
Egypt: Ex Nihilo Beginnings
Polynesian (Maori): The Separation of the World Parents NEW
Mesopotamia: Enuma Elish and the World Parent
Israel: Genesis and the Talmudic Lilith
India: The Sacred Words
Iran (Persia): Aryan and Zoroastrian
China: Cosmic Egg and Yin and Yang
Africa (Dogon): The Nummo Twins NEW
Greece: Hesiod's Theogony
Iceland (Norse): The World Parent of the Eddas
Native North America (Onondagan): Star Woman and Earth Divers
Meso-America (Aztec-Mexica): Coatlicue the World Mother
Africa (Boshongo-Bantu): Bumba's Creation
Australia (Aborigine): The Djanggawuls
Native North America (Acoma): Goddesses and the Emergence
Darwin: Origins
Modern Physics: The Big Bang
The Flood
Mesopotamia (Sumer-Babylon): Utnapishtim (Ziusudra)
Israel: Noah
Iran (Zoroastrian): Yima
Egypt: Hathor, Blood and Beer
China: Yü
India: Manu
Greece-Rome: Deucalion and Pyrrha
Meso-America (Mayan): The Popol-Vuh
South-America (Incan): Viracocha and the Giants
Modern Science: Climate Change and Rising Waters
The Apocalypse
Asia Minor (Christian): The Book of Revelation
Iran (Zoroastrian): The Savior Saoshyant
Arabia (Muslim): End of the World
India: The End of the Kali Age
Native North America (Hopi): Emergence to the Fifth World
Iceland (Norse): Ragnarök
Modern Physics: Entropy and Heat Death
PART II MYTHS OF THE GODS
The Pantheons
Mesopotamia (Sumer): Gods of the Elements
Egypt: The Ennead
India: The Trimurti
Greece: Originators and Olympians
Rome: The Renamed Olympians
Iceland (Norse): The Aesir and the Vanir
Ireland and Wales: The Family of Don and the Tuatha de Danann
Japan: The Kami NEW
The God as Archetype
The Supreme Being
India: Krishna-Vishnu as Brahman
Israel: Yahweh
Native South America (Uitoto): Nainema
Africa (Bushman): Mantis
Carribean Voodoo: Bondye NEW
Native North America (Cherokee): Sun Goddess
Japan: Amaterasu
Central Asia: Tengri and others
Modern Science: Immanent Mind
The Great Goddess
Ireland and Wales: Danu-Don
Native North America (Inuit): Sedna
Native North America (Lakota Sioux): White Buffalo Woman
Australia (Aborigine): Kunapipi NEW
Mexico: Our Lady of Guadaloupe
South America (Inca): Pachamama NEW
Modern Science: Gaia as Earth
The Dying God
Mesototamia (Sumer): Inanna (Ishtar)
Egypt: Osiris and Isis
Greece and Rome: Adonis and Aphrodite
Asia Minor (Phrygia): Attis
Greece: Dionysos
Iceland (Norse): Odin
Native North America (Penobscot): Corn Mother
Africa (Malozi): Nyambe NEW
The Trickster
Mesopotamia (Sumer): Enki and the Me
Greece: Hermes Steals the Cattle
India: Krishna and the Gopis
Iceland (Norse): Loki
Native North America (Maida): Coyote
Central Asian: Erlik
Polynesian (Maori): Maui
Africa (Fon): Legba
Gods, Goddesses, Lesser Spirits, and Humans
Greece and Rome
- Prometheus, Pandora, Narcissus, Ganymede, Hyacinth, Psyche, Daphne, Eumenides, Tiresias, Echo, Narcissus, Hyacinth, Eros and Psyche, the Eumenides, Europa, Romulus and Remus
Non-Greco-Roman
- Mithras, Izanami and Izanagi, Pele and Hiiaka, Guanyin
PART III HERO MYTHS
Native North America (Tewa): Water Jar Boy
Greece: Theseus
Greece: Herakles (Hercules) and the Twelve Labors
Greece: Perseus and Medusa NEW
India: The Buddha
Ireland: Cuchulainn
Ireland: Fionn NEW
Greece: Antigone
Europe: King Arthur
Europe: Parcival and the Holy Grail
Greece: Jason and the Golden Fleece
Rome: Aeneas
Arabia: Muhammad and the Night Journey
Africa (Kikuyu): Wanjiru
Africa (Nyanga): Mwindo
Indonesia (Ceram): Hainuwele
India: Rama and Sita
India: Draupadi
Mesopotamia: Gilgamesh
Greece: Orpheus and Eurydice
Greece: Odysseus
Israel: Jesus
Iran: Zoroaster NEW
Meso-America (Toltec/Aztec): Quetzalcoatl
Europe: Mary
England: Beowulf NEW
Greece: Alcestis
PART IV PLACE AND OBJECT MYTHS
The World of Afterlife
Egypt: Osiris
Greece and Rome: Lands of the Dead
Native North America (Hopi): The Kachinas
The Mountain
India: Mount Meru
Israel: Mount Sinai NEW
The City
Greece and Rome: Troy
Israel-Palestine: Jerusalem
Greece: Delphi
The Genitals
Greece: Tiresias
Native North American (Apache): The Vagina Girls
The Stone
Asia Minor (Phrygia): The Agdos Rock
Australia (Aboriginal): Erathipa
Ireland: The Giant's Causeway NEW
The Tree
India: The Cosmic Tree
China: Fusang
Iceland (Norse): Yggdrasil
The Garden, the Grove, and the Cave
Arabia: Muhammad's Cave
Mesopotamia: Inanna In The Garden NEW
The Labyrinth
Greece: Daedalus and Icarus
France: Labyrinth at Chartres Cathedral NEW
Glossary
Index

E-Book ISBN 9780190900144

David Leeming is Emeritus Professor of English and Comparative Literature at the University of Connecticut. He is the author or editor of numerous books on world mythology, including The Oxford Companion to World Mythology (2005).

Introduction to Mythology - Eva M. Thury and Margaret K. Devinney
Gods, Heroes, and Monsters - Carolina Lopez-Ruiz

Special Features

Myths from around the world highlight the universality of the human endeavor to understand reality.
Comprehensive introduction to world mythology broadens students' understanding of mythology and culture.
Comparative cross-cultural approach enriches students' perspectives on global themes in mythology.
World locator map at the front of the book shows the geographical distribution of the myths covered in the text.

New to this Edition

23 new selections from around the world, including myths from India, Australia, Iran, Polynesia, Ireland, Japan, and more.
Questions to Consider feature at the beginning of each chapter highlights important concepts for student reflection.
Glossary terms are now bolded at first use.