Art Mythology

In Trickster Makes This World, Lewis Hyde brings to life the playful and disruptive side of human imagination as it is embodied in trickster mythology. He first visits the old stories—Hermes in Greece, Eshu in West Africa, Krishna in India, Coyote in North America, among others—and then holds them up against the lives and work of more recent creators: Picasso, Duchamp, Ginsberg, John Cage, and Frederick Douglass. Twelve years after its first publication, Trickster Makes This World has taken its place among the great works of modern cultural criticism.

Game of Thrones, book and show alike, is spun from classic myth, from the tales of Robin Hood and King Arthur to the Norse Ring Cycle and saga of Ragnarok. Above all these human adventures soar Daenerys' dragons adapted from the dragons, wyverns, and wyrms of Western bestiaries. But what about the merlings, seal folk, wargs, greenseers, grumpkins, and snarks: Which mythologies created them?

Woven from Joseph Campbell’s previously unpublished work, this volume explores Judeo-Christian symbols and metaphors - and their misinterpretations - with the famed mythologist’s characteristic conversational warmth and accessible scholarship. Campbell’s insights highlight centuries of confusion between literal and metaphorical interpretations of Western religious symbols that are, he argues, perennially relevant keys to spiritual understanding and mystical revelation.

On the Warrior’s Path connects the martial arts with this larger perspective, merging subtle philosophies with no-holds-barred competition, Nietzsche with Bruce Lee, radical Taoism and Buddhism with the Star Wars Trilogy, traditional martial arts with basketball and American Indian culture. At the center of all these phenomena is the warrior. Though this archetype seems to manifest contradictory values, author Daniele Bolelli describes the heart of this tension: how the training of martial technique leads to a renunciation of violence, and how overcoming fear leads to a unique freedom.

Best-selling author Frank Delaney deconstructs the Vampire myth through the ages, and shows us how Stoker’s 1897 novel, one of the most widely read books of all time, heightened the allure of sex, the glamour of blood, and the defeat of death in a way that continues to pulse - and faster than ever - on the page and on the screen.

Unveiling Saraswati: The Hindu Goddess of Knowledge, Music, Art & Wisdom Uncover the transformative journey of Saraswati, the Hindu goddess of knowledge, music, art, and wisdom. This comprehensive guide explores her evolution from a powerful Vedic river to a central deity in Hinduism's rich mythology. Dive into Saraswati's Ancient Origins: Explore her roots in the Vedas, where she personified purifying waters and transformed into the very essence of knowledge. Discover Saraswati's Diverse Aspects: Delve into her multifaceted roles as the goddess of cosmic order, speech, the feminine ...

Before Gauis (from Centurion: From Glory to Glory) faced off against the proud and arrogant Valerius, there was a young man whose only desire was to escape his cruel and domineering father. Born of a slave and destined to live the life of a tenant farmer, Valerius dreamed of another life, of honor and glory. Falling into a drunken stupor, Valerius’ father was on the verge of losing everything. Taking the initiative, Valerius works hard to fulfill his father’s obligation, impressing General Sextus. His ungrateful father, resenting his son’s new found status, steals away in the night ...

One of Joseph Campbell’s most popular, most quoted works, A Joseph Campbell Companion: Reflections on the Art of Living is a treasure trove of insight and inspiration, thought-provoking in its depth, poetic in its scope. Drawn from a month-long workshop at the world-famous Esalen Institute, the Joseph Campbell Companion captures Campbell at his best: wise, funny, intelligent, and inspiring.

We all know something about the mysteries of the Pyramids and the history of the Sphinx, but very few people know about the secrets of the Nile. If you want to learn about history, ancient Egypt is a fascinating place to start. The country has a rich history, and its mythology has been studied for centuries. Most studies about Egypt focus on the pharaohs, mummies, and pyramids—very little is written about the Nile river and its many secrets. There is another, deeper level of history hiding in Egypt. This book reveals the hidden history of the longest river in the world! Introducing ...

TO CONQUER ETERNAL SUMMER: A CULTIVATION TRILOGY consists of these three books which are also available as singles. Book 1- BUDDYBOY: A CULTIVATION FANTASY An elderly man passes away and finds himself in the River of Souls where he spends an incalculable expanse of time. The time he spends there is valuable beyond belief. After gathering reams of knowledge and mastering the incredible powers of cultivation, his soul transmigrates to the body of his younger self. Equipped with the experiences from his previous life, now augmented by the powers and additional knowledge he collected in the ...

Ever wonder which circles of Dante’s Inferno have the nicest accommodations? Where’s the best place to grab a bite to eat in the ancient Egyptian underworld? How does one dress like a local in the heavenly palace of Hinduism’s Lord Vishnu, or avoid the flesh-eating river serpents in the Klingon afterlife? What hidden treasures can be found off the beaten path in Hades, Valhalla, or TV’s The Good Place? Find answers to all those questions and more about the world(s) to come in this eternally entertaining book from Ken Jennings.

What did Japanese mythology say about the beginning of the universe? How did Oedipus become the classic tragic hero in Greek mythology? Who brought about the origin of death in Maori mythology? With vivid retellings of famous legends, Myths and Legends makes it easier than ever before to understand the stories that are central to every culture.

Este libro analiza la metamorfosis del mito desde la leyenda del castillo de Transilvania hasta su reinterpretación animada en el cine. Los niños del pasado temían a los vampiros; los de hoy en día quieren ser uno. Y los adultos encuentran en su promesa de felicidad un refugio ante los empleos precarios, las relaciones tóxicas y las megacorporaciones que nos chupan la sangre a diario.

Jim Clary presents a compelling and riveting digest of beliefs, customs, and mystery in Superstitions of the Sea. Clary focuses on the vast array of strange, mythical, and often comical beliefs of mariners from ancient times to the present. Collecting the various topics for years, Clary found that maritime superstition was weaved throughout every fabric of his study. The folklore was so interesting that it often lured him far away from his subject search and held him spellbound for hours at a time.

The Living Pattern: Norse Magic, Fate, and the Art of Transformation is an initiation into the living, breathing currents of Norse magic—a path that does not merely study the past but weaves it into the present, shaping fate itself. This book is not about passive acceptance of destiny but about grasping the threads of the Web of Wyrd and learning to weave them with conscious intent. Through the lens of the runes, the mythic cycles, and the ever-turning forces of creation and destruction, The Living Pattern explores how magic functions as an active dialogue with fate. From the primal chaos...

FATSO: A CULTIVATION JOURNEY is the continuation of the saga of an Appalachian family that began with BUDDYBOY: A CULTIVATION FANTASY. To fully appreciate the story the two books should be read in that order. The day that Fatso’s world changed didn’t start off all that much differently than any other day. Hearing his brother, Buddyboy, arguing with his sister, Tinywee, at the kitchen table was about as normal as expecting the sun to come up in the east. It was only when he joined his siblings for breakfast that things became strange. Buddyboy seemed different. However, the difference ...

The Black Arts of Atlantis by Steven Detmers is an paranormal and occult fiction book set in 19th Century San Francisco. Follow the harrowing journey of Doron Avital and his companions as they delve into the dark secrets of a lost civilization. What would you do to escape starvation? For Doron Avital, the answer is to embrace the unknown and practice the dark arts of Atlantis. Forced into a second-hand bookshop by a rainstorm, Doron stumbles upon an ancient tome that promises unimaginable power and wealth through occult rituals. Desperation breeds daring: As Doron and his friends, Matt ...

Life was looking up for the Blackwood family. Baird’s knowledge had allowed them to claw their way out of a soul sucking mire of poverty. What should have been a bright future full of endless possibilities suddenly became one of unease and fear. Despite their new wealth and their steadily increasing strength they were forced to acknowledge the appearance of what might herald an unbeatable enemy. As a family the Blackwoods decided that their only recourse was to grow so powerful that no potential enemy would ever be able to threaten them. That meant increasing all aspects of their strength...

Horace Manifold, a mild-mannered professor of English at a college in the Midwest, discovers a strange phenomenon in the course of writing a novel. It seems that whenever he describes an event that occurs in the life of his protagonist, Mortimer Fandangle, that event subsequently happens to him as well. When he publishes an excerpt of the novel in an upscale literary journal, one that demonstrates this Fellini-esque device, he is awarded a "Pre-Pulitzer Prize," and is later hailed as “having forever altered the face of American literature.” He then embarks on a series of exotic ...

An unforgettable story of magic, art, and an orphan who yearns to belong.From the author of the best-selling Kid Detective Zet Series and the award-winning I Escaped Series comes a thrilling, ancient Egyptian adventure for kids age 8-14. Every kid will be inspired by this heart-warming 'rags to riches' Cinderella-story. In the heart of Ancient Egypt, Ramses is anything but an ordinary boy. He has a knack for drawing that brings his creations to life-literally. He's more than just an orphan; he's a boy touched by magic. But not everyone sees his gift as a blessing. His caretakers refuse to ...