World Myths

Hercules, Zeus, Thor, Gilgamesh - these are the figures that leap to mind when we think of myth. But to David Leeming, myths are more than stories of deities and fantastic beings from non-Christian cultures. Myth is at once the most particular and the most universal feature of civilization, representing common concerns that each society voices in its own idiom.

Aimed towards students and enthusiasts alike, Greek and Roman Myths and Legends will provide you with a detailed survey of the spiritual beliefs and fascinating tales of the world's most intriguing ancient societies.

Dive into immersive folklore where mortals bargain with river spirits and ancient prophecies reshape epic fantasy worlds. Perfect for your daily commute or winding down before sleep, this cinematic journey delivers ten interwoven tales of courage, sacrifice, and magic. Experience high-stakes...

What if some of history’s most familiar “facts” were never true? Napoleon was unusually short. Vikings wore horned helmets. Medieval people believed the Earth was flat. Einstein failed math. The Titanic was officially declared unsinkable. These stories have been repeated so often that they feel like established history. But the truth is usually more complicated—and far more fascinating. In 101 Historical Myths Everyone Believes, Professor Heinrich Müller examines 101 persistent misconceptions from ancient civilizations, the Middle Ages, the modern era, and the twentieth century. ...

What if almost everything you think you know about Halloween is wrong? Halloween: A History of the World's Most Haunted Holiday traces the night from its origins as Samhain, an Iron Age Irish festival marking the turn from summer to winter, through two thousand years of accident, adaptation, and reinvention, to the trillion-dollar American holiday it has become today. This is not the tidy, secondhand version of Halloween's history repeated every October in listicles and classroom handouts. This book goes back to primary sources and archaeological evidence to separate what actually happened ...

From modern literature to menopause, from utopian thought to rodeos—in this classic collection of essays, Ursula K. Le Guin roves with her customary audacity over the intersecting arenas of literature, feminism, and social responsibility, exploding any received notions she comes across and...

The World Mythology Encyclopedia is your portal to the legendary tales that have mesmerized humanity for thousands of years. This is not just a book—it’s a journey through time, a front-row seat to the most thrilling sagas ever recorded. You’ll encounter gods, monsters, tricksters, and heroes beyond your wildest imagination. Each chapter is concise, thrilling, and packed with insights, making it easy to absorb thousands of years of mythological history in no time.

Ancient Egyptian Mythology is not a single story. It is a machine built to keep the universe alive. To modern readers, the religion of ancient Egypt can seem impossibly complicated. Gods merge identities. Cities preserve conflicting creation myths. The sun becomes a falcon, a scarab, and an aging man. Magic, mummification, temple ritual, kingship, and the afterlife appear to belong to entirely different worlds. The Nine Who Made the World supplies the missing key: Ma’at, the principle of truth, balance, justice, and cosmic order. Once you understand Ma’at, the crowded Egyptian pantheon ...

Not Your Typical Mythology Book — This One Brings Japan’s Culture to Life in Words and Pictures Japanese Myths: An Easy-Going Culture Journey into Japanese Mythology and Folklore is a beautifully illustrated, easy-to-read cultural deep dive that goes far beyond legends. With nearly 40 stunning illustrations, this book connects ancient gods, mysterious yokai, anime, shrines, daily rituals, and even travel spots—revealing how mythology still shapes the rhythm of everyday life in Japan. Perfect for anime fans, travelers, or anyone curious about Japan, this book offers a complete yet ...

Embark on an epic mythology journey to confront ancient gods and discover the profound meaning behind human grief. Whether you are commuting or seeking thought-provoking wisdom to navigate personal trials, these timeless folklore traditions offer reflective clarity. Witness how primal tales of...

A collection of stories drawn from some of the finest early 20th-century works on folklore and mythology. Inside, you'll encounter enchanted princesses, mischievous elves, mysterious spirits, shape-shifting animals, and noble heroes facing trials beyond imagination. Whether it's the delicate retellings of Katharine Pyle, offering graceful versions of beloved fairy tales, or the rich global selections curated by master editors like William Allan Neilson, William Patten, and Charles William Eliot, every story carries its own touch of magic.

A detailed, illustrated exploration of 20 of the world's greatest mysteries. Go back in time and history and explore the wonders that have captured man's imagination for centuries. Be dazzled by a manuscript still undeciphered, an oasis in the desert abandoned, a legendary island lost, and a forgotten city rediscovered. Learn about the first computer, listen to the myths and legends, and visit cryptic sanctuaries beyond imagination. Crisscross the globe for answers, consider possibilities, and marvel at the ingenuity of past cultures and civilizations. Are they mysteries, lessons, or warnings?

Michael E. Gerber, the world's leading small business guru and bestselling author of the phenomenally successful The E-Myth Revisited, presents the next big step in entrepreneurial management and leadership with E-Myth Mastery. This audiobook presents a practical, real-world program that can be...

“For anyone wanting to find out more about the world we live in . . . there is one simple answer: read Noam Chomsky.” —The New Statesman A sharp indictment of both American foreign policy and the national myths that support it, and an urgent warning of the threat that U.S. power poses to...

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.

This book is a literary journey through the world of Norse mythology that will delight both laymen and experts alike. It highlights Ragnarök as a central theme in the Germanic pantheon and describes the cosmic forces that determined the fate of the gods. In 18 comprehensive chapters, you will learn: How the nine worlds were created from Ginnungagap and what place Yggdrasil, the world ash tree, occupies in them. What role Odin, Thor, Freyr, and Loki played for gods and humans, and why their actions heralded the end of the world. Why the Fimbulwinter and moral decay were considered ...

Uncovering Roman Mythology takes listeners deep into the legendary world of ancient Rome, where gods ruled human fate and myths shaped an empire. Explore the powerful stories of Jupiter, Juno, Mars, Venus, and more along with the heroes, creatures, and legends that defined Roman culture, politics, and belief. Blending timeless myths with clear explanations and historical insight, this audiobook reveals not just the stories themselves, but the deeper meanings behind them.

What if an entire empire was erased from history—deliberately? For centuries, maps across Europe recorded the vast land of Tartaria—an empire stretching from the edges of Europe deep into Asia. By the 1800s, it vanished completely. No gradual decline. No explanation. Just silence. Echoes of Tartaria: The Mystery of a Forgotten Empire invites you into one of history’s most unsettling enigmas. Was Tartaria a misunderstood cartographic term, or a powerful civilization with advanced knowledge that threatened the modern order? From star forts and monumental architecture to tales of giants ...

The evidence was never hidden. That is what makes these stories so hard to shake. A wooden automaton beat Napoleon at chess by throwing open its doors and inviting the room to look inside. A truck that could only roll downhill was briefly worth more than Ford. A single drop of blood at a pharmacy counter told a healthy woman she was losing her child, while the nine-billion-dollar company behind the test said nothing. Two twelve-year-old girls walked into the woods to kill their best friend for a monster a bored man had invented in one evening on a forum. True stories of fraud, forgery and ...

Our cherished culturally shared beliefs stem from a variety of sources, many of which propagate old wives' tales, myths, self-serving fantasies, innocent fallacies, or sheer nonsense. It is a cliche that history is written by the victors. But Don’t You Believe It! will demonstrate that it is also written by teachers, by newsmen, by heirs, by hucksters, and occasionally by someone who has a lousy memory or an axe to grind.