{"product_id":"the-oxford-companion-to-world-mythology","title":"The Oxford Companion to World Mythology","description":"\u003cp\u003eCave paintings at Lascaux  France and Altamira  Spain  fraught with expression thousands of years later; point to an early human desire to form a cultural identity. In the Oxford Companion to World Mythology  David Leeming explores the role of mythology  or myth-logic  in history and determines that the dreams of specific cultures add up to a larger collective story of humanity. Stopping short of attempting to be all-inclusive  this fascinating volume will nonetheless be comprehensive  opening with an introduction exploring the nature and dimensions of myth and proposing a definition as a universal language. Briefly dipping into the ways our understanding of myth has changed from Aristotle and Plato to modern scholars such as Joseph Campbell  the introduction loosely places the concept in its present context and precedes articles on influential mythologists and mythological approaches that appear later in the Companion. The main body of Leemings work consists of A-Z entries covering all aspects of mythology  including substantial essays on the worlds major mythological traditions (Greek  Native American  Indian  Japanese  Sumerian  Egyptian)  mythological types and motifs (Descent to the Underworld  the Hero  the Trickster  Creation  the Quest)  mythological figures (Odysseus  Zeus  Osiris  Spider Woman  and Inanna) as well as numerous interrelated subjects such as fairly tales and legends. The Companion also locates myth in our lives today  relating it to language patterns  psychology  religion  politics  art  and gender attitudes. Many of the better-known and more significant myths are vividly retold in this volume that will be illustrated with maps  more than 70 black and white images  and eight pages of color highlighting the central role art has often played in the transmission and perpetuation of myth. Following the entries  a rich section of appendices will include family trees of the major pantheons  equivalency charts for the gods of Greece and Rome  Babylon and Sumer  as well as other traditions  an extensive bibliography  and an index.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"My Store","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44966446727221,"sku":"ByrdShop_0195156692","price":29.27,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0627\/8139\/0901\/files\/9780195156690.jpg?v=1770562159","url":"https:\/\/atxbooks.com\/products\/the-oxford-companion-to-world-mythology","provider":"ATX Books","version":"1.0","type":"link"}