The World of Myth

Building on the best-selling tradition of previous editions The World of Myth Third Edition offers a uniquely comprehensive collection of myths from numerous cultures around the globe. Featuring a thematic organization it helps students understand world mythology as a metaphor for humanitys search for meaning in a complex world. Author David Leeming provides a sweeping anthology of myths ranging from ancient Egypt and Greece to the Polynesian islands and modern science. Students will be captivated by stories of great floods from the ancient Babylonians Hebrews Chinese and Mayans; tales of apocalypse from India the Norse Christianity and modern science; and myths of the mother goddess from Native American Hopi culture and James Lovelocks Gaia. Leeming has culled myths from Aztec Greek African Australian Aboriginal Caribbean Japanese Muslim Hittite Celtic Chinese and Persian cultures offering one of the most wide-ranging collections of what he calls the "collective dreams of humanity".