In ancient Chinese civilization, emperors were revered as the direct descendants of the gods, who ruled all of nature and the heavens. Animal bones were consulted as oracles to answer the great questions of life and death, and ancestral spirits were thought to roam the earth, negotiating with the gods on behalf of the living. From the legends of the Eight Immortals to the teachings of Confucius, "Chinese Mythology A to Z, Second Edition" provides a refreshing, insightful look at the stories and myths that open a window onto this civilization.
The Facts on File Encyclopedia of World Mythology and Legend
"The Facts On File Encyclopedia of World Mythology and Legend, Third Edition" is a complete revision that provides an even more extensive survey of myths, legends, and folklore from around the world. With assistance from a team of scholars, James R. Dow has revised and updated the entire text in this comprehensive resource.
Complementing our enormously successful offerings on the bible and history, National Geographic Essential Visual History of World Mythology encompasses myths and creation stories from around the globe. It presents a palm-size overview of culture-defining myths, from ancient Egyptian deities to the Vedic gods of India...from Maya, Inca, and Aztec legends to the Dream time of the Aborigines. This is a must-have resource for anyone who wants to know more about the stories that have shaped societies for millennia.
Features a 50-page "who's who" glossary of classical mythological characters—from both the Greek and Roman versions. An updated look at recent movies and television series' based on mythology, including Helen of Troy, HBO's animated Odyssey, and the Disney Channel's Hercules.
These volumes are part of the Mythology A to Z series from Facts On File. Each volume has a similar format: an introduction includes a history of the culture(s), an explanation of the book, and a pronunciation guide, followed by a time line and a map. The main text is an alphabetical listing of names, places, and ideas important to the mythology of the culture. The definitions are mostly brief--a single paragraph--although some are as lengthy as a page. Many black-and-white illustrations, mostly of artifacts, enhance the text.
