Myths are the timeless expression of the imagination - a continuous creative process of making sense of the universe. They express in dramatic and compelling form the forces that have shaped humankind's experience, from the clash of the elements to the cycles of the calendar and the pattern of birth, procreating and death. Speaking to us movingly across the centuries, they resonate with our deepest feelings about the fragility and grandeur of existence.
'Mythology' is a comprehensive and richly illustrated survey of the mythic imagination in many of its best-known forms across the world, from the odysseys, quests and battles of ancient Greece and Rome to the still living beliefs of indigenous cultures in the Americas, Africa and Australasia. Arranged into appropriate regions and looking at each major myth-making culture in turn, the book retells some of that culture's most significant and captivating stories in a lively, contemporary style. Read how the ancient Egyptians believed the daily cycle of the sun was determined and meet the worldwide menagerie of mythical animals, from Raven, Hare and Coyote in Native North America to Lady Silkworm and the Monkey King in ancient China.
Stunningly illustrated with more than 700 colour photographs and specially commissioned artworks, 'Mythology' brings you face to face with the vibrant stories of the world's imagination.