Mythology for Storytellers: Themes and Tales from Around the World: Themes and Tales from Around the World

by Sherman; Howard J

• ISBN13: 9780765680563
• ISBN10: 0765680564
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2003-08-31
• Publisher: Routledge

Summary

Illustrated in full color throughout, this delightful collection puts the riches of world mythology at the fingertips of students and storytellers alike. It is a treasury of favorite and little-known tales from Africa, Asia, Europe, the Americas, Australia, and Oceania, gracefully retold and accompanied by fascinating, detailed information on their historic and cultural backgrounds. The introduction provides an informative overview of mythology, its purpose in world cultures, and myth in contemporary society and popular culture. Mythic themes are defined and the often-misunderstood difference between myth and legend explained. Following this, the main sections of the book are arranged thematically, covering The Creation, Death and Rebirth, Myths of Origins, Myths of the Gods, and Myths of Heroes. Each section begins by comparing its theme cross-culturally, explaining similarities and differences in the mythic narratives. Myths from diverse cultures are then presented, introduced, and retold in a highly readable fashion. A bibliography follows each retelling so readers can find more information on the culture, myth, and deities. Character, geographical, and general indexes round out this volume, and a master bibliography facilitates research. For students, storytellers, or anyone interested in the wealth of world mythology, Mythology for Storytellers: Themes and Tales from Around the World provides answers to common research questions, sources for myths, and stories that will delight, inform, and captivate.

Table of Contents

An Introduction to Mythology	1	(16)
1. THE CREATION	17	(72)
The Beginning of Creation: A Myth from Ancient Babylon	19	(4)
Ancient Creation: A Myth from Ancient Assyria	23	(1)
Atum the Creator: A Myth from Ancient Egypt	24	(1)
Ptah Creates the World: A Myth Variant from Memphis, Ancient Egypt	25	(1)
Colored Clays: A Myth of the Shilluk of Sudan	26	(1)
In the Beginning: A Myth of the Yoruba of Nigeria	27	(2)
Bringing up the World: A Myth of the Boshongo People of Zaire	29	(1)
Two Creators: A Myth from the Kono of Sierra Leone and Guinea	30	(2)
Moving the Sky: A Myth of the San of Namibia	32	(1)
Theogony: A Myth from Ancient Greece	33	(3)
Ymir and the Creation: A Myth from the Norse	36	(2)
Vainamoinen and the Creation: A Myth from Finland	38	(2)
With the Help of a Mole: A Myth from Romania	40	(1)
The Saga of Creation: A Myth from Magyar Hungary	41	(1)
The Cosmic Egg: A Myth from Ancient India	42	(1)
How the World Was Created and Re-Created: A Myth from India	43	(2)
Creation from Chaos: The Tao: A Myth from China	45	(1)
P'an Ku: A Myth from China	46	(1)
Nu Wa Creates Humanity: A Myth from China	47	(2)
The Two Sons of Heaven: A Myth of the Mongol People	49	(1)
The Beginning: Izanagi and Izanami: A Myth from Japan	50	(3)
The Creation Story: A Myth of the Tagalog of the Philippines	53	(1)
Something from Nothing: A Myth from Melanesia	54	(2)
Three Creations: A Myth of the Dusuns of Borneo	56	(1)
Rangi and Papa: A Myth from the Maori	57	(2)
Ta'aroa: A Myth from Tahiti	59	(1)
Creation of Earth and Life: A Myth from Samoa	60	(1)
The Creation of Man: A Thompson Indian Myth	61	(1)
The Origin of the Apaches: A Myth of the Jicarilla Apache	62	(2)
Four Creations: A Myth of the Hopi of Arizona	64	(3)
The Origin of the World: A Myth of the Wyandot People	67	(5)
The Twin Creations: A Myth of the Wyandot People	72	(1)
Creation of Earth and Humanity: A Myth of the Arapaho People	73	(3)
Creation by Thought: A Myth of the Winnebago People of Wisconsin	76	(1)
Glooscap and His People: A Myth of the Micmac People of Canada	77	(4)
Hurakan Creates the World: A Myth of the Mayan People	81	(1)
The Fifth Sun: A Myth of the Aztecs of Mexico	82	(2)
Quetzalcoatl: A Myth from the Aztecs of Mexico	84	(1)
Creation from Illusion: A Myth of the Uitoto People of Colombia	85	(1)
Amana: A Myth of the Calina People of South America	86	(1)
The Birth of Humanity: A Myth of the Yupa of South America	87	(2)
2. MYTHS OF DEATH AND REBIRTH	89	(70)
Myths of Death	92	(18)
Death Comes to Humanity: A Myth of the Khoikhoin People	92	(2)
The Messenger Fails: A Myth from Nigeria	94	(1)
Heiseb and Death: A Myth of the San of the Kalahari	94	(2)
The Origin of Death: A Myth of the Maasai People	96	(1)
Why People Die: A Myth from Madagascar (Malagasy Republic)	97	(1)
The Slaying of Humanity: A Myth of Ancient Egypt	97	(3)
Orpheus and Eurydice: A Myth from Ancient Greece	100	(2)
The Woman Who Was Death: A Myth from India	102	(1)
Choosing Death: A Myth of the Poso People of Indonesia	103	(1)
The Bird That Brought Death: A Myth of the Aranda of Australia	104	(1)
The Moon and Death: A Myth of the Wotjobaluk People of Australia	105	(1)
How Coyote Kept Death for the People: A Myth of the Caddo	106	(2)
The Husband's Quest: A Myth of the Tachi Yakut	108	(2)
Myths of the Great Flood	110	(23)
The First Great Flood: A Myth from Ancient Mesopotamia	110	(1)
Telepinu's Anger: A Myth of the Ancient Hittites	111	(1)
Deucalion and Pyrrha: A Myth from Ancient Greece	112	(2)
The Flood Giants: A Myth from Ancient Lithuania	114	(1)
Alexander the Great Floods the World: A Myth from Turkey	115	(1)
The Flood of Good and Evil: A Myth from Ancient Persia	116	(1)
The Just Man and the Flood: A Myth from Ancient India	117	(2)
Manu the Creator: A Myth of the Hindu People	119	(1)
The Orphans and the Flood: A Myth from Yunnan Province, China	120	(2)
The Hunter's Warning: A Myth from Mongolia	122	(1)
The Perilous Fish: A Myth of the Valman People of New Guinea	123	(1)
The Forbidden Names: A Myth of the Skagit People	124	(2)
The Last People: A Myth from the Aztecs of Mexico	126	(1)
The Man and the Dog: A Myth of the Huichol of Western Mexico	127	(2)
The Snake Brother: A Myth of the Jivaro People of Ecuador	129	(1)
Seven Stones: A Myth from the Ekoi of Nigeria	130	(1)
Hospitality Repaid: A Myth of the Bakongo of Zaire	131	(2)
Myths of Rebirth	133	(26)
Isis and Osiris: A Myth from Ancient Egypt	133	(2)
Sacrificed by Her Kin: A Myth from the Kikuyu of Kenya	135	(1)
The Death and Rebirth of Lemminkainen: A Myth from Finland	136	(4)
Demeter and Persephone: A Myth of Ancient Greece	140	(2)
Inanna's Descent to the Underworld: A Myth from Ancient Sumer	142	(4)
The Story of Markandeya: A Hindu Myth from India	146	(2)
The Rebirth of the Bodhisatta: A Buddhist Myth from India	148	(1)
Nu Wa Mends the Sky: A Myth from China	149	(1)
The Lord of the Land: A Myth from Japan	150	(1)
Pare and Huto: A Myth from Polynesia	151	(2)
Gwion's Rebirth: A Myth from Ancient Wales	153	(2)
John Barleycorn: A Mythic Song from Britain	155	(4)
3. MYTHS OF ORIGINS	159	(60)
Myths of the Sun, Moon, and Stars	160	(26)
The Stealing of the Sun and Moon: A Myth from Siberia	160	(2)
Raven Steals the Sun: A Myth from the Peoples of the Pacific Northwest	162	(3)
Raven Steals the Light: A Myth from the Inuit People of Alaska	165	(2)
The Theft of Sun and Moon: A Myth of the Zuni People of the Southwest	167	(3)
Ah-Ha-Le Seeks the Sun: A Myth of the Miwok of California	170	(2)
Kuat: A Myth of the Mamaiuran People of Brazil	172	(1)
The Old Man and the Sun: A Myth of the San of the Kalahari	173	(1)
Why There Is Day and Night: A Myth of the Cambodian Hmong	174	(1)
The Two Shining Daughters: A Myth from the Minyong People of India	175	(2)
Ra's Journey: A Myth from Ancient Egypt	177	(1)
The Hidden Sun: A Myth from Japan	178	(1)
The Origin of the Moon: A Myth of the San of the Kalahari	179	(1)
Eating the Sun and Moon: A Myth from Ancient India	180	(2)
The Creation of the Pleiades: A Myth of the Wyandot People	182	(1)
The Origin of the Pleiades and the Pine Tree: A Myth from the Cherokee People	183	(2)
The Creation of the Pleiades: A Myth from Ancient Greece	185	(1)
Myths of Earth and Earthly Things	186	(33)
Why Thunder and Lightning Live in the Sky: A Myth from Nigeria	186	(1)
Henqn the Thunder: A Myth from the Wyandot People	187	(1)
How Procreation Began: A Myth of the Ashanti People	188	(2)
The Beginning of Marriage: A Myth of the Tswana of the Southern Kalahari	190	(2)
The Origin of the Tibetan People: A Myth from Tibet	192	(2)
The Origin of the Inca People, Version One: A Myth from Peru	194	(1)
The Origin of the Inca People, Version Two: A Myth from Peru	195	(1)
The Origin of the Inca People, Version Three: A Myth from Peru	196	(1)
The Origin of the Bear: A Myth of the Cherokee People	197	(1)
The Origin of Shamans: A Myth of Mongolia	198	(2)
Angara, Daughter of Lake Baikal: A Myth from the Lake Baikal Region	200	(1)
The Mountain of Fire: A Myth of the Klamath People	201	(1)
The Birth of the Coconut Tree: A Myth from the Chamorro of Guam	202	(1)
The First Evergreen Tree: A Myth from Mongolia	203	(1)
Prometheus Steals Fire: A Myth of the Ancient Greeks	204	(3)
The Theft of Fire: A Myth of the Ojibway People	207	(2)
The Birth of Wenebojo and His Theft of Fire: A Myth of the Chippewa-Speaking People	209	(1)
The Origin of Cattle: A Myth of the Maasai	210	(2)
The Origin of the Durian Fruit: A Myth from the Philippines	212	(3)
Why the Crow Is Black: A Myth from Ancient Greece	215	(1)
The First Story of Kama Pua'a: A Myth of Hawaii	216	(1)
The Second Story of Kama Pua'a: A Myth of Hawaii	217	(2)
4. MYTHS OF THE GODS	219	(40)
Isis Gains Her Magic Powers: A Myth of Ancient Egypt	221	(2)
The War of Hours and Set: A Myth from Ancient Egypt	223	(4)
The Deeds of Ninurta: A Myth from Ancient Sumer	227	(2)
The Building of Asgard's Wall: A Myth from the Ancient Norse	229	(3)
Thor and the Midgard Serpent: A Myth from the Ancient Norse	232	(2)
Lugh: A Myth from Ancient Ireland	234	(2)
Sri Krishna: A Myth from Hindu India	236	(9)
Ganesh: A Myth from India	245	(2)
The Baal Epic: A Myth from Canaan in Ancient Palestine	247	(3)
Artemis and Apollo: A Myth of Ancient Greece	250	(4)
Creating Gods and Life: A Myth of Samoa	254	(1)
Pele: A Myth of Hawaii	255	(2)
Sedna: A Myth of the Inuit	257	(2)
5. MYTHS OF THE HEROES	259	(76)
Lone Heroes	260	(51)
The Epic of Gilgamesh: A Myth from Ancient Mesopotamia	260	(4)
Lituolone: A Myth of the Sesuto People of Africa	264	(1)
Hou Yi and Chang'er: A Myth from China	265	(2)
Li Bing Fights the River Deity: A Myth from China	267	(1)
Geser: A Myth of Tibet	268	(6)
The Eight-Headed Serpent: A Myth from Japan	274	(1)
Kabai and Kubil: A Myth from Dauan Island, the Torres Strait	275	(3)
Maui: A Myth of Hawaii	278	(3)
Cuchulain of Ulster: A Myth from Ancient Ireland	281	(4)
Perseus: A Myth from Ancient Greece	285	(5)
Sigurd: A Myth from Ancient Norway	290	(7)
Lugalbanda: A Myth from Ancient Sumer	297	(4)
Beowulf: A Myth of the Anglo-Saxons	301	(4)
Sundiata: A Myth from Mali	305	(6)
Hero Twins	311	(24)
The Hero Twins of the Maya: A Myth from the Quiche Maya	311	(4)
Romulus and Remus: A Myth from Ancient Rome	315	(3)
The Twin Brothers: A Myth of the Dine, the Navajo People	318	(17)
Bibliography	335	(10)
General Index	345	(16)
Character Name Index	361	(6)
Culture Index	367