Myths and Legends An illustrated guide to their origins and meanings

354 Pages·2009·57.99 MB·English

by  Wilkinson

MYTHS
&LEGENDS

CONTENTS
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TheEpicofGilpmesh 156 A!' RID\ 230 MythsofthePlumedSerpent
~1)1hsof Ugarit Ancient l:gYIII 234 AztecN~tureGods
~1}1hsofthe lhttitcs The&ginningofthe\Vorld 236 The Caribbean
TheGreatSkyGod 162 Book of the Dead 238 The Five Eras 3()6
DciursofF~Ieand Fortune '" A KingS Murder 240 Gods and Spirits 3()8
Ccmoal Asia and Arabia Goddesses of the Nile 2H Ghede 310
TI~eFightApinsthil 168 journeytotheLmdoftheDe~d 246 SoUlhAmerica 312
TheltgendofRusnomandSohmb 170 West Africa 248 Inca Beginnings 31<
AnimalM)'thsofMongolla 172 African Origins 250 SkyGodsoftheAndes 318
Godsof\\\u AtlatiSe 252 Spiri1SojP1au 320
The EpicofGesar Khan 176 Mythica11lerMs
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TheOriginoftheGanges 208 Index 344
!;astAsia THE AMERICAS 276 Acknowledgrncrrls 351
PanGuCreatestheUniverse NorrhArncrica 280
legendsoftheChineseHeroes Navajo Emergence 282
TheCourtofthejadeEmperor Ancestor~
TheTenSmtsofllea,·en Raven Steals the light 286
The Adventures of Monkey 220 journey to the Sky 288
Thejap;meseCreation 222 MytltsoftheFarNorth 290
Susano-OandhisDes.:endanrs 226 Mesoamerica
Ki111aro 228 PopolVuh 19<
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INTRODUCTION
M yths-stories of the gods. of heroes. Some of the world's greatest literature, from
and of grem cosmic events-are told the Greek epics of Homer to the sagas of the
in all of the world's many cultures early Icelandic writers. are based on much
They deal with the deepest, most fundamental older myths that were originally told orally.
issues: the creation of the universe and of the
human race. the nature of the gods and spirits, MYRIAD MYTJ-lS
what happens to us when we die, and how the Because of their oral roots, myths are not set in
world will end. They examine love and jealousy, stone. Each one, endlessly retold, has spawned
war and peace. good tmd eviL Myths explore variations_O ften, there is no single "correct"
these crucial issues with intriguing plots, vivid version of a myth. The name of a god will
characters, memorable scenes, and concepts change from one tribe to the next: a twist in
1har touch our deepes1 emolions~ and so they a rale will be explained in different ways by
have become eternally fascinating neighboring groups. Written versions of a
Myths began as tales told around the fire by myth multiply the retellings still further
successive generm.ions. and in places they are This book can only 1.ell a fraction of rhe
srill passed on orally. L"ller. with the invention world's myrhs. and usually only b>ives one
of writing. people began to write their myths version of each story. But it does contain a
down and adapt them in new ways-mrning generous selection of myths from around the
1hem imo plays, poems. or novels. for example globe, including many from rhe cultures of
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SOi\\E CULTURES HAVE THOUSANDS OF
DEITIES, SO Tl IE SCOPE FOR VARIATIONS
IN THEIR MYTHS IS AL1\ lOST INfiNITE.
Europe thac because they have been written Earth Diver, a common figure in Native
down and widely circulated, have had an American myths. In other myths the world is
enonnous influence across the world. the offspling of a male and a female creator
Often, people come much later. Usually
COSMOS AND PEOPLE they are molded from day or cmved from
Among the seemingly endless variety of myths wood Like human sculptors, the gods often
are common themes. Nearly every mythology make several false starts. Myths from Mexico
starts with the question: "How did the universe to Greece tell of three versions of people, only
begin7" Often. a shadowy creator takes the firsT the last being right_ Sometimes the first people
step: a god. perhaps, who wills himself into are male. and when they begin to die the gods
being. Frequently, the creator is faced \'lith a make women so that the people can reproduce.
cosmic egg_ In one variation of the Chinese
creation myth, for instance, the god Pan Gu GODS AND THEIR POWERS
has to break such an egg 10 fom1 the land and Most cultures have a large number of gods or
sky. Sometimes the creator has 10 fetch land spirits-sometimes thousands, because there
from the depths of a primal ocean-like The are spiriTs evel)'\vhere. In places as far ap:m as
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FOR EARLY PEOPLES, THE EXISTENCE OF
DEITIES EXPLAINED I VIIY TilE SUN SIIONE
AND I VI-I ERE THE RAINS CA1\ IE FRO!'vl.
Japan and Aflica. every rock. stream, lake. Undenvorld. They may also be culture heroes,
and hill may have its own spilit. Many are who teach people imponant skills such as
local deities, worshipped mainly by the people fire-making_ Their achievements are often so
who live nearby and share their sacred space great that they become gods when they die.
Yel even in cultures that ha\'C thous...m ds
of deities rhere are ~core" groups of widely MYTHS OFTJ-IE ELEMENTS
known gods with special powers. There are Among the most prominent gods are those
gods of the sun, the rain, the sea, the sky, the of the elements, notably the sun and the rain.
mountains. and rhe rivers_ Specific gods look They detem1ined whether crops grew. so the
after hunting, fam1ing, love. childbirth, war. sun and weather gods were often the most
and death. The myths involving these gods widely worshipped of all the gods. From the
rend w relate closely tO their roles Inca sun god lmi to the Greek sky god Zeus,
Man>' other myths involve rnonals with they were supremely powerful
extraordinary superhuman powers. These Some of the most familiar mythical themes
heroes accomplish apparently impossible tasks. concern the elements. Many cultures have a
win battles single-handedly, and even visit the myth in which the sun disappears, depriving