Dictionary Of Mythology Folklore And Symbols

A timeless classic.

The folk heritage of all regions, cultures, and peoples is well represented in the survey articles and entries

This fascinating guide to the history and mythology of woman-related symbols features: Unique organization by shape of symbol or type of sacred object 21 different sections including Round and Oval Motifs, Sacred Objects, Secular-Sacred Objects, Rituals, Deities' Signs, Supernaturals, Body Parts, Nature, Birds, Plants, Minerals, Stones and Shells, and more Introductory essays for each section 753 entries and 636 illustrations Alphabetical index for easy reference Three-Rayed Sun The sun suspended in heaven by three powers, perhaps the Triple Goddess who gave birth to it (see Three-Way Motifs). Corn Dolly An embodiment of the harvest to be set in the center of the harvest dance, or fed to the cattle to `make them thrive year round' (see Secular-Sacred Objects). Tongue In Asia, the extended tongue was a sign of life-force as the tongue between the lips imitated the sacred lingam-yoni: male within female genital. Sticking out the tongue is still a polite sign of greeting in northern India and Tibet (see Body Parts). Cosmic Egg In ancient times the primeval universe-or the Great Mother-took the form of an egg. It carried all numbers and letters within an ellipse, to show that everything is contained within one form at the beginning (see Round and Oval Motifs).

Passed down from generation to generation, the myths and rituals of Native Americans form a rich religious and cultural base from which all members of each society can create and maintain a sense of community, physical and emotional health, identity, family, and self. Such traditions, handed down through stories and rites, stand as the lifeblood of every Native American culture. This thoroughly illustrated and carefully researched guide explores the amazing array of mythical beasts, heroic humans, and nurturing spirits that make up the fascinating spectrum of Native American mythology. With over one thousand alphabetically arranged entries, representing over one hundred different Native American cultures, readers can quickly explore the meaning of hundreds of elements of Native lore--from names, phrases, and symbols, to images, motifs, and themes. Accompanying essays take a closer look at other issues related to the origin, development, and perpetuation of Native American mythology, such as the Christian influence on myth, varying mythology between tribes, storytelling, and more. We learn about such mythical creatures as Apotamkin of the Maliseet-Passamaquoddy tribe of the Southeast (a bogey monster with long hair and huge teeth who, through the fear he generates, keeps small children from straying onto thin, newly frozen ice in the winter and unguarded beaches in the summer), ritual healing ceremonials such as the Southwestern Navajo's Uglyway ceremony (a ceremony to remove and protect against the forces of chaos and disorder that give rise to illness), and the Marau ceremony of the Hopi Indians of the Southeast (a complex ceremony concerned with rain, the ripening of corn, and the fertility of women, as well as rites of initiating new members into the society). This compelling volume honors the richness of the beliefs and values of the many peoples of native North America, from northern Mexico to the Artic Circle. In addition, a complete bibliography of primary sources and secondary sources points the way to further research, making this the perfect reference for anyone interested in the mythical history of America's original inhabitants.

Provides an inventory of symbols from various cultures, including the symbolism in art, literature, dreams, and numbers.

Old Teutonic ideas concerning the dead were not very defined. Souls were conceived as in the air, sweeping past on the winds; they formed the phantom host accompanying the wild huntsmen of popular tradition. Or they might be dwelling in the hills, perhaps feasting there with Odhin, before Valhalla was known... -from then entry for Hel, the early Scandinavian abode of the dead From "Aah" (an Egyptian moon god) to "Ziudsuddu" (the Sumerian hero of the Creation), this is a deliciously browsable dictionary of the folklore of Europe, the ancient Americas, and the Near and Far East. Originally published in 1912 and weaving connections between the deities and legendary heroes of diverse traditions-are Krishna and Arthur spiritual brothers?-this will delight readers of mythology and comparative religion. Scottish occultist LEWIS SPENCE (1874-1955) was a fellow of the Royal Anthropological Institute of Great Britain and Ireland, and vice president of the Scottish Anthropological and Folklore Society. A renowned scholar of the Atlantis myth, he authored numerous books of mythology, folklore, and the occult, including The History of Atlantis (1926), The Occult Causes of the Present War (1940), and The Magic Arts in Celtic Britain (1945). MARIAN EDWARDES also wrote A Pocket Lexicon & Concordance to the Temple Shakespeare and translated (with Edgar Taylor) Fairy Tales, by the Brothers Grimm.