The Origins Of The World S Mythologies

Michael Witzel persuasively demonstrates the prehistoric origins of most of the mythologies of Eurasia and the Americas ('Laurasia').

Looks at ancient myths and legends, how they are interpreted today, and what they mean now.

Conveniently sized yet large in scope, National Geographic Essential Visual History of World Mythology an irresistible treasure to own and to give."--BOOK JACKET.

An exploration of myths from around the world with an authoritative text and an inspired selection of images

"This new edition of MYTHOLOGIES is the first complete, authoritative English version of the French classic, Roland Barthes's most emblematic work"--

This captivating volume mixes the myths of Ancient China with the beautiful art and history of the culture. The lavish color photographs bring the earliest achievements of the Chinese people into focus through the beliefs and mythology of one of the world's oldest civilizations. The strange stories, mystic rites, angry gods, vision quests, and magic symbols at the heart of Ancient China are crucial to understanding how the Chinese people have explained birth, death, creation, love, and other mysteries of life. Written in accessible language, even the most reluctant readers will submerge themselves in the history and mythology that this rich volume provides.

This unique approach to Egyptian mythology takes readers on a tour up the Nile, stopping at the most famous monuments and vividly retelling the myths connected to each site. Join Egyptologist Garry J. Shaw on an entertaining tour up the Nile, through a beautiful and fascinating landscape populated with a rich mythology: the stories of Horus, Isis, Osiris, and their enemies and allies in tales of vengeance, tragedy, and fantastic metamorphoses. Shaw retells these stories with his characteristic wit, and reconnects them to the temples and monuments that still stand today, offering a fresh look at the most visited sites of Egypt. The myths of ancient Egypt have survived in fragments of ancient hymns and paintings on the walls of tombs and temples, spells inked across coffins, and stories scrawled upon scrolls. Illustrations throughout bring to life the creation of the world and the nebulous netherworld; the complicated relationships between fickle gods, powerful magicians, and pharaohs; and eternal battles on a cosmic scale. Shaw’s evocative descriptions of the ancient ruins will transport readers to another landscape—including the magnificent sites of Dendera, Tell el-Amarna, Edfu, and Thebes. At each site, they will discover which gods or goddesses were worshipped there, as well as the myths and stories that formed the backdrop to the rituals and customs of everyday life. Each chapter ends with a potted history of the site, as well as tips for visiting the ruins today. Egyptian Mythology is the perfect companion to the myths of Egypt and the gods and goddesses that shaped its ancient landscape.

This book is a fascinating scientific inquiry into the question of how humans came to the existence that we know today. The goal for this book is to serve as a handbook of Comparative Mythology. A large portion of text is dedicated to retelling condensed versions of the ancient myths of the world so that a beginning scholar may attain a worldly knowledge of cultural myths that they can compare independently. In addition to this large body of mythological evidence; a Matrix Method of comparable characters is presented, such that a common thread of history emerges by comparing outlines of stories from around the world. The basic storyline of history includes parts from all religions.The history of the world, as we currently understand it, will dramatically change by three discoveries presented in this book. First is evidence, and mathematical proof, that ancient Earth was struck by a portion of Halley's Comet. Second is discovery of an ancient map of the world encrypted into the body of an ancient fresco. Third is discovery of a Matrix Method giving mathematical probability to characters often thought purely mythical. This book promises to offer the greatest paradigm shift in thinking on human history since Darwin. ...And in doing so, it presents a return to many of the greatest arts and literature stories the world has ever known.In simple real life stories what the Matrix Method means is that the mythological characters of Father Heaven, and Mother Earth show up in most cultural myths as the first set of parents to the world. Sea, and Sun, and Moon, are of the second generation. Thunder and Underworld are of the third generation. Matrix comparison leads to the conclusion that a universal pantheon of founders once existed. Where it gets really interesting is the point where recognizable historic figures relate to the same entities as mythical characters, Zeus is the same person as Ramses 1. Hera is the same person as Nefertiti, and Sara, and Ishtar. This book will be of interest to artists, and scientists, as well as, historians, religious scholars, and storytellers.