World Myth with NEW MyLiteratureLab -- Access Card Package

ALERT: Before you purchase, check with your instructor or review your course syllabus to ensure that you select the correct ISBN. Several versions of Pearson's MyLab & Mastering products exist for each title, including customized versions for individual schools, and registrations are not transferable. In addition, you may need a CourseID, provided by your instructor, to register for and use Pearson's MyLab & Mastering products.   Packages Access codes for Pearson's MyLab & Mastering products may not be included when purchasing or renting from companies other than Pearson; check with the seller before completing your purchase.   Used or rental books If you rent or purchase a used book with an access code, the access code may have been redeemed previously and you may have to purchase a new access code.   Access codes Access codes that are purchased from sellers other than Pearson carry a higher risk of being either the wrong ISBN or a previously redeemed code. Check with the seller prior to purchase.   -- Worldly and scholarly, this well-designed text presents myths from around the world in a lively and easy-to-read manner.  The material has been arranged by geographic and chronologic origin.  It features fresh translations, numerous illustrations, maps, and commentary that emphasizes the anthropological, historical, religious, sociological, and economic contexts in which the myths were told.   0321878221 / 9780321878229 World Myth with NEW MyLiteratureLab -- Access Card Package Package consists of: 0205730523 / 9780205730520 World Myth 0205883583 / 9780205883585 NEW MyLiteratureLab -- Valuepack Access Card

Table of Contents:
 PREFACE   PART I. INTRODUCTION   1. THE NATURE OF MYTH What is a myth? Perspective: the “Myth of Atlantis” Types of myth divine myth legend folktale The study of myth   PART II. MYTHS OF THE ANCIENT WORLD    2. MESOPOTAMIAN MYTH Sumerians and cuneiform writing MYTH: Akkadian epic of creation the primordial separation first conflict between older and younger gods birth of Marduk Marduk and Tiamat Observations: Separation and succession in Mesopotamian creation stories Perspective: The biblical creation story MYTH: Inanna prefers the farmer MYTH: The descent of Ishtar Observations: The cycle of life MYTH: the great flood a race of slaves lessening the population the universal flood Observations: divine myth in Mesopotamia MYTH: Gilgamesh Gilgamesh, son of Lugalbanda Enkidu Humbaba the love of Ishtar the Bull of Heaven the death of Enkidu the quest for eternal life the man who never died the seven loaves the plant of rejuvenation Observations: Gilgamesh, archetypal hero Conclusion: The myths of Mesopotamia   3. EGYPTIAN MYTH The black land Egyptian history Egyptian writing the forms of Egyptian writing Perspective: The decipherment of Jean-François Champollion MYTH: the creation by Atum MYTH: creation in Memphis MYTH: the destruction of humankind MYTH: story of the two brothers Conclusion: Egyptian myth   4. THE MYTHS OF CANAAN The discovery of Ugarit Ugaritic writing MYTH: myth of Aqhat Observations: the legend of Danel MYTH: the myth of Baal El surrenders Baal Baal defeats Sea a banquet for Baal the wrath of Anat Baal and Anat bribe Asherah Kothar-wa-Hasis builds a palace for Baal Death kills Baal Athtar, son of Asherah, is made king Anat kills Death the resurrection of Baal and Death Perspective: the Hittite myth of kingship in Heaven Observations: the triumph of Baal   5. GREEK MYTH Greek landscape Indo-European origins The alphabetic revolution Greek polytheism Homer and Hesiod MYTH: the creation of the world the children of Chaos the children of Gaea: the Titans Cyclopes, Hecatonchires Cronus against Uranus the birth of Aphrodite, monsters, and sea deities MYTH: the war against the Titans MYTH: the war against Typhon Observations: prominent themes in Hesiod’s stories of the early days  MYTH: Odysseus in the cave of Polyphemus Observations: the man who came home   6. ROMAN MYTH Roman geography and culture Roman government and history Roman gods equated with Greek Gods of the family and state MYTH: the legend of Aeneas arrival at Carthage suicide of Dido descent to the Underworld Latium Observations: The Aeneid, a myth of rebirth MYTH: Romulus and Remus MYTH: the rape of the Sabine women MYTH: Titus Tatius, Tarpeia, and the death of Romulus MYTH: Lucretia and the end of monarchy Observations: an imaginary past preserves the present   7. MYTH IN INDIA Historical background The sources for Indian myth MYTH: Brahma creates the world MYTH: Vishnu’s incarnation as a dwarf MYTH: the myth of what was in Krishna’s mouth Perspective: Mughal miniatures Shiva, Lord of the Dance MYTH: the sage dances for Shiva MYTH: gods and demons churn the ocean to obtain ambrosia MYTH: Devi kills the buffalo demon MYTH: the abduction of Sita MYTH: how Rama rejected Sita Observations: Queen Maya, lord of all   PART III. MYTHS OF THE MEDIEVAL PERIOD   8. PERSIAN MYTH History of Iran Perspective: Frank Miller’s “300” Writing down the Persian language The religion of Zoroaster The cult of Mithras Ferdowsi’s Shahnameh MYTH: Rostam and Sohrab Observations: Ferdowsi’s Shahnameh   9. JAPANESE MYTH Japan in history Japanese religions MYTH: Japanese creation of the world MYTH: origin of the Japanese islands MYTH: the triumph of Amaterasu MYTH: Amaterasu and Susano-o MYTH: the tale of the bamboo-cutter the suitors the stone begging bowl of the Buddha Perspective: Japanese woodblock prints the jeweled branch from paradise the jewel in the dragon’s head the easy-delivery charm of the swallows the imperial hunt the celestial robe of feathers Observations: the tale of the bamboo-cutter   10. CELTIC MYTH Celtic records MYTH: Cuchulain of Ireland birth of Cuchulain youthful deeds of Cuchulain Perspective: the Druids more youthful deeds of Cuchulain the cattle raid at Cooley the loves of Cuchulain the death of Cuchulain Observations: Cuchulain and history Wales MYTH: Pwyll, Prince of Dyfed Pwyll and Arawen change places the lady on horseback the stranger at the feast the invention of “Badger in the Bag” the happiness of Pwyll and Rhiannon the penance of Rhiannon Observations: folktale motifs in the Mabinogion   11. SCANDINAVIAN MYTH Writing among the Norsemen The Poetic Edda MYTH: the giantess’s prophecy the creation of the world the world tree and war in heaven the horn of Heimdall the death of Balder Giantland and the land of Hel Ragnarok begins the death of Odin Thor and the serpent the world renewed Observations: the Norse picture of the cosmos MYTH: the rise of the Volsungs MYTH: Sigurd and Fafnir MYTH: Sigurd and Brynhild Perspective: the Ring Cycle of Richard Wagner Observations: the saga of the Volsungs PART IV. MYTHS OF THE MODERN WORLD    12. THE MYTHS OF MEXICO Maya civilization Maya writing MYTH: Popol Vuh the Maya creation of the world the creation of humans the death of Vucub Caquix Zipacna kills the four-hundred boys the twins overcome Zipacna, son of Vucub Caquix the twins overcome Cabracan, son of Vucub Caquix the birth of Hunahpu and Xbalanque Xquic Tricks the Lords of Xibalba the rest of the story The Aztecs MYTH: the birth of Huitzilopochtli MYTH: the plot of Tezcatlipoca against Quetzalcoatl Perspective: the Plumed Serpent of D. H. Lawrence MYTH: the journey to Tlapallan   13. OCEANIC MYTH European contact The study of Oceanic myth The myths of Polynesia Perspective: the statues of Easter Island MYTH: Polynesian creation myths MYTH: the Polynesian creation of humans MYTH: Legends of Maui MYTH: Maui fishes up the land MYTH: Maui snares the sun MYTH: Maui goes in quest of fire MYTH: Maui Raises the Sky MYTH: the death of Maui Perspective: the Day of the Gods by Paul Gauguin The myths of Melanesia MYTH: the origin of man MYTH: the origin of races MYTH: the Melanesian origin of fire MYTH: the origin of cannibalism MYTH: the wise and the foolish brothers MYTH: Melanesian Myths of cannibalism The myths of Micronesia MYTH: the exploits of Olofat The myths of Australia MYTH: the Australian origin of humankind MYTH: the origin of the moon MYTH: the Australasian origin of fire MYTH: how the curlew got red legs MYTH: Australasian myths of cannibalism   14. MYTHS OF THE NORTH AMERICAN INDIANS American Indian culture MYTH: Hopi creation MYTH: Raven, bringer of abundance MYTH: Sedna, mistress of the underworld MYTH: The release of the wild animals MYTH: Lodge-Boy and Thrown-Away MYTH: the bear-woman MYTH: The trickster’s great fall and his revenge Perspective: Longfellow’s Hiawatha  MYTH: the girls enticed to the sky MYTH: the man-eating wife MYTH: the fatal swing MYTH: Cherokee origin of fire Observations: stories of the North American Indians   15. AFRICAN MYTH African history Conditions of performance MYTH: creation in Uganda MYTH: the tale of Abunawas MYTH: Hare MYTH: the story of the cannibal mother and her children MYTH: the disobedient daughter who married a skull MYTH: the magic drum MYTH: Nyikang and the sun Observations: African myth   PART V. THEORY   16. THEORIES OF MYTH INTERPRETATION Greek theories physical allegory historical allegory: euhemerism moral allegory Medieval and Renaissance theories Theories of the Enlightenment Theories of the 19th and 20th centuries Romantic theories anthropological theories linguistic theories psychological theories structuralist theories contextual approaches Conclusion: the study of myth

About the Author :
Barry B. Powell, after graduation from Berkeley and Harvard, taught at Northern Arizona University, then took a job at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where he taught for 34 years. He is a master of many languages, both ancient and modern, and for many years taught Egyptian philology and culture at Wisconsin, in addition to courses in Classics. His book Homer and the Origin of the Greek Alphabet, which advanced the thesis that one man invented the Greek alphabet in order to record the poet Homer, has become a classic and changed the way we think about the origins of Western Culture. He has written many other books, including two novels and a book of poetry. His book Classical Myth, is the best-book on the topic, and is now in its seventh edition. His book Homer is the best-selling study of this author. The Greeks: History, Culture, and Society (second edition, with Ian Morris) is widely used in college classrooms. He is currently preparing a translation of the Iliad and the Odyssey. He lives in Santa Fe, New Mexico, where he and his wife Patricia enjoy the company of their children and grandchildren.