Myths & Legends

Myths & Legends

The poet Stanley Kunitz has said that “Old myths, old gods, old heroes have never died. They are only sleeping at the bottom of our mind, waiting for our call.” Exploring how these timeless tales and characters resonate through the ages, Philip Wilkinson’s gorgeously illustrated Myths & Legends unravels their meaning, context and cultural significance. Myths & Legends cuts a wide swath, from the oft-told tales of Ancient Greece to lesser-known, but equally colorful, myths of the Americas and the East. Topic spreads explore characters and stories in terms of their cultural, psychological and religious meanings, showing their influence in their own times and today. Feature spreads visit sacred sites that can still be seen today, and underline the importance of cross-cultural themes. In looking at such universal themes as creation, heroic trials, tricksters’ lessons, and death and the afterlife, Myths & Legends investigates how different cultures address their most deeply-rooted questions. Complemented by sumptuous illustrations, ample cross-referencing and specially constructed family trees and maps, Myths & Legends pays gorgeous tribute to the stories central to our cultural legacy.

Hardcover: 352 pages

Publisher: Dorling Kindersley, Inc. ( June 01, 2009 )

Item #: 67-8298

ISBN: 9780756643096

Product Dimensions: 7.625 x 10.0 x 0.0 inches

Product Weight: 47.0 ounces