Status
Available
Call number
Collection
Publication
Oxford University Press (2013), Edition: 2, 352 pages
Description
Hercules, Zeus, Thor, Gilgamesh--these are the figures that leap to mind when we think of myth. But to David Leeming, myths are more than stories of deities and fantastic beings from non-Christian cultures. Myth is at once the most particular and the most universal feature of civilization, representing common concerns that each society voices in its own idiom. Whether an Egyptian story of creation or the big-bang theory of modern physics, myth is metaphor, mirroring our deepest sense of ourselves in relation to existence itself.
User reviews
LibraryThing member hailelib
This anthology was more than just a collection of myths. There were lists of suggested further reading and of the sources for the different sections. The book was organized by types of myths and Leeming spent some time explaining these types and wrote a short introduction to each featured story.
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While I was familiar with many of the stories there were also a number that I was seeing for the first time. A good book for those who want more than just a retelling of some myths but aren't ready for the rather dense writings of authors like Joseph Campbell. Show Less
Language
Original language
English
Original publication date
1990
Physical description
352 p.; 9.2 x 6.1 inches
ISBN
0199316368 / 9780199316366
Local notes
PS
Other editions
The world of myth by David Adams Leeming (Paper Book)
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