The Dictionary of Mythology: An A-Z of Themes, Legends and Heroes

The Dictionary of Mythology
An A-Z of Themes, Legends and Heroes
J. A. Coleman
Arcturus foulsham (2007)
ISBN: 0572032226

This book includes myths, heroes, places and legends from all five continents, and from the different cultures and peoples found there. It has appeal to all general knowledge and crossword enthusiasts, and those who enjoy complete reference libraries. It can be read for enjoyment as well as extensively for reference. It is a serious player in its field, both by its content and extent.

What is a myth? The Greeks knew and, as usual, had a word for it; the word mythos which means word, story, talk, etc. So, for that matter, did the tribes of North America – for the Chinook ik!anam; for the Kwakiutl nayam; for the Thompson tribe spektakl; for the Tsimshian adaox, while in Alaska it was adaork. And so, of course, did many other cultures – and they had not only the word but the stories to go with it. To most of them it was a story passed orally from one person to another, from generation to generation, telling of some hero, some god, some formulation of an abstract idea such as creation. Some of these became written records and so survived for us to know them and such is their power that, despite the disappearance of the cultures that gave rise to them, modern literature abounds with allusions and direct references to these marvellous tales, many of which are still endlessly retold – as they are in this book.

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