African Myths of Origin

African Myths of Origin PDF Author: Stephen Belcher
Publisher: Penguin UK
ISBN: 0141935316
Category : Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 544

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Book Description
Gathering a wide range of traditional African myths, this compelling new collection offers tales of heroes battling mighty serpents and monstrous birds, brutal family conflict and vengeance, and desperate migrations across vast and alien lands. From impassioned descriptions of animal-creators to dramatic stories of communities forced to flee monstrous crocodiles, all the narratives found here concern origins - whether of the universe, peoples or families. Together, they create a kaleidoscopic picture of the rich and varied oral traditions that have shaped the culture and society of successive generations of Africans for thousands of years, throughout the long struggle to survive and explore this massive and environmentally diverse continent.

African Myths of Origin

African Myths of Origin PDF Author: Stephen Belcher
Publisher: Penguin UK
ISBN: 0141935316
Category : Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 544

Get Book Here

Book Description
Gathering a wide range of traditional African myths, this compelling new collection offers tales of heroes battling mighty serpents and monstrous birds, brutal family conflict and vengeance, and desperate migrations across vast and alien lands. From impassioned descriptions of animal-creators to dramatic stories of communities forced to flee monstrous crocodiles, all the narratives found here concern origins - whether of the universe, peoples or families. Together, they create a kaleidoscopic picture of the rich and varied oral traditions that have shaped the culture and society of successive generations of Africans for thousands of years, throughout the long struggle to survive and explore this massive and environmentally diverse continent.

Myths of Origin

Myths of Origin PDF Author: Catherynne M. Valente
Publisher:
ISBN: 9781890464141
Category : Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 0

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Book Description
"Collected here for the first time, [the author's] early short novels explore, deconstruct, and ultimately explode the seminal myths of both East and West"--P. [4] of cover.

Origins of the Specious

Origins of the Specious PDF Author: Patricia T. O'Conner
Publisher: Random House Trade Paperbacks
ISBN: 0812978102
Category : Language Arts & Disciplines
Languages : en
Pages : 290

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Book Description
Do you cringe when a talking head pronounces “niche” as NITCH? Do you get bent out of shape when your teenager begins a sentence with “and”? Do you think British spellings are more “civilised” than the American versions? If you answered yes to any of those questions, you’re myth-informed. In Origins of the Specious, word mavens Patricia T. O’Conner and Stewart Kellerman reveal why some of grammar’s best-known “rules” aren’t—and never were—rules at all. This playfully witty, rigorously researched book sets the record straight about bogus word origins, politically correct fictions, phony français, fake acronyms, and more. Here are some shockers: “They” was once commonly used for both singular and plural, much the way “you” is today. And an eighteenth-century female grammarian, of all people, is largely responsible for the all-purpose “he.” From the Queen’s English to street slang, this eye-opening romp will be the toast of grammarphiles and the salvation of grammarphobes. Take our word for it.

A Dictionary of Creation Myths

A Dictionary of Creation Myths PDF Author: David Adams Leeming
Publisher:
ISBN: 9780195102758
Category : Creation
Languages : en
Pages : 342

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Book Description


The Origin Myths and Holy Places in the Old Testament

The Origin Myths and Holy Places in the Old Testament PDF Author: Lukasz Niesiolowski-Spano
Publisher: Routledge
ISBN: 1134938373
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 282

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Book Description
'Origin Myths and Holy Places in the Old Testament' examines the biblical narratives which describe the origins of holy places. It argues for the Hellenistic origin or redaction of most of these narratives. Three central questions are addressed: are there common features in biblical accounts about the foundation of places of worship; are there elements in the aetiological stories that reveal the 'real' mythology/rituals of the sanctuary; what were the circumstances of the creation of such narratives?

The Origins of the World's Mythologies

The Origins of the World's Mythologies PDF Author: Michael Witzel
Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA
ISBN: 0199812853
Category : Religion
Languages : en
Pages : 688

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

The Origin of Life and Death

The Origin of Life and Death PDF Author: Ulli Beier
Publisher: East African Publishers
ISBN: 9780435900236
Category : Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 82

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Book Description
This is a collection of creation myths from West, East, Central and North Africa.

Foundation Myths in Ancient Societies

Foundation Myths in Ancient Societies PDF Author: Naoise Mac Sweeney
Publisher: University of Pennsylvania Press
ISBN: 081224642X
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 256

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Book Description
Throughout the ancient world, origin stories were told across the ancient world in many different ways: through poetry, prose, monumental and decorative arts, and performance in civic and religious rituals. Foundation myths, particularly those about the beginnings of cities and societies, played an important role in the dynamics of identity construction and in the negotiation of diplomatic relationships between communities. Yet many ancient communities had not one but several foundation myths, offering alternative visions and interpretations of their collective origins. Seeking to explain this plurality, Foundation Myths in Ancient Societies explores origin stories from a range of classical and ancient societies, covering both a broad chronological span (from Greek colonies to the high Roman empire) and a wide geographical area (from the central Mediterranean to central Asia). Contributors explore the reasons several different, sometimes contradictory myths might coexist or even coevolve. Collectively, the chapters suggest that the ambiguity and dissonance of multiple foundation myths can sometimes be more meaningful than a single coherent origin narrative. Foundation Myths in Ancient Societies argues for a both/and approach to foundation myths, laying a framework for understanding them in dialogue with each other and within a wider mythic context, as part of a wider discourse of origins. Contributors: Lieve Donnellan, Alfred Hirt, Naoíse Mac Sweeney, Rachel Mairs, Irad Malkin, Daniel Ogden, Robin Osborne, Michael Squire, Susanne Turner.

The Penguin Book of Myths and Legends of Ancient Egypt

The Penguin Book of Myths and Legends of Ancient Egypt PDF Author: Joyce Tyldesley
Publisher: Penguin UK
ISBN: 014196376X
Category : Religion
Languages : en
Pages : 520

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Book Description
From Herodotus to The Mummy, Western civilization has long been fascinated with the exotic myths and legends of Ancient Egypt but they have often been misunderstood. Here acclaimed Egyptologist Joyce Tyldesley guides us through 3000 years of changing stories and, in retelling them, shows us what they mean. Gathered from pyramid friezes, archaological finds and contemporary documents, these vivid and strange stories explain everything from why the Nile flooded every year to their beliefs about what exactly happened after death and shed fascinating light on what life was like for both rich and poor. Lavishly illustrated with colour pictures, maps and family trees, helpful glossaries explaining all the major gods and timelines of the Pharoahs and most importantly packed with unforgettable stories, this book offers the perfect introduction to Egyptian history and civilization.

Myths of Creation

Myths of Creation PDF Author: Philip Freund
Publisher: Peter Owen Publishers
ISBN: 0720618053
Category : Social Science
Languages : en
Pages : 293

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Book Description
An exploration of mythology, religious belief, and scientific theory on the origins of the universe. A classic study of mythology, this examination investigates stories from all continents and ages—with all their startling similarities and contrasts—to reveal the workings of the human mind and imagination. Philip Freund provides revealing insight into the universality of ideas and faith by examining a wide range of texts such as the Old Testament, the Upanishads, and Gilgamesh in his search for parallels between creation fables. The analysis estimates, for example, that more than 500 flood legends have been told by more than 250 tribes and peoples from around the world. Also featured are clear presentations of the theories of towering figures such as Freud, Jung, Frazer, Campbell, and Malinowski who have proposed variously that myths are primitive history based on literal fact, a means of expressing profound tribal wisdom and psychological and sexual truth, or that they represent a search for kinship with the animal and vegetable world. Fascinating and erudite, this revered book ranks among the select handful of core texts in any mythology collection.