Old Teutonic ideas concerning the dead were not very defined. Souls were conceived as in the air, sweeping past on the winds; they formed the phantom host accompanying the wild huntsmen of popular tradition. Or they might be dwelling in the hills, perhaps feasting there with Odhin, before Valhalla was known... -from then entry for Hel, the early Scandinavian abode of the dead From "Aah" (an Egyptian moon god) to "Ziudsuddu" (the Sumerian hero of the Creation), this is a deliciously browsable dictionary of the folklore of Europe, the ancient Americas, and the Near and Far East. Originally published in 1912 and weaving connections between the deities and legendary heroes of diverse traditions-are Krishna and Arthur spiritual brothers?-this will delight readers of mythology and comparative religion. Scottish occultist LEWIS SPENCE (1874-1955) was a fellow of the Royal Anthropological Institute of Great Britain and Ireland, and vice president of the Scottish Anthropological and Folklore Society. A renowned scholar of the Atlantis myth, he authored numerous books of mythology, folklore, and the occult, including The History of Atlantis (1926), The Occult Causes of the Present War (1940), and The Magic Arts in Celtic Britain (1945). MARIAN EDWARDES also wrote A Pocket Lexicon & Concordance to the Temple Shakespeare and translated (with Edgar Taylor) Fairy Tales, by the Brothers Grimm.
This ambitious undertaking is designed to acquaint students, teachers, and researchers with reference sources in any branch of English studies, which Marcuse defines as "all those subjects and lines of critical and scholarly inquiry presently pursued by members of university departments of English language and literature.'' Within each of 24 major sections, Marcuse lists and annotates bibliographies, guides, reviews of research, encyclopedias, dictionaries, journals, and reference histories. The annotations and various indexes are models of clarity and usefulness, and cross references are liberally supplied where appropriate. Although cost-conscious librarians will probably consider the several other excellent literary bibliographies in print, such as James L. Harner's Literary Research Guide (Modern Language Assn. of America, 1989), larger academic libraries will want Marcuse's volume.-- Jack Bales, Mary Washington Coll. Lib., Fredericksburg, Va. -Library Journal.
First published in 1947, this book provides 'a brief guide to outstanding and typical sources of information with simple hints on how to discover and exploit them'.
This book is an amateur astronomer’s guide to the mythology and symbolism associated with the celestial bodies in the Solar System, and even includes some of the legendary tales of people who had or have a connection with these objects. It explores different cultures (for example, the Greco-Roman and the Norse) and different times and how stories were used to explain the worlds they saw above them. You’d be amazed how much of our world today reflects the myths and stories of these cultures! Most amateur astronomers are familiar with the various Solar System objects, but they will be only peripherally aware of what ancient cultures thought of these other worlds. In fact, the mythology of the planets challenges many twenty-first century concepts and beliefs There are other books available on astromythology, but this one focuses mostly on our own Solar System, as opposed to the constellations and deep sky objects. Alexander offers a new angle on timeless subjects and is exciting, informative and dramatic, as well as surprisingly relevant to everyday life. Find out for yourself how our modern world is steeped in the bygone worlds of yesteryear.
An “excellent” A-to-Z reference of female fighters in history, myth, and literature—from goddesses to gladiators to guerrilla warriors (Library Journal). This is an astounding collection of female fighters, from heads of state and goddesses to pirates and gladiators. Each entry is drawn from historical, fictional, or mythical narratives of many eras and lands. With over one thousand entries detailing the lives and influence of these heroic female figures in battle, politics, and daily life, Salmonson provides a unique chronicle of female fortitude, focusing not just on physical strength but on the courage to fight against patriarchal structures and redefine women’s roles during time periods when doing so was nearly impossible. The use of historical information and fictional traditions from Japan, Europe, Asia, and Africa gives this work a cross-cultural perspective that contextualizes the image of these unconventional depictions of might, valor, and greatness.
Covers the myths and legends of the Russian Empire at its greatest extent as well as other Slavic people and countries. Includes historical, geographical, and biographical background information.