Presents alphabetically arranged, cross-referenced entries on the mythology of cultures around the world, including entries on specific myths and legends and their themes, overviews of larger subjects, informational sidebars, maps and charts, and color photos and illustrations. This volume covers "Acastus" through "Coriolanus."

All societies have their own myths and legends, but they're much more than just stories. Myths and legends tell us about a people’s history, science, and cultural values—the things they knew, the things they believed, and the things they felt were important. World Myths and Legends retells tales from the Middle East, Europe, Africa, Asia, Australia, and the Americas. From the Greek myths to ancient epics like Gilgamesh and the trickster tales of Anansi the Spider, it helps readers think about why the same themes, characters, and events may show up in different parts of the globe. Along the way kids will also find lots of fun and interesting projects that let them experience the stories first-hand. World Myths and Legends unveils wonders of the ancient world as it takes readers on a fascinating adventure of mystery and imagination.

Bold reader - open your mystical map and get ready to travel through time with 21 dazzling stories of daring and deceit, reward and punishment. Meet gods, goddesses and demigods, serpents, coyotes, talking fish and clever spiders, and cavort with sea nymphs, mystical women, terrifying beasts and volcano people - as you discover different tales of how the world began. These powerful, fascinating myths and legends will transport you to every corner of the globe. You'll journey from ancient to modern times, from hot climates to freezing temperatures, from mountaintops to seafloors. The stories in this book link you to past generations; these tales have been passed down through a long line of oral traditions. The souls of ancestors, the lives of heroes and the fates of mortals are waiting to be discovered. Myths and legends are retold by Alli Brydon and beautifully illustrated by Julia Iredale. Myths from Africa include: 'The Creation of the World' from the Kuba people of the Democratic Republic of Congo 'The Tale of the Ghosts and the Flutes' from the Beba people of Cameroon 'Anansi and the Box of Stories' from the Ashanti people of present-day Ghana Myths from Europe include: The Selkies from Scottish mythology 'Athena, Arachne and the Duelling Looms' from Greek mythology Myths from Asia include: Lord Ganesh from the Hindu pantheon 'Nyai Loro Kidul, Queen of the Sea' from Indonesian mythology Myths of Oceania include: 'The Legend of Maui' from Polynesian mythology Uluru from the Anangu people of Australia The Rainbow Serpent from the Aboriginal people of Australia Myths of the Americas include: 'Coyote Steals Fire for the People' from the Native American people of the United States 'The Hero Twins Visit the Underworld' from the Mayan People of Mesoamerica The Mapinguary from Brazilian mythology Myths from the Arctic include: Sedna, the Mother of the Sea from Inuit mythology Niekija and the Northern Lights from Sami Shamanism About Lonely Planet Kids: Lonely Planet Kids - an imprint of the world's leading travel authority Lonely Planet - published its first book in 2011. Over the past 45 years, Lonely Planet has grown a dedicated global community of travellers, many of whom are now sharing a passion for exploration with their children. Lonely Planet Kids educates and encourages young readers at home and in school to learn about the world with engaging books on culture, sociology, geography, nature, history, space and more. We want to inspire the next generation of global citizens and help kids and their parents to approach life in a way that makes every day an adventure. Come explore! Important Notice: The digital edition of this book may not contain all of the images found in the physical edition.

A collection of myths from many cultures.

Myths and Legends from Around the World brings together more than 50 vividly illustrated stories from many countries. It goes back in time to Ancient Greece and Rome with tales of gods, goddesses, heroes, demons, dragons and tricksters.

Each chapter is bursting with stories, facts and trivia that provide insight into various cultures (similarities and differences, importance of certain values, history of a people, the effect of geography on stories, etc).

Covers folklore, myths and legends in Africa, the Middle East, Europe, the Americas, and the Far East.

More than 2500 detailed entries provide a comprehensive insight into mythology, one of the most influential strands of social and literary history. Drawn from every continent, from the Americas and the Middle East to Europe and Asia, the origins and historical significance of central figures and legends are examined, and recurring motifs traced throughout the ages and around the world.

This is a visual approach to explaining and elaborating upon many of the world's most interesting myths and legends. From the Hindu stories about Rama and his family to the Aboriginal myth of The Rainbow Snake, the book focuses on tales and characters from cultures around the world. Each story is illustrated with a beautiful work of art, while the large format allows the reader to examine every annotated section close-up.

Creation myths, quests, the eternal battle between good and evil, these are some of the classic tales that feed the ravenous beast of modern culture. For many the classical traditions of the Greeks and the Romans occupy the imagination but the ancient world was a lively and fertile source of stories, reaching much further back than the pantheon of Zeus and his fellow gods. For the early civilisations, from the ancient Chinese to African tribal societies, stories were told to explain the origins of fierce weather, of unexplained disasters, of floods and earthquakes. Many traditions developed independently but still echoed similar themes in the natural human desire to understand the world around us. This new book brings to life the myths and legends of eight intriguing traditions: Native American, Chinese, Celtic, Scottish, Greek, Viking, Indian and African. With a cast of characters as broad and wide as the ancient river Styx the book is packed with the great themes of life: love, revenge, eternal conflict, the obsession with power and the everlasting the battle between the wily and the strong. This powerful new book is a dazzling collection of the most gripping tales, vividly retold.