As many as six thousand years ago, when their civilization flourished in the Nile River valley, the ancient Egyptians told many of the myths in this book. Author Don Nardo discusses various myths, including "The Creation of the Gods and Humans," and "The Near Destruction of Humanity." Nardo also introduces us to the story within a story in "The Shipwrecked Sailor." Each chapter is followed by a Question and Answer section which covers characters, themes, and symbols. An Expert Commentary section enhances the myths with opinions by noted scholars.

Alphabetically listed entries identify and explain the places, figures, animals, beliefs, and other important themes of Egyptian mythology.

Egyptian myths expressed the core values of one of the most sophisticated ancient civilizations. Ancient Egyptians had a deep belief in the existence of many gods and in life after death. Readers will learn that the Egyptians identified many of their divinities with elements of the natural world, such as the sun, stars, and animals. They also believed their kings to be endowed with divine power. Some of ancient Egypt's most vivid and powerful religious myths are accompanied by photographed works of art and architecture, which further illuminate the religious symbolism and magical beliefs of the ancient Egyptians.

The book presents in depth histories of the cults of seven major goddesses and many excerpts from their literature--hymns, prayers, and magical spells as well as descriptions of ritual, temples and clergy.

No creature has quite the sting in our mythology and folklore as the scorpion. From the dawn of human civilization they have been a dangerous figure in our imaginations—poisonous, precise, and deadly quiet—but as Louise M. Pryke shows in this book, their bad reputation has overshadowed many exceptional qualities. Scurrying across hundreds of millions of years and across every continent except Antarctica, this book gives the scorpion its due as one of nature’s longest lasting survivors. Indeed scorpions are older than dinosaurs. An ancient arthropod, their form—notable for its pair of pincers and an elegant tail that holds a menacing stinger high in the air in a permanent striking position—hasn’t changed since prehistoric times, though today there are some 1700 different species. Throughout our existence scorpions have served as a powerful cultural and religious symbol—sometimes dangerous, sometimes protecting—from the Egyptian goddess Serket to Zodiac astrology to folk medicine. A fascinating tour that takes us from the art of North Africa to the American Civil War to the markets of Beijing, Scorpion is an homage to one of earth’s oldest residents.

Learn about the geography, culture, and lives of people from famous civilizations around the world. Find out about each culture’s gods, heroes, and myths in this fantastic book that talks about the significance of each deity.

"A retelling of several key ancient Egyptian myths, with background information describing the history, geography, belief systems, and customs of the ancient Egyptians"--Provided by publisher.

This stunning collection of myths is for adults, and brings together 52 goddess myths from across the globe: familiar, unknown, forgotten - spectacular! Pioneering storyteller Sally Pomme Clayton revitalises powerful goddesses, creating new perspectives and contemporary literature from fragments of myth. It features 52 papercuts by artist Sophie Herxheimer, juxtaposing the ordinary and fabulous. The Mighty Goddess reimagines ancient myths in poetic language, putting the goddess in the centre of the narrative, exploring the diverse ways in which goddesses are represented. Words and images delight and subvert, revelling in the female, exploring creativity, desire, destruction and death. This contemporary collection brings goddesses to life in all their glory. Journey from Alaska to Mesopotamia, and ancient Rome to Tibet, and follow the goddess from creator to crone in a collection where myth and art combine.

A better deal could not be out there. This valuable box or combo contains six titles that are each targeted towards a different area of the world. Most are in Europe, and a couple of them beyond that continent. You will read about myths, deities, people being killed, people betraying each other, animals that can talk, supernatural powers that are exerted, and much, much more. Each of these books is not only filled with the stories from those times, but a number of background details of that particular society as well, so you can better understand how people thought and why these stories make more sense in the historical context. Feel free to begin reading or listening anytime, but I would encourage you to start right now.