Don’t Know Much About® Mythology (79 page)
Read Don’t Know Much About® Mythology Online
Authors: Kenneth C. Davis
Shun (Chinese), 377
sibling rivalries.
See also
twins
biblical, 81–82
Egyptian, 81–82
Mesopotamian, 150–51
myths and, 27
Sibyl, 202
sídh, 283
Sigurd or Siegfried (Norse), 1, 298, 306–8
Sin (Mesopotamian), 147–50
Sinn Féin, 288
Sisyphus, 210
Sita (Indian), 324, 347–48
Sitting Bull, 486
Skadi (Norse), 301
Skald
(Norse), 298
sky gods
Norse, 300
North American, 484
Sky Woman (North American), 490–91
snakes
African myths, 417
Pacific Island myths, 505–6
Socrates, 25, 171, 186–87, 226
Solon, 186, 236
Soma (Indian), 334–36
Song of Hiawatha, The
, 495–98
Song of Solomon (Song of Songs), 146
Sophocles, 186, 199, 239, 240
Soyinka, Wole, 398, 410
Spanish conquistadors, 10, 394, 467–69, 477
spells, Egyptian, 72
sphinx, Egyptian, 97–98
Sphinx, Greek, 240
Spiderman (North American), 488–89
Spider Woman (North American), 490
spiritual life, myths and, 16–17, 26–27.
See also
religions
stables, Augean, 224
stag, Arcadian, 223
Step Pyramid of Djoser, 95, 100–101
Stonehenge, 279–80
storytellers.
See
oral traditions
Strabo, 277
Stymphalian birds, 224
sub-Saharan Africa, 404–7, 413–15.
See also
African myths
Sucellus (Celtic), 278, 282
Sudras, 328
suicide, 9, 385
Sukuna-Biko (Japanese), 390
Sulis (Celtic), 273–74
Sumerian civilization, 132–36, 160.
See also
Mesopotamian myths sun gods
American, 449
Egyptian, 75–76, 79–80, 82–85, 101–2
Greek, 202–3
Incan, 480
Indian, 336
Japanese, 387–88
Mesopotamian, 143 supreme being
African, 409
American, 449
myths, religion, and, 48–49
Surya (Indian), 336
Susano or Susanowo (Japanese), 387, 389–91
suttee practice, Indian, 343
swamps, Mesopotamian creation myths and, 131–33
swastika symbol, 319
swords
King Arthur’s, 293
Sigurd’s, 306–7
symposia, Greek, 181, 200, 216
Syrinx (Greek), 213
Táin Bó Cúailnge
, 263, 275–76, 285–88
Tammuz (Mesopotamian), 41–42, 89, 145–46, 148, 150–51, 206
Tang Di Yao (Chinese), 378
Tantalus (Greek), 210
Taoism, 362–63, 382–84
Tao Te Ching, 382–84
Taranis (Celtic), 282, 305
Tartarus (Greek), 195, 210
Taweret (Egyptian), 94
Tefnut (Egyptian), 78, 79
Telemachus, 249–50
temples
Indian, 329–30
Mesopotamian, 126–29
Tenochtitlán (Aztec), 10, 464, 465, 467–68
Terminus (Roman), 253
Tethys (Greek), 195
Tezcatlipoca (Aztec), 473
Thanatos (Greek), 209
Theagenes, 33
Theia (Greek), 195
thematic perspectives, 11–12
Themis (Greek), 195
theocracy of Greek, 187–90
Chinese, 368–69
Egyptian myths and, 61–63, 67–68
Incan, 476
Japan’s first divine emperor, 384–86
Mesopotamian, 125
and, 12
Theodosius, 58–59, 81
Theogony
, 19, 192, 191, 194, 216
Theseus (Greek), 224, 234–37
Thor (Norse), 1, 305–6
Thoth (Egyptian), 76, 96–97
Thrall (Norse), 302–3
three sovereigns, Chinese, 375–76, 377
Three Wise Men or Three Kings, Persian, 169–70
Thugs, 341
Ti (Chinese), 376
Tiamat (Mesopotamian), 135, 138–39, 140–42, 149–50
Tiberinus (Roman), 253
Tigris River, 123
timelines.
See
milestones
Tirawa (North American), 491
Titans (Greek), 195–96, 214
Tlaloc (Aztec), 467, 473–74
Tlazolteotl (Aztec), 474
Tobadzastsini (North American), 489–90
Tolkien, J. R. R., 296, 306
totems, 452–53
Tower of Babel, 122, 160–63
tragedy.
See
drama, Greek trickster gods
African, 5, 410–11, 422–27
American, 5, 450–51, 488–89
Mesopotamian, 158
and, 5, 27
world, 395
Norse, 303–4
Trimurti (Indian), 337
Trojan War, 27, 243–48
Troy, 37–38, 184, 247–48
truth, myth as, 24–25
Tsao Chun (Chinese), 378
Tsuki-Yomi (Japanese), 387, 389
Tuatha (Celtic), 275, 283–84
Turé (African), 410, 423–24
Tutankhamun, 108
twins.
See also
sibling rivalries
African myths, 421
American myths, 449–50, 489–91
Mayan myths, 457, 460–62
world myths, 395
Typhon (Greek), 89, 198
Uke-mochi (Japanese), 389
Ulster Cycle, 275, 285–86
Uncle Remus stories, 411, 414, 426
unconscious mind, 47–49
underworld
Aztec, 469
Greek, 209–11
Indian, 336
Japanese, 389
Mesopotamian, 147, 166
North American, 493
United States currency, pyramids on, 104–5
Unkulunkulu (African), 422
untouchables caste, 328–29
Upanishads, 320, 322–23, 326–27, 337
Uranus (Greek), 195–97, 214
Ur-Nammu, 143
Uruk, 132–33, 148, 151–53, 157
Utnapishtim, 155, 157
Utu (Mesopotamian), 143, 150
Uzume (Japanese), 388
Vaisyas, 328
Valhalla, 297, 300
Valkyries, 300, 302
values.
See
morals
Vamana (Indian), 344
Vanir (Norse), 300
Varaha (Indian), 344
Varuna (Indian), 336
Vedas, 321–23, 326–27, 334
Venus (Roman), 148, 200–201, 492
Venuses, prehistoric, 141
Vesta (Roman), 213–14
Vikings, 295–98.
See also
Norse myths
Viracocha (Incan), 480–81
Virgil, 171, 199, 246, 255–57
virgins, 9, 88, 213–14, 471
virtue.
See
morals
Vishnu, the Preserver (Indian), 321, 331–33, 335, 337, 341, 344–45
Voodoo or Vodun, 6, 396, 425, 427–30
Vulcan (Roman), 76, 211
Wakonda or Wakan Tanka (North American), 449
Wales, 29, 275, 292–95.
See also
Celtic myths
war gods, 84–85, 388
water
Celtic myths, 274
Mesopotamian myths, 131–33, 145–47
We (African), 11, 409
weighing of hearts ritual, 90–93
Wepwawet (
see
Egyptian)
Western vs. Eastern mythologies, 14–15, 309–11
White Buffalo Woman (North American), 491–92
Wiccan movement, 141–42, 309
wig controversy in India, 7
witch doctors.
See
shamans
Wodin or Wotan.
See
Odin (Norse) women
divinities, 42 (
see also
Goddess movement; Great Mother)
Greek view of, 219
Indian view of, 328
Japanese view of, 389
virgins, 9, 88, 213–14, 471
Wonomi (North American), 487
Works and Days
, 191, 192, 193, 219
work songs, African, 414–15
worldviews, myths as, 33
writing
Egyptian, 63, 66, 76, 96–97
Greek, 165, 183, 185, 192
Incan, 478
Mesopotamian, 132–34
Norse, 298
Wulbari (African), 11, 409
Xenophanes, 27
Xerxes, 186
Xipe Totec (Aztec), 474
Xiuhtecuhtli (Aztec), 473
Xi Wang Mu (Chinese), 376
Xochipilli (Aztec), 474
Xochiquetzal (Aztec), 474
Xun Zi, 381
Yahweh (Judeo-Christian), 166
Yajur-Veda, 321
Yama (Indian), 336
Yamato-no-orichi (Japanese), 391
Yan Di (Chinese), 376
Yao (Chinese), 378
yellow, Chinese myths and, 376
Yellow River, 372
Yggdrasil (Norse), 299–300, 304, 308
Yi (Chinese), 378–79
yin and yang, 370
Ymir (Norse), 299
yoga, 339–40
Yorlunggur (Pacific Islands), 505–6
Younger Edda, 298
Yu (Chinese), 374, 379
Yu Di Shun (Chinese), 377
Yu Huang (Chinese), 376
Yum Cimil (Mayan), 462
Yurugu (African), 426–27
Zao Jun (Chinese), 378
Zeus (Greek), 2, 27, 179, 182, 185, 189, 193, 197–98, 207, 214–17, 219–20, 238
ziggurats, 122, 128, 139, 148, 161–62
Ziusudra (Mesopotamian), 158
Zoroastrianism, 169–70
K
ENNETH
C. D
AVIS
, the
New York Times
best-selling author of
Don’t Know Much About
®
History
, was recently dubbed the “King of Knowing” by Amazon.com. He often appears on national television and radio, and has served as a commentator on NPR’s
All Things Considered
. His
USA Weekend
column is read by millions. In addition to his adult titles, he writes the Don’t Know Much About
®
Children’s series, published by HarperCollins. He and his wife live in New York City and Vermont.
Visit www.AuthorTracker.com for exclusive information on your favorite HarperCollins author.
RAISE
FOR
Don’t Know Much About
®
Mythology
“Kenneth Davis is the high school teacher we all wish we’d had—smart, funny, and irreverent.
Don’t Know Much About® Mythology
is a crystalized reminder of what’s enduring about the past, and why it continues to matter today. It’s a perfect companion to Harry Potter,
The Da Vinci Code
, and the Bible—and the best excuse I know to get deserted on a Greek island. Between Odysseus and Icarus, it might even give you a few clues for how to find your way home—and how not to.”
—Bruce Feiler, author of
Walking the Bible
“Because Davis ranges widely and with such sparkling wit through a broad sweep of myths, his survey provides a superb starting point for entering the world of mythology.”
—
Publishers Weekly (starred review)
“An engaging handbook on gods, goddesses, and the civilizations they have inspired…. [Davis’s] goal as an author is to infect readers with his own intellectual eagerness, and he succeeds admirably with this idiosyncratic tour of world mythology…. Even professors will have to concede that Davis has done his research—his annotated bibliography is excellent—and that he’s a laudably conscientious scholar. An accessible and informed guide to an always-fascinating subject, and an ideal reference for the general reader.”
—Kirkus Reviews
“A massive overview of every myth under the sun. Davis shatters commonly held myths about myths, differentiating them from allegories and legends, and explores the history of such tales in societies and religions around the globe, from Mesopotamia’s Gilgamesh to Genesis’ Noah. You can read here, too, about Native Americans’ use of peyote, a tempestuous Nordic god of thunder, and a debate over the meaning of evil.”
—Daily News
“Who are we? In his thoughtful and entertaining
Don’t Know Much About
®
Mythology
, Kenneth C. Davis suggests that, in large part, we are a product of our own creation, our best instincts and worst prejudices—reflected in the stories we tell. We have become our myths, Davis suggests, though they are not necessarily true. In the Americas, myths justified slavery and the destruction of native societies. Yet myth can empower, pulling us upward toward greater creativity and humanity. For all who choose to know just who we are, you must read this book.”
—Richard M. Cohen, author of
Blindsided: Lifting a Life Above Illness
“Over the long development of human culture, the stories of mythology are like a chronology of human evolution. They tell us who we are, and hint at the answer to the growing spiritual intolerance we see today: at the level of the soul, we all want the same things. In
Don’t Know Much About® Mythology
, Kenneth C. Davis illuminates these ideas in a popular and entertaining way. I highly recommend this book.”
—James Redfield, author of
The Celestine Prophecy
“With his trademark wit and fiercely entertaining style, Kenneth Davis draws us into mythological worlds, preserving ancient mysteries and enchantments even as he clarifies, orders, and makes sure we have the stories straight.
Don’t Know Much About® Mythology
frames questions that arouse curiosity and produces answers that lead to astonishment. Whether you want a crash course on North American Native myths or a refresher course on Gilgamesh, this book will provide a great read and remain a permanent reference manual.”
—Dr. Maria Tatar, Department of Folklore and Mythology, Harvard University, and author of
The Annotated Brothers Grimm
“In each of his Don’t Know Much About® books, Kenneth C. Davis has brought the forgotten child to the front row, reminding those of us who hated school that one size doesn’t fit all in education—that the desire to learn is far better served by the pursuit of individual passion than by classroom conformity. In
Don’t Know Much About® Mythology
, Davis uses the intense passion that stirred in his own soul as a fifth-grade boy reading The Odyssey to take us to a place of magic, imagination, and transcendence. Davis not only presents an entertaining exploration of humanity’s most sacred stories across many civilizations, he brings us face to face with our most distant ancestors, who were driven by innate curiosity to explain life’s mysteries. Davis’s book is a masterpiece. I couldn’t stop turning the pages.”
—Albert Clayton Gaulden, founder and director of the Sedona Intensive and author of
Signs and Wonders
