Mythology (Eyewitness Books) - Hardcover

From the mighty Zeus of Ancient Greece to the trickster Coyote of Native America, a host legendary icons spring to life in this comprehensive overview of world mythology.  With a cultural and topical approach, Mythology examines the various interpretations of phenomena such as creation, afterlife, deities, and heroes from the Greek, Norse, Egyptian, Native American, Asian, Celtic, African, Maya, Inca, and Hindu traditions. Stunning color photographs and a rich array of artifacts and renderings highlight the influence of mythology on the arts and world religions.

Grade 4 Up-Covering creation, the cosmos, the sun and moon, supreme beings, floods, the natural world, fertility and birth, ancestor worship, forces of evil, divine weapons, war, spirits, love and happiness, tricksters, idols, mythical beasts, death, and the end of the world, this book leaves few stones unturned. Collected from museums worldwide, lavish photos of figurines, paintings, mosaics, masks, textiles, and other treasures display a veritable gallery of culture within these pages. Philip points out similarities of world myths and provides quite a bit of introductory information, though the sound-bite presentation that makes this series so popular cannot go into the detail that the subject deserves. There is no sense that any of the practices, such as shamanism, still exist, and the overall tone of the book is rather patriarchal. Report writers may glean a few facts, but will have to look further for more information or for the actual stories mentioned. The wealth of illustration far outweighs the literary value, but as a browsing tool, this is bound to be used.
Angela J. Reynolds, West Slope Community Library, Portland, OR
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