Myth and Knowingis by far the most comprehensive world mythology textbook. The text/reader format provides both jargon-free discussions of current themes and thinkers in the ongoing scholarly conversation about myth and a broad selection of complete myths chosen for literary merit and the cultural sensitivity of their translations. Rather than being genre-driven, the book emphasizes the psychological, religious, and cultural meanings of myth, presenting these with the intent of fostering in students a love of literature.

Chapter One: Purposes and Definitions

The Study of Mythology

What is Myth Historically?

The Rise of Mythology

Mythology During the Enlightenment

Mythology in the 20th Century

Mythology Today

Reading Mythology

Works Cited and Suggestions for Further Reading

Chapter Two: Creation Myths

The Birth of Order

Classifying Cosmogonic Myths

Types of Creation Myths

Reading Creation Myths

Amma and Nummo Create the World (Dogon/Nigeria)

The Creation, fromThe Eddas (Norse/Iceland)

From Chaos to King Zeus (from theTheogony/Greek)

Out of the Blue (Modern retelling from Iroquois sources)

The Creation of Ulligara and Zalgarra (Sumerian/Iraq)

Creation Myth from the Vishnu Purana (Hindu/India)

Genesis: The Creation Account (Hebrew Scriptures)

The Popul Vu (Maya/Yucatan and Guatemala)

Works Cited and Suggestions for Further Reading

Chapter Three: The Female Divine

The Great Goddess

Archetypal Psychology

Goddess as Literary Character Types

Reading the Female Divine

The Fire Goddess (Hawaiian/Hawaii)

White Buffalo Calf Woman (Brule Sioux/North American Great Plains)

The Courtship of Inanna and Dumuzi (Sumerian/Iraq)

A Taste of Earth (modern retelling of Vietnamese materials/Vietnam)

Kali Beheaded (modern retelling of Hindu materials/India)

Calisto and Arcas (from Ovid'sMetamorphosis; Roman/Italy)

On the Origin lƒ$