"Myths and legends from Central and South America. Features include information about the history and culture behind the myths, pronunciations, lists of deities, word glossary, further information, and index"--
The new afterword focuses on the durability of Indian mythology and the abundant material increasingly available since the mid 80s. Bierhorst offers new information on previously obscure tribes on the mythological map. Includes information on Amazon myth, anaconda, Bird Nester, Bororo Indians, Chorote Indians, Christ, Corn Tree, Cuna Indians, emergence myths, flood myths, fox, Ge Indians, Inca culture, jaguar, Kogi Indians, origin of male domination, Mataco Indians, Mundurucu Indians, Parrot Brides, Quechua Indians, Selknam Indians, Shavante Indians, Shuar Indians, Star Woman, Tehuelche Indians, Toba Indians, Tree and the Flood, trickster, Tupinamba Indians, Twin Myth, Underwater Woman, vulture, Warrau Indians, Wirakocha, Yamana Indians, Yurupari, etc.
Discusses the mythology from Indians of various regions of Mexico and Central America, describing origins, comparing the similar tales, and presenting some of the myths themselves.
Over one hundred stories showcasing the wisdom and artistry of one the world’s richest folktale traditions—the first panoramic anthology of Hispano-American folk narratives in any language. Gathered from twenty countries and combining the lore of medieval Europe, the ancient Near East, and pre-Columbian America, the stories brought together here represent a core collection of classic Latin American folktales. Among the essential characters are the quiet man's wife who knew the Devil's secrets, the three daughters who robbed their father's grave, and the wife in disguise who married her own husband—not to mention the Bear's son, the tricksters Fox and Monkey, the two compadres, and the classic rogue Pedro de Urdemalas. Featuring black-and-white illustrations throughout, this Pantheon Fairy Tale and Folklore Library edition is unprecedented in size and scope, including riddles, folk prayers, and fables never before translated into English.
Why do spiders hide in dark corners? How did the world come into being? Explore the rich mythologies and legends of the many cultures of the peoples of Africa. Famous Myths and Legends is a beautifully photographed and illustrated 12-volume series designed to narrate the ancient mythologies and inherited stories from the many diverse cultures throughout the world.
Six myths lie at the heart of the American experience. Taken as aspirational, four of those myths remind us of our noblest ideals, challenging us to realize our nation's promise while galvanizing the sense of hope and unity we need to reach our goals. Misused, these myths allow for illusions of innocence that fly in the face of white supremacy, the primal American myth that stands at the heart of all the others.
How did it happen that whole regions of Latin America—Amazonia, Patagonia, the Caribbean—are named for monstrous races of women warriors, big-footed giants and cannibals? Through history, monsters inhabit human imaginings of discovery and creation, and also degeneration, chaos, and death. Latin America’s most dynamic monsters can be traced to archetypes that are found in virtually all of the world's sacred traditions, but only in Latin America did Amazons, cannibals, zombies, and other monsters become enduring symbols of regional history, character, and identity. From Amazons to Zombies presents a comprehensive account of the qualities of monstrosity, the ways in which monsters function within and among cultures, and theories and genres of the monstrous. It describes the genesis and evolution of monsters in the construction and representation of Latin America from the Ancient world and early modern Iberia to the present.