Greek Gods and Goddesses


Book Description

The ancient Greeks worshipped a host of gods and goddesses. Preserved today in poetry, art, and mythology, these divine beings were part of a religious pantheon from which worshippers sought health, good crops, and deliverance from enemies. This collection of mythical figures introduces youngsters to Greek mythology in an appealing way to fans of all ages.




Goddesses in Myth, History and Culture (Color)


Book Description

This book fills the very real need for an affordable, accessible, academic textbook featuring Goddesses from a wide range of world religious, cultural and mythological traditions. As a textbook, its primary audience is professors and students in university and college courses in Goddess Studies, Religious Studies, and Women's and Gender Studies. It will also be of interest to students and instructors in the many Goddess-themed courses outside the academy. The contributors to the textbook were selected for their scholarly expertise and qualifications in their respective areas of study, both established and emerging scholars from Canada, the U.S., the U.K., Scandinavia, and Australia. The Goddess traditions surveyed in the 23 chapters include the Female Divine in the major world religions-not only Hinduism and Buddhism, but also in the "Western Religions" of Judaism, Christianity and Islam, popularly regarded as impervious to the Goddess. The coverage ranges from ancient to contemporary, Mago to Mary Magdalene. As such, it is a unique and much-needed resource for students and faculty, as well as a treasury of Goddess scholarship. [Editorial Note: Regarding the Artworks by Sudie Rakusin and Deborah Jane Milton in Appendix, only e-book and the color print book include them. In order to save space for the book, the list of References is made available in the Mago Books website. (Free PDF download available in a page entitled Goddesses in Myth, History and Culture under the menu of Textbooks in http: //www.magobooks.com). In any case, all chapters are formatted so that full bibliographical information can be found in the footnotes.]




Planetary Gods and Goddesses Coloring Book


Book Description

Astronomers are discovering more and more celestial objects in the far reaches of our solar system. Twenty-eight original hand-drawn coloring pages introduce the astronomy and myth of this new solar system, from the Sun out to remote Sedna and Planet 9. Includes classical planets, dwarf planets, TransNeptunian objects, some asteroids and centaurs, with 13 pages of mythic storylines from global cultures, new astronomy information, tables and maps. For ages 8?adult.




The Goddess Myth in Contemporary Literature and Popular Culture


Book Description

Honorable Mention for the 2022 Elli Köngäs-Maranda Prize awarded by the Women's Section of the American Folklore Society Goddess characters are revered as feminist heroes in the popular media of many cultures. However, these goddess characters often prove to be less promising and more regressive than most people initially perceive. Goddesses in film, television, and fiction project worldviews and messages that reflect mostly patriarchal culture (included essentialized gender assumptions), in contrast to the feminist, empowering levels many fans and critics observe. Building on critiques of other skeptical scholars, this feminist, folkloristic approach deepens how our remythologizing of the ancient past reflects a contemporary worldview and rhetoric. Structures of contemporary goddess myths often fit typical extremes as either vilified, destructive, dark, and chaotic (typical in film or television); or romanticized, positive, even utopian (typical in women’s speculative fiction). This goddess spectrum persistently essentializes gender, stereotyping women as emotional, intuitive, sexual, motherly beings (good or bad), precluded from complex potential and fuller natures. Within apparent good-over-evil, pop-culture narrative frames, these goddesses all suffer significantly. However, a few recent intersectional writers, like N. K. Jemisin, break through these dark reflections of contemporary power dynamics to offer complex characters who evince “hopepunk.” They resist typical simplified, reductionist absolutes to offer messages that resonate with potential for today’s world. Mythic narratives featuring goddesses often do, but need not, serve merely as ideological mirrors of our culture’s still problematically reductionist approach to women and all humanity.




Goddesses of Color


Book Description

The re-awakening of the goddess concept has become more important than ever as women attempt to survive their own evolution of today. A growing number are searching for effective ways to use this ancient philosophy in more personalize and creative ways. As we fight for justice and respect for what we bring to the table, no better expression demonstrates our current mood as does the statement of character Paul Atreides in Frank Herbert’s sci-fi ‘Dune’, “The sleeper has awaken”. This journal of goddesses and their poetic myths attempts to remind us, we are the power and light. Regardless of race, cultural or economic status, it is now time to own it. For men, we welcome you to explore and sense the road we’ve traveled, the burden we’ve carry and most important, our resilience to overcome and continue.




Ancient Goddesses


Book Description

The nurturing Earth Goddess, the Great Mother worshipped at the dawn of civilization—historical fact or consoling fiction? While Goddess mythologies proliferate and the public devours books by artists, psychotherapists, and enthusiastic amateurs, it is remarkable that those in the field of prehistory have remained largely silent. Did Goddess worship really exist? What actually remains from the earliest cultures, and what can it tell us? What can we learn about the early stages of human religion from the study of prehistoric carvings, pictures, pottery, figurines, and temples? In Ancient Goddesses, historians and archaeologists write accessibly about this intriguing and controversial topic for the first time. Considering a number of significant early civilizations—Predynastic and Early Dynastic Egypt; “Old Europe;” Early North West Europe; “Celtic” civilization; the Prehistoric Aegean; Malta; the Ancient Near East; Old Testament Israel; Çatalhöyük; and Archaic Greece—these experts review the most recent evidence so that readers can make up their own minds. Contributors include Ruth Tringham and Margaret Conkey, University of California, Berkeley; Lynn Meskell, New College, Oxford; Fekri Hassan, University College, London; Karel van der Toorn, University of Amsterdam; Joan Westenholz, Bible Lands Museum, Jerusalem; Elizabeth Shee Twohig, University College, Cork; Caroline Malone, New Hall, Cambridge; Mary Voyatzis, University of Arizona; and Miranda Green, University of Wales College.




Goddesses and Monsters


Book Description

The essays focus upon popular culture as it is informed by ancient and current mythic images, narratives, personalities, icons and archetypes. Topics include: the cult status of the serial sex killer; sexual murder as a contemporary form of religious sacrifice; pornography as an everyday narrative underlying not only sexism, but also racism, homophobia, and militarism; the relation of incest to nuclearism; pornography and the sacred; cyborg myth; and subtextual presence of ancient goddess figures in contemporary narratives, including that of Princess Diana.




National Geographic Essential Visual History of World Mythology


Book Description

Conveniently sized yet large in scope, National Geographic Essential Visual History of World Mythology an irresistible treasure to own and to give."--BOOK JACKET.




Myths and Legends of Hawai'i Coloring Book


Book Description

Fifteen myths and legends of Hawai'i--stories about K ne, K, Lono, Maui, Pele, Hina, Kamapua'a. and other gods and demigods--accompanied by dynamic scenes to color. A glossary and a list of references add to the educational value of the text and illustrations.




Native Americans: 22 Books on History, Mythology, Culture & Linguistic Studies


Book Description

The anthology 'Native Americans: 22 Books on History, Mythology, Culture & Linguistic Studies' presents an unparalleled compilation that dives deep into the diverse fabric of Native American heritage. This collection spans a wide range of literary styles, from scholarly essays and historical recordings to personal narratives and mythological tales, encapsulating the rich tapestry of Native American cultures. The editors have meticulously curated works that reflect both the diversity and the unity of the Native American experience, emphasizing seminal pieces that have shaped our understanding of indigenous peoples histories, cosmologies, and sociolinguistic dynamics. This compilation not only showcases the range of Native American voices but also serves as a vital resource in the broader context of Americana literature. The contributing authors and editors, including notable figures such as Lewis Spence, Franz Boas, and Cyrus Thomas, come from various backgrounds of ethnology, anthropology, and linguistics, thereby enriching the anthology with their comprehensive research and profound insights into Native American life. Their collective work underscores significant historical and cultural movements, offering perspectives that range from the foundational mythologies of different tribes to the impact of European colonization. This scholarly assembly fosters a deeper appreciation of the complexities and richness of Native American societies, embracing a wide array of cultural narratives and academic reflections that contribute to the field's evolving discourse. 'Native Americans: 22 Books on History, Mythology, Culture & Linguistic Studies' is an indispensable addition to the libraries of enthusiasts and scholars alike. It invites readers to embark on a comprehensive journey through the intellectual and spiritual landscapes of indigenous peoples of North America. This anthology not only acts as a bridge connecting the past with the present but also emphasizes the educational value inherent in examining these multifaceted studies. As such, it provides a unique opportunity to explore a plethora of perspectives, documenting the legacy and perpetuity of Native American cultures within the broader tapestry of human civilization.