Publisher's Synopsis
Alphabetically ordered, this book contains over 4000 entries which describe the origins and significance of mythological beings and legendary figures and events from a range of cultures and ages.;The breadth of coverage includes: gods and goddesses from the major world faiths; legends, rites and beliefs from religions and cults from all ages of mankind; sprites, spirits and monsters from folklores of ancient civilizations in Eastern and Western Europe, and from the Americas and Australasia; fabulous beasts, birds, insects and fish featuring in the iconography or animism of diverse cultures; and legendary characters and fabled events from the literary traditions of many nations, including anonymous sources in folk tales, nursery rhymes, ghost stories.;It is aimed at the general reader and at students of anthropology, sociology, history, comparative religion, folklore and literature.
