First composed by the Maharishi Vyasa in verse, it has come down the centuries in the timeless oral tradition of guru and sishya, profoundly influencing the history, culture, and art of not only the Indian subcontinent but most of south-east Asia. At 100,000 couplets, it is seven times as long as the Iliad and the Odyssey combined: far and away the greatest recorded epic known to man.The Mahabharata is the very Book of Life: in its variety, majesty and, also, in its violence and tragedy. It has been said that nothing exists that cannot be found within the pages of this awesome legend. The epic describes a great war of some 5000 years ago, and the events that led to it. The war on Kurukshetra sees ten million warriors slain, brings the dwapara yuga to an end, and ushers in a new and sinister age: this present kali yuga, modern times.At the heart of the Mahabharata nestles the Bhagavad Gita, the Song of God. Senayor ubhayor madhye, between two teeming armies, Krishna expounds the eternal dharma to his warrior of light, Arjuna. At one level, all the restless action of the Mahabharata is a quest for the Gita and its sacred stillness. After the carnage, it is the Gita that survives, immortal lotus floating upon the dark waters of desolation: the final secret!With its magnificent cast of characters, human, demonic, and divine, and its riveting narrative, the Mahabharata continues to enchant readers and scholars the world over. This new rendering brings the epic to the contemporary reader in sparkling modern prose. It brings alive all the excitement, magic, and grandeur of the original - for our times.

    The Little Book of Hindu Deities is chock-full of monsters, demons, noble warriors, and divine divas. Find out why Ganesha has an elephant’s head (his father cut his off!); why Kali, the goddess of time, is known as the “Black One” (she’s a bit goth); and what “Hare Krishna” really means.“Throw another ingredient in the American spirituality blender. Pop culture is veering into Hinduism.”—USA Today

    K. Rowling's Harry Potter series. But how should Christians approach modern works of fantasy, especially debated points such as magic and witches?From Homer to Harry Potter provides the historical background readers need to understand this timeless genre. It explores the influence of biblical narrative, Greek mythology, and Arthurian legend on modern fantasy and reveals how the fantastic offers profound insights into truth. The authors draw from a Christian viewpoint informed by C. S. Lewis and J. R. R. Tolkien to assess modern authors such as Philip Pullman, Walter Wangerin, and J. K. Rowling. This accessible book guides undergraduate students, pastors, and lay readers to a more astute and rewarding reading of all fantasy literature.

    Collection of the following titles: A Bag of Gold Coin, Choice of Friends, How Friends are Parted, Tiger and the Woodpecker, Friends and Foes

    It is a popular lovers' tale, rather unique in India. Marriages in India have traditionally been set by parents. However, princely families sometimes held bride's choice contests. In the case of Rukmini, daughter of the king of Vidarbha. Her father and brother had settled on Shishupala whom she detested. Her mind was set on Krishna of whose exploits she had heard. But there was to be no bride's choice event. So Rukmini takes the initiative by writing a letter to Krishna and sends it through a confidant. Krishna who also had heard of her, decides to act on the letter. Krishna and Balarama arrive in Rukmini's town and whisk her away on their chariot to their capital Dvaraka. Balarama fights Shishupala and defeats him.

    Seeking the aid of the gods through his high priest, the pharaoh casts an ancient spell giving him the power to return to a time just before his murder - if the gods grant his request. Sneferu is murdered and his high priest is able to secret his body away, which is the only hope for his return. Almost five thousand years later, Jade Morgan, an American Egyptologist is working on a stone altar. Catapulted back in time, the two must forge an alliance to keep Sneferu from being murdered a second time, but their hearts soon find that time is no barrier to true love. Weaving in and out of the traitors in the harem, as well as those in his court, the two quickly find they are traveling on the same path together. When the Nubian army is found camped across the Nile from his palace, Sneferu and jade must risk all and almost lose all to keep Egypt safe. Despite being kidnapped, captured, tortured and traded to their enemies, Jade and Sneferu overcome danger, deceit and death to find their together place in time.

    Introduce your students to the kinds of characters they will surely meet in life through the entertaining and exaggerated stories of the Greek gods. Take advantage of the 85-page study guide that fully utilizes the detailed D'Aulaires stories and pictures through drill work, comprehension questions, vocabulary, and activities. To be used with the D'Aulaires' Greek Myths text. Grade: 3-6

    The Sirens were now close enough for him to see their crimson mouths open in a scream, pale faces blazing with white-hot anger, their bird claws tearing at the air."When eleven-year-old Connie is sent to live with her eccentric aunt by the sea, she’s not expecting anything great—not to make friends with Col, the coolest guy in town, and certainly not to discover that mythical creatures still exist, that an ancient society has protected them for centuries, and that a dark and treacherous force is lurking in their midst. Most of all, she doesn’t expect to learn that she has the rarest of talents, greater even than her secret ability to communicate with animals. With Col’s help, she could achieve unimaginable power—and face the terrifying choices that come with it.In the tradition of Eragon, A Wrinkle in Time, and The Golden Compass, the first book in the Companions Quartet is a boldly original adventure that will ignite the imaginations and emotions of fantasy readers everywhere.

    Scientific Shaman. Big Brother Au-Go-Go. He sits comfortably at the apex of the pyramid of worldly knowledge, twiddling his thumbs. His word, according to followers, is The Word, and that word is Slack. Beyond science, reason — and orgasm — find in Bobliography instant instructions for those who follow no master. The third installment of the holy SubGenius books, Bobliography is an uproarious send-up of all things cult. In addition to providing a guide for Eternal Salvation (or triple your money back), Bobliography is the encapsulated history of the SubGenius "movement" — from its beginnings in the 1980s to the growing Internet empire it has lately become — and also the essential, comprehensive collection of SubGenius lore. A Whole Earth catalog for the Deeply Weird, a Farmer's Almanac for the Truly Strange — Bobliography is the revelation of the millennium.

    Legends, backgrounds on Devi, a Shakta Purana. Devi is Kali anad Durga, Mother of the Universe. an abridged literary rendering of the Bhagavatam, retells all major legends and stories.

    But what Odysseus thinks is the end of his long absence is truly only the beginning...

    Despite his unpopularity with some heathens, the number of his worshipers grows every year. This collection of twenty-seven poems, written by a dedicated loki's-woman, portrays some common and uncommon aspects of his character, his relationships to other deities, and how a relationship with this most misunderstood norse god may be as deeply fulfilling and meaningful as it may sometimes be nerve-wracking.

    It contains stunning new translations of such canonical texts as The Tales of the Heike as well as works and genres previously ignored by scholars and unknown to general readers.This volume includes generous selections from Man'yÿsh, The Tale of Genji, The Pillow Book, Kokinsh, and other classics of Japanese literature, as well as a stunning range of folk literature, epic tales of war, poetry, and no drama. The anthology offers an impressive representation of dramatic, poetic, and fictional works from both high and low culture, along with religious and secular anecdotes, literary criticism, and works written in Chinese by Japanese writers. The wealth of classical poetry, linked verse, and popular poetry is accompanied by extensive commentary.Traditional Japanese Literature is a companion volume to Columbia University Press's Early Modern Japanese Literature: An Anthology, 1600-1900 and part of its four-volume history of Japanese literature. Arranged by chronology and genre, the readings are insightfully introduced and placed into their political, cultural, and literary context, and the extensive bibliographies offer further study for scholars and readers. Including a wide range of classic and popular works in poetry, prose, and drama, this anthology presents a definitive overview of traditional Japanese literature and deepens our understanding of classical and medieval Japanese culture.

    Siva is a vivid retelling of the Siva Purana for today's reader. The book contains all the major legends of Siva, bringing them alive again for a new generation.

    It helps you discover everything you wanted to know about secret societies like the Freemasons, the historical mystery of Atlantis, why King Arthur, Leonardo da Vinci and Hitler are key figures, plus conspiracy theories, forgotten sciences, and ancient wisdom.

    Through conversations between characters, the author has broached different subjects regarding faith. He successfully elaborates and answers all questions posed, thus removing many doubts. Inspiring!

    However, few have written about the Giants of those worlds and the Gods who number among them--Loki, Hela, Fenris, the World Serpent, and others--until now. The Jotunbok--the first book in the Northern-Tradition Shamanism series--is a collection of the wisdom, ways and tales of the Giants and their Gods, told by those who revere and work with them.

    Written as a travelogue and etiquette-primer for would-be worldwalkers, and centered around the author's experiences on a nine-day walking tour of the Nine Worlds, this is the first book of its kind ever published.

    Hekate is one of the most fascinating Goddesses of the Ancient World. Loved, feared, hated and worshipped by people throughout history, the Witch Goddess of the Crossroads, facing three-ways, with her three faces, remains an image of power and awe in the modern world today, amongst those who understand and respect her power. This book "Hekate: Keys to the Crossroads" brings together the experiences and perceptions of more than twenty modern day Witches, Priestesses and Priests all of whom work with this awesome Greek Goddess in the UK today. Through their essays, rituals and artwork they present a unique view into the realms of this multi-faceted and popular Goddess. Part I - Hekate's History, Myths & Powers Here author and Priestess, Sorita D'Este, presents a detailed and comprehensive study of the history, myths and powers of Hekate. This invaluable section offers the reader insights to some of the roles, relationships and powers Hekate held in the Ancient World. Part II - Hekate's Witches This section contains essays by sixteen Witches, Priestesses and Priests who work with Hekate on a regular basis. Each contribution is as unique as the person who wrote it, clearly illustrating through both their differences and similarities that the many faces presented by Hekate in the ancient world continue on today in the twenty-first century. Hekate is a Goddess of transformation, initiation, childbirth, death and rebirth. She is the Mistress of Magick, Witchcraft and Sorcery. She is the key-bearing Goddess of Night who illuminates the paths through the mysteries with her bright torches, guarding the entranceways and guiding travellers through the realms of Heaven, Earth and Sea. Powerful and respected by Gods and mortals alike, she has the power to bestow gifts and blessings upon those who call upon her with honour and truth. Part III - Recipes, Rites & Rituals A collection of modern invocations, pathworkings, incense and food recipes, together with a group mystery play of the Abduction of Persephone by Hades in which Hekate plays a key role. Combining the best of research with a wide range of experiences this compact volume opens doorways in to many of Hekate's realms. It is a unique journey - enchanting, funny, scary, magickal and daring, challenging and informative. Whether you find yourself agreeing or disagreeing with the perceptions you will find within, one thing is certain: there is always more to learn and experience when it comes to Hekate

    BOOKS

    The voluminous book provides a range of international theories and methodologies in analytical folklore investigations and a classification scheme based on genre is offered as the system of taxonomy for Philippine traditional materials. Lopez counts on the regional folklorists to refine the classification according to the texts of their respective areas. The different genres, too, are explained and examined in another part of Lopez's study. The reader will definitely find interesting and useful, the illustrative examples for each genre.Because the Handbook is intended to be introductory, the author is optimistic about the future of Philippine folkloristics. Lopez believes that there is no limit to what the young and energetic folklorists can and will do for the future of the Philippine folklore.

    This collection of more than ninety illustrations dramatically demonstrates the amazing inventiveness of this remarkable nineteenth-century artist.His fanciful portrayals of sea serpents, fire-breathing dragons, lost souls suffering endless agonies, and scores of other grotesque images were originally drawn for The Bible, Paradise Lost, Don Quixote, The Divine Comedy, and other great works of literature. An excellent reference and an exceptional supply of royalty-free graphics for use by artists and craftspeople, these magnificent illustrations will delight lovers of fine art and anyone fascinated by creatures of myth and fantasy.

    

    Yet there is an aspect to this myth which has been neglected, but which is perhaps its most potent part of all.  For central to the Arthurian stories are the mysterious, sexually alluring enchantresses, those spellcasters and mistresses of magic who wield extraordinary influence over Arthur's life and destiny, bestriding the Camelot mythology with a dark, brooding presence. Echoing the search for the Grail, Carolyne Larrington takes her readers on a quest of her own - to discover why these dangerous women continue to bewitch us.  Her journey takes in the enchantresses as they appear in poetry and painting, on the Internet and TV, in high culture and popular culture.  She shows that whether they be chaste or depraved, necrophiliacs or virgins, the Arthurian enchantresses  are manifestations of the feared, uncontainable Other, frightening and fascinating in equal measure.

    Intending to become the mistress of the plantation, she uses her dark powers to bewitch and sexually enslave her owner, Arthur Stovall. Before she has gained much power, she’s discovered by the plantation mater’s mistress goes awry and Eris is burned alive. Her spirit is banished to the dark realm—the dwelling place for corrupt and depraved souls. But Eris grows obsessed with an uncontrollable desire for vengeance upon the Stovall family, and she uses trickery to escape this lower dimension. However, two hundred years have passed and settling the score with the plantation master is no longer an option. Undeterred, Eris turns her merciless intentions toward the last descendant of the Stovall line, who happens to be an African American male, making her road to revenge much more complicated. With an all-encompassing plot, spanning from the 1800s to present-day Philadelphia, and Hobbs's signature themes of erotica and the paranormal, The Enchantress is a quick-paced, thrilling novel.

    Born secretly in an ancient mountain cave, and possessing abilities that make the young god a friend to both the living and the dead, Hermes becomes a valuable aid in Zeus' efforts to bring the final Olympians to power. Told from Hermes' unique perspective are many beloved tales from ancient Greece, including those of Orpheus, Persephone, and Perseus, interwoven with Hermes' own attempts to forge a place for himself among mortal and immortal beings. Herald pulls the reader into ancient Greece and into the mind of a legendary mythological figure as he struggles with power, death, and the carnal treachery of a goddess.

     God Star sets out to show that the sky that ancient man remembers was entirely different from the one that now stretches above us. This is demonstrated through ancient texts from all over the world which deal with the astronomical lore of our forebears. As if with a single voice, these texts proclaim that the present planet we know as Saturn once shone as a sun in Earth's primordial sky. This claim receives credence through the fact that astronomers now view the planet Saturn as the remnant of what had once been a brown dwarf star. It also goes a long way in explaining why Saturn was considered the "ruler of the planets in mythology,"* and why the god of that planet is found at the head of every ancient pantheon on earth. Astronomically, it is then deduced that Earth used to be the satellite of this proto-Saturnian sun, which mini-system then invaded the present Solar System, and that this transpired during the age of man. As bizarre as this scenario appears, it is lent credibility by the hard sciences through the unmistakable signs encountered here on Earth and also by what is constantly being discovered out in space. In fact, the likelihood that such an interloping planetary system might have been captured by the Sun is even now acknowledged by a new class of trailblazing astronomers. Thus, apart from the mytho-historical record, the theory presented within the pages of this book includes evidence from geology, palaeontology, astrophysics, and plasma cosmology. It also serves to elucidatevarious dilemmas that presently encumber these and other disciplines. What might be seen by some as of greater importance, the reconstruction of the primeval events that took place beneath the proto-Saturnian sun, goes a long way in disclosing the origins of religion, including the very concept of deity. While, for the sake of scholarship, the book includes the odd technical tract, it is nevertheless written in a manner that will be readily understood by the intelligent layperson. In fact, it almost reads like a detective novel. * Astronomy (January 2006 Special Issue), p. 60

    Packed with fascinating historical esoterica and inspiring true stories of birds working their magic as spiritual messengers. A fabulous inspirational reference book, packed with historical facts, myths and real-life spiritual encounters with birds. Ranging from the robin to the phoenix and the everyday to the mythological, any bird lover who is interested in esoterica, history and folklore will find the book a must for their bookshelf. Arranged thematically, each section explores a different aspect -- e.g. Birds of Myth and Legend, Divination and Auguries, Birds and Astrology, Symbolism of Eggs and Feathers, Alchemy and Birds; plus sections on birds in the Celtic Tradition, in Ancient Latin America, in India, and the New World. Find out how to find your Spirit Bird, and in another section discover an A-Z of the history and folklore of individual birds, and how their symbolism is often shared in many cultures and myths. One of the key themes in the book is the concept of the winged creature carrying messages, as well as the history of bird-as-augur from Greek and Roman times where they studied birds' flight patterns and entrails to make critical decisions. Many people will love the many wonderful true stories of ordinary people in the present day too, who have encountered the miraculous, or healing qualities of birds in their own lives. This book is an enormous treasure trove of information that is spiritually uplifting and historically fascinating. It contains many general tip bits for bird-lovers to be enchanted by, such as: - baby robins eat 14 feet of earthworms a day - condors can fly for 10 miles without flapping their wings - a bird flying into a house foretells an important message - hummingbirds weigh less than a penny - a jay is said to spend Fridays with the devil, telling tales!

    Using original source material, extant writings, and scholarship the author builds an image of the goddess as she may have appeared to her followers in pre-Christian Northern Europe. Patricia Lafayllve then uses the knowledge she has compiled to speculate on aspects of modern worship of this complex deity.

    Along the way, Arvidsson maps out the changing ways in which Aryans were imagined and relates such shifts to social, historical, and political processes. Considering the developments of the twentieth century, Arvidsson focuses on the adoption of Indo-European scholarship (or pseudoscholarship) by the Nazis and by Fascist Catholics.A wide-ranging discussion of the intellectual history of the past two centuries,  Aryan Idols links the pervasive idea of the Indo-European people to major scientific, philosophical, and political developments of the times, while raising important questions about the nature of scholarship as well.

    Here, for the first time, an author weaves together threads that explain the mysterious disappearance of ancient cultures in which women and the environment were at the center, a loss that has dramatically influenced 3,500 years of Western history.

    From its archaic beginnings in the wooded crater beside the lake known as the 'mirror of Dianea' it grew into a grand Hellenistic-style complex that attracted crowds of pilgrims and the sick. Diana was also believed to confer power on leaders. This 2007 book examines the history of Diana's cult and healing sanctuary, which remained a significant and wealthy religious center for more than a thousand years. It sheds light on Diana herself, on the use of rational as well as ritual healing in the sanctuary, on the subtle distinctions between Latin religious sensibility and the more austere Roman practice, and on the interpenetration of cult and politics in Latin and Roman history.

    Egypt has been described as the "mother of magicians." To appreciate the Egyptian view of magic, we need to accept that to the Egyptians magic was not considered strange or eccentric, but was a part of daily life, to which everyone resorted. Magic blended seamlessly with religion and medicine, being seen as part of a holistic worldview. In this volume these magical and religious practices are explored, from both a historical and practical perspective. The practices are explored from an ancient Egyptian worldview, taking into consideration that the Egyptian culture spread over a period of more than 3000 years. The Egyptians saw the universe as being made of four worlds - the everyday world we live in, the underworld, the sky and the heavens. Subject covered in this book include: -What is Heka? -Ancient Egyptian Worldviews -The Gods and Goddesses of Magic -Symbolism - Colours & Sacred Numbers -The Tools Used -Sacred Words & Gestures -Statues & Masks -Crystals & Other Materials used in Heka -Incenses & Perfumes -Food & Wine used in Offerings & at Feasts -The Ancient Egyptian Magical Calendar -Purification, Sacred Space & Rituals David Rankine is based in London (UK) and is a respected authority on spiritual & magical practices. He is the author of many books, including Climbing the Tree of Life, Circle of Fire & The Guises of the Morrigan. This book, HEKA - The Practices of Ancient Egyptian Magic, is the result of careful research & practical work and is highly recommended to students wishing to pursue practical work within this system."

    Aige siúd atá an Fionnbheannach, tarbh nach bhfuil a leithéid le fáil in Éirinn. Nó an bhfuil?Seo insint úr bhríomhar ar an scéal is iomráití i dteanga na hÉireann, an Táin, nó Táin Bó Cuailgne mar is fearr aithne air. Am éigin roimh 1106 A.D. a scríobhadh síos i dtosach é i Leabhar na hUidhre, an lámhscríbhinn Gaeilge is ársa dá bhfuil ann, agus áirítear é ar cheann de mhórscéalta an domhain. Tá uaisleacht, crógacht agus tragóid an bhunscéil fite fuaite go healaíonta san úrscéal grafach seo.A stunning new graphic novel of An Táin, the classic tale of Cúchulainn, Queen Méabh and the cattle-raid for the Brown bull of Cooley. Written by prize-winning author Colmán Ó Raghallaigh, superbly illustrated by Barry Reynolds and produced by the Cartoon Saloon in full-colour graphic novel format, this is the fourth in a series of highly successful Irish language graphic novels published by Cló Mhaigh Eo.Queen Méabh is consumed by jealousy when she finds that her husband, Ailill, has bested her for riches and wealth. To him belongs the Fionnbheannach, a white-horned bull believed to have no equal in Ireland. Or so it seems…This is a new and exciting retelling of the greatest tale in the Irish language, the Táin or Táin Bó Cuailgne as it is better known. Ranked among the great epics of the world it was written down in the Book of Leinster, the earliest manuscript in Irish, sometime before 1106 A.D. The nobility, courage and tragedy of the original are subtly blended together in this superb graphic novel.

    She showed considerable skill as an administrator and proved to be a shrewd statesman. Jahangir had full confidence in his queen. She received courtiers and held discussions with them regarding the affairs of the state. Royal decrees carried her signature and coins were struck in her name with this super-inscription: By order of the King, Jehangir - Gold has a hundred splendours added to it by receiving the impression of the name of Noor Jahan, the Queen Begum. As observed by Mutamid Khan, a historian, who was Noor Jahan's contemporary, "Her authority reached such a peak that the king was such only in name". Noor Jahan was famous for her beauty and wisdom. She was an accomplished poet. She made popular, the rose perfume invented by her mother. She was adept in embroidery, and the fabrics and dresses designed by her dominated the world of fashion for many years. As Abdul Rashid observes, "Fact and fiction have woven a web of romance around this colourful personality." According to popular legends, from which material for this book has been drawn, Noor Jahan and Jahangir were childhood playmates. But all the available evidence suggests that the two met for the first time at the Meena Bazaar, the royal bazaar held annually at the palace of the Emperor.

    Eyewitness accounts of these events are chronicled in rich oral traditions handed down through generations of native peoples. The authors’ recent scientific discoveries link all these events to a single cause.In The Cycle of Cosmic Catastrophes Richard Firestone, Allen West, and Simon Warwick-Smith present new scientific evidence about a series of prehistoric cosmic events that explains why the last Ice Age ended so abruptly. Their findings validate the ubiquitous legends and myths of floods, fires, and weather extremes passed down by our ancestors and show how these legendary events relate to each other. Their findings also support the idea that we are entering a thousand-year cycle of increasing danger and possibly a new cycle of extinctions.

    It includes a specially commisssioned work of fiction, `Iphigeneia's Wedding', by the poet Elizabeth Cook.

    With the variety and quantity of magnificent paintings and sculptures in her likeness, it is apparent that the Magdalene has long been guiding the brushstrokes of our greatest artists, all of whom have rendered her unlike any other woman in the bible. Unlike Mary the mother--who is often expressed as an archetype, an ideal--the Magdalene is virtually always drawn as an individual, a woman of flesh and blood with feelings and emotions. Even in the earliest depictions she is seen at the foot of the cross, in deep crisis at the loss of her Beloved. It is as if these painters carried her in their hearts and rendered her honestly and compassionately. Even when the clerics devalued her, the artists continued to champion her. Editor Jane Lahr takes us on a visual and literary journey through the history and the lore, the facts and the myth, that surround Mary Magdalene. Beginning with the biblical cannon, continuing through Gnostic texts and ending with myths and literary works surrounding the Magdalene, Lahr presents a complete picture of her life, allowing the reader to decide for themselves who the true Magdalene was. Illustrated with images from the worlds greatest artists like Michelangelo, Rubens, Chagall, and Georges De La Tour, this lavish anthology is the most comprehensive and stunning look at the Magdalene ever published. Lahr begins each of the five chapters with an insightful and lucid introductive that provides the reader with guidance and context for the stories, texts, and images that follow. The Indisputable Mary Magdalene: With texts from the biblical canon including Mark, and Luke, discover each specific and indisputable reference to Mary Magdalene, with artworks from Fra Angelico to Jan van Eyck. Mary & the Traditional Associations: A woman, a sinner, and dryer of tears, these associations are found from John and Matthew to Luke and Mark. The paintings of Henry Ossawa Tanner, D. Bouts, Duccio, and Pieter Paul Rubens highlight the text. Mary of the Apocrypha: The ancient texts of the Gospel of Thomas, the Gospel of Mary Magdalene, and the Dialogue of the Savior alongside the works of Georges De La Tour, Marc Chagall, and Massaccio. Mary Magdalene in Myth & Legend: Revel in literary wonders that celebrate the Magdalene from Christina Georgina Rossetti, Ranier Maria Rilke, and John Donne. Mary & The Mystery of the Holy Grail: Explore the Magdalene's possible connection to the mysterious Holy Grail through a variety of modern and ancient texts paired with the masterpieces of Michelangelo and Leonardo.

    The immortal dialogue between Lord Krishna and Arjuna covers all aspects of human behaviour and morality. In this impressive book, C P Gupta has distilled the essence of this great work in an accessible and comprehensive fashion that serves as an introduction to the Geeta and will lead the reader on to further study.

    Beautifully printed, divinely bound, this book is a must-have for any collector of prophet-themed cartoons.

    The manual edition of the Septuagint by Alfred Rahlfs has been the standard critical edition of the Greek Old Testament for decades. It is now available in this 2nd revised edition, edited by Robert Hanhart in 2006. English, German, Latin and Modern Greek introductions. Key to Sigla.

    In his youth, Thibault studied the art of the sword with the great Dutch fencing master Lambert van Someren, then traveled to southern Spain to learn destreza, the revolutionary Spanish system of rapier fencing, from Luis Pacheco de Narvaez and other masters of the art. After his return to the Netherlands around 1610, he won fame as one of the best swordsmen of the age, and set out to put everything he knew about the way of the sword into a single comprehensive textbook of rapier fencing that could be used by students who had no access to a teacher of his system.Originally published in 1630, Academy of the Sword is that textbook - the most elaborate manual of swordsmanship ever published.

    Interwoven throughout the text and the finely reproduced images is a skillful intermingling of key themes: the defining myths of origins; the structures of ownership and privilege; the relationship of the people to the land; the influence of the early master-carvers; the monumental achievements of Charles Edenshaw, Bill Reid, Robert Davidson, and many others; the Haida and colonialism; and hybrid tendencies in contemporary Haida art. From oral histories and genealogies to the breakout aesthetics of contemporary Haida work in many media, this book celebrates a great art in a contemporary context.

    The author examines the known details about the psychoactive agent and explores the Mysteries' influence on, and relationship to, early Christianity. Guided meditations, using active imagination techniques, help readers summon an experience with the goddess.

    Gregory Little and John Van Auken present this story in an absorbing narrative of the legends of Atlantis and the latest discoveries in the ongoing search for remnants of the lost continent. The book contains over a hundred illustrations –some never published before. Included in the story of Atlantis are vignettes of the forgotten lands of Mu, Lemuria, Og, Zu, and many others.

    This contradiction provides a challenge for our understanding of ancient pagan religion. Certain forms of cult activity, including acclamations of 'one god' and the worship of theos hypsistos, the highest god, have sometimes been interpreted as evidence for pagan monotheism. This book discusses pagan monotheism in its philosophical and intellectual context, traces the evolution of new religious ideas in the time of the Roman empire, and evaluates the usefulness of the term 'monotheism' as a way of understanding these developments in later antiquity outside the context of Judaism and Christianity. In doing so, it establishes a framework for understanding the relationship between polytheistic and monotheistic religious cultures between the first and fourth centuries AD.

    These myths also supplied a charter for the major political and social institutions of Warring States (481-221 BC) and early imperial (220 BC-AD 220) China.In some versions of the tales, the flood was triggered by rebellion, while other versions linked the taming of the flood with the creation of the institution of a lineage, and still others linked the taming to the process in which the divided principles of the masculine and the feminine were joined in the married couple to produce an ordered household. While availing themselves of earlier stories and of central religious rituals of the period, these myths transformed earlier divinities or animal spirits into rulers or ministers and provided both etiologies and legitimation for the emerging political and social institutions that culminated in the creation of a unitary empire.

    BlowingWind MountainChild had all of these and lost them, just as she was starting on what she thought would be the greatest adventure of her life. Now, she is being called out by the forces of life and undertaking the journey into adulthood alone. However, journeys always seem to entail healing, and a quest to find her lost love turns into something even greater. Take Ryu is a boisterous magma ryugami trapped for five years beneath Mt. Fuji for the crime of becoming too engrossed in human affairs. Upon the end of his imprisonment he emerges to find a strange and undefended shaman woman within his territory. Falling prey once more to his kind heart he too is swept up in the threads of a destiny that neither human nor dragon could have ever believed. This is the first book of the Dragon Shaman series, which will follow BlowingWind and her family in a saga of such depth and breadth, that some greater being, or beings must surely be behind the scenes. But for what purpose?More than supernatural romance, more than fantasy, this multi-genre series will have a very different end than what the author usually finds to read...which is just how she wants it.

    

    Even though available only in German, this work by Gunkel has had a profound influence on modern biblical scholarship.Discovering a number of parallels between the biblical creation accounts and a Babylonian creation account, the Enuma Elish, Gunkel argues that ancient Babylonian traditions shaped the Hebrew people's perceptions both of God's creative activity at the beginning of time and of God's re-creative activity at the end of time.Including illuminating introductory pieces by eminent scholar Peter Machinist and by translator K. William Whitney, Gunkel's Creation and Chaos will appeal to serious students and scholars in the area of biblical studies.

    Authors describe the menacing characteristics of each monster, its origins, and its lasting appeal in popular culture. Some volumes include riveting first-person accounts of sightings while others describe the amazing techniques used to create realistic monsters. Full-color photographs Glossaries Annotated bibliographies Indexes

    At least she thinks so. By the time she reaches the supine figure trampled beneath the hooves of her prize Appaloosa, she begins to wonder if her eyes deceived her, since before them now is a man, a magnificent, unconscious and very naked man. Cast out from his tribe as a punishment for causing the death of a fellow Sapphiran, Seth Phoenix is an arrogant young centaur of royal heritage infatuated with the human race, and now, after a twist of fate, forced to count on one of its ranks for his survival. His one chance at redemption-brokered with the Black Elf by his desperate mother, Thyra Phoenix-could be the key to his mother's freedom, or his own downfall. ** A Siren Erotic Romance

    Principally focused on the production, dissemination, and evolution of Arthurian material from the twelfth to fifth centuries, this volume covers writing in both verse and prose, and addresses such classics as the Tristan legend, the Vulgate Cycle, and the Grail Continuations.

    The book uncovers forgotten nineteenth-century fiction and poetry, revolutionizes the study of mummy horror films, and reveals the prejudices embedded in children's toys.Jasmine Day's publication shows that the curse's structure and meaning has changed over time, as public attitudes toward archaeology and the Middle East were transformed by events such as the discovery of Tutankhamun's tomb. The evidence for the book was garnered from detailed examinations, original surveys, and field observations of museum visitors conducted globally. This demonstrates that media stereotypes—to which museums inadvertently contribute—promote a negative and fear filled image of mummies. The riddle of the 'Curse of the Pharaohs' is finally solved via a radical anthropological treatment of the legend, as a cultural concept, rather than a physical phenomenon. A must for anyone interested in this ancient and mystifying legend.

    Learn from the wisdom of our ancestors through the myths and legends of the different cultures. Learn to use the magic of ancient peoples to refocus your energies and strengthen your intuition on the path to a better life. Includes index.

    Consulting a wide range of key texts and source material, Animals, Gods and Humans covers 800 years and provides a detailed analysis of early Christian attitudes to, and the position of, animals in Greek and Roman life and thought.Both the pagan and Christian conceptions of animals are rich and multilayered, and Ingvild S�lid Gilhus expertly examines the dominant themes and developments in the conception of animals.Including study of: biographies of figures such as Apollonus of Tyana; natural history; the New Testament via Gnostic texts; the church fathers; and from pagan and Christian criticism of animal sacrifice, to the acts of martyrs, the source material and detailed analysis included in this volume make it a veritable feast of information for all classicists.

    They performed to huge crowds in stadiums across the Roman Empire. Find out how these savage spectacles first began, who took part in them and how men were trained to become fighting machines.

    Against the landscapes of China, follow four dragons as they struggle against the Jade Emperor to bring water to the people of China.

    

    The book also includes an artistic and biographical chronology.Bilingual (Spanish/English)