Heaven and Earth Parents - Native American Mythology

Author: None
Publisher:
Publication Date: 2006-07-01
Features: The reverence for animals and the land is a common theme in Native American mythology, spanning the entire history of Native American mythology. Many myths attribute the creation of the earth to animals such as sea turtles, aquatic insects, and muskrats. Some tribes also view wolves and beavers as protectors of humanity. The Kiowa people of Oklahoma hold great respect for bears; if a bear dies, their warriors will blow smoke into the bear's mouth, praying for the peace of the bear's spirit. Earth Parents and Sky Parents—Native American Mythology explores many similar themes.
The Myths and Men series examines world mythology and its historical origins from a cultural perspective, enabling modern readers to experience ancient cultures through enchanting myths in unprecedented ways. This series is like a unique encyclopedia of world mythology. Each book presents stories, mysterious rituals, wrathful gods, fantastical explorations, and magical symbols, which are the core of these cultures but are often overlooked in history textbooks. These myths are crucial, helping us understand how humanity has sought answers to life and death, creation and love, and other life mysteries throughout history. These myths exist at the intersection and overlap of imagination and history, wisdom and experience, dreams and reality. These captivating myths are timeless classics, cherished for centuries and becoming the most beautiful legacies in the world. Who can forget the story of the demigod Dionysus, the god of wine and festivities, born from the thigh of the Greek supreme god Zeus? Who could forget the Aztec feathered serpent god? He leapt into the fire, released a cluster of birds, and thus created Venus.
Each book is accompanied by rich color illustrations, including sacred sites, totemic symbols, artistic paintings, and mythological figures. For example, you can see the legendary Holy Grail and the shamanic masks of Native Americans in the Americas. The books also include historical overviews, maps, and glossaries. The titles span time and space, such as Prehistoric Heroes—Celtic Mythology and The Lost Golden Country—South American Mythology, and so on.
To select these ancient myths and related images for the readers, the editors of Time-Life Books have compiled ancient primary sources from around the world and collaborated with top experts to place the myths in their historical context. For example, in Prehistoric Heroes—Celtic Mythology, the book examines whether King Arthur truly existed and where he might have lived. Meanwhile, Earth Parents and Sky Parents—Native American Mythology connects the Native American myths about the land with their actual struggles to preserve it.
Throughout the series, it reflects the crystallization of human thought, experience, and wisdom over thousands of years, celebrating and preserving humanity's finest essence and most beautiful dreams. Readers will gain joy, inspiration, and enlightenment from it. Moreover, these myths will help us redefine history and view the world with a fresh perspective.