the world of food and warmth and explaining
night and day. Other cultures, such as China
and parts of Africa, have a myth in which there
is too much sunlight, which the gods reduce, or
counter with night. Worldwide, wrathful gods
send great floods, sometimes wiping out all but
one human family before normality is restored.
Stories like these explain natural disasters and
encourage people to honour the gods, so that
they will not unleash their anger; they are also
gripping tales of adventure and rescue.THE IMPORTANCE OF MYTHS
Myths reinforce the cultural identity of the
people who tell them. For the Aborigines of
Australia, the origin myths of each tribe tell not
only of the ancestors, but of the routes they
took across the land when they brought each
natural feature into being: the land, its people,
and their myths are united inextricably. Myths
were just as important to the ancient Greeks,
who named their greatest city, Athens, after its
patron goddess, Athena; to the Incas, who
believed their rulers to be descended from the
sun god himself; and to the Norse, whose
warriors tried to emulate their great god Odin.
The vitality and importance of myths is
seen not only in their countless retellings, but
in the way their gods, heroes, and creatures
have inspired artists. From China to ancient
Rome, artists have painted and carved images
of the gods, an activity that is sometimes itself
an act of worship, sometimes more simply a
celebration of the deities and their deeds.
Myths arise from an intimate relationship
between people and the natural and spirit
worlds – something so many of us have lost.
They operate on the borders between reality
and fantasy, celebrate oddity and uncertainty,
and describe terrifying cosmic forces. But they
also deal with great excitement and inspiration.
Myths are the most enthralling stories we have,
because they touch our hearts and minds and
reach to the very core of our being.INTRODUCTION11