All about history book of myths and legends. ( PDFDrive )

Japan and Africa, every rock, stream, lake,

and hill may have its own spirit. Many are

local deities, worshipped mainly by the people

who live nearby and share their sacred space.

Yet even in cultures that have thousands

of deities there are core groups of widely

known gods with special powers. There are

gods of the sun, the rain, the sea, the sky, the

mountains, and the rivers. Specific gods look

after hunting, farming, love, childbirth, war,

and death. The myths involving these gods

tend to relate closely to their roles.

Many myths involve mortals with

extraordinary superhuman powers. These

heroes accomplish apparently impossible tasks,

win battles single-handedly, and even visit the

Underworld. They may also be culture heroes,

who teach people important skills such as

fire-making. Their achievements are often so

great that they become gods when they die.

MYTHS OF THE ELEMENTS

Among the most prominent gods are those

of the elements, notably the sun and the rain.

They determine whether crops grow, so the

sun and weather gods are often the most

widely worshipped of all the gods. From the

Inca sun god Inti to the Greek sky god Zeus,

they are supremely powerful.

Some of the most familiar mythical themes

concern the elements. Many cultures have a

myth in which the sun disappears, depriving

INTRODUCTION

FOR EARLY PEOPLES, THE EXISTENCE OF

DEITIES EXPLAINED WHY THE SUN SHONE

AND WHERE THE RAINS CAME FROM.

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