Good and Evil In Myth and Legend

by Anthony S. Mercatante

What, in the human scheme of things, is the origin and meaning of evil- and of its worthy opponent, good? These questions have intrigued man's imagination from ancient times tot he present. Now the questions are explored in this book through world mythology and folklore. Here are he myths, folklores, legends and fables that have been passed down from age to age to account for the mysteries of good and evil, woven into a brilliant tapestry that will hold the reader spellbound. In nineteen chapters, covering the spectrum o mythology and folklore from ancient Egypt to present-day Voodoo, the gods, goddesses, demons and angels, heroes and heroines appear in all their splendor. We meet Ishtar, the Babylonian-Assyrian goddess, dispenser of both good and evil, and discover her sexual passion for Gilgamesh, the hero-king who rejects her love...... Aura Mazda, the Persian god of light and goodness, and his evil brother, Ahriman, battling for control of the world.... Zeus, the Greek sky-god, and Prometheus, the Titan-god who dared oppose his despotic rule..... Loki, the Nordic trickster-god, whose amoral acts bring about the destruction of the world..... Amaterasu Omikami, the Japanese sun-goddess, and her brother, Susano-o, who embody the continual battle between the forces of light and darkness.... the Devil in various guises- Jewish, Christian, Islamic and Buddhist. Here, then, is a compelling study of a fascinating subject.

Genres: Mythology, Nonfiction, Philosophy, History, Religion

210 pages, Hardcover

Published April 15, 1996

Reviews

[Amy Freese · Rating 4 out of 5]

I did enjoy reading this book. It gave a good window into multiple forms of belief. The author did a very good job staying neutral on everything, just relayed information as he had come to understand it. I liked that there was no "push" towards any specific opinions or thoughts. Some of the myths mentioned were a first for me, so I learned a few things. It is a great read for getting you thinking.

[Whitney · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book could be twice as long and much better. Five pages devoted to the cycle of myths of each culture just isn't enough. A good introduction though.

[Katherine B. · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting read, going over the myths and legends (roll credits) of the different cultures throughout the world! Definitely one to go over again!

[Robert Browning · Rating 3 out of 5]

What you see is what you get with this book (and there's nothing wrong with that). It is exactly what it is presented to be; a series of chapters on nearly all of the major mythologies and religions specifically geared towards exploring the nature of what is defined to be "good" or "evil" in that belief system. Each chapter is short and to the point, summing up the core defining ideas of good and evil in that mythology in under about 10 pages or so! I think though that the rapid-fire presentation actually helps define and point out the contrasts in the good/evil ideologies in each mythos. It's a good starting point of a book for anyone interested in a discussion of what is good or what is evil and just how much culture and time have really shaped what these concepts are to us today.

[Priscilla]

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