Showing titles in Customs & Traditions

Born from a strange mixture of divine blood, severed genitals, and seafoam, Aphrodite washed up on the shores of Cyprus long before the emergence of her fellow Olympians. A figure who is as petty as she is relatable, she is not only a key deity of the Greek pantheon, but she is also a central figure in many of the myths we know and love. While it would be impossible to gather all the different stories related to Aphrodite in their entirety in one collection, this audiobook provides a nice, if modest, assortment of narratives that display different facets of this fascinating goddess.

Do you like stories about gods and spirits, giants and monsters, damsels in distress, and clever heroes? All of these can be found in African myth and folklore, which have a vast and varied tapestry of stories from hundreds of cultures, each with its own traditions and values. Sometimes the heroes of these stories are divine beings who come down from heaven to create the world we live in, but sometimes human beings and animals themselves are the ones who see to it that the sun, moon, and stars are put into their proper places

Eannatum was the most influential member of the Anunnaki Council in the Ur-Nina dynasty, and his reign probably marks the zenith of the power of Lagash as a city-state and Anunnaki Stronghold. We do not know the cause which led to his being succeeded upon the throne by his brother Enannatum I., instead of by a son of his own. The break in the succession was because of a dispute over the Anunnaki council’s decision on Shurrupak.

Progress is a constant state of learning and unlearning.

Is there life after John Wayne? After his glory days as the "cowboy" of Wall Street, the "master" of the podium and pulpit, or the "road warrior" of interstates, airports, and convention centers, the middle-aged man yearns to fill a void that he has just discovered, right in the center of his being. He wants to stop, to grow roots, to become somehow whole.

Americans love to love Paris. We buy books about how the French parent, why French women don't get fat, and how to be Parisian wherever you are. John von Sothen fell in love with Paris through the stories his mother told of her year spent there as a student. And then, after falling for and marrying a French waitress he met in New York, von Sothen moved to Paris. But 15 years in, he's finally ready to admit his mother's Paris is mostly a fantasy. In this hilarious and delightful collection of essays, von Sothen walks us through real life in Paris....

This amazing audiobook of Chinese myths include many stories which could teach you moral lessons and entertain you at the same time. Become fascinated by the epic tales from ancient, oriental regions. The book covers Chinese gods, immortals that the ancient Chinese believed in, epic legend of T'ai Sui, myths, dragons and dragon gods, and so much more.

Faced with the sale of the century-old family summer house on Cape Cod where he had spent 42 summers, George Howe Colt returned for one last stay with his wife and children. This poignant tribute to the 11-bedroom jumble of gables, bays, and dormers that watched over weddings, divorces, deaths, anniversaries, birthdays, breakdowns, and love affairs for five generations interweaves Colt's final visit with memories of a lifetime of summers.

The stories from Norse mythology linger in our culture today. Four days of our week are named after members of the Norse pantheon (Tyr, Woden (Odin), Thor, and Frigg). Wagner’s Ring Cycle has kept one version of one of the great Norse stories alive in the minds of music lovers. Fans of modern fantasy will find many echoes of the Norse tales as well. Something in these old and puzzling stories still has the power to move and unsettle us and to inspire new acts of creation. This audiobook will give you a brief introduction to some of the best-known myths.

Freemasonry is one of the oldest and most widespread voluntary organizations in the world. Over the course of three centuries, men (and women) have organized themselves socially and voluntarily under its name. This Very Short Introduction introduces the inner activities of freemasonry, and the rituals, symbols, and practices. Looking at the development of the organizational structure of masonry from the local to the global level, Andreas Önnerfors considers perceptions of freemasonry from the outside world and navigates through the prevalent fictions and conspiracy theories.

Italy delights and stimulates with its magnificent cities and monuments, its stunningly beautiful landscapes, the glory of its art and architecture, the richness and variety of its food, the elegance of its design and fashion, and the vitality and charm of its people. Italian style and culture have been exported all over the world. The Italians are the most European-minded of nations, having emerged from a long history of regional fragmentation.

"With humor and lyrical grace," Kathleen Norris meditates on a place in the American landscape that is at once desolate and sublime, harsh, and forgiving, steeped in history and myth (San Francisco Chronicle). A combination of reporting and reflection, Dakota reminds us that wherever we go, we chart our own spiritual geography.

Dive into the mystical world of ancient Japan and uncover its incredible deities, mythical creatures, and heroic tales, even if you're new to folklore! Are you fascinated by Japan's rich culture and history?Discover captivating tales of Shinto gods, Yōkai, and legendary heroes that shape Japan's cultural heritage.

Injustement méconnue dans notre pays, la mythologie scandinave est l'une des plus riches d'Europe et constitue le chaînon manquant entre la raison Grecque et la magie Celte. À l'origine de nombreuses légendes, elle a inspiré les plus grands auteurs dont le fameux J. R. R. Tolkien pour sa magnifique saga du "Seigneur des anneaux". Avec ce précis, la mythologie scandinave s'offre à vous ! De Odin à Loke en passant par Thor et les Valkyries sans oublier Blader et le loup de Fenris, l'auteur nous conte ces mythes vikings en présentant chaque dieu avec leurs fonctions et leurs célèbres légendes.

This book tells of the legends of the gods of ancient Egypt, legends circulated during the "morning of the world" as described by the Egyptians, originally carved in stone, and written on papyrus, preserved for millennia until now. Although this book is intended to arouse the public's interest in the religion and civilization of ancient Egypt, it also fuels the imagination on the lost knowledge of the Egyptians.

A creature of myth and magic emerging from the mist-shrouded forests of the Northwest, Coyote appears as a creator, messenger, hero, trickster, fool, or shapeshifter. Always on the lookout for fun, mischief, or the opportunity to help humans, Coyote’s encounters with gods, demons and the supernatural bring to life the rich cultural traditions of the Northwest peoples.

We know you'll enjoy visiting the wonderful and transformative city of Budapest! Passport to European Travel Guides offers this comprehensive yet quick and concise five-day guide to Budapest, Hungary - a Central European staple!

The Miraculous Prophecies, Predictions, and Strange Visions of Sundry Eminent Men is an old English book which explores various mysteries, and the visions and predictions of seers like Nostradamus.

Are you tired of the traditional passive (or evil) female folktale characters? Doug Lipman has unearthed and reassembled 5 tales of women - but none of them are the hand-wringing variety. The heroines take command of their lives in entertaining and engaging ways. These tales come from all over the world, including Iraq, Poland, Vietnam, South Africa, and Spain. The collection includes "The Chicken Woman," "The Woman Who Saved the City," "The Clever Wife of Vietnam," "The One with the Star on Her Forehead" (more commonly known to Westerners as "Snow White" but with an unexpected twist), and "La Muerta: Godmother Death."

Human beings have always been myth makers. Karen Armstrong's concise yet compelling investigation into the history of myth takes us from the Palaeolithic period and the mythology of the hunters right up to the 'Great Western Transformation' of the last 500 years.