Jealous Gods and Chosen People: The Mythology of the Middle East / Edition 1

by David Leeming

Overview

Here, David Leeming offers the first comprehensive narrative study of the mythology of the Middle East. Leeming offers an in-depth discussion of the mythology of the region, covering individual pantheons, cosmic myths, mythic heroes, and much more. He ranges from prehistoric figures such as the Mother Goddess of Çatal Hüyük to Mesopotamian gods such as Marduk and mythic heroes such as Gilgamesh, to the pantheon of Egyptian mythology, including the falcon-headed sky-sun god Horus and jackal-headed Anubis. The author also offers an illuminating exploration of the mythology of the three great monotheistic religions of the region: Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. In a provocative Epilogue, Leeming notes that fundamentalists in the area's three religions all see their way as the only way, forgetting that myths represent truths that are spiritual and philosophical—not historical events that can be used to justify acts of violence. With key maps, illustrations, bibliography, and index, Jealous Gods and Chosen People provides an inclusive, authoritative, and captivating account of a mythology that remains a potent—and often destructive—force in the world today.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780195182521
Publisher:	Oxford University Press
Publication date:	06/02/2005
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	160
Product dimensions:	5.40(w) x 8.40(h) x 0.60(d)

About the Author

David Leeming is Emeritus Professor of English and Comparative Literature at the University of Connecticut. His many books include Myths, Legends, and Folktales of America, with Jake Page, A Dictionary of Asian Mythology and Myth: A Biography of Belief. He lives in Riverdale, New York.

Editorial Reviews

"Leeming's useful survey offers an introductory guide to tales that for centuries have influenced people's religion and culture."—Publishers Weekly

"An excellent introduction to the important mythologies formulated by peoples whose descendents still shape the conflicts in the Middle East. Judaism, Christianity, and Islam all arose in the Middle East, and in accessible and graceful prose, Leeming illuminates the archaelogical and cultural background for the emergence of those warring-cousin belief systems."—Booklist

"In this accessible survey of Middle Eastern mythology, Leeming chooses not to dwell on competing ideologies and predicaments of the troubled region and instead demonstrates that spiritual truth and religion, like mythology, make for metaphorical rather than factual history.... This book offers an accessible treatment of a dense and complex topic that will be equally useful to nonspecialists and scholars seeking a quick and informed understanding of Middle Eastern mythology. Highly recommended for any public or academic library."—Library Journal

From the Publisher