The mythology of South America : with a new afterword /
Bierhorst traces the principle myths from tribe to tribe in seven carefully mapped regions of South America. This book includes samples from mythological stories and some chapters are devoted to special topics such as myth and politics. Bierhorst introduces readers to the female creators of the nort...
| Main Author: | |
|---|---|
| Format: | Book |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
New York :
Oxford University Press,
2002.
|
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | Table of contents Contributor biographical information Publisher description |
| Summary: | Bierhorst traces the principle myths from tribe to tribe in seven carefully mapped regions of South America. This book includes samples from mythological stories and some chapters are devoted to special topics such as myth and politics. Bierhorst introduces readers to the female creators of the northern Andes, the male gods of the Ancient Incas, and the shameless tricksters Sun and Moon. This edition includes a new afterword by folklore anthropologist John Bierhorst. Bierhorst traces principle myths from tribe to tribe in seven regions of South America, and includes extracts and samples from mythological stories, and sections on the connection between myth and politics. Bierhorst gives a good update on newly discovered myths, and the oral literature of various obscure tribes in South America, from the French Guiana to the tribes of the Amazon. The new afterword focuses upon controversial issues regarding the claims of earliest human occupation in South America, and discusses the way in which native myths have been used to shed light on issues of democracy, religious freedom, and political activism in South America. The new afterword focuses on the durability of Indian mythology and the abundant material increasingly available since the mid 80s. Bierhorst offers new information on previously obscure tribes on the mythological map. Includes information on Amazon myth, anaconda, Bird Nester, Bororo Indians, Chorote Indians, Christ, Corn Tree, Cuna Indians, emergence myths, flood myths, fox, Ge Indians, Inca culture, jaguar, Kogi Indians, origin of male domination, Mataco Indians, Mundurucu Indians, Parrot Brides, Quechua Indians, Selknam Indians, Shavante Indians, Shuar Indians, Star Woman, Tehuelche Indians, Toba Indians, Tree and the Flood, trickster, Tupinamba Indians, Twin Myth, Underwater Woman, vulture, Warrau Indians, Wirakocha, Yamana Indians, Yurupari, et cetera. |
|---|---|
| Item Description: | Originally published: New York : William Morrow, ©1988, in series: Gods and heroes of the New World. |
| Physical Description: | xi, 279 pages : illustrations, maps ; 25 cm |
| Bibliography: | Includes bibliographical references (pages 264-274) and index. |
| ISBN: | 0195146255 9780195146257 0195146247 9780195146240 |