Origins & Endings Myths & Tales

Few subjects are more common among the world's mythologies than two fundamental questions: where did we come from, and where might we be going? Over the millennia, these questions have been met with an abundance of answers, from the ancient Greeks' creation stories of 'Chaos and Nyx' and 'The Egg Myth', to the Norse prophecy of 'Ragnarok' and the eventual regeneration of the world. Tales of origins crop up around the world, offering explanations for where the universe, the world, and humans came from, as well as reasons for natural phenomena and the characteristics of animals and plants. Stories of endings range from apocalyptic global floods to the journey the spirit makes after death. They all flow from a sense of awe, and perhaps a needling existential anxiety, among our ancient ancestors, which the modern reader will likely recognize in themselves. Gathering together a host of stories that answer these two questions, this collection features an abundance of tales from numerous cultures around the world.

Organized into the themes of 'Creation of the Gods, the Heavens & the Earth'; 'The Human World Emerges'; 'Unmaking & Remaking the World'; 'Explaining the Natural World'; and 'Death, the Afterlife & the Underworld', this collection will fascinate and enthral.