Books with author Martin Clayton

If you're looking for a captivating collection of Mesopotamian myths, then keep reading...The civilizations that grew up in the Tigris and Euphrates River Valleys many thousands of years ago have left important legacies: agriculture, mathematics, astronomy, the wheel, and writing. This present volume of Mesopotamian myths is divided into three sections. The first of these contains creation myths, the most extended of which is the Enuma Elish, or Babylonian creation story. In this myth, the god Marduk does battle with the dragon Tiamat, and from her body and that of her second-in-command, he creates the world. The story of Atrahasis involves not original creation but re-creation, since this is the myth of the Great Flood that the gods send to wash everything away. The good man Atrahasis is spared only by the intervention of the god Enki, who forewarns Atrahasis and tells him to build the ark that will save him, his family, and the animals. Etana’s tale is less cosmic in nature than the preceding two stories: the act of creation involved is Etana’s attempt to have a child and thus an heir to his throne.The deeds and foibles of the Mesopotamian gods are on display in the second section, in stories that inform us about the characters of these divinities and which contain themes that tell us something about Mesopotamian concepts of cosmic order. In the first story, the goddess Ishtar decides to visit the Underworld where the goddess Ereshkigal holds sway. When Ereshkigal worries that Ishtar plans to supplant her, she sets a trap that holds Ishtar prisoner until she is rescued. Ereshkigal’s deed has cosmic implications: since Ishtar is a fertility goddess, her imprisonment means that procreation on Earth is suspended. Ereshkigal is a primary figure in the next story as well, which tells how Nergal, god of war and pestilence, comes to be her consort. Nergal manages to refuse all of the blandishments Ereshkigal puts before him, except for the enticement of her body. Having given into his desire, Nergal must make the Underworld his abode and remain there as Ereshkigal’s lover or else Ereshkigal will overturn the natural order by sending the dead onto the Earth to eat the living. Divine and natural order are also themes of the last two stories in this section. In the first, the hero-god Ninurta does his own work of restoring divine order when he defeats the Anzu Bird who steals the Tablets of Destiny from Ellil, while the myth about Adapa functions as a just-so story explaining why humans are not immortal.Perhaps the most famous of all Mesopotamian myths is the Epic of Gilgamesh, an extended narrative about the exploits of Gilgamesh, king of Uruk, and his wild-man friend, Enkidu. If the stories of the gods told in the first two sections function as explanations about cosmic order, the themes of Gilgamesh center on the internal order of human beings, focusing on the deep love and friendship between Enkidu and Gilgamesh, on human fears about mortality, and the human desire for eternal life. In Mesopotamian Mythology: A Captivating Guide to Ancient Near Eastern Myths, you'll find the following Sumerian myths and topics coveredCreation MythsTales of Gods and GoddessesSelections from the Epic of GilgameshAnd much, much more!So if you want a captivating collection of Mesopotamian myths, click the “add to cart” button!

Captivating Stories about Greek Gods, Goddesses, Heroes, and MonstersIt can be challenging to find a comprehensive collection of Greek myths considering the number of versions and translations available. However, look no further as you have found a book that includes many of the most popular Greek myths in an easily accessible format. The purpose of this book is not only to introduce you to Greek mythology but also to captivate your attention and imagination so you can relive the tales of the most fabulous Greek gods, goddesses, heroes, and monsters.Within this book, you'll find the following Greek myths and topics coveredIn The Beginning: The Creation of the World, and the Titan-Olympian WarThe Rulers of OlympusPrometheus and EpimetheusThe Birth of the MusesThe Olympian Gods and GoddessesThe House of Atreus and the Trojan WarOdysseus’ Long Way HomeOdysseus’ HomecomingAgamemnon’s Homecoming and Orestes’ ChoiceOedipus and the PropheciesOedipus’ ChildrenCupid and PsycheShort TalesAnd Many MoreDownload the book now and learn more about Greek mythology

If you're looking for a collection of Chinese myths that speaks to all ages and want to get insights into the Chinese culture without reading a college textbook, then keep reading…Most Americans know about Greek, Roman and Egyptian mythology. But folk stories from ancient China give different viewpoints and a deeper understanding of society's roots.It can be challenging for Americans to find a comprehensive collection of Chinese myths considering that there are several versions and translations available. How many of these Americans miss out supernatural Chinese tales that could educate and excite them…without even realizing?Could you be one of them?You see, most readers make the same mistakes - they either can't find a good collection of Chinese myths, or they only find dull textbooks. You may even fall asleep while reading them.But now, you have the opportunity to go on a remarkable journey that will spark your imagination. Introducing...Chinese Mythology: A Captivating Guide to Chinese Folklore Including Fairy Tales, Myths, and Legends from Ancient China.This amazing collection of Chinese myths will allow you to enter the Chinese mind so you can gather secrets and wisdom from a proud and respected country.And best of all, this new book is written in an exciting language and has an easy-to-read format that doesn't require you to be a specialist in order to understand.In this book, you will discover:A Story about Origin of Earth and HumansA Captivating Tale about the Poor Boy Ma Liang and the PaintbrushStories about Natural DisastersLi Tieguai – A Taoist MythSun Wukong – The Monkey KingThe Investiture of the GodsA Story about Three KingdomsModern MythologyAnd much, much more!So if you want a collection of powerful Chinese myths that can cause some people to scream for more as oppose to falling asleep, click the “Buy Now” button!

If you're looking for a captivating collection of African myths, then keep reading...The continent of Africa is home to fifty-four countries that together harbor over three thousand cultures, each with their own ways of life and each with their own stories. Some of these stories have their origins in the folk beliefs of people native to their particular region, while others were imported from or influenced by cultures from elsewhere who settled in Africa.A great number of African folktales have been transmitted orally from person to person down through the ages, but since the nineteenth century, many stories have been written down and transmitted to audiences beyond the boundaries of the cultures that created them. One important—and tragic—conduit for the transmission of these stories beyond African shores was the European slave trade. Captured Africans who were brought to the Americas and the Caribbean fought to keep alive what they could of their home cultures, and this included their folktale traditions. African folktales come in many different types. Some are myths explaining the origins of things, while others are tales of heroes with supernatural abilities. Animal stories are many and varied, and they usually involve some kind of trickster who uses his wiles to get out of sticky situations and sometimes into them. There are also cautionary tales explaining why it is important to behave well and treat others with respect, while other stories have a style and shape similar to that of a fairy tale.In African Mythology: Captivating Myths of Gods, Goddesses, and Legendary Creatures of Africa, you'll find the following African myths and topics coveredAnimal TricksterssHero TalesCautionary TalesThe Influence of IslaAnd much, much more!So if you want a captivating collection of African myths, click the “add to cart” button!

If you want a huge collection of the best myths and discover captivating stories of gods, goddesses, monsters and mortals, then keep reading...This book includes five captivating manuscripts:Greek Mythology: A Captivating Introduction to Greek Myths of Greek Gods, Goddesses, Heroes, and MonstersNorse Mythology: A Captivating Guide to Norse Folklore Including Fairy Tales, Legends, Sagas and Myths of the Norse Gods and HeroesEgyptian Mythology: Captivating Egyptian Myths of Egyptian Gods, Goddesses, and Legendary CreaturesCeltic Mythology: Captivating Celtic Myths of Celtic Gods, Goddesses, Heroes and Legendary CreaturesRoman Mythology Captivating Roman Myths of Roman Gods, Goddesses, Heroes and Mythological CreaturesIn the first part of this book, you'll find the following Greek myths and topics coveredIn The Beginning: The Creation of the World, and the Titan-Olympian WarThe Rulers of OlympusPrometheus and EpimetheusThe Birth of the MusesThe Olympian Gods and GoddessesThe House of Atreus and the Trojan WarOdysseus’ Long Way HomeOdysseus’ HomecomingAgamemnon’s Homecoming and Orestes’ ChoiceOedipus and the PropheciesOedipus’ ChildrenCupid and PsycheShort TalesAnd Many MoreIn the second part of this book, you'll find the following Norse myths and topics coveredThe Creation of the WorldsThe Building of AsgardWhy Odin Has One Eye and Tyr Has One HandThe Mead of PoetryLoki the ThiefLove and TroubleThor the BrideThor’s Adventures in UtgardOdin the Host and Odin the GuestAndvari’s CurseRegin and SigurdSigurd and the DragonThe Marriage of SigurdBrynhild’s BetrayalThe Death of SigurdThe Passing of BalderRagnarökGrace Note: The Story of Rolf KrakeIn the third part of this book, you'll find the following Egyptian myths and topics coveredCreation MythsThe Birth of OsirisThe Tale of Isis and OsirisThe Lament of Isis and NephthysThe Battle of Horus and SetThe Birth of Queen HatshepsutThe Tale of the FamineThe Shipwrecked SailorThe Two BrothersThe Princess and the DemonThe Taking of JoppaTwo Tales of Setne KhamwasIn the fourth part of this book, you'll find the following Celtic myths and topics coveredThe Children of LirThe Birth of CuchulainnHow Cuchulainn Got His NamePwyll, Prince of DyfedThe Story of Culhwch and OlwenThe Romance of Tristan and IseultAnd more!In the fifth part of this book, you'll find the following Roman myths and topics coveredThe Wanderings of AeneasThe Story of the Founding of RomeThe Rape of LucretiaHercules and the Giant of LatiumThe Quest for the Golden FleeceThe Creation of the WorldAnd many more!So if you want to learn more about these five mythologies, click "Add to Cart"!

If you're looking for a captivating collection of Maya Myths then keep reading…From the fantastic exploits of the Hero Twins, to the stories of how the world came to be, to folktales about people, animals, and supernatural beings, Maya myth presents us with a fascinating variety of characters, plots, and imagery. All of these tales, whether from an ancient or more modern source, show us the great richness and beauty of Maya literature.Maya Mythology: Captivating Maya Myths of Gods, Goddesses and Legendary Creatures invites you to go on a startling journey to discover stories such as:Two Creation MythsThe Downfall of Seven MacawThe Boyhood Deeds of Hunahpu and XbalanqueBallgames in XibalbaThe Deaths and Resurrections of Hunahpu and XbalanqueThe Man Who Became a BuzzardHow the Sun and Moon Became Man and WifeRabbit Gets His DrinkAnd many more!So if you want a captivating collection of Maya myths, click the “buy now” button!

Explore Captivating Hindu Myths of Hindu Gods and Goddesses The stories in Hindu myth stem from traditions within Hinduism, drawing on stories from ancient texts, like the Ramayana and the Mahabharata. Keep in mind that because different versions of Hinduism inspire different people, many different versions of the stories float through the jungle and over the stones of temples and traditions. The stories in this volume are my version, though I’ve stuck as closely to the original myths and legends as imagination allows. At the end of this book, you’ll find a short bibliography for further research and reading. Within this book, you'll find the following Hindu myths covered Lord Brahma, Lord Vishnu, and the Beginning of the WorldThe Birth of Lord ShivaSaraswati & Brahma’s Fifth HeadShiva Tests ParvatiShiva Snares a WhaleGanesha Loses His HeadGanesha Spills a RiverKubera’s PrideGanesha Injures a GoddessGanesha Wins a RaceShiva Skips SuccessRavana’s Ten HeadsThe Birth of RamaUrmila’s SlumberDeer of DeceptionHanuman’s TorchSuvannamachha Steals a BridgeHanuman Moves a MountainThe Final BattleSita’s PurityKrishna Steals ButterKrishna Trades for JewelsKrishna Swallows the FlamesAgni Spreads a CurseVayu Humbles the Silk Cotton TreeSavitri Chooses a HusbandSavitri’s FidelityAnd more!Get the book now and learn more about Hindu mythology

Drawing was Leonardo da Vinci’s primary artistic activity. He used drawing to think, to explore the world around him and to develop his other artistic projects. His drawings are among the most diverse and technically accomplished in the entire history of art, and the Royal Collection holds by far the most important selection of these. In 2019, to mark the 500th anniversary of Leonardo’s death, a series of special exhibitions of his drawings will open simultaneously at 12 venues across the United Kingdom, including Belfast, Birmingham, Bristol, Cardiff, Glasgow, Leeds, Liverpool, Manchester, Sheffield, Southampton and Sunderland, with a further venue to be announced. This publication includes all 200 of the drawings shown across these venues and provides an authoritative account of Leonardo’s works within the Royal Collection.

Explore Captivating Stories of Greek and Roman Gods, Goddesses and Monsters in this Ultimate Guide to Classical MythologyThis book includes two captivating manuscripts:Greek Mythology: Captivating Greek Myths of Greek Gods, Goddesses, Monsters and HeroesRoman Mythology: A Captivating Guide to Roman Gods, Goddesses, and Mythological CreaturesIn addition to explaining how creation itself began, myths in many cultures have the function of “just-so” stories, explaining various other important things—the invention of fire, why we have weather, the names of plants and birds. Greek and Roman mythology is no different: enfolded in grand stories of gods and heroes are some of the ways the ancient Greeks and Romans understood many of the more common aspects of their world.Although the gods and goddesses were powerful immortal beings, they were in many ways still very like the humans who worshiped them and who created these tales. The gods and goddesses are stricken with jealousy; they fall in love; they get angry when they feel slighted, and bestow gifts when they are honored. Likewise, the heroes are larger than life: they’re stronger, faster, and more skilled than ordinary mortals, but they are still subject to pain, illness, and death.Within this book, you'll find the following myths and topics coveredThe Creation of the TitansThe Birth of the Olympians and the Downfall of the TitansPrometheus and EpimetheusThe Birth of the MusesThe Olympian Gods and GoddessesHera, Queen of the GodsHermes, Trickster, and Messenger of the GodsGrey-Eyed Athena, Goddess of Wisdom and StrategyHephaestus, God of Fire and SmithcraftArtemis, Virgin Goddess of the HuntApollo, God of Music and HealingDionysus, God of Wine and Ritual MadnessAres, God of War, and Aphrodite, Goddess of LoveThe Story of Demeter and PersephoneDemigods, Heroes, and MonstersThe Story of PerseusHeraclesTheseus and the MinotaurThe Trojan ConnectionWhat History and an Analysis of Myth Tell UsFounding of RomePurely Roman GodsThe Creatures of Roman MythologyBorrowings from EtruriaInfluence of the Greek PantheonGreek Creatures Adopted by the RomansRoman Conquests of the CeltsTruth Behind the Roman GodsAnd MoreDownload the book now and learn more about Classical Mythology

Captivating Stories of the Gods, Goddesses, Monsters and MortalsThis book on Egyptian mythology is part of the best-selling series "Norse Mythology - Egyptian Mythology - Greek Mythology." In this ultimate guide on Egyptian Mythology, you will discover captivating stories of the Gods, Goddesses, Monsters, and Mortals. In this book, you will also find factual history as well as insightful information regarding Egyptian mythology.This book is broken into two parts:Fantastic Images—Ancient Egyptian myths and legends as we know them today.Factual History—Covering pre-history through classical antiquity.This book is jam-packed with fascinating facts and stories. For instance, it covers perhaps the most popular of all the Egyptian stories - the myth of Osiris. Pieces of this story have been found throughout Egypt. One of the most appealing aspects of the Osiris myth is the human-like behavior of the gods within the story. Many of the other gods of the Egyptian pantheon were rather emotionless and their stories far less interesting. With the Osiris story, the gods display a broad range of emotions that made them more real to mere mortals.Just some of the questions and topics covered in this book includeCreationFall of HumanityOsiris MythChief Gods of the Egyptian PantheonLesser Known PantheonAncient Egyptian HistoryDownload the book now and learn more about egyptian mythology

If you're looking for a captivating collection of Inca Myths, then keep reading...The myths of the Inca gods in the first section of the book explain how the world was created and also detail the adventures of various deities as they vie for supremacy or act as tricksters in the worlds of mortals and huacas alike. The second section contains the origin myth of the Inca Empire, which was used to justify Inca political legitimacy. This section also presents other tales involving the mythologized deeds of Inca emperors and their interactions with divine beings. The final section contains a collection of Andean folktales and a prose narrative version of the eighteenth-century drama Apu Ollantay, which may have been based on an ancient Inca tale and which tells the story of the forbidden love between Cosi-Collyur, daughter of the Inca Pachacuti, and the brave warrior Ollantay, whose name also graces the Inca fortress of Ollantay-tambo just north of Cuzco.Inca Mythology: Captivating Inca Myths of Gods, Goddesses, and Legendary Creatures invites you to go on a startling journey and discover:Stories of the GodsInca Political MythsFive Andean Folktales and an Inca PlayAnd much, much more!So if you want a captivating collection of Inca Myths, click the “add to cart” button!

If you're looking for a captivating collection of Inca Myths, then keep reading...This book includes four captivating manuscripts:Maya Mythology: Captivating Maya Myths of Gods, Goddesses and Legendary CreaturesAztec Mythology: Captivating Aztec Myths of Gods, Goddesses, and Legendary CreaturesInca Mythology: Captivating Inca Myths of Gods, Goddesses, and Legendary CreaturesCentral American Mythology: Captivating Myths of Gods, Goddesses, and Legendary Creatures of Ancient Mexico and Central AmericaIn the first part of this book, you'll find the following Maya myths and topics coveredTwo Creation MythsThe Downfall of Seven MacawThe Boyhood Deeds of Hunahpu and XbalanqueBallgames in XibalbaThe Deaths and Resurrections of Hunahpu and XbalanqueThe Man Who Became a BuzzardHow the Sun and Moon Became Man and WifeRabbit Gets His DrinkAnd many more!In the second part of this book, you'll find the following Aztec myths and topics coveredThe Legend of the SunsThe Deeds of MixcoatlThe Origin of Maize and the Creation of PulqueThe Fall of XochiquetzalThe Fate of SoulsHuitzilopochtli and the Founding of TenochtitlanHuemac Plays the Ball GameAnd many more!In the third part of this book, you'll find the following Inca myths and topics coveredStories of the GodsInca Political MythsFive Andean Folktales and an Inca PlayAnd much, much more!In the fourth part of this book, you'll find the following Central American myths and topics coveredOlocupinele Creates the World (Dule/Cuna, Panama)Watakame’ and the Great Flood (Wixáritari/Huichol, Mexico)Yomomuli and the Talking Tree (Yoeme/Yaqui, Mexico)How the Sea Was Made (Cabécar, Costa Rica)Mother Scorpion’s Country (Miskito, Nicaragua)The Childhood of the Sun and the Moon (qne-a tnya-e/Chatino, Mexico)The Invisible Hunters (Miskito, Nicaragua)The King of the Peccaries (Bribri, Costa Rica)How Opossum Stole Fire (Mazatec, Mexico)Uncle Rabbit and Uncle Tiger (Nicaragua)And much, much more!So if you want to learn more about these four mythologies, click "buy now"!