Enter The World Of Mythology
Enter a world where gods and goddesses mingle with the supernatural beings of the Tuatha de Danaan, where heroes fight epic battles and monsters are thwarted, and where legendary tales are told with an eye toward eternal glory-the treasure that is Celtic mythology is an undeniable pleasure to read. Explore another world of ancient times, never to be forgotten.
The motifs of Celtic legends are similar to that of many other mythologies: Magic is a handy way to explain the extraordinary; heroes are larger-than-life, with superhuman strength and wisdom to spare; gods are tricky and should be approached with caution; harrowing journeys are undertaken; romance is dramatic, often tragic; battles are fought and champions are forged. The Celts were the victims of internecine battles and foreign conquests, yet their legacy survives with a long-standing oral tradition that, eventually, was written down. We can see the Celtic evolution from warring tribes to triumphant kingdoms to Christian converts through the thread of a treasure trove of myths and tales.
This book can take you through that journey, beginning with an overview of the Celtic people and cultures and into an understanding of their pantheon of gods and goddesses, their amazing tales of adventure and sometimes sacrifice, and a glimpse into who they actually were via the stories they held dear. Some specific elements you will encounter:
- Some of the main gods of the Celtic pantheon, with all their quirks and foibles
- The beauty of the Tuatha de Danaan and their supernatural realm
- The wily ways in which Celtic myths survive foreign invasions and new religions
- One of the greatest heroes in all of Celtic mythology-Cuchulainn
- The contribution of the Welsh to the set of Celtic tales
- Early medieval romance and its tragically fated nature
- Fellowship between warriors and knights-before Tolkien
- The evil of the Fomorian hordes, invaders and monsters
- The development of courtly tales and Arthurian legends-the inheritors of ancient Celtic mythology
- A glimpse into all of the myriad ways that Celtic culture and its mythology still yet influence our world today
Celtic mythology is diverse and fascinating, offering us an insight into how ancient people believed and lived, into what they valued and vilified, and into how they loved and thrived. Finally, if you have enjoyed these treasured tales of Celtic mythology, don't forget to explore the other fantastic realms of mythological magic in this series of books: Treasures of Egyptian Mythology, Treasures of Norse Mythology, Treasures of Roman Mythology, and Treasures of Greek Mythology. You will find yourself in awe of the sweeping scope of history and culture represented by these mythological traditions-as well as obtain a better understanding of how we continually make and re-make these myths for our own times. That's the fabulous thing about myths: They never truly die.