In ancient times, everything—from the changing of the seasons to the orbit of the Sun—was an unsolved mystery. Thus, people created stories to interpret things and the world around them.

These stories—myths, legends, and fairy tales—differed from place to place, but all shared a common thread: they aimed to explain the inexplicable. The stories in this book were born hundreds or even thousands of years ago. They were told long before the rise of scientific thought, when people still believed in giants, spirits, and mythical creatures that could change form from one moment to the next.

Over time and through countless retellings, these stories changed in form—perhaps even their meanings have changed to some extent. However, that does not make them any less fascinating.

In the book “Myths and Legends from Around the World” by Baer, Davidson, Dickins, and Hore, you will meet a spider that deceives a god, a frog that swallows all the water in the world, a woman fox, a talking tiger, and a jaguar that holds the secret of fire. You will also encounter the Greek goddess Demeter and the Babylonian goddess Ishtar, the Irish giant Finn Mac Cool, and the Indian goddess Durga, who saved the world from the demon Mahisha and evil.

Continue reading and discover eighteen marvelous myths and legends from around the world...

The wonderful illustrations in the book are crafted by Anna Klaus.

Contents

A Few Words About the Stories 6
Demeter and Persephone 18
The Greedy Frog 16
The Battle of the Animals 28
Thunder and Lightning 38
The Jaguar's Fire 44
Anansi and the Box of Tales 58
Finn Mac Cool 74
The Sun and the Moon 88
The Vanished Goddess 110
The Shepherd and the Princess 128
The Demon Who Fought a Goddess 138
The Water Spirit and Its Gift 146
The Woman Fox 162
The Origin of the Winds 180
The Children of Lir 196
Ishtar and the Land of the Dead 210
The Wall of Asgard 228
Maui's Fish 238