"Discover courageous heroes and heroines, magical creatures, and terrifying monsters on the captivating tour around the world" -- Myths, Legends, and Sacred Stories is a children's book that invites you to explore all the well-known stories from Greek and Norse mythology, and a range of other cultures across more than 100 tales. Discover the fascinating myths of Anansi, the West African trickster god who takes the form of a spider; the story of the Wawilak Sisters of Arnhem Land in northern Australia, who form the land as they walk across it; or the Slavic tale of Ivan as he chases the mischievous Firebird. Read about ferocious, man-eating monsters such as the Minotaur and Fafnir the dragon, and the legendary heroes that fought them, like Theseus and Sigurd. Also included are the legends of Robin Hood, and of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table, epics from Asia, such as the Mahabharata and Gilgamesh, and a host of tales from Aztec mythology and a range of other cultures. As well as offering the retellings themselves, Myths, Legends, and Sacred Stories: a visual encyclopedia investigates the meanings of these primal stories, examining why these tales have stood the test of time over thousands of years. Themed features draw together elements that are common to myths from all over the world, such as shapeshifters, mythical beasts, and magical weapons. Panels on modern retellings, such as Percy Jackson and The Little Mermaid, help to show why these myths are still relevant to our lives today. back cover.

Includes index.

Europe. The creation of the universe -- The Titans and their children -- The overthrow of Kronos -- The twelve Olympians -- The creation of humankind -- Aphrodite and Hephaestus -- Pygmalion's statue -- Pandora's jar -- Apollo, the musician -- The Oracle of Delphi -- Daphne's plight -- Athena's gift -- Arachne's pride -- The Underworld -- The abduction of Persephone -- Tricksters -- The labors of Heracles -- Orpheus and Eurydice -- Perseus and Medusa -- Theseus and the Minotaur -- Bellerophon and Pegasus -- The fall of Icarus -- Jason and the Argonauts -- Greek see deities -- The tragedy of Oedipus -- The Trojan War -- Underworld deities -- Odysseus journeys home -- The trial of Orestes -- Aeneas' destiny -- Vesta, the domestic goddess -- The spring deity -- Pomona's orchard -- The creation of the cosmos -- The world tree -- Odin's wisdom -- Thor's hammer -- Loki and Balder -- Ragnarök -- The Ring saga -- The impossible quest -- Beowulf -- The Good God -- The young son -- Cúchulain's fate -- Deidre's sorrows -- Finn MacCumhaill -- The Land of the Young -- Pwyll and Rhiannon -- Pryderi vanishes -- Brn's head -- Lleu's struggles -- The sword in the stone -- The quest for the Grail -- Sir Lancelot's betrayal -- The adventures of Robin Hood -- Mythical objects -- Baba Yaga, the witch -- Vasilisa's escape -- The death of Koschei -- Ivan and the Firebird -- Rusalka and the prince -- Asia. The birth of gods -- Marduk creates Babylon -- Inanna in the Underworld -- Gilgamesh, the tyrant -- Baal's rise to power -- The fearsome Anat -- Mythical weapons -- The triumphs of Teshub -- Wrong and Right -- The struggle against evil -- Rustum and Sohrab -- The sky god and his creations -- The eagle's food -- Great queens -- Pan Gu creates the universe -- The great flood -- The Three Officials -- The Jade Emperor's court -- The Eight Immortals -- Yi, the heavenly archer -- The adventures of Monkey -- Izanagi and Izanami -- Amaterasu and the mirror -- The fox-wife -- The good deeds of Okuninushi -- Kintaro -- Creatures in myth -- Brahma, the creator -- The churning of the ocean -- Shiva, the destroyer -- The great goddess -- Rama's journey -- Avatars of Vishnu -- The Great War -- Africa. Ra's creation -- Ptah's creation -- The death of Osiris -- The Egyptian afterlife -- Egyptian goddesses -- The tricks of Anansi -- The creation of Ife -- The first cattle -- The eland and the coming of night -- / Kaggen and the world tree -- Magical beings -- The adventures of Mwindo -- The Americas. The Feathered Serpent -- Aztec nature deities -- The Hero Twins -- Fate and fortune -- The five eras of creation -- Inca beginnings -- Inca deities -- The beggar god -- The Forest Mother -- The creation of night -- Oceania. Greedy Lumaluma -- The Rainbow Serpent -- Mythological siblings -- The Wawilak Sisters - Maori deities -- Maui feats.