In cultures throughout human history people have believed that
some part of themselves continued to exist after they died. Part of
that belief is that living can influence what happens to the dead
in the afterlife, and the dead can return from the afterlife to
affect the living. "Death Gods: An Encyclopedia of the Rulers, Evil
Spirits, and Geographies of the Dead" describes the many ways the
afterlife--especially that part of the afterlife commonly known as
Hell--has been characterized in myths from around the world. The
hundreds of entries provide readers with a guide to the afterlife
as portrayed in these myths - its geography, its rulers, its
inhabitants, how they got there, and what happens after their
arrival. While the Devil is a prominent resident and ruler of the
afterworld in many religions, especially Christianity, this book
examines many other versions of Hell whether presided over by the
Devil, Hades, or one of the many other rulers of the dead.
"Death Gods" provides concise encyclopedic entries on all
aspects of the mythology of the afterlife: The underworlds form the
myths of cultures from across the globe--for example, Xibalba, the
underworld of the Quiche Maya; Di Yu, the underground realm of the
dead in Chinese mythology; the gods and demons of the
afterlife--the Hindu god of death and justice Yama; Ahriman, the
evil twin of the benevolent god Ahura Mazda in Zoroastrian
mythology; Buso, the invisible ghouls who haunt graveyards and feed
on human corpses in Philippine mythology. The volume includes an
extensive bibliography of the most useful resources for
understanding the mythology of death and the afterlife.
General
Imprint: |
Greenwood Press
|
Country of origin: |
United States |
Release date: |
March 2009 |
First published: |
February 2009 |
Authors: |
Ernest L. Abel
|
Dimensions: |
254 x 178 x 18mm (L x W x T) |
Format: |
Hardcover
|
Pages: |
224 |
ISBN-13: |
978-0-313-35712-1 |
Categories: |
Books
|
LSN: |
0-313-35712-9 |
Barcode: |
9780313357121 |
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