Themythologiesoftheworldarecollectiveculturaldreams,andassuchshouldbeanalyzedfirstfromculturalperspectives.HowdomythsoftheancientEgyptiansorGreeks,forinstance,reflecttherealitiesoftheEgyptianandGreekcultures?Whencompared,however,mythologiesrevealcertainuniversalthemesormotifsthatpointtolargertrans-culturalissuessuchastheplaceofthehumanspeciesincreationorthenatureofdeityasaconcept.WorldMythology:AVeryShortIntroductionisorganizedaroundtheuniversalmotifs.Creation,theFlood,theHeroQuest,theTrickster/CultureHero,thePantheons,theHighGod,theGreatGoddess.VeteranmythologyscholarDavidLeemingexaminesexamplesofeachmotiffromavarietyofcultures--Greek,Egyptian,Norse,AmericanIndian,African,Polynesian,Jewish,Christian,Hindu--treatingthemasreflectionsoftheculturesthat“dreamed“them.Hecomparesandanalyzesthem,exposingtheiruniversalsignificanceandcreatinga“worldmythology.“
