History Myths

Because only through the human was the divine knowable, the old peoples of the earth made gods of their heroes and not infrequently endowed these gods with as many of the vices as of the virtues of their worshipers.

The Aztecs believed offerings of human blood and human lives were necessary to the continued running of the universe. Indeed, in Aztec myths, the gods themselves make sacrifices of their own blood and even of their entire bodies in order to create a universe humans can live in and, in one story, to create humans themselves. To the ancient Aztecs, these practices seemed fitting, necessary, and honorable, helping to connect the world of humans to the divine world of the gods, a universe that in Aztec myth took shape in cycles of creation, destruction, and rebirth.

“Narrator Landon Woodson’s clear diction, interested tone, and appropriate inflections enliven the biographical portraits of little-known and well-known athletes and others.” —AudioFile From the author of the bestselling Kobe Bryant biography The Rise comes the legend of the most...

Winner of the National Book Critics Circle Award in Biography In this critically acclaimed true crime tale of "welfare queen" Linda Taylor, a Slate editor reveals a "wild, only-in-America story" of political manipulation and murder (Attica Locke, Edgar Award-winning author). On the South Side of...

Helen of Troy has been the inspiration for writers for centuries. According to the myth, her beauty was the cause of the Trojan War that would rage on for 10 long years, a war that brought death and suffering to thousands. Because of the universal appeal of the story of Helen of Troy, differing versions of the tale can be found throughout history. From the ancient poet Homer to the dramatist Euripides, from classical academic scholars to Stephen Fry to Hollywood, Helen seems to continue to intrigue us all.

In this richly diverse volume, Joseph M. Beilein Jr., and Matthew C. Hulbert assemble a team of both rising and eminent scholars to examine guerrilla warfare in the South during the Civil War. Together, they discuss irregular combat as practiced by various communities in multiple contexts, including how it was used by Native Americans, the factors that motivated raiders in the border states, and the women who participated as messengers, informants, collaborators, and combatants.

On the morning of May 18, 1924, households across America opened their newspapers to the headline: "Derby Winner Property of Indian Woman." The woman in question was Rosa Magnet Hoots, a member of the Oklahoma Osage Nation. The horse, draped in the iconic red roses signifying his victory in the fiftieth running of the Kentucky Derby, was Black Gold. Named for the oil that had been discovered in large quantities in Oklahoma at the time of his birth, Black Gold was born in 1921 to a mare named Useeit.

Are you ready for an epic journey through three of the most fascinating civilizations in history? With Classic Legends For Kids, you’ll uncover the incredible myths, brave heroes, and powerful gods that shaped Ancient Egypt, Greece, and Rome. This bundle combines three captivating books into one thrilling collection, making ancient history fun, engaging, and unforgettable for young minds—and adults too!

Russia is the largest country in the world, with the largest arsenal of nuclear weapons. Over a thousand years this multifaceted nation of shifting borders has been known as Rus, Muscovy, the Russian Empire and the Soviet Union. Thirty years ago, it was reinvented as the Russian Federation. Russia is not an enigma, but its past is violent, tragic, sometimes glorious, and certainly complicated. Like the rest of us, the Russians constantly rewrite their history. They too omit episodes of national disgrace in favour of patriotic anecdotes, sometimes more rooted in myth than reality.

In this sequel to The Anaconda and A New Earth, crew members from an asteroid miner mysteriously transported 400 years into the past compete against each other among the natives and empires of 1802. An army of Plains tribes created by one faction seeks to drive Europeans from North America, while two 23rd-century capitalists employ long-lost Templar Knights to pressure London mercantilists and the Ottoman sultan to establish a global monopoly.

Get ready to dive into a world of dragons, emperors, ancient gods, and daring heroes – welcome to the magical world of Chinese Legends! This is no ordinary history lesson. It’s a journey through time and imagination, where dragons swim through the skies, warriors rise against impossible odds, and mystical gods shape the fate of the world.

From monsters to witches and ancient libraries to lost islands, The Life Fantastic seeks to trace the origins of ideas, their surprising paths, and unexpected ways in which they interact and manifest throughout history. By digging around the roots of literary genres, popular stories, and ancient myths, Noa propels the listener back and forth through time, from high to popular culture, from art to politics and religion, on a journey to ever-expanding horizons. This is an invitation to explore the collective subconscious of Western culture.

Dive deep into the mystical world of Aboriginal culture with Charles William Peck's landmark work, Australian Legends. As one of the earliest compilations, this book intricately narrates tales steeped in Dreamtime mythology, helping you explore the indigenous culture's understanding of the cosmos, morality, and the natural world. Peck's storytelling draws you into an ancestral past that resonates profoundly with modern listeners.

This audiobook is a must if you want to explore the fascinating world of superstitions and uncover the mysteries behind these beliefs. From black cats to broken mirrors, you will gain a new appreciation for the many ways people try to make sense of the world around them.

In this profound and urgent new book, leading thinker on technology Kester Brewin shows how AI is both stunningly new and rooted in the most ancient human desires. Hailed by the UK government's own lead on AI as 'god-like', as we finally welcome this stunning technology amongst us—with Frankenstein and Faustus, from the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel to the underbelly of Silicon Valley—Brewin skillfully leads us through the myths, machines, and monsters that have influenced the development of our greatest and most longed-for invention, and how we can learn to live alongside it.

Myths of Babylonia and Assyria takes a look at the ancient history and mythology of Mesopotamia. The audiobook examines the myths and legends of Babylonia and Assyria, and how these ancient tales reflect the beliefs and development of early civilization. The audiobook begins with the early Sumerian Age and concludes 30 centuries later with the Greek Empire.

¿Qué sucesos oculta nuestra historia oficial? ¿Conocemos realmente los hechos que dieron celebridad a nuestros caudillos? En esta obra apasionante, Francisco Martín Moreno se encarga de ofrecer el verdadero rostro de héroes y gobernantes que han conformado México. Su apasionada labor investigativa y su pluma ágil, polémica y filosa entregan sucesos históricos desconocidos que nos permitirán hacer una lectura nueva de nuestra historia, nos descubrirán a otros protagonistas, otros villanos y harán temblar a héroes y caudillos de nuestra grandeza mexicana.

En Historia de la Guerra Civil sin mitos ni tópicos, Manuel P. Villatoro e Israel Viana repasan los años treinta del siglo XX para entender el enfrentamiento capital de nuestra historia reciente, la cruenta guerra civil que antecedió a uno de los períodos más convulsos del siglo XX en España y Europa.

Discover Ancient Greece and Rome like never before with this compendium that begins with creation myth of Uranus and Gaea and includes descriptions and tales of gods both major and minor, as well as mythical creatures and other divinities. Author and scholar E.M. Berens also details how the people of ancient Greece and Rome worshiped, covering sacred sites and customs, as well as their significance. Berens's seminal work offers something for anyone interested in Greek and Roman mythology, whether they are just beginning to learn or are looking to add to already established knowledge.

This comprehensive work by E. M. Berens starts with the primordial deities of the Greeks and the myths on the origin of the world, followed by the Olympian, sea, and minor divinities; nymphs; nature spirits; and Roman divinities.