What do you think?
Rate this book
The Book of Gods & Goddesses: A Visual Directory of Ancient and Modern Deities – The Illustrated Guide from Mesopotamian to Yoruba Cultures
Discover a host of gods and goddesses, some of them familiar, others forgotten or unknown. Drawn from cultures around the globe, divided by region and fully illustrated. From Tiamat (the great mother goddess of the ancient Mesopotamianst) to Olorun (the "Owner of the Heavens" for the Yoruba people of Nigeria).
128 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2004
1 person is currently reading
86 people want to read
About the author
Eric Chaline
41 books20 followersAuthor, journalist and editor, winner of the Lord Aberdare Prize, 2018
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
August 24, 2017
Asian Japanese god of rice: Inari. (sometimes seen as an old man sitting on a sack of rice...) OR as a fox. Foxes are way cooler.
This is a fun little book about all the mythical deities of the planet. This itself probably just insulted a few billion people and their cultures. Too bad! This book does bounce back and forth between labeling peoples sacred beliefs as Legend, Myth, or Faith.
But since it's a HarperCollins publishing pamphlet - we obviously get no real footnotes or sources for any of these cultures or dates. Just information thrown at us as somewhat reliable. Comically: it says in the front of the book - "HarperCollins books may be purchased for educational, business, or sales promotional use." NO. Please no~
Only a 127 pages long. But it gives a quick blurp on about a 100 somewhat ludicrous deities. Safely, the book states - Absent from the pages of this book are the world's three great monotheistic faiths: Judaism, Christianity, and Islam." Whew! Dodged a PC bullet there. (unless GANESH the elephant headed deity has an altar in your local temple. Then you might be slightly insulted. Got any peanuts to bring to church? )
This is a fun quick reference guide for anyone watching movies. Especially Percy Jackson And the Olympians. Or James Bond's Live And Let Die (Ghede - archetypal Voodoo god Papa Ghede, sports a top hat and tail coat, wears dark glasses and carries a walking stick, whose appearances are usually welcomed for the hilarity they bring). Although even all those old (and new?) Samurai movies might mention some of these gods and goddesses.
Yes, religions can be a fascinating thing. It can also be somewhat ludicrous and contradictory. I was reading a book by a New Age Western Hindu Buddhist who was mocking the religious traditions and boring rituals of Christianity (I do too at times). But then the guy went on to speak greatly of his dedication and excited passion for meditating and craving assurances from KALI: the India goddess of destruction (...ferocious and all-devouring aspect of the great goddess Mahadevi. An emaciated naked figure whose long thirsting tongue seems to be reaching towards the blood of her victims, wearing a necklace of human heads that drips blood... Kali's destructiveness threatens existence.) I can see why this Yoga meditating guy found the Christian church boring. They usually go on to declare that the Christian deity does not meet their needs??? No thanks, I'd rather not know.
Hint: that was a NICE summary of Kali - her legends are way more disturbing and brutally sexual. Don't go there.
Almost every mythical deity you can think up is in here. Although I couldn't find the Disney hero deity from Moana. ( In Ancient Polynesia, when a terrible curse incurred by the Demigod Maui reaches Moana's island, she answers the Ocean's call) Too bad. He's awesome.
I learned that most gods and goddesses are generally pretty silly and busy with war and sex and pouting. Basically people.
This is a fun little book about all the mythical deities of the planet. This itself probably just insulted a few billion people and their cultures. Too bad! This book does bounce back and forth between labeling peoples sacred beliefs as Legend, Myth, or Faith.
But since it's a HarperCollins publishing pamphlet - we obviously get no real footnotes or sources for any of these cultures or dates. Just information thrown at us as somewhat reliable. Comically: it says in the front of the book - "HarperCollins books may be purchased for educational, business, or sales promotional use." NO. Please no~
Only a 127 pages long. But it gives a quick blurp on about a 100 somewhat ludicrous deities. Safely, the book states - Absent from the pages of this book are the world's three great monotheistic faiths: Judaism, Christianity, and Islam." Whew! Dodged a PC bullet there. (unless GANESH the elephant headed deity has an altar in your local temple. Then you might be slightly insulted. Got any peanuts to bring to church? )
This is a fun quick reference guide for anyone watching movies. Especially Percy Jackson And the Olympians. Or James Bond's Live And Let Die (Ghede - archetypal Voodoo god Papa Ghede, sports a top hat and tail coat, wears dark glasses and carries a walking stick, whose appearances are usually welcomed for the hilarity they bring). Although even all those old (and new?) Samurai movies might mention some of these gods and goddesses.
Yes, religions can be a fascinating thing. It can also be somewhat ludicrous and contradictory. I was reading a book by a New Age Western Hindu Buddhist who was mocking the religious traditions and boring rituals of Christianity (I do too at times). But then the guy went on to speak greatly of his dedication and excited passion for meditating and craving assurances from KALI: the India goddess of destruction (...ferocious and all-devouring aspect of the great goddess Mahadevi. An emaciated naked figure whose long thirsting tongue seems to be reaching towards the blood of her victims, wearing a necklace of human heads that drips blood... Kali's destructiveness threatens existence.) I can see why this Yoga meditating guy found the Christian church boring. They usually go on to declare that the Christian deity does not meet their needs??? No thanks, I'd rather not know.
Hint: that was a NICE summary of Kali - her legends are way more disturbing and brutally sexual. Don't go there.
Almost every mythical deity you can think up is in here. Although I couldn't find the Disney hero deity from Moana. ( In Ancient Polynesia, when a terrible curse incurred by the Demigod Maui reaches Moana's island, she answers the Ocean's call) Too bad. He's awesome.
I learned that most gods and goddesses are generally pretty silly and busy with war and sex and pouting. Basically people.
March 5, 2016
To begin with, the quality of the book is excellent. I found the font, imagery, the colours, even the size of the book blended perfectly to make it a fun little read. The information provided on each god is apt, not too much, not too little just enough to fire the readers interest. Curious readers may then use other sources to augment their knowledge, this text only serves introductory purposes. However, a few more gods and goddesses could've been included, particularly from the Egyptian, Norse and Indian mythologies.
March 13, 2010
This is a awesome, informative, and short-to-the-point book. I totally recommend this one for anyone who wants to know about the various gods and goddesses with out reading tons and tons of stuff.
March 30, 2012
Can only give 3 stars bc Bast, Egyptian goddess of cats, is not mentioned!
July 6, 2022
Interesting and educational
November 23, 2010
Good book, great for school projects / assignments.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews