"An A-Z look at cultural tales from around the world that reflect the true spiritual nature of the planet and our relation to it"--Provided by publisher.

"From unicorns, salamanders, satyrs, giants, elves and trolls, to dragons, nymphs, mermaids, werewolves and griffins -- take an enchanting journey through the history, folklore, and mythology of these beasts from virtually every culture in the world."--Page 4 of cover.

Cave paintings at Lascaux, France and Altamira, Spain, fraught with expression thousands of years later; point to an early human desire to form a cultural identity. In the Oxford Companion to World Mythology, David Leeming explores the role of mythology, or myth-logic, in history and determines that the dreams of specific cultures add up to a larger collective story of humanity. Stopping short of attempting to be all-inclusive, this fascinating volume...