Insect Mythology

Author: Gene Kritsky
Publisher: iUniverse
ISBN: 0595150179
Category : Nature
Languages : en
Pages : 158

Book Description
Mythology is a subject that has entertained people for thousands of years. These stories of gods and supernatural beings of the distant past are important in explaining how things came to be and are an integral part of societies. Insect myths are numerous and widespread in mythology, but have received little attention. This is the first book dedicated specifically to showing the important roles insects have played in mythology. This is a comprehensive and readable survey of insect myths from around the world. The book ranges from older, better-known insect myths such as sacred scarabs to new unpublished subjects such as insects as examples of parallel mythology. Numerous black and white figures are found in the book including new figures not previously seen in entomological literature. How insects are related to larger themes of mythology such as symbols and parallel mythology is discussed. Insects in Old World mythology (Egypt, China, etc.) and New World mythology (Native American, Mayan, etc.) are featured. This book brings to light the fascinating role that insects played in mythology and is the most comprehensive and authoritative reference on the subject.

Moths, Myths, and Mosquitoes

Author: Marc E. Epstein
Publisher: Oxford University Press
ISBN: 0190215259
Category : Biography & Autobiography
Languages : en
Pages : 361

Book Description
Marc E. Epstein provides a complete biography of Harrison Gray Dyar, Jr., one of the most influential biologists of the twentieth century. Epstein chronicles Dyar's impressive scientific accomplishments in the field of entomology, as well as his complicated personal life and many eccentricities.

A Philosophy of the Insect

Author: Jean-Marc Drouin
Publisher: Columbia University Press
ISBN: 0231540728
Category : Philosophy
Languages : en
Pages : 177

Book Description
The world of insects is at once beneath our feet and unfathomably alien. Small and innumerable, insects surround and disrupt us even as we scarcely pay them any mind. Insects confront us with the limits of what is imaginable, while at the same time being essential to the everyday functioning of all terrestrial ecosystems. In this book, the philosopher and historian of science Jean-Marc Drouin contends that insects pose a fundamental challenge to philosophy. Exploring the questions of what insects are and what scientific, aesthetic, ethical, and historical relationships they have with humanity, he argues that they force us to reconsider our ideas of the animal and the social. He traces the role that insects have played in language, mythology, literature, entomology, sociobiology, and taxonomy over the centuries. Drouin emphasizes the links between humanistic and scientific approaches—how we have projected human roles onto insects and seen ourselves in insect form. Caught between the animal and plant kingdoms, insects force us to confront and reevaluate our notions of gender, family, society, struggle, the division of labor, social organization, and individual and collective intelligence. A remarkably original and thought-provoking work, A Philosophy of the Insect is an important book for animal studies, environmental ethics, and the history and philosophy of science.

Magical Gains

Author: Nicola E. Sheridan
Publisher: Damnation Books, LLC
ISBN: 9781615723096
Category : Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 196

Book Description
Imran is sexy. He is available, but taking anything from him is illegal and could land you in prison or, at the very least, with an extraordinarily large tax bill. Imran is a Genie and Primrose a government employee, and in a world where magic is heavily governed to ensure equality for all, their relationship appears doomed from the start. When Primrose finds herself the unwilling mistress of a hot male Genie, her stifling suburban lifestyle is shattered. Thrust into the steamy Free Zone, filled with lascivious Satyrs and treacherous Sirens, Primrose discovers that three wishes can give her anything she needs, but can they give what she truly wants?

Insect Life

Author: Arabella Burton Buckley
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Insects
Languages : en
Pages : 84

Book Description

The Earwig’s Tail

Author: May R. Berenbaum
Publisher: Harvard University Press
ISBN: 0674053567
Category : Nature
Languages : en
Pages : 209

Book Description
Throughout the Middle Ages, enormously popular bestiaries presented people with descriptions of rare and unusual animals, typically paired with a moral or religious lesson. The real and the imaginary blended seamlessly in these books—at the time, the existence of a rhinoceros was as credible as a unicorn or dragon. Although audiences now scoff at the impossibility of mythological beasts, there remains an extraordinary willingness to suspend skepticism and believe wild stories about nature, particularly about insects and their relatives in the Phylum Arthropoda. In The Earwig’s Tail, entomologist May Berenbaum and illustrator Jay Hosler draw on the powerful cultural symbols of these antiquated books to create a beautiful and witty bestiary of the insect world. Berenbaum’s compendium of tales is an alphabetical tour of modern myths that humorously illuminates aerodynamically unsound bees, ear-boring earwigs, and libido-enhancing Spanish flies. She tracks down the germ of scientific truth that inspires each insect urban legend and shares some wild biological lessons, which, because of the amazing nature of the insect world, can be more fantastic than even the mythic misperceptions.

Mythology

Author: Richard Cavendish
Publisher:
ISBN: 9781566193894
Category : Folklore
Languages : en
Pages : 0

Book Description

Parallel Myths

Author: J.F. Bierlein
Publisher: Ballantine Books
ISBN: 0307754642
Category : Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 368

Book Description
“Unusually accessible and useful . . . An eye-opener to readers into the universality and importance of myth in human history and culture.”—William E. Paden, Chair, Department of Religion, University of Vermont For as long as human beings have had language, they have had myths. Mythology is our earliest form of literary expression and the foundation of all history and morality. Now, in Parallel Myths, classical scholar J. F. Bierlein gathers the key myths from all of the world's major traditions and reveals their common themes, images, and meanings. Parallel Myths introduces us to the star players in the world's great myths—not only the twelve Olympians of Greek mythology, but the stern Norse Pantheon, the mysterious gods of India, the Egyptian Ennead, and the powerful deities of Native Americans, the Chinese, and the various cultures of Africa and Oceania. Juxtaposing the most potent stories and symbols from each tradition, Bierlein explores the parallels in such key topics as creation myths, flood myths, tales of love, morality myths, underworld myths, and visions of the Apocalypse. Drawing on the work of Joseph Campbell, Mircea Eliade, Carl Jung, Karl Jaspers, Claude Lévi-Strauss, and others, Bierlein also contemplates what myths mean, how to identify and interpret the parallels in myths, and how mythology has influenced twentieth-century psychology, philosophy, anthropology, and literary studies. “A first-class introduction to mythology . . . Written with great clarity and sensitivity.”—John G. Selby, Associate Professor, Roanoke College

The Mythology of Cherokee, Iroquois, Navajo, Siouan and Zuñi

Author: Lewis Spence
Publisher: Good Press
ISBN:
Category : Social Science
Languages : en
Pages : 1137

Book Description
The Mythology of Cherokee, Iroquois, Navajo, Siouan, and Zuñi represents an unparalleled compilation that celebrates the rich tapestry of Indigenous American folklore. Within its pages, the anthology envelops readers in a universe where the overarching themes of creation, transformation, and the symbiosis between nature and humanity are explored through a diverse array of narrative styles, from the oral tradition to written accounts. The collection stands as a significant cultural and literary corpus, offering an in-depth look into the spiritual and societal constructs that have shaped these communities, emphasizing works that have become keystones in the study of Native American mythologies. The contributing authors and editors, including notable figures such as Lewis Spence, James Owen Dorsey, and Erminnie A. Smith, bring with them a wealth of knowledge and experience that spans decades of research and scholarship. Their collective backgrounds, deeply ingrained in the study of ethnology and anthropology, provide a foundation that aligns with both historical and cultural movements of Indigenous peoples. This compendium reflects not only the diversity of Indigenous mythology but also showcases the unity in its thematic elements, weaving together a narrative that transcends geographical and cultural boundaries. This anthology is a must-read for anyone intrigued by mythology, anthropology, or the rich histories of the Cherokee, Iroquois, Navajo, Siouan, and Zuñi peoples. It offers readers a rare opportunity to dive into the depths of North American Indigenous cultures through the lens of their mythology, presented by some of the leading scholars in the field. Through engaging with these stories, readers are invited to explore a myriad of perspectives, understandings, and interpretations, encouraging a deeper appreciation and dialogue between the myriad voices that compose this essential collection.

Encyclopedia of Insects

Author: Vincent H. Resh
Publisher: Academic Press
ISBN: 008092090X
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 1169

Book Description
Awarded Best Reference by the New York Public Library (2004), Outstanding Academic Title by CHOICE (2003), and AAP/PSP 2003 Best Single Volume Reference/Sciences by Association of American Publishers' Professional Scholarly Publishing Division, the first edition of Encyclopedia of Insects was acclaimed as the most comprehensive work devoted to insects. Covering all aspects of insect anatomy, physiology, evolution, behavior, reproduction, ecology, and disease, as well as issues of exploitation, conservation, and management, this book sets the standard in entomology. The second edition of this reference will continue the tradition by providing the most comprehensive, useful, and up-to-date resource for professionals. Expanded sections in forensic entomology, biotechnology and Drosphila, reflect the full update of over 300 topics. Articles contributed by over 260 high profile and internationally recognized entomologists provide definitive facts regarding all insects from ants, beetles, and butterflies to yellow jackets, zoraptera, and zygentoma. - 66% NEW and revised content by over 200 international experts - New chapters on Bedbugs, Ekbom Syndrome, Human History, Genomics, Vinegaroons - Expanded sections on insect-human interactions, genomics, biotechnology, and ecology - Each of the 273 articles updated to reflect the advances which have taken place in entomology research since the previous edition - Features 1,000 full-color photographs, figures and tables - A full glossary, 1,700 cross-references, 3,000 bibliographic entries, and online access save research time - Updated with online access