Padraic Colum (1881-1972) was born in Longford, Ireland. He was a poet, novelist and collector of folklore, and was one of the leading figures of the Irish Literary Revival.

'As a tour of the world's great civilizations and the myths that give voice to their cultures, Padraic Colum's stands out as being not only sweeping in scope but beautiful in voice. Colum has selected what I will call 'keystone myths' from the ancient cultures that have informed our modern world. This one-volume edition carries within its covers more cultural heartbeats and beautiful vision than any other single book I can think of. Myths of the World is a book to enjoy throughout a lifetime. In Waldorf education, many of these myths are at the heart of 4th and 5th grade curricula.'-- Bob and Nancy's Waldorf Bookstore'The interest of this book lies in its scope and in the engaging way in which the myths are recounted. Suitable for bedtime reading either to yourself or your children.' -- Scientific and Medical Network Review

• The Significance of MythologyEgyptian:Osiris and IrisRa, his Going-Down and UprisingBabylonian:In the BeginningGilgameshThe Story of Utnapishtim and of the Deluge that Destroyed all that was on the EarthIshtar's Descent into the World BelowPersian:Jemshid the ResplendentJewish post-Christian Period:The Angels and the Creation and Fall of ManThe Confounding of the Angel of DeathGreece:In the BeginningPrometheusPandoraDemeterOrpheusDionysosApolloHeraklesRoman:The Children of MarsNuma the Law-GiverThe SibylPomona and VertumnusGreco-Roman:Cupid and PsycheCeltic:Irish: Midir and EtainThe Death of Conaire Mor, the King of IrelandThe Voyage of Bran to the Land of the ImmortalsWelsh: Pwyll, Prince of Dyfed and his Visit to Annwn, the Realm of FaerieMath, the Son of MathonwyFinnish:Lemminkainen, his Destruction and his Restoration to LifeIcelandic:In the BeginningThe Building of the wallMimirBalderLoki's PunishmentThe Children of LokiRagnarok, the Fate of the GodsIndian:Vedic: The Heavenly Nymph and her Mortal HusbandEpic: The Churning of the OceanThe Birth of the GangesSavitri and the Lord of DeathDamayanti's ChoiceBuddhist: Gotama's AttainmentChinese:In the BeginningThe Weaver Maiden and the HerdsmanJapanese:The Sun Goddess and the Storm God and the Strife there was Between themThe First PeoplePolynesian:In the Beginning Maui the Fire BringerHow Maui Strove to Win Immortality for All CreaturesPele, Hawaii's Goddess of Volcanic FirePeruvian:ViracochaThe Llama-herder and the Virgin of the SunCentral American and Mexican:In the BeginningThe Twin Heroes and the lords of XibalbaQuetzalcoatlQuetzalcoatl's EnemyThe Gods of the AztecsThe AztecsZuni:Paiyatuma and the Maidens of the Corn