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• Classic-Fiction

Mabinogion, 29, 275–76, 292–95

MacCool, Finn, 276, 288–92

Macha (Celtic), 284

Machu Picchu, 475–78

maenads (Greek), 208

Maeve (Celtic), 276, 286–88

magi, Christmas story and Persian, 169–70

Mahabharata, 323, 345–47

Mahadevi, 339

Mahavira, 348, 351–52

Malsum (North American), 487–88

Mama Cocha (Incan), 481

Mama Huaco (Incan), 478

Mama Kilya (Incan), 480

Mama Ocllo (Incan), 479, 480

Mama Pacha (Inca), 480

Manco Capac (Incan), 479, 480

mandate of heaven (Chinese), 368–69

Manu (Indian), 332–33, 338

Marduk (Mesopotamian), 125, 129, 137–42, 145, 148, 166

Mars (Roman), 203, 252, 254

marshes, Mesopotamian creation myths and, 131–33

martyrs, 9, 385

mastaba tombs, Egyptian, 100–101

masturbation, Egyptian creation myths and, 74–78

Matsya (Indian), 344

Maui (Pacific Islands), 503–4

Mawu (African), 417, 421

Maya (Indian), 349

Mayan myths, 453–63. See also American myths 462–63

gods, 462–63

Mayan history and, 453–54, 457–59

Olmec ball game, 459–62

Popul Vuh, 454–57

May Day celebration, 291–92

Mbombo (African), 419

me concept (Mesopotamian), 125–26, 146

Medb (Celtic), 276, 286–88

Medea (Greek), 227–28, 235

medicine men, 451. See also shamans

Medusa (Greek), 221

Mehet-Weret or Mehturt (Egyptian), 95

Mencius, 381, 382

Mercury (Roman), 212–13

Merodach (Mesopotamian), 148. See also Marduk (Mesopotamian)

Mesoamerican myths. See Aztec myths; Mayan myths

Mesopotamian myths, 115–70

Abraham, 163–64

flood story vs., 157–60

Code of Hammurabi, 142–44

and, 129–31

myths, 131–36

Egyptian myths and, 89

El, Baal, and Canaanites, 31, 165–67

Enuma Elish, 136–40

Gilgamesh, 153–57

gods, 41–42, 126–29, 144–50

Inanna, Dumuzi, and creation of seasons, 150–51

Inanna and sexuality, 151–53

Lilitu or Lilith, 167–68

and Christmas story, 169–70

Marduk-Tiamat conflict and Goddess movement, 140–42

Mesopotamian history and, 13, 117–18, 122–26, 129–31, 133–34, 156–57

milestones, 119–21

Tower of Babel and, 160–63

Metamorphoses, 199, 201, 219–20

Metis (Greek), 215

Mexico, 7, 464. See also Aztec myths

Mictlantecuhtli (Aztec), 469, 471–72

Midgard (Norse), 296

milestones. See also history

African myths, 400–403

American myths, 435–39

Celtic and Norse myths, 266–68

Chinese and Japanese myths, 356–60

Egyptian myths, 54–59, 68

Greek and Roman myths, 175–78

Indian myths, 315–16

Mesopotamian myths, 119–21

Pacific Island myths, 502–3

militaristic traditions

Aztec, 466–67

Japanese, 385, 388

Milky Way, 222, 300, 471

Minerva (Roman), 204–5, 253

Minotaur, Theseus and the, 234–37

mistletoe, 278–79, 301–2, 304

Mithra (Persian), 170, 260, 336

Mitra (Indian), 336

Mnemosyne (Greek), 195

Moctezuma or Montezuma (Aztec), 465–69

moksha, 323, 327

monarchy, 132

monotheism, 13, 45, 107–11

morals

Chinese myths and, 374

and, 31

Greek ethics, 190

Japanese myths and, 386–87

Morrigan (Celtic), 284, 294–95

Moses (Judeo-Christian), 108–11, 254

Mot (Mesopotamian), 166

Mother Earth Goddess, 11, 140–42, 449–50, 484, 491. See also Great Mother

mummification, Egyptian, 87, 93

Muses, Greek, 215

Muslims. See Islam

mystery, myths and, 49

mythology, myths vs., 3. See also myths myths

author’s interest in, 1–3, 17

Celtic (see Celtic myths) Chinese (see Chinese myths)

impact of, 3–10

Eastern vs. Western, 309–11

Egyptian (see Egyptian myths) explanatory, 10–12, 23–27, 33–34, 40–41, 49 (see also creation myths; explanatory myths)

(see also Greek myths) as historical allegories, 34–37 (see also history)

Indian (see Indian myths)

Japanese, 384–91

Judeo-Christian religion and, 38–42 (see also Judeo-Christian religion)

fables, folktales, and fairy tales vs., 27–32

Mesopotamian (see Mesopotamian myths) mythology vs., 3

world, 393–95 (see African myths; American myths; Aztec myths; Incan myths; Mayan myths; North American myths; Pacific Island myths)

Norse, 295–308

and, 43–46 (see also religion)

Roman, 251–61

Schliemann’s discovery of Troy and, 37–38

this book about, 12–17

Nabopolassar, 161