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Polynesian myths, 501–6

Pomona (Roman), 253, 291

Popol Vuh, 46, 431, 447, 454–57

Portuguese, 393–94

Poseidon (Greek), 184, 195, 214, 249–50

prayers, 43–45

Priapus (Greek), 201

priests. See also shamans

American, 442

Egyptian, 62, 68

Chinese, 367

Indian, 322

Mesopotamian, 125, 127

Prometheus (Greek), 193, 216–18, 220, 225

Prose Edda, 298

Proserpina (Roman), 253

psychology, myths and, 47–49

Ptah (Egyptian), 75–76, 96, 97

Ptolemies (Egyptian), 36, 111–12

Puranas, 324

purification rituals, 45

Pygmalion (Greek), 201

Pygmies, 405, 407, 410

pyramids

Aztec, 7, 440

Egyptian, 1, 61, 67–69, 84, 95, 99–101, 105

Great Seal of the United States, 104–5

Mayan, 458

Pyramid Texts, Egytian, 71–72, 77

Quaoar, 494

Questions of Heaven, 362, 370

Quetzalcoatl (Aztec), 443, 467–69, 472–73

Quian Long, 361

Quirinus (Roman), 252

Ra (Egyptian), 62, 78, 82–85, 94, 105

rabbits, trickster. See Hare (African)

Radha (Indian), 341

Ragnarok, 298, 300, 302, 304

Rainbow (North American), 488

raja yoga, 340

Rama, 323–24, 345, 347–48

Ramayana, 323–24, 347–48

Ravana, 347

Raven (North American), 490

Re (Egyptian), 62, 78, 82–85, 94, 105

Regin (Norse), 307

reincarnation, 327

religions. See also priests; shamans

African, 406, 408, 409, 427–30

American, 396

worship, 410, 505

Buddhism, 9, 319, 348–51, 363, 386, 388

Celtic pantheism, 278

Chinese, 362–64, 381–82

Confucianism, 45, 353, 362–63, 368, 379–83, 386

Eastern vs. Western, 309–11

Falun Gong, 364

Goddess movement, 41–42, 140–42, 309

Greek philosophy and, 186–87, 190

Hinduism (see Indian myths)

Islam, 9, 58–59, 309, 394, 406

Jainism, 319, 348, 351–52

Judeo-Christian (see Judeo-Christian religion)

monotheism, 13, 45, 17–11

mystery, 89

as, 11, 16–17, 24–27, 43–46 (see also myths)

Santeria and Voodoo, 6, 396, 410, 425, 427–30, 500

Shinto, 386–87

Taoism, 362–63, 382–84

Zoroastrianism and Mithraism, 169–70

Remus and Romulus (Roman), 254–55

resurrection theme, 16, 41–42, 89, 147, 206, 208–9, 472–73. See also Jesus Christ

Rhea (Greek), 184, 191, 195, 213, 237–38

Rhea Silvia (Roman), 254

Rhiannon (Celtic), 293

Rig-Veda, 40, 45, 321–22, 331, 334

rituals

Indian, 329–30

Japanese ritual suicide, 385

myths, religion, and, 42, 45

ritualism, 329

of hearts in Egyptian, 90–93

Roman myths, 199–216, 251–61

Bacchanalia and Saturnalia holidays, 257–61

Celtic myths and, 291

gods, 199–216

Greek myths as, 199, 251–54 (see also Greek myths)

Mithraism and, 170

Romulus and Remus, 254–55

Virgil’s Aeneid, 255–57

Romulus and Remus (Roman), 254–55

Rosetta Stone, 36, 67

rulers. See also democracy; kleptocracy; monarchy; theocracy

Chinese, 368–69

Egyptian, 61–63, 105–6

Japanese, 9, 384–87

and, 12

Roman, 254

runes, 298, 304

Rus and Russia, 297

Sabines, 255

sacrifice, animal, 16, 45, 367, 430. See also human sacrifice

sadhus and sadhvis (Indian), 352

Sagbata and Sogo (African), 421

sage kings, Chinese, 375, 377–79

St. Barbara, 429

St. Brigid, 30, 282–83

St. George, 29–30

St. Mark, 58

St. Patrick, 271, 278, 290

Salmon of Knowledge, 288–90

saltwater, Mesopotamian, 131–33, 149

Sama-Veda, 321

Samhain festival, 290–92

samurai, Japanese, 385–86

Sanjina (Indian), 336

Sanskrit, 318, 321–22, 338

Santeria, 6, 396, 410, 427–30, 500

Sarasvati (Indian), 333, 337–38

Sargon, 135, 254

Sati (Indian), 343

Saturn (Roman), 259

Saturnalia holiday, 5, 257–61

satyrs, 208

Schliemann, Heinrich, 37–38, 184, 247–48

science. See also archaeology; natural world

Delphic Oracle and, 238

Greek, 182, 187, 190

and, 10–11, 17, 24, 33, 46

scrolls, Egyptian, 71

sculpture, Greek, 181

seasons

Greek myths about, 205–6

Mesopotamian myth about, 150–51

Sedna (North American), 492–94

Sekhmet (Egyptian), 96

Semites, 135, 165

Septuagint, 251

serpents. See dragons; snakes

Serqet (Egyptian), 96

Sétanta, 286

Seth or Set (Egyptian), 27, 64, 81–82, 85–87, 95

Seven Hunahpu (Mayan), 457, 460

sexuality

Celtic, 286–87, 292

Egyptian, 89–90