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Full Description
From the household cat to horses that can fly, a surprisingly wide range of animals feature in religions and mythologies all across the world. The same animal can take on different roles: the raven can be a symbol of evil, a harbinger of death, a wise messenger or a shape-changing trickster. In Norse mythology, Odin's magical ravens perch on his shoulders and bring him news.
This compendium draws upon religious texts and myths to explore the ways sacred traditions use animal images, themes and associations in rituals, ceremonies, texts, myths, literature and folklore across the world. Sections are organized by the main animal classifications such as mammals, birds, reptiles, fish, amphibians and insects. Each chapter covers one significant grouping (such as dogs, cats or horses), first describing an animal scientifically and then detailing the mythological attributes. Numerous examples cite texts or myths. A final section covers animal hybrids, animal monsters and mythical animals as well as stars, constellations and Zodiac symbols. An appendix describes basic details of the religions and mythologies covered. A glossary defines uncommon religious terms and explains scientific animal names.
Contents
Table of Contents
Acknowledgments
Preface
Sacred Animals and Animal Classification
1. Sacred Animal Traditions
2. Classification
Mammals (Mammalia)
3. Dogs (Canidae)
4. Wolves, Wild Dogs and Foxes (Canidae)
5. Cats and Wildcats (Felidae)
6. Big Cats, Hyenas and Mongooses (Felidae and Viverroidea)
7. Cattle (Oxen), Antelopes and Hippopotamuses (Artiodactyla: Bovidae, Hippopotamidae)
8. Sheep and Goats (Caprinae)
9. Deer, Elk and Moose (Cervidae)
10. Bears, Pandas and Raccoons (Ursidae, Procyonidae)
11. Horses and Rhinoceroses (Perissodactyla: Equidae and Rhinocerotoidea)
12. Camels and Giraffes (Artiodactyla: Camelidae)
13. Pigs and Hedgehogs (Suidae, Erinaceidae)
14. Elephants (Proboscidia)
15. Monkeys and Apes (Primates)
16. Hares and Rabbits (Lagomorpha)
17. Mice, Rats and Beavers (Rodentia)
18. Bats (Chiroptera) and Other Odd Animals
19. Weasels, Otters and Badgers (Mustelidae)
20. Seals and Walruses (Pinnipedia)
21. Whales, Dolphins, Porpoises and Sirens (Cetartiodactyla, Delphiniodae, Sirenia)
Birds (Aves)
22. General Birds and Crows (Several Orders and Corvidae)
23. Raptors (Several Orders and Families)
24. Freshwater Birds (Several Orders and Families)
25. Sea Birds (Several Orders and Families)
26. Chickens and Peafowl (Galliformes)
27. Perching Birds and Singing Birds (Passeriformes)
28. Cranes and Cuckoos (Gruiformae, Otidimorphae)
29. Hoopoes, Hummingbirds, Doves and Woodpeckers (Several Orders and Families)
Fish and Sea Animals (Several Orders and Families)
30. Sea Fish (Several Orders and Families)
31. Freshwater Fish (Several Orders and Families)
32. Crabs, Clams, Conches and Corals (Crustacea, Mollusca, Cnidaria)
Amphibians (Amphibia)
33. Frogs, Toads, Salamanders and Newts (Several Orders and Families)
Insects and Other Creepy-Crawlies (Insecta, Arachnidae and Gastropoda)
34. Flying Insects (Insecta, Several Orders and Families)
35. Creeping, Crawling Animals (Insecta, Arachnidae, Gastropoda, Several Orders and Families)
Reptiles (Reptilia)
36. Snakes and Lizards (Squamata)
37. Crocodiles and Turtles (Crocodylia, Testudines)
Mythical Animals, Hybrids and Animal Gods
38. Dragons
39. Animal Hybrids and Monsters
40. Human-Animal Hybrids
41. Animals in the Sky
Glossary
Appendix: World Religions and Mythologies
Chapter Notes
Bibliography
Index
