The Mythology of South America

by John Bierhorst

Overview

More than any other continent, South America "has preserved the conditions that allow mythology to be freely produced." Dividing the continent into seven carefully mapped regions, John Bierhorst shows how South America's principal myths can be traced from tribe to tribe and how each region has developed its own unique oral tradition. Generous samples from the stories themselves introduce the female creators of the northern Andes, the male gods of the ancient Incas, and the Brazilian tricksters Sun and Moon. Originally published in 1988, Bierhorst has updated the text to reflect the abundance of new information that has become available since the mid 80s and written a new Afterword in which he emphasizes the durability of Indian mythology. Illustrations of native artwork and chapters devoted to special topics--including the connections between myths and politics--help to provide a well-rounded overview of this fascinating and little-known lore.
Detailed maps show tribal locations and the distribution of key stories and samples of differing narrative styles add enrichment, as some of the world's purest and most powerful myths are made more accessible--and more meaningful--than ever before.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780195146257
Publisher:	Oxford University Press
Publication date:	08/22/2002
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	296
Product dimensions:	9.28(w) x 6.10(h) x 0.88(d)
Age Range:	12 Years

About the Author

John Bierhorst is the author, editor, or translator of more than thirty books on Native American lore--eight of which have been named Notable Books by the American Library Association.

Table of Contents

	A Note on Pronunciation	xi
	Introduction	1
Part 1	Greater Brazil
I	Culture Heroes and Their Deeds	25
II	Men Versus Women	41
III	Creators and Saviors	53
Part 2	Guiana
IV	The Other World	65
V	This World and its Beginnings	79
Part 3	Brazilian Highlands
VI	The Art of Myth	93
VII	Myth and Society	105
Part 4	Gran Chaco
VIII	Tricksters of the Chaco	119
IX	Dangerous women	127
X	Cataclysms	138
Part 5	Far South
XI	Providers and Deliverers	151
XII	Men's Liberation	161
Part 6	Northwest
XIII	Mothers and their Children	173
XIV	When Myths Die	188
Part 7	Central Andes
XV	Highland Gods	199
XVI	In the Montana	212
XVII	Myth and Archaeology	220
XVIII	From Myth to Politics	233
	Afterword	243
	Notes on Sources	251
	References	264
	Index	275

Editorial Reviews

Gr 8 Up In this overview and guide to the myths of the many tribes of South America, a distinguished folklorist introduces the scholarship behind the study of this mythology. While providing samples of the stories themselves, Bierhorst concentrates on the themes and motifs of the principal myths, the variants of them among the tribes, and on legends unique to individual tribes. He divides South America into seven regions, summarizing the great mythological themes of each. There are creation myths, stories of origins, stories about the roles of men and women and conflicts between the sexes, and stories which very frankly tell of the origins of various aspects of anatomy and sexuality. Gifford's Warriors, Gods, and Spirits from Central and South American Mythology (Schocken, 1983) tells some of the stories with introductory material for each region. The two books complement each other. Bierhorst provides a guide to the different tribal cultures and their vast folklore, while Gifford provides the stories themselves in a fuller form, covering both Central and South America in one profusely illustrated volume. Bierhorst's is an excellent book, illustrated with native artworks, for readers seriously interested in mythology or for student reports. Louise Yarian Zwick, Houston Public Library

School Library Journal

"One of the finest popular works in anthropology and science....The concepts are profound, yet accessible."—The New York Times Book Review

"An intriguing, complex tapestry of living folklore."—Booklist

"A well-organized, coherent overview."—Kirkus Reviews

From the Publisher