Jealous Gods and Chosen People: The Mythology of the Middle East

By David A. Leeming

Book Overview

Esteemed scholar David Leeming, who has authored more than twelve books on mythology, here offers the first comprehensive narrative study of the mythology of the Middle East, that tumultuous region that was the cradle of civilization.
Leeming begins with a brief, engaging history of the Middle East, spanning Neolithic cultures, the Bronze Age and the Iron Age, the invention of writing and the rise of Egypt and Babylonia, Israel and Roman rule, and the early history of the Jews, Christians, and Muslims. This is followed by an in-depth discussion of the mythology of the region, covering individual pantheons, cosmic myths, mythic heroes, and much more. Leeming ranges from prehistoric figures such as the Mother Goddess of atal H y k to Mesopotamian gods such as Marduk and mythic heroes such as Gilgamesh, to the pantheon of Egyptian mythology, including the falcon-headed sky-sun god Horus and jackal-headed Anubis. The author also offers an illuminating exploration of the mythology of the three great monotheistic religions of the region: Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. In a provocative Epilogue, Leeming depicts today's crisis in the Middle East as "violent, clearly immoral, and illegal actions" justified by "what can only be called myths." He notes that fundamentalists in the area's three religions all see their way as the only way, forgetting that myths represent truths that are spiritual and philosophical--not historical events that can be used to justify acts of violence.
With key maps, illustrations, bibliography, and index, Jealous Gods and Chosen People provides an inclusive, authoritative, and captivating account of a mythology that remains a potent--and often destructive--force in the world today.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0195147898
• ISBN13: 9780195147896
• Release Date: March 2004
• Publisher: Oxford University Press
• Length: 150 Pages
• Weight: 0.98 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 6.4" x 9.7"

Customer Reviews

Wealth of historical/mythological. Requires thought and patience.

This book is a great example of mythical documentation and centers on the roots of myth as well as their purpose in society quite fluently. A great example of literary reference as it both gives informative and exciting stories from the cradle of civilization.Although only a quick synopsis of Middle Eastern Myth and legend the Leeming does a good job of presenting myth as well as philosophy. The book does an astonishing job of leveling as well as maintaining a heigtened aspect of people as well as their use for myth and its effect on how they lived their lives in adherence to belief. This however may present problems to the less accepting reader who may take offense to Leeming's views of religion as he sees myths(including biblical)as rather metaphorical than historically true. Looking past this however Leeming presents quite an intersting aspect of middle eastern comparitive mythology that is the basis for many cultures today. all togethyer though this book is a good representation of BASIC middle eastern myths and only just scratches the surface on some points. Yet on the bright side the stories that are included(mostly creation as well as primal myths to the cultures) are told in a interesting as well as comparitive matter, enjoyable to read as well as to refer to.

A brief synopsis of "Middle Eastern" mythology, bound to be controversial

Since a huge percentage of the world's people belong to one of the Abrahamic faiths, Leeming could not possibly avoid offending some of them. He is respectful of the myths of all religions, although he honors them more for spiritual than literal truths. He is also hopeful that monotheisms, at least related monotheisms, can find common ground and avoid violent conflict. I can only suggest that the reader choose materials with this in mind. If the reader cannot bear the inclusion of Abrahamic faiths with ancient pagan religions, this is not for them. I have no expertise in this area, I cannot really judge its accuracy. It is a brief, straightforward and informative guide. I would certainly recommended it as a first book on the subject, and perhaps as a reference guide in reading more extensive works. The myths are not recounted in story-teller form, although they are interestingly told. I particularly liked that the multiple (and sometimes overlapping) names of the deities and variants of myths. I am sometimes bewildered by the different renderings of tales that I thought I knew, and this is quite helpful in pulling them together. Leeming notes continuing themes and motifs, such as the sky god as bull, and relates the material to Joseph Campbell's works on commonalities among world mythologies. Leeming says that the ancient religions took their myths more metaphorically than literally, and I would have liked a little more information on this point. There is both an extensive bibliography for further research and a detailed index with helpful cross-references, e.g. Enlil, see also storm gods. The one feature I might have suggested is a listing of the variants of deities, perhaps with some sort of graphic timeline of cultural exchanges, but this is pretty well covered in the text.