Covers all aspects of mythology, including substantial essays on the world's major mythological traditions (including Greek, Native American, Indian, Japanese, Sumerian, Egyptian), mythological types and motifs (e.g., Descent to the Underworld, the Hero, the Trickster, Creation, the Quest), mythological figures (e.g.,Odysseus, Zeus, Osiris, Spider Woman, Inanna) as well as numerous interrelated subjects such as fairly tales and legends. The Companion also locates myth in our lives today, relating it to language patterns, psychology, religion, politics, art, and gender attitudes. Following the entries, appendices include family trees of the major pantheons, equivalency charts for the gods of Greece and Rome, Babylon and Sumer, as well as other traditions.--From publisher description.

Note to reader -- Introduction -- Cultural listing of entries -- A-Z entries -- Pantheonic family trees and charts of equivalent dieties -- Bibliography -- Picture credits -- Index.