Creatures of fantasy

"Explores the mythical and historical backgrounds of dragons, both in the East and the West"--Provided by publisher.

When one thinks of ancient Egypt, one may also think of the intricate way these ancient people buried their dead. Mummification was used in other ways prior to the Egyptians, but their style has made the Egyptians of the past famous. However, in more modern times, mummies have been made into monstrous creatures, brought back to life to haunt, torment, and torture. This book explores the real-life accounts of mummy history, discusses mummy myths across cultures, and explains how the myth of the mummy endures in the present day.

There are many creatures that inspire folklore. Some have existed for thousands of years, while others are more recent incarnations. Among the most enduring creatures of the past are demons. These creatures are as old as the Jewish faith, perhaps older, and hold a special place in the lives of humans. This book delves into the oldest demon folktales, explores the ways different cultures have experienced demons, and examines how demons are treated today.

"Explores the mythical and historical backgrounds of water monsters such as the Loch Ness monster, the Vikings' Midgard Serpent, the biblical Leviathan, and the Scandinavian kraken"--Provided by publisher.

"Explores the mythical and historical backgrounds of griffins and phoenixes, including the hippogriff, monster birds of the Middle East (rukh, Simorgh, anqa), the giant condor, and the Thunder Birds of the Americas"--Provided by publisher.

"Explores the mythical and historical backgrounds of sphinxes and centaurs, including the Buraq of Islamic tradition, the Great Sphinx of ancient Egypt, man-animals of Mesopotamia, and the Gandharvas of India"--Provided by publisher.

Since ancient times, the mystical and magical have inspired countless stories of men and women wielding special powers. Among these are wizards, humans with immense magical ability. Related to witches, these beings have been shrouded in their own folktales and fairy stories. Some wizards are said to be good, while others are bad. Today, the most well-known contemporary wizard is Harry Potter, the fictitious hero of J. K. Rowling's imaginative series. This book explores the wonders of wizardry, from ancient times to the present day, and explains how the wizard fits into today's notion of mythology.

"Explains the history of troll lore throughout the ages, examines other troll folktales from around the world, and explores how the troll persists in today's society."--Publisher.

"For centuries, elves have been characters of myths and legends. Originating in Scandinavian tales, the folklore of elves has evolved over time. Today, many people associate elves with the memorable characters from the Lord of the Rings trilogy. However, various cultures from around the world have contributed to the modern-day perception of these creatures. This book explores the history of elves, their different cultural representations, and their continued presence in todays modern society"--Amazon.com.

Explores the history of witches and witchcraft in cultures around the world.