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Death Gods: An Encyclopedia of the Rulers, Evil Spirits, and Geographies of the Dead Review

As recorded from antiquity down to the present day, every human culture, religion, and mythology we know of has incorporated within it beliefs, legends, folklore, and theological systems that incorporate such concepts as kingdoms of the dead, evils spirits, death gods, demons, the living dead such as vampires and zombies, apocalyptic scenarios, and the supernatural. In "Death Gods: An Encyclopedia Of The Rules, Evil Spirits, And Geographies Of The Dead", academician Ernest L. Abel has compiled an encyclopedic and alphabetically organized listing of these phenomena including the 'underworlds' from such diverse cultures as the Aztec, the Babylonians, the Celts, the Egyptians, the Christians, the Buddhists, the Greeks, the Norse, the Polynesians, and others. Also included is an impressive listing of 'death gods' and demons. Enhanced with the inclusion of extensive references and a comprehensive index, "Death Gods" is a unique and highly recommended addition for personal, community, and academic library Metaphysical Studies, Mythology, and Religious History reference collections.

Death Gods: An Encyclopedia of the Rulers, Evil Spirits, and Geographies of the Dead Overview

In cultures throughout human history people have believed that some part of themselves continued to exist after they died. Part of that belief is that living can influence what happens to the dead in the afterlife, and the dead can return from the afterlife to affect the living. Death Gods: An Encyclopedia of the Rulers, Evil Spirits, and Geographies of the Dead describes the many ways the afterlife—especially that part of the afterlife commonly known as Hell—has been characterized in myths from around the world. The hundreds of entries provide readers with a guide to the afterlife as portrayed in these myths - its geography, its rulers, its inhabitants, how they got there, and what happens after their arrival. While the Devil is a prominent resident and ruler of the afterworld in many religions, especially Christianity, this book examines many other versions of Hell whether presided over by the Devil, Hades, or one of the many other rulers of the dead.

Death Gods provides concise encyclopedic entries on all aspects of the mythology of the afterlife: The underworlds form the myths of cultures from across the globe—for example, Xibalba, the underworld of the Quiche Maya; Di Yu, the underground realm of the dead in Chinese mythology; the gods and demons of the afterlife—the Hindu god of death and justice Yama; Ahriman, the evil twin of the benevolent god Ahura Mazda in Zoroastrian mythology; Buso, the invisible ghouls who haunt graveyards and feed on human corpses in Philippine mythology. The volume includes an extensive bibliography of the most useful resources for understanding the mythology of death and the afterlife.

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Update Post: Jun 29, 2010 20:30:13