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

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.

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.